"If you could always continue to be humble and little in your own eyes, and keep your spirit in due order and subjection, you would not fall so easily into danger and offense. It is good counsel that, when you have conceived the spirit of fervor, you should meditate how it will be when that light shall be withdrawn." These words from "The Imitation of Christ" are arguably the best advice one can give or receive. Cadel Evans of Australia clinched victory in the Tour De France today and the tears he shed in this awesome accomplishment showed just how humble a man he is. Cadel raced steady during the three weeks never in the lead until the end and although a favorite to win he showed up every day and raced with humility. So it is with total Consecration to Jesus through Mary. You show up every day and be humbled by God's grace, never feeling worthy of His love yet continuing on the journey as Mary did so many years ago. It is a walk of faith in which Thomas Merton would say, "I don't know if I do God's will but wanting to do His will is enough." God takes our humble efforts and perfects them beyond what we can understand. Ask the Blessed Mother in all humility to bring you to the throne of grace with all humility.
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Queen of All Hearts
We are already consecrated to the Lord through our baptism. At the moment of baptism we are born again and made new. For many this act that happened as an infant seems lost in our everyday lives. For St. Louis DeMontfort salvation is a daily struggle, the struggle to grow closer to Jesus. The Incarnation is God touching man but it is a two way interaction as man touched God for the first time in history. What better way to draw closer to Christ than through the very person who brought him into the world, his Blessed Mother!!! If you begin the preparation for consecration today (visit MyConsecration.org), the consecration will take place on the feast of the Queenship of Mary. The first consequence of this spiritual exercise is Mary's Queenship as St. Louis DeMontfort writes, "Mary is Queen of Heaven and earth by grace, as Jesus is the King of them by nature and by conquest. Now, as the kingdom of Jesus Christ consist principally in the heart or the interior of man - according to the words, "The kingdom of God is within you"(Lk 17:21) - in a like manner the kingdom of the Blessed Lady is principally in the interior of man; that is to say, his soul. And it is principally in souls that she is more glorified with her Son than in all visible creatures, and so we can call her, as the saints do, the Queen of All Hearts."
Saturday, July 16, 2011
It Has Been A Long Time
I do enjoy making and giving away rosaries. It is in a way an emptying of myself for others and I don't know why I do it and can't explain the full meaning it has to me. Some would say that it is the Holy Spirit working within me, again I don't know. What I can say is the fruits of the labor are evident. The last rosary give away has put me in contact with MyConsecration.org, whose mission is: "The My Consecration Apostolate was formed by an alliance of Catholic apostolates with a very strong devotion to our Blessed Mother and the Rosary. They share a common concern for the saving of souls and strengthening of the Catholic Church through the Total Consecration to Jesus Through Mary."please visit their web site as it contains (without cost) how to make your Consecration. It seems so fitting that I blog this today on my 49th birthday which is the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel my original Consecration. Since I have not renewed my consecration in many years it seams right that I go through the Consecration again starting July 20 and making my renewal Consecration on August 22 on the feast of The Queenship of Mary. I will share some of my thoughts along the 34 days and don't forget, IF YOU NEED A ROSARY PLEASE EMAIL ME AND I'LL SEND IT TO YOU FOR FREE!!!! Christ came to earth to touch man and opened the way for man to touch God. In our search it is comforting to remember that He seeks us first and it is our response that determines if we find Him, "If, then, we establish solid devotion to our Blessed Lady, it is only to establish more perfectly devotion to Jesus Christ, and to provide an easy secure means for finding Jesus Christ." St. Louis De Montfort
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
A Bronx Shout Out!!
Their has been a recent discussion on whether an openly homosexual couple's child should be allowed to attend a Catholic school outside of Boston. You can read Jimmy Akin's article here. I would like to share my thoughts by recognizing the tremendous job a group of evangelist do at the school where I teach math, Cardinal Spellman High School in the Bronx.
These dedicated people on any given day follow the gospel that was taught by Jesus and literally teach it to all the corners of the earth in this very diverse setting. More than half of their students are non-Catholic with many, (including Catholics) having no religious formation at all in their lives. Many come from broken homes or what can be called non-traditional family settings. They do not see why abortion, homosexual marriage, pre-marital sex, divorce, etc. are wrong either from a natural law or a gospel point of view. In general they swim in the deep end of relativism. In addition these dedicated professionals pass on Christ's message of salvation among peers who think religion class is not a true academic discipline, and that students who go on spiritual retreats are missing their class therefore these retreats are a waste of time. In general one could say these are close but different to the times that the Incarnation came to earth to teach of the Father's love for us.
The religion department is very close to my heart as they share in many of my personal beliefs. As Jesus instructed they bring all the children to Him. They teach the truth, which is difficult, as described in John chapter 6. They don't judge their students, and remain hopeful that they have planted a seed that God will nourish and bring all to the Kingdom. They realize that it is not their will but God's will in them. They are humble with a faith that can move mountains. They are strengthened by the Eucharist. The most remarkable thing, in an almost impossible situation, is their most enduring virtue; charity. Probably without knowing it I enjoy talking to one of the members of their department daily because despite all the negative things in a day the love of Christ shines through.
At the end of this academic year I offer this prayer to a group of evangelist that I admire:
May God the Father renew and strengthen your resolve.
May the light of God the Son continue to bring you and your students to friendship with the Father.
May God the Holy Spirit move you and strengthen your love so that you know that your efforts are not in vain but show a love for the Father.
Amen
These dedicated people on any given day follow the gospel that was taught by Jesus and literally teach it to all the corners of the earth in this very diverse setting. More than half of their students are non-Catholic with many, (including Catholics) having no religious formation at all in their lives. Many come from broken homes or what can be called non-traditional family settings. They do not see why abortion, homosexual marriage, pre-marital sex, divorce, etc. are wrong either from a natural law or a gospel point of view. In general they swim in the deep end of relativism. In addition these dedicated professionals pass on Christ's message of salvation among peers who think religion class is not a true academic discipline, and that students who go on spiritual retreats are missing their class therefore these retreats are a waste of time. In general one could say these are close but different to the times that the Incarnation came to earth to teach of the Father's love for us.
The religion department is very close to my heart as they share in many of my personal beliefs. As Jesus instructed they bring all the children to Him. They teach the truth, which is difficult, as described in John chapter 6. They don't judge their students, and remain hopeful that they have planted a seed that God will nourish and bring all to the Kingdom. They realize that it is not their will but God's will in them. They are humble with a faith that can move mountains. They are strengthened by the Eucharist. The most remarkable thing, in an almost impossible situation, is their most enduring virtue; charity. Probably without knowing it I enjoy talking to one of the members of their department daily because despite all the negative things in a day the love of Christ shines through.
At the end of this academic year I offer this prayer to a group of evangelist that I admire:
May God the Father renew and strengthen your resolve.
May the light of God the Son continue to bring you and your students to friendship with the Father.
May God the Holy Spirit move you and strengthen your love so that you know that your efforts are not in vain but show a love for the Father.
Amen
Thursday, May 13, 2010
A Trinitarian Time
I can only imagine the ups and downs of Jesus' disciples during the first Easter season. They were up during Jesus' public ministry and down when he was crucified. They were elated at His Resurrection and those precious times when He spoke, ate, and traveled with them. This led to the events we remember today His ascension. I can't help but think that as they watched Jesus disappear into the clouds a "here we go again" thought must have passed their minds, but this time is different, they were strengthened because Jesus had delivered on His Resurrection promise. They needed to believe, as they gathered in prayer, that the Holy Spirit would come to them and they could begin to bring the gospel message to all the nations.
As we wait with the disciples for Pentecost Sunday and reflect on these Easter events we can truly see a trinitarian connection. Jesus' resurrection is God's triumph over sin and death. His ascension to be the Father is where Jesus remains now until He comes again in His glory. He intercedes to the Father on our behalf. The third part of this trinitarian time is going to happen at Pentecost when the Father and Son will pour out their Spirit, a Spirit of love, a Spirit of strength that allows us in our most imperfect way to follow the Son in doing the Father's will.
This mystery of the Trinity is reflected in the mission of the Church as the Dogmatic Constitution of the Church states:
4. When the work which the Father gave the Son to do on earth was accomplished, the Holy Spirit was sent on the day of Pentecost in order that He might continually sanctify the Church, and thus, all those who believe would have access through Christ in one Spirit to the Father. He is the Spirit of Life, a fountain of water springing up to life eternal. To men, dead in sin, the Father gives life through Him, until, in Christ, He brings to life their mortal bodies. The Spirit dwells in the Church and in the hearts of the faithful, as in a temple. In them He prays on their behalf and bears witness to the fact that they are adopted sons. The Church, which the Spirit guides in way of all truth and which He unified in communion and in works of ministry, He both equips and directs with hierarchical and charismatic gifts and adorns with His fruits. By the power of the Gospel He makes the Church keep the freshness of youth. Uninterruptedly He renews it and leads it to perfect union with its Spouse. The Spirit and the Bride both say to Jesus, the Lord, "Come!"
Thus, the Church has been seen as "a people made one with the unity of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit." Lumen Gentium
We must remember some of the names of the faithful that make us part of the mystery of the Trinity. We are a people of God, The Body of Christ, and Temples of the Holy Spirit; as Richard P. McBrien points out in "The Church, The Evolution of Catholicism"
As we wait with the disciples for Pentecost Sunday and reflect on these Easter events we can truly see a trinitarian connection. Jesus' resurrection is God's triumph over sin and death. His ascension to be the Father is where Jesus remains now until He comes again in His glory. He intercedes to the Father on our behalf. The third part of this trinitarian time is going to happen at Pentecost when the Father and Son will pour out their Spirit, a Spirit of love, a Spirit of strength that allows us in our most imperfect way to follow the Son in doing the Father's will.
This mystery of the Trinity is reflected in the mission of the Church as the Dogmatic Constitution of the Church states:
4. When the work which the Father gave the Son to do on earth was accomplished, the Holy Spirit was sent on the day of Pentecost in order that He might continually sanctify the Church, and thus, all those who believe would have access through Christ in one Spirit to the Father. He is the Spirit of Life, a fountain of water springing up to life eternal. To men, dead in sin, the Father gives life through Him, until, in Christ, He brings to life their mortal bodies. The Spirit dwells in the Church and in the hearts of the faithful, as in a temple. In them He prays on their behalf and bears witness to the fact that they are adopted sons. The Church, which the Spirit guides in way of all truth and which He unified in communion and in works of ministry, He both equips and directs with hierarchical and charismatic gifts and adorns with His fruits. By the power of the Gospel He makes the Church keep the freshness of youth. Uninterruptedly He renews it and leads it to perfect union with its Spouse. The Spirit and the Bride both say to Jesus, the Lord, "Come!"
Thus, the Church has been seen as "a people made one with the unity of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit." Lumen Gentium
We must remember some of the names of the faithful that make us part of the mystery of the Trinity. We are a people of God, The Body of Christ, and Temples of the Holy Spirit; as Richard P. McBrien points out in "The Church, The Evolution of Catholicism"
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
"Terri's Day" In Our Hearts and Prayers
Fr. Frank Pavone:
Terri responded to me and others around her. She smiled and laughed when her father kissed her and his mustache tickled her face. When her mother asked her a question, I heard her trying to say something. She was not able to speak words, but she returned her mom’s kiss.
When I told her I wanted to pray with her and give her a blessing, she closed her eyes and, at the end of the prayer, opened them again. She was not a “vegetable.” She was a living person who was being starved to death. This was murder. March 31 Is Terri's Day By: Father Frank Pavone
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
