Shepherds of Christ  
       Daily Writing          

 

July 9, 2009

July 10th Holy Spirit Novena
Scripture selection is Day 9 Period I.

The Novena Rosary Mysteries  
for July 10th are Joyful.

 

China Retreat

July 10th - 13th

July 10th - retreat starts at 10:00

 

Friday Mass 12:00 noon

Saturday Mass 12:00 noon

Sunday Mass St. Boniface 8:00 am

Monday Mass 12:30pm

 

Jesus told me to put the

glass in the

Guadalupe Statues and Fatima Statues

12" Guadalupe Statues - $200

We have a very limited supply.
 

 

  

July 9, 2009

                God has asked us to serve Him —

                To live our vocation helping others —

                Fr. Carter told me that he was given the
                    gifts to help others — to be generous —
                    Fr. Carter recognized my gifts — my
                    calling — He helped me
                    Fr. Carter was so intelligent — he was
                    like Jesus to us in the Shepherds of Christ
                    He shared his gifts willingly with
                    love to promote God's Kingdom —
                    to do God's will —

                A person under one in authority in a religious
                    order is to take a vow of obedience,
                    celibacy —

                If a person does not they can be always opting
                    for dominance — even in directions —
                    a phone call — holding on to their job
                    as power to seek dominance —

                Children when little — if they are toddlers and do not
                    mind — adults have to make them sit
                    on a chair — reward them when good —
                    withhold something they want when disobedient —

                From the beginning a child learns about their will —
                    Oh I can obey mom and dad or I can say "no"

                The big struggle is dealing with their wills —
                    parents are to teach children about obedience —

                Fr. Carter never disobeyed his Jesuits over him —
                    Fr. Carter never talked about his superiors —
                    Fr. Carter took the vows of poverty, chastity and
                        obedience

                Eve disobeyed God — she had so many gifts —

                God gave her the restriction not to eat the
                    forbidden fruit

                Eve wanted to be equal to God

                The Bible shows us this disobedience — the
                    Fall of Adam and Eve right in the beginning —
                    Genesis Chapter 3 —

                Then we see Moses got the commandments
                    from God — put in stone and while he
                    was getting the commandments — they were
                    making molten gods to honor

                Moses was so upset he threw the tablets and they
                    broke

                The wounded human nature because of original
                    sin — the seeking of dominance for dominance
                    sake

                The Bible shows us the pride of Eve and God in His
                    justice punished Adam and Eve and all their
                    descendents, except Mary, with original sin
                    Jesus was God — He had no sin —

                The New Adam and the New Eve, sinless — without
                    blemish —

                The Flood of Noah — prefigures baptism —
                    all that survived were those on the Arc

                We see the obstinacies of Ramses — to not obey
                    Moses — plague after plague —
                    and Ramses lost his son — but
                    he would not obey —

                God divided the Red Sea

                Moses used his staff

                Jesus died on the cross so we would be saved —
                    but we must obey God — we can't ignore
                    God if we want eternal salvation —

                God is a just God — God will judge justly —

                To those who sin and ask God's pardon and to be forgiven
                    of sin — God is all merciful —
                    God is merciful to the contrite heart —
                    The ones recognizing their sin and saying they
                        are sorry — rebuilding their relationship
                        with God —

                To the hard heart — to the liars about their offenses —
                    God will judge justly — God is all
                    just

                God gives us confession — to tell God we
                    sinned and ask for His grace and
                    say we are sorry

                    When one is asked to serve and be under others and
                they control to block the information needed to
                help the person in charge — their control and
                withholding goods, information come from
                an adverse spirit to work with authority —
                    God has structure even in the bugs —
                    God operates in order

                Satan wants to weaken the structure — then
                    he moves in

                Satan wants people in authority that disobey
                    God's laws to lead others off —

                God is the ultimate authority —
                    all power comes from God
                    A person in authority is to lead people
                        upward —
                    People acting in authority received their
                        power from God

                Who is your God?

                When given a job for God — do you
                    block information from reaching
                    the top — instead of a willing spirit
                    of unity — it is a spirit of adversity — against
                    God's will —
                    to get power for oneself (really giving it over to do the
                    work of satan) 

 

                The person beneath the horizontal line makes
                    themselves the head to usurp power —

                A person serving God and wanting harmony
                    does not disobey right authority for selfish
                    dominance — 

  

                It is like this in any structure —

                In the Church we are trying to help souls
                    get to heaven —

                Satan presses on an individual to do their own will —
                    opposed to God's will —
                    just like the fallen angels who said
                    "We will not serve God"

                People develop bad habits vices —
                    lying to those over them to continue
                        what they want to do forbidden
                        by the rules

                    control —— willful spirit against those over
                                        them — creating confusion
                                        to get on top

                    using one's job to withhold goods, work for
                        power, dominance

                    pride is when one seeks to be over and
                        wants others under — so they can feel
                        superior, better than others

                Here is a scenario —

                    A Big event was about to take place —

                    All were to be engaged in the event —

                    The person in charge was putting everything
                        together —

                    There was tension before concern —

                    Satan sends the adverse spirit —
                        one comes talking about the padding
                            on the office chairs —

                What does that have to do with the event —
                    the Mass —
                    the celebration

                Not only do they come to press on an unrelated subject —
                    they won't let off, like their life and
                    the life of everyone depended on them and
                    their concern —

                People united as one work together helping
                    each other to do the job —

                They are not focused on themselves and a foolish
                    whim when the plate is full —
                    they eat what is on the plate and don't go look
                    for something else

                Harmony, Unity, Order — following the
                    Holy Spirit to do God's will

                A man wanted to build a very important bridge —
                    half way through, one fellow was doing
                    work that would make the bridge very
                    unsafe —

                the foreman corrected him telling him how he
                    must do it to make it safe so no one
                    would get hurt —

                the worker was angry that anyone would question
                    him — he caused discord for the foreman —
                    he made the men divided trying to get some
                    to stand with him against the foreman —

                The man did it out of pride —
                    his attitude inside him was dark to begin with
                    no one would tell him what to do — he was
                        prideful and thought only of himself —

                    he didn't see the big picture —

                    he worked for his own vain glory, with little
                        concern for the safety of others, or why
                        he worked to build a bridge —

                    His vision was distorted —

                    The person seeing through God's eyes does
                        things for love of God and others —

                Once I was getting off a turnpike and I needed to
                    go West — I went East and I ended up
                    at the Ocean — I needed to go to
                    Clearwater —

                I was almost all the way to the ocean when
                    I realized I went the wrong way —

                I had to go back all the way I went and was
                    about 2 hours off my course, but
                    I finally got to my destination —

                We are here on a journey to get to our eternal
                    destiny — I want to go to heaven —
                    If I push ahead with a willful spirit
                    against God's will — ignoring authority —
                    trying to control — I am on the wrong
                    road to Jesus —

                The rule is we must be loving of God and
                    others — not be like a bull in a
                    China shop — just doing what I
                    want opposed to God's will

                Ramses thought he could be over God —
                Eve wanted to be equal to God
                Cain killed his brother
                Joseph's brothers threw him in a cistern
                Sarah sent Hagar and her son away —
                Judas betrayed Jesus

                Peter denied Jesus, but repented —
                God made Peter head of the Church —
                God is merciful to the contrite sinner —
                God came for us sinners
                God died for our sins —

                Who we fooling anyway, when we are
                    prideful and lie about our sins —
                    Jesus died for those sins of pride —
                    He sweat blood for the sinners
                    that would not repent and reject
                    God's Plan — living lives
                    of willfulness —

                Yes we have a free will and
                    the devil wants us to go against God's will —
                    to go against order and structure —
                    We have tendencies that are strong toward
                        pride and lust and jealousy and envy,
                        slothfulness, greed, gluttony —

                    We are all sinners, but Jesus and Mary

  

1 John 1: 8-10

If we say, ‘We have no sin,’
we are deceiving ourselves,
and truth has no place in us;
if we acknowledge our sins,
he is trustworthy and upright,
so that he will forgive our sins
and will cleanse us from all evil.
If we say, ‘We have never sinned,’
we make him a liar,
and his word has no place in us.
 

 

                    Sunday 2nd reading 

2 Corinthians 12: 7-10

    Wherefore, so that I should not get above myself, I was given a thorn in the flesh, a messenger from Satan to batter me and prevent me from getting above myself. About this, I have three times pleaded with the Lord that it might leave me; but he has answered me, ‘My grace is enough for you: for power is at full stretch in weakness.’ It is, then, about my weaknesses that I am happiest of all to boast, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me; and that is why I am glad of weaknesses, insults, constraints, persecutions and distress for Christ’s sake. For it is when I am weak that I am strong.

       

                I couldn't believe the priest talked
                    about his mom saying jealous eyes
                    that burn —

                The thorn in the side was those closest to
                    (Paul) who were willful blocking
                    him — setting a trap

                It can be so habitual for a person to do
                    evil to another —
                    most of these saints suffered —
                    in the convents — the gifted person
                    was met with opposition by one closest to them —

                The Fatima children jailed —

                The jealousy of people when special gifts are
                    given from God —
                    pride to want to be over those over us —

                ORDER means like Fr. Carter did
                        He obeyed the rules —
                        He lived his Jesuit life —
                        He obeyed his superiors —
                        He took the vow of poverty —

                        He wanted no sin on his soul —
                        He had a vision in his heart of Jesus
                            constantly — he was rooted in God —
                            His work was centered in his spiritual
                                gifts to help others —
                        He gave all he could to us — the Movement —
                        He sacrificed
                        He was about my age when the Movement
                            started
                        He wanted to live —
                        He loved us —
                        He was meek —

                Every book on his shelf was about love —

                This is the basis of our spiritual life —
                        LOVE GOD
                        LOVE ONE ANOTHER

                Unity —
                Look at Jesus working with the Apostles

                Jesus — the Divine Almighty God —
                    taught them to fish for men —

                A person that sees only themselves —
                    gets themselves

                Satan comes and tempts through unmet needs —
                    Love is given to us by God —
                    Expecting possessive, controlling relationships
                        from others are not right —

 

                    Fr. Carter addresses this in Response to God's Love

The Christian Encounters Others and the World - Chapter 8 - (excerpt)

    If, however, we must, on the one hand, strive to maintain a sense of proper need for others, we must, on the other hand, couple this with a thrust toward independence. To have an attitude of healthy dependence on others is a main ingredient for true personality growth; to maintain a morbid need for others, however, is a serious obstacle in becoming the persons we are destined to be. We should never become slavishly dependent on the company of others, their love, the attention they give us, the approval they give to us, our ideas, or our work. It is, of course, always very pleasant to receive love, attention, and approval; all this, however, must occur within the framework of God's will for us. We must constantly strive to lovingly do his will at all times and in all circumstances. This is the all-embracing and all-necessary imperative that permeates every facet of our being. When we live according to this imperative, we gladly and gratefully receive love, attention, and affirmation from others when it is forthcoming; what is more, we realize that to be offered this is a part of God's plan for us. If, however, it is not forthcoming at any one time, we courageously continue to live as we think God intends, aware that, in his loving faithfulness, God will compensate for what currently appears to be a lack of human support.

    Early in our discussion of the Christian's encounter with others, we should obviously say a few direct things concerning the core attitude of love, a trait that should permeate all other attitudes. It is well to begin by observing a phenomenon of our culture concerning love: Many persons who choose marriage say they do so out of a desire to be loved. Notice, they say that they marry out of a desire to be loved, not to love. In fairness to these persons, perhaps we should presume that they realize they in turn must also offer love. Yet, is it not revealing that they explicitly mention as the reason for marrying a desire to be loved? Could there be a close correlation between this phenomenon and the extraordinarily high divorce rate that prevails in our culture? If it is common that both partners enter marriage more from a need to receive love than from a desire to give it, do we have to look further for the reason to explain why so many marriages are plagued with various degrees of unhappiness?

end of excerpt

  

                Jesus: Look at Me on the cross

                God the Father sent Me to show you how to be
                    sons of God

                R. Look at this

                    John the Baptist baptized Jesus
                            heavens opened

                    Transfiguration
                            heavens were opened

 

Excerpt from January 21, 2008

                    When Jesus appeared to me in the mural
                over the altar in China — light was on
                Him — like a bolt of lightening coming
                down

                First I saw this light as if it came
                    upon Him, His whole body shown
                    lighted — so brightly, but it was
                    as if a light came as a beam from
                    the direction shown — from
                    above

                LIGHT, LIGHT, LIGHT

                Jesus spoke through me then —

                Then the blackest, black around
                    the left arch particularly the
                    left side

    end of excerpt

   

                I had this realization yesterday —

                    there is a cloud of darkness — on the TV,
                        media
                        judging and bearing false witness to others —

                    I looked at Sarah Palin who stepped down —
                        for her family was persecuted —
                        people leave other people's children alone —

                    I see this cloud of darkness — of saying
                        anything against another as okay —
                        even what people do to blaspheme
                        Jesus —

                Well doing things against our neighbor
                    is doing it to Jesus when we
                    spread lies to get power

                St. Ignatius says — from the Spiritual Exercises

                        Excerpt from the Standard of Satan

142. THIRD POINT.   Consider the address he makes to them, how he goads them on to lay snares for men and bind them with chains. First they are to tempt them to covet riches (as Satan himself is accustomed to do in most cases) that they may the more easily attain the empty honors of this world, and then come to overweening pride.

   The first step, then, will be riches, the second honor, the third pride. From these three steps the evil one leads to all other vices.

end of excerpt

 

                All sin can be reduced to this

                It is pride when one works and works to discredit
                    a worthy soul doing good work —
                    pride like Sarah — Joseph from the old testament —
                    they didn't want anyone getting
                    ahead of them —

                We are here to celebrate the gifts of others and work
                    with each other to build God's Kingdom —

                How does it make you feel —
                    like I do —
                    When I hear Jesus say of some —
                    "Why do you persecute Me?"
                    "They did it to Me!" Jesus says

                What we do to others that is evil we are
                    treating Jesus this way

                Jesus was crucified for our sins —

                Look at our babies
                Look through the eyes of God —

                Little children see men kissing men on the
                    media —

                A dark cloud hovers over us and the media
                    plays the script — so we get more
                    and more brainwashed into thinking
                    right is wrong and
                    wrong is right.

                Jesus in the scriptures gives us truth — 

 

                In these writings — I write the truth —
                    to help renew the Church and the world

                Jesus is the King of all hearts
                Jesus is the King of the world

                The Sacred Heart of Jesus must Reign —
                    not men and their selfish - rebellious ways
                    obey God
                    obey the commandments
                    obey —
                        God has all the Power —

 

Luke 11: 42-54

But alas for you Pharisees, because you pay your tithe of mint and rue and all sorts of garden herbs and neglect justice and the love of God! These you should have practised, without neglecting the others. Alas for you Pharisees, because you like to take the seats of honour in the synagogues and to be greeted respectfully in the market squares! Alas for you, because you are like the unmarked tombs that people walk on without knowing it!'

    A lawyer then spoke up. 'Master,' he said, 'when you speak like this you insult us too.' But he said, 'Alas for you lawyers as well, because you load on people burdens that are unendurable, burdens that you yourselves do not touch with your fingertips.

    'Alas for you because you build tombs for the prophets, the people your ancestors killed! In this way you both witness to what your ancestors did and approve it; they did the killing, you do the building.'

    And that is why the Wisdom of God said, "I will send them prophets and apostles; some they will slaughter and persecute, so that this generation will have to answer for every prophet's blood that has been shed since the foundation of the world, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who perished between the altar and the Temple." Yes, I tell you, this generation will have to answer for it all.'

    Alas for you lawyers who have taken away the key of knowledge! You have not gone in yourselves and have prevented others from going in who wanted to.'

    When he left there, the scribes and the Pharisees began a furious attack on him and tried to force answers from him on innumerable questions, lying in wait to catch him out in something he might say.

    

                When we see injustice our hearts cry —
                    Jesus says we will have joy —
                    There will be justice

                God has called me as a messenger in the
                    Shepherds of Christ —
                    to help bring this era of Peace
                    Mary promised at Fatima —

                We must pray the rosary —
                Pray the Shepherds of Christ prayers —

                Consecrate our homes and hearts to Jesus and Mary
                Make Jesus the King and Center of our lives

 

  

                Help me spread these writings —
                Support the writings we send to hierarchy and priests

  

  

                For the sake of souls —
                    listen to the message of Mary and Jesus —
                    don't settle in a warm cubby hole —
                        getting more like the world —
                        pray these prayers Jesus gave to Fr. Carter


    

July 31, 1994

Words of Jesus to Members of
Shepherds of Christ Associates:

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

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

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

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

    

                Help me do what Our Lady of Clearwater
                    and Jesus asked for

   

Mary by day
July 5, 2000

by night
July 5, 2000

                Mary is Our Lady of Fatima in the Americas

                We are the followers of Jesus, not the world —
                We are not to follow the ways of the world —
                    seeking power, affection, wealth for
                    ourselves here below —

                Don't look to the world to see where to be —
                    look to the Scriptures
                    look to the Commandments
                    look to the Church
                    Follow Jesus —
                    Jesus gave this Movement Shepherds of Christ to
                    pray for the priests, the Church and the world —
                    to pray for this era of peace in which the
                    Sacred Heart of Jesus will Reign and the
                    Immaculate Heart will triumph —

                We need to publish (reprint) Fr. Carter's small book of
                    messages — Tell My People —
                    These are messages of hope for the world
                        from Jesus and Mary

 

                    From Tell My People

Work to Make Your World Better

Jesus: "My beloved companion, remind My people of their responsibility toward the world. They have a duty to try to make this a better world for all to live in.

"Today there is much which is wrong with the world. Sin covers the face of the earth. Sins of all kinds blemish the goodness of My Father's creation.

"However, My Mother and I are increasingly gathering our forces for the battle against Satan and his followers. We are more and more forming Our followers to wage the battle to win back that part of the world dominated by Satan's influence. We are forming our followers in the ways of love. We are forming Our followers with the grace which flows from the bosom of My Father, through My Heart, given in the Holy Spirit, and distributed through the intercession of the maternal and Immaculate Heart of Mary.

"We are forming Our followers to give themselves in the greatest love for God and neighbor. We are bringing them ever more closely to Our Hearts so that they may draw from the flames of love of My Heart and Mary's Heart! The more My followers dwell in Mary's Heart and My Heart, the more they are enlightened and strengthened to give themselves for the salvation of the world.

"I am Lord and Master. I ask all to follow Me and My Mother to help us bring forth the great age of love and peace for the world. This age will emerge after the phase of purification has been completed. This age will be characterized by the triumph of Mary's immaculate Heart and the reign of My Sacred Heart. In this great new age, soon to come, My people will love and praise My Father, with Mary and through Me and in the Holy Spirit, as never before!

"I love My people with a tremendous, burning love, and in this love I give them this message!"

Reflection: The world belongs to Christ. St. Paul tells us about this:

As he is the Beginning, he was first to be born from the dead, so that he should be first in every way, because God wanted all perfection to be found in him, and all things to be reconciled through him and for him, everything in heaven and everything on earth, when he made peace by his death on the cross (Colossians 1:18-20).

Since the world belongs to Christ, we, who are His followers, must have a great love for the world as created and redeemed by God. We must labor through our participation in the Mass and through all our other prayers and good works to more and more help the Christic image of the world to shine forth in ever greater splendor. This is our duty and our privilege. Out of love for God and neighbor, let's resolve to get on with the task!

end of excerpt

 

Fr. Carter had a dream.

 

                    Help me do this

               
                Mary's message before she appeared in Clearwater.

Mary's Message
from the Rosary of August 27, 1996

Mary:  I stood beneath the cross of my Son, and my Heart was in such pain for I saw Him before my eyes. I saw Him covered with blood. I saw Him die. My Heart, my children, my Heart to watch my Son, but my Heart, my Heart, how I suffered for my little children of the world that give in to this world and give up the love of my Son. O my little children of light, I give you this message. Carry this light into the darkness for your Mother Mary, for I stood beneath the cross and I cried. I cried for the little ones. I cried for the young ones, the ones that do not care and will lose their souls. How do I make you see for you will not listen to me? What can I do? I come. I appear. I beg. I plead. I give you these gifts from my Son, and you reject me. I do not deliver messages very often anymore for I have been ignored. The message is the same. You do not read the messages I have given to you. Please help me. Help the little children. I appear. I appear. I appear, and I am ignored. I stood beneath the cross, and I cried. I cried, and my Heart was in such anguish for my little children, for I am searching for them this day as I searched for the Child Jesus. Please, please help me. I cannot hold back the hand of my Son any longer. I am Mary, your Mother. I ask you to help my children. You are my children of light.

end of Mary's Message, August 27, 1996

 

January 25, 1997

Mary: I am Mary. I am requesting that you continue to pray the rosary novena daily for the following intentions:
For the spread of the rosary, circulation and publication of these rosary meditations, for the Rosary Book and Children's Rosary Books, for the Rosary Aves and consecrations to be distributed and used by school children, for the Priestly Newsletter Books, for the Mass Book, for all materials receiving the imprimatur, for its publication and quick distribution, for the distribution of Mary's Message tape and the Rosary Book and the connection with the Shepherds of Christ Movement and the apparition in Florida;
 

 

 

December 19, 1996 

Mary: My dear children, I give to you, my Son, Jesus, born in a stable in Bethlehem on Christmas morn. He is the Almighty God, the Light of the World.

    I appear to you, my children, on a (former) bank in Florida. You have made money your god! Do you know how cold are your hearts? You turn away from my Son, Jesus, for your money. Your money is your god.

    I am Mary, your Mother. I do not appear as I once appeared to you. I am asking you today to circulate my message given on a tape on the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, December 12, 1996. Please circulate this tape now. Give it to as many people as you can. I am Mary, your Mother. Please circulate my Rosary Book.

end of December 19, 1996

   

                Look at the Holy Family —

 

 

                Jesus led a quiet life

                We have the people of the world —

                We have the commission to build the Kingdom of God
                    not to become worldly —

                We are to be little and childlike

   

Matthew 11: 25

At that time Jesus exclaimed, 'I bless you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for hiding these things from the learned and the clever and revealing them to little children.

    

                    In the world we can see more and more the
                selfishness of not caring for each other as
                God wants —

                    Being the Father's family — we are God's
                children — we are to be loving the people
                Jesus died for —

                    Our loving attitude to do our morning
                offering — praying deeply for the priests,
                the Church and the world —

                    Jesus worked — Jesus was tired — Jesus
                fell asleep in the boat — The waves are
                going in the boat — Jesus calms the
                storm —

                    Jesus says

                    "Why are you afraid, oh men of
                little faith" —

                    We must pray for the Church — pray for
                those who are not obeying as they should —
                pray for the fervent —

                    Know the Church can calm the storm —
                We are to pray for the priests, the Church
                and the world —

 

                    Peter was chosen by God — we see
                Peter's weakness and Peter's strength —
                Peter walked on the water, when Peter
                    took his focus off of Jesus — he sunk
                    in the water —

                We must pray — we must keep our focus on
                    Jesus —
                    Peter is strong — the spirit changes —
                        Peter gets afraid and he starts
                        to sink

                We are to be like little children —

 

Matthew 11: 25

At that time Jesus exclaimed, 'I bless you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for hiding these things from the learned and the clever and revealing them to little children.

 

                We need to focus on our Father —
                    Focus on Jesus —
                    Let the Holy Spirit guide us

 

Revelation 12:11

     They conquered him by the blood of the
Lamb and by the word of their testimony;
love for life did not deter them from death.

 

John 17: 13-19

But now I am coming to you
and I say these things in the world
to share my joy with them to the full.
I passed your word on to them,
and the world hated them,
because they belong to the world
no more than I belong to the world.
I am not asking you
    to remove them from the world,
but to protect them from the Evil One.
They do not belong to the world
any more than I belong to the world.
Consecrate them in the truth;
your word is truth.
As you sent me into the world, 
I have sent them into the world,
and for their sake I consecrate myself
so that they too
    may be consecrated in truth.

   

                Jesus is the fulfillment of the law and
                    the prophets

                Transfiguration

                    Moses gave us the law
                    Elijah — prophet

                Many times we do not know God's ways and
                    we think with minds of men

                We meditate on the Gospel — the life of
                    the Divine Lord — to know
                    His ways —

 

Prayer from St. Ignatius

Lord, teach me to be generous.
Teach me to serve you as you deserve;
To give and not to count the cost;
To fight and not to heed the wounds;
To toil and not to seek for rest;
To labor and not to ask for any reward,
Save that of knowing
                    that I am doing your will.

 

        Prayer of St Ignatius

Soul of Christ, sanctify me
Body of Christ, save me
Blood of Christ, inebriate me
Water from the side of Christ wash me
Passion of Christ, strengthen me
O good Jesus, hear me
Within Thy wounds hide me
Permit me not to be separated from Thee
From the wicked foe defend me
at the hour of my death call me
and bid me come to Thee
That with Thy saints I may praise Thee
For ever and ever. Amen.

 

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

46. PRAYER.  In the preparatory prayer I will beg God
our Lord for grace that all my intentions, actions, 
and operations may be directed purely to the 
praise and service of His Divine Majesty.  

 

Sing: Take Lord Receive

 

Excerpt of The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, by Louis J. Puhl, S.J. P.60-61
 

136. THE FOURTH DAY

        A MEDITATION ON TWO STANDARDS

The one of Christ, our supreme leader and lord,
the other of Lucifer, the deadly enemy of our
human nature

PRAYER.   The usual preparatory prayer.

window at a former Jesuit Seminary

137. FIRST PRELUDE.   This is the history. Here it will be that Christ calls and wants all beneath His standard, and Lucifer, on the other hand, wants all under his.

138. SECOND PRELUDE.   This is a mental representation of the place. It will be here to see a great plain, comprising the whole region about Jerusalem, where the sovereign Commander-in-Chief of all the good is Christ our Lord; and another plain about the region of Babylon, where the chief of the enemy is Lucifer.

139. THIRD PRELUDE.   This is to ask for what I desire. Here it will be to ask for a knowledge of the deceits of the rebel chief and help to guard myself against them; and also to ask for a knowledge of the true life exemplified in the sovereign and true Commander, and the grace to imitate Him.
   

FIRST PART

THE STANDARD OF SATAN

140. FIRST POINT.   Imagine you see the chief of all the enemy in the vast plain about Babylon, seated on a great throne of fire and smoke, his appearance inspiring horror and terror.

141. SECOND POINT.   Consider how he summons innumerable demons, and scatters them, some to one city and some to another, throughout the whole world, so that no province, no place, no state of life, no individual is overlooked.

142. THIRD POINT.   Consider the address he makes to them, how he goads them on to lay snares for men and bind them with chains. First they are to tempt them to covet riches (as Satan himself is accustomed to do in most cases) that they may the more easily attain the empty honors of this world, and then come to overweening pride.

   The first step, then, will be riches, the second honor, the third pride. From these three steps the evil one leads to all other vices.
   

SECOND PART

THE STANDARD OF CHRIST

143.   In a similar way, we are to picture to ourselves the sovereign and true Commander, Christ our Lord.

144. FIRST POINT.   Consider Christ our Lord, standing in a lowly place in a great plain about the region of Jerusalem, His appearance beautiful and attractive.

145. SECOND POINT.   Consider how the Lord of all the world chooses so many persons, apostles, disciples, etc., and sends them throughout the whole world to spread His sacred doctrine among all men, no matter what their state or condition.

146. THIRD POINT.   . . .
   

end of excerpt of The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius

 

From The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, 
    by Louis J. Puhl, S.J. p. 12

                        23. FIRST PRINCIPLE AND FOUNDATION

                            Man is created to praise, reverence and serve God 
                        our Lord, and by this means to save his soul.

p.11

21.                     SPIRITUAL EXERCISES

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

  

 

Mysteries of Light

 

                Baptism of Jesus

                (1) Mark 1: 9-11

   It was at this time that Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptised in the Jordan by John. And at once, as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit, like a dove, descending on him. And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on you.’

                (2) Jesus is the Son of God —
                    The Father sent His Son to teach us how
                        to be sons of God —

                (3) John the Baptist leaped in the womb
                        of Elizabeth when Mary and Jesus
                        came at the Visitation —

                (4) John the Baptist called Jesus
                        the LAMB of God.

                (5) Jesus was the Lamb led to the
                        slaughter.

 

John 1: 35-37

The next day as John stood there again with two of his disciples, Jesus went past, and John looked towards him and said, 'Look, there is the lamb of God.' And the two disciples heard what he said and followed Jesus.

   

                (6) Jesus was baptized by John the
                    Baptist at the River Jordon.

                (7) Jesus is Divine, with 2 natures.

                (8) Song: A Song from Jesus

                (9) Excerpt from the Priestly Newsletter Book III - 2000 Issue 3 p. 49

  • The fact that the Church is here on earth a reflection of the Trinitarian Community easily leads us to reflect upon the Church as the Body of Christ, since this name given to the Church also emphasizes the communal aspect of the Church. St. Paul tells us: For as with the human body which is a unity although it has many parts — all the parts of the body, though many, still making up one single body — so it is with Christ. We were baptised into one body in a single Spirit, Jews as well as Greeks, slaves as well as free men, and we were all given the same Spirit to drink. And indeed the body consists not of one member but of many. If the foot were to say, ‘I am not a hand and so I do not belong to the body’, it does not belong to the body any the less for that. Or if the ear were to say, ‘I am not an eye, and so I do not belong to the body’, that would not stop its belonging to the body. If the whole body were just an eye, how would there be any hearing? If the whole body were hearing, how would there be any smelling?

                (10) Excerpt from the Priestly Newsletter Book III 2000 Issue 3 p. 49

Now Christ’s body is yourselves, each of you with a part to play in the whole. And those whom God has appointed in the Church are, first apostles, secondly prophets, thirdly teachers; after them, miraculous powers, then gifts of healing, helpful acts, guidance, various kinds of tongues. Are all of them apostles? Or all prophets? Or all teachers? Or all miracle-workers? Do all have the gifts of healing? Do all of them speak in tongues and all interpret them? (1 Cor 12:12-17; 27-30)

     

                    This Jordon was about 1/2 day
                        from Jerusalem

   

Matthew 3: 16-17

 And when Jesus had been baptised he at once came up from the water, and suddenly the heavens opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming down on him. And suddenly there was a voice from heaven, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on him.’ 

 

                    This shows the Trinity

John 3: 5

Jesus replied: 

    In all truth I tell you, 
    no one can enter the kingdom of God 
    without being born 
        through water and the Spirit;

 

                John the Baptist preached
                    repentance

                    John the Baptist - lost his head

  

                Marriage at Cana of Galilee

                (1) John 2: 1-10  

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

                (2) Jesus performed what is considered
                        his first miracle.

                (3) Jesus at this marriage —
                        shows a sign of Jesus' blessing
                        of marriage.

                (4) Jesus showed that parents deserve
                        their respect

                    Jesus calls His mother "Woman"
                    Jesus calls Mary this from the cross —

                (5) Mary opened the door to Jesus —
                        Mary said
                            "Do whatever He tells you"

                    Mary is an intercessor —

                (6) Mary brought Jesus into the world —
                    Mary said to Jesus —
                        "They have no wine"

                (7) Jesus changed water into wine
                        because of Mary —
                    Mary opens the door to Jesus'
                        first miracle

                (8) Excerpt from the Priestly Newsletter Book III 2000 Issue 3 p. 58-59

  • Father Arthur Culkins, a contemporary Marian scholar, offers us these words on Mary and the priest: 39.

"If every Christian ought to see himself in the Apostle John, entrusted to Mary as her son or daughter, how much more ought priests to recognize themselves as sons of Mary, as the subject of a ‘double’ entrustment to her. I say ‘double’ because they are successors of John by a twofold title: as disciples and as priests. This is beautifully drawn out by our Holy Father in his "Holy Thursday Letter to Priests" of 1988: ‘If John at the foot of the Cross somehow represents every man and woman for whom the motherhood of the Mother of God is spiritually extended, how much more does this concern each of us, who are sacramentally called to the priestly ministry of the Eucharist in the Church!’…

"Although Jesus had already entrusted every priest to his Mother from the height of the Cross and the Pope has done it even hundreds of times, it is still necessary for the priest to do so himself if he would truly experience the power and the protection of the Mother of God in his life as her Divine Son intends it. Priests who have done so know the difference it makes".39

                                        39. Arthur Culkins, Soul Magazine Jan-Feb, 1995, p. 30.

 

                (9) Jesus called Mary
                        "Woman" from the cross

 

John 19: 25-27

Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. Seeing his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing near her, Jesus said to his mother, ‘Woman, this is your son.’ Then to the disciple he said, ‘This is your mother.’ And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.

 

                (10) I see myself standing with Mary
                        under the cross as I unite with
                        Jesus at Mass —

                    I offer myself to the Father at Mass —
                        united to Jesus, in the Holy Spirit through
                        the intercession of Mary, united
                        to the angels and saints and the souls
                        in purgatory —

   

Hebrews 5: 1-10

Every high priest is taken from among human beings and is appointed to act on their behalf in relationships with God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins; he can sympathise with those who are ignorant or who have gone astray, because he too is subject to the limitations of weakness. That is why he has to make sin offerings for himself as well as for the people. No one takes this honour on himself; it needs a call from God, as in Aaron’s case. And so it was not Christ who gave himself the glory of becoming high priest, but the one who said to him: You are my Son, today I have fathered you, and in another text: You are a priest for ever, of the order of Melchizedek. During his life on earth, he offered up prayer and entreaty, with loud cries and with tears, to the one who had the power to save him from death, and, winning a hearing by his reverence, he learnt obedience, Son though he was, through his sufferings; when he had been perfected, he became for all who obey him the source of eternal salvation and was acclaimed by God with the title of high priest of the order of Melchizedek.

   

 

 

   

                The Kingdom of God

                (1) Jesus is the King of Kings
                    Jesus is the Lamb of God
                    Jesus showed us wisdom,
                        teaching and miracles.

                (2) Ezekiel 34: 11-12, 15-17

    “For the Lord Yahweh says this: Look, I myself shall take care of my flock and look after it. As a shepherd looks after his flock when he is with his scattered sheep, so shall I look after my sheep. I shall rescue them from wherever they have been scattered on the day of clouds and darkness.

I myself shall pasture my sheep, I myself shall give them rest–declares the Lord Yahweh. I shall look for the lost one, bring back the stray, bandage the injured and make the sick strong. I shall watch over the fat and healthy. I shall be a true shepherd to them."

    "As for you, my sheep, the Lord Yahweh says this: I shall judge between sheep and sheep, between rams and he-goats.

 

                (3)

From Guiding Light - The Word Alive in Our Hearts - Vol. I

Christ the King - November 20, 2005

INTRODUCTION: (Ezekiel 34, 11-12. 15-17; I Cor. 15, 20-26.28; Matthew 25, 31-46) There was an artist who wanted to create a statue of Christ the King. He started working on a clay model, picturing Christ with his arms upraised, his head back and a joyful expression on his face. It was a triumphant Christ, much like the picture of Christ St. Paul gives us in today’s second reading. But when the artist went to bed it started to rain and the moist air blowing in the window made the clay in his statue begin to sag. When the artist saw his work in the morning, Christ’s arms were down, his head was bowed, his shoulders drooped and the expression on his face looked sad. Our readings give us both images of Christ the king today. In the first reading he is the powerful Christ, acting as shepherd of his people caring for them. In the gospel he is our judge. But also in the gospel he identifies himself with the hungry and the thirsty, the stranger and the naked, the sick and imprisoned and he tells us “just as you did it for one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it for me.”

 

                (4) Matthew 25: 31-46

‘When the Son of man comes in his glory, escorted by all the angels, then he will take his seat on his throne of glory. All nations will be assembled before him and he will separate people one from another as the shepherd separates sheep from goats. He will place the sheep on his right hand and the goats on his left. Then the King will say to those on his right hand, "Come, you whom my Father has blessed, take as your heritage the kingdom prepared for you since the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you made me welcome, lacking clothes and you clothed me, sick and you visited me, in prison and you came to see me." Then the upright will say to him in reply, "Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and make you welcome, lacking clothes and clothe you? When did we find you sick or in prison and go to see you?" And the King will answer, "In truth I tell you, in so far as you did this to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me." Then he will say to those on his left hand, "Go away from me, with your curse upon you, to the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you never gave me food, I was thirsty and you never gave me anything to drink, I was a stranger and you never made me welcome, lacking clothes and you never clothed me, sick and in prison and you never visited me." Then it will be their turn to ask, "Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty, a stranger or lacking clothes, sick or in prison, and did not come to your help?" Then he will answer, "In truth I tell you, in so far as you neglected to do this to one of the least of these, you neglected to do it to me." And they will go away to eternal punishment, and the upright to eternal life.’

 

                (5)

From Guiding Light - The Word Alive in Our Hearts - Vol. I

Christ the King - November 20, 2005

HOMILY: The lesson Jesus teaches us in today’s gospel has really been understood and accepted by most Christians. There was an article on the front page of the Catholic Telegraph in which Catholics were asked what teachings of the Church were personally “very important” to them. At the very top of the list 84 % listed helping the poor as “very important.” The picture Jesus paints of the last judgment has deeply impacted most people when it comes to caring for others.

But I always wondered where worship of God fit in here. Isn’t that something that’s important too? Why didn’t Jesus mention that when he talked about the last judgment? Should we forget about prayer and worship and Mass and spend more time doing good for others? That question always puzzled me until I realized that Jesus was preaching to people who took their religious responsibilities seriously. In Jesus’ day a good Jew wouldn’t think of missing synagogue on the Sabbath. Jesus himself went to the synagogue each week, St. Luke tells us. Furthermore, St. Matthew was not writing his gospel for unbelievers but the Church, for a community of believers who gathered together each Sunday, the Lord’s Day, to celebrate the Eucharist in memory of the Lord Jesus and in union with him. Neither Jesus, nor Matthew in talking about how God will judge us had to stress the importance of keeping holy the Lord’s day, because their audience was already doing that. Instead, they had to stress to church going people that just going to church is not enough to be a good Christian. Remember there were two commandments Jesus gave us when he was asked what is the greatest commandment. In the early Church most people were aware of the first one (love God) and knew we owed God our worship and praise and thanksgiving, but they needed to be reminded of the second one (love your neighbor). Today that seems to have flip-flopped. The same article in the Catholic Telegraph reported that many Catholics think they can be good Catholics without going to Mass every Sunday. The percentage of those who think Mass every Sunday is important ranges from a high of 60 % for those over 65 to just 15% for those in the 18-25 age bracket. After I read this report in the Catholic Telegraph I was struck by an interesting passage from the Book of Revelation. The passage described God’s people in heaven who were victorious over the forces of evil and they were singing a hymn to God. The words of their hymn were: “Who would dare refuse you honor, or the glory due your name, O Lord? Since you alone are holy, all nations shall come and worship in your presence.” Worship is what too many people are missing in their spiritual lives. Worship is part of being a “good” Catholic. And for a good Catholic that worship is the Mass. Somewhere along the line, the third commandment has been forgotten.

If Christ is our king do we not owe him honor and praise and thanksgiving? We’ll all get together with family and friends this Thursday and stuff ourselves and call that thanksgiving. And some will feel we’ve done a duty to God. If we’re satisfied with that, the Bible tells us: God’s not.

We live in a democracy. It’s far from perfect, but when I travel to other countries or read about the politics in other countries, I’m grateful to be here in the United States of America. Over two hundred years ago, our ancestors fought hard to be rid of having a king to rule over us. We want to make up our own rules. Our feast today reminds us there are limits to our ability to make our own rules and determine our own destiny. There are certain values that are absolute, that society cannot do away with. There is a layer of power above us that is higher than the president and the governors and the legislators. That power is God who has the authority to tell us how to live and the things we must or must not do. When we honor Christ as our king, we’re not saying he’s a president we can vote out if we do not like what he tells us. When we honor him as our king we commit ourselves to faithfully following him, the only path that will lead to sharing in his glory and in his kingdom some day. Amen.

 

                (6) 1 Corinthians 15: 20-26

    In fact, however, Christ has been raised from the dead, as the first-fruits of all who have fallen asleep. As it was by one man that death came, so through one man has come the resurrection of the dead. Just as all die in Adam, so in Christ all will be brought to life; but all of them in their proper order: Christ the first-fruits, and next, at his coming, those who belong to him. After that will come the end, when he will hand over the kingdom to God the Father, having abolished every principality, every ruling force and power. For he is to be king until he has made his enemies his footstool, and the last of the enemies to be done away with is death, for he has put all things under his feet.

                (7) Sing: The King of Glory

                (8) Jesus — Prophet, Priest and King
                        Jesus taught, preached
                        and cast out demons —

                (9) Daniel 7: 13-14

I was gazing into the visions of the night, when I saw, coming on the clouds of heaven, as it were a son of man. He came to the One most venerable and was led into his presence. On him was conferred rule, honour and kingship, and all peoples, nations and languages became his servants. His rule is an everlasting rule which will never pass away, and his kingship will never come to an end.

 

                        From Guiding Light - Focusing on the Word - Vol. II

Feast of Christ the King - November 26, 2006

INTRODUCTION – (Daniel 7, 13-14; Rev. 1, 5-8; John 18, 33b-37) Today again we hear from the book of Daniel, a book that was written during a time when the Jews were suffering a terrible persecution for their faith.  Today’s reading describes how God would triumph in the end.  God would establish a kingdom that would be everlasting.  God is here described as “the Ancient One.”  His kingdom would be ruled by one who is described as “like a son of man.”  God would give this “son of man” dominion, glory and kingship.  The term “son of man” simply means a human being, but today’s passage invests the term with new depth and mystery.  You might recall, “son of man” was the favorite term Jesus used to describe himself. 

                (10) Revelation 1: 5-8

and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the First–born from the dead, the highest of earthly kings. He loves us and has washed away our sins with his blood, and made us a Kingdom of Priests to serve his God and Father; to him, then, be glory and power for ever and ever. Amen. Look, he is coming on the clouds; everyone will see him, even those who pierced him, and all the races of the earth will mourn over him. Indeed this shall be so. Amen. ‘I am the Alpha and the Omega,’ says the Lord God, who is, who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.

 

John 18: 33-37

    So Pilate went back into the Praetorium and called Jesus to him and asked him, ‘Are you the king of the Jews?’ Jesus replied, ‘Do you ask this of your own accord, or have others said it to you about me?’ Pilate answered, ‘Am I a Jew? It is your own people and the chief priests who have handed you over to me: what have you done?’ Jesus replied, ‘Mine is not a kingdom of this world; if my kingdom were of this world, my men would have fought to prevent my being surrendered to the Jews. As it is, my kingdom does not belong here.’ Pilate said, ‘So, then you are a king?’ Jesus answered, ‘It is you who say that I am a king. I was born for this, I came into the world for this, to bear witness to the truth; and all who are on the side of truth listen to my voice.’

 

From Guiding Light - Focusing on the Word - Vol. II

Feast of Christ the King - November 26, 2006

HOMILY – You may be surprised to know that today’s feast was not established during the Middle Ages when most of the world was ruled by kings or emperors.  Today’s feast is very recent. It was established by Pope Pius XI in 1925, a time when kings and emperors were becoming increasingly a remnant of the past.  Pius XI instituted this feast as an attempt to counteract the atheism and secularism of that time. 

Today’s feast reminds us that with God there is no democracy.  It pleased God to establish a kingdom with Jesus his divine Son as our king.  In many ways he is unlike most of the other kings we may have heard of or read about.  I would like to mention just four of the things that are unique about Jesus as a king: 

(1) First of all, belonging to his kingdom is intentional.  He doesn’t come around with soldiers and weapons to force us into submission.  He invites us to follow him.  Coercion is not his style, rather he leads us by faith and love. 

(2) As a king he does not live in a castle or go parading around in fancy garb or expensive jewels or need to be transported in big limousines or private jets.  He does not need to display his position for his dignity and greatness are beyond this world.  We see him in today’s gospel, looking like the bad guy, on trial for violation of Jewish and Roman law. Yet it seems Pilate is the one on trial, not knowing how to honestly deal with this man in front of him.  Hearing this passage we realize we are on trial too as to whether we belong to the truth for he said: “Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” 

(3) Kings tend to be distant and aloof from their people.  They can’t be otherwise, because they have so many people to govern.  Jesus, as our king, is close to each of us; not only close to us but he is one with us.  “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.”  (Jn. 14,23)  He is the shepherd who seeks out the lost sheep, because each of us is important to him.

(4) Every king will enjoy his position of authority only for a time.  It may be many decades, such as Louis XIV who reigned for 72 years in France, or it may be a few days until death or a rival overthrows them.  Christ’s kingdom will last forever. 

As any king he gives us laws which he expects us to follow.  The obedience he demands is not for his own self-interest but for our well being.  He knows what will result in our happiness or unhappiness, so he commands us to do those things that will bring us happiness - not just momentary happiness (which sometimes sin brings us), but eternal happiness. 

Kings, indeed any ruling power, requires those that are governed to pay taxes.  How else can a government survive?  Even God has taxes.  In the Old Testament, God required 10% be given to the Lord and to the poor.  Jesus too asks us to help each other, especially those who are needy among us.  But there’s something equally important we must give to the Lord: our time.  People have to spend time together for any relationship to begin, be sustained or survive.  One minimum requirement he gave us is that we give God an hour on Sunday (or Saturday evening).  But that is a minimum.  If we want our relationship with God to grow, we need more than that. 

Our feast today reminds us there is a power in this universe that is greater than the power of physical strength, the power of hatred, the power of wealth and the power of bombs.  It is the power of truth and love.  This power is revealed to us in Jesus Christ.  The power of Jesus Christ will overcome all the powers of evil.  There may be challenging and difficult times.  We may wonder where our world is headed.  We may be worried about Iran, North Korea, terrorists, Iraq.  We may think, and rightly so, that morality is going down the sewer.  Yet, in the big picture, evil will not win out.  Returning to our first reading we heard that to the Son of Man was given dominion, glory, and kingship; all peoples, nations and languages would serve him.  His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not be taken away, his kingship shall not be destroyed.  Amen.

end of homily

    

 

 

  

                The Transfiguration

                (1) Mark 9: 2-10

Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John and led them up a high mountain on their own by themselves. There in their presence he was transfigured: his clothes became brilliantly white, whiter than any earthly bleacher could make them. Elijah appeared to them with Moses; and they were talking to Jesus. Then Peter spoke to Jesus, ‘Rabbi,’ he said, ‘it is wonderful for us to be here; so let us make three shelters, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.’ He did not know what to say; they were so frightened. And a cloud came, covering them in shadow; and from the cloud there came a voice, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved. Listen to him.’ Then suddenly, when they looked round, they saw no one with them any more but only Jesus. Mark 9: 2-8

                (2) We see the Trinity.

Matthew 17: 5

‘This is my Son, the Beloved; he enjoys my favour. Listen to him.’

 

                (3) Daniel 7: 9-10, 13-14

            While I was watching, 
        thrones were set in place
        and one most venerable took his seat.
        His robe was white as snow,
        the hair of his head as pure as wool.
        His throne was a blaze of flames,
        its wheels were a burning fire.
        A stream of fire poured out,
        issuing from his presence.
        A thousand thousand waited on him,
        ten thousand times ten thousand
           stood before him.
        The court was in session
        and the books lay open.

        I was gazing into the visions of the night,
       when I saw,
           coming on the clouds of heaven,
       as it were a son of man.
       He came to the One most venerable
       and was led into his presence.
       On him was conferred rule,
       honour and kingship,
       and all peoples, nations and languages
           became his servants.
       His rule is an everlasting rule
       which will never pass away,
       and his kingship will never come to an end.

 

                (4) Psalm 97: 1-2, 5-6, 9

            Yahweh is king! Let earth rejoice, 
        the many isles be glad!
        Cloud, black cloud enfolds him,
        saving justice and judgement the foundations of his throne.

         The mountains melt like wax,
        before the Lord of all the earth.
        The heavens proclaim his saving justice,
        all nations see his glory.

         For you are Yahweh,
        Most High over all the earth,
        far transcending all gods.

 

                (5) 2 Peter 1: 16-19

When we told you about the power and the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, we were not slavishly repeating cleverly invented myths; no, we had seen his majesty with our own eyes. He was honoured and glorified by God the Father, when a voice came to him from the transcendent Glory, This is my Son, the Beloved; he enjoys my favour.  We ourselves heard this voice from heaven, when we were with him on the holy mountain.

So we have confirmation of the words of the prophets; and you will be right to pay attention to it as to a lamp for lighting a way through the dark, until the dawn comes and the morning star rises in your minds.

 

                (6) From Guiding Light - Focusing on the Word - Vol. II

Transfiguration - August 6, 2006 

INTRODUCTION – Our first reading is from the book of Daniel (Dn. 7, 7-10.13-14).  The author of this book lived during the time the Greeks dominated most of the known world.  The Greeks were trying to get everyone to follow their religion (paganism) and any Jew who remained faithful to his or her Jewish faith was put to death.  This was the first time in the history of the world that people were persecuted for their beliefs.  The book of Daniel tried to offer the Jewish people hope: hope of a savior. This salvation comes from one like a “son of man” whom God endows with kingship and power.  Our reading is one of Daniel’s visions and it first describes God who is called the Ancient One - indicating God’s eternity.  The term “son of man” means simply a human being, but this “son of man” would be unique and would be the savior of God’s people.  This was the favorite title Jesus used in referring to himself.  The glory of God is described in today’s first reading. It is shown through Christ in his Transfiguration, which is described in today’s gospel (Mk. 9, 2-10), and in today’s second reading from the Second Letter of St. Peter (1, 16-19).

                (7) From Guiding Light - Focusing on the Word - Vol. II

Transfiguration - August 6, 2006 

HOMILY – Last Sunday I said that for the next four weeks we would be hearing from the sixth chapter of St. John on the Eucharist.  I hadn’t looked ahead to see that this Sunday fell on August 6th which is the feast of the Transfiguration.  Although we hear about the Transfiguration every year on the second Sunday of Lent, the actual feast of the Transfiguration is on August 6.  It is an important enough feast that it replaces the normal Sunday liturgy. 

Tradition identifies Mt. Tabor as the mountain of the Transfiguration.  It’s quite a climb to get to the top.  There is a chapel on top of the mountain commemorating the occasion of the Transfiguration.  I said Mass there sixteen years ago when I went with a study group to the Holy Land.  They had cars and buses to take us up the mountain.  I’m not surprised that Peter, James and John fell asleep, as St. Luke tells us in his gospel, when they went there with Jesus.  They didn’t have cars and buses and they would have been very tired when they got to the top.  But when they woke up their efforts to make it up to the top of that mountain with Jesus were well rewarded.  “It is good that we are here,” Peter said.  “Let us make three tents here: one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”  It sounds to me as if they were ready to stay there for several weeks, it was such an awesome experience.  As wonderful as it was, Jesus’ work wasn’t finished and neither was theirs.  They had to come back down to earth. 

Most of us, I’m sure, have had moments when we’ve felt God’s presence and closeness and special love, or when we knew God was helping us with some problem.  But I’m sure there are few, if any of us, who have experienced anything like the Transfiguration.  We may be a mystic and have ecstatic experiences in prayer or we may be a saint who receives visions of Jesus or Mary. Other than that, we’ve probably not experienced anything like the Transfiguration and may find it difficult to relate to. But we can learn from it. 

                (8) From Guiding Light - Focusing on the Word - Vol. II - Homily continues - August 6, 206 - Transfiguration

(1) We can learn that God has great glory reserved for us until, as the second reading tells us, “day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.”

(2) We can learn from what God spoke on the holy mountain about Jesus: “this is my beloved Son, listen to him.”  This is not something new, of course, but it doesn’t hurt to be reminded once again that we must listen to him. 

(3) We can learn that we cannot expect mountaintop experiences every day when we pray, when we receive the sacraments, when we keep the Commandments.  There are those moments when we get a lot of consolation and good feelings from our faith and our prayers.  Then there are those moments when prayer is dry, when our faith is exactly what that word means, believing only on the word of another and not feeling anything except that we’re in a desert.  The apostles were with Jesus three years and there was only one experience like the Transfiguration, and only three of them experienced it.  Our religion can’t be based on feelings.  It’s based on faith in God and love for God and for one another.  Sometimes we feel it and sometimes we don’t.  It’s not how we feel it that counts, but how we live it. 

(4) Another thing we can learn from the Transfiguration is that we can’t always trust appearances.  In appearance Jesus looked pretty much like the rest of us.  Artists have pictured him with a halo, but I’m sure there was no halo when people saw him every day.  The gospels would have remarked about it if there were.  For a brief moment on Mt. Tabor, the apostles saw and heard things that indicated there was a lot more to Jesus than they ever imagined. 

Today, as we come to Mass, our faith calls us to look beyond appearances.  When we receive Communion, we receive what appears to be a wafer of bread and a sip of wine, but faith in the power and the words of Jesus tells us this host and cup offers us so much more.  It is food for eternal life.  We pray as always that the Lord will help us to know his presence with us today, and if we do not experience that presence, we pray for the faith to be able to see beyond appearances and still be able to say as Peter did on the mountain: “it is good that we are here.”

 

                (9) Sing: To Jesus Christ Our Sovereign King

                (10) Jesus went up Mt. Tabor for the
                        Transfiguration.

  

 

                The Institution of the Eucharist

                (1) Excerpt from the Priestly Newsletter Book III - 2000 Issue 2 p. 26

  • At the Last Supper, on the night He was betrayed, our Saviour instituted the Eucharistic Sacrifice of His Body and Blood. He did this in order to perpetuate the sacrifice of the Cross throughout the centuries until He should come again, and so to entrust to His beloved spouse, the Church, a memorial of His death and resurrection: a sacrament of love, a sign of unity, a bond of charity, a paschal banquet in which Christ is consumed, the mind is filled with grace, and a pledge of future glory is given to us. (Vatican II, Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, No. 17) 12

12. The Documents of Vatican II, "Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy," America Press edition, No. 17.

                (2) Excerpt from the Priestly Newsletter Book III - 2000 Issue 2 p. 26

  • The Church, therefore, earnestly desires that Christ’s faithful, when present at this mystery of faith, should not be there as strangers or silent spectators. On the contrary, through a proper appreciation of the rites and prayers they should participate knowingly, devoutly, and actively. They should be instructed by God’s word and be refreshed at the table of the Lord’s body; they should give thanks to God; by offering the Immaculate Victim, not only through the hands of the priest, but also with him, they should learn to offer themselves too. Through Christ the Mediator, they should be drawn day by day into ever closer union with God and with each other, so that finally God may be all in all. (Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, No. 48) 13

            13. The Documents of Vatican II, "Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy," America Press edition, No. 48.

                (3) Excerpt from the Priestly Newsletter Book III - 2000 Issue 2 p. 26

  • Through the Eucharistic Sacrifice Christ the Lord desired to set before us in a very special way this remarkable union whereby we are united one with another and with our divine Head, a union that no word of praise can ever sufficiently express. For in this sacrifice the sacred ministers act not only as the representative of our Saviour, but as the representative of the whole Mystical Body and of each one of the faithful. Again, in this act of sacrifice, the faithful of Christ, united by the common bond of devotion and prayer, offer to the eternal Father through the hands of the priest, whose prayer alone has made it present on the altar, the Immaculate Lamb, the most acceptable victim of praise and propitiation for the Church’s universal need. Moreover, just as the divine Redeemer, while dying on the Cross, offered Himself to the eternal Father as Head of the whole human race, so now, ‘in this clean oblation’ He not only offers Himself as Head of the Church to His heavenly Father but in Himself His mystical members as well. He embraces them all, yes, even the weaker and more ailing members, with the deepest love of His Heart. (Pope Pius XII, Mystici Corporis AAS. XXXV, 232-233) 14

14. Pope Pius XII, Encyclical Letter, Mystici Corporis, AAS, XXXV, pp. 232-233.

                (4) Excerpt from the Priestly Newsletter Book III - 2000 Issue 2 p. 26-27

  • The Sacrifice of Calvary is sacramentally made present in the Mass. When we pray the Morning Offering Prayer, united to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, we act as Intercessors, pleading to God that great graces be released all day through our prayerful actions as we act in love according to the Father’s will. Whether we are eating, taking care of a sick parent, enjoying time spent with a friend, working at our job, we can help bring down great graces for the world. 16

            16. Rita Ring, Rosary Meditations for Parents and Children, Shepherds of Christ Ministries, p.5.

                (5) Excerpt from the Priestly Newsletter Book III - 2000 Issue 2 p. 27

When we pray the Morning Offering Prayer we offer our lives to the Father, through Christ, in the Holy Spirit, with the prayerful assistance of Mary, our Mother. Let us pray together united in our hearts in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. There follows a Morning Offering Prayer. 16

16. Rita Ring, Rosary Meditations for Parents and Children, Shepherds of Christ Ministries, p.5.

                (6) Excerpt from the Priestly Newsletter Book III - 2000 Issue 2 p. 27

 "My dear Father, I offer You this day all my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings in union with Jesus in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, in the Holy Spirit. 16

16. Rita Ring, Rosary Meditations for Parents and Children, Shepherds of Christ Ministries, p.5.

                (7) Excerpt from the Priestly Newsletter Book III - 2000 Issue 2 p. 27

"I unite with our Mother, Mary, all the angels and saints, and all the souls in purgatory to pray to the Father for myself, for each member of my family, for my friends, for all the people throughout the world, for all the souls in purgatory, and for all other intentions of the Sacred Heart. 16

16. Rita Ring, Rosary Meditations for Parents and Children, Shepherds of Christ Ministries, p.5.

                (8) Excerpt from the Priestly Newsletter Book III - 2000 Issue 2 p. 27

"I love You, Jesus, and I give You my heart. I love you, Mary, and I give you my heart. Amen." 16

16. Rita Ring, Rosary Meditations for Parents and Children, Shepherds of Christ Ministries, p.5.

                (9) Excerpt from the Priestly Newsletter Book III - 2000 Issue 2 p. 27

  • St. John Vianney, the Curé of Ars, offers us these consoling words: "If we really loved God, we should make it our joy and happiness to come and spend a few moments before the tabernacle to adore him, and ask him for the grace of forgiveness --- Oh! how sweet and consoling are moments spent with the God of goodness. Are you in sorrow? Come and cast yourself at his feet and you will feel quite consoled. Are you despised by the world. Come here and you will find a good friend whose faithfulness will never fail you. Are you tempted? It is here that you will find strong and terrible weapons to vanquish your enemies --- Are you oppressed by poverty? Come and find a God infinitely rich… You who are reconciled with him, beg for the precious gift of perseverance. Oh! Tell him that if you are to offend him again, you would rather die. Would you begin to taste the joy of the saints? Come here and you will know the happy beginnings of it." 17

17. Saint John Vianney, "Sermons for Holy Thursday", in Eucharistic Meditations, editor Sr. Mary Benvenuta, O. P., translated by Abbé H. Convert, as in Adoration, compiled by Daniel Guernsey, Ignatius Press, p. 96.

                (10) Excerpt from the Priestly Newsletter Book III - 2000 Issue 3 p. 52

  • The death-resurrection of Jesus, which is encountered in a special way through the sacraments, is most especially renewed in the Eucharistic Sacrifice. Consequently, we can see the logical connection between the sacraments and the Mass. Indeed, all of the sacraments point to the Eucharistic Sacrifice.

 

 

 

 

 

   

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      Betty is a handmaid who has prayed in the

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        house to the church she uses a walker and

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        We wanted a little place she could rest

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July 31, 1994

Words of Jesus to Members of
Shepherds of Christ Associates:

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

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

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

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

 

  

 

  


 

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20"

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18"

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