We are praying in China and on radio
at 1:00 today for the Queenship of Mary.

We will be praying in the Church in
China, IN 11:00 to 2:00
for Mary Ann O'Brien's Funeral
Tuesday, August 24, 2021

We love you Jim and Mary Ann

 

Please Pray for Fr. Joe & Bob, Sanja
     

Prayer for Grace for our Country

Dear Father united to Jesus in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the Sacrifice of Calvary sacramentally made present, celebrated around the world, in the Holy Spirit. We offer up all we do united to the Mass. We unite in one mind and one heart as members of the mystical body of Christ, with Christ our head in the pure and holy Hearts of Jesus and Mary, through the powerful intercession of Mary with all the angels and saints and souls in purgatory, and we beg for the saving grace, for our country, the United States. Please help us. We further pray for unity to always do the will of God in love. We spread the Blood of Jesus on the leaders and people of the United States and cast the devil into hell. We consecrate our country to the Sacred Heart and Immaculate Heart and all our dioceses, and beg for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit. God help us. We pray for our families, the priests, the Church and the world. In the Name of Jesus please hear us, we pray. We pray for our president and leaders. We pray that we are united as one nation under God to work together in love as God wants.  

August 22, 2021

Death / Resurrection How to Love

R. At Fatima Mary told us about conversion.
To me this is dying more and more to
anyway that blocks what the Father
wants us to be. Loving is not self-centered.
Love is being that conduit on both
sides so the Father's Plan can
happen in our lives and around us in
the lives we work with. To live
the life of resurrection. We  need to
open ourselves to God's love and to
grow in relating more authentically
in our lives with others. In this
love as God intends, we seek
the reality God wants for the world
and those around us.

    We must be able to control,
have self-discipline with
regard to our emotions, memory,
imagination, our intellect and will.

    We grow in Christian maturity
living virtuously and more purely
in our lives.

    We do not get on a pity-pot and
hold out because of pride,
jealousy, envy or anger.
God is first in our lives –
not our emotions, envy,
jealousy or need for power
or control.

    These are called the deadly
sins – ride, greed, envy, wrath,
lust, gluttony, and sloth.

We let go of inordinate
attachments in our lives –
i.e. need to be in control of things
and others, envious
of others – all these that can
block the will of God for others
growing if we try to stand
in the way of God's will
for them because of our sins.

    We live more the Christ-life
in our lives. We die to these
evil ways and choose life –
live the life of resurrection
in our lives.

Death / Resurrection

    This takes self-discipline,
this takes God's grace – praying
to God to help us grow in love
and living the Father's will.
Pray for the grace we need most
in life.

    Many times we can try and try to
change others, thinking this
would give us freedom – when
they won't change, but changing
ourselves may be what is needed to
make things better. But we need
God to help us see. We need
self-discipline and a desire
to love and live God's will and
a desire to let go of inordinate
attachments with God's help.

    We are not a slave of our
emotions, jealousies etc.
Self-control makes us freer.
This helps us grow in the
life of resurrection – this
gives us greater life in Him.

    We become not rigid,
but more bending and
responsive – true to what
God wants of us to be.

    Accepting our crosses in hardships
we cannot change, a sick husband,
child, relative can be a big
cross and help us grow in love and peace.

    Fr. Carter said "It's not that there is
too much suffering in the world,
but so much is wasted."

    When we sin – we hurt ourselves
first and we ask to be forgiven,
we are to have a firm purpose
of amendment and sorrow
for our sins. We are
to willingly make satisfaction,
if we can, for our sins.
When we look at sin – we
look at our past offenses –

    When we discipline ourselves we
want to be an authentic Christian,
not selfish, now and in the future.

    We must use the gifts and talents
God has given to us properly and
not hurt others by trying to
block the gifts and talents God
gave to them.

    Trying to control things for our
pride or jealousy is wrong. We are
commanded by God to love others –
That means when we love others –
we give to them for the good of
the others.

    Blinders can be in our eyes
where we try to see ourselves
first at all costs.

    God is always first and
seeking God's plan must
be first.

    We pray for the supernatural
virtues of faith, hope and love
received in baptism to
grow in us.

    In baptism we receive
an elevated knowing and loving
capacity. We want this
to develop more deeply in us – to
live more deeply the Christ-life,
the life of resurrection.

 

August 22, 2021

Jesus: Your prayers are so important
now. Pray hard, little ones, trust
in God and have faith, My people,
who will you serve? The world
has many evils and is focused
on rebellion.

    I am a God of miracles.
Serve Me, My Children, I
am your God. Live according
to My Father's will. Live
in great oneness with your
heavenly Father.

Romans 8: 14-17

All who are guided by the Spirit of God are sons of God; for what you received was not the spirit of slavery to bring you back into fear; you received the Spirit of adoption, enabling us to cry out, 'Abba, Father!' The Spirit himself joins with our spirit to bear witness that we are children of God. And if we are children, then we are heirs, heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ, provided that we share his suffering, so as to share his glory.
 

Jesus: Don't let satan tempt you to
give into his temptations
and lose your peace and
your unity with Me. Keep
your eyes focused on your
heavenly Father and your
eternal reward.

    I bring you My love.
I give you from My bounty.
I am all good.

    I love you so much, My
beautiful child. I give
you what is good for
your heart and soul.

    Be holy – love God and
one another, do not give
into anger, jealousy,
envy and pride.

    Put God and God's will
first in your lives.
 

    What have I done for Christ?
    What am I now doing for Christ?
    What ought I to do for Christ?
 

Jesus: Die to your selfishness
that you will rise in
Me. Love is life.

I give you Myself in the
Eucharist. I give you the
bread of life. I feed you
with Myself. The Eucharist
is My gift of Myself
to you. I love you, I
love you, I love you.

Joyful Mysteries

The Annunciation

1. Luke 1: 26-38

In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the House of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. He went in and said to her, ‘Rejoice, you who enjoy God’s favour! The Lord is with you.’ She was deeply disturbed by these words and asked herself what this greeting could mean, but the angel said to her, ‘Mary, do not be afraid; you have won God’s favour. Look! You are to conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you must name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David; he will rule over the House of Jacob for ever and his reign will have no end.’ Mary said to the angel, ‘But how can this come about, since I have no knowledge of man?’ The angel answered, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will cover you with its shadow. And so the child will be holy and will be called Son of God. And I tell you this too: your cousin Elizabeth also, in her old age, has conceived a son, and she whom people called barren is now in her sixth month, for nothing is impossible to God.’ Mary said, ‘You see before you the Lord’s servant, let it happen to me as you have said.’ And the angel left her. 

2. Mary always did the will of
    God.

3. Mary was conceived without
    sin.

4. Jesus was conceived in the
    womb of the Virgin Mary
    by the power of the Holy Spirit.

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.
 

5. We could meditate on this
    so much – that God
    sent His Son and Jesus
    took flesh in the womb
    of the Virgin Mary.

6. Jesus: I give you a sharing
    in My life in baptism.
    I love you so much.

7. Jesus: I give you Myself –
    God dwells in the graced
    baptized soul.

8. Excerpt from Response to God's Love by Fr. Edward Carter, S.J.

    ... In reference to Christianity, God himself is the ultimate mystery. Radically, God is completely other and transcendent, hidden from man in his inner life, unless he chooses to reveal himself. Let us briefly look at this inner life of God.

    The Father, in a perfect act of self-expression, in a perfect act of knowing, generates his son. The Son, the Word, is, then, the immanent expression of God's fullness, the reflection of the Father. Likewise, from all eternity, the Father and the Son bring forth the Holy Spirit in a perfect act of loving.

    At the destined moment in human history, God's self-expression, the Word, immersed himself into man's world. God's inner self-expression now had also become God's outer self-expression. Consequently, the mystery of God becomes the mystery of Christ. In Christ, God tells us about himself, about his inner life, about his plan of creation and redemption. He tells us how Father, Son, and Holy Spirit desire to dwell within us in the most intimate fashion, how they wish to share with us their own life through grace. All this he has accomplished and does accomplish through Christ.
 

9. We were created with a
    longing for God –
    only God can satisfy
    us. We have a thirsting
    for more here below.

10. Mary: Pray the rosary,
    these rosaries are teachings
    from the Hearts of Jesus
    and from My Heart –
    The Holy Spirit works in
    these rosaries to inspire
    you.

Jesus: Listen to Me. I
    am God, I love you
    so much.

 

The Visitation

1. Luke 1: 39-45

Mary set out at that time and went as quickly as she could into the hill country to a town in Judah. She went into Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth. Now it happened that as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. She gave a loud cry and said, ‘Of all women you are the most blessed, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Why should I be honoured with a visit from the mother of my Lord? Look, the moment your greeting reached my ears, the child in my womb leapt for joy. Yes, blessed is she who believed that the promise made her by the Lord would be fulfilled.’ 

2. Sing: Holy Is His Name

3. Mary: God loves you so
    much – spread the Good News,
    tell my little ones to pray.
    I am Our Lady of Clearwater,
    tell people about baptism –
    spread these messages and
    teachings here.

4. Elizabeth was thought
    barren. The angel Gabriel
    told Mary about her –
    Mary went to Elizabeth
    and stayed about 3 months.

5. Luke 1: 36-37

And I tell you this too: your cousin Elizabeth also, in her old age, has conceived a son, and she whom people called barren is now in her sixth month, for nothing is impossible to God.’

6. Jesus: God loves you so much.
    Open your hearts My people,
    I am Jesus, Chief Shepherd of the Flock.

7. Zachariah was struck
    speechless. God the Father
    has a plan – He has a plan
    for our lives today –

8. Jesus: Seek the Father's will
    Pray to the Holy Spirit –
    Spend time listening
    for the inspiration you
    need inside –
    Pray, pray, pray.

9. Jesus: You tread a barren desert
    in the world today
    in many places –
    You must pray as
    I directed Fr. Carter –
    Give your hearts to
    My Heart and your Mother's
        heart.
    Spread this devotion to Our Two Hearts.

10.

 

The Birth of Jesus

1. Luke 2:1-7

Now it happened that at this time Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be made of the whole inhabited world. This census—the first—took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria, and everyone went to be registered, each to his own town. So Joseph set out from the town of Nazareth in Galilee for Judaea, to David’s town called Bethlehem, since he was of David’s House and line, in order to be registered together with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. Now it happened that, while they were there, the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to a son, her first–born. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger because there was no room for them in the living–space. 

2.

    Sing: We Three Kings

3. The Father gives a great
    sign with the star
    in the sky at Jesus'
    birth.

At the Baptism of Jesus –
    the sky was thrown
    open and the voice of the
    Father was heard
    "This is My beloved Son,
    in whom I am well pleased."

At the Transfiguration, the
    voice of the Father was
    heard
    "This is My beloved Son in
    whom I am well pleased,
    listen to Him."

4. The Father gave signs
    the star above the stable
    in Bethlehem –
    His voice at the baptism
        of Jesus –
    His voice in the transfiguration.

5. The heavenly Father is our
    Father – He created
    us.

6. See the Holy Family.

7. Jesus came a baby, Jesus
    took flesh – the Incarnation
    goes on in us.
    We were created in
        the image and likeness
        of Jesus.

8. Jesus was born in poverty
    in a stable with
    the beasts of the earth.

9. The shepherds came to
    see Jesus.

10. Sing: What Child Is This

 

The Presentation in the Temple

1. Luke 2: 25-35

Now in Jerusalem there was a man named Simeon. He was an upright and devout man; he looked forward to the restoration of Israel and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death until he had set eyes on the Christ of the Lord. Prompted by the Spirit he came to the Temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the Law required, he took him into his arms and blessed God; and he said:

    Now, Master, you are letting 
        your servant go in peace 
    as you promised; 
    for my eyes have seen the salvation 
    which you have made ready 
        in the sight of the nations; 
    a light of revelation for the gentiles 
    and glory for your people Israel.

As the child’s father and mother were wondering at the things that were being said about him, Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, ‘Look, he is destined for the fall and for the rise of many in Israel, destined to be a sign that is opposed—and a sword will pierce your soul too — so that the secret thoughts of many may be laid bare.'   

2. Sing: Little Baby Hands and Feet

 

    R. And a sword too will
    pierce your heart Oh Mary.

 

3. Sing: O Holy Mary  (all verses)

4. Mary always did the
    Father's will.
    Fr. Carter would say
    "Does it matter if
    God asks you to carry a
    pebble or a boulder?"

5. Eternal Father in the
    name of Jesus, in the Holy Spirit
    through the powerful
    intercession of Mary
    with all the angels and
    saints and souls in
    purgatory - united to
    the Mass –
We offer up all we do all
    day for our special
    intentions and for
    the priests, the Church
    and the world.
    Please help us –

Outpour the grace we
    and our family need
    most.

Thank you.
 

6. May 16, 1998 - Prayer to the Father

My Father,

        With my whole heart I desire to consecrate the whole world to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. I wish with my whole being for the salvation of souls and that man live according to Thy Holy Will. I pray my Father that we may be one in You and Your Son Jesus and the Holy Spirit that we may intercede to You for this cause.

        It is this burning desire within my soul to spread the consecration to the far ends of the earth, that the cries of Your children are cries of glory and honor and adoration, praising God as their God.

        My Father, at this moment a soul hangs on the edge of death. For all eternity they will go to a place. It is not the plot of this soul as it trods this barren land to decide on the edge of death. You created us that we would grow in our oneness with God, that we would mature more and more in our image and likeness to God.

        And so My Father, I pray with every cell in my body for this earth. In the name of Your Son Jesus I consecrate all the souls of this earth to the Sacred Heart and the Immaculate Heart of Mary in the Holy Spirit in union with the Holy sacrifice of the Mass with all the angels and saints and the souls in Purgatory.

        I beg You Father for mercy.

        I beg You Father for assistance.

        I beg You Father to help us to spread this consecration to the far ends of the earth.

        Please help us. We are helpless little ones coming in the heart of our Mother, bleeding from our wounds and our sins. 

        Your Son, Jesus Christ, shed the last drop of His Blood for the salvation of mankind. We wish to unite in this sacrifice, sacramentally made present in the Mass all over the world at every moment. Help us to make reparation to You for the sins of men. 

        Please my Father, help us. Held in the heart of Mary and the Heart of Jesus we come as the children of Eve to beg for the Reign of the Sacred Heart and the Triumph of Mary's heart. Look upon our love, Your shepherds in the Shepherds of Christ, our sacrifices and devotion to You Our Beloved Father. Come by the means of the Holy Spirit and sanctify us and make us whole, that we are one in Your Son Jesus, praying to You, Father, in the name of Your Son Jesus in the Holy Spirit united with all the angels and saints, in the heart of Mary. We beg for help for special intentions concerning the Movement. We beg for help to reach the Churches to give these prayers of Jesus to them, to reach the schools and the family. Help we cry as poor banished children of Eve. Help us Father to do this work the Good Shepherd has entrusted to us. Help us to be one in You that we act as intercessors to help this world to be turned to God as their God, loving, honoring and adoring Him as the Lord of Host is truly present on His throne. 

        We are Your children Father, we implore You to answer our prayer.

        We love You, we worship You, we adore You, we thank you and we sing from the bottom of our hearts, Holy God we Praise Your Name. Alleluia

7. A Prayer for Intimacy with the Lamb, the Bridegroom of the Soul

     Oh Lamb of God, Who take away the sins of the world, come and act on my soul most intimately. I surrender myself, as I ask for the grace to let go, to just be as I exist in You and You act most intimately on my soul. You are the Initiator. I am the soul waiting Your favors as You act in me. I love You. I adore You. I worship You. Come and possess my soul with Your Divine Grace, as I experience You most intimately.

8. From Blue Book 6B.

Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary
at a Shepherds of Christ Meeting

February 22, 1995

1. The Prophecy of Simeon
Mary, Joseph and the child Jesus went to the temple. Simeon, the prophet, inspired by the Holy Spirit, met them and told Joseph and Mary of the great sufferings of Jesus and Mary. He told Mary that a sword would pierce her heart. From that point on, Mary ever remembered the prophecy of Simeon whenever she beheld her child. When she looked at His little body, even as an infant, she knew He would suffer. Every time she clothed Him and watched Him at play, her heart was torn in her chest as she knew what He would suffer. And a sword, too, shall pierce your Heart, O Mary!

2. The Flight into Egypt
Joseph was told by the angel to flee. Joseph, Mary and the child Jesus had to flee because of what might happen to Jesus. They had to pack for a long stay. The child Jesus was so small! They left on their journey, hearts full of fear, trying to protect Jesus. They were forced to flee into Egypt.

3. Jesus Is Lost, In the Temple
Imagine the sufferings in Mary's heart when she realized the child Jesus was not with them. Think of how it would be to lose your child and not know where he was or if anything happened to him. With sorrow in their hearts, Mary and Joseph returned to Jerusalem to look for the child Jesus. And a sword, too, shall pierce your heart, O Mary!

4. Jesus Carries His Cross
Song: See the eyes that look at Mary, her tender infant child. See the child's Heart beat so tenderly, the Savior of the world!
See the eyes of Jesus and Mary as they met on Calvary. Mary's Heart knew Jesus' Heart so well! From the first moment of conception and throughout His life, Mary was so connected with Jesus and now she peered into His eyes. The crown of thorns adorned His Head! Blood ran down His face! A heavy cross on His back! Wounded, His whole body covered with bleeding wounds! And her whole life flashed before her, the life that she had spent with Jesus. This was the beloved child that she had held in her arms when Simeon told Mary that 'a sword, too, shall pierce your Heart, O Mary!'

5. Jesus Dies on the Cross
Mary stood under Jesus' cross as He was put to death. The child that she had held in her arms as Simeon prophesied, And a sword, too, shall pierce your Heart, O Mary! Now Jesus is dead on the cross! He gave His flesh, He gave His blood so that we might be with Him forever in heaven. He held not back. He gave His all. He calls out to us this day to see through the eyes of His mother as she appears and calls out with a Heart of great love, "Return to the love of my Son! He is with you this day. He remains with you, no less present than the day that He hung on the cross, in the Eucharist. He longs for you to come and be with Him. He is in your brother. How can you not love your brother when Jesus died for your brother?"

Her Heart was pierced with a sword. His Heart was pierced with a lance. What came forth was blood and water, the sacramental life of the church. He lives with us this day in the Church. He gives to us His sacraments, the source of His life! He gives to us the Sacrament of Penance whereby any sin that we commit can be taken away through the priest. He wants us to be so close to Him! He gives us everything to be close to Him. But we see with such limited vision only those things that are right before our face, when the true reality is that which we don't see with our eyes, the reality of the invisible divinity of Jesus Christ, the Son of God, in the consecrated Host! This is reality! This is our life! This is our power! This is God! And a sword, too, shall pierce your Heart, O Mary!

6. Jesus Is Taken Down from the Cross
If we ever doubted for one second that we were loved, we could visualize the picture of Mary as she sat beneath the cross with the lifeless, battered, bruised and bloodied body of her Son in her arms, the same child that she held when Simeon prophesied her suffering. He gave His last breath. He gave the last beat of His Heart. He gave His all! This is the way He complied with the Will of the Father. He came to show us the way. He died in perfect peace. To His death He was in peace because He knew the Father's love. The Father loves us so much that He gave His only begotten Son for love of us! The Spirit descended upon the Virgin Mary and the Word was made flesh! The love of the Two Hearts! Such immense love beating for us!

In all love there is suffering. Her Heart was pierced with a sword. His Heart was pierced with a lance. And a sword, too, shall pierce your Heart, O Mary!

7. Jesus Is Locked in the Tomb
And now Jesus, His body lifeless, is locked in a tomb! What cold reality for Mary to realize that His body is now gone! A stone separated her from her Son!

He gave His last breath! He gave the last beat of His Heart for love of each one of us! And she comes to us this day with her sweet, beautiful voice and she asks us to go to her Son and love Him! How can we refuse Jesus who spread His arms and gave His life for each and every one of us? How can we not trust Him when He loved us so much that He allowed them to tear His flesh, to crown Him with piercing thorns and, lastly, to hang Him on a cross? He truly gave His life for us! He, truly God, is with us this day, the same as the day He died on the cross, in the tabernacle! And we take it so lightly! Death has no power over Him! Locked in the tomb for three days, He rose triumphant on the third day as He had foretold. He comes to give us life. He gives us the sacrament of Baptism that initiates us into His life, that makes us children of God and heirs of heaven if we remain in the state of grace. He asks two things: love of God and love of one another! He came to show us the way and His way is love. To His death on the cross He loved each one of us! He calls out to each one of us here today to be His soldiers, to march on a world that has forgotten God, that has forgotten what it is like to love! It is a battle to live in this world. But the battle is won with hearts that are filled with His love, empowered by the grace and might that He pours out in the Eucharist. He calls out for us to come to the Eucharist and to the tabernacle and be fed with His very flesh and blood. To feed on Divine Life, the greatest nourishment, the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God! This is the love He gives. This is the love He asks us to share.

9. Sing: See the Eyes That Look at Mary

10. Sing: God's Love

 

The Finding of Jesus in the Temple

1. Luke 2: 48-50

They were overcome when they saw him, and his mother said to him, ‘My child, why have you done this to us? See how worried your father and I have been, looking for you.’ He replied, ‘Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?’ But they did not understand what he meant.

2. Excerpt from Mother at Our Side, by Fr. Edward Carter, S.J.

four - God's Will—Our Guiding Principle

The above scene describes how Mary and Joseph found Jesus in the temple after having been separated from Him. As they were returning home after the Passover celebration, they realized Jesus was not with them, and returned to Jerusalem to search for Him. The scene has various lessons for us concerning God's will.

3. Excerpt from Mother at Our Side, by Fr. Edward Carter, S.J. continues

With the Holy Family traveling in two separate groups (Mary with one, Joseph with the other, and Jesus with either from time to time), we understand how Mary and Joseph could have received conflicting stories regarding their Son's whereabouts. The Father's will may have been made known to Jesus in such a way that the timing of His response precluded alerting His parents to the change in His plan. Whatever the details were, we can be assured that there was no error made on the parts of Jesus, Mary, or Joseph. We can base our trust in this on what we know through faith—that Jesus would never have been disobedient or thoughtless toward His parents, and that Mary and Joseph could not possibly have been inept parents.

4. Excerpt from Mother at Our Side, by Fr. Edward Carter, S.J. continues

Even so, as people who expect certain behaviors of children and parents, we can be unsettled by some unanswered questions presented. Yet, since this event is included in Sacred Scripture, we know it has tremendous value for us as the Word of God. We also know that obedience to God's will always works in the best interests of everyone concerned, even when it is not obvious, even for quite some time.

5. Excerpt from Mother at Our Side, by Fr. Edward Carter, S.J. continues

The scene reminds us of the guiding principle of Jesus' life—loving conformity to His Father's will. Although Mary and Joseph were returning home, in some way Jesus knew He was supposed to remain in the temple at this particular time. His course of action was no different in this instance than it had been in the past and would be in the future. His Father's will was made manifest, and He obeyed; His Father showed the way, and He followed. The Father's will was always Jesus' way, every day, in all matters. As followers of Jesus, His guiding principle must also be ours.

6. Excerpt from Mother at Our Side, by Fr. Edward Carter, S.J. continues

This event in Christ's life also demonstrates that conformity to God's will sometimes brings hurt or sorrow to loved ones. Jesus knew that His remaining behind would cause suffering for Mary and Joseph—we can well imagine their anxiety. Jesus was sorry this had to be. He certainly was not insensitive to His parent's feelings, yet He had to do what He did. There can be similar situations in our own lives. Precisely because we are striving to seek out and do God's will, we may be causing hurt to loved ones. We know, however, there is no other course of action if we are to be open to God's designs for us.

7. Excerpt from Mother at Our Side, by Fr. Edward Carter, S.J. continues

The finding of the child Jesus in the temple illustrates still a further point regarding conformity to God's will. Mary and Joseph knew that somehow it was God's will that Jesus remain in Jerusalem as they themselves headed back to Nazareth. Yet they did not comprehend why all this happened. They recognized God's will, but they did not understand it. They accepted this will, however, along with the pain it produced in their lives.

8. Excerpt from Mother at Our Side, by Fr. Edward Carter, S.J. continues

The application of this lesson to our own Christian lives is vividly manifest. At times there occurs an incident we do not understand. We realize that somehow this is God's will, at least His permissive will, yet we do not understand why, and our unknowing is part of our pain.

9. Excerpt from Mother at Our Side, by Fr. Edward Carter, S.J. continues

Mary always perfectly conformed herself in love to God's will. It was her joy to so act. Sometimes the doing of God's will caused her considerable suffering, as we see from the above Gospel scene. Later on, the sword of suffering would pierce her even more deeply.

10. Excerpt from Mother at Our Side, by Fr. Edward Carter, S.J. continues