Words from the Heart

Take the First Step and God Will Provide the Rest

2010-08-03T09:16:00.000-07:00

Have you ever noticed that waiting for the "right moment" to take action rarely results in success? Often the “right moment” doesn’t come because God is waiting for us to take a step. Maybe we are not using the gifts He has already given us. Notice how children are always looking for more - more presents, more dolls, more trucks, more silly bands, more video games, more apps for their electronic gadgets, etc. Often, we grownups feverishly search for more as well – more money, more time, more responsibility, more opportunities, more friends, more… We like to have all our “ducks in a row” before taking action. If only we had more time we could tackle the project we’ve been putting off; if only we had more money we could make a sizeable contribution to our favorite charity, if only we had the ideal opportunity we would seize it. Often we do not receive more because we have failed to utilize the gifts we have been given. Maybe if we work with what we have we will be given more. If we use our time wisely, we will be given more time; if we act responsibly, we will be given greater responsibility; if we act upon the opportunities within our reach, others will come; and if we love and care for our friends, we will be blessed with more friends.

If we wait for the “right moment” to begin, we may wait a very long time. Take the first step and God will provide the rest.

When the Lord Closes a Door, We Search for a Window

2010-03-23T13:40:00.000-07:00

“When the Lord closes a door, He always opens a window somewhere.” This familiar phrase from the movie The Sound of Music is also the running theme throughout the novel “The Trapp Family Singers” by Maria von Trapp. The von Trapp’s, whose fame skyrocketed with the release of the motion picture, were a gifted musical family whose courage and faith carried them through the brutal storms of life. Maria possessed a deep love for God as was evidenced by her own faith, trust, and perseverance in the face of tribulation.

We all endure suffering, some more than others. It may seem that every door we attempt to enter is slammed in our face. Severed friendships, professional failure, financial loss, serious illness, and the romantic relationships that die on the vine can cause us to lose hope. Sometimes we feel like a deflated punching bag. But our faith tells us to trust in God. Thus we patiently wait, and wait and wait. In our frustration we call out to God and ask, “Lord when are you going to open a window?” then His answer comes to us, “My child, I tried but your windows are locked.” When we feel that the straw has finally broken the camel’s back, we unintentionally throw up a force field to protect ourselves from further pain. However in so doing, we block out Our Lord who tries to shower us with His grace. At times all we need do is “unlock our windows”, and He will enter. However in other situations, Gods asks us to actually open the window and “stick our neck out.” He wants us to take that giant leap of faith, of course with prudence, trusting that He will be there to catch us if we should fall.

Risk taking is something we would just as soon avoid, for we all want to be certain that our next attempt at love, friendship, employment, or some personal undertaking will be successful. However, we all know that we may have to undergo many failures before we achieve success. If we don’t take the risks, we may never know what blessings await us on the other side. When we reflect on past mistakes and sufferings, it is understandable that we may be reluctant to take that step forward. However we need to muster up our courage and confidence and begin again. We ought to possess a compelling desire to achieve our goals but not like the vulture that takes his prey by force, but rather like the butterfly that attracts others’ with its beauty, grace and endearing persistence.

With supernatural optimism, confidence in our God given abilities, courage, and constancy, we will find that window of opportunity. If the window is not open, we will simply have to open it. Life on the other side may have its share of joys and sorrows but Our Lord will be with us cheering us on and guiding our way. He will never let us down, for even if He allows us to fall into the pit, He will reach out His hand and lead us out of darkness and into light.

Spiritual and Secular Worlds – Bridging the Great Divide

2010-02-11T17:40:00.000-08:00

Present in society today there exists a blatant dichotomy between the spiritual and secular worlds. On the one hand we are spiritually fed with God’s grace, love, and eternal truth; and on the other hand, evil lurks like a wild beast ready to trounce upon its prey warping the human mind and endangering the soul. Evil generates from two sources: our own imperfection and inclination towards sin, and the direct influences of the devil. The devil does indeed exist and he cunningly worms his way into our lives infusing our minds with lies, tricks, and delusions, under the guise of goodness. His promises that material wealth, supreme power, and earthly perfection lead to ultimate happiness only plunge us into despair and separate us from God. At times evil seems so prevalent that it prompts us to seek seclusion in a sort of spiritual cocoon, a place where we can bask and grow in the warmth of God’s love. However, like that butterfly that eventually emerges from his cocoon, we too must fly out of our cocoon and rejoin the imperfect world. This by no means suggests that Earth is doomed, but even a small amount of evil emits a deafening roar and has the potential to infiltrate the heart like a snake’s poisonous venom. Goodness, while very powerful, speaks softly, like an innocent lamb passing unnoticed. Unfortunately, people tend to listen to a loud bark over a gentle whisper. So how do we teach others to listen to the gentle whisper and thus bridge this great divide between the spiritual and secular worlds? The answer simply stated by St. Paul, drown out evil with an abundance of good – infiltrate society with the love of Christ. We do this by bringing Christ with us to each and every activity, encounter or situation of our day - work, school, shopping, entertainment, even times of rest and sleep. Others will come to know Christ through our good example and love. Little by little, evil will be overshadowed by good. We, with Christ’s help, become the bridge that joins the divided spiritual and secular worlds and restore faith to mankind.

Recognizing the Voice of Our Lord – The Nature of Divine Inspiration

2010-01-01T12:45:00.000-08:00

One week ago today love was born in a manger. Today, on the Solemnity of Mary the Mother of God, we stand by the crèche along with Our Lady, St. Joseph and the shepherds to adore the Christ child asleep in His crib. It is a great joy to have Christ with us now, but what happens when the Christmas season ends on January 10th, the Baptism of The Lord. Will He be put away with the Christmas decorations? Jesus Christ remains forever close to us in the Tabernacle but also in our hearts. Quite often Our Lord places people in our paths but we often pass them by for we see with our limited human vision. In order to see others’ as Christ sees them, we must first know Him. To know Him, we must listen to the words He speaks to our hearts.

Christ loves us with an infinite love and calls each us by name but frequently we do not hear His voice for the cares and responsibilities of life cause us to unknowingly filter out His voice. To hear Him we must enter into the silence of our hearts where we will hear Him speak.

How do we recognize the voice of God? He comes to us in many ways. Perhaps the most obvious is through spiritual advisors or trusted friends. However, He also comes in unexpected ways, in song lyrics, lines from movies or television programs, thoughts that “unexpectedly pop into our heads”, and in dreams. We shutter to think what would have been had St. Joseph disregarded his dreams as nonsensical meanderings of the human subconscious. He may not have married Our Lady, and Our Lord Jesus may have been counted among the Holy Innocents – the infant martyrs who died at the hands of Herod and his jealous wrath. Naturally, St. Joseph must have been certain that the messages he received were indeed from God or he would not have altered his own plans. Simeon and Anna through the action of the Holy Spirit, recognized the Christ child as the Savior of the World. Recall that St. John the Baptist also knew of the Savior’s birth while still in his mother Elizabeth’s womb. God sent him as the forerunner of the Christ to come so that we would recognize Him of whom John spoke. The gospel of St. John 14:25-26, 29-30 says, “These things I have spoken to you while yet dwelling with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your mind whatever I have said to you. … And now I have told you before it comes to pass, that when it has come to pass you may believe.” The Holy Spirit awakened the thoughts stored in the minds of His disciples, and also told them of things to come.

Our Lord speaks to us in similar ways. Consider the common phenomenon: an old friend from our past comes to mind and minutes, hours, or days later we hear from him; or perhaps we have a thought that a letter from so and so is in our mailbox, and discover upon picking up our mail, a letter from that friend; or two close friends utter the same words at precisely the same moment. We have all experienced such happenings. Why would Our Lord speak to us of such seemingly trivial incidents? Might it be that He is teaching us how to recognize His voice? If we believe in small matters, we will receive the graces to believe in matters of greater significance. If God did not reveal Himself in this way we would likely dismiss the thoughts as figments of our imagination. He wants us to believe and thus He manifests Himself through divine inspiration. When we receive perceived inspirations we should ALWAYS pray about them for they must be tested to ascertain that they are from God. Additionally, consultation with a trusted spiritual advisor is essential. St. Josemaria Escriva, the Founder of Opus Dei said, “Get to know the Holy Spirit, the Great Unknown, the one who has to sanctify you. Don’t forget that you are a temple of the God. The Paraclete is in the center of your soul: listen to him and follow his inspirations with docility.” (The Way, #57.) St. Josemaria founded Opus Dei through divine inspiration on October 2, 1928.

Rejoice with Our Lady and St. Joseph and believe in the Child Jesus. He who is our Savior, the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, and Prince of Peace is wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.

Recommended Reading:

In the School of the Holy Spirit, by Jacques Philippe

Christ is Passing By, Christ Triumphs through Humility, and the Epiphany of Our Lord, by St. Josemaria Escriva

Both books are available through Scepter Publishers, Inc. www.scepterpublishers.org

Works by St. Josemaria Escriva may also be viewed on-line at: www.opusdei.org

Preparing our Hearts for the Savior’s Birth - Maintaining Hope, Spiritual Optimism and Peace

2009-12-22T09:54:00.000-08:00

We are nearing the end of our Advent season and the beautiful season of Christmas is near. As we patiently await the birth of our Savior, we find ourselves scampering here and there amidst the hustle and bustle of crowded stores, and traffic jams. At times such as these we must hang on to our hope for the “grinch” will try to rob us of our peace. It is very easy to get caught up in the net of commercialism; and the stress that consumes us can shake our spiritual optimism. We may find ourselves on a treadmill stuck in high gear. Consumerism is the apparent culprit, but perhaps the greater problem is a lack of faith and hope that leaves our vulnerable souls open for the enemy’s attack. At times Christmas celebrations can be “over the top” for we indulge in lavish foods, drink and jollity to the point that the real meaning of Christmas is overshadowed by the so called “finer things of life.” Eating, drinking and general merriment is wonderful providing that Christ’s birth is the reason for our happiness. Everyone tries to “get into the Christmas spirit”. A glass of eggnog, some Christmas Eve snow, and a few strolling carolers will add to the ambiance and help boost our spirits, but without Christ our parties are pointless, and superficial. How do we spread the joy of Christ’s birth when the stress of the season seems insurmountable? Perhaps if we get off the treadmill and simply contemplate the empty crèche that awaits the Christ Child, we will find the real Christmas spirit. Gaze at Mary and Joseph and imagine being in that lowly stable in Bethlehem as they wait with joy the birth of the child - the baby Jesus who comes bearing love to save us from our sins. Perhaps if we invite the Holy Family into our celebrations we will find our peace, for our hope is in The Child. In decorating our homes, let every candle we place in our window, every ornament we hang on our tree, every carol we sing, every cookie we bake, and every gift we exchange be for Christ. Our homes should reflect His love, and our parties ought to be a joyful celebration of His anticipated coming. We should go to Mary and Joseph in prayer and ask them to help us prepare our souls to receive the Savior of the World, our King, the Prince of Peace.

Wishing all of you a Blessed and Joyous Christmas Filled with Hope.

Mary the Mother of God – Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception

2009-12-08T17:30:00.000-08:00

Today, on the occasion of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we conclude our nine-day novena in her honor. We rightfully honor her under her title Queen conceived without original sin, for she who was the most blessed among women was chosen to become the mother of God before she was conceived in her mother’s womb. Our Lord prepared Our Lady to receive in her beautiful, sacred and spotless vessel, the greatest gift ever bestowed to mankind, the gift of His only son, Jesus the Christ. Our Blessed Mother’s Fiat to the Angel Gabriel was a great blessing for all of us because in her words, “be it done unto me according to thy word”, she became the Mother of Christ, and later at the foot of the cross, became mother to all souls, living and dead. She now resides in Heaven as our Queen, and Queen of all creation. Even in Heaven she is within our grasp if we just go to her with all of our needs, joys and sorrows. This very loving mother of ours’ longs to hear from us and will come to our aid in an instant. St. Josemaria Escriva, the Founder of Opus Dei said in The Way, “Mother! Call her with a loud voice. She is listening to you; she sees you in danger, perhaps, and she–your holy mother Mary–offers you, along with the grace of her son, the refuge of her arms, the tenderness of her embrace…and you will find yourself with added strength for the new battle.” (#516) Pray to her under her many titles in the Litany of the Blessed Virgin.

THE LITANY OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY

Lord, have mercy on us. Christ have mercy on us.

Lord, have mercy on us. Christ, hear us.

Christ graciously hear us.

God the Father of heaven Have mercy on us.

God the Son, redeemer of the world

God the Holy Spirit

Holy Trinity, one God

Holy Mary, Pray for us

Holy Mother of God,

Holy Virgin of virgins,

Mother of Christ,

Mother of divine grace,

Mother most pure,

Mother most chaste,

Mother inviolate,

Mother undefiled,

Mother most amiable,

Mother most admirable,

Mother of good counsel,

Mother of our Creator,

Mother of our Savior,

Mother Immaculate

Virgin most prudent,

Virgin most venerable,

Virgin most renowned,

Virgin most powerful,

Virgin most merciful,

Virgin most faithful,

Mirror of justice,

Seat of wisdom,

Cause of our joy,

Spiritual vessel,

Vessel of honor,

Singular vessel of devotion,

Mystical rose,

Tower of David,

Tower of ivory,

House of gold,

Ark of the Covenant,

Gate of Heaven,

Morning star,

Health of the sick,

Refuge of sinners,

Comforter of the afflicted,

Help of Christians,

Queen of angels,

Queen of patriarchs,

Queen of prophets,

Queen of apostles,

Queen of martyrs,

Queen of confessors,

Queen of virgins,

Queen of all saints,

Queen of the family

Queen conceived without Original Sin,

Queen assumed into Heaven,

Queen of the most holy Rosary,

Queen of peace,

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,

Spare us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,

Graciously hear us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,

Have mercy on us.

Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God,

That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray. O God, whose only-begotten Son, by his life, death, and resurrection, has purchased for us the rewards of eternal life; grant, we beseech you, that, we, who meditate on these mysteries of the most holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, may imitate what they contain, and obtain what they promise Through Christ our Lord. R. Amen

HAIL HOLY QUEEN

Hail, holy queen, mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope. To you we cry, poor, banished children of Eve. To you do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious advocate, your eyes of mercy toward us, and after this exile show unto us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.

V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.

R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Mary the Mother of God – The Wedding Feast at Cana

2009-12-07T15:42:00.000-08:00

As Our Lady lived most of her life in private, we have only a few accounts of her personal life. One of these was the wedding feast at Cana. Our Blessed Mother spoke only a few words at that wedding at Cana: “They have no more wine”, and “Do whatever He tells you.” These words simply stated, express the thoughts she carried in her heart. She had no need to provide lengthy explanations for she trusted completely that her son would provide the solution. Frederico Suarez, author of the book, Mary of Nazareth, delves deeply into the meaning of Our Lady’s simple words. “She was His mother. She had seen Him sleeping in her arms, but nevertheless she did not venture here to tell Him what He should do. She merely pointed out the problem to him and left the rest to his own judgment, convinced that whatever solution He offered, no matter what He decided to do, would be the best possible; she left the matter entirely to him, leaving him completely free to do his own Will without any feeling of obligation. Why? She knew that whatever He chose to do, it would be the most perfect thing that could be done, and the problem would be solved in the best possible way. She did not tie his hands, so to speak, or force him to take one line of action, determining a certain mode of proceeding for him; she trusted in his wisdom, in his superior knowledge, in his wider and deeper vision of things, a vision that took in aspects and circumstances perhaps unknown to her. She did not even ask whether He would think it fitting to intervene or not: She merely pointed out the problem and left it in his hands.”

Frederico Suarez so eloquently captures the words in Our Lady’s heart that one can almost see inside her beautiful soul. Her deep faith, total trust and abiding love and respect for her son so moves our hearts that we desire to emulate her simple and most effective way. We may from time to time be at a loss for words. We know what we want to say but cannot effectively communicate our thoughts to others. Usually it is with those people closest to us that we encounter the greatest breakdown in communication, for the more we love, the harder it is to convey those words in our hearts. We too, in our relationships, should model Our Lady’s sincerity and simplicity for she always knew the right words to speak. She will help us to be docile to the inspirations from the Holy Spirit.

Recommended Reading:

Mary of Nazareth, Frederico Suarez - www.scepterpublishers.org

Mary the Mother of God – She Pondered All Things in Her Heart

2009-12-06T21:38:00.000-08:00

Our Blessed Mother Mary was blessed abundantly with many truths of our faith yet these things she pondered in her heart. We do not know the finite details of Our Lady’s life in Nazareth for much of her life remained hidden from the world. She passed by unnoticed and blended into the background of society carrying out her duties with diligence, simplicity, and grace. Our Lady in her perfect humility never sought praise or recognition for her only desire was to give all the glory to God her Father. St. Josemaria Escriva said, “Not even to Joseph does Mary communicate the mystery that God has wrought in her. This lesson teaches us not to be accustomed to speaking lightly but to channel our joys and sorrows correctly without seeking praise or sympathy. Deo omnis Gloria! – all for God” (The Furrow #647.) When we find ourselves with a preponderance of thoughts to convey to others, let us model Our Lady’s humility and ponder all things in our hearts; and astutely ascertain that our speech not be self-serving but only be for the glory of God and the good of our neighbor.

Mary the Mother of God – Model of Perfect Virtue

2009-12-05T21:33:00.000-08:00

Mary is indeed the Mother God, but she is our mother as well. As she stood at the foot of the cross, overwhelmed with grief, Christ looked down and spoke the words we know so very well, “Son, behold they mother, mother behold they son”. At that moment Christ gave His mother not only to John, but to all of us. Mary became the mother of the whole human race. She lived the human virtues to perfection. Could there be any better model for those of us blessed with the responsibility of raising or caring for children than our beautiful Mother Mary?

The care of children can be a great challenge. Our Mother Mary, although she was perfect and free from any form of temptation or sin, still suffered for her son, Jesus. At the presentation in the Temple, she learned that Jesus was to be the cause of the rise and fall of many in Israel and her heart too a sword would pierce. Joseph and Mary both experienced fear and misunderstanding when Jesus was separated from them for three days as He went about doing His Father’s business. At the foot of the cross Our Lady suffered the greatest pain imaginable – the death of her child. Although she suffered greatly, her fortitude, trust and divine filiation enabled her to carry out the will of God in her life.

There is no question that raising a family today is a challenge. However some parents find the task so overwhelmingly difficult, that rather than tackle the problems, they retreat to passivity and allow their children to “go with the flow” and succumb to current philosophies and practices. Regardless of the challenges that face parents today in the rearing of children, we have an obligation to honor God by living our faith and instilling in children the virtues of faith, hope, and charity as well as generosity, kindness, patience, perseverance, fortitude, courage and purity to mention a few. St. Josemaria, said, "Some people bring children into the world for their own benefit, to serve their own purposes, out of selfishness. They forget children are a wonderful gift from God for which they will have to render a very special account…” (The Furrow, #845.) Parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, and teachers are called upon to set good example for their children by living all the Christian virtues, particularly Holy Purity. St. Josemaria said, “When we were little, we kept close to our mother in a dark alley or if dogs barked at us. Now, when we feel temptations of the flesh, we should run to the side or Our Mother in Heaven, by realizing how close she is to us, and by means of our aspirations. She will defend us and lead us to the light” (The Furrow, point 847.) The custom of reciting three Hail Mary’s at bedtime is recommended to protect one’s purity. The following short prayer to Our Lady will help us flee dangerous situations.

We Fly to Your Patronage

We fly to your patronage, O Holy Mother of God. Despise not our petitions in our necessities but deliver us from all dangers, O ever-glorious and blessed Virgin.

Recommended Reading:

The Mystical Rose, by John Henry Newman –

The following books by James B. Stenson:

Anchor – God’s Promises of Hope to Parents

Compass – A Handbook on Parent Leadership

Father, The Family Protector

Upbringing

All available from: www.scepterpublishers.org

Mary the Mother of God – Extraordinary Woman, Ordinary Life

2009-12-04T20:16:00.000-08:00

Our Blessed Mother Mary is God’s most highly favored daughter, the most blessed among women for she was chosen from all women to be the mother of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. We dare compare ourselves with such a perfect being. Yet, Our Lady lived an ordinary life like the other women of her day. St. Josemaria said: “ Mary most holy, Mother of God, passes unnoticed, just as one more among women of her town. Learn from her to live with “naturalness.” (The Way, #499)

The following passage from St. Josemaria Escriva’s Christ is Passing By, beautifully expresses the ordinary life of Our Lady: “We can't forget that Mary spent nearly every day of her life just like millions of other women who look after their family, bring up their children and take care of the house. Mary sanctifies the ordinary everyday things — what some people wrongly regard as unimportant and insignificant: everyday work, looking after those closest to you, visits to friends and relatives. What a blessed ordinariness, that can be so full of love of God!  For that's what explains Mary's life — her love. A complete love, so complete that she forgets herself and is happy just to be there where God wants her, fulfilling with care what God wants her to do. That is why even her slightest action is never routine or vain but, rather, full of meaning. Mary, our mother, is for us both an example and a way. We have to try to be like her, in the ordinary circumstances in which God wants us to live. If we act in this way, we give those around us the example of a simple and normal life which is consistent, even though it has all the limitations and defects which are part and parcel of the human condition. And when they see that we live the same life as they do, they will ask us: Why are you so happy? How do you manage to overcome selfishness and comfort-seeking? Who has taught you to understand others, to live well and to spend yourself in the service of others? Then we must disclose to them the divine secret of christian existence. We must speak to them about God, Christ, the Holy Spirit, Mary. The time has come for us to use our poor words to communicate the depth of God's love which grace has poured into our souls.”

Consider these words from Mary of Nazareth by Frederico Suarez. “It is encouraging for us to know our Lady achieved her incomparable sanctity through these small, everyday actions. All our life, so ordinary, so monotonous, made up of little joys and unimportant sorrows, of commonplace occupations and happenings can become something very great if we do everything for love, with enthusiasm and trying for perfection.”

Our Lady truly was an extraordinary woman who lived an ordinary life. Each day we should try to emulate her virtue. The following “little prayers”, known as aspirations are a simple way of maintaining close contact with our Blessed Lady throughout our day.

SOME ASPIRATIONS TO OUR LADY

Holy Mary, our hope handmaid of the Lord, pray for us

Holy Mary, our hope, seat of wisdom, pray for us

Holy Mary, star of the sea, help your children

Mother of fair love, help your children

Queen of Apostles, pray for us

Show that you are our mother

Sweet Heart of Mary, prepare a safe way for us

Recommended Reading:

Mary of Nazareth, by Frederico Suarez, Scepter Publishers, www.scepterpublishers.org

Mary the Mother of God – Blessed is the Fruit of Your Womb

2009-12-03T13:40:00.000-08:00

Our Lady, after learning of the Angel Gabriel’s news that she was to become the mother of God, went in haste to visit her cousin Elizabeth, as she too was with child. St. Josemaria said, “Turn your eyes towards the Blessed Virgin and see how she practices the virtue of loyalty. When Elizabeth needs her, the Gospel says that she went joyfully making haste. Learn from her!” (The Furrow, #371, St. Josemaria Escriva) Her first thoughts were of her cousin and her condition; her own news she humbly pondered in her heart. As soon as she entered Elizabeth’s house the Holy Spirit stirred the soul of St. John the Baptist causing him to leap for joy in his mother’s womb. At that precise moment St. John was cleansed of original sin, and his mother Elizabeth, also filled with the Holy Spirit, knew without a word from Our Lady, that she was in the presence of the Lord Himself. She proclaimed “Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Why should I be honoured with a visit from the mother of my Lord?” (Luke 1: 42-43) How very beautiful that the Holy Spirit chose the unborn babe in Elizabeth’s womb to be the catalyst that moved her to announce the news of Our Lady’s divine motherhood. Thus the feast of Our Lady’s visitation to Elizabeth became a celebration of rejoicing for she brought great joy to Elizabeth that day. Our Lady’s heart too was filled with joy as she poured out her deep gratitude to God the Father in the Magnificat.

MAGNIFICAT

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed: the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name. He has mercy on those who fear Him in every generation. He has shown the strength of His arm, and has scattered the proud in their conceit. He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty. He has come to the help of His servant Israel for He has remembered His promise of mercy, the promise He made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children for ever.

Recommended Reading:

Mother of the Redeemer – Encyclical Letter of Pope John Paul II, 1987

Mary the Mother of God – The Holy Rosary

2009-12-02T18:49:00.000-08:00

When we consider the many devotions to our Blessed Mother, the most beautiful prayer we can offer her is the Holy Rosary. This devotion is very powerful when prayed with love. The following words from the Holy Rosary by the founder of Opus Dei, St. Josemaria Escriva, inspire in us a deeper love for Our Lady and Our Lord Jesus Christ.

“These lines are not written for "little women." —They are written for full-grown men, and very... manly men, who at times, no doubt, have raised their hearts to God, crying out to Him with the Psalmist: Notam fac mihi viam, in qua ambulem; quia ad te levavi animam meam. —Make the way known to me, wherein I should walk; for I have lifted up my soul to Thee (Ps 142:8).  I must tell these men a secret that may very well be the beginning of the way that Christ wants them to follow. My friend, if you want to be great, become little. To be little it is necessary to believe as children believe, to love as children love, to give yourself up as children give themselves up... to pray as children pray. And all of this is necessary to accomplish what I am going to reveal to you in these lines: The beginning of the way, at the end of which you will find yourself completely carried away with love for Jesus, is a confident love for Mary.  —Do you want to love Our Lady? —Well, get to know her. How? —By praying her Rosary well, But, in the Rosary... we always say the same things! —Always the same? And don't those who are in love always say the same things to each other?... Could it not be that there is monotony in your Rosary because, instead of pronouncing words like a man, you emit sounds like an animal, while your mind is very far from God? —Moreover, listen: before each decade we are told the mystery to be contemplated.  —Have you... ever contemplated these mysteries? Become little. Come with me and —this is the essence of what I have to confide— we will live the life of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. Each day we will render them a new service. We will hear their family conversations. We will see the Messiah grow up. We will admire His thirty years of hidden life... We will be present at His Passion and Death... We will be awed by the Glory of His Resurrection... In a word: we will contemplate, carried away with Love (the only real love is Love), each and every instant of Christ Jesus.”

How to Pray The Holy Rosary –

- Recite the Apostles’ Creed

- Pray the Our Father

- Pray 3 Hail Mary’s

- Pray the Glory Be

- For each of the five mysteries pray the Our Father, 10 Hail Mary’s and a Glory Be

- At the conclusion of the 5^th mystery pray the Hail, Holy Queen

The Mysteries of the Holy Rosary

The Joyful Mysteries

1. The Annunciation of Our Lady

2. The Visitation of Our Lady to Elizabeth

3. The Birth of Our Lord

4. The Presentation of Jesus

5. The Finding of Jesus in the Temple

The Luminous Mysteries

1. The Baptism of Christ in the Jordan

2. The Wedding Feast at Cana

3. The Proclamation of the Kingdom

4. The Transfiguration

5. The Institution of the Holy Eucharist

The Sorrowful Mysteries

1. The Agony in the Garden

2. The Scourging at the Pillar

3. The Crowning with Thorns

4. The Carrying of the Cross

5. The Crucifixion

The Glorious Mysteries

1. The Resurrection of Our Lord

2. The Ascension into Heaven

3. The Descent of the Holy Spirit

4. The Assumption of Our Lady into Heaven

5. The Coronation of Our Lady in Heaven

Mary the Mother of God – Full of Grace

2009-12-01T14:25:00.000-08:00

We can imagine the scene when the Angel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary and delivered the message from God asking her to become the mother of Christ. We can appreciate the thoughts that whirled through her mind, as this young girl of 13 did not know man. Mary did not need to ponder this question long for there was only one answer - to do the Will of her Heavenly Father. Our Blessed Lady with a heart full of faith, trust, and love gave her fiat, and through the power of the Holy Spirit became the virginal mother of Jesus, the Son of God. In that moment of the Annunciation, Mary, who was full of grace, knew her life would be changed forever, yet she was filled with peace. We hope and pray that whenever Our Lord asks anything of us, however challenging or “humanly impossible” it may seem, that we will have the trust and fortitude, the spiritual strength, to respond as Our Lady did with a fiat, “be it done unto me according to thy word.” St. Josemaria, the Founder of Opus Dei said, “Before, by yourself, you couldn’t. Now, you’ve turned to our Lady, and with her, how easy!” (The Way, point 513.) The praying of the Angelus at noontime will help us remain close to our Heavenly Mother throughout our day.

THE ANGELUS

V. The angel of the Lord declared unto Mary;

R. and she conceived by the Holy Spirit

Hail Mary, full of grace…

V. Behold the handmaid of the Lord.

R. Be it done unto me according to your word.

Hail Mary…

V. And the Word was made flesh,

R. and dwelt among us.

Hail Mary…

V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God,

R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Let us pray. Pour forth we beseech you, O Lord, your grace into our hearts, that we, to whom the incarnation of Christ, your Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by His passion and cross be brought to the glory of His resurrection, through the same Christ our Lord.

R. Amen

Mary the Mother of God - The Most Blessed Among Women

2009-11-30T15:06:00.000-08:00

Today, we embark on a nine-day spiritual journey in preparation for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary on December 8^th. We honor our Blessed Mother in this way for she is God’s most highly favored daughter. Conceived in her mother St. Ann’s womb free from the stain of original sin, Mary the Mother of God is the most blessed among women for in her spotless and sacred vessel she carried the savior of the world, the Lord Jesus Christ. Mary, who is the perfect mother of all living things, the perfect virgin, the queen of the universe, passes unnoticed among us in her perfect humility. We are richly blessed to have Mary as our Heavenly mother. Her pure heart loves all of her children with an infinite love. Our Lady is the mediatrix of all graces for all graces from Christ pass through her hands. She longs to know the petitions in our hearts and will always intercede on our behalf to her son Jesus. Mary is a direct route to Christ. St. Josemaria the Founder of Opus Dei said, “To Jesus we always go, and to him we always return, through Mary” (Point #495, The Way.) On this first day of the Novena to the Immaculate Conception, let us go to Our Lady with all the joys, tribulations and requests we carry in our hearts. A beautiful prayer of petition to Our Lady is the Memorare.

THE MEMORARE

Remember O, most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help or sought your intercession was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly unto you, O Virgin of Virgins my Mother. To you 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 me. Amen.

Recommended Reading:

Mother of God and Our Mother – Friends of God, St. Josemaria Escriva

The Blessed Virgin – Cause of our Joy, Christ is Passing By, St. Josemaria Escriva

To Jesus Through Mary, Christ is Passing By, St. Josemaria Escriva

From the Heart – Giving Unconditionally and Receiving with Gratitude

2009-11-27T15:51:00.000-08:00

As sons and daughters of God we are called to give ourselves generously to the others as Christ gives Himself to us each and every day. Unconditional love is that spirit in which we give from our hearts without seeking recompense. Our giving should not be self-serving for our desire is always to bring joy to the other. Our gift to others is an extension of our love for Christ. Thus the familiar saying “you owe me one” has no place in the heart of one who tries to imitate the love of Christ. His love for us is unconditional, and we would do well to imitate Him. The Prayer of St. Francis is an example of the true spirit of giving.

Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

where there is injury, pardon;

where there is doubt, faith;

where there is despair, hope;

where there is darkness, light;

and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek

to be consoled as to console;

to be understood as to understand;

to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;

it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;

and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen

Gifts, whether they be monetary, or acts of kindness, are all manifestations of the love we have in our hearts. We have all been taught that it is better to give than to receive. However as we are called to give generously, we are also called to receive graciously with appreciation. Do we receive with the same spirit in which we give – from the heart? We have all been the recipient of an unexpected gift or an extraordinarily generous favor. While we are touched and grateful, we none-the-less experience disappointment or sorrow if we are unable to reciprocate. While it is true that we are called to give to one another, we are not called to engage in a disingenuous buying competition to “pay back” or “settle the score”. The “eye for an eye” philosophy can quite easily become self-gratification if our need to appease our own conscience overshadows the other person’s gift to us. In such situations giving becomes all about us rather than all about the other. The greatest gift we can give is a heartfelt “thank you” to express our gratitude. In the gospel account of the curing of the ten lepers, Jesus took issue with the fact that only one person returned to give thanks, for all He asked of them was to give thanks and bring His message to the others. Christ asks us to express our gratitude and appreciation for any gift bestowed upon us by another. Thus our acceptance of a gift or charitable deed with gratitude IS our gift to the giver.

Recommended Reading: Friends of God, by St. Josemaria Escriva

Chapter: Detachment, Section: God Loves a Cheerful Giver

Chapter: The Strength of Love

Fighting the Good Fight: The Spirit of Detachment and the Virtue of Perseverance

2009-11-16T15:17:00.000-08:00

Why are we so reluctant to accept help? We are all imperfect beings and make mistakes, we all fail, and we all need each other to recover from our falls. God asks us to support and guide each on our journey. If we insist on going it alone, we will continue to spin our wheels, and instead of moving forward, we sink deeper into the mud. St. Josemaria, the Founder of Opus Dei said, “ You insist on trying to walk on your own, doing your own will, guided solely by your own judgment. And you can see for yourself that the fruit is fruitlessness. My child, if you don’t give up your own judgment, if you are proud, if you devote yourself to “your” apostolate, you will work all night – your whole life will be one long night – and at the end of it, all the dawn will find you with your nets empty.” – (Point 574, The Forge.) Battles are never fought alone. We need armies for there is strength in numbers. God is within all of us and He gives us all angels to assist us. Imagine the impact we could make if we all worked together instead of flying solo.

When our search for answers and desire for truth, lead us to a dead end, our only recourse is to turn to God for He possesses the master plan for our lives. Rejections and setbacks may give us cause to give up and abandon our plans and ambitions. Given the current state of our economy, jobs are becoming increasingly more difficult to find and we would rather avoid the whole painstaking search altogether, but we know we must persevere in the battle. If we submit to defeat and give up the good fight, our souls spiral downward to discouragement and we eventually lose our peace. Perhaps the better choice is to proceed with our plans, but rather than clench tightly to our own methods, we ought to become detached from our own way and attached to God’s. Thus we will move forward along the road while remaining in constant contact with our co-pilot for further directions. If God, our co-pilot tells us to go right when we would have turned left, we are more assured of reaching our destination if we follow His advice. Sometimes though, when God does not give us the next directive, we may think that He has gone missing, but rest assured He is at our side assuming the role of the silent partner. We may not feel His presence but we know He is there. He may allow us to take the wrong course, but only to help us see with far greater clarity the right course. His temporary absence leads us to seek Him and rely on Him more fully.

Prayer to Understand the Will of God

2009-11-10T15:47:00.000-08:00

Dear Heavenly Father, through the intercession of N. please remove the obstacle of pride that clouds our vision. Open our hearts and minds so that we will come to know your will for us. Destroy any feelings, thoughts or actions that are not from you, and help us to accept your truth with humility, joy, and peace. Marylee Marsh – 2009; inspired by the life of St. Josemaria Escriva, the Founder of Opus Dei

Graces in Abundance

2009-11-07T14:58:00.000-08:00

God showers all of us with many graces each day. Let us be certain that our rain barrels are properly disposed to catch these blessings lest they wash away; then store them in the reservoir of our hearts to continuously draw from as needed for our daily struggle.

Childlike Spirit and Divine Filiation – The Keys to the Kingdom of Heaven

2009-10-27T10:14:00.000-07:00

When we were children we could not wait to grow up and become adults. We truly believed that as adults we would finally be free of parental authority, and possess an independence that enabled us to do live our lives without restrictions – freedom, as we called it. We could not wait to leave our childhood behind and enter the exciting world of adulthood. As adults we learned that life was not all fun and games, for along with the glamour and “freedom” there came responsibility, physical and emotional challenges, and the monotony of the daily routine. When the pressures mounted we sometimes wished we could return to our childhood. St. Josemaria, the founder of Opus Dei said, “Don’t try to be older. A child, always a child even when you are dying of old age. …Be a child, and when you stumble, may your father God pick you up by the hand. (The Way, excerpt from point #870.) God will always care for us, His children, whether we are three or 103.

God will indeed protect us but to the wise and learned of the world – those who claim to be self sufficient, Jesus said: “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of Heaven.”

Thus in order to grow spiritually we must grow up and become little children. We leave behind the childish behavior of youth, and take on the childlike spirit of maturity. A childlike spirit possesses the favorable attributes of adulthood: wisdom, astuteness, perception, and intelligence, along with the trust, persistence, simplicity and innocence of children. Add to this mix humility, for it is the virtue of humility that helps us acknowledge our littleness before God. Divine Filiation is the condition by which we recognize God as our Father. We trust that He, who knows us better than we know ourselves, will always act in our best interest. His way is the best way, and his timing is always perfect.

There are times when we know that God is asking something of us, but His apparent slowness in unfolding His plan can be very trying. It is these times that we must have this Divine Filiation and live our lives with complete trust, and patience that all will be revealed in His time. Sometimes God sends us a bouquet of roses and all we need do is place them in water, but generally he sends us the seeds and relies on us to plant and cultivate the garden. The buds may be slow in coming because the plants are building a strong root system. Every life experience, be it positive or negative, if sanctified, provides the nourishment for our garden. When the first buds finally appear with their vibrant color and sweet fragrance we will know that we have cooperated with God to bring about His glorious plan for our lives.

Golden Chances – Random Acts of Charity

2009-10-17T19:12:00.000-07:00

Frequently we find ourselves in situations beyond our control that put us in the company of other people - in long lines at supermarkets or department stores, bus stations, ticket counters at airports, hospital emergency rooms, etc. How do we pass the time in such circumstances, send text messages or chat on the cell, play games on our smart phone, or read a book? Certainly these are all perfectly fine ways to pass one’s time. Perhaps though, within these seemingly ordinary occurrences, there lies a golden opportunity to perform a charitable act – that of reaching out to our neighbor. We need to take advantage of opportunities to speak to the people God has placed in our path for they are there for a reason. (Pope John Paul II always stated that there is no such thing as coincidence.) We never know a person’s needs, but God does, and He asks us to show others the same kindness that He shows us. They may be physically, emotionally or spiritually troubled and in great need of unburdening their hearts. Sometimes all they need is a smile or a few words to bring peace to their souls. We need to seize that moment because it may not present itself again. Sometimes, to overcome timidity, we need to just jump in with both feet and initiate a conversation. We do not know what kind of reception we will receive, however, people are generally very appreciative when approached. Perchance though they resist our attention, our kindness and efforts will be most pleasing to God.

Should we throw caution to the wind and blindly speak to everyone we meet without assessing a given situation? Certainly not, we should always be prudent with our actions. However, if we allow, fear, shyness, anxiety, nerves, or passivity to get the better of us, we will never reach out to the others and our golden chances will slip through our fingers.

The following words of St. Josemaria Escriva, The Founder of Opus Dei best express charity: “Charity towards our neighbor is an expression of our love of God. Accordingly, when we strive to grow in this virtue, we cannot fix any limits to our growth. The only possible measure for the love of God is to love without measure; on the one hand, because we will never be able to thank him enough for what he has done for us; and on the other, because this is exactly what God’s own love for us, his creatures, is like: it overflows without calculation or limit.” (Friends of God, Chapter: The Strength of Love - St. Josemaria Escriva).

Spiritual Blindness – The Obstacle to God’s Will

2009-10-10T18:52:00.000-07:00

Why do we chase the rainbow when the pot of gold is in our hands? It is our right and responsibility to seek the truth, however at times our all-consuming desire for personal fulfillment blinds our eyes to God’s will. Perhaps it is a need to achieve financial success or professional prestige; or a love of comfort that leads us to believe that our undertakings should be effortless; still yet it could be that our insecurities or fears are the stumbling blocks in our path. In our quest to find our truth, we unknowingly build a wall around ourselves that confines us to a spiritual and emotional prison – and in actuality, we resist the will of God that we are so desperately trying to ascertain.

God, in His great power has the ability to break down that wall that surrounds our soul. All we need do is abandon ourselves with humility and trust into His loving arms and He will show us His will. Thus in letting go of what we suppose to be our freedom, we will find our real freedom.

Remember, that Dorothy went searching for her heart’s desire over the rainbow and discovered after her tumultuous journey to Oz, that her pot of gold was in her own back yard. We do not need ruby slippers to find our way back to God. We simply need to open our hearts.

Our Lady is an exemplary model for us as she always sought, found and carried out the will of God. In this month of the Holy Rosary it is good to recite this beautiful prayer frequently with fervor for she will deliver our requests to God. St. Josemaria, the Founder of Opus Dei said, “The Holy Rosary is a powerful weapon. Use it with confidence and you’ll be amazed at the results.” (# 558, The Way.)

Revisions to Ordinary Work - Our Gift to God

2009-10-08T20:40:00.001-07:00

Please note that I have made revisions to my previous post of October 2, 2009, Ordinary Work - Our Gift to God.

Ordinary Work – Our Gift to God

2009-10-02T19:31:00.000-07:00

Everyone is called to work. It is part of God's divine plan. However, with the fall of Adam and Eve, sin entered the world and work assumed a different nature. Human labor may be pleasurable, stimulating, and exciting, but it also may be disagreeable, difficult, and monotonous. None-the-less work, for most people, is a necessity of life.

Most would agree that work provides some element of satisfaction. Work, however that is performed for self-gratification gives a temporary pleasure, whereas work done for God, affords us the supreme benefit because we are earning our Heavenly reward.

The greatest gift we can give to another person is the gift of ourselves. When we give gifts to our loved ones – be they of a monetary nature, or a good deed, our desire is to make those people happy; and we put forth great effort to make our gift the best it can be. Our Father in Heaven deserves our best gift as well – that gift is our ordinary, everyday work done with love. All honest work may be made holy – that is raised to a level of sanctity and offered as a gift to God. Offering our work in this way gives us greater impetus to carry out that day-to-day work with joy. God gives us all that we need to succeed in our chosen profession. Utilizing the talents He has given us to the best of our ability allows us to give back to Him. Our work, done well with love is a most pleasing gift to God for we are giving of ourselves.

The universal call to holiness through the sanctification of one’s ordinary work is the premise of Opus Dei. It is right and fitting to share these words about human work today, on the occasion of its 81^st anniversary of its inception by the Founder, St. Josemaria Escrivia on October 2, 1928. For further information about Opus Dei, go to http://www.opusdei.org.

Guided by the Angels

2009-10-02T13:13:00.000-07:00

I could not let this day pass without some further comments on our wonderful Guardian Angels whose feast we celebrate today, October 2nd.

A passage from the Book of Exodus: The Lord says “see I am sending you an angel to go before you to guard you on your way and bring you to the place I have prepared. Be attentive to him and heed his voice. Do not rebel against him for he will not forgive your sin. My authority resides in him.”

Our angels come to us in a most unobtrusive manner, yet the words they speak are emphatically the will of God. Human beings tend to believe as truth, the obvious and forceful, over the subtle and gentle. We are inclined to disregard the latter as a whim, or a mere passing thought from our overactive imagination. Some of those thoughts may well be our own imagination, however many of them, as we come to realize after careful discernment, are indeed God’s words conveyed to us through these angelic beings. Their compelling words spoken with peacefulness and grace are real, and we are expected to listen to their message.

We should become friends with our guardian angels and confide in them as we would our most trusted friends. Although they have an intellect that far surpasses the human mind, angels cannot read our thoughts, and we must tell them what we want them to know. They are our dearest friends for they remain with us 24/7, and will come to our aid whenever we call. Angels are immensely helpful in performing any task such as finding a parking space, studying, preparing for an exam, or expressing the words in our hearts to other souls we are trying to reach. The human forms of communication: telephone, texting, postal mail, e-mail, and of course personal contact are all necessary, however angel mail is the most effective correspondence, as our words are delivered through divine channels - God Himself.

Spiritual Parenthood

2009-09-28T13:12:00.000-07:00

Most men and women have an innate ability to care for children; women, generally speaking are nurturers, and men are providers and protectors. While it is the norm that most people marry and raise a family, there are people who have not been blessed with children of their own. Some are single who have yet to experience the joy of sharing their life with that one special person, chosen by God; others have lost their spouse to an unexpected death or abandonment; and others are married couples who despite their great desire for a family, remain childless for reasons unknown. People in all of these situations have a difficult cross to bear, however, God is good, and in seeing their sorrow gives them a special blessing – the gift of spiritual children.

People who possess a special love for children are spiritual parents by virtue of their love and generosity. God gives them the heart of a parent with the ability to love and care for the children He has placed in their lives: their nieces, nephews or cousins, their friends’ children, and for some teachers, their students. Those called to dedicate their lives to God in celibate vocations, in a very special way, become spiritual parents as well.

The role of the spiritual parent is not, (in most cases), to assume a major parental role, but rather to stand on the sidelines to love, support, and guide the children God has entrusted to their care with prayer and sacrifice. When God calls a man or woman to become a spiritual mother or father, He is blessing them with a special responsibility, the spiritual well being of another soul. The greatest gift we can give children is love; and the best way to love them is through prayer. Though distance may separate children from their spiritual parents, they will remain forever in their hearts.

Transformation of the Soul

2009-09-25T11:18:00.000-07:00

When people are afflicted with disease, they sometimes require a blood transfusion or a bone marrow transplant. In both instances the unhealthy blood or marrow is replaced with healthy blood or marrow. There may be times in our lives when our souls need a transfusion to purge out the elements of pride (vanity and self-righteousness), anger, weakness, and indeed anything that makes us hold fast to our own will. Any thought, emotion or action that is not from God, is like a cancer in our soul. Like Cancer, these passions can rapidly take over preventing us from seeing the will of God for our lives.

If we allow God to give us that transfusion, He will fill us with an abundance of grace and replace the vices with virtues: vanity with humility, weakness with strength, animosity with love, and agitation with peace. With our hearts, minds, eyes, and ears fully opened, we will come to know His will for us and embrace it as our own.

The Strength to Stand

2009-09-22T12:29:00.000-07:00

When you feel that God has taken everything away from you, as He sometimes does, and you fear that you will not be able to find your way back, turn to Him and offer up your nothingness and He will provide you with the strength to stand and move forward. Sometimes the simplest act of humility freely given restores Hope to your heart.

Thank you!

2009-09-17T19:18:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

I would like to express my heart-felt thanks and appreciation to those of you who have visited, or are following my blog, and particularly for spreading the word to your family and friends. Our Lord gives us many blessings each and every day, and we sometimes forget to thank Him, as we should. Today, I thank God for the privilege to share my thoughts with all of you and hope to publish more posts in the days ahead. Please feel free to make comments by clicking on the link at the end of the each post.

Best wishes,

Marylee

A Voice From Behind You – The Guardian Angels

2009-09-14T20:25:00.000-07:00

When we least expect it a thought suddenly pops into our head. It is a feeling so consuming that it permeates our soul. Something about this feeling is different from our usual thoughts or daydreams. It is a voice that we know is not our own, yet it becomes our own. This is the voice of God delivering a message to us through our guardian angel. “While from behind, a voice shall sound in your ears: “This is the way; walk in it,” when you would walk to the right or to the left (Isaiah 30: 20-21). The guardian angels are very powerful and can be of immense help to us if we recognize their presence and invoke them often. St. Josemaria, the Founder of Opus Dei, always encouraged us to address the angel of a person we were trying to reach, “Win over the guardian angel of the one you want to draw to your apostolate. He is always a great accomplice”. (The Way, Point #563.) When we find we are at a loss for words, we can rely on our angel to place the Holy Spirit’s words on our tongues.

The angels are a wonderful gift bestowed upon us by our loving Heavenly Father. We should thank them often for their constancy and devotion. How reassuring and comforting it is to know that we all have these wonderful friends to guide, encourage and protect us throughout our lives.

Recommended Reading: The Way, by St. Josemaria Escriva, My Angel Will Go Before You, by Georges Huber. Both books are available from Scepter Publishers: http://www.scepterpublishers.org.

Forgive, Forget and Begin Again

2009-09-12T11:48:00.000-07:00

Many of us have suffered the pain of separation, or even estrangement from a loved one: a parent, a sibling, a former love, or a friend. Maybe we desire to mend these broken relationships but feel it is too late because the damage has been done. We have all met people who will admit that they haven’t spoken to their parents or siblings in years. It saddens me so to hear these words for it is a very heavy burden that they bear. However there is Hope, for God has given us a beautiful gift – the ability to forgive others. As He forgives us, we are to forgive one another. Regardless of the reason for the separation: an unresolved argument, a difference of opinion, a misunderstanding, miscommunication, or a betrayal, there is a way back. With humility and love we CAN forgive, forget, and begin again. Some find it easy to forgive but find forgetting more difficult. However, in forgetting the wrong, our souls are set free from the chains that bind them. Of course this beginning again is not a literal beginning, but rather a turning of one’s heart. It is a desire and resolution to forget the pain of the past and start again with a renewed outlook and positive spirit; and it is NEVER to late to begin again.

Recommended reading: Christ is Passing By, and Friends of God, by St. Josemaria Escriva, the Founder of Opus Dei: www.opusdei.org, and Interior Freedom by Jacques Philippe, Scepter Publishers, Inc, www.scepterpublishers.org.

"Ford Every Stream" – Discerning the Will of God

2009-09-10T20:33:00.000-07:00

In the highly acclaimed movie The Sound of Music, Maria pondered the words the Reverend Mother sang to her: "Climb every mountain, search high and low, follow every byway, every path you know. Climb every mountain, ford every stream, follow every rainbow, till you find your dream." (partial lyrics to Climb Every Mountain from: The Sound of Music, Oscar Hammerstein II, Composer: Richard Rogers) Beset with uncertainty, Maria searched deeply into her soul to discern God’s will for her life.

We too have dreams, but we know that along the way we may meet with many obstacles. In fact, that seemingly endless road may be filled with potholes and darkness, however, with perseverance and complete trust in God, we too will find our happiness. Our lives may not turn out according to our plans, but as Maria learned, God’s will for us far outshines anything we could possibly imagine. If we persevere with patience and trust we can be assured that we will find our dream in the heart of God.

I highly recommend the books: The Trapp Family Singers, the true story that inspired the movie The Sound of Music; and its equally beautiful sequel, A Family on Wheels – Further Adventures of the Trapp Family Singers, both by Maria Augusta Trapp.

Children – Blessings from God

2009-09-09T17:49:00.000-07:00

We are all God’s adopted children says St. Paul in his letter to Galations 4:47. However, God loves us as His “real” children. He asks parents to love their children as He loves us. If God blesses a husband and wife with the gift of a child – biological, foster, adopted, or step; be they an infant, a young child, or a teen, He is asking them to love that child as their very own. It is not biology that makes a parent because the parent/child bond is built and based on love. It is love that makes that child your own – the love that comes from the heart of Christ.

Finding Peace Through Humility

2009-09-08T09:13:00.000-07:00

This morning I awoke with an eagerness to post a new thought on my Blog site. As the moments passed and no words came to my mind, I realized an agitation and unrest creeping into my soul. I recognized this familiar feeling and immediately resigned myself to the fact that inspirations would not be forthcoming today. We can only make progress in our lives when we are at peace. However God in His infinite wisdom knows how to bring positive from negative. Thus the topic of today’s Blog entry, Finding Peace Through Humility, was born from my agitated soul.

The key to achieving peace is to rid oneself of pride. Pride is a vice that plagues all of us, and in fact is an obstacle that clouds our vision. This vision of which I speak is the ability to see our lives as God sees them. We will only be able to see ourselves through God’s eyes if we seek to live the virtue of Humility. Humility is the virtue by which we acknowledge our “littleness” before God. When we can look deep inside and see that we are “not so great”, we learn that our greatness can only be found in God. Accepting ourselves as we are with humility and joy gives us an inner peace. There is a beautiful, simple prayer that has always been of immense help to me.

Let Go and Let God

As children bring their broken toys with tears for us to mend, I brought my broken dreams to God because He was my friend. But then, instead of leaving Him in peace to work alone, I hung around and tried to help, with ways that were my own. At last, I snatched them back and cried, “How can you be so slow?” My child, He said, “What could I do? You never did let go.”

Language of the Heart - the Unspoken Word

2009-09-06T16:44:00.000-07:00

When God speaks to us he often uses language that is familiar and easily recognizable. The words that just pop into our heads are usually clear, concise and direct. Other times, however, God’s message seems less obvious and is intertwined within our own thoughts. Somehow though, through the grace of God, one understands the message even without those clear words. God knows our hearts. Sometimes there is no need for words and He instills in our souls the ability to KNOW His message without the use of words. Frequently in marriage, the man and woman have no need for words because the language of the heart is unspoken, yet stronger, clearer and more penetrating than words or gestures alone can convey.

Pope John Paul II said in his book The Jeweler’s Shop, “Love can be a collision in which two selves realize profoundly they ought to belong to each other, even though they have no convenient moods or sensations.” (Wojtyla, Karol, The Jeweler’s Shop, Ignatius Press, 1992.)

Marriage - a daily struggle

2009-09-04T10:34:00.000-07:00

We are all gardens with weeds scattered amongst our beautiful flowers. Those weeds are our imperfections. Husbands and wives with God’s help, weed each other’s gardens. God unites one man and one woman together in Holy Matrimony to love, cherish, guide and support each other throughout their marriage. The two need not be perfect before they are joined but rather work to perfect each other in their daily struggle.

True Marital Love

2009-09-04T09:45:00.000-07:00

God's love puts us on top of the world. True love between a man and a woman can only exist if it is total, unconditional, and sacrificial. It brings about a joy that words cannot express. Love like this is revealed through the glory of God. It is God who plants the longing for one another in each others' hearts. It is God who makes their presence felt in their hearts when they are far apart. This love is true because it comes from the heart of God. God brings a divine love to the hearts of a man and a woman destined to become one. That great desire for each other is God's love, and when God wills for two people to become man and wife that desire soars to the highest of heights. They are drawn to each other like two powerful magnets that cannot be separated. They can only fully live when they are joined because their fulfillment is found in one another.