Mary's May Crowning

Here's a link to The Great Adventure series of (short!) articles on Mary, for your meditation during the month of May.  There are eight.  Maybe try reading and praying on two per week!  Enjoy! 


http://biblestudyforcatholics.com/category/mary/

Spiritual Life is a Journey

"Denigrating the 'before' is common in the spiritual life.  After a conversion experience, one is tempted to set aside, downplay, or reject one's past.  In Thomas Merton's biography The Seven Storey Mountain, the former dissolute student turned Trappist monk largely characterizes his former life as bad, and his life in the monastery as good.  Of the 'old' Thomas Merton, he said ruefully, 'I can't get rid of him.'

"In time, Merton would realize how misguided a quest that is: there is no post-conversion person and pre-conversion person.  There is one person in a variety of times, the past informing and forming the present.  God is at work at all times."

(Jesus: A Pilgrimage, by James Martin, S.J.)

High Five for Mass

At our church, when the offertory gifts are brought up, the deacon receives them at the foot of the steps to the altar.   Usually, he raises both hands similar to an orans posture, but with his palms facing the family, and invokes God's blessing upon the family who brought up the gifts.  He then accepts the gifts and passes them on to an altar server.

But, last week was different.

When our (rather short in stature) deacon raised his hands to bless the family, the little girl at the front of the group -- she couldn't have been more than six years old -- broke into a grin, jumped up in the air, and enthusiastically slapped the deacon a high five.

God bless the deacon, he just smiled and kept praying.

Wow.

Awesome!

I'd never seen that.  A child who was SO utterly excited to be participating in Mass that she simply burst with joy and high five'd the minister of God at the altar.

Superb!

Thankfully, my first and most humbling thought was, "Wow.  Shouldn't we all be THAT thrilled to be here!?"

I take the faith formation of my children very, very seriously.  So, it sometimes is equally distressing to me to see an ostensibly Catholic child be oblivious of how to participate correctly in his or her faith, especially the Mass.

But, last week was different.

Last week, this exuberant kid taught me that sometimes you bend rules and leap for joy because... because... because God loves you!  And because you're here.  And because He lets you approach His altar with your humble gifts, often enough just the gift of your lil' ole self.

Wow.

Awesome!

Shouldn't we all be THAT excited to be there!?

Divine Mercy Novena - Ninth Day

Intention: Today bring to Me SOULS WHO HAVE BECOME LUKEWARM, and immerse them in the abyss of My mercy. These souls wound My Heart most painfully. My soul suffered the most dreadful loathing in the Garden of Olives because of lukewarm souls. They were the reason I cried out: ‘Father, take this cup away from Me, if it be Your will.’ For them, the last hope of salvation is to run to My mercy.

Novena Prayers: Most compassionate Jesus, You are Compassion Itself. I bring lukewarm souls into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart. In this fire of Your pure love, let these tepid souls, who, like corpses, filled You with such deep loathing, be once again set aflame. O Most Compassionate Jesus, exercise the omnipotence of Your mercy and draw them into the very ardor of Your love, and bestow upon them the gift of holy love, for nothing is beyond Your power.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon lukewarm souls who are nonetheless enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. Father of Mercy, I beg You by the bitter Passion of Your Son and by His three-hour agony on the Cross: Let them, too, glorify the abyss of Your mercy.  Amen.

Divine Mercy Novena - Eighth Day

Intention: Today bring to Me THE SOULS WHO ARE DETAINED IN PURGATORY, and immerse them in the abyss of My mercy. Let the torrents of My Blood cool down their scorching flames. All these souls are greatly loved by Me. They are making retribution to My justice. It is in your power to bring them relief. Draw all the indulgences from the treasury of My Church and offer them on their behalf. Oh, if you only knew the torments they suffer, you would continually offer for them the alms of the spirit and pay off their debt to My justice.

Novena Prayers: Most Merciful Jesus, You Yourself have said that You desire mercy; so I bring into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls in Purgatory, souls who are very dear to You, and yet, who must make retribution to Your justice. May the streams of Blood and Water which gushed forth from Your Heart put out the flames of Purgatory, that there, too, the power of Your mercy may be celebrated.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls suffering in Purgatory, who are enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. I beg You, by the sorrowful Passion of Jesus Your Son, and by all the bitterness with which His most sacred Soul was flooded: Manifest Your mercy to the souls who are under Your just scrutiny. Look upon them in no other way but only through the Wounds of Jesus, Your dearly beloved Son; for we firmly believe that there is no limit to Your goodness and compassion.  Amen.

Divine Mercy Novena - Seventh Day

Intention: Today bring to Me THE SOULS WHO ESPECIALLY VENERATE AND GLORIFY MY MERCY, and immerse them in My mercy. These souls sorrowed most over my Passion and entered most deeply into My spirit. They are living images of My Compassionate Heart. These souls will shine with a special brightness in the next life. Not one of them will go into the fire of hell. I shall particularly defend each one of them at the hour of death.

Novena Prayers: Most Merciful Jesus, whose Heart is Love Itself, receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of those who particularly extol and venerate the greatness of Your mercy. These souls are mighty with the very power of God Himself. In the midst of all afflictions and adversities they go forward, confident of Your mercy; and united to You, O Jesus, they carry all mankind on their shoulders. These souls will not be judged severely, but Your mercy will embrace them as they depart from this life.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls who glorify and venerate Your greatest attribute, that of Your fathomless mercy, and who are enclosed in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. These souls are a living Gospel; their hands are full of deeds of mercy, and their hearts, overflowing with joy, sing a canticle of mercy to You, O Most High! I beg You O God:

Show them Your mercy according to the hope and trust they have placed in You. Let there be accomplished in them the promise of Jesus, who said to them that during their life, but especially at the hour of death, the souls who will venerate this fathomless mercy of His, He, Himself, will defend as His glory.  Amen.

Phonics

It's not rocket science and I'm sure I'm not the first to use it, but here's a helpful little hint we just utilized for one of our homeschool student's phonics work.

To target the student's attention on the exact line on which we were working, I quickly snipped out of a simple 8.5"x11", plain, white sheet of paper a "window" that covered the entire page except for the item at hand.

Ta-da!  Instant clarity of focus!  Our student's performance thereafter for this assignment improved dramatically.

Please feel free to steal this idea!  :-)

Divine Mercy Novena - Sixth Day

Intention: Today bring to Me THE MEEK AND HUMBLE SOULS AND THE SOULS OF LITTLE CHILDREN, and immerse them in My mercy. These souls most closely resemble My Heart. They strengthened Me during My bitter agony. I saw them as earthly Angels, who will keep vigil at My altars. I pour out upon them whole torrents of grace. Only the humble soul is capable of receiving My grace. I favor humble souls with My confidence.

Novena Prayers: Most Merciful Jesus, You yourself have said, “Learn from Me for I am meek and humble of heart.” Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart all meek and humble souls and the souls of little children. These souls send all heaven into ecstasy and they are the heavenly Father’s favorites. They are a sweet-smelling bouquet before the throne of God; God Himself takes delight in their fragrance. These souls have a permanent abode in Your Most Compassionate Heart, O Jesus, and they unceasingly sing out a hymn of love and mercy.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon meek souls, upon humble souls, and upon little children who are enfolded in the abode which is the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. These souls bear the closest resemblance to Your Son. Their fragrance rises from the earth and reaches Your very throne. Father of mercy and of all goodness, I beg You by the love You bear these souls and by the delight You take in them: Bless the whole world, that all souls together may sing out the praises of Your mercy for endless ages.  Amen.

Mother Angelica

Mother Mary Angelica of the Annunciation
Foundress of the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration
and the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN)
b. 20 April 1923 - d. 27 March 2016

Mother Angelica died on Easter Sunday.  Her work on Earth will have a ripple effect for Jesus for generations to come.  Here is a moving article by Father Joseph Wolfe, who was with her at the last:

Mother Angelica's Last Days

Another excellent commentary and lesson for us all comes from Jeff Cavins, a Catholic convert and founder of The Great Adventure Bible Study.

"I learned from Mother that all the glory goes to Jesus. She told me one time that if anyone says anything good about you or praises you, point them to Jesus right away. I saw her do this time after time and I have tried to imitate her in this practice.

"A lesson we can all learn from Mother [Angelica] is that God can do amazing things with the five loaves and two fish that we have. She didn’t have much when it comes to TV experience, but what she had, she gave to Jesus and He did amazing things with it. Every time I hear the story of the feeding of the five thousand, I think of Mother Angelica and the five loaves and two fish that she gave Jesus. If you have been blessed by EWTN, then you have benefited from her gift to the Lord." (Jeff Cavins)

I think that's going to be my goal from now on.  To see myself as the child who trustingly handed over to Jesus his simple lunch of five loaves and two fish.  Because remember, He made us.  God made us.  Jesus.  God.  He made us to know, love, and serve Him in this world and be happy with Him forever in Heaven.

He also made our five loaves and the two fish.  Everything we have and everything we are was made by Him, comes from Him, is through Him, by His grace.

Thanks to Jeff Cavins' remarks, thanks to Mother Angelica's life, I'm going (to try!) to remember more often in the future to hand everything I have, am, do, or am struggling with over to Jesus.

Not with reservations ("Um, but Jesus, is that going to be enough to feed everyone?").

Not with stipulations ("Um, but Jesus, are you sure you know how to gut 'n cook fish just right?").

Not with instructions ("Um, but Jesus, why don't we just send James and John over to the market for some more sandwiches?")

Not with questions ("Um, but Jesus, are you sure you want all these people to sit down and stay?  Here?  With us?  Expecting to be fed!?")

Nike had the right idea.

Just Do It.

Stop telling the Lord how to manage your things or how your life oughta be and just let Him drive your life.  He even says so explicitly in the Bible:

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life .... Can any of you by worrying add a moment to your life-span? .... If God so clothes the grass in the field that grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith? .... Instead, seek His kingdom, and these other things will be given you besides."  (from Luke 12:22-31)



(....really, just go and read ALL of Luke Chapter 12.  Would you believe that chapter just randomly leapt out at me during my Bible reading in Adoration today!?  No, seriously!  Really!  It did!  Isn't that great!?)

Mother Angelica's life, above all, was dedicated to the fervent belief that God made YOU and wants YOU -- every, single, one of you! -- to know, love, and serve Him in this world and to be happy with Him forever in Heaven.

Just ask her!  She's already there.  And as she spent her life, now she's pullin' for YOU from Heaven, too.  "Rest In Peace" is real nice 'n all, but let's keep Mother Angelica busy with our petitions.  I think she'd be rather glad to hear them.  And immediately point us to Jesus!

Vive Jesu!

Divine Mercy Novena - Fifth Day

Intention:  Today bring to Me THE SOULS OF THOSE WHO HAVE SEPARATED THEMSELVES FROM MY CHURCH, and immerse them in the ocean of My mercy. During My bitter Passion they tore at My Body and Heart, that is, My Church. As they return to unity with the Church, My wounds heal and in this way they alleviate My Passion.

Novena Prayers: Most Merciful Jesus, Goodness Itself, You do not refuse light to those who seek it of You. Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of those who have separated themselves from Your Church. Draw them by Your light into the unity of the Church, and do not let them escape from the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart; but bring it about that they, too, come to glorify the generosity of Your mercy.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls of those who have separated themselves from Your Son’s Church, who have squandered Your blessings and misused Your graces by obstinately persisting in their errors. Do not look upon their errors, but upon the love of Your own Son and upon His bitter Passion, which He underwent for their sake, since they, too, are enclosed in His Most Compassionate Heart. Bring it about that they also may glorify Your great mercy for endless ages.  Amen.

Divine Mercy Novena - Fourth Day

Intention: Today bring to Me THOSE WHO DO NOT BELIEVE IN GOD AND THOSE WHO DO NOT YET KNOW ME. I was thinking also of them during My bitter Passion, and their future zeal comforted My Heart. Immerse them in the ocean of My mercy.

Novena Prayers: Most compassionate Jesus, You are the Light of the whole world. Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of those who do not believe in God and of those who as yet do not know You. Let the rays of Your grace enlighten them that they, too, together with us, may extol Your wonderful mercy; and do not let them escape from the abode which is Your Most Compassionate Heart.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls of those who do not believe in You, and of those who as yet do not know You, but who are enclosed in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. Draw them to the light of the Gospel. These souls do not know what great happiness it is to love You. Grant that they, too, may extol the generosity of Your mercy for endless ages.  Amen.

Divine Mercy Novena - Third Day

Intention: Today bring to Me ALL DEVOUT AND FAITHFUL SOULS, and immerse them in the ocean of My mercy. The souls brought Me consolation on the Way of the Cross. They were that drop of consolation in the midst of an ocean of bitterness.

Novena Prayers: Most Merciful Jesus, from the treasury of Your mercy, You impart Your graces in great abundance to each and all. Receive us into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart and never let us escape from It. We beg this grace of You by that most wonderous love for the heavenly Father with which Your Heart burns so fiercely.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon faithful souls, as upon the inheritance of Your Son. For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, grant them Your blessing and surround them with Your constant protection. Thus may they never fail in love or lose the treasure of the holy faith, but rather, with all the hosts of Angels and Saints, may they glorify Your boundless mercy for endless ages.  Amen.

Divine Mercy Novena - Second Day

Intention: Today bring to Me THE SOULS OF PRIESTS AND RELIGIOUS, and immerse them in My unfathomable mercy. It was they who gave Me strength to endure My bitter Passion. Through them as through channels My mercy flows out upon mankind.

Novena Prayers: Most Merciful Jesus, from whom comes all that is good, increase Your grace in men and women consecrated to Your service, that they may perform worthy works of mercy; and that all who see them may glorify the Father of Mercy who is in heaven.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the company of chosen ones in Your vineyard–upon the souls of priests and religious; and endow them with the strength of Your blessing. For the love of the Heart of Your Son in which they are enfolded, impart to them Your power and light, that they may be able to guide others in the way of salvation and with one voice sing praise to Your boundless mercy for ages without end.  Amen.

Divine Mercy Novena

The Divine Mercy Novena begins today, Good Friday!  The Novena was written in the diary of a Polish nun, St. Maria Faustina Kowalska, according to specific instructions from Jesus Himself during private revelations to her.  St. Faustina recorded in her diary that she transcribed the words as Jesus Himself dictated them to her, day by day.

You may pray the Divine Mercy Novena for any reason. God’s Mercy is relevant and effective in all parts of our lives, particularly so during this Year of Mercy.  Some specific reasons to pray the novena might include prayers for the dead or dying, for forgiveness and mercy, for conversion or healing, for a specific country or locality, or simply in preparation for Divine Mercy Sunday.

The feast of Divine Mercy Sunday was instituted by St. Pope John Paul II the Great and is the Sunday immediately following Easter.  The Novena concludes on the eve of the feast.  Per St. Faustina:

“The Lord told me to say this chaplet for nine days before the Feast of Mercy. It is to begin on Good Friday. ‘By this novena, I will grant every possible grace to souls.'” (Diary 796)

So, let us join together and beg for Jesus' Divine Mercy together through this novena, specifically from Him, through the diary of St. Maria Faustina Kowalska!  Jesus, I trust in You!

_____________________________________

DIVINE MERCY NOVENA - FIRST DAY

Intention: Today bring to Me ALL MANKIND, ESPECIALLY ALL SINNERS, and immerse them in the ocean of My mercy. In this way you will console Me in the bitter grief into which the loss of souls plunges Me.

Novena Prayers: Most Merciful Jesus, whose very nature it is to have compassion on us and to forgive us, do not look upon our sins but upon our trust which we place in Your infinite goodness. Receive us all into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart, and never let us escape from It. We beg this of You by Your love which unites You to the Father and the Holy Spirit.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon all mankind and especially upon poor sinners, all enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. For the sake of His sorrowful Passion show us Your mercy, that we may praise the omnipotence of Your mercy for ever and ever.  Amen.

(The Divine Mercy Novena Prayers are from The Diary of St. Maria Faustina Kowalska: Divine  Mercy  in My Soul © 1987 Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception, Stockbridge, MA 01263)

The Historical Jesus

As we celebrate the remembrance of The Last Supper and Christ's passion, death, and resurrection during the Easter Triduum, I wanted to share with you this good (brief!) article about the Bible as an accurate historical source on the life of Jesus and our Catholic beliefs and traditions, which date from the earliest times of Christianity.

(....okay.  Admittedly, I probably also was inspired to share it thanks to the Jehovah's Witnesses who were kind enough to appear on my front porch today.  I hope I didn't scare them too much...)

Here's the link:

http://biblestudyforcatholics.com/reasons-confident-historical-jesus/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=reasons-confident-historical-jesus&utm_source=The+Great+Adventure&utm_campaign=125984f4a3-RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f7c841a160-125984f4a3-350637321&mc_cid=125984f4a3&mc_eid=03f1b1fb95#disqus_thread

May the conclusion of Lent bring you humble blessings, the Triduum bring you closer to Jesus in His suffering, and the Easter season bring you the hope and joy of His having died and risen....for YOU!