Spent an hour in the Chapel with the Blessed Sacrament tonight. While reading my Magnificat there was a meditation by Sister Elvira: she asked what would we do without Jesus?....would we have hope, or joy, or forgiveness?
I meditated on this and thought, what would there be to hope in? Nothing. We would live our lives, doing whatever we wanted with no accountability. The natural law, the moral law, would not be written on our hearts. Well....maybe it would.
But go straight to joy. Joy is directly from God. Atheists don't talk about Joy. Only Christians speak about Joy.
Anyone can be happy. Happy is a worldly feeling.
So if Jesus was not in our lives.....we could still be happy. But what would we be happy about? Sensual pleasures, food, success, accomplishments, purchases, power, money, fame.
Here is the clincher:
Without Jesus we can only be happy because of those things.
With Jesus we learn we can be happy, even joyful, without those things.
Finally, forgiveness.
Who taught us to forgive, but God Himself.
Without Jesus, the Son of God, the world would be a nasty place because there would be no forgiveness.
What the world needs now, more than ever, is Jesus, the Son of God! Maranatha, come Lord Jesus.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
spiritual fitness
On this earthly journey, doing much spiritual reading, I am blessed to know my Guardian Angels name: Bruno.
Books by Sr. Emmanuel speak of our Guardian Angels as being very helpful. So each night as I hold a Rosary while I sleep, I petition my dear Bruno to pray the Rosary in my place. I make no intentions, knowing that God uses all prayers the way He wills.
Books by Sr. Emmanuel speak of our Guardian Angels as being very helpful. So each night as I hold a Rosary while I sleep, I petition my dear Bruno to pray the Rosary in my place. I make no intentions, knowing that God uses all prayers the way He wills.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
My wish list of virtues
God is amazing.............How He works in my soul. Ever since reading Gloria Polo's testimony I am constantly being reminded by me dear Bruno, my Guardian Angel, of virtue.
There are 3 virtues I really need.
I am vain. I want to be physically slim and fit and pleasant to look at. But I know that that kind of beauty is fading. What is the opposite of vain? Modesty? Humility?
Selflessness? Yes I want those, too.
Especially the humility.
Brian and I read the Litany of Humility and it is so beautiful.
O Jesus! meek and humble of heart, Hear me.
From the desire of being esteemed,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being loved...
From the desire of being extolled ...
From the desire of being honored ...
From the desire of being praised ...
From the desire of being preferred to others...
From the desire of being consulted ...
From the desire of being approved ...
From the fear of being humiliated ...
From the fear of being despised...
From the fear of suffering rebukes ...
From the fear of being calumniated ...
From the fear of being forgotten ...
From the fear of being ridiculed ...
From the fear of being wronged ...
From the fear of being suspected ...
That others may be loved more than I,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be esteemed more than I ...
That, in the opinion of the world,
others may increase and I may decrease ...
That others may be chosen and I set aside ...
That others may be praised and I unnoticed ...
That others may be preferred to me in everything...
That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should…
The last virtue I desperately need is being Clean of Heart, or Pure of Heart. I am so aware of my doublemindedness and I so dislike it.
Jesus, I desire to be truly modest, truly humble, and truly Pure of Heart.
There are 3 virtues I really need.
I am vain. I want to be physically slim and fit and pleasant to look at. But I know that that kind of beauty is fading. What is the opposite of vain? Modesty? Humility?
Selflessness? Yes I want those, too.
Especially the humility.
Brian and I read the Litany of Humility and it is so beautiful.
O Jesus! meek and humble of heart, Hear me.
From the desire of being esteemed,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being loved...
From the desire of being extolled ...
From the desire of being honored ...
From the desire of being praised ...
From the desire of being preferred to others...
From the desire of being consulted ...
From the desire of being approved ...
From the fear of being humiliated ...
From the fear of being despised...
From the fear of suffering rebukes ...
From the fear of being calumniated ...
From the fear of being forgotten ...
From the fear of being ridiculed ...
From the fear of being wronged ...
From the fear of being suspected ...
That others may be loved more than I,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be esteemed more than I ...
That, in the opinion of the world,
others may increase and I may decrease ...
That others may be chosen and I set aside ...
That others may be praised and I unnoticed ...
That others may be preferred to me in everything...
That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should…
The last virtue I desperately need is being Clean of Heart, or Pure of Heart. I am so aware of my doublemindedness and I so dislike it.
Jesus, I desire to be truly modest, truly humble, and truly Pure of Heart.
Monday, January 11, 2010
What have we done???
Since 1973 and the passage of Roe V. Wage, legalizing abortion on demand in the United States, and legalized abortion throughout the world, there have been about 50 million abortions each year. That comes to a very conservative 1.5 billion babies murdered.
This is roughly 5000 times the number of people who died in the Holocaust during World War 2.
Oh how God must grieve.
Last night as I read Gloria Polo's testimony, she said that every time there is an abortion, a demon is let loose from Hell. That means there are a very conservative 1.5 billion extra demons lurking around the earth, causing us to sin and forget God.
Sin in rampant. Especially in our youth.
O Lord, what have we done?
Jesus, your mercy is greater than our sin. Have mercy on us Lord!
This is roughly 5000 times the number of people who died in the Holocaust during World War 2.
Oh how God must grieve.
Last night as I read Gloria Polo's testimony, she said that every time there is an abortion, a demon is let loose from Hell. That means there are a very conservative 1.5 billion extra demons lurking around the earth, causing us to sin and forget God.
Sin in rampant. Especially in our youth.
O Lord, what have we done?
Jesus, your mercy is greater than our sin. Have mercy on us Lord!
Sunday, January 10, 2010
enlightenment
I just finished reading the testimony of a woman who was hit by lightening.
You can read it here at www.gloriapolo.in
She died and faced God and was judged harshly and condemned to hell. But for the prayer of 1 man who she did not know, God sent her back to tell her story as a warning for mankind. Now I know and must amend my life of all attachment to sin or I will face a stern and severe judgment as well.
Put this with 3 other very recent events, two of them also happening today and I think I am experiencing a wake up call.
The first situation occurred a couple of days ago as I read in the Our Sunday Visitor paper how much envy can be displayed in ones life. Got it.
The first situation today was a reading from Direction for our Times Volume 2, when Jesus says He suffers when people are unkind to us. I got to thinking: what about when I am the one causing the unkindness; that is hurting Jesus directly. Ouch!
The second situation today was reading about St. Gemma Galgani who enjoyed visits from her guardian angel. He would frown at her, and say "shame on you" when she did something wrong.
That is 4 times with in a short period that God is waking me up to my sin.
Thank you Jesus.
Jesus, I trust in you.
You can read it here at www.gloriapolo.in
She died and faced God and was judged harshly and condemned to hell. But for the prayer of 1 man who she did not know, God sent her back to tell her story as a warning for mankind. Now I know and must amend my life of all attachment to sin or I will face a stern and severe judgment as well.
Put this with 3 other very recent events, two of them also happening today and I think I am experiencing a wake up call.
The first situation occurred a couple of days ago as I read in the Our Sunday Visitor paper how much envy can be displayed in ones life. Got it.
The first situation today was a reading from Direction for our Times Volume 2, when Jesus says He suffers when people are unkind to us. I got to thinking: what about when I am the one causing the unkindness; that is hurting Jesus directly. Ouch!
The second situation today was reading about St. Gemma Galgani who enjoyed visits from her guardian angel. He would frown at her, and say "shame on you" when she did something wrong.
That is 4 times with in a short period that God is waking me up to my sin.
Thank you Jesus.
Jesus, I trust in you.
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Dependence of Jesus
Yesterday, Friday, was a wonderful day. My husband and I fast on bread and water, and I was given the courage to be strong while at Peet's Coffee & Tea with a girlfriend to not break the fast and have a much-longed-for hot tea. I also vaccumed the altar of our dear Lord, as part of the Altar Society of which I joined last year. I get to be so close to Jesus, it is wonderful.
Later that day, my husband and I worked in the yard, our favorite place to be. We prepared the following days meal together and danced in the kitchen. It was a delightful day.
We prayed the Angelus at noon, the Divine Mercy Chaplet at 3pm.
By now you should have the picture of a gracefilled day.
At 7pm I was called by my son down in Camp Pendleton. He asked me to call his girlfriend who was weeping. I did and offered to go visit her. She is 4 months pregnant with someone else's baby. So as I drove there, I prayed a Rosary asking for wisdom and strength to give God's grace to this girl.
She is not yet 17 but very pro-life. She will keep the baby. So I gave thanks to God and finished my Rosary on the way home.
Got home, cleaned the kitchen and swept the hard wood floors.
And then I fell apart.
Out of the blue, like an unanticipated strike, I fell.
I was overly tired and spent emotionally. I was not prepared. And the evil one took advantage of my weakness and attacked me.
It was all very simple and did not need to blow up bigger, but in my fatigue and kept it up. My husband said some stupid things and all of a sudden I did not want to be near him.
I slept at the edge of the bed and did not sleep well at all.
Come morning as I had to get ready to go to work, I did not want to talk to him or even see him.
Driving to work I asked the Lord, "What happened last night?" Our Saviour replied to the effect that I stopped depending on Him. This was amazing to me, because I did not even realize it. But sweetly He let me know that I need to depend on Him ALL THE TIME.
Phew!
We are still recovering from the bitterness of the wounds we inflicted on one another with our words.
Later that day, my husband and I worked in the yard, our favorite place to be. We prepared the following days meal together and danced in the kitchen. It was a delightful day.
We prayed the Angelus at noon, the Divine Mercy Chaplet at 3pm.
By now you should have the picture of a gracefilled day.
At 7pm I was called by my son down in Camp Pendleton. He asked me to call his girlfriend who was weeping. I did and offered to go visit her. She is 4 months pregnant with someone else's baby. So as I drove there, I prayed a Rosary asking for wisdom and strength to give God's grace to this girl.
She is not yet 17 but very pro-life. She will keep the baby. So I gave thanks to God and finished my Rosary on the way home.
Got home, cleaned the kitchen and swept the hard wood floors.
And then I fell apart.
Out of the blue, like an unanticipated strike, I fell.
I was overly tired and spent emotionally. I was not prepared. And the evil one took advantage of my weakness and attacked me.
It was all very simple and did not need to blow up bigger, but in my fatigue and kept it up. My husband said some stupid things and all of a sudden I did not want to be near him.
I slept at the edge of the bed and did not sleep well at all.
Come morning as I had to get ready to go to work, I did not want to talk to him or even see him.
Driving to work I asked the Lord, "What happened last night?" Our Saviour replied to the effect that I stopped depending on Him. This was amazing to me, because I did not even realize it. But sweetly He let me know that I need to depend on Him ALL THE TIME.
Phew!
We are still recovering from the bitterness of the wounds we inflicted on one another with our words.
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Why Their Hearts were Hardened
Wednesday's Gospel reading on Mark 6:45-52 recounts Jesus feeding the 5000 and then retreating to the mountain to pray. The Apostles went by boat across the Sea of Galilee and were greatly tossed by a storm....."He meant to pass by them" I am curious as to why Jesus wanted to pass by the frightened Apostles being battered by wind and waves. But onto the real point of discussion.
Jesus comforts them and says "Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!"
Jesus climbed into the boat and the wind died down. The Apostles were astounded. They had not understood the incident of the loaves. On the Contrary their hearts were hardened.
Why were their hearts hardened???????
I tossed this around in my own heart and head and discussed it with my husband. Why were their hearts hardened?
Was is the miracle of the multiplication of loaves and fishes?
Was it Jesus walking on the water?
Was it the calming of the storm?
I finally asked a 90 year old man who is a protestant minister. With confidence he replied that the human mind cannot comprehend the supernatural, so our instinctual, dare I say: natural response is to minimalize, trivialize, or disbelief the event.
This makes so much sense.
And I am relieved that it happened to the Apostles, because when it happens to me,
I won't be shocked.
I have just come out a short dry spell, aridity, lack of fervor for my Jesus. I hate it when it happens. But it does.
But the Christian soul keeps doing what it always does and returns to and keeps up the prayers it has been formed by.
Jesus exchanged my heart of stone, for a heart of flesh. And it feels so good to be alive again.
Jesus comforts them and says "Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid!"
Jesus climbed into the boat and the wind died down. The Apostles were astounded. They had not understood the incident of the loaves. On the Contrary their hearts were hardened.
Why were their hearts hardened???????
I tossed this around in my own heart and head and discussed it with my husband. Why were their hearts hardened?
Was is the miracle of the multiplication of loaves and fishes?
Was it Jesus walking on the water?
Was it the calming of the storm?
I finally asked a 90 year old man who is a protestant minister. With confidence he replied that the human mind cannot comprehend the supernatural, so our instinctual, dare I say: natural response is to minimalize, trivialize, or disbelief the event.
This makes so much sense.
And I am relieved that it happened to the Apostles, because when it happens to me,
I won't be shocked.
I have just come out a short dry spell, aridity, lack of fervor for my Jesus. I hate it when it happens. But it does.
But the Christian soul keeps doing what it always does and returns to and keeps up the prayers it has been formed by.
Jesus exchanged my heart of stone, for a heart of flesh. And it feels so good to be alive again.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)