The message i got this week while at my morning at the monastery in prayer was "More!"...and i want to encourage all of us to look at this word and see where God wants "More" from us. There are two women i encourage in their walk with God and they both are extremely deep, sincere, innocent and open to the Promptings of the Holy Spirit. After spending time sharing with the both of them, i felt that same message should go out to you....
As Catholics we believe and know the Eucharist is the "Source and Summit of our faith". St. John Paul II is the one who coined this phrase. The Eucharist is the Holy Communion...when the bread and wine are changed into the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. Every Sunday (or Sat. night vigil) we go to Mass to honor God and the Sabbath and receive this Life Giving Food. This Jesus, Disguised in Ordinary Form, gives us every possible good thing to be empowered to go forth and bring His Love and Virtue to everyone and every circumstance of the upcoming week. This is a serious obligation for all Catholics to go to Mass every Sunday/Sat Vigil and receive Him, He Who can change and grow us up to become the saints we were created to be. Only for serious reason can a Catholic miss Mass on Sunday. Otherwise one needs to go to Confession to repent of missing and have the sincere intention of not making that same mistake again. More than following a rule, we lose out when we miss....we are not in our empowered self when we miss....
And so....my suggestion to these lovely women is to pick a day midweek and go to Mass and receive Jesus a second time. Mass during the week is shorter due to the fact that there is only one reading instead of two and there is no music, so the Mass is about 20-30 minutes. The greatest thing people complain about in the spiritual journey is not being able to sustain the strong faith filled living they desire. Want to sustain better?....Want more evident Presence of God in your daily life?....MORE....PRAY MORE, FAST MORE, GIVE ALMS MORE, DO MORE, SEEK MORE, AND ASK FOR MORE! Many people ask me why i go to daily Mass. i used to give a long winded answer most could not understand and now i just say,"If Jesus Christ was going to be on my porch tomorrow morning at 9 am, where would you be 9 am tomorrow?...MY PORCH OF COURSE!" I go because Jesus is there...i go because i need Him to be the "Best Version of Myself".....i go because we are in a war fighting for many and need to be Empowered by The King to succeed....Everyone wants to have what the saints had, but most of us are unwilling to go to those lengths to get it.
i asked my two "sisters" how they felt after receiving Jesus in Holy Communion...The list they gave of positive responses was unbelievable! Peaceful, Strong, Confident, able to Love and bring that Love to others, happy, centered, felt deeply Loved, able to hear many extraordinary inspirations from God to accomplish great works for Him....the list goes on and on and on...My reply,"Then why don't you get to Mass another day in the week and receive Him again to further all this Good in you?"
Pick 5 of the closest Catholic churches, monasteries, convents, and/or Catholic Retreat Centers surrounding your home or work. Contact all of them and find out what their daily Mass Schedule is. Make a list and you will have many options on all different days to be able to squeeze in Mass during the week according to your life and responsibilities.
If you cannot get to a Mass....stop in a church and just be present to Jesus in the Tabernacle (where the Consecrated (Blessed) Hosts (JESUS) are kept and let Jesus heal you and fill you even just for 5 minutes in the middle of the week. Communion on Sunday is the requirement for the general population as a Catholic.....if you want an extraordinary prayer life....then we need to implement MORE...if MORE is truly what we are looking for.
Receiving Holy Communion more than once a week, being with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament (What we call the Consecrated Host that is no longer ordinary bread but the Most Holy Body and Blood of Jesus Christ).....has Extraordinary Fruits and Gifts that come ONLY from this SOURCE! There are many beautiful things in the spiritual life that are beautiful, marvelous, empowering....but JESUS IN THE MOST BLESSED SACRAMENT brings to us what no other means can....HIMSELF....HIS BODY, BLOOD, SOUL AND DIVINITY....
May the heart of Jesus, in the Most Blessed Sacrament, be praised, adored, and loved with grateful affection, at every moment, in all the tabernacles of the world, even to the end of time. Amen
til next time....watch these first two videos from YouTube...they are marvelous in presenting information on the Eucharist...Jesus Truly Present in the Form of Bread and Wine by Bishop Rick Barron, one of the best Catholic Teachers of our time. The lower two listings you can go to see more videos of Bishop Barron and many other apologists who have done projects to help us grow our faith in the Truths of the Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist! always in my prayers! ang
Mystery of eating Jesus' Flesh
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDVLBUK5FGw
Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJjW3LXuHzo
Many videos from Bishop Barron on Eucharist...what Catholics believe
https://www.youtube.cosearch_query=bishop+Rick+Barron+on+jesus+in+the+eucharistm/results?
Various videos on Eucharist available on youtube
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=EUCHARIST
Saturday, June 24, 2017
Thursday, June 22, 2017
St Aloysius....'Dear Mom'
Two days ago was the Feast of St. Aloysius...i will include a link below to read about his short life. The marvelous thing about the lives of saints is they include so many reminders....encouraging ideas and works....they are our role models...because they were sinners just like us, that made it to become the saints they were created to be!....They made Jesus Christ the Center of their lives and therefore succeeded in attaining Heaven.
A dear friend in Christ told me to read St. Aloysius' letter to his Mom which he wrote at the age of 23 when dying of the plague which he contracted while caring for those ill with the sickness. This letter is a reminder of the place of respect and love and honor a Mother should have (remember a Father too deserves this also)....the interesting thing is his parents fought him and gave him great grief in seeking a religious life....and even then on his deathbed, he thinks of her....God does not specify to honor our parents if they are perfect....just to honor them......and forgiveness is not an option as a Christian or with our parents.... The Gospel yesterday at Mass clearly stated that:
"If you forgive others their transgressions,
your heavenly Father will forgive you.
But if you do not forgive others,
neither will your Father forgive your transgressions."
This is a great reminder in our need to evaluate if we honor our mothers and fathers..our grandfathers and grandmothers....great grandmothers and great grandfathers (if we are so blessed to have them still with us on earth)....not just by saying how great they are or bragging that we have them .........but by bringing dignity to their lives and spending quality time while they are alive...those blessed with long life are the most forgotten and lonely even with great care from someone......i know this first hand as a full time caregiver for my 93 yr old Mom (and my Dad before her) and as a spiritual director for many. What sad stories i have heard! i find some people, even in families, are afraid and bored by the elderly and totally oblivious to their needs...even ashamed sometimes and just fearful they will die (as we all will someday). Many shy away from calling or visiting regularly....contact is minimal....for some only a few times a yr but "they will surely come when the funeral arrives", and those are the words from the elders themselves. What's the use of having grandchildren and great grandchildren, nieces and nephews, friends and other relatives etc. when you never get to see them or really know them even when they live close.....a very sad reality in many families today. With cell phones there is absolutely no excuse for someone not receiving calls.... Often the elderly give out their money, that they usually don't have to give, to these family/friends when they do come visit. They feel they have to buy the love of their visitors and everyone takes from them never thinking of the reality of their expenses and how money dwindles for elderly so quickly. i remember a dear homemaker who cared for the elderly. One day one of her patients gave her $100 after she had already been paid . She brought the money to the caregiver and said, "Please put this back in her savings for her bills." This homemaker understood how older people forget their present financial situation and their expenses and obviously this homemaker had experienced this with many others she cared for. God bless her honesty and not taking advantage of her patients.
To love and care for anyone...children...the sick...the elderly demands great faith, commitment, love, patience and creativity to make these people priority in our lives purely for love with no underhanded motive. We often go out and do alot of volunteering for multitudes, and forget those in our own family circles who would so benefit from more of our time and care. People...human beings... need to always come before things...events...sports....social status... The rewards of living with this proper order are too many to count and offer us a clear conscience that money can't buy...Let's all evaluate our lives after reading St. Aloysius' letter to his Mom and see where we can become more generous, creative, sincere and charitable with our elders....i remember clearly my parents example to us with my Father's Mother who was the only grandparent i knew....They always visited and called daily and were extremely generous financially with her every time they went over...That is the way it is suppose to be! We take care of the old-timers who once took care of us!
St. Aloysius' letter to his Mom touched my Mom and i so deeply..we had a very beautiful and touching experience after reading this most glorious letter...how grateful i am for that....first how he addresses her, "Most honorable lady"....this is how every mother should be addressed....and how he ends the letter, "with respect and love you deserve from a son".....A reminder to mothers of their dignity, a reminder to children how to honor a mother...and then the content in the middle addresses the joy of death....preparing to cross over to Eternal Life. So well put in this letter, one cannot grieve the same after reading it when thinking of those who have passed on in faith....or even look at death the same again.
When i was younger in high school i went to all different Christian churches to experience their worship. When a young local school boy died i went to the funeral and was taken back....they all wore white and were playing guitars and singing at the wake...when i asked why, they said this is a joyful occasion...he has gone to Heaven to be with God....i will never forget that experience....coming from an Italian Catholic traditional background where we mourned and wore black..... it was my Baptist friends who taught me how to really deal with death..."Roll back the stone, he is not dead!!!!!!!!!!..."
Let us read and ask God to speak thru St. Aloysius' letter to us personally and see if there is something to apply and put into practice in our lives that is new.
so sorry i haven't written in a while....sickness in my immediate family demanded my full attention for a time...i will try to write more often...as many have requested....til next time....be assured of my continued prayers!
PS: A friend of mine had her sister who never married and cared for both their mother and father. i met this friend after her father had died and her sister continued caring for her Mom. i reminded this friend to reach out and thank her sister for all she did. To be more active in their lives and assist her sister asking how she could help. To send cards...flowers...bring gifts...get her to go out for a massage etc....for this one child took on the job for all three children giving up everything. If you have a caregiver in your family or friends who are sacrificing all to care for the elders in your circle...honor them...be good to them...thank them...shower them with kind acts of love and mercy for they are carrying the job many should be doing. And ask how you can help them .
Another elder friend of my family is ill right now and i saw him in church with one of his daughters. i honored her for caring for her Dad who needed her help at this time. She said i am not doing this alone....we, my sisters and i , are rotating caring for him....that is beautiful! Sharing equal weight in the care of a parent...something for us to meditate on....
his bio...
www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=15
www.staloysiushickory.org/about/saint-aloysius-our-patron-saint
letter to his mother: scroll down below picture to see it....
www.crossroadsinitiative.com/media/articles/saint-aloysius-gonzaga-letter-to-his-mother/
A dear friend in Christ told me to read St. Aloysius' letter to his Mom which he wrote at the age of 23 when dying of the plague which he contracted while caring for those ill with the sickness. This letter is a reminder of the place of respect and love and honor a Mother should have (remember a Father too deserves this also)....the interesting thing is his parents fought him and gave him great grief in seeking a religious life....and even then on his deathbed, he thinks of her....God does not specify to honor our parents if they are perfect....just to honor them......and forgiveness is not an option as a Christian or with our parents.... The Gospel yesterday at Mass clearly stated that:
"If you forgive others their transgressions,
your heavenly Father will forgive you.
But if you do not forgive others,
neither will your Father forgive your transgressions."
This is a great reminder in our need to evaluate if we honor our mothers and fathers..our grandfathers and grandmothers....great grandmothers and great grandfathers (if we are so blessed to have them still with us on earth)....not just by saying how great they are or bragging that we have them .........but by bringing dignity to their lives and spending quality time while they are alive...those blessed with long life are the most forgotten and lonely even with great care from someone......i know this first hand as a full time caregiver for my 93 yr old Mom (and my Dad before her) and as a spiritual director for many. What sad stories i have heard! i find some people, even in families, are afraid and bored by the elderly and totally oblivious to their needs...even ashamed sometimes and just fearful they will die (as we all will someday). Many shy away from calling or visiting regularly....contact is minimal....for some only a few times a yr but "they will surely come when the funeral arrives", and those are the words from the elders themselves. What's the use of having grandchildren and great grandchildren, nieces and nephews, friends and other relatives etc. when you never get to see them or really know them even when they live close.....a very sad reality in many families today. With cell phones there is absolutely no excuse for someone not receiving calls.... Often the elderly give out their money, that they usually don't have to give, to these family/friends when they do come visit. They feel they have to buy the love of their visitors and everyone takes from them never thinking of the reality of their expenses and how money dwindles for elderly so quickly. i remember a dear homemaker who cared for the elderly. One day one of her patients gave her $100 after she had already been paid . She brought the money to the caregiver and said, "Please put this back in her savings for her bills." This homemaker understood how older people forget their present financial situation and their expenses and obviously this homemaker had experienced this with many others she cared for. God bless her honesty and not taking advantage of her patients.
To love and care for anyone...children...the sick...the elderly demands great faith, commitment, love, patience and creativity to make these people priority in our lives purely for love with no underhanded motive. We often go out and do alot of volunteering for multitudes, and forget those in our own family circles who would so benefit from more of our time and care. People...human beings... need to always come before things...events...sports....social status... The rewards of living with this proper order are too many to count and offer us a clear conscience that money can't buy...Let's all evaluate our lives after reading St. Aloysius' letter to his Mom and see where we can become more generous, creative, sincere and charitable with our elders....i remember clearly my parents example to us with my Father's Mother who was the only grandparent i knew....They always visited and called daily and were extremely generous financially with her every time they went over...That is the way it is suppose to be! We take care of the old-timers who once took care of us!
St. Aloysius' letter to his Mom touched my Mom and i so deeply..we had a very beautiful and touching experience after reading this most glorious letter...how grateful i am for that....first how he addresses her, "Most honorable lady"....this is how every mother should be addressed....and how he ends the letter, "with respect and love you deserve from a son".....A reminder to mothers of their dignity, a reminder to children how to honor a mother...and then the content in the middle addresses the joy of death....preparing to cross over to Eternal Life. So well put in this letter, one cannot grieve the same after reading it when thinking of those who have passed on in faith....or even look at death the same again.
When i was younger in high school i went to all different Christian churches to experience their worship. When a young local school boy died i went to the funeral and was taken back....they all wore white and were playing guitars and singing at the wake...when i asked why, they said this is a joyful occasion...he has gone to Heaven to be with God....i will never forget that experience....coming from an Italian Catholic traditional background where we mourned and wore black..... it was my Baptist friends who taught me how to really deal with death..."Roll back the stone, he is not dead!!!!!!!!!!..."
Let us read and ask God to speak thru St. Aloysius' letter to us personally and see if there is something to apply and put into practice in our lives that is new.
so sorry i haven't written in a while....sickness in my immediate family demanded my full attention for a time...i will try to write more often...as many have requested....til next time....be assured of my continued prayers!
PS: A friend of mine had her sister who never married and cared for both their mother and father. i met this friend after her father had died and her sister continued caring for her Mom. i reminded this friend to reach out and thank her sister for all she did. To be more active in their lives and assist her sister asking how she could help. To send cards...flowers...bring gifts...get her to go out for a massage etc....for this one child took on the job for all three children giving up everything. If you have a caregiver in your family or friends who are sacrificing all to care for the elders in your circle...honor them...be good to them...thank them...shower them with kind acts of love and mercy for they are carrying the job many should be doing. And ask how you can help them .
Another elder friend of my family is ill right now and i saw him in church with one of his daughters. i honored her for caring for her Dad who needed her help at this time. She said i am not doing this alone....we, my sisters and i , are rotating caring for him....that is beautiful! Sharing equal weight in the care of a parent...something for us to meditate on....
There is no more evident sign that anyone is a saint and of the number of the elect, than to see him leading a good life and at the same time a prey to desolation, suffering, and trials.
-- Saint Aloysius Gonzaga
his bio...
www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=15
www.staloysiushickory.org/about/saint-aloysius-our-patron-saint
letter to his mother: scroll down below picture to see it....
www.crossroadsinitiative.com/media/articles/saint-aloysius-gonzaga-letter-to-his-mother/
Tuesday, June 6, 2017
Empowering children!
Parents, there is only one way to empower our children for what this life, especially life in 2017, will throw their way....GOD!!!! It is absolutely pertinent to first be their prayer warriors....daily interceding for them, their lives, their salvation, their health, their future, their vocation in life...everything....bring everything to God in prayer! Allocate a day of the week to cover them in a big way in prayer, fasting and alms giving and teach them these principles to apply themselves in an age appropriate way. Pair off with other parents one day a week and support each other. Children have the natural propensity to know God and be drawn to Him...make every opportunity available to them from very young to nurture this. Scriptures say: "Raise up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it!" We will answer in a big way as to how we nurtured our children's faith.
As Catholics, we have Sacraments that give Supernatural Empowerment and Protection to our children (and us)...Baptism, First Reconciliation (confession), First Holy Communion and Confirmation are the first 4 of 7 Sacraments. Baptism is done once as is Confirmation. Confession and Communion have a First Celebration and then are available over and over again throughout a person's life. They should at least go to Mass every Sunday and receive Jesus, in Holy Communion to be empowered and strengthened and healed in a Way nothing else can achieve. Nothing we can do in this world equals that. Also, confession should be encouraged at least once a month so we can continue to receive the beautiful Graces this Sacrament gives...so that we can continue to work on our weaknesses with God aiming to be more and more like Jesus...so that we can purify our hearts to receive Jesus...to prepare the "red carpet" for our encounter with Him in Holy Communion....to obey Jesus command to confess our sins....
These Sacraments are pivotal. Without them you disable your child from the Best life has to offer. Practice them yourselves and bring your children to the same practice. If there are family members and friends who are not practicing...whose children are not baptized....who do not celebrate the Sacraments....pray hard for them...offer Masses....fast....and speak the Truth when God's Opportunity comes ....There is a war going on ....a war to steal souls....a war to rob people ....a war against our marriages, our families, our children....and the weapons to use against these attacks are a deep relationship with the Living God and all the tools He has given us over the yrs to overcome. Scripture Reading...Study and Memorization....Mass and Holy Communion...Confession....Baptism....Confirmation....Fasting....Alms giving...Prayer....Rosary...
Scapula....the list goes on and on....
Baptize your children....return to church.....prepare them for all the Sacraments....Return to Confession and receiving Jesus at Mass every Sunday.....i sadly find out more and more as i help people that there are so many children being spiritually neglected and therefore they are not afforded the protection and blessings they so deserve.
Let's wake up parents....these little souls have no time for us to delay and "find ourselves". The time is now!!!
til next time...look up all you can on the Sacraments of the Catholic Church....on teaching children about God....helping develop a close relationship with Jesus for our children. (and ourselves)...here are two links....happy reading
http://www.catholic.org/prayers/sacrament.php
http://www.canonlaw.info/a_preparingchildren.htm
As Catholics, we have Sacraments that give Supernatural Empowerment and Protection to our children (and us)...Baptism, First Reconciliation (confession), First Holy Communion and Confirmation are the first 4 of 7 Sacraments. Baptism is done once as is Confirmation. Confession and Communion have a First Celebration and then are available over and over again throughout a person's life. They should at least go to Mass every Sunday and receive Jesus, in Holy Communion to be empowered and strengthened and healed in a Way nothing else can achieve. Nothing we can do in this world equals that. Also, confession should be encouraged at least once a month so we can continue to receive the beautiful Graces this Sacrament gives...so that we can continue to work on our weaknesses with God aiming to be more and more like Jesus...so that we can purify our hearts to receive Jesus...to prepare the "red carpet" for our encounter with Him in Holy Communion....to obey Jesus command to confess our sins....
These Sacraments are pivotal. Without them you disable your child from the Best life has to offer. Practice them yourselves and bring your children to the same practice. If there are family members and friends who are not practicing...whose children are not baptized....who do not celebrate the Sacraments....pray hard for them...offer Masses....fast....and speak the Truth when God's Opportunity comes ....There is a war going on ....a war to steal souls....a war to rob people ....a war against our marriages, our families, our children....and the weapons to use against these attacks are a deep relationship with the Living God and all the tools He has given us over the yrs to overcome. Scripture Reading...Study and Memorization....Mass and Holy Communion...Confession....Baptism....Confirmation....Fasting....Alms giving...Prayer....Rosary...
Scapula....the list goes on and on....
Baptize your children....return to church.....prepare them for all the Sacraments....Return to Confession and receiving Jesus at Mass every Sunday.....i sadly find out more and more as i help people that there are so many children being spiritually neglected and therefore they are not afforded the protection and blessings they so deserve.
Let's wake up parents....these little souls have no time for us to delay and "find ourselves". The time is now!!!
til next time...look up all you can on the Sacraments of the Catholic Church....on teaching children about God....helping develop a close relationship with Jesus for our children. (and ourselves)...here are two links....happy reading
http://www.catholic.org/prayers/sacrament.php
http://www.canonlaw.info/a_preparingchildren.htm
Friday, June 2, 2017
Wonder Women!
Women Warriors for God, the movie Wonder Woman came out today. i am especially encouraging all women to see it an view in it qualities of what it is and means for women to be Warriors for God! Life is hard and many push women down. Many of us have low self esteem, fear, insecurities, self doubt often because as a race we have been abused, questioned, mistreated, encouraged and taught to limit what we can do. Scriptures say, "We can do all things thru Christ Who strengthens us! i saw the movie today and we all can learn from it. There are a few unnecessary things in it, but overall it is precious and has lots of powerful lines, innocence and if we, knowing it is fiction, take in the warrior concept and the fight a woman has, we can be reminded to continue on our mission fighting against all evil. They did a very dignified portrayal of women.
This week St. Joan of Arc was celebrated in the Catholic church ...also in this theme of Woman Warrior. Let's look her up... a real life Warrior for God
http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=295
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/jLk3vBZivFY/hqdefault.jpg (my favorite pic of St. Joan...)
Let us rise up standing with our heads raised, shoulders back, and stand confidently into our Armor of God so we can stand strong with the Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Spirit...... and bring Christ to this broken world... .Sunday is Pentecost. No compromises, no letting up in our prayers and spiritual warfare until all souls bow to God and Him Alone! i suggest everyone make plans to see this film with other women and lets ask God to use this secular film to remind His Holy Women of our great calling and our beauty. Thank you for all you do to make this world more beautiful! Always in my prayers. til next time....
Check out my favorite picture of Wonder Woman...and then read below what i would caption under it!
https://goo.gl/images/OzQGxF
NOT ON MY WATCH!!!!! To the enemy we say...not my children...not my family...not my church....in Jesus' Name we will fight....no more fear...no more hate....no more discouragement...no more compromise.....NO MORE!!! Our weapons...Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving...
PS: i gave this movie a 10...my son who is 29 yrs. old gave it a 10 also, so there is no reason men can't watch it and enjoy it also..
This week St. Joan of Arc was celebrated in the Catholic church ...also in this theme of Woman Warrior. Let's look her up... a real life Warrior for God
http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=295
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/jLk3vBZivFY/hqdefault.jpg (my favorite pic of St. Joan...)
Let us rise up standing with our heads raised, shoulders back, and stand confidently into our Armor of God so we can stand strong with the Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Spirit...... and bring Christ to this broken world... .Sunday is Pentecost. No compromises, no letting up in our prayers and spiritual warfare until all souls bow to God and Him Alone! i suggest everyone make plans to see this film with other women and lets ask God to use this secular film to remind His Holy Women of our great calling and our beauty. Thank you for all you do to make this world more beautiful! Always in my prayers. til next time....
Check out my favorite picture of Wonder Woman...and then read below what i would caption under it!
https://goo.gl/images/OzQGxF
NOT ON MY WATCH!!!!! To the enemy we say...not my children...not my family...not my church....in Jesus' Name we will fight....no more fear...no more hate....no more discouragement...no more compromise.....NO MORE!!! Our weapons...Prayer, Fasting and Almsgiving...
PS: i gave this movie a 10...my son who is 29 yrs. old gave it a 10 also, so there is no reason men can't watch it and enjoy it also..
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