Jan 1 Thu - Is Jesus’ Mother also my mother?

 

Jan 1 Thu
Is Jesus’ Mother also my mother?
Let us celebrate the Motherhood of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This is the source of all the prerogatives which God in his Wisdom bestowed upon our Lady. Let us adore her Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Mary's divine motherhood is a dogma of our Catholic faith. It was solemnly defined early in the Church's history at the Ecumenical Council of Ephesus (year 431). We profess that the holy Virgin Mary is not only the Mother of Christ as Man, but also the Mother of God.

St. Josemaría recalled years ago: “In the first residence, I had a little statue of the Blessed Virgin which the communists stole from me during the war in Spain. I called it Our Lady of the Kisses. I never went in or out without going to the Director's room, where the image was, so I could kiss it. I don't think I ever did so mechanically. My kisses were human kisses, the kisses of a son who was afraid... But since I've said so often that I'm not afraid of anyone or anything, let's not say I was afraid. They were kisses from a son who felt far too young and who sought from our Lady all her tenderness and her affection. All the strength I needed, I sought from God through the Blessed Virgin."

Besides being the Mother of God and Mother of the Church, our Lady is the Mother of each one of us. Mary is a Mother who loves us madly, cares for us, consoles us, and encourages us to return to the Father's house whenever we are far from God.

Mary is always at our side, ready to intercede before her Son when we don't act as we should, provided we take refuge in her motherly affection."

St. Josemaría invited us “to make a personal resolution: not to let anything human bother us, however serious it may appear, as long as we go to God through our Lady. And you know how we do so: through spiritual advice and Confession. The result will be a haven of peace, and our Lord will smile at us, seeing the human way in which we act. And as he forgives us, he will think: this one has learned his lesson: now he'll be more faithful to me."

“If a little child does something wrong, breaking a valuable object, for instance, he sometimes tries to run away from his mother's arms. He doesn't realize that she doesn't always want to catch him to spank him, but she wants to console him, to press him to her heart and smother him in kisses."

“This is what I'm trying to tell you: trust God completely and make up your mind not to run away from him. The best sign that we're not trying to escape is to be sincere in your spiritual coaching chat, and clear in Confession. Don't get all worked up when you have made a mistake - that wouldn't be sorrow, but pride. Keep calm and return to your Father's house; there we will always find the immense tenderness and understanding of our Blessed Mother Mary waiting for us."

Dec 31 Wed - Should I be afraid of my personal Judgment?

 

Dec 31 Wed
Should I be afraid of my personal Judgment?
As the year ends, our Mother, the Church, doesn't remind us of the judgment to make us anxious about our failings or the demands Christ will make of us. She wants to encourage us in our daily struggle and help us to respond more faithfully to our Christian vocation. She doesn't want to frighten us. Rather, she wants us to have a clear idea of our end and to help us strive upwards every day.

Moreover, Christ will not be a strange judge for us. We have the immense good fortune of being among the chosen friends of the One who is to judge us. And each day our friendship grows stronger. By fulfilling our Norms of piety, our small mortifications, our acts of love, our habitual apostolate, we increasingly identify ourselves with Him. Saint Josemaría wrote: "I was amused to hear you speak of the 'account' that Our Lord will demand of you. No, for none of you will he be a Judge, in the harsh sense of the word; He will be simply Jesus." -This phrase has consoled more than one troubled heart, and could very well console yours.

Indeed, at times, there isn't enough refinement in our love. We could do our work or study better; we could receive the means of formation more fruitfully; we could carry out a more constant apostolate. It's also true that we have offended him. However, despite everything, we grow more in love with our Lord every day and become more resolved to dedicate ourselves to Him. Though we know our faults have offended him, we also understand that a small token of our love is enough to draw back his loving gaze. He often smiles at our efforts in our interior life and apostolate.

Besides, “our Guardian Angel always accompanies us as our principal witness. It is he who, at your particular judgement, will remember the kind deeds you performed for our Lord throughout your life. Furthermore, when you feel lost, before the enemy's terrible accusations, your Angel will present those intimations of your heart, which perhaps you yourself might have forgotten, those proofs of love for God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit."

“That is why you must never forget your Guardian Angel, and that Prince of Heaven shall not abandon you now, or at that decisive moment."

Therefore, we view our judgment with great hope and confidence, since our only aim in life is to please God. How can we be afraid or uneasy at the moment of our judgment, when our Christian vocation necessarily entails trying to please Jesus!

Furthermore, our Mother Mary will be present there, providing her protection and support, as she always has done. Our Lady will do what we ask of her every day; she will say good things about us, with motherly affection.

Dec 30 Tue - Will my actions bring about my future reward?

 

Dec 30 Tue
Will my actions bring about my future reward?

The Lord says, “Unless your justice exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven." How can justice exceed, unless compassion rises above judgment?

What could be more just or worthy than a creature created in the image and likeness of God, imitating the Creator who, through the remission of sins, brings about the reparation and sanctification of believers? The guilty man is restored to innocence, with God’s strict vengeance removed, and all punishment ceases. Thus, the end of wickedness becomes the beginning of virtue. Can anything be more just than this?

This is how Christian justice surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees—not by canceling the law but by rejecting earthly wisdom. This is why, when giving his disciples guidance on fasting, the Lord said: "Whenever you fast, do not look sad like the hypocrites. They disfigure their faces to appear as if they are fasting. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward." What reward is this, if not human praise? Such desire often masquerades as justice, for having a false reputation brings pleasure when there is no concern for conscience. Consequently, when injustice is concealed, a man enjoys a misleading reputation.

For the person who loves God, it is sufficient to please the One he loves; there is no greater reward than loving God, for love originates from God, as God is love.

God so fulfills the good and chaste soul that it wishes to find delight in nothing else. The Lord’s words ring true: "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." What is a man’s treasure but the accumulation of profits and the fruits of his labor? Just as a man sows, so shall he reap, and each man’s gain corresponds to his toil; where he finds delight and enjoyment, there the desire of his heart is anchored.

There are many kinds of wealth and various reasons for rejoicing; each person's treasure is what he desires. If it is rooted in earthly ambitions, it leaves men not blessed but wretched.

However, those who find joy in the eternal and heavenly, rather than the earthly and perishable, possess an incorruptible hidden treasure. Through these, with God's grace, even earthly possessions can be transformed into heavenly blessings.
Many people utilize wealth wisely by sharing what is superfluous to support the poor, they are amassing imperishable riches, ensuring that what they have discreetly given will not be lost.

They have rightly placed their riches where their heart is; it is truly blessed to work towards increasing such riches rather than fearing their loss.
From a sermon of Saint Leo the Great, Pope.

Dec 29 Mon - How can I prepare myself better for Holy Communion?

 

Dec 29 Mon
How can I prepare myself better for Holy Communion?
All Christians share the mission of attracting others to sanctity, encouraging them to get close to him, to feel united to the Church, and to extend the kingdom of God to all hearts. Jesus wants to see us dedicated, faithful, and responsive. He desires that we should be holy, very much his own ...

These great horizons of our Christian vocation, this unity of life built on the presence of God our Father, and action, can and ought to be a daily reality.

Jesus comes to us daily in the Eucharist. Our Lord comes very close to us. He wants to live more fully in our hearts. "Come, Lord," we tell him, "our hearts are waiting for you." We long to prepare ourselves to receive him worthily. Through our love, shown in deeds, we want to erase the record of past infidelities. Your holy impatience to serve God pleases him. But it will be fruitless if it is not accompanied by a real improvement in your daily conduct."

In the Book of Isaiah, we hear of a promise of the messianic banquet, which God is preparing for mankind. “The Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of fat things, of wine on the lees well refined. … He will swallow up death forever, and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces... Lo, this is the Lord; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation."

This divine feast becomes a reality each day at Holy Communion. Just as Mary and Joseph awaited him in the stable at Bethlehem, so we should look forward to our daily meeting with Jesus in the Eucharist. We should try to fill our night period with desires to receive our Lord more lovingly when He comes into our souls.

“Have you ever thought about how you would prepare to receive our Lord if you could go to communion only once in your life?
We must be thankful to God that He makes it so easy for us to come to him, but we should show our gratitude by preparing ourselves to receive him very well."

If we want to apply St. Josemaría's words more effectively to our lives, now is the right moment for us to make the resolution to intensify our spirit of recollection, especially during the hours leading up to Holy Mass and Communion. A contemplative soul relishes the silence of the night; it becomes something indispensable. We should fill these hours with frequent spiritual communions, to express our daily eagerness to receive our Lord, in union with Mary: I wish, Lord, to receive you with the purity, humility, and devotion with which your most holy Mother received you, with the spirit and fervor of the saints.

“Ask our Lady, along with me, St. Josemaría says, to make it come true. Try to imagine how she spent these months, waiting for her Son to be born. And our Lady, Holy Mary, will make of you alter Christus, ipse Christus: another Christ, Christ himself!"

Dec 28 Sun - Why does Our Lord come determined to seek us out after we are lost?

 

Dec 28 Sun
Why does Our Lord come determined to seek us out after we are lost?

Today, the Holy Family, we remember our parents especially. They fulfilled their God-given mission very well, at times perhaps without even realizing it. God will not fail to reward them abundantly, both in heaven and on earth. Nonetheless, although we are certain that God will help them, we should remain constant in our prayers for them.

The Holy Family serves as a model for all Christian families. In Joseph, fathers find the noblest standard of watchfulness and fatherly care. In the most holy Virgin, Mother of God, mothers have a splendid mirror of love, modesty, and perfect faith. In Jesus, who was subject to his parents, children have a divine example of virtues to imitate.

Thus, we all must continue our way to heaven.
How often have we separated ourselves from God! How often we have failed to hear his voice - the voice of the one who heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds.

We must hasten to meet him, ready to start again and to respond to his never-failing Love.

“A day of salvation has arrived for us. Once again, we can hear the whistling of the divine Shepherd, his affectionate call: I have called you by name. Like our mother, He calls us by our name, even by our affectionate family nickname. He calls there in the very depths of our soul, and we must answer: ‘Here I am, for you called me.’ Here I am, determined on this occasion not to let time pass like water over the rocks, without leaving a trace."

St. Josemaría tells us that “what we have to try to do is to get to heaven. If we don't, nothing is worthwhile. To reach heaven, faithfulness to Christ's teaching is essential. And to be faithful, we must strive doggedly against whatever blocks our way to eternal happiness."

The response is required from us: to begin over and over again; not in a vague manner, but in the main points of our interior struggle, enthusiastically.

“Let's not deceive ourselves: in our life, we will encounter excitement and victory along with deprivation and defeat. Such has always been the earthly pilgrimage of Christians, even of those we venerate on the altars. … The true-life stories of Christian heroes resemble our own experience: they fought and won; they fought and lost. And then, repentant, they returned to the fray."

To find Jesus, we have to keep starting over and over again. We need to be continually engaged in a struggle to improve. To stand still is to fall back. St Augustine says, “I am still running, I am still advancing. I am still walking. I am still on the way. I am still exerting myself. I have not yet arrived. In the same way, if you are walking, if you are exerting yourself, if you are thinking of the future, then forget the past, do not glance back, or you may remain at the spot where you turned to look back. If you say, ‘Enough,’ you are lost."

Dec 27 Sat - How can I have a sporting spirit in my interior struggle?

 

Dec 27 Sat
How can I have a sporting spirit in my interior struggle?
John Evangelist worked hard. In his early youth, he became a disciple of John the Baptist, that man of God who preached interior conversion and penance, and lived a sober life, preparing the paths of the Lord.

The interior struggle requires continuous battles. And as St. Josemaría taught, it should be undertaken with a tenacious, cheerful sporting spirit. “My child, try to be faithful throughout your life. And when you sense you're not, ask God for help. Strive eagerly and cheerfully, with a sporting spirit, to progress in your supernatural struggle, and you'll conquer. Lay all your wretchedness, all the obstacles that block your way, at Christ's feet. Then, He will be raised on high and triumph, and you will go with him. Never get discouraged. Rectify your intention, begin again, and keep trying. In the end, if you can't do it, our Lord will help you to leap over the rampart, the rampart of holiness."

We need a sporting spirit in our struggle, being ready to begin again and again whenever necessary, with cheerful, supernatural stubbornness.

“I have noticed at times how an athlete's eyes light up at the sight of the obstacles to be overcome, what a victory is in store! See how he conquers the difficulties! God, our Lord, looks at us that way. He loves our struggle: we will win through always because he will never deny us his all-powerful grace. Thus, it doesn't matter if we have to fight, because He does not abandon us."

This is the difference between us and those who don't know God; the latter complain in adversity, whereas hardships only strengthen our virtue.

The best strategy for victory in the supernatural Olympics is to struggle in little things. A good athlete takes care of the smallest details. One need only recall the gymnast's precise movements, the runner's exact pace, the jockey's measured rhythm. The best athletes are always those who prepare with the most determination and look after all the details.

Besides, we are not fighting for a perishable crown, a momentary triumph: we're fighting for the victory of Christ, to identify ourselves with Christ.
 
Sometimes in our interior life, “as in sports, one has to know how to lose a game to win the next one. Thus, we draw new strength from our errors and defeats.
Whoever gives up because he misses one goal has missed the point of his effort. We know we're going to lose sometimes. We may fail, but God doesn't lose battles."

Learning how to lose is another virtue of a good sportsman. We are inevitably going to lose some skirmishes in our daily struggle. But “learn to draw from your falls a new impulse: from death, life.” If we struggle, if we have a spirit of examination and contrition, then our daily mistakes, our unfulfilled resolutions, our lack of love, and our insensitivity will be turned to good advantage.

God counts on our defects and gives us his grace to fight against them. Our small daily defeats should help us to trust more in God and less in ourselves. They help to make us more humble.

Dec 26 Fri - What is my mission in life?

 

Dec 26 Fri
What is my mission in life?

“The Holy Spirit sanctifies and leads the people of God and enriches it with virtues, not only through the sacraments and the ministries of the Church, but also ‘allotting his gifts to every one according as He wills.’” (Vatican II)
You too have personal gifts that the Spirit gives to each one.

The charism has two elements:
First, the charism is the gift given “for the common good,” to be useful to everyone. It is not destined ordinarily for the sanctification of the person, but for the “service” of the community.

Secondly, the charism is the gift given “to one”, or “to some” in particular, not to everyone in the same way, and this is what distinguishes it from sanctifying grace, from the theological virtues, and from the sacraments, which are the same for all.

“The laity are not the least, no, they laity are not a form of external collaborator or auxiliary troops of the clergy, no! They have their own charisms and gifts to contribute to the mission of the Church."

When they hear about charisms, some may experience disappointment, as they think they do not possess any, and feel they are excluded or second-class Christians. No, they are not second-class Christians; no, each person has his or her personal, and also community charism.

The charisms are the “jewels” or the ornaments that the Holy Spirit distributes to make the Bride of Christ, the Church, more beautiful.

All charisms are “mine”, just as “my” charisms belong to all and are for the good of all, making you –your mission– a charism for all.

God gives to each person a unique mission. What is your mission? Finding it is essential to your journey of holiness and, therefore, happiness. When fully embraced, this mission will bring abundant fulfillment to your life because it is the purpose of your life.

Some embark on selfish activities in life, failing to commit all their energies to the work of the Lord. The Lord wants you to work day and night on His mission. This is not too much to ask. It is what you were made for, and the only way to obtain what you truly desire.

Your mission will require a complete self-giving. It will also include moments of fun and rest, work and struggle, laughter and tears. But it’s worth it! Seek the mission God has given you, and embrace it with all your heart.

Reflect, today: What is my mission in life? It may come to you slowly, over time, taking twists and turns as you go. But never stop seeking to serve our Lord and His perfect plan. This plan will become the delight of your soul. Ponder it, and if you are on the wrong path, correct your direction in life.

Tell Him: I promise to say “Yes” to You throughout my life and to never tire of fulfilling Your Will. I love You, Lord. Help me to love You with my life.

Dec 25 Thu - What conclusion should I draw from today’s feast?

 

Dec 25 Thu
What conclusion should I draw from today’s feast?
Today, a light will shine upon us. For the Lord is born to us. And his name will be called "Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
Jesus' Birth encourages us to get to know him better.

“We have been preparing for today's solemnity by trying to build a crib in our hearts for our God. Do you remember what we did when we were small? How eagerly we built the Christmas scene, with its mountains of cork, its tiny houses, and all those little figures around the manger God chose as his birthplace. Since Opus Dei is for adult Christians who know how to become children out of love for God, I know that with the passage of time, my daughters and sons become more childlike every day. We have prepared a stable in the intimacy of our souls even more eagerly than when we were children." Saint Josemaría

My Jesus, thank you for becoming one like us; let us tonight become like you: children, that we may learn to see in all the love of your Father, even in the cold and loneliness of the night, like your first night made Man.

“A holy day has dawned for us. Come, you nations, and adore the Lord. For this day a great Light has descended upon the earth. We would like people everywhere to treat you well. We would like the whole world to welcome you affectionately. And we cloak the indifferent silence of those who do not know you or do not love you by singing Christmas carols, the popular songs sung by young and old in all countries with a Christian tradition. Have you noticed how they always speak about going to see and gaze upon the Christ Child as the shepherds did on that blessed night? They went with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in the manger."

May my heart be a copy of Bethlehem, with each character of the mystery. May humility and contrition be the straw to prepare and arrange the manger in my heart. May my fidelity be like a blanket to be spread on the crib and comfort the Child Jesus in my heart. May my childlike love and my Mother's tenderness establish the proper lap for the Child.

He unveils his secrets and his mystery only to the simple of heart. As He did with Mary and Joseph, and as He has done throughout the centuries. He would also like to do so in my prayer today and every day, counting on my collaboration and teamwork.

Now is the time for me to listen fully to Jesus Christ, who wants to tell me: "I love you, and I want to make you happy.”

How often have I been indifferent to the voice of God knocking at the door of my heart! Christ offers me happiness, but it is not obligatory. I have the freedom to say yes or no to him. I want to tell Jesus Christ yes! to enter my soul and renew my whole life.

I want to be a witness to the One who has loved me, died for me, and who has called me by my name with a smile on his face. And I, who experience my weakness, my misery, I want to turn to Christ and his Blessed Mother.

Dec 24 Wed - What are we to do on this day when people celebrate the birth of Christ?

 

Dec 24 Wed
What are we to do on this day when people celebrate the birth of Christ?
First of all, we must pray, and talk to him as God's children.
 
Next to the crib, where God was born, we consider: God has sent his Son into the world to recover what was lost, to save, and to forgive. This is why his birth is so simple, or else, we, filled with wretchedness, could be terrified at God's power. Instead, we are won over by his love. We see him in his Mother's arms, wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a poor manger.

Why swaddling clothes?
Because He is human. Angels do not need these.

When someone is in Christ, everything dirty, everything old, everything that stains, everything that hurts, all disappear. And tonight, God, through his Mother, will send us new graces to help us grow in love as children of God.

“We must ask God for the ability to discern what gives him glory, and what offends him; to know what works for people's good, and what is a damage for them; what will make us happy, and what will destroy our happiness –both eternal happiness and the relative happiness we can attain here on earth."

“How grateful we should be to Jesus, this Brother of ours who made us children of the Father. Have you seen how your own little brothers and sisters, or those tiny children of your relatives, need all kinds of things from everyone? The Baby Jesus is like that. It is good to think of him like that, defenseless. He is the Almighty, he is God, and yet he has made himself a helpless, vulnerable Child in need of our love."

“We have to pray always –always. We must feel the need to go to God after every success and every failure in our interior life. Especially in times of failure, let us humbly go back and tell God: ‘Despite everything, you are still my Father!’ Let us play the role of the prodigal son."

Why should we always pray?
Because God will listen to us.

“And how are we going to pray?
I give you two good resolutions for tonight. First of all, offer a prayer of THANKSGIVING. Thank God the Father. Thank Jesus, who became a Child because of our sins, and gave himself over to suffering, for us… Thanksgiving despite our wretchedness and sins."

Then, ask, PETITION. What should we request?
What does a child ask of his father? - Daddy... the moon! … We asked our parents for everything. Ask God for the moon and He will give it to you. Ask him boldly for everything you want; He will always give it to you, in one way or another. Ask confidently.

But seek first what works for God's glory, and everything that souls have a right to: whatever unites, whatever improves them. Then He will give us everything else in addition
Adore Him in your heart, and ask pardon for your sins.
May you have a happy Christmas feast. May God bless you.

Dec 23 Tue - O Antiphons: O EMMANUEL (God-with-us).

 

 Dec 23 Tue
O Antiphons: O EMMANUEL (God-with-us).
Our Ruler and Lawgiver, the expected of the nations and the Redeemer of all, come now to deliver us, O our Lord and our master.

At the dawn of creation, when He created man, God saw everything that He had made, and behold, it was very good. God looked on man with such love that He adopted him as his son, filling him with grace.

But man sinned. He rebelled against God, against his Father. Then that divine work was shattered, and that unity of grace, soul and body, was broken up. Yet God showed that he was not satisfied with re-establishing what sin had undone. He went much further, giving our human nature a dignity it had never had before: And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.

During Christmas, the Church invites us to contemplate the mystery of the Incarnation: God-made-man. By taking on human flesh, God shows us how valuable our body is in his eyes, so that we may keep it free from sin.

Christ is the image of the invisible God; looking at him, we become souls of prayer, contemplatives.
“If we want to love Jesus, we have to spend time with him. We don't have two hearts: one for God, and one for the things of this earth. You should spend time with him daily, putting your heart into everything, with the ardor of people in love. God has captured our heart, our whole life. One day, by his infinite goodness, we felt the dart of love that conquered us forever. And we must see to it that this love endures, and becomes more intense and refined every day."

We are sorry for not having kept close enough to Jesus, and for not having made good use of all the riches he has brought us. Therefore, now that Christmas is at hand, let us try to be prayerful souls who seek to live in God's company, since God chose to live among us. That is the very meaning of Emmanuel: "God with us".

This Christmas, we resolve to get to know Jesus, to listen to him and talk to him constantly, trustingly, lovingly, tenderly, as did our Lady and St Joseph.

And if you ever find that you don't know what to say, turn to Mary, our Lady, our wonderful Mother, and say: “Teach me to talk and to know your Son."

“Joseph, my Father and Lord, so humble and pure, worthy to carry in your arms, to care for and embrace the Baby Jesus, teach us how to approach our God, how to be humble and pure, worthy to become other 'christs'. And how to live and teach –as Christ did– the ways of God, both hidden and bright, telling all men and women that in their everyday lives here on earth they can attain a wonderful holiness, an extraordinary fruitfulness."

Dec 22 Mon - O Antiphons: O King of the Gentiles and the Desired of all.

 

Dec 22 Mon
O Antiphons: O King of the Gentiles and the Desired of all.
You are the cornerstone that binds two into one. Come, and save poor man whom you fashioned out of clay.
The Savior is near; he is at the door. Twenty centuries have gone by since the first Christmas, and still nations and peoples are awaiting the Messiah.

We are the soldiers and messengers of this king. All power in heaven and on earth belongs to him, and he has given us the mission to teach all people and bring them into his kingdom. St. Josemaría writes: “Our Lord wants to be placed once more at the summit of all human activities. We are asked in a special way for this service, which help in ensuring that throughout the world there are even more abundant fruits of the Redemption, which is the only true freedom for man. We are working with this hope and this responsibility." The war of peace and love that we are engaged in is certain to be a long and demanding one. Yet victory is assured. God always conquers: He does not lose battles.

Our apostolic hunger must encompass even those who are completely estranged from God. We will bring God's light to those who do not know him if we feed the flame of our own faith with the oil of charity. “Love everyone, be charitable to everyone, offer friendship to everyone. …Yet we should never speak to anyone about our faith if that person doesn't want us to."

Yet on seeing how you live, these people often ask themselves, and then ask you, about the interior strength that explains our joy. Then you speak to them about God, about your love for Christ, about your own wretchedness, and the wonders of grace that inspire you to be faithful. And you have often seen how God, who guides hearts, has used your words to move their hearts.

Our apostolic activity is always positive. By virtue of our mission, we are “sowers of peace and joy. The members of Opus Dei try to drown evil in an abundance of good. Thus, their work is never negative or "anti-" anything. It is affirmative and optimistic; it is youth, joy, and peace."

“And thus, gently but firmly, without yielding in our behavior or in doctrine, the charity of Christ that we try to incorporate into our lives will give us a spirit of conquest, and every day our thirst for souls will increase."

Our apostolic horizons are unlimited. They embrace all people, those who know Christ and those who do not. With this universal perspective, we ask our Lady to kindle an apostolic spirit in our hearts, so that each day we may experience an increase in our hunger to work for souls.

Dec 21 Sun - What did God the Son come to do? - Fourth Sunday of Advent

 

Dec 21 Sun
What did God the Son come to do? 
Fourth Sunday of Advent
The Son of God became incarnate. The “Incarnation”—literally, the infleshment—is the theological term that captures St. John’s expression, “The Word became flesh.” It is the fact that the Son of God assumed a human nature to accomplish our salvation in it.

Christ’s Incarnation refers not just to Christ’s body. It means that the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity, with His divine intellect and divine will, joined a complete human nature: His human body with its emotions and passions, and His human soul with its human mind and human will.

Did Christ do this? Why did he do this? Our second reading expresses that He did this and why He did it. Christ took on human flesh to do God’s will: “Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body have you prepared for me; in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure. Then I said, ‘Lo, I have come to do your will, O God.’”

It is completely appealing that He chose to arrive in the most pure womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary, as an embryo, and to develop there, to be born, and to grow up from childhood to manhood in a family.

What is the will that Christ came to fulfill? The Father’s will, this was his “plan of redeeming love.” Jesus embraced this master plan at every moment of his life—including all his ordinary activities—including his life of prayer—but it reached its pinnacle in “his redemptive passion.”

We can then meaningfully contemplate every stage of Christ’s life.
Did Christ fulfill the Father’s will? In Christ, and through his human will, the will of the Father has been perfectly fulfilled once for all.

The order of charity must be reflected in our deeds, not only in feelings of affection. Our Lady was not content simply to go and greet her cousin, nor to remain a few days with her. She stayed for as long as she could be useful. During the months she spent with Elizabeth, we can imagine all the help she would have given her. How many opportunities would she have had to show her affection! St. Josemaría insists: “We have to behave as God's children toward all God's sons and daughters. Our love has to be a dedicated love, practiced every day and made up of a thousand little details of understanding, hidden sacrifice, and unnoticed self-giving."

What is the consequence of this fulfillment of the Father’s will? We are delivered from sin and sanctified.

What should I do, then? To contemplate the Unborn Christ.
With Our Lady, we adore Christ as a newborn baby at Christmas when we gaze at a Nativity scene. Or we contemplate the childhood of Christ in the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary. Or we meditate on his public life in the Luminous, Sorrowful, and Glorious Mysteries of the Rosary.

With Our Lady, shouldn’t we adore Christ as an unborn baby in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary in this last week before Christmas?
We can bring everything we happen to know about fetal development, the experiences of a pregnant woman, the reality of who this unborn baby is, the reality of who this mother is, and their mission, which God the Father has set for them.

Then we can ask Our Lady and her Son, What is my place, my calling, in the Father’s plan of redeeming love?

Dec 20 Sat - O Antiphons: O Key of David, opening the gates of God's eternal kingdom: free the prisoners of darkness!

 

Dec 20 Sat
O Antiphons: O Key of David, opening the gates of God's eternal kingdom: free the prisoners of darkness!

From earliest times, man has looked to heaven as to his lost home. His heart was made for light, for joy and happiness; yet he remained in sadness and shadows, oppressed by the weight of the sin that brought about his downfall.

Whenever man, overcome by his passions, freely and willingly cuts his union with God, he again brings about this sorry process of corruption in himself. But it is still possible for the sinner to feel the weight of his guilt and seek the freedom and salvation he has failed to find in creatures. He can rebel against the slavery of sin, availing himself of the grace Jesus won for us.

St. Josemaría said. “I accept no slavery other than that of God's Love. As I have told you on other occasions, religion is the greatest rebellion of men, who refuse to live like animals, who are dissatisfied and restless until they come to know their Creator, and are on intimate terms with him. I want you to be rebels, free and unfettered, because I want you - it is Christ who wants us! - to be children of God. Slavery or divine sonship is the choice we face. Children of God or slaves to pride, sensuality, and the fretful selfishness which seems to afflict so many souls."

Have confidence, the Lord is coming; He is at the door. “God is love. The abyss of malice opened by sin has been bridged by his infinite charity. God does not abandon men."

As each day brings us nearer to Bethlehem, we should remain alert, begging God to have pity on us, to come and save us. “Let us tell our Lord: Come, Lord, my Jesus, come to my heart, to the hearts of all Christians. Come especially to the hearts of those who once thought of giving themselves to you but then abandoned the idea, not through bad will, but through weakness. Let us pray for every person of every race and tongue and religion; for those with only a vague idea of religion; and for those who do not know the faith. And our zeal for souls, a self-evident proof that we love Jesus, will ensure that he comes."

“God our Lord wants you and me to be holy, so that we may sanctify others. Look at yourself, look at our God, and then look at the world." Only the possession of God can fully satisfy the longings of the human heart. The world still awaits Christ; most people still do not know him.

“We Christians have a supernatural responsibility to cooperate with God's power. For this is God’s plan."

Dec 18 Thu - Why do we call God “LORD”? - O Antiphons: O ADONAI, O Lord.

 

Dec 18 Thu
Why do we call God “LORD”?
O Antiphons: O ADONAI, O Lord.
O Lord and leader of the house of Israel, who once appeared to Moses and spoke to him from a bush aflame, and on the peak of Sinai gave him the Law. Come now, Lord, bring us your redemption with your mighty outstretched arm.
Jesus Christ is born to redeem us. He comes to free us from the power of our enemies, to break the ties of sin, and ransom us from the devil's bondage.

In Deuteronomy 10:17, the proper name of God, Yahweh, appears alongside the superlative constructions "God of gods" elōhê ha-elōhîm, and "Lord of lords" adōnê ha-adōnîm (כִּי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם הוּא אֱלֹהֵי הָאֱלֹהִים וַאֲדֹנֵי הָאֲדֹנִים).

With righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist, and faithfulness the belt around his loins." Isaiah 11:4-5.

Mankind could do nothing to rise from its fallen state, to satisfy for sin, or to merit pardon. As the Psalm says: ‘Sacrifice and offering thou dost not desire.’ Man's position, as before God, was like that of the servant in the parable who was completely unable to pay his debts. Yet those who were upright in heart constantly pleaded: ‘Come, Lord, and make no delay. Release your people from their sin.’ For only God could repair the damage caused by our faults.

“It is very difficult to realize just how perverse sin is and to understand what our faith tells us. We should remember that even in the human context, the scale of an offense is frequently determined by the importance of the injured party - his social standing, his qualities. But with sin man offends God, the creature repudiates his Creator."

The Redemption is still being carried out. The story of mankind repeats itself in our own lives. “And opposed to the wonderful workings of Redemption is man, pronus ad peccatum (prone to sin) after the first fall, inclined towards evil; and there are all the passions of men, and all the workings of the devil." Therefore, we should pray, full of hope and contrition: Lord, rescue us with your mighty power!

To ensure that our voice reaches Jesus above the noise caused by our many sins, let us go to Mary. God has made her the repository of his Mercy. Through her intercession, we pray: All-powerful God, renew us by the coming feast of your Son and free us from our slavery to sin.

Dec 19 Fri O Antiphons: – Root of Jesse

 

Dec 19 Fri
O Antiphons: – Root of Jesse

Come, Flower of Jesse's stem, sign of God's love for all his people: save us without delay!

Jesus Christ, descendant of Jesse and David, son of Mary, is about to arrive.

God makes himself present to us in Jesus' sacred Humanity. In Jesus, we can contemplate God: ‘No one has ever seen God; the only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has made him known.’

St. Josemaría says, “My children, once again I advise you to do what I have always preached: love Christ's Humanity. …Consider frequently the spirit of prayer animating Jesus' life among us. He teaches us that all our works –great or small– should be preceded, accompanied, and followed by prayer."

“And from Christ's Humanity we shall go to the Father, to his almighty power and providence, and to the fruit of the Cross, which is the Holy Spirit. And we will feel the need to immerse ourselves in this Love, to find true Life."

Christian life consists, above all, in knowing and loving Jesus Christ. In him we find the grace needed to avoid sin, together with light to draw ever closer to God. Jesus took on the likeness of sinful flesh to condemn sin and rid the flesh of sin. He wanted to invite man to take on his likeness ... endowing man with power to receive the Father.

St. Josemaría said: “I would like you to be able to close your eyes and see Christ's life as in a film, and see yourselves as actors in that film, in company with the Apostles and the holy women, closer to Jesus than even John was. If not, it won't do."

“Consider what is most beautiful and most noble on earth, …And the world, and the other worlds that shine in the night: the whole universe. Well, this, along with all the follies of the heart satisfied, is worth nothing, is nothing, and less than nothing compared with this God of mine and yours. Infinite treasure, pearl of great price, humbled, become a slave, reduced to the form of a servant in the stable where he chose to be born, in Joseph's workshop, in his Passion and in his ignominious death... and in the madness of love that is the blessed Eucharist."

The way to get to know and love Christ is to talk to him. “As you do your prayer on the words of the Gospel, you will contemplate Christ's reactions … to the needy, to the rich... Try never to remain passive. Put yourself into the Gospel scenes like someone really there: with your passions, with my littleness and yours, and also with all the good things we possess. …Follow Christ, stepping in his footprints, and you will have his life, his strength, his longing to redeem."

We rely on Mary's motherly help: Show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Teach us to talk to him, to get really close to him, and to love him with all our hearts. Help us to make our prayer a dialogue between friends, a conversation full of faith and love.

What are the O Antiphons? Dec 17: O Sapientia (O Wisdom)

 

What are the O Antiphons?
Dec 17: O Sapientia (O Wisdom)
Today we begin the seven “O Antiphons.” Each antiphon is a mosaic of biblical references, collected and written in a style called anthological. The unknown author of these beautiful prayers lived around the sixth or seventh century. The author chose seven titles whose first letters, read in reverse order, form the Latin phrase ERO CRAS, meaning "Tomorrow I shall be (with you)."

The importance of “O Antiphons” is twofold: Each one highlights a title for the Messiah: O Sapientia (O Wisdom), O Adonai (O Lord), O Radix Jesse (O Root of Jesse), O Clavis David (O Key of David), O Oriens (O Rising Sun), O Rex Gentium (O King of the Nations), and O Emmanuel. Also, each one refers to the prophecy of Isaiah of the coming of the Messiah.

Today, we pray, O WISDOM eternal, proceeding from the mouth of the Most High, you reach from end to end and order all things mightily and sweetly; come now to direct us in the way of holy prudence. (cf. Sir 24; Wis 6-9)

The divine, fatherly, and holy dialogue which God initiated with man at the start of creation was interrupted by original sin. But how wonderfully it has been renewed by the Incarnation of the Word. Wisdom came forth from the mouth of the Most High, and once again, men and women are invited to an intimate conversation with their Creator.

“God intervened from the beginning of time, speaking to man's heart, calling him in hundreds of ways, and making him feel his need for the divine. He intervened especially through the prophets, and then finally through Jesus Christ. And through Jesus' words, He calls us friends. No longer do I call you servants... but friends."

“Even more, he calls us his children: ‘You have but one true Father, who is in heaven. And as a pledge of God's love, Jesus makes known to us his plans, what is hidden in the Father's heart. ‘No one has ever seen God; it is the only-begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, who has made him known to mankind’."

Since then, God's conversation with mankind has been constant and uninterrupted. This "dialogue of salvation", for which we express our wonder and thankfulness during these days, is our model for every apostolic action. Thus, our concern for souls will be wise and prudent as well as loving.

“Christian preaching requires two basic elements: fidelity to the truth and human friendship. There can be no fruitful dialogue without an atmosphere of real friendship, honesty, and certainty, or until such an atmosphere is engendered."
Dec 17 Wed

Dec 16 Tue - Is the Christian identity merely something added to generic education?

 

Dec 16 Tue
Is the Christian identity merely something added to generic education?

Some assume that there is a generic kind of education that is “secular” (rationalist or atheist) without any Christian notions or tendencies. To it, they continue, Christians may “add” their beliefs.

These do not take into account that choosing an atheist education is already taking an existential and moral choice, a radical position on fundamental human issues.

Pope Leo XIV emphasized the importance of Christian identity in education: "It is not a decorative label or an adornment, but the very heart that gives meaning, method, and purpose to the entire educational process." 

For Christian education, Christ is the compass. Without his light, the educational mission itself becomes meaningless and turns into an automatic process lacking the transformative power offered by the Gospel.

The educational project of Catholic education must be embodied "in practices, in the curriculum, and in the educational community itself."  

The confessional identity of Christian education is not "an accessory or a facade that becomes visible through isolated rituals or even repetitive mechanisms devoid of vitality," but rather the foundation "that articulates the educational mission, defines its horizon of meaning, and guides its daily practices, both in the way it teaches and in the way it evaluates and acts." 

“When Christian identity does not inform pedagogical decisions, it runs the risk of becoming a superficial adornment that fails to sustain educational work in the face of the many cultural, ethical, and social tensions that characterize our times of polarization and violence.”

Authentic Christian education "promotes the integration of faith and reason" as "complementary paths to understanding reality, forming character, and cultivating intelligence." To this end, he added, the educational community formed by the family, the parish, and the school must be integrated "like a home." 

On the other hand, he highlighted how the Catholic Church, "in its educational mission, rediscovers its maternal role," as reflected in numerous conciliar documents.  

"The icon of our Mother the Church presents itself to us not only as an expression of tenderness and charity, but also as the one who safeguards that capacity, part of her mission, to be a guide and teacher, having been entrusted by her Most Holy Founder with a double task: to bring forth children and educate them, and then, to sustain them, guiding with maternal providence the lives of individuals and peoples, whose great dignity she always respected and protected with solicitude," said the Pontiff. 

Before concluding by inviting Catholic educators to commit themselves "courageously" to their task, Leo XIV emphasized that "the educational activity of the Church, carried out through schools and formative activities, is not simply a commendable philanthropic work to satisfy or sustain a social need, but is an essential part of its identity and mission."

Dec 15 Mon - Is becoming a parent an awesome adventure?

 

Dec 15 Mon
Is becoming a parent an awesome adventure?
“Today’s Society’s sickness is a lack of confidence in life.” Pope Leo praised “the wonderful adventure” of becoming parents that many families are choosing to embark on today, even in a time marked by economic and social difficulties.”

“Do so trusting in the God of life, and promoting authentic human life in all its expressions, above all, in the wonderful adventure of motherhood and fatherhood.”

“Do not be afraid to welcome and defend every child conceived. Proclaim and serve the Gospel of life. God is the lover of life. Therefore, always protect it with care and love.”

St Josemaría wrote: “A Christian marriage is not just a social institution, much less a mere remedy for human weakness. It is a real supernatural calling…Christ transforms their whole married life into an occasion for God's presence on earth.

“The unity between the parents is transmitted to their children, to the whole family, and to everyone who is involved in their life. Thus, every truly Christian family reproduces in some way the mystery of the Church, chosen by God and sent to be the guide of the world."

“It is very important that the idea of marriage as a real call from God never be absent, either from the pulpit and the religion class or from the conscience of those whom God wishes to follow this way. Couples should be convinced that they are really and truly called to take part in the fulfillment of God's plan for the salvation of all men."

“Every Christian home should be a place of peace and serenity. Despite the small frustrations of daily life, an atmosphere of profound and sincere affection should reign there together with a deep-rooted calm, which is the result of authentic faith that is put into practice."

“Husband and wife are called to sanctify their married life and to sanctify themselves in it. It would be a serious mistake to exclude family life from their spiritual development. The marriage union, the care and education of children, the effort to provide for the needs of the family as well as for its security and development, the relationships with other persons who make up the community, all these are among the ordinary human situations that Christian couples are called upon to sanctify."

“They will achieve this aim by exercising the virtues of faith and hope, facing serenely all the great and small problems which confront any family, and persevering in the love and enthusiasm with which they fulfil their duties. Thus, they practice the virtue of charity in all things. They learn to smile and forget about themselves to pay attention to others.”

“Husband and wife will listen to each other and to their children, showing them that they are really loved and understood. They will forget about the unimportant little frictions that selfishness could magnify out of proportion. They will lovingly do all the small acts of service that make up their daily life together."

“The aim is this: to sanctify family life, while creating at the same time a true family atmosphere."

Should I be patient with the others?

 

Dec 14 Sun

Should I be patient with the others?
In today’s reading, God himself comes down to earth. The ransomed Chosen People return to Israel. God heals them of every infirmity. 

This is also a vision for every human being of a transformation from what should never have been—from sin and suffering—to what should always be—justice and joy.

Yet this suffering must be accepted with patience. If God is patient with me, shouldn’t I be patient with the others?

When we hear about patience, we usually think of one of those situations that get into our nerves: “I really have to be patient with this person.” We are thinking of patience as some sort of control over the irritation and anger we experience when we face people who do something wrong or inconvenient for us. In sum, we think of patience as some sort of serenity: the power of enduring trouble, suffering, and inconvenience, without complaining.

Or we might think of patience as some capacity to bear the delay of goods which do not come as fast as we would like: “I have to be patient before I save enough to buy a car.” This notion refers to the capacity to bear sacrifices for a long time until we attain a certain joy. Patience here appears as the ability to wait for results, to deal with problems without haste.

Patience makes us withstand with calmness of soul, for the love of God, and in union with Jesus Christ, all physical and moral sufferings.

- The good we wait for is eternal life.
- The matter of patience is any kind of suffering, whether physical or mental.
- The motive for patience is love of God.
- Our model and companion in patience is Jesus Christ.
- Our means of patience are our own efforts, inspired and assisted by supernatural grace.

There is also a vice which looks like patience but is really a lack of caring, indifference, or resignation. It is when one has given up on the good that’s out there. We could call it “give-up-itis” or “whatever-ism.”

Zeal is a kind of holy impatience. It is a fervor for something, an enthusiastic desire, a love so strong it must act. However, the zeal must be for something objectively good, and it must not employ bad means to achieve that end.

John the Baptist’s zeal was to prepare the Jewish people for the coming of the Messiah. And Jesus Christ, being perfect man, also was filled with zeal: “I came to cast fire upon the earth; and would that it were already kindled! I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how I am constrained until it is accomplished!” (Lk 12: 49-50)

An essential object of zeal for us, should be to live the Faith. We see how true, good, and beautiful the Christian life is, and so we want to live it in our home, parish, place of work, and community.

Our zeal must also impel us to evangelization, to spreading this faith to those around us through example, conversations, and initiatives.

Should I seek the advice of others to act wisely?

 

Should I seek the advice of others to act wisely?

We often find ourselves unable to resolve the complex questions that arise in life. To act correctly, we must ask for advice.

To grow in maturity, we need to seek guidance from others to fulfill what God expects of us at every moment.

Many factors need to be considered, which can be challenging for one person. However, several individuals can provide greater certainty, as what escapes one’s notice may be observed by another.

Having a guide will help us develop our abilities.

Prudence leads us to seek advice based on others' experiences. “To be prudent, the first step is to acknowledge our limitations. This is the virtue of humility. Through it, we admit that we cannot know everything and that we cannot consider all the circumstances required to make a fair judgment. So, we seek advice."

Then we will not be misled by false reasoning, nor will our passions prevent us from seeing issues clearly. We can achieve peace, knowing we have utilized every means to stay on the right path.

Listening to the opinions of others helps us develop our personality while overcoming our limitations.

Asking for advice is a sign of maturity and sound judgment. The life of the saints is prudent. It is not so independent that it leads to pride; independence often conceals pride under the guise of "holy freedom." Nor does it confuse humility with timidity, as fear paralyzes the spirit, hindering us from expressing what is right and making us indecisive.

We must combine both aspects of prudence: consulting and listening to the opinions of others, while also being decisive and acting freely and responsibly. We can never use the advice we receive as an excuse to avoid responsibility for our actions. Sound judgment entails the capacity to act independently after taking prudent measures.

Therefore, we should frequently turn to those who can and should advise us. This will lead us to the “wisdom of the heart that guides and governs many other virtues. Through prudence, a person learns to be daring without being rash. He will not make excuses (rooted in hidden motives of indolence) to avoid the effort involved in living wholeheartedly according to God's plans."

Yet we should not go to just anyone, but to someone with the right qualities—someone who desires to love God as sincerely as we do and who strives to follow Him faithfully. It is not enough to ask anyone for their opinion; we must seek out someone who can provide sound and impartial advice.

Let us ask our Blessed Lady, Mother of Good Counsel, to grant us such a clear understanding of our own limitations that we will feel the need to turn to others for help. Thus, we will become people of sound, mature judgment. Maturity depends not on age, but on wisdom and prudence.
Pic: Our Lady of the Good Counsel  -  Dec 13 Sat

Should I be meek, understanding, and find excuses for everyone?

 

Should I be meek, understanding, and find excuses for everyone?

Our universal mission as Christians to evangelize the world implies that we need a big heart, capable of loving everyone, whoever they are, since God calls every single person.

Meekness is the virtue that will help us to control the temptation of anger.
“Humility leads us, as it were by the hand, to treat our neighbor in the best way possible, that is, being understanding towards everyone, living at peace with everyone, forgiving everyone; never creating divisions or barriers; and behaving - always! - as instruments that foster unity. Not in vain is there in the depths of man's being a strong longing for peace, for union with his fellow man, for a mutual respect for personal rights, so strong that it seeks to transform human relations into fraternity." St Josemaría

In the Gospel, Christ shows us a very clear example of how to treat others. Our Lord's self-abasement knew no limits.

“His holy meekness led him to the most ignominious of deaths: He humbled himself, becoming obedient unto death, even death on a Cross. And he did so out of love for men, for men whom He calls his friends, even if they don't want to be such."

If Christ has loved us so much, we too must try to affirm “the truth serenely, positively, without polemics and without humiliating anyone. We should always leave the other person an honorable way out, so they can recognize without difficulty that they have been mistaken, or have lacked formation or information. At times, the kindest charity is to let the other person be convinced that they have discovered a new truth on their own."

“But Christ not only set us an example of holy meekness. He also set us a very clear example of holy intransigence in the things of God." Though always ready to be understanding towards anyone who approached him with a contrite heart, our Lord refused to yield when his heavenly Father's honor or the good of souls was at stake. Nor can we yield when confronted by ideas contrary to the teaching of the Church: to do so would be false charity.”

Yet our holy intransigence towards error can never become bitter, intemperate zeal. We should always try to spread doctrine in a cheerful, attractive way. “The first step to bringing others to the ways of Christ is for them to see you happy and serene, sure in your advance towards God."

Holy meekness and holy intransigence are both born of love. Out of love for God and souls, we are ready to yield in everything personal that does not prejudice the truth. And out of the very same love, we refuse to give way when our Lord's saving truth is mistreated. Both stem from the same love and lead us to spread doctrine by our friendship and example.

“Don't fear the world: we are of the world and, if we're united to God, if we put our Christian spirit into practice, nothing can harm us. Perhaps at times our Christian conduct may cause surprise among people who are far from God: you must have the courage, then, supported by divine omnipotence, to be faithful."
Dec 12 Fri

What are the elements of the Eucharistic Prayer?

 

What are the elements of the Eucharistic Prayer?

The chief elements of the Eucharistic Prayer are:

-  Thanksgiving (expressed especially in the Preface): In the name of the entire people of God, the priest praises God the Father and gives thanks to him for the whole work of salvation or for some special aspect of it that corresponds to the day, feast, or season.

- Acclamation: Joining with the angels, the congregation sings or recites the Sanctus. This acclamation is an intrinsic part of the Eucharistic Prayer, and all the people join with the priest in singing or reciting it.

- Epiclesis (invocation): In special invocations, the Church implores the power of the Holy Spirit that the gifts offered by human hands be consecrated, that is, become Christ’s body and blood, and that the spotless Victim to be received in Communion be the source of salvation for those who will partake of it.

- Narrative of the Institution and Consecration: In the words and actions of Christ, that sacrifice is celebrated which he himself instituted at the Last Supper, when he offered, under the appearances of bread and wine, his body and blood, gave them to his apostles to eat and drink, and then commanded that they perpetuate and reenact this mystery.

- Anamnesis (memorial): In fulfillment of the command received from Christ through the apostles, the Church keeps his memorial by recalling especially his passion, resurrection, and ascension.

- Oblation: The oblation or offering of the victim is part of a sacrifice. In this memorial, the Church, and in particular the Church here and now assembled, offers the spotless Victim to the Father in the Holy Spirit. The Church’s intention is that the faithful not only offer the Victim but also learn to offer themselves and so to surrender themselves, through Christ the Mediator, to an ever more complete union with the Father and with each other, so that at last God may be all in all.

- Intercessions: The intercessions make it clear that the Eucharist is celebrated in communion with the entire Church and all its members, living and dead, who are called to share in the salvation and redemption purchased by Christ’s body and blood. This part includes also the commemoration of the saints in whose glory we hope to share.

- Final Doxology: The praise of God is expressed in the doxology, to which the people’s acclamation is an assent and a conclusion.

In accordance with the rubrics, the priest selects a Eucharistic Prayer from those found in the Roman Missal or approved by the Apostolic See. The Eucharistic Prayer demands, by its very nature, that the priest say it in virtue of his ordination. The people, for their part, should associate themselves with the priest in faith and in silence, as well as through their parts: specifically, the responses in the Preface dialogue, the Sanctus, the acclamation after the consecration, and the acclamatory Amen after the final doxology.
Dec 11 Thu

How can I rejoice in the Lord if He is far from me?

 

How can I rejoice in the Lord if He is far from me?

“The just man will rejoice in the Lord and put his hope in Him; the hearts of all good men will be filled with joy." We have surely sung these words with our hearts and voices. Indeed, we express our deepest feelings when we address such words to God. We must rejoice, not in material things, but in the Lord.

“Light has dawned for the just," Scripture says elsewhere, “and joy for the upright of heart." Were you wondering what reason we have for joy? “Delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart’s desires."

What are we instructed to do, and what can we do? To rejoice in the Lord. But who can rejoice in something he does not see? Am I suggesting that we see the Lord?

No, but we have been promised that we shall see Him. As long as we are in this world, we walk by faith, for we cannot see the Lord. We walk by faith, not by sight. When will it be by sight? “Beloved," says John, “we are now the sons of God; what we shall be has not yet been revealed, but we know that when it is revealed, we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is." When this prophecy is fulfilled, then we shall see Him.

That will be the great joy, the supreme joy, joy in all its fullness. Then we shall no longer drink the milk of hope, but we shall feed on the reality itself. Nevertheless, even now, before that vision comes to us, let us rejoice in the Lord, for it is no small reason for rejoicing to have a hope that will be fulfilled someday.

Therefore, since the hope we now have inspires love, the just man rejoices in the Lord, Scripture says, but because he does not yet see, he hopes in Him.

Yet we have with us the first fruits of the Spirit; isn’t this another reason for rejoicing? For we are drawing near to the One we love, and not only are we drawing near, but we also anticipate and even have some slight feeling and taste of the banquet we shall one day eat and drink.

But how can we rejoice in the Lord if He is far from us? Pray that He may not be far. If He is, that is your doing. Love, and He will draw near. Love, and He will dwell within you. The Lord is at hand; have no anxiety.

How can He be with you if you love? Because God is love.

“What do you mean by love?” you will ask me. Love is what enables us to be loving.

What do we love? A Good that words cannot describe, a Good that is forever giving, a Good that is the Creator of all good.

Delight in Him from whom you have received everything that delights you—only one thing you have not received from Him: sin.
From a sermon by Saint Augustine.
Dec 10 Wed

Do all the faithful participate in the mission of the Church?

 

Do all the faithful participate in the mission of the Church?

Christians constitute the people of God, “established by Christ as a communion of life, love, and truth. It is taken up by him also as the instrument for the salvation of all, as the light of the world and the salt of the earth. It is sent forth into the whole world.”

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” This command of Christ applies to ALL the members of his Mystical Body:

In the Church, there is a diversity of ministries, but there is only one aim: the sanctification of men. And all Christians participate in some way in this task, through the character imprinted on them by the sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation. We must all feel responsible for the mission of the Church, which is the mission of Christ.

The fulfillment of the mission of the Church is called apostolate; its object is to spread the kingdom of Christ all over the world for the glory of God the Father.

The hierarchy renders service to the mission of the whole Church. The mission of the hierarchy is to be the instrument of Christ, as the head of the Church. Thus, the task proper to the hierarchy is to organize and watch over the fulfillment of the mission of the entire Church.

All members of the Church must share in the apostolate—guided by the bishops and the pope—according to their status in the Church.

The Second Vatican Council asserted the participation of each Christian—specifically of the laity—in the common mission of the Church:
“The apostolate of the laity is a sharing in the salvific mission of the Church. Through Baptism and Confirmation, all are appointed to this apostolate by the Lord himself."

The pastors, indeed, know well how much the laity contributes to the welfare of the entire Church. They know that they themselves were not established by Christ to undertake alone the whole salvific mission of the Church to the world, but that it is their exalted office to be shepherds of the faithful and also to recognize the latter’s contribution and charisms that everyone in his own way will, with one mind, cooperate in the common task.

Hence:

- The mission of the entire Church and that of the hierarchy are not identical, just as the words Church and hierarchy are not synonymous.

- The Church’s mission falls squarely on the shoulders of all her members, while the mission of the hierarchy—a particular aspect of the mission of the Church—is carried out only by the members of the hierarchy and those members of the people of God who are authorized and qualified to help them.

- The mission of the laity is not merely a participation in the mission of the hierarchy, but it is a participation in the mission of the Church.
Dec 9 Tue

How did our Mother pray?

 

How did our Mother pray?
Our Lady’s prayer and petition go up in a constant stream to God like the sweet perfume of a rose. The fragrant aroma of her prayer is stirred by the breeze of our petition, and even by the stormy winds that blow throughout the world. She joins our thanksgiving and petitions to her own and presents them to the Father through Jesus Christ her Son.

“Our Lord himself learned from his Mother many prayers transmitted from generation to generation among the people of Israel. We too, may recall prayers that we learned from our mothers. Our Lady’s example encourages us to deepen our prayer. … ‘Mary treasured up all these sayings, and reflected on them in her heart.’ Let us try to imitate her in talking to Our Lord. We can converse about everything that happens to us, even the most insignificant incidents, like two people in love." St. Josemaría.

How easy it is to love Mary since no more lovable creature ever existed! Mary is like the smile from the Most High bent upon us. There is no defect or imperfection in her. She is not far removed from our own experience, but very much attuned to our everyday life. She knows of our vacillations, our concerns, and our needs. May we have no fear of going too far in our affection for her!

We need only invoke her name. The demons tremble at its mere utterance. And Mary, like all mothers, finds special joy in coming to help those of her children who are most in need.

“If we have this filial contact with Mary, we won’t be able to think about ourselves and our problems. Selfish personal problems will find no place in our minds. Mary brings us to Jesus."

“Be daring. Count on the help of Mary, Queen of Apostles. Without ceasing to be a mother, our Lady can get each of her children to face their own responsibilities. Mary always does the immense favor of bringing us close to the Cross, placing us face to face with the example of the Son of God, those who come close to her and contemplate her life. Facing this challenge is how Christian life is decided. And here Mary intercedes for us so that our choice may be wise and lead to a reconciliation of the younger brother – you and me – with the firstborn Son of the Father."

“Many conversions, many decisions to give oneself to the service of God have been preceded by an encounter with Mary. Our Lady has encouraged us to look for God, to desire to change, to be useful, and to lead a new life. And so, her counsel ‘Do whatever he tells you’ has turned into real self-giving, into a Christian vocation, which from then on enlightens all our personal life."

This personal conversion will be like a red rose offered to our Mother.

Resolution at the conclusion of this Novena: To live always very close to our Mother Mary. 
Dec 8 Mon

What should I do in this Season of Advent?

 

What should I do in this Season of Advent?

As John the Baptist’s message is narrated in the Gospel, 
- Christ is coming to establish the kingdom of God; 
- You must prepare by repenting from your sins and doing what is right; and
- The Lord’s judgment will be of ultimate good or bad significance to you.

In addition, John taught that a person’s status, however high, would be of no avail in this judgment.

The prophet Isaiah foretold that the Christ, the Son of David (the son of Jesse), would have these gifts of the Holy Spirit:

The Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge, and the fear of the LORD. And his delight shall be in the fear of the LORD. (Is 11:1-3)

A reading of any one of the Gospels confirms that Jesus Christ possessed and practiced these gifts perfectly. 
We, ordinary followers of Christ, through Baptism and Confirmation, also share these gifts.

Through grace, God the Holy Spirit makes us “participate in the divine nature.” We then acquire a supernatural new life; we become children of God and heirs with Christ. Grace is like light whose splendor erases the stains of the soul, and we are divinized. Thus, it is comparable to a wedding garment, or a seed, in the Gospel.

The gifts are permanent dispositions that make us receptive to divine inspirations. The gifts of the Holy Spirit are a special awakening of the human soul, and they mature the supernatural life of grace in each person.

The gifts improve the virtues of those who receive them and help the faithful readily obey divine inspirations. A Christian “empowered” by the virtues can perform good deeds. The emphasis is on the decision of the person. 

A Christian who is obedient to God’s gifts and allows the Holy Spirit to act through him performs excellent deeds. The emphasis is on the Holy Spirit.

- The gift of wisdom is a loving knowledge of God and everything that comes from and leads to him.

- Understanding is the power that perfects our perception of the mysteries of the faith, enabling us to penetrate more deeply into the divine truths revealed by God.

- The gift of counsel helps us make wise decisions promptly, correctly, and according to the will of God.

- Fortitude makes us steadfast in the faith, constant in struggle, and faithful in perseverance.

- Knowledge enables us to be wise in using the things of this world.

- The gift of piety teaches us the meaning of divine filiation, the joyful supernatural awareness of being children of God and brothers and sisters of all mankind.

- Fear of the Lord inclines us to respect the all-powerful and loving God.

God showers us with gifts of grace so we can bear the kinds of good fruit that John the Baptist demands. 

What are these good fruits we should bear, right now, in this season of Advent?

- Repenting of sin by making a good examination of conscience and a good sacramental Confession.

- Carrying out our normal duties well, especially in whatever our work is.

- Accepting, embracing, and offering to God our own poverty and afflictions.

- Relieving the poverty and afflictions of others. This is showing mercy.
Dec 7 Sun

What happened with the heresies refuted in Nicaea?

 

What happened with the heresies refuted in Nicaea?

Though Pope Leo has spoken vaguely of some theological controversies as no longer relevant, he also made a point of warning in Turkey that, among our many postmodern problems, “there is also another challenge, which we might call a ‘new Arianism,’ present in today’s culture and sometimes even among believers. This occurs when Jesus is admired on a merely human level, perhaps even with religious respect, yet not truly regarded as the living and true God among us.” 

Arianism was widespread. When the Vandals invaded North Africa, around the time of Saint Augustine’s death, they came not only as “barbarians,” but also as “Arian Christians.” 
The Roman Empire itself “fell” when Odoacer, a Gothic “barbarian,” deposed the last Western emperor. Though tolerant of Catholics, Odoacer was an Arian.

Arianism appealed to soldiers, who saw Jesus as not only holy but, in his bravery during torture and death, heroic. For Arianism, Jesus was merely 'a man'.

Leo’s emphasis on Jesus as “the living God among us” also ties in with his warnings about another heresy, “Pelagianism,” which Saint Augustine famously combatted about a century after Nicaea. Pelagius believed that we are capable of following the precepts of the law without the need for divine grace.

Augustine, the Doctor of Grace, went after Pelagianism hammer and tongs, and left a great legacy of understanding how dependent we are on God, not our own will.

Pope Leo has recalled this main current in the tradition as well:
    The greatest mistake we can make as Christians is, in the words of Saint Augustine, “to claim that Christ’s grace consists in his example and not in the gift of his person”. How often, even in the not-too-distant past, have we forgotten this truth and presented Christian life mostly as a set of rules to be kept, replacing the marvelous experience of encountering Jesus – God who gives himself to us – with a moralistic, burdensome, and unappealing religion that, in some ways, is impossible to live in concrete daily life.

This classic Augustinian view should not be understood as denying moral rules. Rather, it puts grace and the love of God first, which are the deep realities that make it possible for us to live the Christian life. 

One notable thing about Pope Leo’s pilgrimage is his decision not to pray in Istanbul’s Blue Mosque. He took off his shoes, visited “as a tourist,” but maintained a bit of distance from Islam. And rightly so. Alongside the neo-Arianism that denies Christ’s divinity, and the neo-Pelagianism that implies that we can save ourselves, a false universalism and indifferentism – like “God wills a multiplicity of religions” – has arisen in the modern world.

Thus, the radical importance of the Faith on the one hand, and on the other, to talk as if peace and brotherhood result from dialogue rather than the only true source of charity: Jesus Christ.

Excerpts from Robert Royal - Dec 7 Sun