May 13 Mon - Should I still love the Church?

 

May 13 Mon

Should I still love the Church?

Many downturns affect the life of the Church, and the Roman Pontiff, charged by Jesus Christ with the task and responsibility of guiding and protecting the Church, feels this concern and vigilance in a unique and profound way. As St. Paul wrote, "There is the daily pressure upon me of my anxiety for all the churches" (2 Cor 11:28). This reminds all Christians of the responsibility we have to support and love the Church, even in the face of its weaknesses, even at great personal cost.

Our love for the Church should grow stronger when we see the imperfections of her members. We must embrace the adjective "Roman" that identifies us as children of the one true Church, and strive to bring others into this Roman identity. However, part of this endeavor is preparing our souls to remain faithful and unwavering, even when we witness the shortcomings of those within the Church.

The Church is inherently holy, and the Holy Spirit constantly manifests this holiness through the life of the Church. Jesus Christ loved the Church and sacrificed himself for her, so that she may be sanctified and presented to him "without spot or wrinkle or any such thing" (Eph 5:27). However, it is important to remember that the Church, while divine, is also human. It is made up of flawed individuals, all of whom have weaknesses and faults.

Throughout history, Christian souls have experienced the reality that no member of the Church is exempt from personal weaknesses. They may make mistakes and behave in ways that are not in line with the teachings of the Church. St. Josemaría wrote that knowing about these weaknesses can prevent us from being scandalized by news of such failings. It can also help us grow in love for the Church, the Spouse of Christ, and move us to cover the faults we observe in others with the cloak of charity and discretion.

While we desire for all people to become saints, our service to the Church is not contingent upon the personal holiness of its members. Our service and love are directed towards the immaculate Bride of Christ. As St. Josemaría said, we should never doubt or suspect the Church. Nor should we tolerate others doing so without protesting. We should not seek out the vulnerabilities of the Church caused by the actions of individuals in order to criticize her. Instead, we should love and speak about the Church with warmth and affection, just as we would for our own mother.

In the Magnificat, the Blessed Virgin echoed the marvelous deeds that God had done for the benefit of mankind. Let us implore her to obtain for us from our Lord the grace to genuinely love the Church of God and the Roman Pontiff, and to actively contribute to the dissemination of the Christian message.

Torreciudad: The Scourging at the Pillar. Fruit of the 2nd Sorrowful Mystery: Mortification. Purity.

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May 12 Sun - What is the Christian's apostolic mission?

 

May 12 Sun
The Ascension and the Christian's apostolic mission.
While they were gazing into Heaven as he ascended, two men in white robes appeared to them and said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into Heaven? This Jesus, who was taken from you into Heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into Heaven" (Acts 1:11). Like the Apostles, we are partly perplexed and partly saddened by his departure. It is not easy to get used to Jesus' physical absence. It moves me to think that out of an excess of love, he has remained with us even after he has gone. He has ascended to Heaven and, at the same time, he gives himself to us as our nourishment in the sacred host. However, we miss his human speech, his actions, his gaze, his smile, and his acts of kindness. We long to see him closely again. How can we not miss his presence?

The angels told the Apostles that it was now time for them to begin their task, that there was no time to waste. With the Ascension, Jesus' earthly mission comes to an end, and ours as his disciples begins. Jesus intercedes for us before his Father: "I do not pray that you should take them out of the world" (John 17:15), out of our rightful place in society, out of our jobs or families, "but that you should keep them from the evil one." Jesus wants each of us to remain in our place, sanctifying the world from within, improving it, and offering it to God. Only then will the world be a place where human dignity is valued and respected, a place where people live in true peace, a peace closely linked to God.

As Jesus ascends to Heaven, he sends us out as his witnesses to the whole world. Our responsibility is great because being a witness of Christ means that we should behave according to his teachings, reminding others of Jesus and his most lovable personality.

Those we live and work with, those we come in contact with, should find us loyal, sincere, joyful, and hardworking. We should act as people who fulfill their duties honestly, and live as children of God in the ups and downs of each day. The ordinary norms of courtesy, such as how we greet others, our cordiality, and spirit of service, should not be merely conventional and superficial for us. Instead, they should be the result of charity and a genuine interest in others.

We find Jesus in a special way in the Tabernacle. Let us turn to him there, even if we cannot physically go but only in our hearts, and ask for his help. Let us assure him that he can rely on us to spread his teachings wherever we go.

The Apostles returned to Jerusalem with Mary and awaited the coming of the Holy Spirit. Let us also prepare for Pentecost by staying close to our Lady.

Torreciudad: The Ascension. Fruit of the 2nd Glorious Mystery: Hope and desire of Heaven.

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May 11 Sat - Being a father... what would God the Father be like?

 

May 11 Sat
Being a father... what would God the Father be like? Nine traits of Jesus' divine and human education.

1. "You are my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." These are the first two indications of divine fatherhood to be imitated: affection and recognition of paternity. Like a coach, the father observes, stimulates, encourages, sometimes consoles, but does not exaggerate with praise, and never replaces his pupil.

2. The father introduces the son to values. Tempted by the devil in the desert, with the help of the Father, the Son understands and matures the human capacity not to be deceived by the devil's flattery (Mt 4, 1-3). Children need someone to show them the way to follow and to reflect on what is most important.

3. God the Father chose His own Son to be the Savior for mankind. Be positive in the transmission of the faith. Some parents unwittingly emphasize the negative aspect of everything. This becomes a bad testimony.

4. The Son does what he sees the Father doing (John 5:19). Example and deeds are more effective than words. Children are not so much convinced by speeches on principles as by the concrete experience they have living with us... This does not require that a parent be perfect; what is really important is that he be a credible parent.

5. To "send" and accompany the son to find his vocation. Just as in the preaching of the adolescent Jesus in the Temple, the father must focus on the future of his son. Only when the son finds and fulfills his vocation with total freedom will the father be happy, with the happiness of his son.

6. The son needs to feel that his father believes in him. In the Transfiguration on Tabor, God the Father tells us of Jesus: "Listen to him." Often, we still think that we know life better than they do. The children end up perceiving, convincing themselves that they do not have sufficient credit. To give credit is to trust that they will know how to interpret the future, to be proud of them, and to make them feel that trust.

7. Time together: the father is the guardian of "strong family times." Similar to the time Jesus dedicated to God the Father when he got up early in the morning and began to pray, the father must find time to devote to caring for the children and keeping the relationship alive. Strong family times are the Sunday meal, remembering to bless, with productive conversations, no cell phones, and no tension.

8. The Father has given all judgment to the Son (John 5:22). Children need to feel listened to. Excessive position-taking, arrogant assertions, and contradictory arguments get the opposite result. It does not mean that they are right, but they have some reasons that deserve to be heard.

9. The son needs to count on the respectful tenderness of his father (John 3:35). This balances justice, allowing children to be corrected firmly but without mortifying them.

Torreciudad: The Agony in the Garden. Fruit of the 1st Sorrowful Mystery: Sorrow for Sin. Accepting the will of God.

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May 10 Fri - God expects you to say "yes" to Him

 

May 10 Fri
God is waiting for you to say "yes" to Him. A few days ago, we read that God told the priest Ananias to go and heal Paul of Tarsus from his blindness. "Go, because this is the instrument I have chosen to bear my name to the Gentiles." And Ananias expressed his fear: "Lord, I have heard from many about this man…" He is very dangerous, a killer of Christians.

God entrusts him with a mission, and the first thing that occurs to him is to put obstacles in God's way, to think that the Lord lacks information, that he has to protect himself for his own good, lest he mess up with Saul, the persecutor of Christians.

How clumsy and slow we are when it comes to saying yes, when the Lord asks us to do something. Sometimes we feel the weight of so much hostility, of so many attacks on our faith, of so many victims of persecution throughout the world. But if it ever occurs to you, think that the moment of heaviness may be a response like Ananias': "Lord, there is nothing I can do about it."

You are right, you alone cannot do it. Neither can you and I together, unless the Spirit intervenes. But that initial doubt reminds me of Ananias' response, "What if we leave it for another day, Lord?"

So, doubts away! Like St. Paul with Ananias, God wishes us to learn His will through others.

St. Josemaría invites us to "look again at the example Christ gives us: He obeys Joseph and Mary. God has come to earth to obey, and to obey creatures. Admittedly, they are two very perfect creatures: Holy Mary, our mother, greater than whom only God; and that most chaste man Joseph. But they are only creatures, and yet Jesus, who is God, obeyed them. We have to love God so as to love His will and to desire to respond to His calls. They come to us through the duties of our ordinary life: duties of state, profession, work, family, social life, in our own and other people's difficulties, friendship, eagerness to do what is right and just."

"Our Lord does not disguise the fact that this wholehearted obedience to God's will calls for renunciation and self-sacrifice. Love does not claim rights, it seeks to serve."

So, you wanted to live a comfortable life? But God wanted otherwise. Two wills exist: your will should be corrected to become identified with God's will - you must not bend God's will to suit yours.

We may find ourselves in situations where it is difficult to obey. Let us remember then the glorious end of Christ's Passion. Let us also remember that God our Father is waiting for us to say "yes" to Him.

Obedience should always be cheerful, in simplicity of heart, as St. Paul says, because obedience means responding exactly to what God expects of us, and God only desires our good. Always!

Torreciudad: The Institution of the Eucharist. Fruit of the 5th Luminous Mystery: Adoration, He remains as our sustenance.

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May 9 Thu - Take the bread of Heaven and the chalice of salvation.

 

May 9 Thu
Take the bread of Heaven and the chalice of salvation.

"On the night he was betrayed, our Lord Jesus Christ took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples and said, 'Take, eat: this is my body.' He took the chalice, gave thanks, and said, 'Take, drink: this is my blood.'" Since Christ himself has declared the bread to be his body, who can have any further doubt? Since he himself has said quite categorically, "This is my blood," who would dare to question it and say that it is not his blood?

Therefore, it is with complete assurance that we receive the bread and wine as the body and blood of Christ. His body is given to us under the appearance of bread, and his blood is given to us under the appearance of wine, in order to make us, by receiving them, one body and blood with him. Having his body and blood in our body, we become bearers of Christ and sharers, as Saint Peter says, in the divine nature.

Once, when speaking to the Jews, Christ said, "Unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood, you shall have no life in you." This horrified them and they left him. Not understanding his words in a spiritual way, they thought the Savior was telling them to practice cannibalism.

Under the old covenant, there was showbread (the cakes or loaves of bread that were always present on a specially-dedicated table in the Temple in Jerusalem as an offering to God), but it came to an end together with the old testament. Under the new covenant, there is bread from heaven and the chalice of salvation. These sanctify both our soul and body; the bread corresponds to the sanctification of the body, the Word to the sanctification of the soul.

Do not, then, regard the Eucharistic elements as ordinary bread and wine; they are, in fact, the body and blood of the Lord, as he himself has declared. Whatever your senses may tell you, be strong in faith.

You have been taught, and you are firmly convinced, that what looks and tastes like bread and wine is not bread and wine, but the body and blood of Christ. You also know how David referred to this long ago when he sang, "Bread gives strength to man's heart and makes his face shine with the oil of gladness." Strengthen your heart, then, by receiving this bread as spiritual bread, and bring joy to the face of your soul.

May purity of conscience remove the veil from the face of your soul so that by contemplating the glory of the Lord, as in a mirror, you may be transformed from glory to glory in Christ Jesus our Lord. To him be glory forever and ever. Amen.From the Jerusalem Catecheses of St. Cyril, year 347 A.D.

Torreciudad: The Transfiguration. Fruit of the 4th Luminous Mystery: God and Man. Desire for Holiness.

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May 8 Wed - What should I do when temptations seem overwhelming?

 

May 8 Wed
What should I do when temptations seem overwhelming?

The Church asks us to focus on the two aspects of holiness: fully living the new life in Christ that began with our baptism, and resisting temptations that hinder us from experiencing that new life.

St. Paul describes the new life that we have in Christ and makes it clear what we must do to maintain that life within us: "Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry."

However, no matter how long we have been striving to follow Christ and not our own will, it can be challenging. Just when we think we have overcome one temptation, another one emerges.

The fact that we are not yet perfect, at least not as perfect as we believe we should be, can be frustrating. Moreover, it reveals that the sin of pride is still present.

So, what should we do? We must respond to God in all circumstances, even when we feel spiritually defeated.

Although we may feel like a lost cause, Scupoli advises, "You must consider yourself victorious as long as it does not seem that you have openly surrendered. It may seem as though we are defeated, but as long as we still know what is right and have a desire to do right, we should not lose heart and should begin again."

In such situations, we should strike a blow against the enemy and the passion, saying, 'Help me, Lord, save me, my God; Jesus, Mary, help me avoid surrendering to them.'" Often, this brief prayer will bring about deliverance from Christ swiftly. But what if it does not work immediately?

If you are calm enough to reflect on the matter with God, you should consider five points. First, you may have brought this temptation and its suffering upon yourself due to past sins. If so, "justice demands that you patiently endure the wound."

Second, you may not have brought this specific temptation upon yourself. However, perhaps it is a punishment that God has given you for something else. Remember, God's punishments are disciplinary measures intended to shape those whom He loves.

Third, if you believe your conscience is clear, recall that no one enters the kingdom of heaven except through the narrow door of struggle.

Fourth, remind yourself that the Son of God, along with all His saints and friends, entered glory by enduring thorns and crosses.

Fifth, always remember that when you are most tempted, God's love for you remains unwavering, and He "is indescribably pleased by every act of virtue and mortification that He sees you doing." The more difficult things are, the more you will bring pleasure to the Lord."

Temptation and the suffering it causes may appear overwhelming and even purposeless. However, they are neither. "I can do all things in him who strengthens me," St. Paul assures us. We may be weak, but God's power "is made perfect in weakness."

Torreciudad: Jesus’ Proclamation of the Kingdom of God. Fruit of the 3rd Luminous Mystery: Call to bring people closer to Jesus.

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May 7 Tue - The saints' unbreakable union with Jesus

 

May 7 Tue
The saints' unbreakable union with Jesus is exemplified by the remarkable account of martyrdom in the early Church involving two African mothers, Saints Perpetua and Felicity.

Perpetua and Felicity, who lived during the third century (c. 182[5] – c. 203), were Christian martyrs. Perpetua, a noblewoman who had recently been married, was well-educated and believed to be 22 years old at the time of her death. She was also a mother who was nursing her infant son. Felicity, a slave woman who was pregnant at the time, was imprisoned alongside Perpetua and was martyred with her. They, along with others, were put to death in Carthage, which was located in the Roman province of Africa.

Perpetua was accused of being a Christian and was confined in a dungeon with other Christians. Her father frequently visited her in jail, pleading with her to renounce her faith so that she could be released. He expressed how much he valued her above her siblings and how she was the light of his life. Despite her father's pleas, Perpetua was unwilling to renounce her Christian faith. She mourned the fact that her father and other family members could not share in her joy as she prepared to face martyrdom.

Felicity, too, refused to renounce her faith and was imprisoned in the same place as Perpetua. Since pregnant women were not allowed to be publicly tortured, Felicity -strong in her Faith- fervently prayed for the early birth of her child so that she could be martyred alongside the others. The other prisoners joined her in passionate prayers to God, asking for the safe delivery of her baby. Miraculously, their prayers were answered, and Felicity's sister took the child and raised her as her own daughter.

The soldier who guarded them was astonished by the holiness demonstrated by the Christian prisoners, including the two young mothers. He allowed many visitors to come and encourage them. On the day of their martyrdom, Perpetua, Felicity, and their companions entered the amphitheater with joyful expressions. Perpetua walked with the confidence of a bride of Christ, assured of God's love for her. Felicity rejoiced, considering the blood she was about to shed as a second cleansing, akin to the purification after childbirth and a second baptism. When Felicity was knocked down by a wild cow, Perpetua, in a very feminine manner, extended her hand and helped her pull down her skirt. Ultimately, both women were killed by wild beasts and the swords of their executioners. Perpetua even noticed fear in the eyes of her executioner, so she guided his sword to her neck, and the two young women received their eternal reward.

This account of the martyrdom of Perpetua and Felicity portrays the women willingly embracing their death, following the example of Christ, who willingly sacrificed himself on the cross for us. Just as Christ's death had purpose and efficacy, the early Church martyrs saw their own deaths as meritorious and considered it a privilege to walk in the footsteps of Christ.

Torreciudad: The Wedding at Cana. Fruit of the 2nd Luminous Mystery: To Jesus through Mary.

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May 6 Mon - How can I bring the light of Christ to a confused world?

 

May 6 Mon
Bringing the light of Christian doctrine to a confused world; St. Josemaría always urged us to carry out this task: "Do you see how science, art, agriculture and industry are being de-Christianized, along with the people who work in them? Do you see how the number of large families is decreasing? Don't you suffer when you encounter the sort of 'naturalistic' outlook which is incapable of understanding self-denial, hidden dedication or the evangelical virtues?"

Our Lord came to give life to all, and expects us to participate in his mission. We must go forth and bring sound doctrine to everyone because we are concerned about all souls. However, we must start with those whom God has placed by our side.

We must eliminate ignorance by sharing an abundance of revealed doctrine, the truth of Christ. The Christian apostolate, even for an ordinary Christian living among equals, involves the great work of teaching. Through genuine, personal, loyal friendship, we can instill a hunger for God in others, and help them discover new horizons. This should be done naturally and simply, by fully living our faith and speaking loving words filled with the power of divine truth.

We have been taught that regardless of the external forms our apostolates may take, they always aim to provide doctrine. We must teach doctrine at every opportunity, and create opportunities where none exist. We must passionately teach the truth of Christ and allow others to partake in the treasure we have received.

We should never fear the development of human knowledge because all intellectual efforts, if serious, are aimed at truth. Christ himself said, "I am the truth."

Christians should have a hunger for knowledge. Everything, from abstract knowledge to practical skills, can and should lead us to God. There is no human endeavor that cannot be sanctified, and serve as an opportunity for our own sanctification, and cooperation with God in the sanctification of the people we work with. The followers of Jesus Christ should not hide their light in a valley but place it on a mountain peak so that others may see their good works and give glory to their heavenly Father.

In addition to doctrinal formation, we also need the gift of tongues. However, this gift does not necessarily mean knowing multiple languages but rather knowing how to adapt to the capacities of our listeners.

It is not about simplifying the message for the masses, but about speaking words of wisdom in clear Christian language that everyone can understand.

Torreciudad: The Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan. Fruit of the 1st Luminous Mystery: Openness to the Holy Spirit, making use of his grace.

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May 5 Sun - We have been created for happiness, for Heaven

 

May 5 Sun
We have been created for Heaven. Our Lord promised his disciples that he would be with them forever. He said, "I will come again and take you to myself, so that where I am, you may be also."

The Apostles, who were saddened by Peter's predicted denials, found comfort in the hope of Heaven. The return that Our Lord is referring to includes his second coming at the end of the world, as well as the meeting with each soul when it leaves the body. Our death will be a meeting with Christ, whom we have tried to serve throughout our lifetime. He will bring us to the fullness of glory and our meeting with his Heavenly Father, who is also our Father. In Heaven, where a place has been prepared for us, Jesus awaits us. It is the same Jesus who is with us, who awaits us in prayer, and with whom we have often had intimate conversations.

"Our regular conversations with Our Lord give birth to the desire to be with him. Faith sweetens much of the bitterness of death. Our love for Jesus completely changes the meaning of that final moment that comes for everyone. Those in love try to see each other. People in love have eyes only for their beloved. That's logical, isn't it? The human heart feels this need. I would be lying if I denied my eagerness to contemplate the face of Jesus Christ. 'I will seek your countenance, O Lord'." (J. Escrivá)

"The thought of Heaven helps us detach from the things of this world and overcome difficult situations. We bring joy to God when we foster the theological virtue of hope, which is united with faith and love. There will be times when we will need it greatly. When tempted, think about the love waiting for you in Heaven. Foster the virtue of hope — this is not a lack of generosity." The same applies during moments of great sorrow and trial, and when it's very challenging to remain faithful or persevering in our work or apostolate. The reward is significant, and it's just around the corner, not far away.

Meditating on Heaven, our destination, should encourage us to be more generous in our daily struggle, because the hope of the reward comforts the soul and leads to good works.

Words are inadequate to describe our life in Heaven, the life that God has promised to his children. The Church reminds us that we will be with Christ and "we shall see God." It is in these promises and marvelous mysteries that our hope essentially lies. Our imagination may not be able to comprehend these heights, but our heart does so instinctively and completely.
Excerpts from In Conversation with God by F. Carvajal.

Torreciudad: The Finding of Jesus in the Temple. Fruit of the 5th Joyous Mystery: Seek God’s Wisdom and True Conversion, the Joy of Finding Jesus.

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May 4 Sat - Penguins and the Puzzle Palace

 

May 4 Sat
Penguins and the Puzzle Palace.
Life, by God's design, is a puzzle palace for us. Were Adam and Eve's parents monkeys? Did we all evolve together? Are there tribes that are part human and part ape? Do we have superior human races and genetically inferior tribes? The truth, wrapped in God's poetry, is more compelling than these theories wrapped in hypothetical scientific narratives. God creates. We don't know when or how. We are all one human race, with Jesus as our Divine King, who "did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" (Mt. 20:28).

The puzzles of nature help us understand God's mind. A living penguin may be more fascinating than its evolutionary story. The acclaimed 2005 nature documentary, "March of the Penguins," depicts the annual journey of penguins in Antarctica. In autumn, all breeding-age penguins leave the ocean and travel inland to their ancestral breeding grounds. There, they engage in courtship rituals that, if successful, result in the hatching of chicks. To ensure the survival of their offspring, penguin parents must make numerous treacherous trips between the ocean and the breeding grounds in search of food.

Penguins are monogamous. The female lays a single egg, and both parents must cooperate for the chick to survive. The male tends to the egg in extreme cold, while the female returns to the sea to gather extra food. As temperatures drop to -80 °F, the males huddle together and incubate the eggs. When the chicks hatch, the males feed them a small meal. There is a scene in the documentary where almost-starving chicks extract sustenance from the throat sacs of their fathers. The mothers return to feed and bond with their young. In spring, as the ice melts and the distance to the sea decreases, the penguins make their return journey, leaving their chicks behind to fend for themselves.

The penguin's story imparts many practical life lessons. They are monogamous, with distinct and complementary roles for both parents in providing for and protecting their young. Penguins risk their lives to care for their offspring. The entire drama is a lesson in both triumph and tragedy. Our own lives resemble this in many ways. These amusing creatures help us unravel the mystery of our existence.

The puzzles of nature inspire us to appreciate and rejoice in the glorious reality of God's creation. The puzzles of our faith inspire us to enrich our lives with the vision of our eternal salvation.
Excerpts from Fr. Jerry Pokorsky

Torreciudad: The Presentation of Jesus at the Temple. Fruit of the 4th Joyous Mystery: Obedience to God’s Will.

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May 3 Fri - The need for prayer of petition

 

May 3 Fri
The need for prayer of petition. The Church invites us to be filled with confidence. “Because we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also come to life with him."

However, the time has come to think about Jesus' final recommendation to his disciples when he left them. “Truly, truly, I say to you, if you ask anything of the Father, he will give it to you in my name. Hitherto you have asked nothing in my name; ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full."

We need to pray, lifting our hearts up to God. He is watching us from heaven. We should ask him for everything we need. The Lord is infinite wisdom; he knows exactly what we need in order to become saints and apostles. “Your heavenly Father knows that you need these things." And yet God wants to be begged. He wants to be coerced. He wants to be won over by a certain persistent begging ... Be persistent therefore, in prayer. Be timely in petition, and never cease asking.

Our Lord knows perfectly well what our needs are, yet he wants us to ask with the same persistence as the people in the Gospel: Lord, if you will, you can make me clean! Lord, that I may see! Ask the same way they did: they asked him for everything. I won't say that man's life should be spent in nothing but asking, for there are times when one sees the need to abandon oneself and one ceases to ask, but later on, one comes back to it.

There should be constancy in prayer of petition. Ask and it shall be given to you; seek and you shall find; knock and it shall be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it shall be opened. The only method is perseverance. Ask, ask, ask.

“If we each personally persevere in prayer, our Lord God will give us all the means we need in order to be effective in spreading his kingdom on earth.
Do you see how God favors those who persevere?
Knock, knock and it will be opened to you!"

St John Chrysostom writes: “If somebody tells me that he has requested once, twice, three times, ten times, twenty times, and still has not received anything, I will answer: do not stop, my brother, until you have received it. Petition ends with the reception of the gift. Stop when you have received it. Rather, do not stop even then, but persevere still. If you do not receive it, ask to receive it. And once you have received it, give thanks for it."

Let us turn to our Lady's intercession. “She is the teacher of prayer. See how she asks her Son at Cana. And how she insists, confidently, perseveringly... And how she succeeds. Learn from her."

Torreciudad: The Nativity. God becomes man to live and die for us. Fruit of the 3rd Joyous Mystery: Getting closer to Jesus. Detachment from material things of the world.

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May 2 Thu - Ten tips to get the most out of your participation in the Mass.

 

May 2 Thu
Ten tips to get the most out of your participation in the Mass.

1. Pray on the way to Mass. Whether you drive to a distant chapel or walk down the street to a cathedral, turn your attention to the coming celebration. Arrive five minutes before Mass.

2. Turn off your phone before entering the house of God.

3. Invoke the Holy Spirit to prepare you to participate in this amazing mystery.

4. Use your Missal, if you have one, the Mass app, or the missalette available in the church. By reading, or listening attentively, you can avoid distractions, following the prayers of the priest.

5. At the offertory, offer your loves, your worries, and your entire life, placing them beside the bread and wine being presented by the priest.

6. Pray with special care the Holy, Holy, Holy Lord…, united to the angels in adoring God. Live the Eucharistic Prayer feeling yourself to be part of the Church, the Mystical Body of Christ.

7. In consecration, do what you can to kneel before your Lord. Be united to the sacrifice of Jesus who is the only Victim. By doing so, you also offer to God the Father, through Christ, and with the Holy Spirit, all the sacrifices, sufferings, self‑denials, and troubles of each day.

8. Have the necessary preparation for Communion: you need –besides being in the state of grace– to have the right intention, and keep the Eucharistic fast.

(a) The eucharistic fast requires abstaining from eating and drinking, except water and medicine, for one hour before actual Communion time. The sick and the elderly, as well as those who take care of them, may receive Holy Communion even if they have taken something within the hour.

(b) Holy Communion may be received a second time on the same day when one attends Holy Mass again on that day, and when one receives the Blessed Sacrament as viaticum in danger of death.

9. Complete the Mass with an intense thanksgiving, devoting a few minutes to private prayer. In this way, your Mass will have a direct influence on your work, your family life, your dealings with others, and the manner you will spend the rest of your day. In short, the Mass should not be an isolated event of the day; rather, it should be the inspiration and the dynamo of all your actions.

10. Quietly leave the church to begin offering “your Mass” (that is, your family life, your work, and relaxation). You are now the priest of your Mass. Participate in each Mass as if it were your last. And remember to turn on your phone.

Torreciudad: The Visitation. Going to offer help. Fruit of the 2nd Joyous Mystery: Love of Neighbors.

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