Meditations on the woman that I love Mary the Blessed Virgin Reflection Theology has made me understand how prayers, far from changing God's plans, bring them about. God knew from all eternity that you would ask for this prayer that you are asking for. St. Therese of Lisieux understood this when she wrote, "The more you wish to give, the more you make us desire." I understand this desire that I want to serve You better comes from the Holy Spirit. Second week - Act of Sorrow - invoke the Holy Spirit - one Our Father - three Hail Marys Jesus told the people this parable, "There was a rich man whose land produced a beautiful harvest. The man asked himself, what shall I do since I do not have space to store my harvest? I shall tear down my barns and build a larger one. There I shall store all my grains and other goods, and I shall say to myself; now as for you - you have many good things stored up for many years, rest, eat, drink, be merry! But God says to him, you fool this night your life will be demanded of you and things you prepared to whom will they belong too?" (Lk. 17-20) Most of the people are attached to their goods; thinking only of pleasure and comfort. Believe me, not only priests and religious have a vocation; the Church teaches us that we all have vocations, married and single as well! What is your vocation? Don't say you don't have a vocation as this would not be the truth. Whether you are walking or bedridden you have a vocation. But you may say, "How can I find my vocation?" Pray, pray and pray. Let us think! You have a lot of money. Think of feeding the poor. How much material things do you have, i.e. money, clothes and many other things. Oh, I have given Uncle Joe a nice present for his birthday, then Uncle Joe gives you something for your birthday. Is that charity? No! We must help the needy, that is those who depend on us. There are many people who say they are devoted but do not help the poor when they can. Did you not know that the goods God has given you really are not yours, they belong to God. He has given these goods to you so you can help those less fortunate than you. When John the Baptist was preaching and the crowd asked him, "What then should we do to obtain salvation?" He said in reply, "Whoever has two cloaks should share with the person who has none, and whoever has food should do likewise." (Lk. 2:10-11) We ought to follow John's message. We do so much out of human respect, but little to nothing from our heart. It's the same way at Christmas time or other holidays when we exchange gifts with one another with little thought to those most in need. If we do give to the poor this is only out of human respect. We ought to give until it hurts. Someone asked Jesus, "Lord, will only few people be saved?" He answered them, "Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough." (Lk. 13:23-24) Jesus is talking about the people today who try to save their life their own way, but not God's way. Hardly anyone goes to confession anymore. It is believed one can just go directly to God. This thinking is erroneous. Telling God you're sorry does not assure one of forgiveness. It is the teaching of the Church that when we confess to a priest he acts "in persona Christi," i.e. the person of Christ, to absolve our sins. To be a faithful member of the Church one must be obedient and not make up their own religious beliefs. There was a priest who was heard speaking that there is no Hell or Purgatory. When he had finished he sat next to an old lady and she said, "Father, don't you believe in Hell and Purgatory?" He said, "No." She answered him, "You are going to be mighty surprised when you get there." St. Faustina of the Divine Mercy message said, "Most people who go to Hell are those that did not believe in Hell." Reflection Imagine you see a man who is over fond of this world, over anxious for money, who is ambitious to receive high honors for a title before his name and public distinction, and who gives himself over to gluttony of the flesh; little does he care about God or Mary and he will not hear about them. This is what Jesus means when He says, "Do not give what is holy to dogs, or throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them underfoot and tear you to pieces." (Mt. 7:6) This is why He speaks to them in parables. These people are not ready to accept His teaching.
Third week - Act of Sorrow - invoke the Holy Spirit - one Our Father - three Hail Marys "I will make my words known to you. Because I have called and you refused to listen and no one has heeded." (Prov. 1:23-24) This is the truth. God is calling us to repent. He sends His mother to us, but still we refuse to answer. In the eyes of God, our life is but a twinkle of an eye then comes the end of this life for us. In the book of Proverbs it says, "You have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof, I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when panic strikes you." (Prov. 1:25-26) This is what is happening today. We were in the time of mercy, now we are living in the time of mercy and justice, then comes the time of justice. Jesus told St. Faustina that those who refuse to enter in the door of mercy will have to enter in the door of justice. Reflection Theologians are saying that there is no Purgatory - thank God for Purgatory! Don't we realize that we have to be perfect to enter Heaven. The Apocalypse says, "There shall not enter into it anything defiled nor anyone that works abomination or makes a lie, but only those whose names are written in the Book of Life of the Lamb." (Apoc. 21:27)
Fourth week - Act of Sorrow - invoke the Holy Spirit - one Our Father - three Hail Marys
From "City of God" My daughter, I wish that thou be very cautious and watchful in regard to the ignorance and darkness, by which the demon commonly ensnares mortals and makes them forget their eternal salvation and the continual danger of its loss through his persecutions. Men are lost in forgetful rest and sleep, as if there were no vigilant and powerful enemies. This dreadful carelessness arises from two causes: on the one hand men are so taken up with their earthly and sensible being (I Cor. 2, 14), that they do not feel any other evils except those concerning the animal nature in them; all that is interior is harmless in their estimation. On the other hand, since the princes of darkness are invisible and unperceived by any of the senses (Ephes. 6,12) and since carnal men neither touch, nor feel, nor see them, they forget the fear of them. Yet for this very reason they ought to be more attentive and careful, since invisible enemies are more cunning and adroit in injuring us by their treachery. So much the more certain is the danger, the more concealed it is, and so much the more deadly are the wounds, the less they are felt and recognized. Listen, my daughter, to most important truths concerning eternal life. Attend to my counsels, follow my instructions and receive my warnings; for if thou pass them by unheeded, I will cease to speak to thee. Hear what thou hast not until now known of the disposition of these enemies. I wish to make known to thee that no intellect, nor any tongue of man or angels can describe the wrath and fury which Lucifer and his demons entertain against mortals just because they are images of God and because they are capable of enjoying Him for all eternity. The Lord alone can comprehend the wicked malice of these proud and rebellious spirits against his holy name and against his worship. If these foes were not restrained by his almighty arm they would in one moment destroy the world; they would be like famishing lions, like wild beasts and fierce dragons, dispatch all mankind and tear them to pieces. Now however the most kind Father of all mercies wards off and curbs their wrath and He bears his little children in his arms in order that they may not fall a prey to these hellish wolves. Consider then, as seriously as thou canst, whether anything deserves greater pity, than to see so many men misled into danger and made forgetful of it; how some of them cast themselves into it on account of their lightheartedness, some of them for trivial reasons, others for a short and instantaneous pleasure, others through negligence, and yet others on account of their inordinate appetites, tearing themselves away from the places of refuge, in which the Almighty has placed them, to fall into the hands of such cruel and furious enemies; and not only to feel their fury for an hour, a day, a month, or a year, but to suffer indescribable and unmeasured torments for all eternity. Thou shouldst be filled with fear and wonder, my daughter, to see such horrible and dreadful foolishness among the impenitent mortals and to see even the faithful, who have come to know and confess all this by faith, so far lose their understanding and allow themselves to be so insanely blinded by the devil that they neither regard nor avoid this danger.
Inspired with this confidence, I fly unto you, O virgin of virgins, my Mother. To you do I come, before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in your mercy hear and answer them. Amen.
The Servants of Mary
The following is taken from the collective works of Saint John of the Cross. Jesus Be in Your Soul: 1. Beloved, you should live as if only you and God exist. Never meddle in things that are happening around you, or with others. Do not notice if they have good or bad qualities in their conduct. 2. You are like the stone that must be chiseled and fashioned before being used in buildings. Those around you are permitted by God to mortify you by chiseling you. Some may chisel by words, saying words that you would rather not hear. Others by deeds, doing to you what you would rather not endure. 3. Try to pray constantly in all you do. Undertake all things agreeable and disagreeable for the sole purpose of pleasing God, by carrying Christ's cross. Hide yourself in Christ and rejoice in your heart by following in His footprints. Run along the way of drinking in His spice wine. In the wine cellar I drank my beloved and I went abroad along the valley, I no longer knew anything and lost the herd (means: worldly attachments) which I was following, to be alone with God. 4. He who believes in Jesus Crucified has no need of silver and gold. We exist here but we live elsewhere. 5. Did not the Messiah, Our Beloved have to undergo all these things so as to enter His glory. He who does not seek the Cross of Christ seeks not the glory of Christ. Love consists not in feeling great things, but in having great attachments in suffering for the Beloved. 6. Let Christ Crucified be sufficient for you and with His suffering take your rest. Be strong with God's grace in your heart, against all things that move you, that are not of God. For Christ's sake, love suffering. 7. Beloved, behold ourselves to the beauty of the mountain and the hills where pure water flows to the farther depth into the Infinite, and then we will go on the high cavern (means: the senses are empty) to the rocks which are well concealed. There we shall enter and taste the fresh juice of the pomegranate (means: contemplation). This is a deep prayerful life in union with Our Beloved. St. John of the Cross says that the only thing that keeps us from seeing God is a thin veil, which is our body. When that is lifted, you shall see God face to face. St. John of the Cross asked, "Did you ever love someone so much that you are willing to give up anything for that person?" That person is Jesus. To gain all is to renounce all. 8. I drank spice wine and I drank my beloved. This is a prayer of the quiet where a soul says nothing. God loves the soul and the soul loves God. I no longer knew anything of the earth. This love goes between God and you. Everything around you disappears. Only God and you exist. The prayer of the quiet is a love seen between God and you. The Little Flower (Doctor of the Church) Therese describes this characteristic of her Little Way of Holiness as confidence in God's merciful love and in faith in Jesus Christ; a confidence that is fearless, boundless and unwavering, i.e. the confidence of a child of God knows no limits. She says that the love of God is in constant pursuit of our souls and that a lack of confidence offends Jesus and wounds His heart. We have only to ask pardon and all will be repaired by that act of love. Jesus opens His heart to us. He will forget our infidelities and not want to recall them. The way to Jesus is through His heart. Consider a small child who vexed his mother by his bad temper or disobedience. He hides for fear of punishment. But, if instead, he extends his arms toward her, smiles and cries out, kiss me mamma, love me, I will not do it again, will she not press him to her heart with tenderness and forget what the child has done, even though she knows he will misbehave again at the first opportunity. But she overlooks the misbehavior if the child appeals to her heart. In the same vein we must never give in to fear or discouragement, but must abandon ourselves to complete trust and confidence in the merciful heart of Jesus. God takes pleasure in giving us whatever we need as long as we ask for things that are good for our immortal souls. What God expects from us is love and confidence and good will. The reason we do good works is to prove to God that we have good will, but it is from our works that we should expect our progress. We must prove our love for God by constantly renouncing ourselves, practicing all the virtues, giving without counting the cost, doing all good things that lie in our power, but it is of the greatest importance that we put our total trust and confidence in Him who alone sanctifies those works. We need to recognize we are indeed useless servants, hoping that the good Lord will give us through grace all that we need for eternal salvation. However great our failings, however useless our efforts may seem, however numerous our repeated faults, we must never despair of reaching our goal. If we cultivate in ourselves the soul of a little child, a heart that is simple and full of confidence in the good Lord, we shall reach perfection at the moment planned by God. If we abandon ourselves to God, place our confidence in Him, make our own small efforts, but expect everything from His mercy, He will give us, at the moment of our need, all that is lacking in our perfection. Between now and the next issue let us open our hearts to the heart of Jesus with love and confidence. Remember from our first letter that our goal is to grow in holiness and sanctity by following the Little Way of St. Therese. In summary of her doctrine she herself explained, "Sanctity does not consist in this or that practice. It consists in a disposition of the heart which makes us humble and little in God's arms, conscious of our imperfections and confident even to audacity in the goodness and mercy of our Father." In our next issue, we will discuss the fourth characteristic of the Little Way, Love of God. Thomas R. Oswald, M.I.
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