The Magnificat

"He pours contempt upon princess, makes them wander in trackless wastes. They diminish, are reduced to nothing by oppression, evil and sorrow. but he raises the needy from distress, makes family as numerous as a flock. The upright sees it and rejoices but all who do wrong are silenced. Whoever is wise, let him he'd these things and consider the love of the Lord."
(Psalm  107:40-43)

"Whoever is wise...consider the love of the Lord..."

After reading the verses above, it struck me that if you believe you have all you need: power, honor, glory and riches according to the world, you have nothing because you are relying on yourself and not God.

Since there is no room in your heart to receive Him because "self" is all consuming, then you are nothing and oppression, evil and sorrow will be your company.

Whereas if you recognize the poverty of your spirit and your need to rely on God's love instead of the love of self, he will rejoice when God's saving love rules in your heart.

Let your heart be prepared for the coming of Our Lord the son of the most high during these final days of Advent.

This commentary gave great insight for further contemplation for me. I pray it will help your heart's preparation for the coming of our Lord too!

From a commentary on Luke by Venerable Bede, priest
(Lib 1, 46-55: CCL 120, 37-39)

The Magnificat

Mary said: My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.

The Lord has exalted me by a gift so great, so unheard of, that language is useless to describe it, and the depths of love in my heart can scarcely grasp it. I offer then all the powers of my soul in praise and thanksgiving. As I contemplate his greatness, which knows no limits, I joyfully surrender my whole life, my senses, my judgment, for my spirit rejoices in the eternal Godhead of that Jesus, that Savior, whom I have conceived in this world of time.

The Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.

Mary looks back to the beginning of her song, where she said: My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord. Only that soul for whom the Lord in his love does great things can proclaim his greatness with fitting praise and encourage those who share her desire and purpose, saying: Join with me in proclaiming the greatness of the Lord; let us extol his name together.

Those who know the Lord, yet refuse to proclaim his greatness and sanctify his name to the limit of their power, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. His name is called holy because in the sublimity of his unique power he surpasses every creature and is far removed from all that he had made.

He has come to the help of his servant Israel for he has remembered his promise of mercy. In a beautiful phrase Mary calls Israel the servant of the Lord. The Lord came to his aid to save him. Israel is an obedient and humble servant, in the words of Hosea: Israel was a servant, and I loved him.

Those who refuse to be humble cannot be saved. They cannot say with the prophet: See, God comes to my aid; the Lord is the helper of my soul. But anyone who makes himself humble like a little child is greater in the kingdom of heaven.

The promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children for ever.

This does not refer to the physical descendants of Abraham, but to his spiritual children. These are his descendants, sprung not from the flesh only, but who, whether circumcised or not, have followed him in faith. Circumcised as he was, Abraham believed, and this was credited to him as an act of righteousness.

The coming of the Savior was promised to Abraham and to his descendants for ever. These are the children of promise, to whom it is said: If you belong to Christ, then you are descendants of Abraham, heirs in accordance with the promise.

May the love of God wash over you this day that you may believe.

God Bless,
Sarah

The Visitation

Today I was meditating on the Visitation when Mary hastens to visit Elizabeth. With a story so familiar it is easy to skim the text in Luke and not really enter contemplation. I had not actually stopped to think about the Holy Spiti's active role in this encounter. Once I read the following commentary by Saint Ambrose I was convicted by the Spirit to hasten this morning to confession before Advent is over so that my heart may be ready to receive Our Lord.

My prayer is that this commentary may hasten your heart to prepare for the coming of Our Lord as well.

From a commentary on Luke by Saint Ambrose, bishop
(Lib 2, 19.22-23, 26-27: CCL 14, 39-42)

Mary visits Elizabeth

When the angel revealed his message to the Virgin Mary he gave her a sign to win her trust. He told her of the motherhood of an old and barren woman to show that God is able to do all that he wills.

When she hears this Mary sets out for the hill country. She does not disbelieve God’s word; she feels no uncertainty over the message or doubt about the sign. She goes eager in purpose, dutiful in conscience, hastening for joy.

Filled with God, where would she hasten but to the heights? The Holy Spirit does not proceed by slow, laborious efforts. Quickly, too, the blessings of her coming and the Lord’s presence are made clear: as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting the child leapt in her womb, and she was filled with the Holy Spirit.

Notice the contrast and the choice of words. Elizabeth is the first to hear Mary’s voice, but John is the first to be aware of grace. She hears with the ears of the body, but he leaps for joy at the meaning of the mystery. She is aware of Mary’s presence, but he is aware of the Lord’s: a woman aware of a woman’s presence, the forerunner aware of the pledge of our salvation. The women speak of the grace they have received while the children are active in secret, unfolding the mystery of love with the help of their mothers, who prophesy by the spirit of their sons.

The child leaps in the womb; the mother is filled with the Holy Spirit, he fills his mother with the same Spirit. John leaps for joy, and the spirit of Mary rejoices in her turn. When John leaps for joy Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit, but we know that though Mary’s spirit rejoices she does not need to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Her son, who is beyond our understanding, is active in his mother in a way beyond our understanding. Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit after conceiving John, while Mary is filled with the Holy Spirit before conceiving the Lord. Elizabeth says: Blessed are you because you have believed.

You also are blessed because you have heard and believed. A soul that believes both conceives and brings forth the Word of God and acknowledges his works.

Let Mary’s soul be in each of you to proclaim the greatness of the Lord. Let her spirit be in each to rejoice in the Lord. Christ has only one mother in the flesh, but we all bring forth Christ in faith. Every soul receives the Word of God if only it keeps chaste, remaining pure and free from sin, its modesty undefiled. The soul that succeeds in this proclaims the greatness of the Lord, just as Mary’s soul magnified the Lord and her spirit rejoiced in God her Savior. In another place we read: Magnify the Lord with me. The Lord is magnified, not because the human voice can add anything to God but because he is magnified within us. Christ is the image of God, and if the soul does what is right and holy, it magnifies that image of God, in whose likeness it was created and, in magnifying the image of God, the soul has a share in its greatness and is exalted.

May the love of God wash over you this Advent season so that you may believe.

God Bless,
Sarah

All Saints Day!

Growing up Pentecostal, the idea of asking the saints to interceed for me to the Lord our God was a foreign concept. Only recently am I learning to get to know some of them and ask them for intercession. 

And why not?! 

sk friends, family and fellow parishioners of my church to pray for me when I am struggling, or thankful. The idea that there are people who were like you and me up in heaven, in the presence of our King who can interceed for us is amazing! 

So, today on the solemnity of all saints, let's ask for their intercession. Let's thank them for the example of holiness they have left us.

From a sermon by Saint Bernard, abbot

Let us make haste to our brethren who are awaiting us

Why should our praise and glorification, or even the celebration of this feast day mean anything to the saints? What do they care about earthly honors when their heavenly Father honors them by fulfilling the faithful promise of the Son? What does our commendation mean to them? The saints have no need of honor from us; neither does our devotion add the slightest thing to what is theirs. Clearly, if we venerate their memory, it serves us, not them. But I tell you, when I think of them, I feel myself inflamed by a tremendous yearning. 

Calling the saints to mind inspires, or rather arouses in us, above all else, a longing to enjoy their company, so desirable in itself. We long to share in the citizenship of heaven, to dwell with the spirits of the blessed, to join the assembly of patriarchs, the ranks of the prophets, the council of apostles, the great host of martyrs, the noble company of confessors and the choir of virgins. In short, we long to be united in happiness with all the saints. But our dispositions change. The Church of all the first followers of Christ awaits us, but we do nothing about it. The saints want us to be with them, and we are indifferent. The souls of the just await us, and we ignore them. 

Come, brothers, let us at length spur ourselves on. We must rise again with Christ, we must seek the world which is above and set our mind on the things of heaven. Let us long for those who are longing for us, hasten to those who are waiting for us, and ask those who look for our coming to intercede for us. We should not only want to be with the saints, we should also hope to possess their happiness. While we desire to be in their company, we must also earnestly seek to share in their glory. Do not imagine that there is anything harmful in such an ambition as this; there is no danger in setting our hearts on such glory. 

When we commemorate the saints we are inflamed with another yearning: that Christ our life may also appear to us as he appeared to them and that we may one day share in his glory. Until then we see him, not as he is, but as he became for our sake. He is our head, crowned, not with glory, but with the thorns of our sins. As members of that head, crowned with thorns, we should be ashamed to live in luxury; his purple robes are a mockery rather than an honor. When Christ comes again, his death shall no longer be proclaimed, and we shall know that we also have died, and that our life is hidden with him. The glorious head of the Church will appear and his glorified members will shine in splendor with him, when he forms this lowly body anew into such glory as belongs to himself, its head. 

Therefore, we should aim at attaining this glory with a wholehearted and prudent desire. That we may rightly hope and strive for such blessedness, we must above all seek the prayers of the saints. Thus, what is beyond our own powers to obtain will be granted through their intercession.

Ask for the saints intercession today. 

Sarah

Alpha and Omega

It is interesting to keep a prayer journal. I was looking over mine for the past month and I was surprised to find a theme to my prayers that I have unintentionally settled into; to understand the will of God for my life.

Then in the Office of Readings this morning, in the second reading, I read from a document that brought a clearer understanding of that purpose for me and for all of us.

I wanted to share that reading with you today. I pray the Holy Spirit may bring to life the desire to fulfill the will of God in your hearth as these words are read.

From the pastoral constitution on the Church in the modern world of the Second Vatican Council(Gaudium et spes, nn. 40, 45)

I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last. 

The way in which the earthly and the heavenly city interpenetrate each other can be recognized only by faith; of a history always troubled by sin until the glory of the sons of God is fully revealed. 

As she pursues her appointed goal of bringing salvation to men, the Church not only communicates the divine life to mankind but also in some measure reflects the light of that life over the whole world. She does this especially through her work of restoring and enhancing the dignity of the human person, of strengthening the fabric of human society, and of enriching the daily activity of men with a deeper meaning and importance. The Church believes that in this way she can make a great contribution, through individual members and the community as a whole, toward bringing a greater humanity to the family of man and to its history. 

While the Church helps the world and herself receives much from the world, she has one object in view: the coming of God’s kingdom and the salvation of the whole human race. Every good that the people of God in the course of its earthly pilgrimage can confer on the family of men derives from the fact that the Church is the universal sacrament of salvation, revealing, and at the same time bringing into operation, the mystery of God’s love for man. 

The Word of God, through whom all things were made, was himself made flesh so that as perfect man he might save all men and bring all things into unity. The Lord is the final end of human history, the point toward which the aspirations of history and civilization are moving, the focus of the human race, the joy of all hearts and the fulfillment of their desires. He it is whom the Father raised from the dead, lifted up on high and set at his right hand, appointing him judge of the living and the dead. In his Spirit we have been brought to life and gathered into unity, and so make our pilgrim way toward the goal of human history, a goal in complete harmony with the loving plan of God to make all things one in Christ, the things in heaven and the things on earth. 

The Lord himself says: See, I am coming soon; I bring my recompense with me, to give to everyone what his deeds deserve. I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.

May the love of God be upon you, that you may believe.

Sarah

How to Pray

Hello!

I would like to write about prayer today. In the Gospels we are taught how to pray. It is from Jesus himself we receive the best teaching on prayer.

“When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you. In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words.Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”
Matthew 6:5-8

Then Our Lord gives us an example of how we ought to pray by teaching us about the goodness of the Father, who knows how to give good things, so that you might ask for the things that are good from Goodness itself. Even as he explains what we ought to do, he is a living example because by explaining it to us so that we may learn by practice, he is fulfilling what he teaches.

The Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-15)

It is not only our Lord who urges us to pray earnestly and frequently, it was also Saint Paul who taught, “Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).

We are taught not to offer long and wearisome prayers, but to pray often, and with perseverance. Lengthy prayers are usually filled with empty words. Rather we are reminded to first rejoice in the redemption Our Savior has won for us. Then we are to humbly offer our prayers. Finally, we are taught to give thanks always. This one can be difficult especially in suffering, but it is through suffering that we can discover a deeper joy than we have ever experienced before.

It is through prayer that we can build our relationship with God, with Jesus and with our Holy Mother and all the saints. It is through prayer that we can find Jesus most intimately. Especially through living daily prayer. Our prayers are not just words, but they can also be an excellent way to live our faith, to be boldly Catholic in a world that is darkened by confusion because of sin. In this way, we will be see as the Light of Christ. In this way we can learn to encounter Jesus in all we do.

Jesus has called us to be His disciples. He has called us to be servants of love in order that we might be the physical hands through which His mercy can be dispensed.

We must go to the cross to empty ourselves. There is a great abyss that separates the Creator (God) form the creature (man). We cannot cross this divide by ourselves. It is only by the mercy of our Lord that we can come to him.

I urge you all to give up the things in your heart that do not belong to God for all they do is weigh you down and chain you to this world. Go to confession; let him remove those obstacles for you then you will have more room in your heart for Him. So that you can obtain in your heart a greater capacity to be filled with the mercy and love of Jesus which is pouring out constantly at the cross. All we have to do is go and receive.

In the daily readings today we read about Mary and Martha when Jesus come to visit. Martha is working hard while Mary sits at the feet of Jesus. From a worldly perspective, Martha is upset because she is doing all the work while Mary sits and is lazy. But the Lord reminds us that we are not called to see things as the world teaches.

“The Lord said to her in reply, ‘Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.’” Luke 10:41-42

Hospitality is not only about giving. It is about receiving as well. We must learn to receive the gifts God is generously pouring out all the time in order to learn how to give as He gives. We cannot learn how to love our neighbor as ourselves in the light of Christ unless we first receive God’s love and learn how to love by how He loves us.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the verdict, that the light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light, so that his works might not be exposed. But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God.” John 3:16-21

Disciples are called to be the light of Christ so that others may find their path to Him. We must let our light shine in this world, so that the good works seen can give glory to our Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16)

In order to be this light, we must first receive it. Let us go to the cross, lay our burdens down and let Jesus wash away our sins so that we have a greater capacity in our hearts to hold his mercy and love, and learn to dispense it freely to all in this world darkened by sin. Let us live our faith boldly so that others may find faith and embrace hope instead of despair.

May God Bless you abundantly!
Sarah

Fear No Evil | Cross-Stitch Pattern

The wait for a new pattern is over!

Fear No Evil is a Cross-Stitch pattern designed based on Psalm 23:4:

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for you are at my side."

This pattern was published first in the 2017 Special Collector's Halloween Issue of Just CrossStitch!
(Page 99)

The words in the Fear No Evil are typographically designed to enhance their meaning in order to enrich our lives. This verse is an interesting reflection on the final journey. "Even though I walk", gives the reader the impression the believer did not quicken his pace when he came to die, but still calmly walked with God. To walk indicates the steady advance of a soul which knows its road, knows its end, resolves to follow the path, feels quite safe, and is therefore perfectly calm and composed. The dying saint is not in a flurry, he does not run as though he were alarmed, nor stand still as though he would go no further, he is not confounded nor ashamed, and therefore keeps to his old pace. Observe that it is not walking in the valley, but through the valley. How marvelous! There is no fear of evil when walking with God, for he has conquered death. We go through the dark tunnel of death and emerge into the light of immortality. We do not die, we do but sleep to wake in glory.

This cross-stitch pattern comes with a list of supplies needed, including the DMC floss colors used. A list of stitches used are given along with a brief tutorial. Pattern graph with symbols and a computerized rendering are accompanied with photographs of the finished example I stitched. An enlarged chart with marks is also included. PDF is 12 pages.

(For best results, print pattern on highest quality in printer settings.)

Stitch count dimensions:
153 stitches W x 161 stitches H
14 pt Aida cloth - 11” x 11.5” (appx.)
16 pt Aida cloth - 9.5” x 10” (appx.)
18 pt Aida cloth - 8.5” x 9” (appx.)
22 pt Aida cloth - 7” x 7.25” (appx.)
(Used in photographs: White 22 pt Aida Cloth in an 11.5”x 11.5” espresso colored frame with a 7.5” x 7.5” matte opening.)

Happy Stitching & God Bless!

The Love of God.

The love of God is constantly reaching out to us, to pull us in to right union with God. The Holy Spirit is in our lives guiding us to God’s love, to the path God wills for our lives so that we may live in His love forever.

God loves us so much that He sent His son as a man. (John 3:16) 

He loves us so much that from the moment Adam and Eve sinned He has been working to save us. That salvation came through Jesus’ death and resurrection. 

Death will free us of the crosses we must bear in this life,
but Jesus, though His love and mercy, will save us from death.

He is calling you, me, all of us...

Right now. All the time!

In every moment of our lives, He is calling us to come back in to a right relationship with God.

The Lord’s heart aches with sorrow because so many believers are doing the right things: going to mass, receiving the Eucharist…But Jesus does not know them. They do not let God into all of their life. Only on Sunday mornings.

Repent. Everything.
Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the parts of your life that you are withholding from God.
We all have them.

I struggle with pride. Pride in the form of being annoyed with others. A sin the Holy Spirit pointed out to me in prayer. It is a sin because I place myself ahead of the needs of others when I become annoyed.

“A fool's annoyance is known at once, but the prudent overlooks an insult.” (Proverbs 12:16)

I judge others and hold them to my standards. In doing so, I set myself like a god when I pass judgement on others. Instead of judgement, I need to start looking at all with love and compassion.

“Stop judging, that you may not be judged. For as you judge, so will you be judged, and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you.” (Matthew 7:1-2)

The list goes on.
Like the driving into the sun with a dirty windshield metaphor, once you ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you the areas of your life that are being controlled by sin instead of the love of God, the eyes of your heart will be opened in unexpected ways.

Listen to the soft whisper of the Holy Spirit. Let God into all areas of your life.
Have a relationship with Jesus.
Talk to Him, get to know His mother Mary, our Holy Mother.

Most important, you must repent.

Go to confession.
Get in that right relationship with God by accepting his forgiveness. Accept the mercy and love pouring out unceasingly from the heart of Jesus so that you may be in right relationship with God.

If you do not confess; if you do not let God into your life, you will not spend eternity with God.

I have seen souls blackened by unrepentant sin.
I have felt the pain it causes the heart of Jesus.
Please accept his love. Repent.
Come to Him with a contrite heart and I promise your life will be more fulfilling and complete than you could have ever imagined!

On this memorial of Memorial of Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the Church, let us learn to love God as the little flower” did. 

She teaches that by willingly and lovingly sacrificing the “self” of our nature in order to make more room in our lives and hearts for God, we will find that fulfillment we are searching for in our lives. It is a great paradox of the gospel that we gain our life by losing it. 

It is the love of “self” in a worldly culture that endorses and supports individualism and acceptance that ultimately separates us from God. 

We must learn to forget ourselves in order to more fully contemplate God who is drawing us out of ourselves and into his love for the fulfillment of the purpose we are all created, to bring glory and praise to God in everything we do and helping each other along the way through loving service.

We can have these barriers caused by sin removed by going to confession.
Repent and be forgiven.
Become a new creation though Christ; through the receiving of the mercy and love pouring out for us from the cross. Bring all you burdens and sins to Him and be set free!

May God bless you abundantly today and every day!

Sarah

Offer the Bandage of Consolation

Hello.

Today I found myself wide awake when I ought to be fast asleep. So I decided to take my rest in the Lord and pray.

While doing the Office of Readings, I was struck deeply by the honest truth with which St. Augustine's words can still pierce the heart with understanding.

So today, I wish to share these words with you all as well.

From a sermon On Pastors by Saint Augustine, bishop
(Sermo 46, 11-12: CCL 41, 538-539)

Offer the bandage of consolation

Scripture says: God chastises every son whom he acknowledges. But the bad shepherd says: “Perhaps I will be exempt.” If he is exempt from the suffering of his chastisements, then he is not numbered among God’s sons. You will say: “Does God indeed punish every son?” Yes, every one, just as he chastised his only Son. His only Son, born of the substance of the Father, equal to the Father in the form of God, the Word through whom all things were made, he could not be chastised. For this reason he was clothed with flesh so that he might know chastisement. God punishes his only Son who is without sin; does he then leave unpunished an adopted son who is with sin? The Apostle says that we have been called to adoption. We have been adopted as sons, that we might be co-heirs with the only Son, and also that we might be his inheritance: Ask of me and I will give you the nations as your inheritance. Christ gave us the example by his own sufferings.

But clearly one who is weak must neither be deceived with false hope nor broken by fear. Otherwise he may fail when temptations come. Say to him: Prepare your soul for temptation. Perhaps he is starting to falter, to tremble with fear, perhaps he is unwilling to approach. You have another passage of Scripture for him: God is faithful. He does not allow you to be tempted beyond your strength. Make that promise while preaching about the sufferings to come, and you will strengthen the man who is weak. When someone is held back because of excessive fear, promise him God’s mercy. It is not that temptations will be lacking, but that God will not permit anyone to be tempted beyond what he can bear. In this manner you will be binding up the broken one. 

When they hear of the trials that are coming, some men arm themselves more and, so to speak, are eager to drain the cup. The ordinary medicine of the faithful seems to them but a small thing; for their part they seek the glorious death of the martyrs. Others hear of the temptations to come, and when they do arrive, as arrive they must, they become broken and lame. Yet it is right that such things befall the Christian, and no one esteems them except the one who desires to be a true Christian. 

Offer the bandage of consolation, bind up what has been broken. Say this: “Do not be afraid. God in whom you have believed does not abandon you in temptations. God is faithful. He does not allow you to be tempted beyond your strength. It is not I who say this, but the Apostle, and he says further: Are you willing to accept his trial, the trial of Christ who speaks in me? When you hear this you are hearing it from Christ himself, you are hearing it from the shepherd who gives pasture to Israel. For of him it was said: You will give us tears to drink in measure. The Apostle says: He does not allow you to be tempted beyond your strength. This is also what the prophet intends by adding the words: in measure. God rebukes but also encourages, he brings fear and he brings consolation, he strikes and he heals. Do not reject him.”

May God bless you abundantly!
Sarah

Our Lady of Sorrows | Mater Dolorosa

Let us adore Christ, the savior of the world, who called his mother to share in his passion.

Our Lady of Seven Sorrows | Mater Dolorosa, ora pro nobis!

Today is the memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows. This morning as I did my prayers and readings with this in mind, I was struck by the vastness of God’s love and Mercy.

“Some were sick on account of their sins and afflicted on account of their guilt. They had a loathing of every food, they came close to the gates of death. Then they cried out to the Lord in their need and he rescued them from distress. He sent forth his words to heal them and saved their life from the grave.” Psalm 107:17-20

Thoughts of mercy and love came to mind as I read these verses, then a slimy thought slithered in that tried to rob me of peace. It tried to cause me to second guess this act of mercy, the salvation for all people through the death and resurrection of Our Lord.

It said to me. “How unjust it is to share heaven with ones who wasted their life on earth, enjoyed the pleasures this world offered only to cry out at the end and get rescued…” 

It carried on whispering in my ear, but I stopped listening. For in that instant, the parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32) was on my lips as a rebuke.

Then the proclamation that we should all rejoice and encourage these souls who were once lost and have now been found was leaving my mouth. For the journey before these souls will be difficult, for they have collected many demons that must be extracted, burned away in purgatory before entering heaven.

The idea of not rejoicing tasted bitterly of pride to me; while the love and mercy of Jesus pouring out for us is sweet and refreshing.

Let us all forgive each other and live by the example Jesus commands of us!

“He said to him, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22:37-39

In scripture, we are told to “do justly” and walk humbly with God (Micah 6:8).  Justice isn’t just negative, a matter of dealing out judgment, but also a positive thing, in that we render whatever is owed to God and others.

It is not our job to judge others and to deal out justice. For who is man to put himself on the same level as God to whom justice belongs. We cannot possibly comprehend the vastness of salvation through the infinite love and mercy from which it came.

We must forgive and love one another as God loves us. 

We are to repent and beg forgiveness from God for our sins.

We must "...thank the lord for his love, for the wonder he does for men. Let them offer a sacrifice of thanks and tell of his deeds with rejoicing." Psalm 107:31

I find it most interesting that yesterday we honored and venerated the cross, and today we have the memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows. 

It was through Mary who stood by the cross, whose heart was pierced as her son died, and his soul was given up to God. The pain and grief her Immaculate heart must have experienced as is was pierced just as Simeon foretold at the presentation in the temple when the side of Jesus was pierced and blood and water flowed out must have been immense.

But by her obedience and faith in God, by the love she shared with Jesus, Mary accepted the call to be Mother for all. In the moment John took Mary into his home, Mary became not only the Mother of Jesus, but to his whole body, the Church. 

So when the members of the Church, the body of Christ, are sick with sin, Our Lady of Sorrows stands by the cross to lift each one up into the love and mercy pouring from the pierced side of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

When we repent, the space in our heart where sin was is cleaned and healed so that when we receive love and mercy from our Lord, we have a greater capacity in our hearts to carry it out in to the world and share it with all we meet when we live our faith.

I urge you all on this memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows to pray with our Holy Mother. Let her lead you to Jesus. Go to confession, and repent. Let her lift you up to the feet of Jesus on the cross to receive the love and mercy pouring out from his pierced side.

Father, as your son was raised on the cross his mother Mary stood by him, sharing his suffering. May your church be united with Christ in his suffering and death and so come to share in his rising to new life where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.

(CLICK HERE to pray the devotional to Our Lady of Sorrows)

(CLICK HERE to learn more about the Seven Sorrows of Mary)

Purpose. Will. Faith.

The past can hold you back, 
the present can trap you
and the future can seem daunting...

Through a retreat, I managed to finally find healing for events in my past;
Through prayer, I find the strength to carry my daily crosses for the glory of God;
What about the future?

The future can seem ambiguous; especially when searching for you path;
the purpose God created you to fulfill.

It is the age old question: What is my purpose?
It should be: What is the will of God?

"Be still and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10

When I have a question, I bring it to the Lord in prayer.

"O Lord, reveal to me where in my life I am not serving you.
What area of my heart have I not given up to you?"

Jesus said to me in reply,

"Stop binding yourself to plans of the future that matter little. Bind yourself to prayer and all will work out according to the will of the Father. Do not rush through the garden or up the mountain pass; your purpose is not completed by how fast you can climb, because then you did it for your own glory not to give God glory. Rather slow down to see those in need along the way and bring them to me."

It is a great reminder to slow down.
Don't rush through life to say only that you ran the race, the you fought the fight.
Hold firm to the truth and fulfill the final phrase of the verse (2 Timothy 4:7):
I have kept the faith.

Do you live the faith so that others may see it and come to the Lord?

We all want to know what our purpose in life is.
But what we do with our life matters as much as how we do it.
It is empowering to know, but will you be serving God or self with that knowledge?

Joy through Suffering

To understand how to love, one must first understand suffering. 

This has been a something I have been thing a lot about lately. 

If God loves us, why do we suffer?

The path of suffering is the Passion of Christ.
Through the Stations of the Cross or the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary. But just as the Joyful Mysteries all have an element of sorrow, the Sorrowful Mysteries all have an element of joy.
This joy is found in the salvation Jesus obtained for us and the eternal life he offers out for us. 

From where I was kneeling after receiving communion, I could watch many people walk past the cup, the blood out poured by our savior. My heart was struck with a deep sorrow and realization as my Lord said to me:

Jesus: By receiving my body, broken for you; you accept joy in suffering. By receiving my blood, you accept my love and mercy which is continually outpouring with compassion on all souls. 

Pray for those who do not yet fully believe in the Eucharist, in my body and blood offered. My body was broken. I took upon myself all the sin of the world. The suffering I endured was only achievable through love.

If only all knew how much I love each and every one of them!

Me: The ache of sorrow I feel in my heart is counterbalanced by a rich feeling of love that brings tears to my eyes and a smile to my face, a sweet small smile. When I went to adoration that evening I felt the heaviness of the Lord’s heart as soon as I knelt down in front of the exposed Eucharist.

Jesus: Please walk my Passion. Beloved, comforter of my heart. Learn the depths of joy through suffering, and mercy and love through forgiveness.

Me: Yes Lord.

Agony in the Garden

Me: O Lord, break my heart so that you and your Mother can pick up the pieces and form it in the likeness of you Sacred and Immaculate hearts so that I may feel for all as you do Lord and console like the Holy Mother does.

Scourging at the Pillar
“Strip you self of everything of this world and you will find Christ.”
St. Maximillian Kolbe

Me: O Lord, what must be stripped away from me so that I can see you more clearly?
O Jesus, I long to join you in your suffering, your Passion. I want to agonize in pain like you so that I may learn to love unconditionally. O Lord, to meditate on the pain at the pillar seems too passive for I know it is my sins you bared the stripes for. O how I wish to suffer with you so that I may love you more.

Crowning of Thorns

Jesus: Every sinful thought that was lingered upon with lustful or malice intent was driven into my mind. Sins of omission, where you willfully decide to turn your back to God to embrace the artificial pleasures of sin pierce my head.

My crown looks like thorns, but it is actually mercy. For it is only by mercy that such foul thoughts can be received and forgiven in the same instance.

Me: How? How can you take it all in? How can you constantly forgive so readily?

Jesus: I do not see you for your actions of sin. I see all as the creation God intended. Each a beautifully unique facet of God’s love. It is through the recognition of love that allows for forgiveness.

Carrying of the Cross
“When it is all over you will not regret having suffered, rather you will regret having suffered so little and suffered that little so badly.”
St. Sebastin Valle

Me: Holy Mother, please help me to endure the weight of my crosses with the grace of God. Please hold my tongue from complaining so that I may enter in to the suffering of Christ; in order to bring comfort to the sacred heart of Jesus and glory to God. Amen.

Jesus: Pray not for the world, but the souls in the world. Those who are far from God – far from me. Pray they can come to know me. Pray for those suffering under the consequences of sin caused by misguided choices of the flesh. Pray they will repent and find healing and comfort in my love. These souls bring sorrow to my heart because of the distance and barriers that have been constructed to keep them “safe” when all it does is keeps them from hearing my voice or receiving my love.

O Beloved, feel the anguish of my heart in yours as I weep for these lost sheep. They don’t have to be lost. Who will shepherd them? Who will learn to listen for their bleating; their souls cries for help?

Me: What can I do Lord?

Jesus: Pray for Holy men and women to rise up and care for my sheep. May more come to realize their true vocation and calling to serve God and not self.

I promise all needs will be provided for. All it takes is trust. I will never let you down.

Me: You sound tired and sad this morning Lord.

Jesus: I give my all to save even one, but the lures of the flesh and temptations of the devil are distracting many from the truth.

Pray for perseverance that all will come to find me once the deceptive illusions of temptation wears off. Once its ugliness is seen, then my shepherds will bring them to me to receive love and mercy that will heal and cleanse their fractured and stained souls.

The Crucifixion

Jesus: Accept your death. Come to me. By dying to self on a cross, you unite with me for I am already on that cross. Death will free you from your cross. And I will free you from death. This is the fulfillment of the Father’s will for all his children, my brothers and sisters.

Pray for those lost souls who are fooled in to bringing glory to themselves in this life rather than the Father in heaven. To be set free of the cross of self, they must die on it.

Pray they can realize the life I can give them in “death”. I call from repentance so as to prevent death. For if you oppose “death”, you oppose the Father and me.

Me: When I had finished praying the Rosary, I felt the Lord had more for me to learn. I sat quietly and listened. I had felt the sorrow and tiredness of Our Lords heart so acutely, it hurt.

Jesus: You have suffered, but by offering it up for others you are making you life a sacrifice. For the moment you desire to suffer more so you can give it to God from Mary’s hands and through my heart, you have given yourself up. Do you trust me?

Me: Yes Lord.

Jesus: Go in peace and know you are loved.

Me: Thanks be to God.

The love of God is constantly reaching out to us to pull us in. 
The Holy Spirit is in our lives, guiding us to God’s love, to the path God wills for our lives so that we may live in His love forever.

God loves us so much that he sent His only son as a man. 
He loves us so much that from the moment Adam and Eve sinned, He has been working to save us. That salvation came through Jesus’ death and resurrection. Death will free us of the crosses we must bear in this life, but Jesus, through his love and mercy, will save us from death if we repent and believe.

He is calling you and me, all of us.
Right now, all the time.
In every moment of our lives He is calling us to come back into a right relationship with God. 

The Lord’s heart aches with sorrow that so many believers are doing the right things: going to mass, receiving the Eucharist…but Jesus does not know them. They do not let God in to all their life. Only on Sunday mornings.

Repent…Everything. 

Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the parts of your life that you are withholding from God. 

We all have them.

I struggle with pride. 

Pride in the form of begin annoyed with others. A sin because I am placing myself ahead of the needs of others. I judge others and hold them to my standards instead of looking at them with love and compassion. 

The list goes on…

Listen to the soft whisper of the Holy Spirit. 

Let God into all areas of your life. 

Have a relationship with Jesus. Talk to him, get to know his Mother.

Most important, you must repent. 

Go to confession. 

Get into right relationship with God by accepting his forgiveness, accept the mercy and love pouring out unceasingly from the heart of Jesus so that you may be in right relationship with God.

If you do not confess, if you do not let God into your life, you will not spend eternity with God. 

I have seen souls blackened by unrepentant sin, I have felt the pain it causes the heart of Jesus. 

Please accept His love; repent and come to Him.