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 Fifteenth Promise

     The Fifteenth promise to those faithful to pray the daily Rosary is that this devotion is a special sign of predestination. When I was a child, the Sisters taught us the following from the Baltimore Catechism:
     Question: Why did God make me?
     Response: God made me to love Him and serve Him in this world and to be happy with Him forever in the next.
     A beautiful way to learn precisely how to love and serve God in this world is to become familiar with the life, teachings, virtues and miracles of Jesus. Over a lifetime, contemplating the life of Jesus by praying the Rosary daily gently weaves these virtues securely into the unique tapestry each individual's consciousness. Imitating Jesus inevitably leads our souls to eternity with Him in heaven.

   "All the world is vanity except to love God and serve Him only." (Thomas A. Kempis, The Imitation of Christ)

   In a temporally minute yet supernaturally infinite way, while the praying the Rosary, our beings are turned away from the things of the world. For that brief moment of time, we are conforming ourselves, soul and body, to the heart of Christ. Through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, regular practice of this sacred contemplation mystically fortifies our supernatural affinity with the Heart of Jesus.

   Loving Jesus with the Heart of Mary by praying the daily Rosary is an invaluable spiritual gift. Sharing this divine gift with our children and loved ones assists all of us in our journey to eternal life with our Heavenly Father.

 Reflecting upon these fifteen promises and daily praying the Rosary, may your days be filled with superabundant blessings and graces from our loving God.

Fifteen Promises of the Rosary~The Fourth Promise

     The fourth promise to those who pray the Rosary is that this devotion will cause virtue and good works to flourish; it will obtain for souls the abundant mercy of God it will withdraw people from the love of things of this world and its vanities and it will lift them to the desire of eternal things. Oh that souls would sanctify themselves by this means.

     This morning I was watching some beautiful white tailed deer grazing and drinking. They were intensely tranquil and completely focused on nourishing themselves. When they heard my camera click they panicked and scattered into the woods. 

     In prayer, when my focus is on the mysteries of the Rosary, my soul is being nourished by the virtues of Jesus and Mary. My thoughts and actions are more likely to be directed by what Our Heavenly Creator has willed for me in His perfect design for my life. I am not saying that there is no value to spontaneous, original prayer. It's just that upon review of my life journey, I clearly see how greatly my actions and thoughts have been influenced by the presence or absence of time spent praying the Holy Rosary.  Mentally incorporating the life of Jesus and Mary into my soul directly impacted my personal choices with regards to a desire for holiness. Charity towards my neighbor was more likely during times of Rosary contemplation. 

     Pursuit of material possessions and social acceptance leads to distracting, spiritual clatter. My heart is more at peace in the hearts of Jesus and Mary. Yet, I know that I still have a long way to go. Ave María~Praises be to Jesus forever! 

Fifteen Promises of the Rosary~The Third Promise

    The third promise to those who faithfully pray the Rosary is that this prayer shall be a powerful armor against hell. It will destroy vice, decrease sin and defeat heresies. Jesus is the Incarnate Word of Our Creator. There is no duplicity in Jesus. His love and mercy are unconditional.

      The the evil one otherwise known as the "father of lies" lures souls through deception. The dire eternal consequences of sin are disguised by his false promises of wealth, popularity and painless immortality. God is truth. Real life involves joy, sorrow, happiness and suffering. True Christian behavior is vividly depicted in the words and actions of Our Lady. It is of great significance that there are very few words spoken by our Lady in Scripture. Her actions, exemplified by quiet obedience, trust, sacrificial love, fidelity and purity, outshine all elaborate objections to Catholic devotion to her. The Holy Rosary was once called the "Poor Man's Bible." Anyone who understands the history of the practice of praying the Rosary realizes that the central motivation for this prayer is holy contemplation of the life of our Savior. The more we incorporate His words, life and actions into our hearts and souls, the more likely we are to turn away from sin. We are therefore more likely to recognize and be drawn to Him. Many questions about the Holy Rosary are answered  @ Archbishop Fulton Sheen's comprehensive audio presentation. 

these little ones

     The month of December is dedicated to the Divine Infancy of Jesus. Our Almighty Father Our timely developmental stages, as we grow intellectually, physically, emotionally and spiritually, are precious gifts designed by our Creator. The family is a beautiful foundation in which parents teach, protect and nourish their children, as God does for all of us. God has blessed us with a world rich in a variety of beautiful cultures and traditions, for us to harmoniously celebrate and enjoy. Our Holy Father urges us to join him in prayer for an End to Child-Soldiers (general prayer intention). We are also asked to pray for Europe (mission prayer intention) and the people there. 

     "But he that shall scandalize one of these little ones that believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone should be hanged about his neck and that he should be drowned in the depth of the sea."

Matthew 18:6

Douay Rheims Roman Catholic Bible

a closer union

     The month of August is dedicated to the Blessed Sacrament. As Catholic Christians, all of our actions must be carried out in a spirit of respect, honesty, fairness and charity. We are so often "the only Bible" that is read by those in our midst. Our behavior is a powerful expression of the extent to which our hearts are united to Christ. We are recipients of the Blessed Sacrament. Lord, please help us to be generous vessels of Christ's love for all of mankind. Our Holy Father asks us to join him in prayer for the conduct of participants in and observers of sports (general intention) and those people who aspire to Live the Gospel(mission prayer intention). Saint Francis of Assisi said to preach the Gospel with our actions, and "if necessary use words". Lifting our Hearts to Jesus in all our actions, may we inspire and draw all whom we encounter to a closer union with Christ in the Blessed Sacrament.

"By this all men shall know that you are my disciples, 

if you have love for one another."

2 John 13:35

Douay Rheims Roman Catholic Bible

my least brethren

     The month of June is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Our Holy Father asks us to join him in prayer for human solidarity (general prayer intention) and for seminarians and novices (mission intention). Jesus is honored by our service and love for all families, as well as for marginalized persons in our society~orphans, homeless, physically ill, mentally ill, aged and disabled. This holy work is the "vocation" of laity and religious alike. Lord, please help us to joyfully serve Jesus, Whose heart beats within the hearts of the suffering and needy.

(Baptism, Guatemala)

(Novices, Esquipulas Guatemala)

(Seminarians, Papal visit, Philadelphia)

    "For I was hungry and you gave me to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me to drink. I was a stranger and you took me in. Naked and you covered me, sick and you visited me. I was in prison and you came to me. Then shall the just answer him saying, Lord when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, thirsty and give thee drink and when did we see the a stranger and took thee in or naked and covered thee or when did we see thee sick or in prison and came to thee? And the king answering shall say to them~"Amen I say to you, as long as you did it to one of these my least brethren, you did it to me."

Matthew 25:35-40

Douay Rheims Roman Catholic Bible

Jesus was waiting for us to visit Him

     With tachycardic angst we found ourselves in a traffic jam. Meanwhile, a midsummer thunderstorm had left it's most beautiful remnant, a glorious rainbow. Then, a labyrinth of one way streets delivered us to the front steps of an old yet elegant Catholic Church. Three doors were locked. The Holy Spirit directed us to the fourth door, hidden behind a little porch's colorful flowers. There a kind Carmelite brother escorted us into the marvelous sanctuary of the Church...

where Jesus was waiting for us to visit Him.

Please Read 
Heliotropium~Conformity of the Human Will to the Divine 
Book Review Part 3 of 5
Thank you

Pelican of Mercy

"Living Bread that giveth all Thy creatures breath 

grant my spirit ever by Thy life may live 

to my taste Thy sweetness never failing give. 

Pelican of Mercy, Jesus Lord and God, 

cleanse me wreched sinner in Thy Precious Blood 

where one drop for human kind out poured 

might from all transgression have the world restored."

(from: Adoro te Devote, the ancient Eucharistic Hymn written by Saint Thomas Aquinas)

      Early Christian tradition tells us that when famine would strike, mater pelican averted the starvation of her young by shedding her own blood, sacrificing herself to give them life. So has Blessed Lord Jesus, sacrificed Himself, shedding His Holy Blood to give us Eternal Life. The Pelican of Mercy is a most beautiful Christian symbol of Christ's love.