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The Mercy of God to the Penitent

from St. Maximus the Confessor

 

 

God's will is to save us, and nothing pleases him more than our coming back to him with true repen­tance. The heralds of truth and the ministers of divine grace have told us this from the beginning, repeating it in every age. Indeed, God's desire for our salvation is the primary and preeminent sign of his infinite good­ness. It was precisely in order to show that there is nothing closer to God's heart that the divine Word of God the Father, with untold condescension, lived among us in the flesh, and did, suffered, and said all that was necessary to reconcile us to God the Father, when we were at enmity with him, and to restore us to the life of blessedness from which we had been exiled.

He healed our physical infirmities by miracles; he freed us from our sins, many and grievous as they were, by suf­fering and dying, taking them upon himself as if he were answerable for them, sinless though he was. He also taught us in many different ways that we should wish to imitate him by our own kindness and genuine love for one another.

So it was that Christ proclaimed that he had come to call sinners to repentance, not the righteous, and that it was not the healthy who required a doctor, but the sick. He declared that he had come to look for the sheep that was lost, and that it was to the lost sheep of the house of Israel that he had been sent. Speaking more obscurely in the parable of the silver coin, he tells us 'that the purpose of his coming was to reclaim the royal image, which had become coated with the filth of sin. You can be sure that there is joy in heaven, he said, over one sinner who repents.

To give the same lesson, he revived the man who, having fallen into the hands of brigands, had been left stripped and half-dead from his wounds; he poured wine and oil on the wounds, bandaged them, placed the man on his own mule and brought him to an inn, where he left sufficient money to have him cared for, and promised to repay any further expense on his return.

Again, he told of how the Father, who is goodness itself, was moved with pity for his profligate son who returned and made amends by repentance; how he em­braced him, dressed him once more in the fine garments that befitted his own dignity, and did not reproach him for any of his sins.

So too, when he found wandering in the mountains and hills the one sheep that had strayed from God's flock of a hundred, he brought it back to the fold, but he did riot exhaust it by driving it ahead of him. In­stead, he placed it on his own shoulders and so, com­passionately, he restored it safely to the flock.

So also he cried out: Come to me, all you that toil and are heavy of heart. Accept my yoke, he said, by which he meant his commands, or rather, the whole way of life that he taught us in the Gospel. He then speaks of a burden, but that is only because repentance seems difficult. In fact, however, my yoke is easy, he assures us, and my burden is light.

Then again he instructs us in divine justice and goodness, telling us to be like our heavenly Father, holy, perfect and merciful. Forgive, he says, and you will be forgiven. Behave toward other people as you would wish them to behave toward you.

 

A certain Franiscan ponders on this greatest attribute of God: His infinite mercy.  Never does Our Lord say no to a sinner who asks for forgiveness. Never. It is not even possible.  No soul must ever despair of His great forgiveness and mercy; to even think along this liine is a great temptation of the devil and we know he is a liar.

What heart can fathom the love of a God who came to earth to make atonement for His wayward children? God became Man so that by His suffering and death, we could be redeemed!And as if that were not enough, He remains with us under the form of a small Host so that He can continue to unite Himself with His beloved children.  Such a One never says no to a soul who turns to Him.

And yet so many say no to Him!  No thanks to the Church, no thanks to the Sacraments, no thanks for confession or for the Holy Communion that makes us one with our Savior. And mostly it is not even 'no thanks' but just NO. Just no. No to His ways and the embracing of sinful pleasures.  Why are we so blind to the goodness of God?  Our human frailties make it so easy to say no.

This Lent, this day, may we say yes.  Yes, Lord, I need Your mercy. Yes, Lord, I am too weak to keep my resolutions.  Yes, Lord, without You hope is diminished. Yes, Lord, to all You are doing in my life.  Help me, Lord, help me to say yes.

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Jesus, Man of Sorrows, those drops of Blood that flow down Your Face, those deep gashes caused by the thorns that cir­cle Your holy head, make You dearer to me than if Your forehead shone with pre­cious stones. Such signs remind me of the Divine love that burns in Your Heart for me. I love the noble, sorrowful maj­esty of Your holy Face. You reject the crown of gold and the rich robes of royal state, and accept instead a crown of thorns and the purple rags of mockery and scorn.

You consent to be a mock-king, a king of fools, only to be the real King of my soul. My thorn-crowned King,  I adore You as my very God.  I subject myself entirely to Your Divine Kingship of love. I would rather be a fool in the eyes of men for Your sake and have You reign over me, than be king of the world and be the slave of the prince of darkness.  I adore You as the Conqueror of hearts, whose Kingdom is not of this world, but of heav­en.

Fr. Lawrence Lovasik

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THE TRIUMPH OF CHRIST THROUGH THE EUCHARIST

Christus vincit, regnat,  imperat; ab omni malo plemem suam defendat.

Christ conquers, He reigns, He commands. May He de­fend His people from all evil.

Pope Sixtus V had these words engraved on the obelisk which stands in the center of Saint Peter's Square at Rome. These magnificent words are in the present tense, and not in the past, to indicate that Christ's triumph is always actual, and that it is brought about in the Eucharist and by the Eucharist.

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CHRISTUS vincit. Christ conquers.

Our Lord has fought; He has won control of the field of battle, on which He has planted His flag and pitched His tent: the Sacred Host and the Eucharistic tabernacle. He conquered the Jew and his temple, and He has a tabernacle on Calvary where all the nations come to adore Him beneath the sacramental Species.  He conquered paganism and has chosen Rome, the city of the Caesars, for His capital.

He conquered the false wisdom of the sages; the divine Eucharist rose on the world and shed its: rays over the whole earth, darkness withdrew like the shades of night at the coming of day. The idols have been knocked down and the sacrifices abolished. Jesus Eucharistic is a conqueror Who never halts but ever marches onward; He wants to· subject the universe to His gentle sway.

Every time He takes possession of a country, He pitches therein His Eucharistic royal tent. The erection of a tabernacle is His official occupation of a country. In our own day He still goes out to uncivilized nations; and wherever the Eucharist is brought, the people are converted to Christianity. That is the secret of the triumph of our Catholic missionaries and of the failure of the Protestant preachers. In the latter case, man is battling alone, in the former, Jesus is battling, and He is sure to triumph.

CHRISTUS regnat. Christ reigns.

Jesus does not rule over earthly territories but over souls, and He does so through the Eucharist. A king must rule through his laws and through           the love of his subjects for Him. The Eucharist is the law of the Christian: a law of charity and of love, which was promulgated in the Cenacle in the admirable discourse after the Supper: "This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. If you love Me, keep My commandments."

This law is revealed in Communion; the eyes of the Christian are opened in Holy Communion as were those of the disciples of Emmaus, and he under­stands the fullness of the law. The "breaking of bread" is what made the first Christians so brave in the face of persecution and so faithful in practicing the law of Jesus Christ.

Christ's law is one, holy, universal, and eternal. . It will never change or be impaired in any way; 'Jesus Christ Himself, its divine Author, is defend­ing it. He engraves it on our hearts through His love; the Legislator Himself promulgates His divine f law to each of our souls.  His is a law of love. How many kings rule by love? Jesus is about the only one Whose yoke is  not imposed by force; His rule is gentleness itself . .His true subjects are devoted to Him in life and death; they would rather die than be disloyal to Him.

CHRISTUS imperat. Christ commands.

No king has command over the whole universe; there are other kings equal to him in power. But God the Father has said to Jesus Christ: "I will give Thee all the nations for Thy inheritance." And our Lord told His lieutenants when He sent them; throughout the world: "All power is given to Me in heaven and in earth. Go and teach ye all nations, teaching them to keep all that I have commanded you."

He issued His commands from the Cenacle. The Eucharistic tabernacle, which is a prolongation or replica of the Cenacle, is the headquarters of the King of kings. All those who fight the good fight receive their orders from there.

In the presence of Jesus Eucharistic all men are subjects, all must obey, from the Pope, the Vicar of Jesus Christ, down to the least of the faithful.

CHRISTUS ab omni malo plebem suam defendat.

May Christ defend His people from all evil.

The Eucharist is the divine lightning-rod that wards off the thunderbolts of divine justice. As a tender and devoted mother presses her child to her bosom, puts her arms around it, and shields it with her body to save it from the wrath of an angry father, so Jesus multiplies His presence everywhere, covers the world and envelops it with His merciful presence. Divine Justice does not know then where to strike; it dares not.

And what a protection against the devil! The blood of Jesus which purples our lips makes us a

terror to Satan; we are sprinkled with the blood of the true Lamb, and the exterminating angel will not enter. The Eucharist protects the sinner until time for repentance is given him. Ah! Were it not for the Eucharist, for this per­petual Calvary, how often would not the wrath of God have come down upon us!

And how unhappy are the nations that no longer possess the Eucharist! What darkness! What a confusion in the minds! What a chill in the hearts! Satan alone rules supreme, and with him all the evil passions. As for us, the Eucharist delivers us from all evil. Christus vincit, Christus regnat, Chris us imperat; ab omni malo plcbem suam dcfendat!

St. Peter Julian Eymard: The Real Presence

 

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Ave Maria! The most common time to make or remake the St. Louis de Montfort 33 days of preparation for Marian Consecration is February 20th-March 25th. Now this year March 25th is in Easter week and will be celebrated the following week, I believe. However I just follow the date as I have every year since 1996. Will you join me? I know I am in need of a reconsecration and a growing closer to Our Blessed Lady so as to grow closer to her Son, Our Precious Lord.

 

 

Here are some links to see: On the life and spirituality of St. Louis Marie de Montfort: http://www.cin.org/montlife.html

FIRST 12 PEPARATION DAYS: FEBRUARY 20TH-MARCH 3RD:

http://www.iipg-queenofpeace.org/consecration1.htm

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MARCH 4TH-MARCH 10TH:

http://www.iipg-queenofpeace.org/consecration2.htm

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MARCH 11TH-MARCH 17TH:

http://www.iipg-queenofpeace.org/consecration3.htm

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MARCH 18TH-24TH:

http://www.iipg-queenofpeace.org/consecration4.htm

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MARCH 25TH: CONSECRATION DAY!

http://www.iipg-queenofpeace.org/consecrationday.htm

 

 

 — other sites on this topic:

What is Consecration? http://www.udayton.edu/mary/questions/faq/faq23.html

10 Reasons Why we Consecrate our Lives to Jesus, through Mary http://www.ourlady33.com/main.htm

Kolbe Article: http://www.transporter.com/fatherpeffley/files/Mary_HS.pdf

World Apostolate of Fatima - Bishops Renewal Consecration of USA Nov 2006 - http://www.wafusa.org/

Friends of Our Lady - http://www.ourlady33.com/fiveyearsummary.htm

Confraternity of Mary Queen of All Hearts - http://www.memorare.com/mary/queenh.html

Militia Immaculata - A beautiful way to live out your Consecration: http://www.consecration.com/

 

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O Immaculata, Queen of Heaven and earth,

refuge of sinners and our most loving Mother,

God has willed to entrust the entire order of mercy to you.

I, (name), a repentant sinner, cast myself at your feet,

humbly imploring you to take me with all that I am and have,

wholly to yourself as your possession and property.

Please make of me, of all my powers of soul and body,

of my whole life, death and eternity, whatever most pleases you.

If it pleases you, use all that I am and have without reserve,

wholly to accomplish what was said of you: "She will crush your head,"

and "You alone have destroyed all heresies in the whole world. "

Let me be a fit instrument in your immaculate and merciful hands

for introducing and increasing your glory to the maximum

in all the many strayed and indifferent souls,

and thus help extend as far as possible

the blessed kingdom of the most Sacred Heart of Jesus.

For wherever you enter you obtain the grace of conversion and growth in holiness,

since it is through your hands that all graces come to us

from the most Sacred Heart of Jesus.

V. Allow me to praise you, O sacred Virgin

R. Give me strength against your enemies

St. Maximilian Kolbe

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Greater love has no man than this,

that a man lay down his life for his friends. (Jn. 15:13)

 

I dare say that God in His omnipotence could not give more; in His wisdom, He knew not how to give more; in His riches He had not more to give(than Himself).–St. Augustine

 

 

Love divine, all loves excelling,
Joy of heaven to earth come down;
Fix in us thy humble dwelling;
All thy faithful mercies crown!
Jesus, Thou art all compassion,
Pure unbounded love Thou art;
Visit us with Thy salvation;
Enter every trembling heart.

 

The Heart of Christ is the clearest image of the fullness of God embracing all things. By this we mean the fullness of mercy which is the special characteristic of the New Testament.  (Pope Pius XII

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Devotion to the Sacred Heart is the most excellent form of religion. (Pope Leo XIII)

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Lord Jesus Christ, I bellieve in You as my God and Savior. Make me more faithful to Your Gospel by sharing in the Eucharist often. May I come to live more fully the life of grace You have given me. Keep Your love alive in my heart that I may become worthy of You. Teach me to value Your gifts and ever be grateful for them. Help me to strive for eternal life.

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The font of life which spills over the whole world flows from the wounded Heart of Christ.(Latern Baptistry)

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Behold this Heart which has so loved man.  (Our Lord to St. Margaret Mary)

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I have loved thee with an everlasting love. (Jer. 31:3)

The Litany of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, graciously hear us.
God, the Father of Heaven, have mercy on us.
God, the Son, Redeemer of the World, have mercy on us.
God, the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, one God, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, Son of the Eternal Father, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, formed in the womb of the Virgin Mother by the Holy Ghost, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, united substantially with the word of God, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, of infinite majesty, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, holy temple of God, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, tabernacle of the Most High, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, house of God and gate of heaven, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, glowing furnace of charity, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, vessel of justice and love, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, full of goodness and love, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, abyss of all virtues, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, most worthy of all praise, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, king and center of all hearts, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, in whom dwelleth all the fullness of the Divinity, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, in whom the Father is well pleased, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, of whose fullness we have all received, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, desire of the everlasting hills, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, patient and rich in mercy, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, rich to all who invoke Thee, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, fount of life and holiness, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, propitiation for our sins, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, saturated with revilings, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, crushed for our iniquities, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, made obedient unto death, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, pierced with a lance, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, source of all consolation, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, our life and resurrection, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, our peace and reconciliation, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, victim for our sins, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, salvation of those who hope in Thee, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, hope of those who die in Thee, have mercy on us.
Heart of Jesus, delight of all saints, have mercy on us.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, spare us, O Lord.
Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, graciously hear us, O Lord,
Lamb of God who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
V. Jesus, meek and humble of Heart.
R. Make our hearts like unto Thine.

Let us pray

Almighty and everlasting God, look upon the Heart of Thy well-beloved Son and upon the acts of praise and satisfaction which He renders unto Thee in the name of sinners; and do Thou, in Thy great goodness, grant pardon to them who seek Thy mercy, in the name of the same Thy Son, Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with Thee, world without end.

Mary's love is the most perfect reflection of hte love of the God-Man possible in a human being. So perfect is the union of these two Hearts that we mow use the expression "The Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary". If one is deeply moved by the love of the Son, one cannot faily also to be moved by that of the Mother.

(Fr. Bertrand Weaver, C.P.)

 

This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

(Jn. 15:12)

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In 1947 Mother Teresa was shown a vision in three parts. In the first scene she saw the painful plight of the poor and the yet greater inner poverty that was hidden beneath their material poverty…they were reaching out to her.

In the second scene, Mother Teresa saw the same crowd of the poor…Our Lady was there in the midst of them and Mother Teresa was kneeling at her side; she heard her say:

"Take care of them…they are mine…bring them to Jesus…carry them to Jesus…fear not…teach them to say the rosary…the family rosary, and all will be well…fear not…Jesus and I will be with you and your children."

In the third scene was the same crowd again and they were covered with darkness. There in the midst of an anguished crowd that seemed unaware of His presence, was Jesus on the Cross. Our Lady was before Him…and Jesus said to Mother Teresa:

"I have asked you…she, My Mother has asked you. Will you refuse to do this for me…to take care of them, to bring them to Me?"

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Mother Teresa's entire life was directed toward returning the Father's measureless love poured out in Jesus crucified, present in the Eucharist, dwelling in her heart and hidden in the needy.

"The slap on the face, the spitting on His face, the crowning with thorns, the scourging, the removing of His clothes, the crucifixion…putting the Cross in the center, showing that He was worse than the other two. The burial in somebody's grave, all these and many others, especially the terrible longing to be loved, the terrible lonliness, the terrible feeling of pain for His Mother. All, all these are the love with which He loved you and me." (Mother Teresa)

One sees in these visions the central and defining role Our Lady would play in every aspect of Mother Teres'as life and work. …Our Lady becomes a bridge both between Mother Teresa and the poor who cried out to her and between the poor and the crucified Jesus Who thirsted for them, Who yearned to love and be loved by them.

(excerpts from "Mother Teresa: In the Shadow of Our Lady" by Joseph Langford, MC) 

 

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Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you that kill the prophets and stone those who are sent to you! How often have I longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you refused! (Mt.23:37)