Dec 1 Sun - How can I be ready to meet Christ?

 

Dec 1 Sun
How can I be ready to meet Christ?
Today’s Gospel is Luke 21:25-28; 34-36. In these verses, St. Luke presents our Lord’s prophecy concerning the end of the world and how we should prepare ourselves for it. Nobody denies that this earth is not our permanent home, yet many people live and act as if it were. They witness funerals and read about the deaths of friends and neighbors every day, yet they try to convince themselves that somehow, they will not have to take the same path.

But take it they must, and render an account they must, to the “Son of Man coming with power and great glory.” We have been forewarned, and the words of Christ read in today’s Gospel should awaken us to the true facts of life and death.

He does not ask us to ignore or despise this earth or this life, but He does ask us to recognize it for what it is—a period of transit that, if properly utilized, will earn us our eternal home. If we judge ourselves daily, we need not fear the day of judgment. If we are loyal and faithful to our Christian vocation, our end on earth will not be an end but the beginning of our true life.

We will always be ready to meet Christ our Judge if we humbly make the effort to obey His commandments, out of love, each day.

When we obey the moral law and the precepts of the Church, we not only show love for God, but we also love our neighbor.

We will always be ready to meet Christ our Judge if we humbly make the effort to obey His commandments out of love each day.

When we obey the moral law and the precepts of the Church, we not only show love for God, but we also love our neighbor.

We will always be ready to meet Christ our Judge if we humbly make the effort to obey His commandments out of love each day.
Occasional “random acts of kindness” are fine, but we need to engage in directed acts of love for God and neighbor: personal commitment.

What better occasion could we have than this Advent period to take a serious, sincere look at ourselves and our attitude toward life and the things of this life?

If we welcome the humble Babe of Bethlehem at Christmas with a sincere and open heart—a heart grateful for all the gifts already given to us, and sorrowful for all the meanness and thanklessness we have shown in the past—we will trust and hope that the second and glorious coming of Christ will not be a catastrophe for us, but rather the culmination of all our dearest hopes and desires—the beginning of a never-ending Christmas of happiness and joy.

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Nov 30 Sat - Having a heart for the plans of God

 

Nov 30 Sat
Having a heart for the plans of God
Today we begin the novena to the Immaculate Conception. Each of us should strive to grow in love for our Lady by showing her special signs of affection during these days, and spreading devotion to her among our friends.

Mary is the Mother of God and the Mother of each of us. Thus, we go to her confidently. For our Lady always heeds our prayers.
John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, brought Mary into his home, and into his life. This is an invitation to all Christians to bring Mary into their lives. Mary certainly wants you to invoke her as your mother. Tell her, “Show me that you are my Mother."

Invoke the Blessed Virgin, asking her to be always our Mother, and to give us, along with her Son's grace, clear, sound doctrine for our minds, and love and purity for our hearts, so that we can reach God ourselves and lead many souls to him."

Now, from heaven, our Mother continues to fulfill her mission, to help in the birth and development of divine life in each of us.

During this Novena, each day we should offer some small gift to our Lady as a sign of our filial devotion.
It may be the effort that we make to fulfill our duties better, a mortification, some small act of Marian piety, a very definite apostolic target, or something else, small things that will make our Mother smile.

St. Josemaría tells us, “Every year, during the month of May, the rector of an old seminary used to go to the rooms, knocking on the doors one by one, after the seminarians had already retired for the evening. When they opened the door, the rector would give them a rose to offer to our Lady. But whenever a seminarian had failed to be a good son of our heavenly mother, either by breaking one of the rules or neglecting his study, the rector would knock on his door and say, ‘Today, you cannot offer our Lady a rose.’"

Each day of this novena we too want to offer our Lady a flower. At the moment of the evening examination of conscience we hope to be able to say, 'Here you have my gift for today, Mother.' And then from her heavenly throne she will smile upon us, for in those efforts of ours she will see the reality of our love and dedication. Today, the anthurium, heart shaped, reminds us of having a heart for the plans of God.

Mary accepted, and gave herself fully to her vocation as a mother. She did not do her own will, but His Will: “Be it done unto me according to your word.” Today, I should ask myself:
1. Am I open to the plans of God in my life, as Our Lady was?
2. Do I pray about it, every day, as she did?
3. Do I open my soul to God in the sacrament confession?

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Nov 29 Fri - Why the Cross?

 

Nov 29 Fri
Why the Cross?
The sacrifice that Jesus offered on the cross accomplished three things:

• It atoned for the sin of the human race.
• It healed the breach between men and God.
• It opened heaven to man.

Is there still anything left to be done? Yes, but what remains is not an addition to what was done on Calvary, but the application to each man of the merits of Christ.

Every human being was redeemed on the Cross by Christ (objective Redemption); it is up to each to freely apply to himself this Redemption and cooperate with grace (subjective Redemption).

The passion and death of Christ, the unique sacrifice that took away our sins, is indeed a life-giving remedy. But it can be compared to a medicine, which, thoroughly effective in itself, benefits only those who apply it.

The New Covenant is not unilateral. God, who procured the means of salvation for one and all, requires our cooperation. Each of us should receive for himself what our Lord won —through his cross— for mankind. We cooperate by receiving the sacraments, especially the Holy Eucharist, by prayer, penance, and by leading a Christian life, by corresponding to the graces God sends us.

Since the Mass is the same sacrifice as that of Calvary with all its strength and sanctifying power, the Church considers it the center of her life and the life of each child of hers who struggles, with the help of God’s grace. “The Eucharistic sacrifice is the ‘source and summit of all Christian life.’ It is a single sacrifice that embraces everything. It is the greatest treasure of the Church. It is her life.”

St Augustine tells us a similar idea: “He who wants to live can find here a place to live in and the means to live on. Let him approach; let him be incorporated so that he may receive life. Let him not shy away from union with the members, let him not be a rotten member that deserves to be cut away, nor a distorted member to be ashamed of: let him be beautiful, let him be fitting, let him be healthy, so that he may afterward reign in heaven.”

“Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body.’
I have often helped you consider this marvelous reaction of human love: two people who love one another, when they have to part, exchange some photographs with a dedication so full of affection, so aflame, that it is almost a wonder that the words don't burn the paper. It's the same with Jesus, who loves us to the end: he has to go and, at the same time, he wants to stay. But what we cannot do, God can do: He goes and He stays. He institutes the Holy Eucharist so that we may eat him so that we will be strengthened so that we will be faithful and come to perfect union with him ..."

The Church strongly recommends all the faithful to participate often in the Mass. “The more perfect form of participation in the Mass whereby the faithful, after the priest’s Communion, receive the Lord’s body from the same sacrifice is warmly recommended to those who are duly prepared and in the state of grace.”

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Nov 28 Thu - Are all human occupations paths to holiness?

 

Nov 28 Thu
Are all human occupations paths to holiness?
Sixty years ago, the second Vatican Council ended. Among the most prominent declarations, we can mention the role of the lay people in the Church.

“Everything that has been said of the People of God applies equally to the laity, the religious, and the clergy. However, certain things pertain specifically to the laity because of their situation and mission.”

The Second Vatican Council described thus the laity and their ‘specific’ mission:
“By reason of their special vocation, it belongs to the laity to seek the kingdom of God by engaging in temporal affairs and directing them according to God’s will.
They live in the world, that is, they are engaged in each and in all of the secular professions and occupations. They live in the ordinary circumstances of social and family life, which, as it were, constitute their very existence.”

And it specifies; “Besides this apostolate …, the laity can also be called in various ways to a more direct form of cooperation.”

Yet how many, even churchmen, are not convinced of this? Some concede that, yes, a layman can be holy, but to be a full Christian a layman should be somehow involved in the apostolate of the Hierarchy, like some diocesan commission.

We need to remind Christians of the layman’s mission.
St. Josemaría wrote in 1932: “There is an inexplicable, centuries-long gap, during which it was, and continues to be, virtually unknown that people could seek Christian perfection by sanctifying their ordinary work, each in their own profession and state in life. For many centuries, work had been seen as something despicable; it had been considered, even by theologians of great ability, as a hindrance to the holiness of men."

For the layman to be a good Christian he must be a good member of the earthly society; the catholic doctor has a serious duty to be a good doctor, the farmer has to be a good farmer, etc. Hence also, since a man is good because of his virtues, the layman must have and practice the human, natural, virtues –which are the basis of the supernatural virtues– and know as much as possible, within his capabilities, about his secular function, that is to say his occupation.

In addition, laymen must be apostolic in their own environment. The lay apostolate is not a participation in the apostolate of the hierarchy, rather, is a participation in the salvific mission of the Church herself. Through their baptism and confirmation, all are commissioned to that apostolate by the Lord Himself.


“Lay people, moved by the Holy Spirit, are the Church, and they have a specific and sublime mission to which they feel committed because they have been called to it by God himself. And they know that this mission derives from the very fact of their being Christians.” Thus, as every faithful, the lay people have the right and the duty to spread the divine message of salvation.

In God's service, no job is of lesser importance: all are very important. The importance of a job depends on how each person carries it out: the seriousness they bring to it and the love for God they put into it.

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Nov 27 Wed - Why am I filled with joy when I am faithful?

 

Nov 27 Wed
Why am I filled with joy when I am faithful?
Our Lord expects us to invite everyone to share in his Kingdom: “Go out to the highways and hedges, and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled." We cannot be remiss in fulfilling this charge. Everything obeys God's will. We must be happy to sacrifice ourselves and be Christ's instruments, whether made of clay or silver.

Jesus called the first twelve: "Come and follow me." And this must be done without false excuses:
“There is one consideration that fits you like a glove, since you are always looking for excuses not to keep on with your task. The human knowledge of those first apostles was deficient, and yet what an impact they made on those who listened to them!"

“Never forget this: He continues to accomplish His work through each of us."

We have to bring God's light to every corner of the world, aware that “we are not the source of this light: we only reflect it. We do not save souls and move them to do good. We are simply instruments, some more, some less worthy, for fulfilling God's plans for salvation. If we were to think that we are the authors of the good we do, our pride would return, more twisted than ever. The light would turn to darkness."

Our Lord rewards our faithfulness by filling us with joy.
“Open your own heart to Jesus and tell him your story. One day, perhaps an ordinary Christian, just like you, opened your eyes to horizons both deep and new, yet as old as the Gospel. He suggested to you the prospect of following Christ earnestly, seriously, of becoming an apostle of apostles. Perhaps you lost your balance then and didn't recover it. Your complacency wasn't quite replaced by true peace until you freely said ‘yes’ to God, because you wanted to, which is the most supernatural of reasons. And in its wake came a strong, constant joy, which disappears only when you abandon him."

St. Josemaría wrote: “Take another look over your life and ask forgiveness for this or that fault which you notice immediately with the eyes of your conscience: for using your tongue badly; for thoughts that revolve continually around yourself; those critical judgments you made and consented to and which now cause you to worry foolishly, leaving you restless and fretful. Believe me, you can be very happy! Our Lord wants us to be glad, drunk with joy, stepping out along the same roads of happiness that He walked! We only become miserable when we persist in straying off those roads."

We ask our Lord to free us from all selfishness and laziness, from everything that separates us from his will, to serve him with self-sacrifice and joy all the days of our life: not half-heartedly, but truly spending ourselves, putting our hearts into each job with an upright intention. As St Augustine warned, “Helping others, if not done for God, is not a true sacrifice."

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Nov 26 Tue - What is important in my life?

 

Nov 26 Tue
What is important in my life?
There are things in life that are important but not urgent; and vice versa, some things are urgent but not important. Our risk is systematically sacrificing important things to pursue urgent, often secondary tasks.

How can we prevent this danger? A story will help us. An elderly professor was to discuss effective time management. Standing before the students, he took a large empty jar from under the table. He also took a dozen large stones, the size of tennis balls, which he placed delicately, one by one, into the jar until it was full. When they couldn't fit in anymore, he asked the students, "Do you think the glass jar is full?" They all replied, "Yes!" He waited a moment and insisted, "Are you sure?"

He bent down again and took a box full of gravel, which he poured over the large stones, shaking the glass slightly so that it filled the spaces between them. "Is the glass jar full this time?" he asked. More cautiously, the students began to understand and answered, "Maybe not yet." "Good!" replied the old professor.

He bent down again and this time took out a small bag of sand that he carefully poured into the jar. The sand filled all the spaces between the stones and gravel. He asked again, "Is the jar full now?" And everyone, without hesitation, answered, "No!" Indeed, the old man replied, and, as they expected, he took the jug that was on the table and poured water into the glass to the brim.

He then asked, "What is the great truth that this experiment shows us?" The boldest one, thinking about the topic of the course (time management), replied, "It shows that even when our agenda is full, with a little goodwill, you can always add more commitments."
"No," replied the professor; "it's not that. What the experiment shows is something else: if you don't put the large stones in the glass first, you will never get them to fit in later."

He continued: "What are the big stones, the priorities, in your life? Health? Family? Friends? The important thing is to put these big stones first in your agenda. If you prioritize thousands of other small things (gravel, sand), you will fill your life with trifles and never find time to devote to what is truly important. So don't forget to ask yourself often, 'What are the big stones in my life?' and put them at the top of your agenda."

To the "big stones" mentioned by the professor—health, family, friends—we must add two more, which are the greatest of all: the two greatest commandments: to love God and to love one's neighbor. Truly, loving God, more than a commandment, is a privilege. If one day we were to discover this, we would not stop thanking God for the fact that He commands us to love Him, and we would want to do nothing but cultivate this love.
Excerpts from Raniero Cantalamessa

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Nov 25 Mon - Should I fight against my bad tendencies?

 

Nov 25 Mon
Should I fight against my bad tendencies?
There is a topic that is not talked about often: how easy it is to be a revolutionary for others, and hardly a combatant with oneself, an aspect that Christianity, for example, does touch on.

Someone once asked Mother Teresa of Calcutta what had to be done to change the world, and she replied: "Start by changing yourself.” And St. Josemaría Escrivá said, "If you and I change, there will be two less rascals in the world.

Indeed, a revolutionary wants to change the world without changing himself; a Christian wants to change the world by starting to change himself. This is the true revolutionary: the one that begins with oneself.

It is what the idealism or moralism of certain ideologies lack: that, being utopias with no other anchor than the human one, they easily crumble as soon as the inevitable human weakness or contradiction surfaces, and the follower is placed at the limit of the contradiction between the character he pretends to be, and the person he is.

This moralism, often made law in the Parliaments, lacks the grace or the strength of Christ, because, in the face of human weakness, mere law or moralism is left without important support or help to fulfill its selective idealism.

Christianity preaches and takes seriously self-mastery in so many areas (temper, bad character, laziness... and also lust). Thus, it can do much more for the respect of women than the ideologies that promote a wrong anthropological and sexual vision. At least, Christianity believes in the original sin and in the consequences it left in our nature, wounded since then: that ‘fomes peccati,’ that tendency to sin, to evil, to selfishness, which should require us to fight against our bad tendencies.

These ideologies, on the other hand, seem to believe that people will do good simply by decree or by legal imperative; while actively compelling people to unleash, without further ado, their passions and forgetting the wide margin of freedom for good and evil of each individual (which requires educating them in the good and personal growth, not in giving free rein to the unbridled wild horse that each one carries within in many areas, including sexuality).

The moral good does not come by science but by conquest. This is the difference between the strength that Christianity promotes, and the laziness, they encourage.  It is the difference between changing things starting from within (Christianity) or believing that things will change from outside because they are imposed by law or decree (some current ideologies).

Between Rousseau ("man is good by nature") and Hobbes ("man is a wolf to man"), there is a middle way. Mas has the potential for good, but this potential is weakened by an innate inclination to evil, and selfishness (to sin). This is the consequence of a natural wound we all have, that requires effort to achieve the good, overcoming oneself, and with the grace of Christ. That is Christianity.

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Nov 24 Sun - How can I serve Christ better?

 

Nov 24 Sun
How can I serve Christ better?
- With self-sacrifice.

“It is sad today to see that there are also many millions of people in the world who turn against Christ, or rather against the shadow of Christ, since Christ is someone they do not know. They haven't seen the beauty of his face. They do not know how wonderful his teachings are, and they say the same thing the Jews said two thousand years ago: ‘We do not want this man to reign over us.’

“Faithfull to our Christian vocation, we must serve, without show or noise, trying to do the work of three thousand while making the noise of three. By working in this way, without drawing attention to ourselves, passing unnoticed, gently taking problems off other people's plate."

“I have a feeling inside as if our Lord were asking me a specific question: ‘How do you let me reign in you?’ I would reply that, for him to reign in me, so that my every heartbeat, my every breath, may be transformed into a Hosanna! to Christ my King... I would say to the Lord that, for Him to reign in me, I need his grace."

“Service. How I like that word! Serving my king, Christ Jesus, serving, always serving. Give us, my Mother, this sense of service. When faced with the wonder of God who was to become man, you said: Ecce ancilla! Behold your handmaid! Teach me to serve like that."

“My mother, may I bear the witness of this service to Christ in the world, by making him the King of all my life's actions, the ultimate and only reason for my existence. Then, once I've borne witness by my example, I'll be able to give the doctrine, the theory, as Jesus did who began to do and teach."

Christ will reign in us, despite our errors, if we humbly struggle to make reparation.
Don't let your mistakes worry you. Be faithful to our Lord; seek him constantly, and ask for his help.
“How do you react when you make a mistake? Do you become discouraged? If so, then you're not a good child of God nor a good soldier of Christ the King, because such a reaction comes from pride and not humility. What do you think you are? I see myself, and I repeat it many times a day, as a poor and humble servant. Our Lord sought us out just as we are."

“Lord, help me to leave all my foolishness behind. But if at night you once again have proof of your human condition, don't become discouraged. You're a human being, a soldier of Christ, and you want him to reign."

Our Lord is telling us: ‘If you put me at the heart of all earthly activities by fulfilling each moment's duty, bearing witness to me in what seems big and in what seems small... then: I shall draw all things to myself! My kingdom among you will become a reality!’
May we learn to give our lives to the Lord our King, who has enrolled us in his service.

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Nov 23 Sat - Jesus has the solution to the problems in the Catholic Church!

 

Nov 23 Sat
Jesus has the solution to the problems in the Catholic Church!
Six Insights.

1 - Jesus had a plan to fix humanity’s big problem. His problem was that sin broke the relationship between God and humanity. We couldn’t get into heaven and had no chance of salvation, on our own.
What did he do? He deeply invested in a few and taught them to do the same with others, who could do the same with others - until the world was reached. This was his plan: to win new apostles.

2 - Jesus valued individuals over crowds.
Teaching is necessary. Preaching is great. Studying can help us learn. Community worship is part of Christian life. But, to be a transformative agent in someone’s life, you must spend plenty of time, effort, love, and prayer alongside someone, not merely in front of someone. One-on-one, and shoulder-to-shoulder: personal dealings are the model Jesus gave us for formation.

3 - When we think our culture is bad, we forget the context Jesus had to live in. Still, Jesus didn’t quickly give up on those far from God. Rather, he went to them. He talked to them. He listened to them. He challenged them to a better life. He called them to follow him.
We need to get out of our safe Christian bubbles and go to apostolic life. We need to ask God, in prayer, to give us his heart and eyes, so we can see how much He loves everyone around us. God wants salvation for the lost. Do we?

4 - Jesus asked many questions and listened, not necessarily agreeing.
Numerous conversions happen through relationships with others, asking them to seek answers to deep questions, like these.

Where do you come from?
What is the direction and meaning of your life?
Where can you find the source of your power?
What is success for you?
What do you hope to accomplish?
What is your destiny, the ‘afterward’?
How do you know what is right and what isn’t?
What are you willing to give your life for? What are your priorities?
Are there any universal human rights? What are they? How do we determine them?
Is there anything that is universally moral, and applicable to all?

Start asking such questions. Listen actively. Respond according to the promptings of the Spirit.

5 - Jesus knew that human power can’t solve the world’s problems alone. Thus, we need to tap into the power of God, through intimate dealings with the Holy Trinity - through prayer and the sacraments!
Basically - if you aren’t praying intimately every day, if the Eucharist is not the center of your day, your effectiveness is zero.

6 - Jesus preached the Good News and invited a response. This may be hard for many Catholics. Some think that evangelization will happen on its own, as long as we are decent people. Of course, we need to live holy lives. But we need to “enter” the life of the others. Imagine if Jesus or the Apostles never preached the Gospel or asked others to follow Him. We wouldn’t have a Church today!

We need to learn how to do the same.
God has a solution to what ails us and his Church.
With some excerpts from by Marcel LeJeune

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Nov 22 Fri - Does God have an alias?

 

Nov 22 Fri
Does God have an alias?
Chance is God's pseudonym when He does not want to sign with His Name.

The technical director of the Spanish national soccer team, Luis de la Fuente, starred in the opening ceremony of CEU University stating that "it is a responsibility and an obligation to say openly what one thinks. Thus, I am obliged to freely recognize that I am a Catholic and believe in God. Within the diversity that exists, I want to be respected and to be included, not to be left out."

The coach unabashedly demonstrated his deep Catholic convictions by asserting that "God's alias is CHANCE, when He doesn't want to sign".

Indeed, nothing happens in the world— not even the most inexplicable events—without being wanted or allowed by God.

Through faith, we realize that God's will extends to every circumstance of our lives. Where many people see nothing but coincidence or chance, or even wonder whether they are at the mercy of blind forces, we Christians know that God's fatherly care, His most lovable will, His Providence, is directing everything that happens to us. “History is not the result of blind forces or chance; it is the manifestation of our Father God's mercy. God's thoughts are above our thoughts, as Scripture says."

Providence is the term we use to describe the care God shows in watching over His own. Providence is also God's will in giving each thing the direction it should take. Thus, everything that happens providentially occurs in the best possible way. Hence, St. Josemaría says, “Trust in God means having faith, no matter what happens, going beyond appearances. The charity of God—whose love for us is eternal—lies behind every event, even if at times it is hidden from us."

Once, a poor man went to church to complain to God that he has no shoes to wear. But in front of the church, he saw a man with no legs. Then our man, ashamed of his thoughts gave thanks to the Lord for his healthy legs.

Our firm belief that God is caring for us all leads us “to be patient. Things are never as we want them to be, but as God's providence allows: we have to accept them gladly, no matter how they appear. If we see God behind everything, we will always be happy and peaceful and never get upset. That's how we show that our life is contemplative."

We may not always understand why certain things happen; we may struggle to grasp why they should be so, especially when they don't align with our way of thinking. It is in those moments that we need to offer filial surrender, abandoning ourselves into God's hands like a child who knows that his father always gives him what is best. Sometimes a child is attracted to things that could do him harm, and his father, even though he knows the child will be disappointed, has to say no. The child may not understand, but it is for his own good. Everything that happens to us is good and right for us; for those who love God, all things work together for the good.

Nov 21 Thu - Do not be afraid! I am by your side.

 

Nov 21 Thu
Do not be afraid! I am by your side.
A second time the angel spoke to Mary. She was troubled by his greeting, and so he tells her, “Do not be afraid.” The first time he said, “The Lord is with you”. Now, the second time, he said, “Do not be afraid.” In the Scriptures, whenever God appears to those who receive him, he loves to utter those words: Do not be afraid! He says them to Abraham (cf. Gen 15:1), repeats them to Isaac (cf. Gen 26:24), to Jacob (cf. Gen 46:3), and so on, up to Joseph (cf. Mt 1:20) and Mary.

Do not be afraid! This way, he sends us a clear and comforting message: once our lives are open to God, fear can no longer hold us in bondage. For fear can truly hold us in bondage.

You, dear sister, dear brother, if your sins frighten you, if your past worries you, if your wounds do not heal, if your constant failings dishearten you, and if you seem to have lost hope, please, do not be afraid. God knows your weaknesses and is greater than your mistakes. God is greater than our sins.

He asks of you only one thing: that you not hold your frailties and sufferings inside. Bring them to Him, lay them before Him and, from being reasons for despair, they will become opportunities for resurrection. Do not be afraid!

The Lord asks us for our sins, to offer Him our weaknesses. This brings to mind the story of a monk in the desert. He had given everything to God and lived a life of fasting, penance, and prayer. The Lord asked for more. “Lord, I gave you everything”, said the monk, “what more is there?” The Lord replied, “Give me your sins”. Do not be afraid!

The Blessed Virgin Mary accompanies us: she cast her anxiety upon God. The angel’s proclamation gave her good reason to be afraid. He proposed something unimaginable and beyond her abilities, something that she could not handle alone: there would be too many difficulties, and problems with the Mosaic law, with Joseph, with the citizens of her town, and with her people. Yet Mary did not object. Those words – do not be afraid – were sufficient for her; God’s reassurance was enough for her.

She clung to God, as we want to do now. Yet so often we do the exact opposite. We start from our own certainties and, when we lose them, we turn to God. Our Lady, on the other hand, teaches us to start from God, trusting that in this way everything else will be given to us (cf. Mt 6:33). She invites us to go to the source, to the Lord, who is the ultimate remedy against fear and emptiness in life.

There is a lovely phrase written above a confessional in the Vatican that reminds us of this. It addresses God with these words, “To turn away from You is to fall; to turn back to You is to rise; to abide in You is to have life” (St. Augustine).
Homily, Pope Francis.

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Nov 20 Wed - Is death, the place from which we shall never return?

 

Nov 20 Wed
Is death, the place from which we shall never return?
Yes … and from which we will not want to return. Jesus has shown us the way to follow him... to happiness.

Death is a place where time will stand still to make way for eternity, where Love will be full.
“At that point, we shall receive the Anointing of the Sick, and then the holy Viaticum. What a joy!
“Now the end. The events of our life pass quickly before our eyes as in a film. Although a profound peace fills our soul, since God our Father accompanies us, our past sins and infidelities suddenly seem immense. It is the devil, making them look bigger, trying to lead us to despair. He won't succeed!

“And with contrite sorrow, striving to increase your love, you ask yourself: ‘How have I practiced charity, and poverty, and diligence, and chastity? And what about the tongue - and order, and obedience? And your pride, and your own criteria, and your exaggerated concern for personal things?’

“Someone encourages you: ‘Take heart, Jesus and the Blessed Virgin are waiting for you; give thanks for your Christian vocation; tell Jesus that you love him with all your soul, because of the special love he has shown you. Remember God the Father, who loves you to distraction; ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with joy’."

Faith does not exempt believers from the anguish of having to die, but it fills it with hope.

In this sense, there is a moving testimony from Russia. In 1972, an underground magazine published a prayer found in the jacket pocket of the soldier Aleksander Zacepa, composed shortly before the battle in which he lost his life in World War II.

It goes like this: “Listen, O God! In my life, I have never once spoken to you, but today I feel like doing crazy things. Since I was a child, I have always been told that You don't exist... And I, like an idiot, believed it.

“I have never stopped to contemplate your works, but tonight I saw from the crater of a shell the sky full of stars, and I was fascinated by their radiance. At that instant, I understood how terrible is deception. I do not know, oh God, if You will give me a hand, but I tell you that You understand me...

“Isn't it strange that in the midst of a dreadful hell, a light has shown up inside me and I have discovered you?

“I have nothing more to say to you. I am happy, for I have met You. At midnight we must strike, but I am not afraid, You see us.

“They've given the signal! I have to go. How good it was talking to you! I want to tell you, and You know it, that the battle will be hard: perhaps tonight I will go to knock at your door. And though I have not been your friend until now, when I go to You, will you let me in?

“But what is the matter with me? Am I crying? My God, look what You have done to me. Only now have I begun to see clearly... My God, I'm leaving... It will not be easy to come back. Strange, now I'm not afraid of death.”

Video;

Nov 19 Tue - Why is the Church Catholic?

 

Nov 19 Tue
Why is the Church Catholic?
“For just as the body is one and has many members, and the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. For by one Spirit, we were all baptized into one body - Jews or Greeks, slaves or free - and all were made to drink of one Spirit.”

The UNITY of the Church, Christ's Mystical Body, is based on her doctrine, her means for achieving holiness, and her hierarchy. Her scope is universal, her message is meant for all humanity: people of every race and nation practice the same faith, receive the same sacraments, and are subject to the same head. This distinctive feature or note of the Church, her capacity to unite the most diverse peoples harmoniously, is called "CATHOLICITY".
This is how God wanted her.

“The Church was Catholic already at Pentecost. She was born Catholic from the wounded heart of Jesus, as a fire which the Holy Spirit enkindled.”

“In the second century, the Christians called the Church Catholic to distinguish her from the sects which, using the name of Christ, were betraying his doctrine in one way or another. We call her Catholic, writes Saint Cyril, not because she is spread throughout the world, from one extreme to the other, but because in a universal way and without defect she teaches all the dogmas which men ought to know, both the visible and the invisible, the celestial and the earthly. Likewise, she draws to true worship all types of men, those who govern and those who are ruled, the learned and the ignorant. And finally, because she cures us from all kinds of sins, whether of the soul or the body, possessing in addition, by whatever name they may be called, all the forms of virtue, in deeds, words, and every kind of spiritual gift.”

“The Catholicity of the Church does not depend on whether or not non-Catholics acclaim and acknowledge it. Nor does it have anything to do with the fact that, in non-spiritual matters, the opinions of some people in positions of authority in the Church are taken up, and sometimes exploited, by those who fashion public opinion, when these churchmen have views similar to theirs. It will often happen that the aspect of truth defended in any human ideology will find an echo or foundation in the perennial teaching of the Church. This is, in a certain sense, a sign of the divinity of the revelation which the Magisterium safeguards. But the spouse of Christ is Catholic, even when she is deliberately ignored by many, and even abused and persecuted, as unfortunately happens in so many places ...”

“Ask God our Lord now, along with me, that we Catholics may never forget these truths, and that we may resolve to put them into practice. The Catholic Church does not need the approval of men, for she is the work of God.”

Video;

Nov 18 Mon - Consoled in her agony by a poem on the Cross.

 

Nov 18 Mon
Consoled in her agony by a poem on the Cross.
Isabella the Catholic, Queen of Castile, who patronized and facilitated Columbus' discovery of America, died on November 26, 1504, at the age of 53, after a long illness that caused her, according to the priest, "great suffering and agony".

During her illness, she requested Friar Ambrosio Montesino, poet and confessor, to compose prayers in the form of poems reflecting the suffering of the Lord on the Cross, to serve as consolation for the Queen in her moments of agony. The suffering of the Queen and her intentions are reflected in her testament, a document that according to the priest is her best legacy. She wrote:

“I also ordain that as soon as the Pope concedes to us the Islands and Mainland of the Ocean already discovered and yet to be discovered [America and the nearby islands], to try to get, encourage, and attract the people who populate them to the Catholic Faith, and to send to the Islands and Mainland priests and other learned persons... to instruct the inhabitants of those lands in the Catholic Faith, and to teach them Christian customs.
As well, I beg the King, and I charge and order the Princess, that they do it thus, and that they carry it out, and not consent to nor allow the Indians, inhabitants of the Indias and Mainland, won and to be won, to receive any injury to their persons or possessions, rather to the contrary, that they should be well and fairly treated, and if they have received any injury that it should be remedied and provided for."

There we see the holiness of the queen. The poem composed by Montesino reads as follows:

Who brought thee, King,
the pain of this extreme sweat?
- Alas, man, that was thy sin!

With His holy love that led Him to die,
He fought the great dread that He suffered
from the death He expected.

The ground was consecrated
by so much blood He has sweated
by His cruel agony.

It is a sign that my guilt
is healing from its pestilence,
because God, through His mercy,
is driving it out with His Blood.

What a great good it is,
but, sadly, when will I, a stricken man,
be able to repay this benefit?

Thy compassionate sighs, O Lord,
and Thy solitude,
provoke to pity
the living and the dead;
for what do we do,
-all captives in prisons of sin-
who do not run to Thy side?

O Lord, who created me,
I wish I could become for Thee
as a cloth
to wipe away the bath of Blood
Thou hast sweated!
I ask You to forgive me
for whom You were so afflicted and exhausted.

Video:

Nov 17 Sun - What am I doing to be ready for the hour of my death?

 

Nov 17 Sun
What am I doing to be ready for the hour of my death?
The kingdom of heaven is like a man going on a journey who calls his servants and entrusts them with his property. Once again Jesus explains in parables the meaning of our life on earth. God grants us gifts, "talents" that he expects us to invest, to attain heaven through our efforts and his never-failing grace.

Although it is Christ’s will, and ours, that no one be lost, on the Day of Judgment, all men will appear in their own bodies before Christ’s tribunal to render an account of their deeds.

The truth of each man’s relationship with God will be laid bare, and even the good each person has done or failed to do during his earthly life will come to light.

Then, the Kingdom of God will come in its fullness. The just will reign with Christ forever, glorified in body and soul, and the material universe itself will be transformed.

The ‘holy city’ of God will no longer be wounded by sin, and self-love that destroy or harm the earthly community. The beatific vision of heaven, in which God opens himself absolutely to the chosen ones, will be a wellspring of happiness, peace, and mutual communion.

Nothing good from our earthly life will be lost but will instead be perfectly renewed. According to the command of the Lord and in his Spirit, we will find them once again, cleansed this time from the stain of sin, illuminated and transfigured.

As St Cyril of Jerusalem put it, “True and everlasting life consists in this: the Father, through the Son and in the Holy Spirit, pouring out his heavenly gifts on all things without exception. Thanks to his mercy, we too, men though we are, have received the immutable promise of eternal life.”

This is a good moment to ask ourselves in God's presence if we are taking advantage of our time and talents to yield abundant fruit in God's service. “God may have given us just one more year to serve him. Don't think of five, or even two. Just concentrate on this year. Give it to God, don't bury it! This is the resolution we ought to make."

“My son,” St. Josemaría concludes, “let this be the fruit of your prayer today: be convinced that your time is for God; that it's a God-given treasure; that, it is something marvelous in your hands that you have to administer for God, with a sense of responsibility...."

It is also very wise to meditate on the heaven that Love has prepared for us and to get rid of anything that would prevent us from attaining heaven. This means struggling against sin and erasing, in the Sacrament of Penance, those we have committed.

Lord, help us grasp the importance of the time in which we are living. Make us understand that only You can make things grow and bear fruit.

Video:

Nov 16 Sat - What is the Angelus?

 

Nov 16 Sat

What is the Angelus?

The Angelus is a prayer that honors Christ in the mystery of the Incarnation; and is Marian, because of the Annunciation. It "invites us to meditate on the mystery of the Incarnation, encouraging the Christian to take Mary as a point of reference in the various moments of his day to imitate her in her readiness to carry out the divine plan of salvation."

 

The Angelus prayer was traditionally prayed three times a day, in the morning (6:00 a.m.), at noon (12:00 noon), and in the evening (6:00 p.m.). Nowadays, the custom among Catholics is the recitation of the Angelus at noon.

 

The Angelus is prayed throughout the year except during the Easter Season when the Church proposes the recitation of the Regina Coeli or Queen of Heaven.

 

The Church proposes the prayer of the Angelus as an invitation to every believer to unite himself to Mary's "fiat" and thus adhere to the plan that God has prepared for each of us.

 

It is also an opportunity to live the communion of saints, feeling sustained by the prayer of so many of the faithful who pray this prayer daily.

 

The Annunciation to Mary initiates the fulfillment of God's promises to his people. The archangel presents to the Virgin Mary God's plan of salvation, by which she is invited to become the Mother of the Redeemer.

 

Mary responds by trusting in God's plan, certain that nothing is impossible for Him. Thus, by giving her consent to the word of God, she becomes the Mother of Jesus through the work of the Holy Spirit. With her consent, the Virgin Mary accepts wholeheartedly the divine will of salvation and gives herself to the service of her Son and the Mystery of Redemption.

 

Mary obeyed God, for her salvation and that of the whole human race. She continues to collaborate with the divine plan by being the mother of all men and intercessor of the Church.

 

Mary, "the woman of ‘yes’", promptly accepted the Angel's invitation. She does not respond with a mere yes to the divine Will, but with a ‘let it be done!’, which expresses an active and total conformity to what God is asking of her. It is much more than a mere giving of permission. It is a resolute adherence to the plan of God, a commitment of her whole life without wavering. 

 

She also listens to our voices, even those that remain closed in our hearts, which do not have the strength to come out but which God knows better than we know ourselves.

 

Before the example of Mary, we can consider whether our dedication to God is also total, full of faith, cheerful, and unquestioning, without the slightest hesitation. “Does our dedication, which was initially full of love, continue now to be full of love? Is there not something that has managed to get into it, little things that muddy it?... Ask Jesus: Lord, how is my dedication? Has there been some look of displeasure, something that can hurt you, Lord, my Love?"