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Saturday, November 29, 2014

Mass and Heaven

The Mass is a celebration of heaven on earth!


Until recently, Churches were designed to remind us that we were entering Heaven. As we walk into older churches we are surrounded by windows and paintings that depict the angels and saints. Christ is at the center in the tabernacle. And all the elements that Scripture speaks of as being in the heavenly liturgy are on display, not only in the building, but in the celebration of the liturgy: candles, incense, an altar, the hymns that are sung, the Holy, Holy, Holy, the scroll that is brought forward in the Book of Gospels, the lamb on the throne-like altar, the prostrations and kneeling of the saints before the Lord. All these things are described in the Book of Revelation’s depictions of the heavenly liturgy. None of these things are in our churches or the liturgy for arbitrary reasons.

Yes! We are in the heavenly realms and the heavenly liturgy and so we see and experience heavenly things. Hearts aloft!


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Friday, November 28, 2014

Temptation

What is temptation? Temptation is the work of Satan to drag you to Hell. And Satan can read you like a book and play you like piano. Do not exaggerate his power, but do not underestimate it either.
Some of his subtlest work is done in the area of religious observance. There, he can cloak himself quite easily in the lamb’s clothing of piety, but, wolf that he really is, distort it, either through excess or defect, thereby destroying you with what is good. Beware what some spiritual writers call the “traps of the pious.” Consider some examples:
  • He can discourage you with prayer by saying, “If only you would pray a little longer, God will give you what you seek.” But the deception is that if we can pray a little longer, then we can never have prayed enough. Thus though we pray, we only feel guilty and inadequate. And since we can never have prayed “enough,” prayer increasingly turns into a burdensome task; God becomes a cruel taskmaster demanding longer and more precise prayers. Or prayer becomes a superstitious endeavor whose outcome we somehow control by the length and type of our prayers. Jesus counsels us that the Father knows what we need and that we should not think that merely multiple words and pious actions are necessary. We may need to persevere in prayer over time, but God is not a cruel tyrant demanding endless incantations.
  • Satan can take the beautiful practice of praying the rosary, or attending daily Mass, or other devotions and slowly incite in us a feeling of smug superiority, elitism, or pride. Gradually, others are thought to be less devout, even in error, because they do not do or observe what is optional or encouraged but not required. What is beautiful and holy is thus employed to incite ever-growing pride and cynicism. A most extreme form of this comes from those who take the beautiful and powerful devotion to our Lady of Fatima and allow Satan to set them against even the Pope and all the world’s bishops by claiming that they failed, either ineptly or willfully, to properly consecrate Russia. And thus one of our most beautiful and informative apparitions can engender in some people distrust of the Church and disunity from her, from multiple popes, and even from Sister Lucia herself. It is an astonishingly crafty work of the evil one to take what is good and religious and corrupt it in the minds of some.
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Friday, November 21, 2014

Love

Pope Francis emphasizes "the center" "from which everything must radiate and to which everything must return": love for God and love for brethren. Jesus did not hand down formula or commandments, "but two faces, actually one, the face of God reflected in many faces, because in the face of every brother, especially the smallest, most fragile and helpless, person in need is the very image of God". The beatification of Mother Assunta Marchetti, a Scalabrini, an example of this "love of t two faces, which is in reality just One".


"In the light of the word of Jesus, love is the measure of faith, and faith is the soul of love. We can no longer separate our religious life, our life of piety, from service to brethren , those real brothers and sisters we meet. We can no longer separate meeting God in prayer, in the Sacraments, from listening to the other, from being close to their lives, their wounds. Remember this: love is the measure of faith. How much do you love? We should all answer that question".  This was Pope Francis' reflection speaking to pilgrims gathered in St Peter's Square for the Angelus. The pilgrims estimated up to 50-60 thousand, filled the square spilling over onto the large Via della Conciliazione, boulevard.


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Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Silent Witness

The most important thing we can do with suffering is to be quiet.


Pope Francis said in his homily at Mass on Thursday that the kingdom of God, already present among us, never attracts attention to itself but rather is cultivated though silent holiness in everyday life.

“The Kingdom of God is humble, like the seed: humble, but it becomes great by the power of the Holy Spirit,” the Pope told those at the chapel of the Vatican’s Saint Martha guesthouse for his Nov. 13 Mass.

“It is up to us to let it grow in us, without boasting about it: let the Spirit come, change our soul and carry us forward in silence, in peace, in tranquility, in closeness to God, to others, in worship of God, without spectacle.”

The Roman Pontiff centered his reflections on the day’s Gospel reading from Luke in which the Pharisees ask Christ when the kingdom of God would come. In response, Christ tells them it is already there, and reveals that when the Son of Man returns it will be like lightening in the sky.

Rather than being noisy and trying to be part of the crowd, the kingdom of God is like a seed that grows underground, always going deeper without attracting attention, the Pope explained.

“The Kingdom of God is not a spectacle. The Lord never says that the Kingdom of God is a spectacle. It is a celebration,” which is something different, he observed.


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Monday, November 17, 2014

Calm

The Spirit of God is a spirit of peace, and He speaks and acts in peace and gentleness.
Underscore those words: the motions of God are delicate touches; they don't make noise; and they can penetrate our spiritual consciousness only if we have within us a sort of calm "zone," and tranquility.
So says a priest named Jacques Philippe, in a new book of note: In the School of the Holy Spirit.
In other words: don't cause yourself trouble. Don't let agitation inside make it difficult to hear His still, small Voice (I Kings 19:12).
How to reach the calm zone?
It is a gradual process, this priest points out. We have to work at it. We have to desire it. We have to orient toward it. We have to keep at it, in all situations. We have to pray for it.
And we have to achieve the ability to block out troublesome thoughts (which so often come from the enemy -- or should we say: the Agitator).
If we don't seek peace of mind actively,  "in all circumstances," we lose direct contact with the Lord.
In spite of everything, make this effort. (An effort it is!)
But what results.
In short, we have to practice peace of mind, and the heart follows. We have to hold it as a goal. When we don't we react to situations in a human, agitated, hasty way, we maintain inner tranquility.
Fighting fire with fire causes a mess (note the scorching, note the soot), as well as interior consternation.
"It isn't easy," writes the priest, "but by practicing hope in God, abandonment, humility, and the acceptance of our inner poverty through an unshakeable truth in God's Mercy, we will reach peace little by little."
Don't you hate that feeling of losing that? Of disturbance? Of anxiety? Yet, it happens every day all day, even at night. The devil's playground (or battlefield) is the mind. As John of the Cross said, "Take care to preserve your heart in peace; let no happening of this world upset it." When you have peace, you have faith. Watch God answer wondrously!
Stop being a perfectionist.
Perfection does not exist on earth.
Struggle does (and joy in those struggles!).


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Friday, November 14, 2014

Courage During Death

We are called to face suffering with courage, especially during the dying process:


If my mom had made the same decision that Brittany Maynard did to end her life earlier, we would have missed out on so much.
My mother was diagnosed last year with a grade 4 glioblastoma multiforme brain tumor, the same diagnosis that Brittany Maynard, the 29 year old who ended her life Nov. 1 after launching a national campaign to promote laws that allowed people with terminal diseases to choose the time of their deaths, received earlier this year.
Doctors said that my mom would have 15 months to live if she was lucky. It has now been 21 months since her diagnosis and she is still alive.
Has it been tough? Yes, absolutely: In the time since her diagnosis, my mom has undergone two brain surgeries, chemotherapy and radiation.
But we’ve also had incredible experiences. In the past 21 months we went to Paris, walked a 5k for brain cancer awareness, and celebrated birthdays and holidays. My mom was here to see me get accepted into law school.
Brittany had stated that she did not want her family and friends to see her suffer, to see her at her worst. Well, I’ve now seen my mother at her worst–and I will tell you that’s still not comparable to not having her here at all.
Many people have praised Brittany Maynard, calling her brave and courageous. We have even described her death via medication as “dying with dignity.”
But what about people like my mom? How about the individual who chooses to fight knowing all the consequences that he or she could face?


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Friday, November 7, 2014

Christian "Pagans"

Suffering is a result of the world.  Redemption (overcoming suffering) comes from heaven.


Be careful not to slide down the road that leads to being a Christian in appearance, but "mediocre" in substance, to being pagan, "enemies of the Cross," because "citizens of this world", in short of being worldly, and not "citizens of Heaven".  This was Pope Francis' warning at Mass Friday morning at Casa Santa Marta based on the First Reading.


Pope Francis was inspired by the words of St. Paul to the Philippians to dwell on two groups of Christians, still present today as they were in the time of the Apostle of the Gentiles. Christians who go forward in faith and Christians who "live like enemies of the Cross of Christ".


"Both groups - he said - were in the Church together, they went to Mass on Sunday, they praised the Lord, they called themselves Christians". So what was the difference? The second group "act like enemies of the Cross of Christ! Christians enemies of the Cross of Christ".


The Pope said these were "worldly Christians, Christians in name, with two or three Christian things, but nothing more. Pagan Christian". "A Christian name, but a pagan life." Or to put it another way: "Pagans with two strokes of Christian paint, so as to appear like Christians, but pagans nonetheless".
"Even today there are many! We must be careful not to slip toward the path of being pagan Christians, Christians in appearance. The temptation to get used to mediocrity, the mediocrity of Christians, these Christians, it is their undoing because their hearts cool, they become lukewarm. And the Lord had strong words for these lukewarm [Christians]: 'because you are lukewarm, I will spit you out of my mouth'. These are very strong words! They are enemies of the Cross of Christ. They take the name, but do not follow the requirements of Christian life".


Paul, he said, speaks of the "citizenship" of Christians. "Our citizenship," he noted, "is in heaven. Theirs is on earth. They are citizens of the world, not of heaven". "Citizens of the world. And their surname is worldly! Beware of these" warned Pope Francis adding that everyone, himself including, must ask: "Do I have something of these? Do I have some worldliness within me? Some paganism?".


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Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Christian Men

The world needs Christ-like men, to save it from satan's grasp.


Though many in past decades have sought to describe the Church as “male-dominated,” nothing could be further from the truth. Most parish leadership structures are dominated by women. And women do fine work. But the Church has done a very poor job of engaging men as men and equipping them to be strong husbands, fathers, and priests. Virtues related to bold leadership and the effective use of authority are in short supply whereas other virtues such as collaboration, listening, empathy, and understanding are overemphasized.

This lack of balance, wherein traditionally manly virtues are downplayed—even shamed—has led many men to become disengaged from the Church.

Monday, November 3, 2014

The Church Is Not Sadistic

Christ and His Church never expects anyone to sadistically suffer.  When a person is dying, they are called to be cared for with compassion and comfort.  That means to supply all the care and medications needed.  The pain is to be killed, not the patient.


This being said, the story of this young lady is very sad.  We are called to endure to the end.  Enduring suffering with dignity can bring many graces.  God is the author and taker of our lives.  We don't have the right to kill ourselves.  Please pray for this young lady's family and soul.


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Saturday, November 1, 2014

All Saints

The saints overcame suffering and evil in the world through grace and faith and are now enjoying their reward.


We are all in the middle of spiritual warfare.  Praise God!  Christ is giving us the graces to confront this in order to provide comfort to the dear souls He loves so much.  People truly fooling themselves when surrendering to the devil, but let's not fret.  God will overcome.  The more and more I am dealing with the devil, the more I see the forlornness and banality of his evil.  He is desperate and pathetic.  I am convinced that God will eventually reign in the soul.  On our part, we must stay humble, prayerful, arduous, and faithful.  Remember, all power belongs only to God.  He is omnipotent.  The devil actually has no power whatsoever in himself (we don't even have power on our own), only the power that God allows (and the power we ourselves give the devil from our own free will - as Jennifer is doing).  St. Francis of Assisi use to say that the devil actually plays a purpose in our spiritual lives.  God allows the devil to tempt and (distract us) so we can eventually grow closer to Christ.  Saints like Francis and Padre Pio would literally fight with the devil every day, in order to become more holy.