| Shepherds of Christ Daily Writing |
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| Shepherds of Christ Daily Writing |
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April 22, 2014
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April 23rd Holy Spirit
Novena |
The Novena Rosary
Mysteries |
Sidney Rosary
We will be
painting the crucifix
in Florida this week.
Please pray for this.
Package for the month of Mary and First Communion
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The Song of
Bernadette DVD OR |
The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima DVD |
11" Fatima |
Blue Book 12 |
8x10 and 4x6 |
plus CD of October 13, 1996 Rosary
$50 plus postage
while supplies last
Call 1-888-211-3041
Package for Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II will be canonized April 27th.
Here is a wonderful DVD about his life.
12" Statue of Sacred Heart of Jesus with glass
CD of Live Rosary from Blue Book 13 October 13, 1996 –
1st 13th - Fr. Carter leads this live rosary
Blue Book 12
Karol Movie
Pictures of Our Lady of Clearwater 8 x 10 and 4 x 6
Hard copy of October 13, 1996 Rosary
We will include this special rosary with this offer.$100 plus postage
while supplies lastThis is a limited time offer.
These statues may become scarce in the near future.
Special First Communion Rosary with Image Center
in a gift box
white blue red
and an 8 x 10 picture of Our Lady of Clearwater
and a 4 x 6 picture of Our Lady of Clearwater
$10 plus postage
Original Image Rosary
8mm glass beads
in a matching gift box
$40 plus shipping
Given March 21, 2014
R. Pray for These Things
1) Pray for the priests, the Church and the world!
2) Pray for the spread of prayer chapters,
also for the spread of priests doing prayer chapters.
3) Pray for the spread of Blue Books.
4) People going to Florida and China.
5) Vocations to all 7 categories.
6) Pray for spread of Consecration and Rosary.
7) Pray for pope helping us.
8) Blue Book 13 cover; Blue Book 12, Blue Book 13 - all involved.
For our Publisher and all involved
9) All intentions on my list, Jerry's list.
10) Priests getting Fr. Joe's book.
11) Donors and members and their families.
12) Healing of the Family tree.
13) Dan & Melanie, Catherine & mom, Gary, Mary Jo,
Jim & statues, Fr. Ken, Monsignor, Tom & wife, Kerry.
14) All who asked us to pray for them.
15) All we promised to pray for.
16) Rita, John, Doris, Sheila, Jerry, Regina, Sanja,
Betty, Sophie, Rosie, Lisa, Eileen, Fr. Mike, Jeff,
Louie, 2 Dons, Mary Ellen, Fr. Joe, all priests helping us,
Ed, Jimmy, a special couple.
17) 2 babies and moms.
18) Funds and insurance.
19) Special intentions.
20) Jerry's garage.
21) Spread the Blood of Jesus on all of us here.
22) Consecrate all hearts.
23) Cast the devil out of all of us here and all in Movement.
April 22, 2014 - Tuesday of Easter Week
Acts 2: 36-41
‘For this reason the whole House of Israel can be certain that the Lord and Christ whom God has made is this Jesus whom you crucified.’
Hearing this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, ‘What are we to do, brothers?’ ‘You must repent,’ Peter answered, ‘and every one of you must be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise that was made is for you and your children, and for all those who are far away, for all those whom the Lord our God is calling to himself.’ He spoke to them for a long time using many other arguments, and he urged them, ‘Save yourselves from this perverse generation.’ They accepted what he said and were baptised. That very day about three thousand were added to their number.
R. The focus is on baptism –
repent St. Peter says
be baptized –
Shouldn't we spread this Good News today
Repent and be baptized!
Jesus died for us so we could receive
a sharing in His life –
The Blue Books boast
"God lives in our graced baptized
soul"
Isn't this so important –
Repent and Be Baptized –
Mary said at Fatima to seek
conversion –
The world gets further away from
realizing the tremendous gift
God gives fallen man in
baptism –
It says in Acts 3000 were baptized
that day –
It says they were cut to the heart
as they heard Peter –
How exciting it is –
How exciting the Easter Vigil
Service was –
The Readings centering around
baptism –
The Blue Books boast of baptism –
Fr. Carter's books tell us about
baptism
What a gift –
In being focused on themselves
many men don't want
anyone telling them anything –
they think they know it all –
What a pity to miss the gift
God is teaching us for pride
Independence –
"I don't need anyone God sends –
I know it all" they may say
This is indeed deception from
satan –
God sends such a gift to teach
us –
disciples are those learning
Fr. Joe says –
And the devil deceives them with
pride and they give in –
We were created to know, love
and serve God –
So we are here to know God more and
more –
we don't know it all –
God gives gifts of teaching
through those He chooses –
We can say, foolishly, independently,
"I know it all –
I can do it myself" –
And yet God clearly through
all of salvation history
has chosen gifted souls
to deliver insight into the hidden
mysteries
And men have rejected them because
of pride
In baptism our knowing and loving
capacity is elevated –
It is a capacity to be developed –
We share in God's knowing
and loving activity because
of baptism –
Wow – What a gift –
The devil tempted Eve, who was
so gifted –
He tempted her to sin because
she wanted to be equal to God –
We were created for relationship
Fr. Carter says with
(1) God
(2) with others
(3) with self –
Because of original sin - we
have distorted vision about
relationships –
We see our relationship
with God distortedly –
We see our relationship
with others distortedly
We see relationship with ourselves
distortedly –
R. The earth is full of the goodness
of the Lord
Psalm 33: 4-5, 18-22
The word of Yahweh is straightforward,
all he does springs from his constancy.
He loves uprightness and justice;
the faithful love of Yahweh fills the earth.But see how Yahweh watches over those who fear him,
those who rely on his faithful love,
to rescue them from death
and keep them alive in famine.We are waiting for Yahweh;
he is our help and our shield,
for in him our heart rejoices,
in his holy name we trust.
Yahweh, let your faithful love rest on us,
as our hope has rested in you.
John 20: 11-18
But Mary was standing outside near the tomb, weeping. Then, as she wept, she stooped to look inside, and saw two angels in white sitting where the body of Jesus had been, one at the head, the other at the feet. They said, ‘Woman, why are you weeping?’ ‘They have taken my Lord away,’ she replied, ‘and I don’t know where they have put him.’ As she said this she turned round and saw Jesus standing there, though she did not realise that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping? Who are you looking for?’ Supposing him to be the gardener, she said, ‘Sir, if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and remove him.’ Jesus said, ‘Mary!’ She turned round then and said to him in Hebrew, ‘Rabbuni!’—which means Master. Jesus said to her, ‘Do not cling to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to the brothers, and tell them: I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ So Mary of Magdala told the disciples, ‘I have seen the Lord,’ and that he had said these things to her.
R. Mary Magdalene is weeping
outside Jesus' tomb –
It isn't about the
empty tomb, but about Jesus
rising from the dead –
Why are we weeping –
Heaven is for real –
Jesus is truly present in His
Divinity and humanity in
the Eucharist –
Mary saw Jesus –
At first she did not recognize
Him –
Mary was so excited when she
did
Excited she announced the
Good News –
Colossians 3: 1-2
Since you have been raised up to be with Christ, you must look for the things that are above, where Christ is, sitting at God’s right hand. Let your thoughts be on things above, not on the things that are on the earth,
R. God gives us the gift of baptism
a sharing in His life and
He feeds this life –
Nourishes this life by
giving us Himself in the Eucharist.
God wants us to love the Eucharist –
prepare for the reception of it –
God gives us the Blue Books and tells
us all about the great
gift of the Eucharist!
These books are centered in Jesus'
love, intimate love for us.
R. Blue Book 11 is about how God enlists
our help in the work of
redemption
Excerpt from Blue Book 11
Excerpt from Response in Christ - Chapter 4 by Fr. Edward J. Carter, S.J.
In schematic outline we have discussed the manner in which the baptized Christian extends his Mass to his daily existence. As he so lives out his Mass, he is becoming more Christlike. He becomes a more perfect priest and victim for his next participation in the eucharistic sacrifice.42 The beautiful cycle which the Mass contains lies exposed before us. As part of this cycle the Christian is intimately involved in the process of continued redemption. The Mass is the center of the Christian life: ". . . the liturgy is the summit toward which the activity of the Church is directed; at the same time it is the fount from which all her power flows."43
42. For a current treatment of the varied richness of the Eucharist, cf. J. Wicks, "The Movement of Eucharistic Theology" in Chicago Studies, Vol. 10 (1971), pp. 267-284.
43. The Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, No. 10.
Given November 21, 2013
Jesus: I call you to live your lives as devout members of the mystical body of Christ. I have given these writings that men will realize that they are to live united deeply to the Mass going on around the world. Your lives, given as an offering, a sacrifice every moment in union with the Mass going on around the world. Your life, a sacrifice, offered to the Father, in union with the Mass in oneness with Me, in the Holy Spirit through the intercession of the Blessed Mother with all the angels and saints and the souls in purgatory.
Your lives given as members of My mystical body can help to bring down great graces for the priest, the Church and the world.
Excerpt from Response in Christ - Chapter 4 by Fr. Edward J. Carter, S.J.
"How does the Christian help Christ redeem the world? (Henceforth the term "world" is to be understood as including both rational and nonrational creation.) As previously stated, the Christian helps Christ redeem the world by reliving Christ's mysteries. The same "events" or mysteries which accomplished the objective redemption further the subjective redemption also. Since at the heart of Christ's mysteries are His death and Resurrection, it is especially these that the Christian must relive. As the Christian dies mystically with Christ through loving conformity with the Father's will, he rises with Christ to an ever greater share in the Resurrection, in the newness of life, in the life of grace. As the Christian in this manner relives the paschal mystery of Christ, he is accomplishing not only his own redemption, but he is also, in a mysterious yet real manner, helping Christ redeem the world."
Acts 3: 1-10
Once, when Peter and John were going up to the Temple for the prayers at the ninth hour, it happened that there was a man being carried along. He was a cripple from birth; and they used to put him down every day near the Temple entrance called the Beautiful Gate so that he could beg from the people going in. When this man saw Peter and John on their way into the Temple he begged from them. Peter, and John too, looked straight at him and said, 'Look at us.' He turned to them expectantly, hoping to get something from them, but Peter said, 'I have neither silver nor gold, but I will give you what I have: in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, walk!' Then he took him by the right hand and helped him to stand up. Instantly his feet and ankles became firm, he jumped up, stood, and began to walk, and he went with them into the Temple, walking and jumping and praising God. Everyone could see him walking and praising God, and they recognised him as the man who used to sit begging at the Beautiful Gate of the Temple. They were all astonished and perplexed at what had happened to him.
CONTENTS
Jesus in His Paschal Mystery "I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd is one who lays down his life for his sheep. The hired man, since he is not the shepherd and the sheep do not belong to him, abandons the sheep and runs away as soon as he sees a wolf coming, and then the wolf attacks and scatters the sheep. This is because he is only a hired man and has no concern for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for my sheep." (Jn 10:11-15) (1).He hung upon a cross on a hill called Calvary. Death was near. How much Jesus had already suffered! He had been brutally scourged. Much of His sacred body was a bloody, open wound. He had been derisively crowned with thorns. In a terribly weakened condition, He carried the heavy cross to the hill of Golgotha. There He was stripped of His garments and mercilessly nailed to the cross. After all this brutal and agonizing suffering, Jesus finally died.
Truly the Good Shepherd had laid down His life for His sheep. That magnificent Heart, overflowing with love for His Father and all of us, had beat its last.
On the third day, Jesus rose: "Destroy this sanctuary, and in three days I will raise it up! The Jews replied, 'It has taken forty-six years to build this sanctuary: are you going to raise it up in three days?' But he was speaking of the sanctuary that was his body, and when Jesus rose from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the scripture and the words he had said." (Jn 2:19-22).Yes, the Good Shepherd died and rose for our salvation. Behold, the paschal mystery of Jesus!
Editor's Corner by Fr. Ed Carter, S.J. A number of our entries in this issue of the Newsletter deal explicitly with Christ's paschal mystery, with His death and resurrection. Since we have just recently celebrated the liturgies of Good Friday and Easter, we thought it a particularly apt time to present various ideas concerning the paschal mystery.
Much of the world tries to escape suffering at all possible costs-and many of the escape routes are sinful ones. And such sinful pursuits increase the suffering one is trying to flee. Certainly we may utilize any means which is according to God's will to alleviate suffering, but to try to escape all suffering is as futile as striving to escape from one's shadow.
As priests we have numerous opportunities to help others properly cope with suffering. The more we ourselves are united with the Christ Who suffered such a brutal death, the more we can help others see God's plan for suffering–that it is meant to lead to greater life. Let us often recall the words of St. Paul:
"For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the Good News, and not to preach that in the terms of philosophy in which the crucifixion of Christ cannot be expressed. The language of the cross may be illogical to those who are not on the way to salvation, but those of us who are on the way see it as God's power to save...And so, while the Jews demand miracles and the Greeks look for wisdom, here we are preaching a crucified Christ; to the Jews an obstacle that they cannot get over, to the pagans madness, but to those who have been called, whether they are Jews or Greeks, a Christ who is the power and the wisdom of God..." (1 Cor 1:17-24).
Thoughts on the Paschal Mystery The Church in her Good Friday and Easter liturgies has just recently presented to us the paschal mystery of Jesus-His death and resurrection-in a very special way. In saying this we must remember that each Mass of every day makes sacramentally present the death and resurrection of Jesus.
Here are some thoughts concerning Jesus' paschal mystery and our participation in it:
_______________________________________ St. Paul tells us: "All I want is to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and to share his sufferings by reproducing the pattern of his death. That is the way I can hope to take my place in the resurrection of the dead." (Phil 3:10-11)._______________________________________ When we are baptized we are incorporated into Christ's paschal mystery of death and resurrection. St. Paul speaks of this marvelous union with Jesus: "You have been taught that when we were baptized in Christ Jesus we were baptized in his death; in other words, when we were baptized we went into the tomb with him and joined him in death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the Father's glory, we too might live a new life." (Rm 6:3-4).Christ has structured the Christian life by the way He lived, died, and rose from the dead. It is obvious, then, as Paul tells us above, that the pattern of death-resurrection must be at the heart of the Church's life. Individually and collectively, we continually die with Christ so that we may continually rise with Him. Thus we pass over in a process of ongoing religious transition to a greater participation in Christ's resurrection. It is true that our participation in Christ's resurrection will reach its completion only in eternity. Nevertheless, we begin the life of resurrection here upon the earth, in the here and now of human life, in the midst of joy and pain; in the experience of success and failure, in the sweat of our brow, in the enjoyment of God's gifts. As Christians, we should have a sense of dynamic growth concerning our here and now life of resurrection.We cannot maintain the life of resurrection or grow in it without a willingness to suffer. This does not mean that we need to feel overwhelmed and heavily burdened in our lives. The greater portion of suffering for most Christians seems to be an accumulation of ordinary hardships, difficulties, and pains. At times, however, deep suffering, even suffering of agonizing proportions, can enter into one's life. Whether the sufferings one encounters are of either the more ordinary variety or the more rare and extreme type, Christians must convince themselves that to relate properly to the cross is to grow in resurrection, and growth in resurrection means we will also have an increased capacity to help give resurrection to others._______________________________________ Louis Evely observes: "The blessing of hospitals, of people condemned to death, of sanitariums, of all the places where one suffers, is that there people can be found who know that they need help, who no longer pretend to have no need of God or of anyone, who are freed from this exhausting comedy." (2)_______________________________________ Fr. Edward Leen, C.S.Sp., offers us these insightful words concerning the cross: "The cross, then, can have its degrees. God, by what He directly wills for us, or permits to happen to us, can give it a more intense form, in view of effecting in our souls a deeper purification and, in consequence, a closer contact with Himself. The more thorough the crucifixion that is willingly borne, the greater the degree of happiness, because the more perfectly will God be revealed to the soul." (3)_______________________________________ Fr. Peter van Breeman, S.J., succinctly observes: "We share the death of Christ. We empty ourselves. We enter the tomb, and in this way, we join Christ in his resurrection. We know the power of his resurrection and the peace that it brings with it. We experience the fruitfulness of a new life–new strength envelops us. Our baptism means that we open ourselves to Christ so that his life may continue through us." (4)_______________________________________ Caryll Houselander writes with great sensitivity regarding the second station of the Way of the Cross: "They put His own garments on Him again, and Jesus comes out from the judgment hall of Pilate to receive His cross.
"He comes to it gladly! This is a strange thing, for the cross is a symbol of shame, and it is to be His deathbed. Already He sees the very shape of His death in the widespread arms. From this moment He will be inseparable from it, until He dies on it. He will labor and struggle under the weight of it until the end comes. Yet Christ welcomes the cross, He embraces it. He takes it into His arms, as a man takes that which he loves into his arms. He lays His beautiful hands on it tenderly, those strong hands of a carpenter that are so familiar with the touch of wood." (5)_______________________________________ Bill Clarke, S.J., gives a concrete example of how joy and suffering are meant to coexist as he speaks of L'Arche, the community founded by Jean Vanier:
"L'Arche began in France in 1964 to give a permanent home to mentally handicapped adults. It seeks to unite the handicapped and those who assist them in a single community, inspired by a spirit of loving acceptance that will help all its members develop to their fullest potential as human beings..."Almost everyone who comes to L'Arche is immediately impressed by the spirit of joy that prevails there. Yet anyone who comes to know the community more intimately cannot but be impressed, not to say overwhelmed, by the amount of suffering that is simply a part of its daily life."The living out in great intensity of these seemingly opposite experiences of joy and suffering, might be called the particular grace or vocation of L'Arche. Both the suffering and the joy are an integral part of the daily existence, but both have their moments of greater intensity and more external expression. There are the instances of crisis and there is death that crystallizes the suffering. The joy reaches its climax in moments of celebration. The one, however, is never entirely without the other, especially because both find their ultimate meaning in the single mystery-birth, death, and resurrection–the total mystery of life." (6)_______________________________________ To follow Jesus entails a willingness to suffer for Him and His cause. The furthering of any worthwhile cause demands a spirit of sacrifice, a willingness to endure a variety of hardships and difficulties. We cannot expect it to be otherwise regarding the cause of Christ. To follow Jesus, to spread His message, to help further the process of ongoing redemption, all this demands a price. There is an almost endless variety of pains, sufferings, and difficulties which can arise in following Jesus and promoting His cause. At times seeing few, if any, visible results of our labors, feeling unappreciated, experiencing opposition, sometimes comprehending that we are being hated precisely by some of those whom we are striving to help, at times being laughed at and ridiculed-these are some of the ways we experience the sufferings of an apostle.The suffering involved in contributing to the process of ongoing redemption is not, however, the complete picture. The happiness resulting from commitment to Christ and His mission far outweighs the hardships. To be aware that one is so intimately loved by Jesus, to experience the satisfaction that one is contributing to a cause that cannot fail, to play a role in helping to bring to others the peace and love of Jesus–all of this makes for a life that has no equal. The committed follower of Christ, experiencing what it means to be closely associated with Jesus, realizes why St. Peter said, "Lord,...it is wonderful for us to be here." (Mt 17:4)._______________________________________ St. Paul strikingly portrays the living of death-resurrection: "We are in difficulties on all sides, but never cornered; we see no answer to our problems, but never despair; we have been persecuted, but never deserted; knocked down, but never killed; always, wherever we may be, we carry with us in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus, too, may always be seen in our body. Indeed, while we are still alive, we are consigned to our death every day, for the sake of Jesus, so that in our mortal flesh the life of Jesus, too, may be openly shown." (2 Cor 4:8-11)._______________________________________ St. John of the Cross wrote much about how the cross, properly encountered, always leads to greater life–to a greater share in Christ's resurrection here and hereafter. Here are some of his words regarding this fact:
"Though holy doctors have uncovered many mysteries and wonders, and devout souls have understood them in this earthly condition of ours, yet the greater part still remains to be unfolded by them, and even to be understood by them."We must dig deeper in Christ. He is like a rich mine with many pockets containing treasures: however deep we dig we will never find their end or their limit. Indeed, in every pocket new seams of fresh riches are discovered on all sides..."The gate that gives entry into these riches of His wisdom is the cross; because it is a narrow gate, while many seek the joys that can be gained through it, it is given to few to desire to pass through it." (7)_______________________________________ In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus Himself speaks to us about this paschal mystery, about the necessary connection between the cross and resurrection, between the cross and life: "Then he said to them, 'You foolish men! So slow to believe the full message of the prophets! Was it not ordained that the Christ should suffer and so enter into his glory?' Then, starting with Moses and going through all the prophets, he explained to them the passages throughout the scriptures that were about himself." (Lk 24:25-27).
Antiphon:
Have mercy, O Lord, have mercy on us!O Lord Jesus Christ,
At prayer in the Garden of Olives,
Weeping with sadness and fear,
Comforted by an angel.AntiphonO Lord Jesus Christ,
Betrayed by the kiss of Judas,
Abandoned by your apostles,
Delivered over to sinners.AntiphonO Lord Jesus Christ,
Buffeted, covered with spittle,
Bruised by the blows of soldiers,
Condemned to die on the cross.AntiphonO Lord Jesus Christ,
Scourged and crowned with thorns,
Clothed in a robe of purple,
Covered with scorn and shame.AntiphonO Lord Jesus Christ,
Burdened with your cross,
Mounting even to Calvary,
Bearing the weight of our sins,AntiphonO Lord Jesus Christ
Stripped of your garments,
Given gall in your thirst,
Crucified with thieves,AntiphonO Lord Jesus Christ
Forgiving your executioners,
Confiding your holy Mother
To your beloved discipleAntiphonO Lord Jesus Christ
Breathing forth your spirit
Into the hands of your Father,
Dying for all sinners. (8)Antiphon
The day of resurrection!
Earth spread the news abroad;
The Paschal feast of gladness,
The Paschal feast of God.
From death to life eternal,
From earth to heaven's height
Our Saviour Christ has brought us,
The glorious Lord of Light.
Our hearts be free from evil
That we may see aright
The Savior resurrected
In his eternal light;
And hear his message plainly,
Delivered calm and clear:
"Rejoice with me in triumph,
Be glad and do not fear."
Now let the heav'ns be joyful,
And with her song begin,
The whole world keep high triumph
And all that is therein,
Let all things in creation
Their notes of gladness blend,
For Christ the Lord has risen,
Our joy that has no end. (9)
The Eucharist is the chief source of growth in the spiritual life. We priests, called to have a special kind of union with Christ, should have a unique desire to grow in appreciation of the Eucharist. It is in the Eucharist that we unite with Jesus' paschal mystery in a special way. Here are some reflections on the Eucharist, Jesus' great gift of love to us:
_______________________________________ Pope John Paul II tells us: "The Church and the world have a great need of Eucharistic adoration. Jesus waits for us in the sacrament of love. Let us be generous with our time in going to meet him in adoration and contemplation that is full of faith and ready to make reparation for the great faults and crimes of the world. May our adoration never cease." (10)_______________________________________ Archbishop Luis M. Martinez offers us these inspiring words: "If we could dispose ourselves at least to think about what He suffered for each one of us! Our souls are enveloped in His tenderness and in His pain. We are the fruit of His love and His martyrdom. We increasingly receive His gifts of all kinds. We receive them tranquilly, at times joyfully. But those gifts are marked with the blood of Jesus, the blood from His veins and from his Heart. In order that we might taste the least of His heavenly consolations, Jesus had to taste the gall and vinegar of interior desolation..."Each communion we receive cost Jesus the sacrifice of Calvary...Holy Communion is a banquet from heaven prepared with the blood of Jesus and the bitterness of His Heart." (11)
The Priestly Call to Holiness The priest is called to participate in Jesus' death-resurrection in a most special way. Vatican II speaks to us about the priestly life of holiness.
"By the sacrament of orders, priests are configured to Christ the Priest so that as ministers of the Head and coworkers of the episcopal order they can build up and establish His whole Body which is the Church. Already, indeed in the consecration of baptism, like all Christians, they received the sign and the gift of so lofty a vocation and a grace that even despite human weakness they can and must pursue according to the Lord's words: 'You therefore are to be perfect, even as your heavenly Father is perfect.' (Mt 5:48)."To the acquisition of this perfection, priests are bound by a special claim, since they have been consecrated to God in a new way by the reception of orders. They have become living instruments of Christ the eternal priest so that through the ages they can accomplish His wonderful work of reuniting the whole society of men with heavenly power. Therefore, since every priest in his own way represents Christ Himself, he is enriched with special grace."Priestly holiness itself contributes very greatly to a fruitful fulfillment of the priestly ministry. True, the grace of God can complete the work of salvation even through unworthy ministers. Yet ordinarily God desires to manifest His works through those whom we have been made particularly docile to the impulse and guidance of the Holy Spirit. Because of their intimate union with Christ and their holiness of life, these men can say with the apostle: 'It is now no longer I that live, but Christ lives in me' (Gal. 2:20)." (12)
The Christian and the World Vatican II reminds us that Christ in His paschal mystery has entered into the world's history, has taken this history to Himself, and has summarized it:
"For God's Word, through whom all things were made, was Himself made flesh and dwelt on the earth of men. Thus He entered the world's history as a perfect man, taking that history up into Himself and summarizing it. He Himself revealed to us that 'God is love' (1 Jn 4:8). At the same time he taught us that the new command of love was the basic law of human perfection and hence of the world's transformation."To those, therefore, who believe in divine love, He gives assurance that the way of love lies open to all men and that the effort to establish a universal brotherhood is not a hopeless one. He cautions them at the same time that this love is not something to be reserved for important matters, but must be pursued chiefly in the ordinary circumstances of life."Undergoing death itself for all of us sinners, He taught us by example that we too must shoulder that cross which the world and the flesh inflict upon those who search after peace and justice. Appointed Lord by His resurrection and given plenary power in heaven and on earth, Christ is now at work in the hearts of men through the energy of His Spirit. He arouses not only a desire for the age to come, but, by that very fact, he animates, purifies, and strengthens those noble longings too by which the human family strives to make its life more human and to render the whole earth submissive to the goal."Now, the gifts of the Spirit are diverse. He calls some to give clear witness to the desire for a heavenly home and to keep that desire green among the human family. He summons others to dedicate themselves to the earthly service of men and to make ready the material of the celestial realm by this ministry of theirs. Yet He frees all of them so that by putting aside love of self and bringing all earthly resources into the service of human life they can devote themselves to that future when humanity itself will become an offering accepted by God."The Lord left behind a pledge of this hope and strength for life's journey in that sacrament of faith where natural elements refined by man are changed into His glorified Body and Blood, providing a meal of brotherly solidarity and a foretaste of the heavenly banquet." (13)
Serving Others Our participation in Jesus' death-resurrection includes our service of love to others.
In rarer moments of heroic reflection, we perhaps have dreamed of sensational ways through which we may be called to lay down our lives for our neighbor. For most of us, however, such opportunities will probably never occur, and this is just as well. Our courage could well be far less in a real situation than it is in the inflated proportions of dreamlike musings. Most people perform much better in the less heroic atmosphere of everyday sameness. Yet each day, so ordinarily similar to both the one which has preceded and the one which will follow, offers constant opportunities for the laying down of one's life for others. If these daily opportunities are less sensational than the more heroic occasions, they are much more numerous and therefore much more consistently present as possibilities for serving others.
Dying daily for others means many things. It means curbing those persistent, selfish tendencies which, if left unchecked, gradually narrow our vision so that we hardly think of anyone but ourselves. Dying daily for others means working at being kind and patient-seemingly little things, but immensely important in maintaining a spirit of harmony in the course of human affairs. Dying daily for others means fidelity to our work, even though this fidelity must be expressed amid temptations such as discouragement, laziness, and disinterest. Dying daily for our neighbor means these and many other things, some of which we all share in common, some of which are peculiar to each person's uniqueness. One of these common elements is this: dying for others in daily and varied fashion is an expression of our present concern while at the same time it increases our capacity for future love.
Jesus, of course, is our great exemplar regarding the service of others:
"You know that among the pagans the rulers lord it over them, and their great men make their authority felt. This is not to happen among you. No; anyone who wants to be great among you must be your servant, and anyone who wants to be first among you must be your slave, just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Mt 20:25-28).
Pope John Paul II Speaks
About Children and All of UsThe children of the world are among our most precious treasures. The Holy Father speaks insightfully about children and all of us.
"Little children very soon learn about life. They watch and imitate the behavior of adults. They rapidly learn love and respect for others, but they also quickly absorb the poison of violence and hatred. Family experiences strongly condition the attitudes which children will assume as adults. Consequently, if the family is the place where children first encounter the world, the family must be for children the first school of peace."Parents have an extraordinary opportunity to help their sons and daughters to become aware of this great treasure: the witness of their mutual love. It is by loving each other that they enable the child, from the very first moment of its existence, to grow up in peaceful surroundings, imbued with the positive values which make up the family's true heritage: mutual respect and acceptance, listening, sharing, generosity, forgiveness. Thanks to the sense of working together which these values foster, they provide a true education for peace and make the child, from its earliest years, an active builder of peace."Children share with their parents and brothers and sisters the experience of life and hope. They see how life's inevitable trials are met with humility and courage, and they grow up in an atmosphere of esteem for others and respect for opinions different from their own."It is above all in the home that, before even a word is spoken, children should experience God's love in the love which surrounds them. In the family they learn that God wants peace and mutual understanding among all human beings, who are called to be one great family."Children are not a burden of society; they are not a means of profit or people without rights. Children are precious members of the human family, for they embody its hopes, its expectations and its potential."Peace is a gift of God; but man and woman must first accept this gift in order to build a peaceful world. People can do this only if they have a childlike simplicity of heart. This is one of the most profound and paradoxical aspects of the Christian message: to become childlike is more than just a moral requirement but a dimension of the mystery of the Incarnation itself."The Son of God did not come in power and glory, as he will at the end of the world, but as a child, needy and poor. Fully sharing our human condition in all things but sin (cf. Heb 4:15), he also took on the frailty and hope for the future which are part of being a child. After that decisive moment for the history of humanity, to despise childhood means to despise the One who showed the greatness of his love by humbling himself and forsaking all glory in order to redeem mankind..."Jesus asked the disciples to become 'children' again (Mk 10:14-15). Jesus thus turned around our way of thinking. Adults need to learn from children the ways of God: seeing children's capacity for complete trust, adults can learn to cry out with true confidence, 'Abba, Father!'"To become like a little child–with a complete trust in the Father and with the meekness taught by the Gospel–is not only an ethical imperative: it is a reason for hope. Even where the difficulties are so great as to lead to discouragement and the power of evil so overwhelming as to dishearten, those who can rediscover the simplicity of a child can begin to hope anew. This is possible above all for those who know they can trust in a God who desires harmony among all persons in the peaceful communion of his kingdom. It is also possible for those who, though not sharing the gift of faith, believe in the values of forgiveness and solidarity and see in them–not without the hidden action of the Spirit–the possibility of renewing the face of the earth."It is therefore to men and women of good will that I address this confident appeal. Let us all unite to fight every kind of violence and to conquer war! Let us create the conditions which will ensure that children can receive as the legacy of our generation a more united and fraternal world!" (14)
Prayer Our growth according to Jesus' pattern of death-resurrection is impossible without a life of prayer. Growth in prayer not only increases our love of God, but also enhances our loving concern for others.
A great example of this is seen in the study of the prayer life of Catherine of Sienna, saint and doctor of the church. Sr. Mary O'Driscoll, O.P., tells us:
"Twenty-six of Catherine of Sienna's prayers have been preserved for us. With one possible exception, they are not prayers that she herself wrote or even dictated to others. Rather, they were transcribed by her followers who were present as she prayed aloud. All of these prayers belong to the last four years of her life. They impress us by their simplicity, their intense concentration on God, who is repeatedly praised and thanked, and their constant desire for the salvation of others..."As her Prayers make evident, Catherine of Sienna was a great intercessor. In them we find her pleading with God persistently and urgently for mercy for all the world, the Church, the pope, her friends and followers, all in need. It is obvious that she does not regard intercession as merely a passing prayer to God on behalf of one or other persons in time of crisis, but rather as an expression of her deep, loving, permanent commitment both to God and to her neighbors. In Catherine's own life, the importance and intensity of her intercession increased according as her union with God and her concern for others increased. This observation tells us something very significant about the prayer of intercession in the Christian life, namely, that it is not, as is sometimes thought, a type of prayer which one passes on the way to the heights of mystical prayer, as though intercession were for beginners and mysticism for those who are advanced in the spiritual life, but! as a type of prayer which belongs most particularly to the life of contemplative union with God." (15)
Act of Consecration Lord Jesus, Chief Shepherd of the Flock, I consecrate my priestly life to your Heart, pierced on Calvary for love of us. From your pierced Heart the Church was born, the Church you have called me, as a priest, to serve in a most special way. You reveal Your Heart as symbol of Your love in all its aspects, including Your most special love for me, whom you have chosen as Your priest-companion. Help me always to pour out my life in love of God and neighbor. Heart of Jesus, I place my trust in you!
Dear Blessed Virgin Mary, I consecrate myself to your maternal and Immaculate Heart, this Heart which is symbol of your life of love. You are the Mother of my Savior. You are also my Mother. You love me with the most special love as this unique priest-son. In a return of love I give myself entirely to your motherly love and protection. You followed Jesus perfectly. You are His first and perfect disciple. Teach me to imitate you in the putting on of Christ. Be my motherly intercessor so that, through your Immaculate Heart, I may be guided to an ever closer union with the pierced heart of Jesus, Chief Shepherd of the Flock, who leads me to the Father in the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit in Our Lives The Holy Spirit desires to fashion us into an ever greater likeness of Christ according to Jesus' pattern of death-resurrection. Mary our Mother cooperates with the Spirit, whose spouse she is, in this process. Obviously, we should pray to the Holy Spirit each day. There are many ways we can do this. We can do this by simply turning our attention to the Spirit at various times during the day as we ask for His guidance. This method can also be complemented by saying certain established prayers. Here is a Holy Spirit prayer from the Church's Liturgy of the Hours:
- Father, Lord of earth and heaven,
- King to whom all gifts belong,
- Give Your greatest Gift, your Spirit,
- God the holy, God the strong.
- Son of God, enthroned in glory,
- Send your promised Gift of grace,
- Make Your Church Your holy Temple,
- God the Spirit's dwelling place.
- Spirit, come, in peace descending
- As at Jordan, heav'nly Dove,
- Seal Your Church as God's anointed,
- Set our hearts on fire with love.
- Stay among us, God the Father,
- Stay among us, God the Son,
- Stay among us, Holy Spirit:
- Dwell within us, make us one. (16)
Letters We thank all those who have taken the time to write to us. We very much appreciate your letters. Space limitations permit us to publish only a few of these:
_______________________________________ Dear Fr. Carter,
Thank you for your valuable newsletter of spirituality for priests.Fraternally,
Msgr. Walter Schroeder
Church of the Magdalene
North Tarrytown, New York_______________________________________ Dear Ed,
I've read every issue of Shepherds of Christ, which is rather rare, because I've received a ton of junk mail every day. Thanks for taking time out to share your inspiring reflections with us who are "too busy."Just a token to defray some of your costs.In Christ,
Msgr. Domenic M. Luong
Mary Queen of Vietnam Church
New Orleans, Louisiana_______________________________________ Dear Father Ed,
Thank you for your Nov/Dec Newsletter. Some paragraphs are clearly gifts of the Holy Spirit for me. Keep up the great work for Jesus Christ.In JMJ,
Gus Biehl, S.M.
East St. Louis, Illinois_______________________________________ Dear Fr. Carter,
Thank you for your most welcome newsletter. I read it gradually, one section at a time, so I can sit with and let sink in the penetrating thoughts you have gleaned from a wonderful variety of sources. If it weren't for this well-chosen digest I would not meet some of the spiritual writers you feature. Yours is an excellent resource for contemplatives on a tight schedule.In Christ's peace,
Frank Desiderio, C.S.P.
St. Paul's College
Washington, D.C._______________________________________ Greetings!
I am enclosing a donation for Shepherds of Christ which I find uplifting and inspiring.Rev. Gino Dalpiaz, C.S.
Scalabrini Mission Center
Stone Park, Illinois
NOTES:
- Scriptural quotations are taken from The Jerusalem Bible, Doubleday & Co.
- Luis Evely, Suffering, Herder & Herder, p. 96.
- Fr. Edward Leen, C.S.Sp., Why the Cross?, Sheed and Ward, pp. 95-96.
- Fr. Peter van Breeman, S.J., As Bread That is Broken, Dimension, p. 95.
- Caryll Houselander, The Way of the Cross, Sheed and Ward, p. 21.
- Bill Clarke, S.J., Enough Room for Joy, Paulist Press, pp 13 and 71.
- St. John of the Cross, as in The Liturgy of the Hours, Catholic Book Publishing Co., Vol I, pp. 1246-1247.
- The Liturgy of the Hours, op. cit., Vol II, p. 403.
- Ibid., p. 543.
- Pope John Paul II, "On the Mystery of and Worship of the Holy Eucharist", April 1980, as in Apostles of the Holy Spirit Bulletin, Winter 1995.
- Archbishop Luis Martinez, Only Jesus, B. Herder Book Co., pp. 212-213.
- The Documents of Vatican II, "Decree on the Ministry and Life of Priests," American Press Edition, Ch 3, No. 12.
- Ibid., "Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World," No. 38.
- Pope John Paul II, "Let us Give Children a Future of Peace," Dec. 8, 1995, as in Inside the Vatican, February, 1996.
- Catherine of Siena, Selected Writings, ed., Mary O'Driscoll, O.P., New City Press, p. 50.
- The Liturgy of the Hours, op. cit., Vol. II, p. 1027.
R. At this same time Jesus gave to me
3 great visions
March 26, 1996
Very carefully discerned by Fr. Carter
R. I came to All Saints Church before a beautiful Monstrance of gold that contained Our beloved Savior. He was adorned in light, the altar beneath shone with the brightest light and the cross behind was entirely silhouetted with the same celestial light. I was overwhelmed with the presence of God and cried deeply from the awe of it all.
To be so aware of the Almighty God truly present in His splendor and glory—to know the presence of God, to see the glistening of the gold and the light and reflection of the cross behind Him—my beauteous love—words do not exist to describe the rapture of a heavenly embrace! I cry because of the immense awe within my being to know Him. God truly present in His majesty and glory and oh, God, I behold the presence of a heavenly court. You opened wide the heavens and lifted up the veil and I knew You in Your splendor and glory. I behold God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
"I am the Way, the Truth and the Life." He is the Almighty God. He shows us the celestial lights with which He will light this earth. Many must surrender their hearts to His Heart and Mary's heart. It is in surrendering, the Spirit will move in the hearts of men and the light of God will shine on the darkened earth. Not with a light that you comprehend, but a light that is divinely granted—a light beyond all lights, a vision beyond all visions. It takes the surrender of minds and hearts to God. The Spirit cannot move in us when we are in control. Surrender and give Him our heart and He will make us fishers of men.
We are His apostles in the Shepherds of Christ Movement. He is sending us out into the world to light the hearts with His burning love. We are chosen by Him and He is giving us abundant graces to grow in our union with Him. He will light this world with His burning love. Our hearts must be open. We must surrender and let go and reach beyond the senses, reach with our hearts. Pray for faith, pray for the vision of God.
Note: I cried all through this writing, having the presence of God and being in great ecstasy to behold Him. May God touch your heart and may His Spirit move within you. May you be filled with the grace of God to surrender and let Him accomplish a great work within you.
And I was filled on high with His miraculous light and He reached down and spoke within me. I was filled as never before and knew the presence of God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Note: As I finished, the bells at All Saints Church rang at 9:00 A.M. As I began to experience the immense splendor, the bells of 8:00 rang. Words do not express anything that I saw or experienced or know from this ecstasy. This was the greatest and the first of three visions, which defined clearly to me our role in the Shepherds of Christ Movement. Jesus defines clearly the role of Fr. Carter in this great mission given to him by the Father.
For Fr. Carter from Jesus:
Jesus: To him who has eyes to see, they will see - not with earthly vision, but with the eyes of faith, and to him who has ears to hear, he will hear with the fluttering of the Spirit moving within him.
I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. I am the Almighty God. I say to the rocks to fall and they fall and to the grass, grow, and it grows, and to the sun, shine, and it shines. I give to you My love in these letters. Filled with My love, you will conquer this earth, not with weapons and powder or force, but with fires of My love. The fire will wipe out the hatred in the cold hearts and the earth will be covered with My celestial light. The earth will rock and I will appear in the heavens adorned in power and glory and the contrite hearts will be saved. I came to separate the sheep from the goats, the light from the darkness. I come and no one pays Me heed.
To you, My beloved son, Father Carter, I have sent you on a mission to spread this fire that will cover this earth. The hearts of men will turn from their sick and desolate ways to hearts gentle as a little lamb.
There will be one flock and one Shepherd and My staff will rule over all. Hearts consecrated to Our Hearts will lead the light across the earth. This light will be a light of intense brightness, brighter and hotter than any light from a flame. It will be the fire of God's love. The Spirit will move in the hearts of all consecrated to My Heart, and you will know how fire truly spreads, for the love of God is a fire. It is vibrant. It is encompassing. It is smoldering, burning deep within and speedily spreading on the outside. No fire on this earth can ever describe the burning embers that burn from the Sacred Heart of Jesus. No fire burns like the fires coming from My Heart and hearts filled with the love from the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
I have written your name, Fr. Carter, in My Heart, never ever to be blotted out and this earth will be renewed with the fire of God's love through you. You are My beloved priest-son, forever, according to the order of Melchizedek. Most holy and most sacred are your hands that consecrate the Host and write My precious newsletter for My beloved priest-sons. You are never unguarded. You are held within the deepest chamber of My Heart, and you will spread My love to the priest-sons of this earth.
I am Jesus. You will spread My love to all souls on this earth. I love you with the tenderest burning love. I am Jesus, your beloved Savior.
April 6, 1996
R. This is what I see when I see a vision. The rocks in the grotto Mary has appeared in glisten and they are sparkling. LINES are not defined, instead they are adorned in light. Saturday (April 6, 1996, Holy Saturday) I saw the whole wall adorned in the brightest light, St. Joseph was surrounded in this thick light, like comes from a fire, like a celestial mirror. I don't know how to describe it, it is as a mirror with light in it, but no light like our human eyes have seen. I looked at St. Joseph and he was pushing the Child Jesus out at us, the Baby coming out glistening in light. The statue of the resurrected Lord was alive. All the flowers were topped with this light. This is how it was and is now at All Saints Church. It is as if heaven has poured its light on the earth and it tops the flowers. All distinct lines are gone. In their place is light. So all I look at has a splendor.
April 9, 1996
R. I went to All Saints Church - saw with eyes unveiled - such an aura
of celestial light. I went to Communion, had the presence of God, wanted to cry so hard from the awe of it all. I was not feeling good and He wrapped me as only He can do in His heavenly embrace. My soul sang out and the vision began. My eyes now are still seeing with this effect. He, as it were, lifts up the hard, defined lines and I see with a celestial aura. This is what I see when I see a vision....
After Communion I had this immense presence of God. I knew a vision was coming. My vision gets a certain way. The distinct lines I see before me begin to disappear and are smudged with light.
Then I saw again the celestial lights of heaven. It was as though light was spilled from heaven and landed on the flowers and the corners of everything. The Eucharist took on an immense warmth and I knew God truly present in this room.
I saw with eyes unveiled in my soul and in the room. The room had a celestial aura, it no longer looked defined and clear. It was bathed in a gentle, celestial film and all I saw I wanted to tell to those around me. But I was so caught in His embrace that my mouth did not want to move.
Grace is being spilled on the earth. I have seen this celestial light come upon the altar of sacrifice, the monstrance and the cross. The vision on March 26 (1996) I will never forget as long as I live. The light is so thick and so intense as if the heavens open in these cracks of light and there is a depth far beyond that which any mind can envision.
The sky opened up and it rained down its grace. It opens when hearts are one in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary.
end of excerpt
R. We are constantly being asked by
God to be changed – converted and
to help in our lives in the
work of redemption –
by going out to others
We see the scripture on the Road
to Emmaus –
The two disciples walk with
Jesus and do not recognize
Him and His wisdom –
God sends people to us in
our lives to teach us
about Himself –
Like Eve – we can reject
the gifts God sends and
become more and more
distorted in our vision –
We can reject having hearts burning
with love for God because we
want it to be our idea instead
of grasping His gift and dying
to our selfish pursuits and
rising in greater life in Him –
"Are not our hearts - burning within
us"
Luke 24: 35
Then they told their story of what had happened on the road and how they had recognised him at the breaking of bread.
R. Christ paid a precious price so
we could grow in greater faith –
Our gifts are engraved in His
hands, feet, His wounds.
How can we be so closed down
and reject gifts that make
our hearts burn with love –
when we close down and ignore
the first commandment.
1. I, the Lord, am your God. You shall not have other gods besides me.
R. the devil tells us to put our
independence first –
Jesus didn't have a trouble free
life –
He had enemies that scourged Him,
crowned Him, whipped Him and
gave Him a heavy cross to
carry – before they put Him
to death on the cross
Excerpt from Blue Book 12
R. And He took me to the red room, and it was there that I was embraced by the Father’s love. I felt the love of Mary and the permeating action of the Holy Spirit, and I wanted for nothing, for I knew the love of the Almighty God. It was there that I felt so full and so complete. I felt elevated and raised to such heights. I existed in Him.Excerpt from July 4, 1996 Rosary
7.
Jesus:
This is the oneness that I want with each one of you. I want to be one in your hearts. You must surrender that I can unite to you. Let go of all of those things that keep us apart. Let go of any division, bitterness, anger, hatred in your heart, that I will unite in the deepest love to your heart. I love you. I love you. I love you.
Excerpt from July 5, 1996 Rosary
Presentation in the Temple
5.
R. Then the Most Holy Virgin said, “Look, my daughter atmy heart, surrounded with thorns, with which ungrateful men pierce me at every moment with their blasphemies and ingratitude. You, at least try to console me in announcing my name. I promise to assist in the moment of death, with all graces necessary for salvation, all those that on the First Saturdays of five consecutive months attend Mass, Confession and meditation on the rosary.” How serious are we in observing this First Saturday devotion? Mary said at Fatima that the peace of the world depends on three things in particular: consecration of our hearts to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary, praying the rosary, and the First Saturday devotion. We see that Mary’s heart was pierced with a sword, but she appeared and told us how her heart is pierced because of the ingratitude of men. Think of how Mary is neglected today in her motherhood. She is a the singular vessel. Mary is our Mother, given to us by Jesus under the cross. It is through her heart that we know the Almighty God in such love. Let’s ask Mary to take our heart now and to take our heart to the deepest recesses of the Heart of her Son that we may be united in such deep love of the Almighty God.
Excerpt from July 13, 1996 The Devil Tries to Stop Us
Jesus:
The devil works in fear. The devil attacks your minds and your minds are filled with fear. Fear brings punishment. Perfect love casts out fear. When you begin to fear you must respond in love and trust. The evil one works in fear to attack you. I am guarding and watching you. Do not fear!
Excerpt from July 16, 1996 Rosary
7.
Jesus: I am with you at every second, as you breathe and as your heart beats. I am with you, I am guarding you and I am protecting you. I come to you, My beloved ones, to give to you a greater sharing in My life. Open your hearts and let Me penetrate your soul with My life. I love you. I love you. I love you.l0. R. It is through Baptism that we receive a sharing in His life. Life comes from the Father, in the Spirit, through the pierced Heart of Jesus, through the heart of Mary to us. We are to be God’s instrument in the world.
Excerpt from July 23, 1996 Rosary
3. Jesus: O My beloved ones, I come to you with a Heart of love. There is so much division and hatred in your world. I am asking you, at this moment, to open your heart and to let Me fill your heart with My love. The evil one has tempted you to fill your hearts with hate. You must put as ideal division in your hearts, and open your heart now, that I can pour My love into your heart and heal the wounds in your heart. I am Jesus. I am as close as your breath. You must surrender to Me. In these trials I have taught you lessons, lessons that will help you to come and be united to Me. I love you. I love you. I love you.
10.
R. Love is relationship. We see the relationship between the Hearts of Jesus and Mary early in His life, for the two Hearts were joined within one body. Jesus wants us to venerate His Heart next to the heart of His Mother. It is in joining in one heart, in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary, that we will all be one with each other.Song:
Little Child
Excerpt from August 20, 1996
God Made Them Male and Female
Jesus:
Oh, hearts of men, so haughty and proud. Oh, eyes of My beloved ones, so blind. Oh, minds so set in your ways. I am the way, the truth and the life. You, My child, will struggle with power and control.I will give to those who read My messages in
God’s Blue Books abundant graces to grow in their closeness to My Heart. (You must write as I speak to you). I am giving them grace. These are My letters of love for them.Haughty hearts will not unite to My Heart. Haughty hearts will not spread the fire of My love to the world. All involved as Apostles in the Shepherds of Christ Movement must spend one hour in front of the tabernacle daily. They must give themselves to Me in total surrender. They must give their hearts in total surrender to the heart of My Mother. Haughty hearts will not unite to Our Hearts.
Read February 6, 1994 message in
Blue Book II. Read March 13, 1994 in Blue Book II. I call, I am ignored. I have surrounded you with My Apostles who live the messages. Those who fight these messages will battle with Me. They will suffer and be paralyzed in their tracks. I will not fool with those who have rejected the great gifts I have given to them any longer.I will proceed ahead in the hearts that live these messages. Satan has caused confusion and horrendous problems through those who refuse to obey, study and live My messages. The hearts of many priests are haughty and prideful. Only in coming to My Heart, through My Mother’s heart, will they melt away their cold, hard, prideful hearts.
You must make every attempt to spread this consecration to the world, especially in churches. As people in the churches understand this consecration they will help lead the stubborn ones to the life of consecration.
The newsletter will reach the hearts of many priests. Rooted in love and tenderness, the hearts of many priests and religious will be moved by the feeling in these newsletters. Love is love. God is love. Love must be in the hearts of men. Love will be in the Church as you spread My emotion to the world. I beg you to study the messages in
Blue Book II. This is a key to unlock the hearts of those who are closed down.My priests are the key to spread My burning love in My churches. Priests who come to Me each day for an hour and pray before the tabernacle will turn hearts to My love. I will caress them, hold them, give them grace to be so close to Me! Priests must give their hearts to My Mother. It is only through Mary’s heart they will have this tender love relationship with Me. This is the key. I left behind the apostles to carry out My work. The apostles were all men. It is in the heart of My Mother the Holy Spirit sanctifies the heart and makes it holy. Priests must come in the heart of Mary. Her heart is pure. Her heart is sinless. Her heart is humble.
I came into the world in the womb of My Mother.
Excerpt from August 27, 1996 Rosary
4. Jesus: I no longer walk this earth, My beloved ones. I live in your heart. You must open your heart at this moment and let Me fill you with My love. So as you are in your hearts, you will be in this world. I am alive. I am alive. I am alive, and I live in you. Who are you that the Almighty God lives in you?
Excerpt from August 30, 1996 - Things of the Heart
Love is sacrifice! Love is great in the giving of ourselves as a sacrifice with Christ, in the Holy Spirit, to the Father. The priest and the people are one in their hearts with the Hearts of Jesus and Mary. They are One Body in Him and, as we unite, each day, to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, throughout the world, in our Morning Offering, with consecrated hearts, we are all one in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary.
Excerpt from September 3, 1996 Rosary
The Annunciation
7.
Jesus: You are the children of light. And there appeared in the sky a woman clothed as the sun, and you are lighted within the spiritual womb of My Mother, her Immaculate Heart.The Presentation in the Temple
6. Jesus: You are My holy hearts that I have chosen. You are My apostles that I will send into the world. It is My light that will shine from your face. Many will be touched because ofyour purity of heart, My dear ones. You must surrender and let go of those things that are not of Me, and I will give to you My Divine gifts, My treasures found deep within My Heart. In order to go to the depths of My Heart, you must let go of those things that are not like Me.
7. Jesus: The sun shines on the wax and it melts, and the sun shines on the mud and it is hard. Let My light shine on your heart and make your heart a heart that is soft and supple. It is in doing the will of My Father, living every moment of your life according to His will with love, that you will have peace. You must surrender, My beloved ones, for this is what your soul craves. Nothing on the face of this earth will satisfy you but this. Senseless pleasures, senseless pleasures and people lose their souls. My beloved ones, will you be pure and loving to help change other hearts. You are My instrument that I am using in this world today. Your heart must be holy and pure. In each prayer that you pray united to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, grace will flow on this world. Pray for the souls at Mass. You pray to the saints because of their intercessory prayer. Let go of all the poisons that you take within your body that contaminate your heart. The world today is contaminated. You must give to the world the mighty medicine, the messages of My burning love. Be a channel of My love.
The Finding in the Temple
8.
Jesus: I send you into the world, My beloved ones, to carry the message of My love for the world is hurting and in pain. The world is filled with poison and contaminated. You can help many souls to know Me. I call you to the highest holiness, I outpour My grace to you, My holy soul. Will you say yes?R.
Mary said yes to the angel, and she was crowned “Queen of Heaven and Earth.” This is the same plan of the Father. Adam and Eve sinned. Jesus is our Savior. Forever and ever and ever, we will be wrapped in the deepest embrace of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and it depends on our level of holiness here how deeply we will unite to Them. So why isn’t everyone on this earth concerned with their union with the Almighty God?Jesus:
It is a grace, My dear ones. I have chosen you. The Blessed Mother was chosen by the Father to be the Mother of Jesus. You are chosen. You are chosen by Me to be so close to My Heart. Will you say yes? Do you realize how important your life is to the Father’s plan. It is a grace, a grace that you have received, that you have responded to. It is a grace. It is a grace why you are here. It is a grace when a soul is holy. It is because of the grace that I give to them and they respond to the grace. You have been given extraordinary graces and much will be expected of you, but many, many souls will be touched through your prayers and your prayers at Mass. It is in that oneness in the Hearts of Jesus and Mary, united to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, that grace is spilled out in abundance on the earth. O My holy soul, will you hear Me call? Will you look at that person crawled in the corner with a tear in their eye, and will you give them the messages of My love, or will you hold back and let them suffer? How about the 17 year old that you know is suffering and needing to know of My love? Will you extend your hand and tell them that I love them, or will you hold back? You must pray the Prayer for Union everyday. You must not be concerned with what others are thinking of you, do the will of your Father. You must keep your total focus on what God is telling you, that you may respond with your directions from God. I am Jesus. I am calling you, please, please. Your life is so important to the Father’s plan. You have been called and given an extraordinary grace, each one of you in this room, pray. Pray for the circulation of these messages, that grace will be given, and that their hearts will respond to My message of love. I am Jesus. I am longing to hear you tell Me how much you love Me.
Excerpt from September 14, 1996
At Mass our Heart Beat for Love of Thee
Jesus:
I come to bring My love to this world. I beg you to circulate these rosaries from the Hearts of Jesus and Mary.
Excerpt from September 17, 1996
6. Jesus: Come to Me. Come to Me, and make your home in My Heart.
end of excerpts from Blue Book 12
Acts 3: 20-26
and so that the Lord may send the time of comfort. Then he will send you the Christ he has predestined, that is Jesus, whom heaven must keep till the universal restoration comes which God proclaimed, speaking through his holy prophets. Moses, for example, said, "From among your brothers the Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me; you will listen to whatever he tells you. Anyone who refuses to listen to that prophet shall be cut off from the people." In fact, all the prophets that have ever spoken, from Samuel onwards, have predicted these days.
'You are the heirs of the prophets, the heirs of the covenant God made with your ancestors when he told Abraham, "All the nations of the earth will be blessed in your descendants". It was for you in the first place that God raised up his servant and sent him to bless you as every one of you turns from his wicked ways.'
R. God spoke through the mouth
of his holy prophets
They didn't believe Jesus –
Thomas lacked faith
Peter and John were arrested –
Peter says – you rejected Jesus –
Jesus - the cornerstone –
Acts 4: 6-12
with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, Jonathan, Alexander and all the members of the high-priestly families. They made the prisoners stand in the middle and began to interrogate them, 'By what power, and by whose name have you men done this?' Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, addressed them, ‘Rulers of the people, and elders! If you are questioning us today about an act of kindness to a cripple and asking us how he was healed, you must know, all of you, and the whole people of Israel, that it is by the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, whom you crucified, and God raised from the dead, by this name and by no other that this man stands before you cured. This is the stone which you, the builders, rejected but which has become the cornerstone. Only in him is there salvation; for of all the names in the world given to men, this is the only one by which we can be saved.’
R.
The Apostles were fishing and
caught nothing –
Jesus told them what to do –
They caught so many
for listening to Jesus
after catching
nothing –
Faith, Faith, Faith!
Matthew 16: 9-15
When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi he put this question to his disciples, ‘Who do people say the Son of man is?’ And they said, ‘Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ ‘But you,’ he said, ‘who do you say I am?’Do you still not understand? Do you not remember the five loaves for the five thousand and the number of baskets you collected? Or the seven loaves for the four thousand and the number of baskets you collected? How could you fail to understand that I was not talking about bread? What I said was: Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.' Then they understood that he was telling them to be on their guard, not against yeast for making bread, but against the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
R. We can see ourselves alone until
we let go and let God take
our hand and lead us.
R. Keeping a thought journal – What
does it mean if we really looked at
our thoughts all day.
Are they thoughts of putting God's
will first, being His little child and
God our Heavenly Father who guides
and watches us.
Are they thoughts of love and unity
and building up the men on earth?
Are we really united to the Mass all
day, the sacrifice of Calvary, making
all our day, a day we live to know,
love and serve God.
We take in things in our mind all
day. I know I dream at night
but almost as soon as I wake, sometimes,
I can't remember my dreams. When
I do a rosary and I receive messages
I go to a different level of consciousness,
and it is so peaceful and wonderful.
I know in the level of operating
in consciousness all day, thoughts
can hang that are gripping and can
be negative thoughts, or fearful thoughts –
last week Jesus said "like bats in
the belfry" what I thought was satan
can press in thoughts like bats in
the attic hung to the ceiling and can
keep trying to press down. Negative,
selfish, belaboring, fearful,
but I like to remember this scripture
Jesus told me to put in the Holy Spirit Novena –
1 John 4: 17-21
Love comes to its perfection in us when we can face the Day of Judgement fearlessly, because even in this world we have become as he is. In love there is no room for fear, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear implies punishment and no one who is afraid has come to perfection in love. Let us love, then, because he first loved us. Anyone who says 'I love God' and hates his brother, is a liar, since whoever does not love the brother whom he can see cannot love God whom he has not seen. Indeed this is the commandment we have received from him, that whoever loves God, must also love his brother.
R. I like the state of consciousness
that is deeply united to God and knowing
and loving God in peace and trust
and love. I like that freedom of living
to be under God's will, letting go and
being the creature under my Heavenly
Father – the Creator and knowing
God's embrace in my life –
It is an embrace of perpetual
love, which is reality – God loved
us into existence – When I am
united to God, I am united to love
itself. Enslavement of ones being can
be from listening to satan who bears
down in fear thoughts, negative thoughts
like bats in the belfry Jesus says.
I like the message Jesus first gave
in Blue Book I, May 13, 1993. I had gone
to Conyers and the darkness covered
the sky like a cap. Mary gave Nancy
a message about how darkness
would continue and the sky had
this darkness in a line. I was
with my two younger children because
we went there to pray and it was
powerful.
After part of the rosary we went
to leave and a wind came up and almost
blew us off our feet – our umbrellas
went inside out, the rain beat down
and there was such a crowd and traffic
I lost the two children.
I was upset, I had suffered so
much when I went to my car and I
threw the wet things in the trunk,
my socks were soaked, my shoes like
little boats, the camera was sopping
wet and I wanted to cry from the fear
of losing my children and the torrential
weather. I got in the car and a peace
came over me like, the sun silently
rising in a sun rise – so quick, so
deliberate –
everything dried up and my daughter
had the same peace – As I drove
away I dictated this message to her –
in her handwriting as I drove away –
Cling to Me
May 13, 1993
Jesus: My dear child, if you stay close to Me, then I live in you and you live in Me. I am He Who created you and I love you with such an intensity that you will never know. My words are your truth. You must abide in My heart in all things. There is no room for doubt. My ways are steadfast, direct, and without error.
You must stay rooted in Me to ward off the power of the evil one. His grip is paralyzing and crippling. His power is stronger every day.
When you live in Me, I am in your heart and he has no power over Me. I am your God. I am your true lover. I want to protect you. I want to guard you from this force. Stay rooted firmly in Me and he will have no power.
I am He Who comforts you. My hand is upon you. Hold tight to Me, My child. My eyes are fixed right on you. You are My most precious child. I love you as no other can. My arms are about you. My tenderness surrounds you. My love is in your heart. You go not alone. I walk with you.
I share every aspect of your life with you. Cling to Me, feel My presence. It is warm and secure within your chest. There is no room for fear, for I cast out fear and bring you comfort and joy.
end of May 13, 1993
R. As we drove home – the miracle of the
sun followed us from Atlanta to Cincinnati
and we all knew God had touched us
in a way I could never explain - with
peace and love.
We made a video of much of this, I
am not sure where it is.
I was accounting this in the May 13, 1997
rosary on Tom's Farm 4 years later
in the 4th mystery. We have a video
of this as John led the rosary and I
received the meditations. The tape
went out in the 4th mystery as
I talked about this, as I
spoke overlooking the river –
Here is a picture of the large statues
we used on the 13ths.
R. After the rosary, the wind came up
there, just was it had 4 years before –
I as literally afraid of being
blown off my feet down the hill –
everybody ran for Tom's barn, the
chairs, the swing – everything
blew over, I was about to abandon
my keyboard.
Then we saw the statues had
blown over.
Mary was decapitated in such
a way a diagonal went
through her Immaculate Heart –
on a diagonal and here is the
pictures.
R. It was interesting to me how the
big picture of Our Lady of Clearwater on
the Farm at the rosary was taken next to
Mary's head face upon the ground –
her body was front down.
Look at what happened at Clearwater
March 1, 2004 – 7 years later
March 1, 2004
March 1, 2004
March 1, 2004
March 1, 2004
R. The Jesus statue too –
fell to the ground –
All this happened May 13, 1997 after
this long rosary in which the weather was
pretty quiet for hours.
This DVD of this rosary is
available on disc with the pictures
of the surprise wind and the
overturned scene afterwards.
Jesus told me to put things at the end,
I think some were cut off, though.
The rosary, Blue Book 13, October 13, 1996
was what Jesus called – His part with
the Fatima message, 18 years ago.
The 13ths started with 500 people
at Tom's Farm October 13, 1996, (rosary
available). Then November 13, 1996 recorded
and available. December 13, 1996 recorded
and available.
All transcribed in Blue Book 13.
Mary appeared in Clearwater December 17, 1996
and Fr. Carter had told me to record all
these happenings and we put them
in the Apostles Manual.
The 13ths continued January 13, 1997
(Blue Book 14), February 13, 1997, (Blue Book 14),
March 13, 1997 (Blue Book 14), then April 13, 1997
and this was the 8th 13th,
May 13, 1997 on Tom's Farm (Blue Book 15)
Here is the rosary hard copy
I received Blue Book 15, May 13, 1997.
We are about ready to print
Blue Book 13 which has the first 3, 13ths,
the rosary and then Mary appearing
in Clearwater December 17, 1996.
The book at the end has the All-Night message
in which Jesus summed things up,
December 29, 1996.
In the Blue Book 14 I received 2 very
strong messages from God the Father,
January 11, 1997 and January 18, 1997 –
There was such turmoil since the
first 13th, October 13, 1996. It really
began toward the end of Blue Book 12,
messengers who would say
Jesus told them to stop me –
Despite all of the turmoil I like what
I heard in the scriptures over the
weekend –
if it is of God - it will last –
for the men fighting a messenger
from God are fighting God
and what the messenger is saying, if it is
from God, will last –
As soon as the 13ths started there
was opposition to the 13ths you
can read about in Blue Book 13 along
with the fantastic gifts God gave
with the apparition of Clearwater
December 17, 1996.
We need money to print this
book. If several people would
help us it is the 13th book –
the beginning of the 13ths and
Our Lady of Clearwater's appearance December 17, 1996
happened in Blue Book 13 after Jesus
said, it was His answer to the
Fatima message when He told
me to gather October 13, 1996.
Please help us.
Rosary of May 13, 1997 (Blue Book 15)
May 13, 1997 Rosary on Tom's Farm
THE GLORIOUS MYSTERIES
The Resurrection
1. Jesus speaks: Open wide your hearts, My beloved ones, for I am with you in a special way on this day. There are many changes that are occurring in your lives. You must let go and surrender for I am separating the sheep from the goats and you will be a strong body. You will be a body joined in one mind and one heart to help carry the light into the darkness. Do not be afraid for I am here and My Mother is here in a special way. I will guard you.
Song: "I will be with you."
2. Messenger: And so where does our journey take us. This is the Shepherds of Christ Movement. It is not yet three years old and it has spread internationally all over this world. We have received many messages from Jesus, from Mary, and from the Father telling us how we could advance in spreading the love of the Sacred Heart and helping to bring about His reign and the triumph of her Immaculate Heart. We have been given so many messages that will help renew the Church and the world. We have been given prayers in the prayer manual, that will help to turn the priests hearts to holy priests. And this is our mission, our mission is to help renew the Church and the world and bring about the completion of the Fatima message. The Fatima mission has been oppressed for 80 years. It has been blocked over and over again in the Church and in the world. Do we think that Mary will go away? Do we think that the Father will change His plan because of willful men? Is this not the reason why we are in this state to begin with? For it is that Eve ate of the fruit and Adam and Eve sinned, an act of the will in which they did their will over God's. And it is that the Father is well pleased when we obey His will. How is our world today? Is our world aligned with the will of the Father or are we a willful race? I would like to read to you the message of the Father given on January the 18th. It is most important that you also read this message and the message of the Father from January 11th and study these messages. We must see things as from the Father's perspective as from the I Am. We must see them in their whole view. We are creatures that are walking the earth but we must see that sinful man has disobeyed the Father and that we must make reparation to Him for our sins. Adam and Eve sinned. God came into this world to save us from our sins. Mary appears at Fatima and she tells us, "You must, my beloved children, come through my Immaculate Heart. You must make reparation. You must tell God that you are sorry for your sins," and we ignore her. But she promises to us that there will be a great reign in which the Sacred Heart of Jesus will reign, in which men will know God in this great light similar to before when Adam and Eve had the light, that there will be this great era of intimacy with God, and man will know God. But why, why, should God lead us in to the great era of peace and love? Have we shown God that we recognize the fact that we are sinners, that we are sorry for our sins, that we come to Him as little dependent children, that we love God with our whole heart, our whole soul and our whole being, and that we want to make reparation for our sins? Or do we come with haughty hearts, with willfulness and we do not listen to the Father? Why should we go into this new era? The new era will come about. It will come about peaceably if we do what they have told us to do. The Father is telling us now very strongly exactly what we must do. We must begin these prayer chapters to help to lead the priests to holiness, to help renew the Church and the world, to help to bring about consecration in the hearts of the priests, of the sisters, of the people. The Father is telling us what to do. He gave great gifts at Falmouth. This is what He said, "I gave great gifts to you allowing Mary to appear and because of willful men they did not cherish these gifts and so I used Falmouth as an example of the chastisements to come if you do not obey. And what am I telling you to do, My children? I am telling you to begin these prayer chapters. I am telling you to pray as my Son Jesus has instructed you to pray. I am telling you to spread this priestly newsletter that it will greatly renew the Church and the world." The devil will try to do everything he can to stop us. But the Father has told us over and over again that we must begin these prayer chapters, that we must pray these prayers fervently ourselves, that there will be this era of great peace and love. In December, if you study the all night message, (December 29, 1996) if you study the messages of Jesus and Mary, you see the intensity as it builds. Mary says, "I cannot hold back the hand of my Son any more." October the 5th, "His hand is struck with power." Jesus appears on the cross on December the 5th after Mary appeared for two years and four months and His mouth is moving and He says, later, that no one is listening to Him. Then I received strong messages December the 19th, December the 22nd. December the 19th Mary says that she appears on a building in Florida because we have made money our God. She also says that the time is nigh." And Jesus gives to me a strong message for the first time and He said, "There will be chastisements and the moon will turn to blood and I am telling you what you must do. You must go to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. The grace is outpoured in the Mass." On December the 22nd, He gives another message where He speaks about chastisements. All of these messages in the sequence is very important to the Father's plan. They are in the Apostles Manual. The Father begins to speak in January and He says, "You have ignored my Son and now you will ignore Me?" And so I received the strongest messages all through December and February to where I had knots in my stomach and He kept talking about Falmouth and He kept saying how we did not cherish the gifts that He had given. And then there was the flood. And after this the Father said that this was only a little example of what is to come if we do not do as He has asked us to do. It is so simple. We are children that are willful. We are children that must obey our Father. We must pray. We must tell Him that we are sorry for our sins. The prayers in the prayer manual are the prayers that Jesus gave to us to help to turn the priests to holy priests, to help to renew the Church and the world, and to help to bring about the completion of the Fatima message. The priestly newsletter is written by Father Carter but Jesus is writing the newsletter through him to teach His priests about His burning love, to teach them all that they need to know to be holy priests celebrating the Mass and ministering to all of the people. This is a great gift from God and in all great gifts that are given we experience much suffering as we see in the life of Jesus, for He died but He rose on the third day.
3. The message of the angel from Fatima says this: "The angel came… bearing a golden chalice in one hand and a Host above it in the other. The amazed children noticed that drops of blood were falling from the Host into the chalice. Presently, the angel left both suspended in mid-air and prostrated himself on the ground saying, this beautiful prayer: 'Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I adore You profoundly. I offer You the most precious Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ, present in all tabernacles of the world, in reparation for the outrages, sacrileges, and indifferences by which He is offended. By the infinite merits of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and [the intercession of] the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I beg of Thee the conversion of poor sinners.'"(The Spirituality of Fatima and Medjugorje, p. 9)
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© 2014 Shepherds of Christ.