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January 3, 2006

Mysteries of Light

The Christian is one Graced Person

  

   

Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan

1)  John the Baptist said:

            John 1: 23

So he said, ‘I am, as Isaiah prophesied:

    A voice of one that cries in the desert:
    Prepare a way for the Lord.
    Make his paths straight!’ 

       2)   John 1: 24-27

Now those who had been sent were Pharisees, and they put this question to him, ‘Why are you baptising if you are not the Christ, and not Elijah, and not the Prophet’? John answered them, ‘I baptise with water; but standing among you—unknown to you— is the one who is coming after me; and I am not fit to undo the strap of his sandal.’

3)  John 1: 28

This happened at Bethany, on the far side of the Jordan, where John was baptising.

4)  John 1: 29-31

   The next day, he saw Jesus coming towards him and said, ‘Look, there is the lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world. It was of him that I said, “Behind me comes one who has passed ahead of me because he existed before me.” I did not know him myself, and yet my purpose in coming to baptise with water was so that he might be revealed to Israel.’?

5)  John 1: 32-33

And John declared, ‘I saw the Spirit come down on him like a dove from heaven and rest on him. I did not know him myself, but he who sent me to baptise with water had said to me, “The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and rest is the one who is to baptise with the Holy Spirit.”

6)  John 1: 34

I have seen and I testify that he is the Chosen One of God.’

7)    It is through baptism that we receive
       a special sharing in God's Divine life.

8)     Karl Rahner says:
                "The supernatural elevation of man
                  is, though not due to him, the
                  absolute fulfillment of his being ..."  

From Theological Investigations, Volume 4

9)    Fr. Carter says:
       The Christian is one graced person.

10)  Fr. Carter says:
       The Christian life does not in any way
       destroy or lessen anything
       which is authentically human. Rather the
       Christian life gives human nature a deepened capacity
       for fulfillment. In our elevation through grace, we possess
       a deepened capacity for love, for joy, for suffering, for
       peace, for happiness. Whatever we do, as long as it
       is authentically human, is also meant to be Christian. St. Paul
       reminds us: "The fact is that whether you eat or drink--whatever
       you do--you should do all for the glory of God" (1 Cor 10:31)

    

Marriage at Cana

        1)  John 2: 1-11

On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee. The mother of Jesus was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited. And they ran out of wine, since the wine provided for the feast had all been used, and the mother of Jesus said to him, ‘They have no wine.’ Jesus said, ‘Woman, what do you want from me? My hour has not come yet.’ His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’ There were six stone water jars standing there, meant for the ablutions that are customary among the Jews: each could hold twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, ‘Fill the jars with water,’ and they filled them to the brim. Then he said to them, ‘Draw some out now and take it to the president of the feast.’ They did this; the president tasted the water, and it had turned into wine. Having no idea where it came from—though the servants who had drawn the water knew—the president of the feast called the bridegroom and said, ‘Everyone serves good wine first and the worse wine when the guests are well wined; but you have kept the best wine till now.’

This was the first of Jesus’ signs: it was at Cana in Galilee. He revealed his glory, and his disciples believed in him.?

        2) Mary is the New Eve -
            Jesus says to Her "Woman"
            Jesus works what is considered
            His first miracle

            Can we not see that as we go to
                the Heart of the New Eve -
                we too may be able to be
                closer to Jesus -

The Holy Spirit

Jesus: "My beloved friend, tell My people to pray daily to the Holy Spirit. They are to pray for an increase in His gifts. My people must realize that the Holy Spirit comes to transform them. The Spirit desires to transform you more and more according to My image. Those who are docile to His touch become increasingly shaped in My likeness. He performs this marvel within Mary's Immaculate Heart. The more one dwells in My Mother's Heart, the more active are the workings of the Spirit. The Spirit leads Mary to place you within My own Heart. In both Our Hearts, then, your transformation continues. The more you are formed after My own Heart, the more I lead you to the bosom of My Father. Tell My people all this. Tell them to pray daily for a greater appreciation of these wondrous gifts. I am Lord and Master. All who come to My Heart will be on fire to receive the gifts of the Spirit in ever greater measure! I love and bless My people!"

Reflection: The Holy Spirit is given to us to fashion us ever more according to the likeness of Jesus. And the more we are like Jesus, the more Jesus leads us to the Father. Do we, each day, pray to the Holy Spirit to be more open to His transforming influence? Do we strive each day to grow in union with Mary? The greater our union with our Mother, the spouse of the Holy Spirit, the greater is the transforming action of the Holy Spirit within us.   Excerpt from Tell My People

        3)     We can be changed through His grace.
                The Holy Spirit can powerfully work
                    in the Heart of Mary to form
                    us more in that image and likeness
                    of Jesus.

         4)    John 19: 26

... ‘Woman, this is your son.’

                    Fr. Carter says:
                    The woman at Cana and the woman
                        at the foot of the cross is indeed
                        the New Eve, our spiritual mother.

        5)    

    On Calvary, Mary, in deep anguish, sees her Son's side pierced with a lance, from which the Church is born. Mary becomes Mother of this Church, Mother of its members. St. Bonaventure, a doctor of the Church, describes this birth of the Church:

"Then, in order that the Church might be formed out of the side of Christ sleeping on the cross. . the divine plan permitted that one of the soldiers should pierce open His sacred side with a lance. While blood mixed with water flowed, the price of our salvation was poured forth, which gushing forth from the sacred fountain of the heart gave power to the sacraments of the Church…"³⁸

38.  Bonaventure, translated by Evert Cousins (New York: Paulist Press, 1978), pp. 154-55.

From Mother at Our Side by Father Edward J. Carter

        6)    

... the intercessory power of Mary reaches a definitive stage at the foot of the cross as Jesus gives birth to the Church. However, Mary's act of intercession at Cana should not be taken lightly. It is a foreshadowing of her full intercessory power which would flower later on. The power of her intercession with Jesus at Cana is evident. She does not request a miracle. Jesus, nonetheless, using the occasion of her request, performs a miracle as He changes water into wine.  From Mother at Our Side by Father Edward J. Carter

 

        7)    

There are those who think that Mary is some sort of obstacle relative to their relationship with Jesus. They falsely think that Mary "gets in the way" as they strive for union with Christ. What a mistaken idea! As Mary's request at Cana brought the attendants into contact with Jesus, so does her intercession on our behalf bring us into contact with Christ. Mary is always eager to bring us closer to Jesus. "Do whatever he tells you," Mary says to the attendants at Cana. She says the same to us. She tells us to follow the teaching and example of Christ, this Christ Who is the way, the truth, and the life.   From Mother at Our Side by Father Edward J. Carter

 

        8)     

Mary, as the mother of our Christ-life, is ever eager for us to grow in Christ. As we grow in our consecration to her Immaculate Heart--in entrustment of our total being to her--she helps us grow in our consecration to the Heart of Jesus. Through her maternal activity she aids us in growing in our discipleship, this woman who was Jesus' first and perfect disciple.  From Mother at Our Side by Father Edward J. Carter

 

        9)    

        St. John Eudes, a great apostle of devotion to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary, says:

"you are one with Jesus as the body is one with the head. You must, then, have one breath with him, one soul, one will, one mind, one heart. And he must be your breath, heart, love, life, your all. These great gifts in the follower of Christ originate from Baptism. They are increased and strengthened through Confirmation and by making good use of other graces that are given by God. Through the Holy Eucharist they are brought to perfection."³⁹

^{39. St. John Eudes, in The Liturgy of the Hours (New York: Catholic Book Publishing Co., 1975) Vol. IV, p. 1332.}

               From Mother at Our Side by Father Edward J. Carter

        10)     Jesus shows us the miracle -
                     he changed water into wine -
                     The disciples believed Him.

                Today the priest can change
                      bread and wine into the Body
                      and Blood of Jesus -

                We must pray as Jesus told us.  
 

July 31, 1994

Words of Jesus to Members of Shepherds of Christ Associates:

"My beloved priest-companion, I intend to use the priestly newsletter, Shepherds of Christ, and the movement, Shepherds of Christ Associates, in a powerful way for the renewal of My Church and the world.

"I will use the newsletter and the chapters of Shepherds of Christ Associates as a powerful instrument for spreading devotion to My Heart and My Mother's Heart.

"I am calling many to become members of Shepherds of Christ Associates. To all of them I will give great blessings. I will use them as instruments to help bring about the triumph of the Immaculate Heart and the reign of My Sacred Heart. I will give great graces to the members of Shepherds of Christ Associates. I will call them to be deeply united to My Heart and to Mary's Heart as I lead them ever closer to My Father in the Holy Spirit."

- Message from Jesus to Father Edward J. Carter, S.J., Founder, as given on July 31, 1994,
feast of Saint Ignatius Loyola, Founder of the Society of Jesus (The Jesuits)

 

A message for the Earth from Jesus

January 22, 1998

    I am the Good Shepherd, these are My prayers, the prayers I give to help renew the Church and the world, all prayer chapters are asked to include these prayers (found in the Shepherds of Christ Prayer Manual). As My Apostles and Shepherds I ask you to encourage all existing Chapters to try to encourage all existing prayer groups to pray the Shepherds of Christ prayers. Encourage all Churches to pray these prayers. It is most urgent that the people of this earth concur with the Father's wishes to begin Prayer Chapters. This is an urgent request from the Good Shepherd. The flock will become one when they have given their hearts to Jesus and Mary. Encourage all priests to pray the Shepherds of Christ prayers. Your world will be lighted with great light as the people of this earth pray these prayers.

    My promise is this to you My beloved earth: When you give your heart to Me and spread the devotion to My Sacred Heart, I will write your name In My Heart. I promise to give the greatest graces when you pray these prayers for renewal of the Church and the world and take all who pray them deeply into My Heart. The prayers I give will bring about the reign of My Sacred Heart and the triumph of Mary's Immaculate Heart. I am Jesus Christ, this is My message of January 22, 1998, Please circulate this message to your world. I am the Good Shepherd, I know Mine and Mine know Me and they follow Me. Grace My Shepherds, I will give you the greatest graces for spreading these words to this earth and to your Church. I love you, I am Jesus Christ, the Son of Man, it is the Plan of the Father that Prayer Chapters are begun immediately and the Priestly Newsletter is given to all priests. The Voice of the Good Shepherd speaks through it.

end of January 22, 1998

     

 

Kingdom of God

91. THE CALL OF AN EARTHLY KING

    This will help us to contemplate the life of the
    eternal king

Prayer. The preparatory prayer will be as usual.

First Prelude.  This is a mental representation of the
place. Here it will be to see in imagination the
synagogues, villages, and towns where Christ our
Lord preached.

Second Prelude.  I will ask for the grace I desire.
Here it will be to ask of our Lord the grace not to be
deaf to His call, but prompt and diligent to accomplish
His most holy will.

                            FIRST PART

92. First Point.  This will be to place before my mind
a human king, chosen by God our Lord Himself, to
whom all Christian princes and people pay homage
and obedience.

93. Second Point.  This will be to consider the address
this king makes to all his subjects, with the words: "It
is my will to conquer all the lands of the infidel. There-
fore, whoever wishes to join with me in this enterprise
must be content with the same food, drink, clothing,
etc. as mine. So, too, he must work with me by day,
and watch with me by night, etc., that as he has had a
share in the toil with me, afterwards, he may share in
the victory with me."

From The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, by Louis J. Puhl, S.J.

                        From The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, by Louis J. Puhl, S.J.

    Which have as their purpose the conquest of self
    and the regulation of one's life in such a way that
    no decision is made under the influence of any
    inordinate attachment

From The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, by Louis J. Puhl, S.J.

Transfiguration

                2)     Excerpt from April 4, 2003

I have come so that they may have life and have it to the full.  John 10: 10

Institution of Eucharist

1)  Matthew 22: 1-14

Jesus began to speak to them in parables once again, ‘The kingdom of Heaven may be compared to a king who gave a feast for his son’s wedding. He sent his servants to call those who had been invited, but they would not come. Next he sent some more servants with the words, “Tell those who have been invited: Look, my banquet is all prepared, my oxen and fattened cattle have been slaughtered, everything is ready. Come to the wedding.” But they were not interested: one went off to his farm, another to his business, and the rest seized his servants, maltreated them and killed them. The king was furious. He despatched his troops, destroyed those murderers and burnt their town. Then he said to his servants, “The wedding is ready; but as those who were invited proved to be unworthy, go to the main crossroads and invite everyone you can find to come to the wedding.” So these servants went out onto the roads and collected together everyone they could find, bad and good alike; and the wedding hall was filled with guests. When the king came in to look at the guests he noticed one man who was not wearing a wedding garment, and said to him, “How did you get in here, my friend, without a wedding garment?” And the man was silent. Then the king said to the attendants, “Bind him hand and foot and throw him into the darkness outside, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth.” For many are invited but not all are chosen.’

2) 

Apostles of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus

My dear fellow Associate Members,

Jesus is calling special apostles to join a new division of the Shepherds of Christ Movement. Here is a message from Jesus given to Father Carter:

    My beloved priest-companion, I am requesting that a new prayer movement be started under the direction of Shepherds of Christ Ministries. I am asking for volunteers who are willing to pray before the Blessed Sacrament for one hour, twice-weekly. Members of the Shepherds of Christ prayer chapters, as well as others, are to be invited to join this movement.

    These apostles are to pray for the intentions I am giving you. For part of the hour they are to use the prayers of the Shepherds of Christ Associates Handbook. They may spend the rest of the hour as they so choose.

    I will use this new prayer movement within My Shepherds of Christ Ministries in a powerful way to help in the renewal of My Church and the world. I will give great graces to those who join this movement. The name, Apostles of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus, is to be given to this movement.

    I am inviting My beloved Rita Ring to be coordinator for this activity.

    I pour out the great love of My Sacred Heart to all. I am Jesus, Chief Shepherd of the flock.

    This is indeed a special calling for us to unite in one heart with His Eucharistic Heart and pray for the following intentions:

1. For the spread of the devotion to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary culminating in the reign of the Sacred Heart and the triumph of the Immaculate Heart.
2. For the Pope.
3. For all bishops of the world.
4. For all priests.
5. For all sisters and brothers in the religious life.
6. For all members of the Shepherds of Christ Movement, and for the spread of this movement to the world.
7. For all members of the Catholic Church.
8. For all members of the human family.
9. For all souls in purgatory.

end of Apostles of the Eucharistic Heart message

 

3)  Per Fr. Carter's Message²

    This is your special calling from Jesus to pray for the Church and the world. The power is in Him. He is truly present in the Eucharist. He ascended into heaven, but He remains with us in greatest love. He calls out to us, "I am alive, I am alive, I am alive. Come to me and I will give you rest. Can you not watch one hour with Me?

    "I am Jesus. I call you My beloved ones to be Apostles of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus. I love you, I love you, I love you."

2. Message from Jesus to Father Edward Carter, S.J., February, 1996.

 from the Apostles of the Eucharistic Heart booklet
 

4)  Hearts One with Jesus and Mary

I feel His love in the hearts of holy priests. He has anointed them and they represent Christ to me. My soul is fed by all His holy priests. I feel fed when a priest loves Jesus so much. I must see the hearts of all and join with them in one heart, love them deeply in my heart.

There will be an era of peace when hearts are one with the Hearts of Jesus and Mary.

Jesus and Mary, I give You my heart.

 from the Apostles of the Eucharistic Heart booklet

 

5)   He Remains with Us, Truly Present

    God sees us as one family, His beloved creatures. He loves us each with the deepest personal love. He sees us united. It is our love for one another that pleases Him. There is not division in God. He loves each of us and knows our uniqueness. He loves all of us as His creatures. We are all members of His holy family. He wants all His children to inherit the Kingdom of God.
 
   I find refuge by dwelling within His most precious Heart. I feel the inner glow, the heat. I feel the calm beating of His heart. It is there I am wrapped in His burning love. It is there I am united deeply to my most beloved Father. It is there I am joined with the permeating, moving action of the Holy Spirit.

    It is my refuge, in this dark and troubled world. It is my heaven on earth, to be joined in love with all He has created, to have perfect peace and know God's chamber of peace and love.

   from the Apostles of the Eucharistic Heart booklet - February 23, 1996

6)  

I see the darkness, the vileness of this world, and I go to His Heart. I see, with rose-colored glasses. I see as He wants us to see with eyes of love. I want to love and see as He sees. It is in this deepest chamber of His Heart that I have found the Kingdom of God on earth, for He has said, the Kingdom of God is within you. The Kingdom of God, our little heaven on earth, is in dwelling deeply within Their Hearts. In His Heart is love and in His Heart is peace, in His Heart we are all one as He intends us to be. "But to the man who told him this Jesus replied, 'Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?' And stretching out his hand towards his disciples he said, 'Here are my mother and my brothers. Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother." (Matt: 12:48-50)1 We draw in our beloved sisters and brothers by the love that radiates from our eyes, our gentle touch, our loving concern.

    Strip yourself of the attachments to this world. Find peace in the freedom of living according to His will, living *In Him, *in this magnificent Heart.

    He came, He walked the earth, for love of us. He took on a human body. He gave His adorable Heart that we could live *In Him. He no longer walks this earth, He gives us Himself in the Holy Eucharist. He gives us a human *heart, pierced with a lance, crowned with thorns and holding the cross. The way to this fiery furnace, the way to life in Him, is through much suffering and pain. We identify with Him in all our actions, all our joys and sufferings, united to Him as we live our lives in Him. We walk the Passion, we feel the joys, the deep love in His Heart for His Mother, for all His beloved creatures. We carry out His life in our life.

 from the Apostles of the Eucharistic Heart booklet - February 23, 1996

7)  

    I am Yours, my Lord. I love You with my whole heart, my whole soul, my whole being. I have found the Kingdom of God on this earth. I have found life in You. When I see the darkness in this troubled world, I go to the deepest, hottest chamber of Your Heart and I am bathed in your abundant love. I take with me my troubled brothers in my heart and I plead for their return to their God who is all worthy of all honor and love and adoration.

    I am Yours, Lord, I consecrate my heart to You to live forever in this holy place. I want to die to all that is not of You, that I can be united in the deepest way to You, that my heart will know Your love, that as I live in this world I can truly say, "It is no longer I who live, but He who lives in me."

    O, Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, I give You my all. I come to You surrounded by the pure and loving heart of Your Mother. I know You won't refuse me in my wretchedness when I come to You in the heart of Your beloved Mother.

  from the Apostles of the Eucharistic Heart booklet - February 23, 1996

8)  

    The Holy Spirit permeates the very depth of my soul and I enter into the deepest chamber of His fiery Heart. It is there I feel so little, as a little child, and I unite to my most beloved Father. I feel in Your fiery heart the presence of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, in the deepest, whitest chamber, in the center of the deepest love. I unite with God and I know my dwelling in You is truly a little heaven on earth.

    The Kingdom of God is at hand. There will be an era of peace. We will all be one in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary. We will be one happy family where there will only be love: love of God and love of one another.

    And the city shone with the brightest light for within their hearts they knew the love of God and it radiated into the world. There was no longer darkness that covered the earth, but light, radiating from those dwelling within the Hearts of Jesus and Mary. And the star shone over His bed at Bethlehem. He is truly the light of the world and the light shone in the darkness and all who came to this light lived in the light and lived according to the light.

   from the Apostles of the Eucharistic Heart booklet - February 23, 1996

9)  

    It is in this that we trust, that in all the darkness of the world that the light will shine when men are dwelling in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary.

    And, He says: I am the way, the truth and the life. He who abides in me will have the light of life. He came, He was born a baby, He died on a cross, but as He hung on that cross on Calvary, He was the light that shone as the brightest light to the world, withered, beaten and bloodied. He was the brightest light in the darkened sky. It was through His death all men were promised a chance for real life, for eternal salvation.

    And the light came forth from the tomb in power and glory, adorned in bright, glistening light. He stood before them with His glorified wounds: His pierced Heart of endless love and He gave them the newness of life-life in Him. The light shone in the darkness. He gave them a sharing in His Divine Life through Baptism and ascended into heaven to prepare a place for us, but He remained with us, truly present, in His Eucharistic Heart. He feeds us with His own Body and Blood. He gives us the Bread of Life. He is the Savior of the World and we live in newness of life because God first loved us!

 from the Apostles of the Eucharistic Heart booklet - February 23, 1996

10)

  

A Prayer before the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass

    Let me be a holy sacrifice and unite with God in the sacrament of His greatest love.

    I want to be one in Him in this act of love, where He gives Himself to me and I give myself as a sacrifice to Him. Let me be a holy sacrifice as I become one with Him in this my act of greatest love to Him.

    Let me unite with Him more, that I may more deeply love Him. May I help make reparation to His adorable Heart and the heart of His Mother, Mary. With greatest love, I offer myself to You and pray that You will accept my sacrifice of greatest love. I give myself to You and unite in Your gift of Yourself to me. Come and possess my soul.

    Cleanse me, strengthen me, heal me. Dear Holy Spirit act in the heart of Mary to make me more and more like Jesus.

    Father, I offer this my sacrifice, myself united to Jesus in the Holy Spirit to You. Help me to love God more deeply in this act of my greatest love.

    Give me the grace to grow in my knowledge, love and service of You and for this to be my greatest participation in the Mass. Give me the greatest graces to love You so deeply in this Mass, You who are so worthy of my love.

-God's Blue Book, December 27, 1995

       

 

 

       
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