Imitating God's Love

     Our Heavenly Father's love for us infinitely surpasses any human comprehension. As parents, loving our children is and always will be our unifying priority. Our children are a singular Divine gift. In this role, we are blessed with the sublime obligation to imitate His love for us.

     Awaiting the results of our daughter's medical procedure zapped everything into perspective. The monumental significance of our being with her, united, and peacefully caring for her, undeniably radiated from her countenance. Our God given responsibility to love and protect our children can only be measured in Heavenly terms. Whatever pursuits have captured our attention during this life's journey, we are first and foremost our children's parents. This will never change. 

         God's love letter to us commands us to forgive, love and pray for one another. We are assured by our Almighty Father of the power of intercessory prayer and angelic protection. As Christians, we firmly believe in the eternity of our souls. 

       As events unfolded, beloved and "mommy"  prayer warriors were contacted. Holy men and women of God, deceased family members included, were implored for their intercession. 

        Atheists and nay sayers be cautioned: the supernatural presence of Jesus, Mary and all the angels and saints was intensely tangible throughout this familial crisis. At each moment, no minute detail was untouched by the indefatigable direction of the Holy Spirit as he supernaturally orchestrated every thought, word and action. Catastrophic imaginings and hours of waiting mystically dissolved into gentle seas of grace filled, trusting, gratitude, as hearts were lifted up in tranquil, obedient worship and prayer. Blessed be the Holy Name of Jesus forever!

Wood carving of Saint Kateri, 

Saint Anne Shrine, VT

      I recently met an amazingly holy woman. She told me that she was so grateful to God that her children's needs continually drew her heart more intimately into the Sacred Heart of Jesus through adoration and prayer. 

May our most ardent prayer be 

to peacefully and entirely accept and conform ourselves 

to the Will of our Almighty God. 

May all that Our Father sends us, draw our souls safely 

into His eternal embrace! 

The outcome of all spiritual tests belongs to God. 

God is love.

the love and mercy of Jesus

     Concluding a beautiful homily, our Priest reminded us that when we look at the Crucifix, we see the extent of God's love and mercy towards us.

     Jesus'holy miracle of unconditional forgiveness is the supernatural key that opens the eyes of our souls to God's Heavenly love. Father invited us to see in those around us, the opportunity to share, through our words and  actions, the love and mercy of Jesus.

Fifteen Promises of the Rosary~The Ninth Promise

     The Ninth Promise to those who faithfully pray the Rosary is that Our Lady will deliver their souls promptly from Purgatory. There are a multitude of Scriptural references to the existence and necessity of Purgatory. 

     Our Creator is perfect. Nothing impure or unholy can exist in Heaven. How could any soul, burdened with the spiritual infirmity of sin, truly enjoy eternity?

     

"outsiders"

     The month of November is dedicated to the Holy Souls in Purgatory. As Catholic Christians, we are not citizens of this world, but of Heaven. We are not perfect. We aspire to obey God's commands although inundated with the distractions and demands of daily life.  In His infinite mercy, He affords us the way to purification of our souls, and eventual worthiness for entry into Heaven. Many are the episodes in our journey with Jesus that we feel like "outsiders" in relation to our peers. It is within our Church families that we freely experience God's presence and graces. We pray to be inspired by the generosity of Jesus and Mary as we consider the needs of those who suffer the tragedy of economic distress, violence, war, death and displacement.  We are grateful for the guidance of our Priests and religious, as we the laity, work together with them in bringing more souls to Christ. Our Holy Father invites us to pray with him for Countries Receiving Refugees (general Prayer intention) and for Collaboration of Priests and Laity (mission prayer intention)

     "Martha therefore said to Jesus,'Lord, if Thou hadst been here, my brother had not died. But now also I know that whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it Thee.' Jesus saith to her, 'Thy brother shall rise again.' Martha saith to Him, 'I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.' Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life, he that believeth in me, although he be dead shall live.'"

John 11:21-25

Douay Rheims Roman Catholic Bible

love your enemies

"But I say to you, love your enemies: 
do good to them that hate you: 

and pray for them that persecute and calumniate you:"
Mathew 6:44
Douay Rheims Roman Catholic Bible

Prayer and Fasting~Lent 6

     Prayer and fasting effectively transport our attention above whatever placates worldly aspirations.  Trusting in God by turning away from the mundane opens the window to personal transformation. The desire to feed the ego is redirected to serving the needs of others. Self pity surrenders to forgiveness. Fondness for adulation is replaced by supernatural yearning to glorify Jesus with every thought, word and action. 

     Seeds of miracles awaiting manifestation are quietly embedded within the words of a famous prayer popularized in the early 1900's. The author is unknown. The prayer has often been attributed to Saint Francis, probably because of its resemblance to the way he lived his faith in Jesus.

Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace

Where there is hatred let me sow love

Where there is injury pardon

Where there is error, truth

Where there is doubt faith

Where there is despair hope

Where there is darkness light

Where there is sadnesss joy.

O Divine Master grant 

That I may not so much seek

To be consoled as to console

To be understood as to understand

To be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive

It is in pardoning tha we are pardoned

And it is in dying 

That we are born to eternal life.

Please see: "About Fasting"

and

Previous Post: Prayer and Fasting~Lent 5

also

Book Review: The perfect Joy of Saint Francis

Prayer and Fasting`Lent 5

     Prayer and fasting cause a holy peace to flourish deep within our souls. Therefore, during a fast, it is not unusual for the evil one to attack with external (usually interpersonal) disruptions, provoking an internal "crankiness". Our obligation to forgive others coincides with a necessary examination of our own conscience. Our hearts must be willing to repent.How humbling it is to confront that for which we require forgiveness! This can be more painful than the struggle against cravings for things of this world. We may even be tempted to give up praying and fasting. The strength to persevere comes from total reliance on Jesus. We are then free to experience the peace that comes from forgiveness and acceptance of God's will.

 
 "And Jesus said, 

'Father forgive them 

for they know not what they do.'"

Luke 23:34 

Douay Rheims Roman Catholic Bible

Please see: "About Fasting"

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Prayer and Fasting~Lent 3

    "And the Lord said to Moses: stretch out thy hand towards heaven and may there be darkness upon the land of Egypt so thick that it may be felt." Exodus 10:21 Douay Rheims Roman Catholic Bible

     The Pharaoh's hideous stubbornness was graphically portrayed by Almighty God's chastisement of him. Through Moses, the Lord enveloped the Pharaoh in a tangible darkness. Prayer and fasting supernaturally dissolve thick apathy and resistance to God's unconditional love, opening our hearts to grace filled forgiveness. Our Lenten sacrifices remove shadowy cloaks of hard heartedness and lift blinding burdens of condemnation. We miraculously become free to forgive and to be forgiven!

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us!

       "How great is the mercy of the Lord, and His forgiveness to them that turn to Him!" 

Ecclesiasticus 17:28 (Deuterocanonical) 

Douay Rheims Roman Catholic Bible

Please see: "About Fasting"

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