Mary, the Ultimate Mother Good mothers want nothing more than to ease the pain of their children. They would rather endure the pain themselves than see their children suffer with it. That is exactly the kind of good mother Mary is—she would rather endure the pain herself than to see us suffer. She cares not only about the fact that the pain is there, but also about how to help us heal from it. She loves us and wants to become the instrument of our healing. And she will, if we allow her. —from the book Forgiving Mother: A Marian Novena of Healing and Peace by Marge Steinhage Fenelon
franciscan media | ✞Quote
"Humility, obedience, meekness, and love are the virtues that shine through the Cross and the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar. O my Jesus, help me imitate you!"
– St. Anthony Mary Claret ✞Meditation
"Worship is a spiritual weapon. When we worship God, we enter into His presence in a powerful way. Because demons tremble at His presence, they are reluctant to follow us there. No doubt the Devil is busy tempting us and trying to distract us even when we attend Mass. But if we give ourselves wholly to participating in the Mass, he has little room to operate. In fact, true worship focuses our attention on God: praising Him for who He is and thanking Him for what He has done. When our minds and hearts are centered on God, the Enemy's provocations and enticements lose their power. Frequent Mass attendance, then, is an effective weapon of our warfare."
— Paul Thigpen, p. 38
AN EXCERPT FROM
Manual of Spiritual Warfare ✞VERSE OF THE DAY
"But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God."
Acts 20:24 |  click to read more | | Saint Charles of Sezze (October 19, 1613 – January 6, 1670) Charles thought that God was calling him to be a missionary in India, but he never got there. God had something better for this 17th-century successor to Brother Juniper. Born in Sezze, southeast of Rome, Charles was inspired by the lives of Salvator Horta and Paschal Baylon to become a Franciscan; he did that in 1635. Charles tells us in his autobiography, "Our Lord put in my heart a determination to become a lay brother with a great desire to be poor and to beg alms for his love." Charles served as cook, porter, sacristan, gardener and beggar at various friaries in Italy. In some ways, he was "an accident waiting to happen." He once started a huge fire in the kitchen when the oil in which he was frying onions burst into flames. One story shows how thoroughly Charles adopted the spirit of Saint Francis. The superior ordered Charles—then porter—to give food only to traveling friars who came to the door. Charles obeyed this direction; simultaneously the alms to the friars decreased. Charles convinced the superior the two facts were related. When the friars resumed giving goods to all who asked at the door, alms to the friars increased also. At the direction of his confessor, Charles wrote his autobiography, The Grandeurs of the Mercies of God. He also wrote several other spiritual books. He made good use of his various spiritual directors throughout the years; they helped him discern which of Charles' ideas or ambitions were from God. Charles himself was sought out for spiritual advice. The dying Pope Clement IX called Charles to his bedside for a blessing. Charles had a firm sense of God's providence. Father Severino Gori has said, "By word and example he recalled in all the need of pursuing only that which is eternal" (Leonard Perotti, St. Charles of Sezze: An Autobiography, page 215). He died at San Francesco a Ripa in Rome and was buried there. Pope John XXIII canonized him in 1959. Reflection
The drama in the lives of the saints is mostly interior. Charles' life was spectacular only in his cooperation with God's grace. He was captivated by God's majesty and great mercy to all of us. | Thursday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 1 Sm 18:6-9; 19:1-7 When David and Saul approached
(on David's return after slaying the Philistine),
women came out from each of the cities of Israel to meet King Saul,
singing and dancing, with tambourines, joyful songs, and sistrums.
The women played and sang: "Saul has slain his thousands,
and David his ten thousands." Saul was very angry and resentful of the song, for he thought:
"They give David ten thousands, but only thousands to me.
All that remains for him is the kingship."
And from that day on, Saul was jealous of David. Saul discussed his intention of killing David
with his son Jonathan and with all his servants.
But Saul's son Jonathan, who was very fond of David, told him:
"My father Saul is trying to kill you.
Therefore, please be on your guard tomorrow morning;
get out of sight and remain in hiding.
I, however, will go out and stand beside my father
in the countryside where you are, and will speak to him about you.
If I learn anything, I will let you know." Jonathan then spoke well of David to his father Saul, saying to him:
"Let not your majesty sin against his servant David,
for he has committed no offense against you,
but has helped you very much by his deeds.
When he took his life in his hands and slew the Philistine,
and the LORD brought about a great victory
for all Israel through him,
you were glad to see it.
Why, then, should you become guilty of shedding innocent blood
by killing David without cause?"
Saul heeded Jonathan's plea and swore,
"As the LORD lives, he shall not be killed."
So Jonathan summoned David and repeated the whole conversation to him.
Jonathan then brought David to Saul, and David served him as before. Responsorial Psalm ps 56:2-3, 9-10a, 10b-11, 12-13
R. (5b) In God I trust; I shall not fear.
Have mercy on me, O God, for men trample upon me;
all the day they press their attack against me.
My adversaries trample upon me all the day;
yes, many fight against me.
R. In God I trust; I shall not fear.
My wanderings you have counted;
my tears are stored in your flask;
are they not recorded in your book?
Then do my enemies turn back,
when I call upon you.
R. In God I trust; I shall not fear.
Now I know that God is with me.
In God, in whose promise I glory,
in God I trust without fear;
what can flesh do against me?
R. In God I trust; I shall not fear.
I am bound, O God, by vows to you;
your thank offerings I will fulfill.
For you have rescued me from death,
my feet, too, from stumbling;
that I may walk before God in the light of the living.
R. In God I trust; I shall not fear. Alleluia See 2 Tm 1:10
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Our Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed death
and brought life to light through the Gospel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mk 3:7-12 Jesus withdrew toward the sea with his disciples.
A large number of people followed from Galilee and from Judea.
Hearing what he was doing,
a large number of people came to him also from Jerusalem,
from Idumea, from beyond the Jordan,
and from the neighborhood of Tyre and Sidon.
He told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd,
so that they would not crush him.
He had cured many and, as a result, those who had diseases
were pressing upon him to touch him.
And whenever unclean spirits saw him they would fall down before him
and shout, "You are the Son of God."
He warned them sternly not to make him known.
| Meditation: Mark 3:7-12 He told his disciples to have a boat ready. (Mark 3:9) Crowds upon crowds followed Jesus, and the more he healed, the more people pressed in on him. So many people surged toward him, in fact, that he had to act to avoid being crushed. But he had a boat ready, not for a quick escape, but so that he could continue to teach and heal. Just as he did back then, Jesus has a plan today—for your life! He is always ready to teach you, to build you up, to forgive you, or to guide your feet. Nothing takes him by surprise; he is always ready, always prepared for whatever challenges life throws at you. Jesus' plan is no "Plan B" or "Plan C" or even "Plan Z." It's a perfect plan that will bring you peace, and it begins with you relaxing into God's presence. Press in to be with Jesus just as the crowds did. He will never retreat beyond your ability to hear him. Maybe that means visiting the Tabernacle, sitting quietly in a comfortable chair, or just taking a deep breath in the middle of a rushed day. Read a psalm or listen to worshipful music to help you quiet your thoughts in his presence. Try to picture Jesus sitting next to you or calling to you from his boat. Then give him time to speak to you. Pay attention to the thoughts in your mind and the feelings in your heart. Write down anything that occurs to you—pictures that form in your imagination; messages of guidance, assurance, or conviction; or Scripture passages that come to mind. If the message brings you joy or comfort or encouragement, it's probably Jesus speaking to you. Remember, he has come to save, not to condemn. Jesus wants to speak to every one of us. This is his Plan A. He wants to teach us about who he is and what it means to follow him. He wants to tell us about his mercy and his salvation. He wants to give us new insights into his love. Especially today, as we begin the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, he wants to tell us how we can be his ambassadors of reconciliation and healing. "Jesus, I believe you want to speak to me today. Here I am. I've come to hear your voice." 1 Samuel 18:6-9; 19:1-7
Psalm 56:2-3, 9-13 | my2cents:
" In God I trust; I shall not fear. Have mercy on me, O God, for men trample upon me; all the day they press their attack against me. My adversaries trample upon me all the day; yes, many fight against me." A spanish reflection said that he was impressed as a young boy watching a Jesus movie, how the narrator said "they pressed upon Him and He fell to the ground" and how the image of Him falling with the cross was similar. So He got on the boat to better serve, the Word to speak. He got on the cross, so He would better speak.
In the Holy Gospel we read: "He had cured many and, as a result, those who had diseases were pressing upon him to touch him." Last night as we began a family rosary at our dinner table, my daughter burst out "I'm having bad thoughts...." about what? I asked, "... about death" she looked pale when she said it, she was saying how scary it was, she was very distraught. I spoke louder to dispel the bad thoughts. I was commanding them to leave, the spirits to leave, and I encouraged her "this is why we are praying, PRAY!" "The bible, God tells us to not be afraid", I said. She was pressed and I was fighting Goliath back. The world is dark when you put on the world's glasses. Not me. I refuse to fall for the despair brought about by sinners' lives. I said "my dad died, and came back to tell about it". Life doesn't end here unless...unless what? Unless you refuse God. I said to her "Jesus died too! Aren't we just now meditating on the RESURRECTION? He had to die to come back to live among all of us, because if He remained, we could not have Him the way we have Him now!, He is among us! Especially where 2 or 3 are gathered in His name! Like we are! Our smaller kids looked with big eyes "He's here right now?" YES! Take courage!
So much of my daily life and life in ministries is fighting negativity. The cross is positive. Positive that life will not end, and guess what? More is to come. More what? Well, you like the good things, love of family and so forth....believe it or not, a better love awaits. Eye has not seen. Ear has not heard. What awaits is grandiose, and the supreme majesty is to be beheld in utmost preciousness....the life of Christ.
Mother Mary was so attuned to this, that everything about Jesus was precious. Her love was so locked on Him that today, you would consider it strange. Strange that she drug herself on the streets after He was crucified. Strange that for the next several years she did the way of the cross, stations of the cross just about daily, remembering those precious moments of her love. Her life proclaimed one thing...suffering love. Her gaze was that of a soul lost in God's love. How precious the moments her only Son out of love was pressed upon and dragged on the streets with His blood...so impressed by the love of God, a heart wrenching scene of her baby saving the world how God wanted. Strange love. But better.
My dear love, I write to you in the Spirit. This world, is not about you.
You have defended yourself enough. Tended to your desires enough.
Now surrender yourself. Now sacrifice your desires.
If you agreed that the world is evil, you have sided with darkness. Because God is in the world and God is greater.
How can I prove to you Jesus rose again aside from written testaments of thousands?
The spanish reflection priest said he once asked a friend "how did you get to know God?" And the reply was "in my grandfather's hands, he taught me to pray".
I in turn, in the name of our Lord am teaching you to pray. Do not be a spectator. Life in Christ is not to be a spectator. Life in Christ is a devotion to Christ as our Mother and the Disciples. Life in Christ is being looked upon from the Heavens and a sacrifice is accepted....a Holy Sacrifice. Is my sacrifice worth anything? Yes. If I do not give into evil, I am faithful and my loved ones and the world is saved.
Do not fall into temptation.
Do not let it creep into your soul.
Do not choose the lazy river way that ends in a waterfall to destruction.
We swim against the current and give life....through Jesus....everlasting! | |
