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Given June 16, 2010

                The priest said at Mass:

                Elijah and Elisha had a
                    special relationship with God —

                The Things they did by the power of
                    God, not of their own
                    works

Almsgiving                 Prayer                 Fasting

Religious practices are done — trying to do it better — to be better

                In the past few days in the scriptures

                We heard about our
                    relationship with others
                    revenge etc. —

Matthew 5: 43-48

    ‘You have heard how it was said, You will love your neighbour and hate your enemy. But I say this to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you; so that you may be children of your Father in heaven, for he causes his sun to rise on the bad as well as the good, and sends down rain to fall on the upright and the wicked alike. For if you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Do not even the tax collectors do as much? And if you save your greetings for your brothers, are you doing anything exceptional? Do not even the gentiles do as much? You must therefore be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.’

                We give alms to praise God —
                    not to praise people —
                    we do it for God

                We pray to give honor and glory
                    to God —

                If we aren't doing perfectly what we
                    should — we don't stop doing what
                    God wants —
                    we keep trying to do it
                    better — our motive is
                    pure — for God

                We pray to praise God, to give
                    thanks to God —
                    to petition God —
                    to tell God we are sorry —

                In the sermon on the Mount —
                    God is telling us to
                    improve the things we
                    are doing —
                    we never quit —
                    we admit our deficiency
                        and beg to do it better as
                        imperfectly as we have performed —

                We don't become revengeful
                    and do it working against
                    God —

                As imperfect as it is —
                    we are always trying
                    to do it better —
                    we never lose sight of
                    why we are doing it —

                    We are doing it for God —
                        not revenge
                        not anger
                        not for our own self
                            glory

                We pray for people who
                    go to bed every night
                    in hunger —

                Dear God we know our
                    smallest deeds are
                    in Your hands —
                    Please answer our
                    request — Amen —

                We just want to be better —
                    we act to be better —
                    no matter how imperfect
                    we are —
                    we don't try to work
                        against God —

                We are doing everything
                    for God —

                We do everything for God —
                    not to impress others —
                    or to get them to think we are
                        great —

                If we do it to impress others,
                    for others to see —
                    if we do it so others think
                        we are great —
                    then we already have our
                        reward —

Matthew 6: 1-6, 16-18

'Be careful not to parade your uprightness in public to attract attention; otherwise you will lose all reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give alms, do not have it trumpeted before you; this is what the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win human admiration. In truth I tell you, they have had their reward. But when you give alms, your left hand must not know what your right is doing; your almsgiving must be secret, and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you. 'And when you pray, do not imitate the hypocrites: they love to say their prayers standing up in the synagogues and at the street corners for people to see them. In truth I tell you, they have had their reward. But when you pray, go to your private room, shut yourself in, and so pray to your Father who is in that secret place, and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you.

'When you are fasting, do not put on a gloomy look as the hypocrites do: they go about looking unsightly to let people know they are fasting. In truth I tell you, they have had their reward. But when you fast, put scent on your head and wash your face, so that no one will know you are fasting except your Father who sees all that is done in secret; and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you.

                We give ourselves —
                    all day
                    everyday to God

                We unite to the Mass —
                We give alms to give it to
                    God —
                    not impress others —

                We pray to give honor and
                    glory to God —
                    not so others think
                    we are holy 
 

                We never lose sight of why
                    we are doing things —

                We don't want the glory
                    for ourselves —
                    We recognize we
                    do things with God's
                    might —

                We don't rebel against
                    authority because we
                    think we can do it
                    without God's blessing —

                My Prayer —
                    I love You my God with
                        my whole heart, my
                        whole soul, my whole
                        being —

                    I want to operate according to
                        Your plan —
                        for Your honor and glory —

                    I beg for greater
                        oneness with You —

                    The Father, Son and Holy Spirit
                        dwell in my graced baptized
                        soul —

                    Dear God I know
                        I am never alone —
                    My God — I want You to
                        dwell in me —

                    I am Your instrument —
                    I rely on Your Might —
                    I want to do all things to please You,
                        for unity and in love
                        according to the Father's will —

                    God help me to follow the
                        handmaid Mary —
                        the servant Joseph —

                    The saints who lived by
                        the commandments —
                        who did all things —
                        in obedience
                        according to God's will —
                        in love
                        not for vain glory —
                                                    Amen —

                Jesus: Some people hug
                    their vices like trophies
                    their lives are disharmonious
                    because they always
                    choose rebellion against
                    what they should do —

                I am order —
                I obeyed the Father's will to
                    My death on the cross —

                The person who says —
                    "nobody will ever tell
                    me what to do" is
                    rebellious and their
                    life is in disharmony —
                    because their choices are
                    for division — not in
                    accord with God and
                    others —

                When you wake and say — I will
                    do it my way against
                    God and others —
                    your way is disharmonious
                    it is the way of division and
                    selfishness and you act
                    in desolation against God —
                    you work under the standard
                    of satan and

                The man saying I do it
                    My way against God and
                    others - stands alone —

                The example they give
                    further teaches others —
                    not to obey the commandments —
                    but to go deeper and deeper
                    into darkness — steeped
                    in their vices — 

                Some of the virtues are faith, hope, love,
                    prudence, fortitude, justice,
                    temperance and humility.

                Fr. Carter addresses these virtues in
                    Mother at Our Side —

                Virtuous living is the way
                    of the saints

                Virtues are good habits
                    likened to Mary your
                    spiritual Mother —

                I am love —

                Vices continually blind
                    men and they work
                    with uninformed conscience.

                June 18, 2010

                Today's Readings
 

2 Kings 11: 1-4, 9-18, 20

    When Athaliah mother of Ahaziah learned that her son was dead, she promptly murdered all those of royal stock.

    But Jehosheba, daughter of King Jehoram and sister of Ahaziah, surreptitiously rescued Jehoash son of Ahaziah from among the princes who wer    e to be murdered, and put him with his nurse in the sleeping quarters; in this way she hid him from Athaliah, and he was not killed.

    In the seventh year, Jehoiada sent for the regimental commanders of the Carians and the guards, and had them brought to him in the Temple of Yahweh. He made a pact with them, put them on oath, then showed them the king's son. He gave them this order,

    The regimental commanders did everything as Jehoiada the priest had ordered, and each one brought his men, those coming on duty on the Sabbath and those going off duty on the Sabbath, and reported to Jehoiada the priest. The priest then issued the regimental commanders with King David's spears and shields, which were kept in the Temple of Yahweh. The guards then took position, each man with his weapons in his hand, from the south corner of the Temple to the north corner of the Temple, all round the altar and the Temple. Then Jehoiada brought the king's son out -- crowned him and gave him a copy of the covenant; and they made him king and anointed him, and they clapped their hands and shouted, 'Long live the king!'

    On hearing the people shouting, Athaliah joined the people in the Temple of Yahweh. When she looked, there stood the king on a dais, as the custom was, with the officers and trumpeters at the king's side, and all the people of the country rejoicing and blowing the trumpets; then Athaliah tore her clothes and shouted, 'Treason, treason!' Jehoiada the priest then gave the orders to the commanders in charge of the troops, 'Take her out under guard and put to death anyone who follows her.' 'For', the priest had already said, 'she must not be killed inside the Temple of Yahweh.' They seized her, and when she reached the horses' entry to the palace, she was killed there.

    Jehoiada made a covenant between Yahweh, the king and the people that they would remain Yahweh's people; and another one between the king and the people. All the people of the country then went to the temple of Baal and demolished it; they smashed its altars and its images and killed Mattan the priest of Baal in front of the altars.

    The priest made arrangements for the security of the Temple of Yahweh.

All the people of the country were delighted; the city, however, made no move. And Athaliah was put to death inside the palace.

Psalm 132: 11-14, 17-18

Yahweh has sworn to David,
and will always remain true to his word,
'I promise that I will set
a son of yours upon your throne.
If your sons observe my covenant
and the instructions I have taught them,
their sons too for evermore
will occupy your throne.'

For Yahweh has chosen Zion,
he has desired it as a home.
'Here shall I rest for evermore,
here shall I make my home as I have wished.

'There I shall raise up a line of descendants for David,
light a lamp for my anointed;
I shall clothe his enemies with shame,
while his own crown shall flourish.'

Matthew 6: 19-23

‘Do not store up treasures for yourselves on earth, where moth and woodworm destroy them and thieves can break in and steal. But store up treasures for yourselves in heaven, where neither moth nor woodworm destroys them and thieves cannot break in and steal. For wherever your treasure is, there will your heart be too.

The eye, the lamp of the body

‘The lamp of the body is the eye. It follows that if your eye is clear, your whole body will be filled with light. But if your eye is diseased, your whole body will be darkness. If then, the light inside you is darkened, what darkness that will be!

                When we sin — we become more and more blind —
                Some can enforce their rules which are wrong —
                    they can punish and use force —

                    When a person is in charge they are
                to act purely — not let unpredictable
                anger taint their actions and decisions —
                The more one acts in blindness — the
                more off they become —

                Mary gave Jacinta messages besides
                    the Fatima message —

by Fr. Edward Carter, S.J.

                    When we sin we are impure and we
                drive ourselves from greater union with
                God — To have that sensitivity in
                our relationship with God — we
                are ever striving for greater purity
                in our actions —

                The devil is the father of lies —

                The devil tries to tempt people to
                    think 'what is right is wrong and
                    what is wrong is right' —

                    Jesus, the Divine God, sweat blood
                because of our rebellious sins, our
                lying about our sins, our control
                and competition fighting against
                God's simple plan for obedience
                and peace —           
                   

June 16, 2010

Joyful Mysteries

                Annunciation

                (1) Mary was chosen by God.
                (2) Joseph helped Mary — Joseph
                    wasn't focused on his glory.
                (3) Joseph and Mary wanted the will
                    of God —
                (4) We must trust God and others
                    not be ready for competition.
                (5) Jesus is meek and tender of heart
                    not combattal —
                (6) The Shepherds of Christ is to teach men,
                    through example, about the Heart of Jesus —
                (7) Jesus' Heart is not
                    combattal, but meek —
                (8) Jesus is the Son of God —
                    If we are like Jesus we follow Jesus —
                (9) We are to be sons and
                    daughters of God —
                    give a good example —
                (10) Who is on our throne —
                    are we or is God on our throne —

                    The more we give into evil — the more
                    distorted our vision — some want
                    control and not being accountable when
                    they were angry and out of anger made
                    tainted decisions — The person needs to see
                    and tell the truth —

                    In today's scripture it says:

‘The lamp of the body is the eye. It follows that if your eye is clear, your whole body will be filled with light. But if your eye is diseased, your whole body will be darkness. If then, the light inside you is darkened, what darkness that will be!   Matthew 6:22-23

                    We want the beatific vision
                    in heaven — to keep distorting our
                    reality with jealousy, seeking vain glory,
                    lies — make our vision more distorted.
                    Obedience to God's commandments, purity
                    helps us to see with greater reality —
                    the Plan of the Father the Creator for the
                    creatures seek to know what is really
                    reality — Seek to know God.

                Visitation

                (1) Mary made haste to help Elizabeth.
                (2) We are to teach the world
                    about the holy Hearts of
                    Jesus and Mary — Mary was humble.
                (3) Eve was prideful —
                    We are impure when we
                    are jealous of one doing God's will.
                (4) We are impure for seeking
                    dominance for dominance sake.
                (5) When we are jealous, prideful,
                    envious, revengeful we are not like
                    the Hearts of Jesus and Mary.
                (6) God is love — Mary is the
                    perfect handmaid of the Lord.

                (7) Luke 1: 46-55

And Mary said:

My soul proclaims
    the greatness of the Lord
and my spirit rejoices
    in God my Saviour;
because he has looked upon
    the humiliation of his servant.
Yes, from now onwards
    all generations will call me blessed,
for the Almighty
    has done great things for me.
Holy is his name,
and his faithful love extends age after age
    to those who fear him.
He has used the power of his arm,
he has routed the arrogant of heart.
He has pulled down princes
    from their thrones
        and raised high the lowly.
He has filled the starving with good things,
    sent the rich away empty.
He has come to the help
    of Israel his servant,
        mindful of his faithful love
—according to the promise
    he made to our ancestors—
of his mercy to Abraham
    and to his descendants for ever.

                (8) Mary carried baby Jesus in her —
                    Jesus lives in the graced baptized soul —
                (9) We receive a sharing of
                    His life in baptism —
                (10) We are temples of the Holy Spirit.

                Birth of Jesus

                (1) Jesus came a little, tiny baby —
                    Why are we so high and mighty?
                (2) Jesus is the Savior of the world.
                (3) Jesus came to show
                    us how to be sons and daughters of God.
                (4) Jesus wants us holy —
                    consecrated to His Sacred Heart.

                (5) John 3: 16

For this is how God loved the world:
he gave his only Son,
so that everyone who believes in him
    may not perish
but may have eternal life.

                (6) Look at how little a baby is —
                    Jesus came like this —
                (7) Babies are so little — Jesus
                    came in the womb of Mary.
                (8) We see the Plan of God for
                    the salvation of man.
                (9) Thank God for life.
                (10) Praise and love God —

                Presentation

                (1) Jesus went to the temple —
                    Simeon was there —
                (2) Simeon told Mary of the
                    sufferings to come —
                (3) Mary kept all these things
                    in her heart —
                (4) Jesus was a baby
                    like other babies —
                (5) Jesus was also circumcised.
                (6) Simeon was blessed —
                    We are blessed, too —
                (7) Jesus came to the earth
                    Jesus took on a human nature
                    out of love —
                (8) We are to obey the commandments
                    not treat God as a rival.

                (9) Seven Sorrows of Mary

(1) The first sorrow: the prophecy of Simeon
(2) The second sorrow: the flight into Egypt
(3) The third sorrow: the loss of the Child Jesus in the temple
(4) The fourth sorrow: Jesus and Mary meet on the way to the cross
(5) The fifth sorrow: Jesus dies on the cross
(6) The sixth sorrow: Jesus is taken down from the cross and laid in Mary's arms
(7) The seventh sorrow: the burial of Jesus

                (10) Joseph and Mary lived to do the will
                    of God —

                Finding of Jesus in the Temple

                (1) Humility is the realization of
                    the truth that I am a
                    creature of God —
                    Humility is not a process of
                    self-depreciation, or of
                    telling myself that I am no
                    good, that I have very little
                    to contribute —
                    Humility moves me to look
                        at myself as I actually am.
                    It moves me to look at my good and
                    my bad points and very
                    importantly, to follow up with
                    appropriate attitudes and actions —
                    Humility is truth —

James 4: 6

But he has given us an even greater grace, as scripture says:  God opposes the proud but he accords his favour to the humble.

                (2) Excerpt from Mother at Our Side by Fr. Edward Carter, S.J. p. 62

                (3) Excerpt from Mother at Our Side by Fr. Edward Carter, S.J. pp. 60-61

                (4) 1 Corinthians 13: 1-3

                    Love
                    God is love
                    Giving a good example —
                    Obeying and being an instrument
                        of the light —
                    Who is on our throne
                            Us        or        God

Excerpt from Mother at Our Side by Fr. Edward Carter, S.J. pp. 59-60

Love

. . . We can be tempted to reject this marvelous example of love which Jesus has left us. We can seek our own greatness and fulfillment in a manner which necessarily results in disappointment. We can strive after greatness in ways which God does not intend. These wayward wanderings, however, result in a feeling of dissatisfaction and frustration and we will eventually come to realize they have betrayed us because they are not rooted in Christ and His way of life—the way of true personal greatness.

   We grow as Christians as we grow in love. We exercise this love within the milieu of the human condition. This is the only framework we have for achieving our greatness, and, consequently, we must not shirk this human condition. Jesus did not shirk it, but rather accepted it and manifested His greatness within it, despite the pain and even agony that the human condition at times heaped upon Him. It is true that Jesus rejoiced during the course of His life because of the goodness, sincerity, and response of some of those with whom He dealt. For example, the love which Mary and Joseph showered upon Jesus gave Him great joy. During His life, however, Jesus often suffered because of the evil side of humans—their pettiness, cowardice, insensitivity, selfishness, egotism. In other words, Jesus suffered at the hands of others because they were not what they should have been. Nonetheless, these experiences did not thwart the greatness of Jesus. Jesus was always the tremendous lover, and He loved even at those times when it was very painful to do so.

   As Christ suffered because of others, we, too, as we try to love, suffer because of others. We may suffer because others do not always understand us—this can be true even of those who dearly love us. We may suffer because some do not appreciate what we do for them, sometimes at great personal cost, or because others reject us, or make us the objects of their meanness and selfishness. We may suffer because there are some who ignore us. At times we suffer so much that we are tempted to quit loving as we should and are tempted to withdraw from the pain of giving ourselves to an egotistic world. To surrender to such a temptation, however, is to forget what true Christian greatness really is—namely, a life of love for God and others, a love that does not shrink from the pain that results from loving in an imperfect world, a love that is meant to become greater regardless of the way others might treat us. Christian love, then, accepts both the pain and the joy of life and carries on under both conditions.

   We should ask Mary our mother, who takes such great pride in us when we love as we should, to lead us daily to the Heart of her Son. This Heart, burning furnace of charity, is the source we must draw from if we are to love and progress in love.

   Lead us, dear Mother, to this Heart of your Son. As we rest secure in the love of your Immaculate Heart, instill within us daily a growing desire to take on the likeness of the Heart of Jesus. Obtain for us, dearest Mother, the grace to make the Heart of Jesus the center of our existence. Living within this pierced Heart of Jesus, we will more and more be consumed with the desire to love God and neighbor. We will become increasingly aware that to truly live is to love.

                (5) Excerpt from Mother at Our Side by Fr. Edward Carter, S.J. pp. 55-56

   Being mother of our Christ-life, Mary is also mother of our life of Christian virtues. Many of them are listed above, including the three most important ones—faith, hope, and love.

Faith

   Ideally, faith is the commitment of one's entire being to the truth of Jesus. We must live the truth of Jesus, not merely intellectually assent to it. We properly comprehend religious truth only when we live it, savor it, experience it to the depths of our being. How much more we understand the truth of Christ in its wisdom, power, and beauty when we not only believe this truth with our graced intellects, but also allow it to permeate and transform our entire existence. As a corollary, we see the danger of intellectually assenting to Christ's truth without attempting to live accordingly. Faith can grow weak and even die if there is a constant and serious division between what we believe and the manner in which we live.

   When we live according to faith, we are living according to a vision of God, humanity, and the rest of creation. Faith tells us things about God and creation we could either not otherwise know or know only with greater difficulty and with less certainty. A good example of the former is the doctrine of the Blessed Trinity. Reason can never arrive at this sublime truth. Only the intellect that has been elevated with the grace of faith can believe in the Triune God. If we are to progress in the spiritual life, we must allow this vision of faith to more and more influence our activities. Increasingly, we should become contemplatives in action. The more we allow Mary to lead us into such a way of life, the more our lives will have meaning for ourselves as well as for the betterment of the lives of people around us. As our mother, she happily guides us to the peace we can find as contemplatives in action.

   The vision of faith should inspire us to action according to our vocation, talents, opportunity, time, and energy. We should always strive to make the world more reflective of Christ's image. To the extent we do not, we are betraying the vision of faith.

   Mother Mary, deepen our faith. Help us to follow ever more closely the light of faith. And we pray, dear Mother, that you will lead us ever closer to your Son Who is Himself the source of faith's light.

                (6) TRUST GOD
                    TRUST OTHERS
 

Excerpt from Mother at Our Side by Fr. Edward Carter, S.J. pp. 56-57

Hope

   Christian hope is a virtue that allows us to desire God as the goal of our existence. Hope also allows us to trust that God will grant us the graces necessary to achieve this goal.

   The necessity of hope in our lives is obvious. Without a sustained desire for God we will not be able to live as we should. If God is not our goal, then our lives will be miserably shaped by something infinitely less, whether it be money, sex, social status, or anything else that can grip the human heart as an unauthentic end rather than as a legitimate means to God.

   Without God's grace we cannot initially attain supernatural life, we cannot maintain ourselves in it, and we cannot grow in it. At times God allows us to strikingly and intensely experience how helpless we are without Him. Such episodes in the spiritual life can be very painful, but they are also opportunities for great growth. We are meant to emerge from these experiences with an increase of trust in God. We realize how weak we are in ourselves, but how strong we are if we rely on God.

   One of Mary's functions as our spiritual mother is to help us grow in trust. In countless ways Mary shows us her maternal love. If we are to love her in return, if we are to allow her to increasingly possess us, we must trust her. 

   We should always remember: when we trust Mary, we are putting our trust in God; when we abandon ourselves to Mary, we are abandoning ourselves to God.

                (7) Matthew 2: 13-14

After they had left, suddenly the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, ‘Get up, take the child and his mother with you, and escape into Egypt, and stay there until I tell you, because Herod intends to search for the child and do away with him.’ So Joseph got up and, taking the child and his mother with him, left that night for Egypt,
 

                    St. Joseph helped Mary
                    St. Joseph did not have
                        combat
                        jealousy
                        anger
                        pride —

                    St. Joseph lived by God's will —
                    St. Joseph was a servant
                    Mary is the handmaid of the Lord
 

                (8) Excerpt from Mother at Our Side by Fr. Edward Carter, S.J. pp. 78-79  

St. Joseph  (excerpt)

Let us ask Joseph—this man who enjoyed extraordinary intimacy with Christ and Our Blessed Mother—to aid us in coming closer to Jesus and Mary. Let us ask Joseph, patron of prayer and the interior life, to help us develop that spirit of silence and prayer which is so necessary if we wish to grow in union with Christ and Mary our Mother.

Joseph will aid us in focusing our attention more and more upon Jesus and Mary. He is a powerful intercessor who desires to help us live out our daily consecration to the Heart of Christ and to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. In Joseph we have a great model in what constitutes this gift of self. Each day he committed himself to Christ and the Blessed Virgin. His gift of self was extraordinary.

St. Teresa of Avila, one of the greatest teachers of the spiritual life, had an outstanding devotion to St. Joseph:

"I do not remember ever having asked anything of St. Joseph that he did not grant me, nor can I think without wonder of the graces God has given me through His intercession, nor of the dangers of soul or body from which he has delivered me."³¹

        31.  Michael  Gasnier, O.P., Joseph the Silent (New York: Kennedy & Sons, 1962),  p. 9.

Prayer to St. Joseph

St. Joseph, guardian of Jesus and chaste spouse of Mary, you passed your life in perfect fulfillment of duty. You supported the Holy Family of Nazareth with the work of your hands. Kindly protect those who trustingly turn to you. You know their aspirations, their hardships, their hopes; and they turn to you because they know you will understand and protect them. You too have known trial, labor, and weariness. But, even amid the worries of material life, your soul was filled with deep peace and sang out in true joy through intimacy with the Son of God entrusted to you, and with Mary, His tender Mother. Amen. -(Pope John XXIII)

                (9) Luke 2: 48-50

Excerpt from Mother at Our Side by Fr. Edward Carter, S.J., pp. 12-14

                (10) Excerpt from Mother at Our Side by Fr. Edward Carter, S.J., pp. 114-121

Lourdes—And My Own
Marian Experience
 

    Since my first pilgrimage to Lourdes marked a very definitive stage in Mary's dealings with me—in her call to me—I am going to utilize this entry on Lourdes to share with you certain aspects of my Marian experience. In none of my previous books have I shared my spiritual experience in such a direct fashion. I am doing so now only because I believe it is Mary's wish that I do so. May my sharing of Mary's maternal love manifested to me be an occasion for your own reflection on Mary's goodness to you.

    I have always been blessed with a strong devotion to Mary. I feel this gift is one of God's greatest graces given to me. I remember at an early age often repeating the Hail Mary. Later, I was very much attracted to Our Lady's requests at Fatima. I made the five first Saturdays and practiced what I was told were the other aspects of Mary's Fatima message.
 

    After graduating from college I entered the Jesuits. Our first phase of training consists of two years of novitiate—a period in which one is introduced into the spiritual life according to the Jesuit tradition. This first period of Jesuit training marked a very significant growth in my devotion to Mary.

    As I progressed in my Jesuit life over the years, Mary was always a loving, caring mother. I always felt, among other things, that she was a lifeline—always there in a special way at particularly difficult stages of the spiritual journey, not only then, but certainly then. I was not always as loyal a child of Mary as I should have been, but she always kept me aware of her very important role in our lives.

    In early 1989 I was in Europe—destination Rome. As I was traveling toward Italy from Northern Europe, I made plans to stop at Lourdes. I considered this a very special stop on my itinerary.

    As I left Toulouse on the train for Lourdes, it was raining. Not very far from Toulouse, the rain stopped and the sun appeared. I considered this a gift from Mary.
 

    I walked from the Lourdes train station to the Shrine. It was a day in January, sunny and pleasant, but, as would be expected at that time of the year, there were less than 25 pilgrims at the grotto site. The atmosphere was very special. One realized this was a very holy place. I sat on one of the benches and began to pray. All of a sudden, I was deeply impressed with this thought: "I have finally come home." The thought seemed to come from outside of me, similar to an infused idea. I did not fully understand what this idea meant. I had not seriously strayed from God, so the idea of "coming home" did not mean I was returning as a prodigal son. Nor did the idea mean that I had finally found Mary, since, as I have stated above, I have always been blessed with a strong devotion to her. I was, then, somewhat puzzled at what the words "I have finally come home" meant. My experience, however, was a very profound one as I sat there before the grotto of Mary. I wept tears of peace and consolation. This was to be my first experience of the gift of tears at a Marian shrine. Later I would also experience this gift at Fatima, Guadalupe, and Medjugorje. The gift of tears on these occasions would always be in confirmation of a special interior enlightenment.

    In the months that followed, whenever I recalled these words impressed upon me at Lourdes, I was still not sure of their meaning. I did, though, decide to write this book on Mary. I had long wanted to write such a book, but did not feel prepared to do so until now.
 

    I was privileged to be at Fatima for the 75th anniversary of the October 13 apparition of Mary to the three young visionaries—Lucia, Jacinta, and Francisco. I had a conviction that Mary wanted me there at that particular time. That I was able to be present for this momentous occasion was another special gift of Mary to me.
 

    On October 12, the eve of the anniversary day, I was praying in the basilica at Fatima. I was close to the altar. In the sanctuary was a statue of Our Lady of Fatima. I prayed that Mary would draw me closer than ever to the Heart of Jesus and to her own Immaculate Heart. I also prayed that I would be able, as never before, to work for the spread of devotion to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary.

    As I prayed I would often glance at Mary's statue, and when I did, I was often given the gift of tears—I know it was a special gift because I myself had no control over when this would or would not take place. The same thing happened the next day. It was a most profound spiritual experience—even more so than the one at Lourdes.

    On the 13th itself, there were about one million pilgrims present for the anniversary occasion. At communion time of the outdoor Mass I felt a special confirmation of the above-mentioned experience.

    From Fatima I went to Lourdes. This time, unlike my first visit, I was present along with thousands of other pilgrims. It is indeed a special experience to be at Lourdes with so many others for the impressive candlelight rosary procession at night and for other activities. Being personally present amidst all this gives one a sense of why Lourdes has been such an attraction for millions and millions of pilgrims over the years. Again, my experience at the grotto of Our Lady was very special, as was the making of the Way of the Cross on the hill high above the basilicas and the grotto.
 

    A few months after my visits to Fatima and Lourdes I was at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City. It was another special gift to be able to be there for the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe on December 12. What an inspiration it is to be there on this most special day—to see the Mexican people come from miles and miles away for this feast which is so dear to their hearts. Their devotion to Our Lady is most remarkable. Regarding myself, the entire pilgrimage prior to the feast day was rather subdued—peaceful, but no special experience. I remained in such a state on the feast itself up to and including most of the Mass at the Shrine. Then at communion time I was gifted with the same type of deep experience which had occurred at Lourdes and Fatima. I was rather suddenly struck with a deep conviction that I am protected by Mary's mantle and that I should not be afraid or worry. Again, this interior enlightenment was accompanied by the gift of tears.

    My final pilgrimage was to Medjugorje—December 28, 1992, to January 4, 1993. Again, after prayer, I had developed the conviction that Mary wanted me there for her great feast of January 1st—which, of course, is the feast of Mary, Mother of God. I thought something special would happen on that day, although I did not know precisely what.

    As was the case at Guadalupe, nothing out of the ordinary happened to me on the days previous to January 1. I did not see any phenomena concerning the sun which many pilgrims have observed over the years at Medjugorje. The chain on my rosary did not change to gold—as has occurred with many of the Medjugorje pilgrims. But Mary did have her gift for me. Just as I had hoped, something special did occur on the feast of January 1. At Mass, after receiving communion, I received a profound experience of Mary's motherhood toward me and also a profound conviction of Jesus' love for me. This conviction of Jesus' love for me may be the most special I have ever experienced. Again, these interior enlightenments were accompanied by the gift of tears.

    Later that day I had the great privilege of being present in the choir loft for the daily apparition of Our Lady. Ivan was the only visionary present in Church this particular day. Although I felt extremely blessed to be present for the apparition—which, of course, only Ivan himself could see—I had no special inner experience at this time. Others in our group said they did have a special personal experience at the time of the apparition. My special experience of the day had indeed occurred earlier at Mass.
 

    Since that first visit to Lourdes when I was suddenly struck with the thought, "I have finally come home," much has happened regarding my relationship with Mary. I now believe I know the meaning of those words impressed upon me at Lourdes in January, 1989. More than three years later Mary began to instruct me regarding the precise meaning of those words. She has, in her maternal love for me, entered my life as never before. She has led me to consecrate myself to the Heart of Christ and to her Immaculate Heart in a very meaningful manner. In an extraordinary fashion she has given me a mission to fulfill in the service of Jesus. As she cooperates with the Holy Spirit in my ongoing transformation in Christ, she is leading me along paths which I have never traveled before. I can never thank her adequately for her goodness to me.

    The above constitutes some of the main aspects of my personal Marian pilgrimage over the years. You also have your own Marian experience, and I am sure you have shed your own tears of joy and peace along the way.

    If you have not yet done so, I strongly encourage you to consecrate yourself to the Heart of Jesus and to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. In consecrating yourself to Mary—in entrusting yourself entirely to her—you will be enabling her to lead you ever closer to the Heart of Christ. She will accomplish marvels in you as she aids you, in cooperation with the Holy Spirit, in living out your consecration to the Sacred Heart. Indeed, she will ever be Mother at your side as you come closer to the Father through Christ and in the Holy Spirit.

    I have never been happier, never more at peace, than I presently am. Since Mary has drawn me to consecrate myself to her Immaculate Heart, marvelous changes have taken place within me. She has brought me to the Heart of Jesus in a way I had not experienced before.
 

    If you have given yourself totally to Mary—and this is what consecration to her Immaculate Heart means—you have had similar experiences.

    Having consecrated ourselves to Mary, we feel secure as we rest in her loving, maternal Heart. There she comforts us when we are sad—there she wipes away our tears. There she rejoices with us when we rejoice. There she smiles as we share with her our accomplishments for Christ. There she encourages us when we are fearful. There she strengthens us for the most difficult tasks.

    What a great gift Jesus has bestowed upon us in giving Mary to us as our mother! Let us thank Him each day for this Mother who loves us with an unfathomable love. We must try to grow in the appreciation of this love. The more we do so, the more we want to cry out, "O Mother, how loving, caring, and tender you are! Draw us ever closer to your Immaculate Heart where you accomplish your marvels within us."

end of excerpt

Given June 13, 2010 - Feast of St. Anthony

David was loved by God, but he wasn't perfect  —

David sinned with Bathsheba  —

David had Uriah her husband killed in battle  —

Nathan the prophet had to confront David  — 

When Adam and Eve sinned  — they blamed each other  —
        the sinner may deny their sin and blame
        someone else.

The devil wants you to say what's wrong is right and
      what is right is wrong.

Children need their parents.

Little ones miss their parents if they are
       separated  —

Likewise we need God — for God is the
       Creator  — we are the creatures  —
       God is always wanting oneness with Him  —

Themes in today's scripture

One of the Pharisees invited him to a meal. When he arrived at the Pharisee’s house and took his place at table, suddenly a woman came in, who had a bad name in the town. She had heard he was dining with the Pharisee and had brought with her an alabaster jar of ointment. She waited behind him at his feet, weeping, and her tears fell on his feet, and she wiped them away with her hair; then she covered his feet with kisses and anointed them with the ointment. 

    When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, ‘If this man were a prophet, he would know who this woman is and what sort of person it is who is touching him and what a bad name she has.’ Then Jesus took him up and said, ‘Simon, I have something to say to you.’ He replied, ‘Say on, Master.’ ‘There was once a creditor who had two men in his debt; one owed him five hundred denarii, the other fifty. They were unable to pay, so he let them both off. Which of them will love him more?’ Simon answered, ‘The one who was let off more, I suppose.’ Jesus said, ‘You are right.’ 

    Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, ‘You see this woman? I came into your house, and you poured no water over my feet, but she has poured out her tears over my feet and wiped them away with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but she has been covering my feet with kisses ever since I came in. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. For this reason I tell you that her sins, many as they are, have been forgiven her, because she has shown such great love. It is someone who is forgiven little who shows little love.’ Then he said to her, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’ Those who were with him at table began to say to themselves, ‘Who is this man, that even forgives sins?’ But he said to the woman, ‘Your faith has saved you; go in peace.’

Now it happened that after this he made his way through towns and villages preaching and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. With him went the Twelve, as well as certain women who had been cured of evil spirits and ailments: Mary surnamed the Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, Joanna the wife of Herod's steward Chuza, Susanna, and many others who provided for them out of their own resources.

    Forgiveness  — God forgave David
            Jesus forgave the sinful woman

                            God forgave the sinful woman  —
                            In confession  — God forgives us

            The priest talked to a married couple  — the husband would not forgive her
                  for anything  — When the priest asked -
                  well she must have forgave you  —
                  the husband said  — "I have no faults."  —

            God tells us no matter how great our sins  —
                  God forgives us if we ask Him and
                  we are sorry and repent and want to do better —
                  God's mercy is there  —

            Do we come before God asking forgiveness  —
                  or do we come like the Pharisee
                  in today's Gospel?

            The second reading is so important to us  —

Galatians 2: 19-20

...I have been crucified with Christ and yet I am alive; yet it is no longer I, but Christ living in me.

---

    Immaculate Heart

        Mary pondered what happened
            in her heart  —

 Luke 1: 38

                        Jesus says:

                        I am with you now despite
                              your frustration   —

                        My gifts I have given have
                              not been appreciated
                              by some.

Give a gift that lasts.

        

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