Sep 14 Sat - Let him who thirsts come to me and drink.

 Sep 14 Sat
Let him who thirsts come to me and drink.
In the Eucharist, we come to drink from the waters of God’s fountain. We drink without sating ourselves, for the living spring, the fount and source of life, is calling us: if anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink.

The Lord himself, our God Jesus Christ, is the fountain of life; and he calls us to himself so that we may drink from him. Who will drink? Whoever loves; whoever is filled with the word of God; whoever adores him enough, whoever desires him enough; whoever is on fire with the love of wisdom.

From where does the fountain flow? It comes from the same place that the manna came from in the wilderness – for the same person is both bread and fountain, Christ our Lord and God, for whom we should always hunger.

We may eat and drink of him, but still we will remain hungry and thirsty for more; for he is our food and drink that can never be entirely consumed. He can be eaten but there will always be more left. He can be drunk but he can never be drained dry.

Jesus is the fountain of Wisdom. So, we should desire him, seek him, and love him. If you are desperate and thirsty, drink from the fountain of life; if you are weak and hungry, eat the bread of life. Blessed are they who hunger for that bread and thirst for that fountain.

Look at Jesus crucified. By means of the mystery of the Eucharist, the sacrifice of the cross, which was once carried out on Calvary, is reenacted in the Mass. This sacrifice of our redemption is renewed at each Mass. As often as the sacrifice of the cross in which Christ, our Passover, has been sacrificed is celebrated on an altar, the work of our redemption is carried on. In the Mass, we join Jesus in offering himself to God the Father as in Calvary.

Thus, let us atone by making an act of contrition, of compunction. “We ask our Lord's forgiveness for those lashes and thorns, for that Cross, for those nails that bind him to the wood, for that lance which is going to pass through his side, for the gall and vinegar they offer him as consolation, for the mockery, the abuse, the jeers.”

And do not be afraid of giving much to the Lord, for whatever we give to God, we get back in abundance. When we give God our freedom, we are making it possible for him to free us, not only from sin, but from every evil; and He gives us all the goods we are capable to keep.

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Sep 13 Fri - Where should my heart be?

 Sep 13 Fri
Where should my heart be?
With the Holy Spirit in our soul in grace, we can love God for his own sake, and in the way he wants to be loved, with his own love. The object of charity is one: the goodness of God. It has no other aim. Charity is a certain friendship of man with God. It is a love of friendship, an unselfish love, which does not seek its own personal satisfaction, but rather that of the friend. But the Friend is now God himself.

“With my whole heart, I will seek thee." And any other clean love must pass the filter of His love. Indeed, we don't have a great deal to offer him. But let us not forget that everything done for Love acquires beauty and becomes great.

To make the Love of God our abiding passion is a whole program of life. Divine Love, just like human love, is increased by grace through the practice of virtue. To learn to love, we need to love a great deal and make many acts of love –aspirations– in the course of the day.

“Our Lord expects us to look for him, to love him, to call on him, especially when we find the going tough. He wants us to turn to him, trustingly and without fear. Our God is a Father who looks upon us gladly, and who never abandons us. It is we, his poor creatures, who leave him, or who forget to live with him. And, now that there are so many who leave him or who are intent on ignoring him, we have to try to be even closer to him. How? I have told you already: by seeking him, by loving him more every day, by asking his help and making up to him when we realize we haven't treated him well."

“In spiritual matters, we must be very rich in doctrine and in the knowledge and love of God. Invoke the Holy Spirit, who dwells within us, and tell him of your desire to give yourselves completely and to be very docile to his grace."

We will love God at every moment if we do everything just for him and never mechanically or for personal advantage. We will love him all day if we try to ensure that all our actions are accompanied by an offering that is real, living, and ardent: "For the love of you, Lord! Because I love you!"

God has given us his love, for us to love him, and also for us to love others as he loves them.
We have only one heart, which has to be full of only one love, with which we love everyone: God and others. St. Josemaría tells us, “With the same love with which I could have loved another human being, with that same heart I love Jesus Christ, and the Father and the Holy Spirit and our Blessed Mother."

Pic: The Adoration of the Shepherds by Le Nain

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Sep 12 Thu - Today, Mary's most holy name.

 Sep 12 Thu
Last Sunday we celebrated the birthday of Mary, and today, her most holy name. Let’s wish happy birthday to the Mother of God, who is also our Mother. And our Lady, who is in heaven body and soul, will joyfully welcome our signs of affection.

“We can begin our life anew. And therefore, throughout the day, we have to rectify our intention many times. We can never forget that in our interior life we have to fight without becoming discouraged. We can't lose heart when we see the need, not once but many times, to rectify our course in our service to God. We have the duty to do so, whenever we haven't been completely faithful in our struggle as Christians, children of Mary.” The Blessed Virgin, our Mother, accepts us as we are, with our miseries, if we struggle to overcome them.”

“When wishing someone we love, happy birthday, we usually offer some kind words and a gift, some tokens of affection or sacrifice. And you? What are you going to give our Lady today? Let's see, my son. Glance back over the years that have passed. Is there anything there that you can give her? Is there some flower, with some fragrance, some color? Perhaps there isn't much. It doesn't matter. Now is the time to tell your Mother: ‘This is all I can give you at the moment, but I will continue struggling, I will continue cultivating this garden. I will continue making one effort after another so that I can offer you a beautiful bouquet of fresh flowers on the days the Church celebrates one of your feasts’.”

“Then our attention is drawn to that big area in our life that allows thorns to thrive there. It is a good moment to ask God for forgiveness, and our blessed Mother for help. It is a good moment to renew our petition to our Lady, asking that this forgiveness may be a pledge of the help she is going to grant us. And it is a good moment to make an act of contrition.” It will blossom into a flower that we can offer to our Lady.

“Mother of ours, today we hope for your gifts. Today we will feel the gentleness of your hands, the warmth of your Most Sweet Heart, your protection for the whole Work. And despite the realization that we haven't been good sons, we dare to say:
Show us that you are our Mother! Make us be good sons. You who are the Mother of Fair Love, Seat of Wisdom, Handmaid of the Lord: Sancta Maria, filios tuos adiuva! I've repeated this aspiration to you so many times that it already forms part of our spiritual life. But repeat it especially today.” Saint Josemaría

Image: Russian icon of the Nativity of our Blessed Mother, with Saint Joachim and Anne.

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Sep 11 Wed - Should I serve?

 Sep 11 Wed
Should I serve?
There is something pejorative when we hear about serving. To serve is often seen as a humiliation, something inferior, which places a man who does serve on a level some degree below human dignity.

Nevertheless, Jesus himself said that he had come to serve, not to be served, and told them to serve one another. To serve, then, is not to do something demeaning; nor is it in any way beneath human dignity. The condition of a servant does not bear any kind of stigma; service is not humiliation. Joseph of Nazareth did nothing except to serve his own with his love, and his neighbors with his work. Of no unusual significance or extraordinary importance, his work, not even praised in the Gospel, is what work should be for all men –a means of livelihood and a source of learning. His daily tasks strengthened the life of Joseph.

Service is not servility. A mother does not feel humbled through having to serve her own children, or a wife through serving her husband. When one loves, service is not disgusting, the very work itself is loved. When one sees in one’s neighbor the image and likeness of God, to serve him does not humiliate. When one does a job joyfully, the question does not even arise.

Servility, on the other hand, is born when one believes himself to be so great that he should not serve others. He would think himself debased by lowering himself in the eyes of his inferiors. Nevertheless, because he is obliged, he serves, but against his will. Neither the humble person nor one who is in love is servile. Only the egoist, the self-interested, or the proud man can become servile.

It is not easy for the head of a family to fulfill his duty if he does not want to serve unselfishly his own people, seeking above all their good. He must not see himself as being humbled merely because service to one’s own involves giving over the necessary time to the family, even though such service might also imply cutting back somewhat on friends, entertainment, and social or business arrangements.

Today not even those of us who call ourselves Christians – which is to say disciples of Christ – seem very much inclined to the virtue of humility. Perhaps this is the reason for the deterioration of standards in so many trades and professions, which are carried on without love, without a spirit of service, without any real care for “doing a good job.” A Christian ought to know that he is no more than his Master. And if Jesus said he had come not to be served but to serve, then to be the servant of others ought to be what Christians aspire to. We have an obligation toward those whom God has put in our care. Thus, St. John Paul II: “O Christ! Let me be made a servant, and allow me to remain one . . . Make me a servant!”
Excerpts from F. Suarez

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Sep 10 Tue - What is it to love God?

 Sep 10 Tue
What is it to love God?

Love is sufficient of itself; it gives pleasure by itself and because of itself.
Love is its own merit, its own reward.
Love looks for no cause outside itself, no effect beyond itself.
Love’s profit lies in its practice.
I love because I love, I love that I may love.
Love is a great thing as long as it continually returns to its fountainhead, and flows back to its source, always drawing from there the water which constantly replenishes it.

Of all the movements, sensations, and feelings of the soul, love is the only one in which the creature can respond to the Creator and make a similar return however unequal it may be. For when God loves, all He desires is to be loved in return; the sole purpose of his love is to be loved, in the knowledge that those who love him are made happy by their love of him.

But love is not only words or feelings, it bears the fruit of deeds.

Unless we love the neighbor whom we see everywhere, we cannot love the God we see nowhere. Indeed, we find the neighbor at every turn, God, being pure spirit, is easily evaded.

Nevertheless, in Christian life, we need to integrate the two loves, with the help of grace to complete the job.

The problem, however, is that to love both the God we do not see and the neighbor whom we do see, we must first love ourselves, which for not a few people these days has become a barrier they cannot seem to overcome, a hurdle they cannot clear. Not in the post-human world that appears to be taking shape all around us, even as it assumes an ever more toxic and anti-human form.

Why is that? The answer is obvious. If you can only love what you know, then not knowing who you are, prevents you from knowing or loving anyone else.

We need true love for self. If being a person is possessing oneself, to give oneself and be useful, what happens with people who possess no self to give? These are people who do not fight to control themselves. Such is the nature of the identity crisis we are facing today.

All know that Real Madrid football club is the best team in the world. Recently the coach gave a pep-talk to the players which serves us to explain how to love God with deeds.

1. We must balance the attack (the effort to grow in virtue and piety) with the defense (the fight to reject temptations).

2. Attitude. Realize what team you belong to (you are a child of God). Behave as such. Concentrate on winning.

3. Commitment. All together in the Church. Do not think only of yourself, think of the team. Be committed to it.

Pic: Our Lady of the Almudena, Patroness of Madrid

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Sep 9 Mon - What is the most important thing in life?

 Sep 9 Mon
What is the most important thing in life?
One came up to Jesus, saying, "Teacher, what good deed must I do, to have eternal life?" Like him, we must judge wisely about the important things in life.

Like us, that man wanted to clearly know the principles on which to base his personal behavior. The great variety of opinions on these matters, and the many different situations encountered in life, lead us to seek some norms of judgment and behavior that are certain, permanent, harmonious, and simple.

When we have clear principles, we have a basis for assessing the value of the learning that we acquire. Then we can check how this acquired knowledge may lead us to our ultimate purpose or end.

Our Christian life, our relationship with God in prayer and the sacraments, the formation we receive, and the good example of others, all help to give us a set of solid objective values and make us souls of sound judgment. We will then be able to judge correctly the events and situations in which we find ourselves. St. Josemaría: “I am going to stir your memories, so that some thought may come to you that will strike you: and that way you will improve your life, and enter upon ways of prayer and Love. And end up becoming a soul of worth: someone with sound judgment."

We must give full effect to these desires, so that, from our abundance, others too may have their fill. If God has placed this treasure in our hands, it is so that we may share it with others. Each of us can truthfully say, in the words of an ancient writer: ‘This treasure is not mine, but Another has entrusted it to me, for I am no more than a beggar’.

At the same time, we know we must keep it safe, clean, and pure.

If we ask this of God, he will lead us to that mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine.

To be truly wise, it is not enough to know many things, even if they appear very profound. There needs to be an overall harmony, with some items of knowledge subordinated to others within a proper order. If this is to happen in our lives, we must use a fundamental principle that assigns each thing to its place. That supreme principle, which should guide our whole life, is what our Lord explains in the Gospel when he says: “If you would enter life, keep the commandments. "It is a quality discernment beyond human knowledge and experience: "I understand more than the aged, for I keep your precepts."

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Sep 8 Sun - Who invented the sacraments?

 Sep 8 Sun
Who invented the sacraments?
God is ready to give salvation to every kind of person who wants it.
St James describes God’s own (and so ours by duty) preferential option for the poor and those in need in any way. It is not that God does not love the rich but the poor are in urgent material need.

Our Lord uses physical signs to cure a man’s deafness. “He put his finger into the man’s ears and, spitting, touched his tongue; then he looked up to heaven and groaned, and said to him, ‘Ephphatha!’— that is, ‘Be opened!’”

Signs indicate but do not effect what they signify. If you plant the Philippine flag (the “sign” of the country) on Mount Everest, the Himalayas do not become Philippine territory.

Jesus usually conveys his gifts by the Sacraments of the Church, signs that effect what they signify.

Christ established a sacramental Church; that is, Christ pours out his graces on humanity largely through the seven sacraments.

The seven sacraments fulfill the types and figures of the Old Covenant, signify and make actively present the salvation wrought by Christ, and prefigure and anticipate the glory of heaven.

The sacraments signify and make actively present the salvation wrought by Christ. For example, the baptismal washing is a sign of inward cleansing from sin which actually effects that inward purification, won by the merits of Christ.

The sacraments also prefigure and anticipate the glory of heaven.

Thus, we must go to the Sacraments and to the needy.

Since God’s grace largely comes to us through the Sacraments, we must go to them:

Don’t delay your own child’s baptism; encourage others to have their children baptized as soon as possible.
See that your children receive First Confession, First Eucharist, and Confirmation as soon as the Church permits.
Go to confession frequently and according to a schedule, like every month on a certain day and at a certain time. Go to confession as soon as possible if you are aware of having committed a serious sin.
Receive Communion frequently, even daily, provided you are in a state of grace.
Be sure that family members who are in danger of death receive the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick.
If you are a priest, call on the graces of Holy Orders to conform your will to God’s will.
If you are married, take advantage of your matrimonial graces to be faithful Christian spouses and parents. Don’t forget that the natural marital act open to life is a renewal of your mutual covenant with God.

Go also to the needy.
Since Christ loves them so much, we show our love for Christ by aiding them, and because they are everywhere, even in our own families, we can show our love for Christ and for them whenever we want.
So, who is needy around you? What can you do for them?

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Sep 7 Sat - The worn-out sandals of Mary.

 

Sep 7 Sat
The worn-out sandals of Mary.
Recently, we celebrated the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. In the Gospel, we see the young girl from Nazareth who, after receiving the Angel's announcement, immediately sets out to visit her cousin.

The expression in the Gospel is beautiful: "Mary set out and went" (Lk 1:39). It shows that Mary doesn't see the news she received from the Angel as a privilege only for herself but, on the contrary, she leaves home and sets out with the haste of someone who wishes to announce that joy to others, and with the eagerness to be of service to her cousin.

This first journey is a metaphor for Mary's entire life because, from that moment forward, Mary is always on the move, following Jesus, not only as his Mother but also as a disciple of the Kingdom. Eventually, her earthly pilgrimage culminates in her Assumption into Heaven where, together with her Son, she enjoys the joy of eternal life forever.

We shouldn't imagine Mary "as a motionless wax statue," but in her, we can see a woman... with worn-out sandals... and with so much weariness, for having followed the Lord and meeting others, concluding her journey in the glory of Heaven. In this way, the Blessed Virgin is She who goes before us on the journey, reminding us that our life is also a continuous journey towards the horizon of the definitive encounter. Are my sandals worn-out, like those of Mary, trying to please God?
Let us pray to Our Lady to help us on this journey towards the encounter with the Lord.

The hope of this encounter and its eternal nature should nourish our own life journey, especially during the most tiring and difficult times. It is good for us to ask ourselves: Do I nurture this hope, knowing that the Lord is always with me and awaits me at the end of my earthly journey? Am I progressing on this pilgrimage of life or have I become complacent, living day by day as if I will be here forever? Do I remember that I am destined for Heaven? That I must seek the Lord (sanctity) and love my brothers (apostolate), or do I think only of myself and remain enclosed in earthly matters?

Elizabeth's praise, "Blessed are you who believed."
This is the highest compliment that can be said to a simple, humble, poor little girl, who had the good fortune to speak with angels, she who is a nonentity, and now is told that she will have to have a Son who will be the Holy One, the Son of the Most High; yes, that's her, the last and smallest "remnant" of Israel.

A remnant is a group of people that is left over after a catastrophic devastation. It’s what remains after the invasion of a foreign army. It is the faithful ones.

We must decide to choose Mary as our teacher in the faith.
Yes, precisely of faith.

And I explain. You must know, that the march of faith must be done complete, and on foot.
This is our good fortune, we must not tremble in the darkness, we must not slow down when it seems that we cannot take it anymore.
Some excerpts from Pope Francis.

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Sep 6 Fri - Why Did Nathanael Believe in Jesus?

 

Sep 6 Fri
Why Did Nathanael Believe in Jesus?
In John’s Gospel, we find the puzzling scene of Nathanael coming to accept Jesus as the Messiah based on seemingly little evidence. Nathanael is approached by his friend Philip, who says, "We have found him of whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."

Nathanael responds, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" He is skeptical that the humble, backwater village of Nazareth could be the place where the long-awaited Messiah comes from. However, he agrees to meet with Jesus. As he approaches, Jesus declares, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!"

Nathanael, surprised, asks, "How do you know me?" Here comes the cryptic part. Jesus seems to sidestep the question and says, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you." Instead of asking for more clarification, Nathanael responds with a statement of faith: "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!"

Perhaps Nathanael is stunned that Jesus miraculously knows that he was standing under a fig tree, and this divine sign is enough to convince him that Jesus is the Messiah.

Perhaps, but it seems insufficient.

Jesus's words have resonated with Nathanael on a deeper level. The clue lies in what Philip told Nathanael: "We have found him of whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote." Nathanael begins to realize that Jesus has connected Old Testament texts in a way that identifies Him as the Savior of Israel.

Nathanael is particularly familiar with the prophecies of Zechariah. Thus, he knows that during the promised time of renewal, people will invite their neighbors under their vine and fig tree. He knows he was standing under a fig tree when Philip invited him, and he is amazed by Jesus's miraculous knowledge of that event. But what seals the deal for Nathanael is Jesus's invocation of the Old Testament prophecy pointing to the coming Messiah.

Nathanael also knows that Jesus comes from Nazareth. In the Zechariah prophecy, new life will spring from the land of God's people, a land that had been left barren and desolate after Babylon destroyed Jerusalem. Similarly, in Nathanael's time, new life will come from the least expected place: the lowly town of Nazareth.

Additionally, Nathanael may have Isaiah in mind, with the promise that spiritual renewal will come from the "branch" (netser), hence the name “Nazareth.” In a moment of spiritual insight, Nathanael realizes that the Nazarene standing before him is the Lord's Anointed One.

To conclude the passage, there is another allusion to the patriarch Jacob when Jesus essentially says, "You haven't seen anything yet! Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man." This refers to Jacob's Ladder vision described in Genesis.

By invoking this imagery, Jesus dramatically places Himself at the center of the Old Testament as the Son of God and Son of Man, revealing Himself to be the "one mediator between God and men" who has come into the world so that the gates of heaven may be opened to all who believe.
Excerpts from Clement Harrold

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Sep 5 Thu - Why do we speak of transubstantiation?

 

Sep 5 Thu
Why do we speak of transubstantiation?

The Eucharistic discourse of St. John develops in a unique way, which can be described as a spiral or spiral staircase. In this discourse, Jesus seems to continuously return to the same themes, but each time introduces a new element that elevates our contemplation of the mystery. The new element in this case is bread, which is repeated up to five times.

The sacraments are signs that produce what they signify. Therefore, it is important to understand what bread means for humanity. To grasp the meaning of the Eucharist, it is better to look at the work of the farmer, the miller, the housewife, or the baker, rather than relying solely on the theologian.

Bread is a symbol of work, waiting, nourishment, domestic joy, unity, and solidarity among those who partake in it. Unlike other foods, bread never causes nausea, it is consumed daily, and its taste is always pleasing. It complements all types of food. People who suffer from hunger do not envy the rich for their caviar or smoked salmon; they primarily long for fresh bread.

What happens when this bread reaches the altar and is consecrated by the priest? Catholic doctrine expresses it with the word "transubstantiation." This means that at the moment of consecration, the bread ceases to be bread and becomes the Body of Christ. The substance, the true essence of the bread, which can only be perceived by the mind and not the eyes, gives way to the divine Person who is the living and risen Christ, while the external appearances (referred to as "accidents" in theological terms) still resemble bread.

To better understand transubstantiation, it is helpful to look at the word "transformation," which is similar and more familiar to us. Transformation means to move from one form to another, whereas transubstantiation refers to moving from one substance to another. For instance, if we see a lady coming out of the hairdresser with a completely new hairstyle, we would say, "What a transformation!" No one would exclaim, "What a transubstantiation!"

Of course, the lady has changed her external appearance, but not her essence or personality. If she was intelligent before, she remains intelligent now; if she was not, unfortunately, she still is not intelligent. The appearances have changed, but not the substance.

In the Eucharist, the opposite occurs: the substance changes, but not the appearances. The bread is transubstantiated, but not transformed; the external characteristics (shape, taste, color, weight) remain the same, while the profound reality changes—it becomes the Body of Christ.

The Eucharist enlightens, elevates, and consecrates the entire reality of the world and human activity. In the Eucharist, material elements such as the sun, earth, and water are presented to God and fulfill their purpose, which is to serve and proclaim the glory of the Creator. The Eucharist is the true "canticle of creatures."

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Sep 4 Wed - Why do we feel temptations?

 

Sep 4 Wed
Why do we feel temptations?
Temptation is an inducement to sin; it can never come from God. It always comes from any of the three causes: the world, the devil, and the flesh.
The WORLD refers here to men and society in general, “lifestyles” organized without regard for God.
The FLESH refers to the internal disorder in man, caused by original sin and aggravated by personal sins.
It has three manifestations: “the lust of the flesh,” which encourages man to impurity, gluttony, etc.; “the lust of the eyes,” which encourages him to greed; and the “pride of life,” which is the beginning of all sins (cf. 1 Jn 2:16).
The DEVIL encourages us to sin with strength and skill. We should neither ignore nor be surprised at his action (cf. 1 Pt 5:8; Jas 4:7).

Feeling a temptation is not a sin. Consenting to it, that is, accepting it by our will, is.
It is not right to arouse a temptation willfully. Putting oneself in danger of committing a mortal sin without serious cause will already be a serious sin, even if the sin is eventually not committed. It shows that one does not mind seriously offending God, and this is a serious sin in itself.

Sin renews and aggravates the four wounds left by original sin: ignorance in the intellect, malice in the will, weakness in the irascible appetite (wrath), and disorderly desires in the concupiscible appetite (lust).

Mortal sin causes the loss of sanctifying grace, and of the infused virtues (faith and hope may remain, but formless and dead), the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and all previously acquired merits (which, however, are recovered with grace when the sin is forgiven).

Sin spreads not just within the soul, but through the whole self. It produces a remorse of conscience. In addition, man is condemned to eternal punishment. Sin also affects human products —art, technology, even language.

Sin is not a passing event. It lasts. Sin is primarily a choice, and choices are spiritual acts that completely mark the persons who make them. Our choices cause us to be, in moral terms, the kind of persons we are, what we have chosen to be.

We cannot erase our own sins.

Guilt is the persistence of sin, not a matter of feelings. Sin remains until sinners change their minds and hearts —themselves— by repenting before God and seeking forgiveness by the Church. Repenting means a great deal more than simply not repeating sinful behavior.

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Sep 3 Tue - Why should I live fraternity?

 Sep 3 Tue
Why should I live fraternity?
We are all good shepherds to one another. God wants to use our help to sanctify others; He requests our cooperation. This is the best expression of fraternal affection. If the mere fact of coming from the same town is sufficient for many people to be friends, what level of love must there not be among us, who share the same House, the same Table, the same life, the same Head; the same Pastor and King and Judge and Creator and Father?

Nobody should feel alone: we are united by our common destiny to holiness. St. Josemaría: "The constant concern my children should have for one another is a blessed consequence of our unity: nothing, no matter how small it seems, can ever be indifferent to us if it affects any of us in any way. None of you is alone, none of you is an isolated verse; we are verses of the same poem, a divine epic."

Let us examine ourselves courageously, in the presence of God, to see how we can make a better contribution to the sanctification of others.

First of all, we have to be sensitive to the needs of others and be aware of what is on their minds: their concerns, their problems, or their sorrows. If we are too self-centered or engrossed in ourselves and not attentive to those around us, we won't notice when something is bothering them, and as a result, we won't be there to help them when they need us.

"Let's be friends with our co-workers, with everyone around us, even if they are separated from God. We should be even better friends with such people because they need us more. The ones who need us most are the lukewarm Catholics who are not living up to the faith they profess. Let's reach out to them with all our charity and understanding, offering them genuine and sincere friendship that is both natural and supernatural."

No matter the challenges, we should never stop striving to help souls. With great love and careful consideration for people's freedom, we should never let human respect or cowardice prevent us from doing everything we can to obtain God's grace for their conversion.

Fraternal correction contributes strongly to the sanctification of others. But we should be extremely tactful, realizing that we are not above falling into the same fault ourselves if God were to allow us to do so: "Not seeking, says St Augustine, something to reprimand, but what has to be corrected." And likewise, whenever we are corrected, it is a consequence of fraternal affection.

This could be a good time to renew our hearts and to ask God to increase our fraternal affection, and our readiness to show that affection. Our Mother Mary was faithful all her life long, and so we call her Virgin most faithful. Let us make the resolution now to say the Memorare prayer, devoutly many times a day for the person who needs it most.

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