The earth is the LORD’s and all it holds, the world and those who dwell in it. – Psalm 24
O Blood and Water, which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a fount of mercy for us, I trust in You!
Blessed Independence Day
Tag: Justice
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What does it mean to examine something but to look deep and see if there is something wrong and if there is, a cure is available.As I contemplate this Holy Thursday, the words of the disciples come to my heart. The beginning of the examination of conscious. After the fact of the sin, the harm we cause, can not be changed, but is forgiven. Driving us, not to commit that harm ever again on another.
Is it I, Lord? And another asked, is it I Lord? Is it I Lord? Humility asks if I have caused harm and seeks to rectify it. Pride does not. All but one, returned to our Lord, to ask pardon for having inflicted harm on Him. One, did not and took the Bread of Life into his own hands. Not turning back to Christ, but away from Him.
All of us have betrayed our Lord . All of us. All of us have. Its called sin. The difference is, we are still here and have a choice to turn back like the rest of the twelve did, through The Sacrament of Reconciliation, thus enabling us to receive our Lord again, in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
After this, and the leaving of Judas, we find our Lord already washing the feet of those who would turn back to Him. Proving again, He loved us first. The question that remains to be answered? Do you love Him?
Before the feast of Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come
to pass from this world to the Father.
He loved his own in the world and he loved them to the end.
The devil had already induced Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot, to hand him over.
So, during supper,
fully aware that the Father had put everything into his power
and that he had come from God and was returning to God,
he rose from supper and took off his outer garments.
He took a towel and tied it around his waist.
Then he poured water into a basin
and began to wash the disciples’ feet and dry them with the towel around his waist. -
As I am pondering this coming Sunday’s Gospel in Lectio Divina: ” “Master, it is good for us to be here!” And they do not want to get off the mountain any more! When it is question of the cross, whether on the Mount of the Transfiguration or on the Mount of Olives (Lk 22:45), they sleep! They prefer the glory to the cross! ” – I have been struggling with the subject of allowing children of same sex couples seeking admittance into Catholic schools, from the moment I first heard it.
First, let me say that the very fact these children have been robbed of the natural right to a home with their biological mother and a father, is the first thing that concerned me. If parenting didn’t require the attributes of both man and woman, natural creation would in fact be very different. Each of us, has that natural right of God at the moment of conception. When our natural rights are stripped away, its always due to the selfishness of others, who seek to legitimize their own “idea” of Love and compassion, with regard for legitimizing their own sin to make it look more acceptable not only to themselves, but to others.
The sin of the parents, can not be held against the child. Someone brought up the point of how others, heterosexual parents and single parents are allowed to place their children in Catholic Schools. I would like to address one point here again which comes to mind regarding same sex parents: The sin of the parents, can not be held against the child.
I want to add to the discussion, why I have struggled with this. Someone made a point in saying it, (Allowing children of same sex marriages into Catholic Schools) would drive souls away from sending their children to Catholic School. What no one is addressing is the amount of children from Practicing Catholics who are Home schooled now, due to the problems we already have in our Catholic Schools. That problem being over population of Non-Practicing Catholics who falsely believe its the schools job to teach the faith. Its a false hope many have. Catholic home schooling is growing in large numbers. Very pious Catholic family’s who either can not afford Catholic Education, or Catholic family’s who have already seen, what can and has taken place in Catholic Schools, in which parents do not practice the faith, and their children not living the faith, becoming a “stumbling block” for placing their children into the system, which peer pressure becomes an added cross placed into the “nest” and seriously threatens the faith of the entire family.
There is a large group here in San Diego who would rather teach their own children and socialize with the Home School’s family’s then to place their children into the Catholic School system. Mainly due to the issues all mentioned here. For the LONGEST time, I felt a need to make sure my children, although we are completely broke, attend Catholic School. Its only now that my daughter is in 8th grade and about to graduate, that I have come to find out, NONE of her close friends attend Mass every Sunday nor do they regularly receive the sacraments, nor are even trying to live the Catholic Faith. I started to notice how my daughter didn’t want to join the Catholic Youth Group, because her friends were not joining. Not wanting to hang out with any of the clubs that often do community service, because her close friends were not. I understand it now, why the home school groups are a tight nit group. Its a matter of protecting the “Nest”. What happened or is happening with my daughter? We can always chalk it up to peer pressure, but when the peer pressure is coming from the Catholic School to NOT participate in the faith, its already a failed system in which many are trying to figure out this exact question. The Catholic School is not the teacher of the faith. Parents are responsible for teaching the faith to their children and in fact, living it with them. Think of our faith in regards to it being like a different language. If you seek to learn a new language, but no one at home speaks this language, what becomes of all you are learning? What becomes of the soul who does not practice, does not put it to use? It is tossed aside and forgotten. A Catholic School is ONLY as good as the parents living the faith within it. The Catholic School is there to REINFORCE the faith of the Church.
Another question that comes up is why would a same sex parent even want to place a child they have taken in, into a Catholic School that does not teach what they believe? Is it for attention? Is it spite? Is it to prove a point? Is it because they truly seek to have the child live a faith filled life in which they themselves are struggling with? Here again is the issue of assuming the Catholic School is there to teach the children the faith. Its not. Again, the Catholic School is there to reinforce the faith of the Church. The children and the parents are a Pastoral issue. No different than nonpracticing Catholics who have placed themselves out of communion.
Why have I personally been struggling with this, when its not even an issue with me? Because I love. Not only do my sins effect me, but they effect everyone, not just who I am around, but everyone. Although the sin may be forgiven, the residual effects of that sin can not be taken away. When we sin, it is against our Lord and every soul in Christ.
Why have I been struggling at all? Because I have become “comfortable” with the suffering I already have. Like St. Peter at the Transfiguration, I wanted to stay there in “my comfort” with the Glorious Messiah, and not continue on back down the mountain to finish this journey with the Servant Messiah. How can I not allow more suffering, if it is for the glory of our Lord? If my suffering is joined to our Lord’s, it is in fact no longer my suffering. My suffering is not even mine, but His, and to this I my heart demands that I let our Lord lead the way and continue on to the cross with Him. This is the struggle I believe we all face, in regards to something “different” entering in our “normal” lives. The more we struggle with it, the more painful it becomes as we fight between God’s will and our will. “My Father, if it is not possible that this cup pass without my drinking it, your will be done!”. My wants for others to be holy and great Catholics, living the faith daily, placing our Lord first, loving and serving Him, although good, does not mean that others want it. “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.”
If our faith is placed in our Lord, we can not be overcome by the world. Mercy is the answer, as the Son of Justice will come to us all. To not receive a child in His name, (anti-life- not open to receive another life, the life of another who is sick with sin and suffering) would not benefit any of us. And we would simply be clinging to our fears of sin, and our fears of “sinners”, over our fear of the Lord. This does not mean we skew the Truth as we take on those who do not Believe. We adhere to the Truth of our Lord, teaching as it is, Truth, in love and mercy, allowing others to use their free will to accept it, or reject it. Just my two cents. I surrender to our Lord. His will be done.
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The 21’st of September, 1996, was the day I realized I was about to lose my dad to lung cancer, and he entered eternal life on the feast of St. Padre Pio, two days later.
It was the day I would come to realized, I was adopted by our Lord. Suffering brings JOY.At his side, on his bed, I said out loud, I need to change my life. The life I was living, to quote our Holy Father, was “kaka”.
Anyway, someone had posted this tweet and it stirred in me. I remember. I remember it well. From death, to new life. Today, I sing.
Notice the picture in this post: A Leopard In The Well and reflect on what our LORD has done.
Repent and believe
Ephesians 2
St. Padre Pio, pray for us.
The song? The song? “September” is a song by the American band Earth, Wind & Fire. It was recorded during the sessions for their album I Am
“Do you remember
The 21st night of September?
Love was changin’ the minds of pretenders
While chasin’ the clouds away
Our hearts were ringin’
In the key that our souls were singin’
As we danced in the night, remember
How the stars stole the night away, oh, yeah yeah yeah”St. Matthew Prayer
O Glorious St. Matthew, in your Gospel you portray Jesus as the longed-for Messiah who fulfilled the Prophets of the Old Covenant and as the new Lawgiver who founded a Church of the New Covenant.
Obtain for us the grace to see Jesus living in his Church and to follow his teachings in our lives on earth so that we may live forever with him in heaven.Edit to add:
As I was heading to bed just now, I heard music coming from outside… Someone finally gets it… The echo of September, somehow, somewhere. Thank you Lord.
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A thing about broken trust & silence – The entire thing with broken trust, is that when the trust is broken, it doesn’t matter what one says, but rather what one does (actions) to fix the trust. When trust is broken, do we believe what we are hearing from the one who has broken the trust? Or, do we respond better over time with the actions they have taken? We can demand an answer, BUT if the answer is silence? Will we be satisfied? Or do we demand an answer that WE want to hear?
For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon!’ – “The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.” Matt 11:18-19
Because often times, we don’t like to hear things that may hurt and react in ways that are NOT the fruits of righteous anger.
What is the fruit of righteous anger?
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While everyone stands, sits, kneels, shouts, boycotts, fights with this man or that, or this group or that one….
We must never forget what we have been called to be first…
“For through the law I died to the law, that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ; yet I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in me; insofar as I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God who has loved me and given himself up for me.”
Peace
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The many, many “news” story’s I see today, written by whomever, saying Catholics must love and accept LGBT, or this group, or that group and so on, has caused me to ask our Lord in prayer, and I pray you ask Him also: Who is my accuser that assumes the Church does not love them?
The Catholic Church has always been open to all, as a Father and Mother loves all their children, always open to welcoming life to the family of faith. The disconnect comes when we assume that Love is acceptance of insubordination or defiance. It is not. Love corrects the defiant or insubordinate child and does not allow the child to be disruptive, for the benefit of the child. Love does have rules. When the rules of Love are broken, it is not Love, but less than Love.
“Many gave false witness against him, but their testimony did not agree.” Mark 14:56
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In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Its been a very busy few days for me. My husband graduated from College with a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautics, and his celebration was on the same day of our children’s last day of school, on this past Friday. Yesterday morning, I woke early and drove to meet my sister in Las Vegas, who was helping my niece move.
I made the drive to Vegas, to see my sister and pick up a box of very old photos and mementos from our family. Photos of my parents and other relatives my children have never met. Its a way for me to show them the many souls that have helped to create our “family”. The six hour drive from San Diego, on Saturday morning, was full of prayer and reflection on our Lord. Not anything near as beautiful as this morning has been, in the celebration of Holy Mass for the Feast of the Most Holy Trinity.
My sister and I had planned on attending the 11:00 AM Holy Mass at Guardian Angles Cathedral in Las Vegas, but as plans often change, I was awake a little after five-thirty this morning and we were able to attend the 8:00 AM Holy Mass. It was easy to find the Cathedral and when we pulled out front and parked, we had arrived about an hour early.
I contemplated the design of the Church and the mosaic on the front. (Photo above at the top of the post). The message is very clear although the art itself, modern as it is, isn’t exactly what sparks in me. As we entered the Cathedral, as I normally do, my eyes sought our Lord in the Tabernacle. He wasn’t behind the Altar. So we looked deeper and my heart lead us to a small room off to the left of the Altar.
We prayed in front of our Lord until Mass was about to begin. In contemplation, I struggled with the design and the things that didn’t register with me. I tried to focus on the Glorious Mysteries of the Holy Rosary. Still with reverence to our Lord and the Truth of His presence here. As we finished praying, we went to see the little gift shop in the back of the Cathedral, which contained many beautiful religious things.
As Holy Mass was about to start, we took our place inside once again, and I began to pray. Holy Mass in this place, was so beautiful, It changed my entire outlook of what I thought wasn’t appeasing to my eyes. At the very moment of Transubstantiation, our Lord’s presence on the Altar, I heard in my heart, “Look through”. The eyes in my heart began to see what He was saying to me. The entire Cathedral was full of the symbolism of the Most Holy Trinity. The TRIANGLE. Looking beyond the art that didn’t speak in me, I could see very clearly what our Lord in the Eucharist was saying and showing me. The inner beauty of this place being the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. All present.
As Holy Mass ended, I left this beautiful Cathedral in the heart of “Sin City”, in His peace, knowing the Triumph of our Lord with fresh eyes, in the Most Holy Trinity.
The above photo of the stained glass window can be found at the link below. Its called:
Freedom and Obedience – Freedom and LoveStation II & IIIGuardian Angel Cathedral Link for the art
The photo at the beginning of this post was taken by my sister, the others were taken from other public sites on the internet.
If you find yourself in “Sin City”, I highly suggest a visit to Holy Mass. Often.
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning,
is now,
and ever shall be,
world without end.Amen.
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From the deck of the battleship of USS Missouri, looking toward the USS Arizona Memorial, at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, the guns now silent, along with those voices taken that day and the days and years that followed. Peace.
As a former military blogger, I spent many hours speaking with so many souls from this time in our nations history. Countless interviews and many more hours of watching films, reading and looking into different aspects of Military History in a way that glorified it all. Don’t get me wrong, I do understand what was at stake and we are a blessed nation and a different world for the sacrifice of so many.
As I sat last night watching a documentary on D Day with my husband, himself a 23.5 year USMC veteran, I found myself unable to watch anymore. It hurt in ways I had not experienced before. To see the souls of so many lost, so many unknown story’s of who they were, who gave all. The once self glorified battle I used to watch, once upon a time, was gone and replaced with a very deep sorrow and pain to see all these men being killed. Killed in unmentionable ways. I came to realize the work our Lord had done within my own heart. That hardened heart of stone, had become soft and was beating in my chest, for not only the fallen, but for a longing for His peace now, in this world torn to shreds by war and hate for one another.
I began to pray for the souls I seen being blown to bits on that beach. Imagining their family’s loss and pain. The children who never got to see their dad’s again. The mothers who never got to see their sons. The soldiers who never returned home. Just as today, so many are taken, because those of the world, in this world, have to feed their ego’s with the things of this world, that can never satisfy. And thus, it all continues on the same path to destruction. Taking everything and everyone in its path with it.
Lord God,
your own Son was delivered into the hands of the wicked,
yet he prayed for his persecutors
and overcame hatred with the blood of the Cross.
Relive the sufferings of the innocent victims of war;
grant them peace of mind, healing of body,
and a renewed faith in your protection and care.
Grant this through Christ our Lord. AmenFor all the souls lost, in all wars:
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.
And let the perpetual light shine upon them.
And may the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
“Lord Jesus Christ, who are called the Prince of Peace, who are yourself our peace and reconciliation, who so often said, “Peace to you,” grant us peace. Make all men and women witnesses of truth, justice, and brotherly love. Banish from their hearts whatever might endanger peace. Enlighten our rulers that they may guarantee and defend the great gift of peace. May all peoples on the earth become as brothers and sisters. May longed-for peace blossom forth and reign always over us all. Amen – St. John Paul II
Lord Jesus Christ, may all war end as there is no worldly glory to be found in war and let Your eternal peace be the glory all men and woman seek, for now and all time for all eternity.
Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth.
O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations, Through Christ Our Lord, Amen.
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I believe it was 2008, Easter Sunday, morning, I walked into my back yard and began to water the flowers. There is a protestant church directly behind my home and my yard backs to it and overlooks its parking lot. As I sat and began watering, I watched car after car pull into the lot to attend to Sunday service for Easter.
As I sat there, I began to think about how they were not Catholic. What were they doing to actually celebrate Easter? Whats the point of going there?
I sat in my shorts, smoking a cigarette, watering the flowers, or what I had of them, our Lord entered my heart in regards to myself, asking me; What are YOU doing?
It hurt when I thought about it. It hurt bad and I knew I needed to do something. What was I doing? I had the girls baptized, our oldest in 2006, and our youngest in 2007. But, what was I doing now? My husband was stationed in Yuma at this time and I had not given much thought to spending much of any time on the weekends doing anything but being with him and the girls. He was only home on weekends and I was mom to two small children full time, alone, for the rest of the time.
By the time I went back into the house, it was mid afternoon. Easter was almost over and there was always next year. (As I write this I can’t believe I actually thought that but I did)
The next morning, my husband left for Yuma and it was another week of being mommy and blogging about Military and political things which kept my attention away from what I should have been doing. But this week was different. What are YOU doing kept playing over and over in my heart. By Friday of that week, I was determined to attend Holy Mass on Sunday, which I did, and it was Divine Mercy Sunday.
I had no idea what Divine Mercy Sunday was. There was a giant painting of Jesus. The Priest said something during the Homily about it and I still had no clue what it was. All I knew was Sunday Holy Mass was what was missing, again. You see, back in the late 90’s & early 2000s, before I had moved to California, I began attending Holy Mass again and underwent a truck load of , all I can call now, serious spiritual attacks. Everything that could go wrong in my life and keep me from our Lord, did. I fell back into my old ways, and all those “nasty things”, went away when I put our Lord out of the picture. But you see, they didn’t go away. They were still there hidden behind illusions of love, peace and tranquility, which was all false without Him.
At the conclusion of Holy Mass, a woman, got up to speak about how the Ministry of Perpetual Adoration was in need to souls to sit with our Lord. I signed up that day. Later on as my conversion of heart continued to melt the ice from my heart, that woman became ill, and I was placed to head Perpetual Adoration Mission.
As I left Mass and my conversion blossomed, I never stopped attending Holy Mass, even bringing my two small children with me every Sunday. Weeks later, coming to learn of Divine Mercy Sunday and the meaning behind it. In the years that have since followed, from that day, it rekindled my love which was held so deeply for the Sacred Heart of our Lord, which in turn, kindled a desire to find out more of the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
There are souls today who feel that the Sacred Heart Devotion has been overlooked and somehow pushed to the side for an “easier” thing as Divine Mercy. I can tell you from my point of view, Divine Mercy opened me to love again. But now, to love DEEPLY the Sacred Heart and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. As He should be. There is no difference between the Sacred Heart of our Lord and Divine Mercy. Its the same Heart of our Lord.
Please feel free to search my blog for how many times I speak of the Love of the Sacred Heart of our Lord. Or you can read True Love, my post in which I speak of how I was given a picture of the Sacred Heart of our Lord and fell in love with the image of our Lord and not Him in Word or Body Blood Soul and Divinity, when I was about 8 years old. Keep always in mind, He loves us first.
If you have doubts of the Divine Mercy of our Lord, pray more. Trust Him more. Doubts in His mercy and justice, cause serious internal problems within the soul which lead many to walk away from the faith, as I had many times before.
This Divine Mercy Sunday, I pray souls come to understand more and embrace His Mercy, His Divine Mercy which pulls souls into His most Sacred Heart.
There is something I would like to share which speaks of this problem some have.
Please see: The Sacred Heart and Divine Mercy
Also, from 5 years ago: A Monk Reflects on Divine Mercy and the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Excellent prayer from St. Francis Xavier:
O God, everlasting creator of all things, remember that the souls of unbelievers were made by Thee and formed in Thine own image and likeness. Remember that Jesus, Thy Son, endured a most bitter death for their salvation. Permit not, I beseech Thee, O Lord, that Thy Son should be despised any longer by unbelievers, but do Thou graciously accept the prayers of holy men and of the Church, the Spouse of Thy most holy Son, and be mindful of Thy mercy. Forget their idolatry and unbelief and grant that they too may some day know Him Thou hast sent, the Lord Jesus Christ, who is our Life and Resurrection, by whom we have been saved and delivered, to whom be glory for endless ages.
Amen.
EDIT TO ADD: Bishop Robert Barron’s Homily for 4/30/2017. Its rather remarkable to hear after the fact, what our Lord is calling us to do, and you find out you are back on the right road.
Please see:
THE PATTERN OF LOVE
Like the two disciples walking towards Emmaus, a symbol of worldly power and security, and away from Jerusalem, the center of sacrifice, we need to be stopped in our tracks. Christ appears to them, but they do not recognize him. They do not recognize him because they are walking the wrong way. The recognition of the pattern of Christ’s life does come until the Eucharistic act which presents the pattern of sacrificial love. Then they immediately go back to Jerusalem, the place of suffering love.
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Once an old man spread rumors that his neighbor was a thief. As a result, the young man was arrested.
Days later the young man was proven innocent. After being released he sued the old man for wrongly accusing him.
In the court the old man told the Judge:
“They were just comments, didn’t harm anyone.”
The judge told the old man:
“Write all the things you said about him on a piece of paper. Tear it up on the way home and throw away the pieces. Tomorrow, come back to hear the sentence.”
Next day, the judge told the old man:
“Before receiving the sentence, you will have to go out and gather all the pieces of paper that you threw out yesterday.”
The old man said:
“I can’t do that! The wind spread them and I won’t know where to find them.”
The judge then replied:
“The same way, simple comments may destroy the honor of a man to such an extent that one is not able to fix it. If you can’t speak well of someone, rather don’t say anything.”
*”Let’s all be masters of our words rather than being slaves of our words.”*
“Write everything down, on the way home, tear it up and throw away the pieces” <— Its very important to understand, we just don’t cast it (sin) to the wind where it is taken all over and others read it and are influenced by it to do the same. We place it in the trash can when we get home. That “trash can” is the confessional and you know where home is. And when you place it there, leave it there.
When I read this above, which was shared on Facebook by a Catholic Priest, I can see myself as both the young man and the old man. The “old self” and the “new self”.
And what is a soul to do? Trust in our Lord. Place your faith in our Lord. Hope in our Lord. Believe Him. Love Him.
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IntercessionFor an end to the use of the death penalty in our country.
JUSTICE! I want JUSTICE! Perfect justice is a conversion of heart..
“Beloved, do not look for revenge but leave room for the wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” – Romans 12:19
When we look to our Lord, mercy and justice go hand and hand. What is more beautiful justice, to end another life or to convert the heart of that soul who’s been blinded by their own injustice to others? To see ones sin and turn from it to do good and not sin, is justice served. By taking away life, justice is there by taken away in the means that the soul is unable to make amends for that injustice committed.
How often to we look at others who have hurt us and say from our hearts, “if you could only see how you are hurting.”. By taking away a life, we are not allowing that person to see, in their time, given to them by God, but rather taking justice into our own hands.Taking away the gift of repentance. Taking into our own hands and exercising the Sovereignty of God in a way that is contrary to God.
“Do I find pleasure in the death of the wicked—oracle of the Lord GOD? Do I not rejoice when they turn from their evil way and live? And if the just turn from justice and do evil, like all the abominations the wicked do, can they do this evil and still live? None of the justice they did shall be remembered, because they acted treacherously and committed these sins; because of this, they shall die” Ezekiel 18:23-24
Please read my story: The Power of Forgiveness
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On March 21 of last year, I wrote a post about a the day my dad died, and what has taken place in the years that followed. I have not had much communication with family for many years, outside of social media and a visit from time to time. One sister finally met my youngest daughter who is now ten, this past fall. The reason I post this, is that for most of my life, I always felt insignificant to anyone. Like garbage you could just toss away and no one would notice. Not so anymore. Although I may be insignificant and unnoticed by the entire world, I know I am not to our Lord nor is any human being.. As my conversion of heart continues, embracing my nothingness in this world and His vastness is something I could have never dreamed of before, as a key to seeing how precious every life is in the eyes of our Lord.I share this today because of the call to go “One Step Further”. I was misdiagnosed with bipolar disorder not long after my father had entered into eternal life, which, after being re diagnosed a few years later, was actually serious grief issues after a series of extreme life changing incidents, emotionally abusive relationship, losing a job, my mother having lung cancer, losing my home, having to send my oldest daughter to live with a sister, surviving a brutal rape, I tried to take my own life. From that moment of waking up in the ICU, knowing our Lord had given me a second chance, I began to walk with Him and not away from Him any longer. Keeping my eyes on Him and focused on him. My dad and his timely death, played big part, which brought me to today, to see the beautiful significance of the connection of our Lord between us all. I can say, very easily, life is worth living, no matter how hard it may be, no matter how much suffering there may be, no matter how much one may be lacking in material possessions, each and ever human life, is worth living and only our Lord can take that life from us, as He gives us life.
One Step Further:Proponents of doctor-assisted suicide try to draw a sharp distinction between those with a mental illness who want to end their lives and those with a terminal illness who express the same wish. “Every Suicide is Tragic” explores the consequences of this false distinction. (supplemental information and short videos)I have written quite often about my conversion concerning the day my dad entered into eternal life. It was September 23, 1996, the feast of St. Padre Pio and my dad had been the glue that held my family, brothers and sisters and myself together. Since his death, many have left the Catholic faith and went off doing what ever. In all honestly, since I moved out to California I had lost contact with most of them and focused on what I had asked in that prayer.
The night my dad died, as he lay dying, I prayed that he would talk to our Lord and get me back home to Him. Here we are, 2016 and after extensive repenting and getting back in communion, I will be making my first Profession in the Third Order Of Carmel, TOC on October 1.
This morning at Holy Mass, during the Homily, my priest had told us that the main objective of our duties this Holy Week, was New Evangelization to those within our own Family’s who had left the faith. I sat with my head hung low as I knew this job that had just been presented to me, would be extremely difficult, as my brothers and sisters in my own family, along with nieces and nephews and even my own oldest daughter, have left the faith. Along with cousins, and others. Outside of an older sister of mine, the entire family stopped believing in Him and the faith we all grew up into and went their own ways. It has been extremely painful for me in many ways as I have been viewed by them as the crazy one. One never to be listened to. From the onset of my Conversion of Heart, I can not stop listening to our Lord, nor will I. I left them all and continued to cling to our Lord and the only Truth left in this world. And here we are.
This morning after Holy Mass, I took our Lord in the Eucharist to a few souls in the Nursing Home and had a conversation with an elderly friend of mine named Lilly, who is also a professed member of my Carmelite family.
We spoke about the topic of New Evangelization to family, and I had expressed to her that the only way anyone would ever listen to me, in my own family or home, was if I were dead. After leaving her, I prayed and realized I am dead to them. The person they knew no longer exists and they still won’t listen.
I arrived at home and the mail man had come. I noticed two packages and brought them in without even looking to see who they were addressed for. I assumed they were for my daughter and husband. As I was placing them on the table, I noticed my name on one of them. The return address was my sister whom I don’t talk to much anymore. I opened the package and cried when I seen what it was. Here in a package addressed to me was a message never intended for me, but for all my brothers and sisters who have left the faith. Directly from my dad.
Inside the box I found my dad’s First Holy Communion Certificate dated May 21, 1936 along with his personal prayer book. I read the letter attached from my sister which stated, she had found these in an envelop with my dad’s personal items, marked specifically, “Important Papers”. I knew just how important they are but unfortunately, my sister didn’t understand who they were meant for. This package was a direct message from my dad to my brothers and sisters who had left the faith. The “Important Paper” with your name on it. Remember YOUR Baptism. Remember YOUR First Holy Communion. Remember YOUR Confirmation. Remember OUR Lord. Remember OUR First Love. Return to Him. There is nothing else on the face of the earth more important than our faith. I also knew my dad needed me share this with them. They refuse to listen to me, I pray they listen to him. I pray they return to our Lord also. I pray all my Catholic Family return back home to Him, with their entire heart, mind, soul and strength. There is no greater Love than His for you. Repent. The door is open. Homecoming is just one confession away. I love you and I pray for all my brothers and sisters. St. Constantine the Great, pray for us.
All praise, glory and honor to our Lord, Jesus Christ. Amen.
EDIT TO ADD: After I had written this today, a tweet came across from the USCCB that just filled me with our Lord’s love.
From tonight’s Divine Office: Evening Prayer
“Listen, O daughter, give ear to my words:
forget your own people and your father’s house.
So will the king desire your beauty:
He is your lord, pay homage to him.” -
As I read this post by Fr. Stephen this morning, I found it to be very moving and a beautiful reminder as to how our Lord truly is the Head of the Church, His bride. The Night Before Christmas comes to mind and heart within me. With Fr. Stephens approval, here are a few of his thoughts…
FEEL FREE TO SHARE MY THOUGHTS!
For the benefit of those who haven’t followed me, here is JUST THREE of my posts or comments about the connection between VCII and AL and the movement of the Holy Spirit.
Holy Spirit: we know over the centuries the Holy Spirit has always brought His Church through dark times to the truth. E.G. Centuries of heresies, some saturating, about the divinity and humanity of Christ. But the Holy Spirit will always expose error and lead us to the truth. So let me start with a simple example. I love Pope Benedict. But when Benedict was Pope, few among the average worldwide Catholics knew that several of Benedict’s fellow German bishops had heretical beliefs. He surely didn’t expose them. He retires and Francis calls this Synod which exposed Kasper et al and their false beliefs. Remember Kasper et al wanted their teaching extended to homosexual relationships. Francis wouldn’t touch that but we see the same false teaching of Kasper et al applied to these relationships and this problem is now getting a lot of attention. So the Synod and AL is exposing a lot of false teaching and teachers. Now I do not know whether this was Francis’ intent, but it is the intent and work of the Holy Spirit to expose false teaching and purge His Church of it. The problems we see now go deeper than the issue of marriage and sins against it. This is about the heresies around mortal sin and conscience… The Fundamental Option and relativistic heresies of consequentialism and proportionalism which go back prior to VCII. Prior to the council though they were hidden within the Church as were the false teachers. Many criticize the council for what it caused, but what it caused was this boil which had been growing under the skin for years to rise above the surface to be lanced. We saw the puss and the smell post VCII. Much was confronted by JPII (his encyclicals) but during his and Benedicts’ reigns many of the heretics went on the lay low, but this issue of what is mortal sin, the conscience, its relationship to confession and marriage has never gone away. It was the root issue around the backlash against HV and it is the root issue now. So I feel that this heresy of the fundamental option is being exposed again by the Holy Spirit so everyone can see who believes it and who adheres to true Catholic teaching so it can finally be put to rest. Bottom line, you know and I know, that one unrepented mortal sin can cost us our salvation. Kasper, McElroy, Cupich and many others don’t seem to believe that. They seem to believe in the fundamental option. This has been going on for 50 plus years. I believe this will be the final exposition of this heresy and the final rejection of it. This may not be Francis’ intent but it is the intent of the Holy Spirit. This fight has been needed for decades and I have been itching for it since I have been a priest because 50 years ago the FO caused me to walk away from my Faith. Today, We are slowly but surely seeing where everyone stands. That is always the second step of the Holy Spirit. Expose the false teachers. Many have taught against these heresies (1st move of the Holy Spirit), but few have exposed the heretics (2nd move) . They are being exposed now. The third step of the Holy Spirit will be the cleansing.
Here is what happened after VCII and seems like it is happening here.
1st we need to understand that there are bishops and priests who are going to disobey Church teaching regardless of how clear it is. When this happens after Councils ( VCII) or in this case, a document, AL, those who desire obedience will often point to the Council or document as faulty. Fact is, the fault is in the heart of the disobedient. The fact that the disobedient are now being exposed is the work of the Holy Spirit. And the disobedient is neither the Pope or the Cardinals of the Dubia. The disobedient are shepherds like Kasper, McElroy and others who are using this as an opportunity to justify their disobedience…allowing anyone in good conscience to receive communion in spite of sexual intimacy.
Have you read the 16 documents of VCII? Where is there ambiguity? Give me one example. I will give you an example to make my point about disobedience in spite of truth. Read the document on the liturgy, Sacrosanctum Concilium! You will see what the Council intended and what the libs did were two disparate things. The craziness that came out after VCII existed in the Church prior to VCII. VCII was a movement of the Holy Spirit to lance a boil that had grown so the puss could be released and cleaned up. It takes 50 to 100 years for the fruits of a council to be seen in its fullest. The heresies that existed prior to VCII that came to the light after still exist. Now we know who are pushing these heresies. Let me give you another example of the movement of the Holy Spirit more recently (and I am really tired of stating this for the outsiders to my page). Few average Catholics under Benedict (and I love Benedict) knew that many of his fellow German bishops were pushing heresy. Benedict didn’t expose them. But the Synod exposed them. Remember Kasper and the boys wanted to give gays the right to have sex and still receive communion (see elsewhere on my page). Now we know who the good guys are and who is bogus. The boil grew back because the heretics went underground during JPII’s papacy. (Remember Kasper is a product of JPII). The boil is being lanced again. I believe this could be the final battle to deal with the “fundamental option” heresy that has lingered going back pre VCII. This heresy is at the core of everything we are seeing now and was at the core of the backlash after HV and VCII.Here is a 4th comment…
As I have said often, the Holy Spirit is moving in His Church. Now Francis may not be intentional in this movement but he is the Pope so he has to be a part of it. So I posit!
If the Pope is perfectly clear (as was JPII and Benedict), the disobedient false teachers would go on the lay low and continue doing what they have been doing! Causing division through disobedience. The Holy Father remains vague and everyone has to vocalize their interpretation of AL thus exposing what they believe…truth or heresy. I have been clear about this! Few knew that Kasper et al was a heretic under his fellow German Pope, Benedict. Everyone knows now. JPII taught the truth but elevated Kasper and Cupich to bishops. See my comment above about the 3movements of the Holy Spirit. – Fr. Stephen Imbarrato -
Pondering souls being granted full communion after Divorce and remarriage outside of the Church. SEE: Top Vatican Cardinal: Not Even A Pope Can Change Divine Law on Communion
Personal thoughts and ponderings as I have been here. See: Cohabitation And Holy Communion along with Gift Of Marriage and various other posts in this personal journey back to our Lord.
Knowingly granting full communion to any soul who does not admit error, without the process of Annulment, is unjust and an injustice to the souls in error.
The soul in error therefore is robbed of seeking and finding Divine Provence in the deeper meaning she or he has been called to find our Lord in.
The souls granting full communion to the soul, removing “punishment”, being separated from receiving our Lord in Holy Communion, are committing a grave error by becoming a stumbling block, as our Lord once called St. Peter for trying to stand in His way from what He must do, to the soul called to a deeper union with our Lord. I ponder the millstone placed around the neck of one who keeps one of this little children from Him. Far to often we forget that punishment due to our sinfulness is a grace, (purgative) which allows the soul to see a deeper Love of our Lord, and seek that full union. Separation makes the heart grow fonder. We must understand that this separation, no mater how painful in this life, through our own fault, is a temporary separation, in which we are called to a deepness of our Lord, that at any other time in our lives, would never have been found, without the grace of repentance.
Above is a deeper pondering from and earlier FB post I had made from a calling in my heart:
When punishment is removed IE. in regards to not being able to receive our Lord through our own fault (Mortal Sin) of marriage outside of the Church laws of Marriage, we remove the souls conscious of right and wrong, creating lukewarm souls, instead of souls on fire for our Lord to DO in Love for Him, what is right and just, by wanting to FIX what we have done wrong. We take away personal responsibility to encounter our Lord in the very simple act of turning from our fault, and turning to His mercy.
Please Read: The Church at the Service of the Family – From St. John Paul II
Take from the above link:
Gradualness and Conversion
9. To the injustice originating from sin-which has profoundly penetrated the structures of today’s world-and often hindering the family’s full realization of itself and of its fundamental rights, we must all set ourselves in opposition through a conversion of mind and heart, following Christ Crucified by denying our own selfishness: such a conversion cannot fail to have a beneficial and renewing influence even on the structures of society.
What is needed is a continuous, permanent conversion which, while requiring an interior detachment from every evil and an adherence to good in its fullness, is brought about concretely in steps which lead us ever forward. Thus a dynamic process develops, one which advances gradually with the progressive integration of the gifts of God and the demands of His definitive and absolute love in the entire personal and social life of man. Therefore an educational growth process is necessary, in order that individual believers, families and peoples, even civilization itself, by beginning from what they have already received of the mystery of Christ, may patiently be led forward, arriving at a richer understanding and a fuller integration of this mystery in their lives.
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And a voice came from the heavens, saying, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
Before this moment we see St. John the Baptist preparing the way for our Lord. Baptizing many, and many pondering and asking if John might be the One. John knowing he was not that One, but He was coming. “John answered them all, saying,l “I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming. I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals. He will baptize you with the holy Spirit and fire.”
As I pondered this today, I come to remember that John also had a first encounter with our Lord as he was in his mothers womb. The first leap of faith. There was the desire for our Savior planted as our Lord was hidden. The first encounter which stirred in him to “seek” not knowing that our Lord had always been with him. It was John’s leap of faith, trusting in the Voice calling to him, that when our Lord came to him again at the Jordan, which after his time of preparing, was the complete Manifestation of what once was his “Personal Revelation” of our Lord. St. John the Baptist’s leap again, in proclaiming outward “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”
How many times our Lord “passed by” St. John the Baptist through his life, feeding that desire and building his faith is where I find myself today on this beautiful feast and how our Lord loved him first, also, as He loves us first.
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I don’t like to blow my own horn, ever. Today is my 49th birthday. Next to the gift of life, Mercy from our Lord added with the Year of Mercy declared by Pope Francis through our Lords Church, is the greatest gift any soul can receive outside of Eternal Life with our Lord Himself. Celebrate Life!
Tomorrow, the Jubilee of Mercy begins. For my birthday, I seek to help with Mercy, bringing souls back into communion with our Lord. I ask all my readers to please take advantage of the Jubilee of Mercy and use the grace our Lord is giving YOU ALL, to come home to Him. Seek Him and you will find Him. The door is open! Ask!
Today, I am dedicating my blog and the posts within for the next year, to be used as a tool of Mercy for souls in need who desire time with our Lord. When I first heard of this beautiful upcoming year, I was in awe. For the past twenty years, I have been on a path back to our Lord and have experienced Him living, much alive in all aspects of life. There are souls who do not believe you can prove that He even exists, and there are souls who need no proof as the very fact they have lived, is proof enough. When He reveals Himself in every aspect of your life, that empty hole in your heart, that we try to fill with anything but Him, becomes a place that only He and you, together, can exist in and nothing else can fill you with more joy than this encounter with Him, as it is the foundation to build all life in Christ, on. May our Holy Mother Mary be the model of faith, we all seek to emulate in the sorrow and pain we experience and know that no matter how hard it may be, our Lord has the final word.
When we accept His mercy, we accept His justice. With the sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession), comes Absolution.
I pray for the conversion of souls this year, as I have been and hope that this Year of Mercy brings a personal encounter with Love to each soul in such a way, turning away from that Love, is never even part of the equation.
Our Lord Jesus Christ loves you very much. Its a love unlike any other. When that Love is placed first, above all else in your life, His life, alive , becomes alive in you.
Peace! Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us. Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in You.
Let all who thirst come; let all who desire it, drink from the life-giving water (Revelation 22:17)
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“For though we know quite well that God is present in all that we do, our nature is such that it makes us lose sight of the fact; but when this favour is granted it can no longer do so, for the Lord, who is near at hand, awakens it. And even the favours aforementioned occur much more commonly, as the soul experiences a vivid and almost constant love for Him whom it sees or knows to be at its side.”
― St. Teresa of Ávila, Interior CastleSt. Teresa of Ávila, pray for us
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Regarding Kim Davis who now sits in jail for following her religious convictions and many other things in the USA …
In regards to the shamming of her personal life: What did our Lord say to the woman at the well? What did she do after her conversation with Him? Shamming her for her past and accusing her of bigotry is a “Gaslighting” tactic.
What this entire thing screams to me is Totalitarianism. What becomes of any Christian practicing their faith who holds political office? Is the rule and law of the land now, that NO ONE who believes in Jesus Christ or has faith in God can be in Government or hold a political office?
Remember what the Germans did to the Jews BEFORE slaughtering them. They stripped them of any positions they held, in government, schools and business, then they kicked them out of their family businesses, put them “out of business”, and confiscated them, then loaded them up and shipped them off to concentration camps. Before all this, if you were found in any way to have a mental condition, including Autism, you were systematically put to death by the “Government Run” medical association. With the blind eyes overlooking the horrors of abortion, the push for on demand euthanasia, murdering police officers for doing what they are paid to do, and now this? It all stinks of the “religion” of Nationalism, Political religion and it kills entire nations.
Lex iniusta non est lex
Lord have mercy on us all.
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Romans 14:8 If we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord.
I’m awake! I am truly awake in Christ. “You who dwell in the dust, wake up and shout for joy”
For so many years, be it my lack of understanding, or lack of wisdom, I finally realize who our Lord is. He is love and forgiveness. He is mercy and understanding. He is justice and fairness. For so many years, I thought that by my constant repenting of my past sins, that somehow our Lord would take that as doing more for Him when the reality is, He, through HIS sacrifice on the cross, and Resurrection has already done it all for us. Us as followers, need to understand that within each soul He lives, He dies, and is resurrected over and over again. Not many times in the same soul, but in each soul one time. My sacrifice is nothing as I live in Him. Sacrificing your life of sin is not a sacrifice but EXPECTED in order to gain friendship with Christ. It is the evil one who will make try and make you believe your “Sacrificing” something of your life of sin but the reality is, it was dust all along. It never belonged in the equalization of life in Christ in the first place.
It is only the evil one who makes our past sins a constant reminder of our failures. It it our Lord who takes our past failures and turns them into triumphs of glory by teaching us to overcoming them, looking past them and taking the soul to new heights by living in such a way as to overcome them by not repeating them. Forgetting them and leaving them in the dust. Therefor to enjoy the gift of LIFE he has given to us. TO share this LIFE with others.
“So the LORD God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, “Cursed are you above all the livestock and all the wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life.” Eating dust is exactly what the evil one does and he tries to spit that dust into our faces, blinding us with our own faults. Making us unable to see past them and to enjoy the glory of Jesus Christ. When Satan keeps reminding you of your past sins, the ones you have already confessed, remind him of his future. After we know for a fact, we have sought our Lord for forgiveness and have repented.
“For this reason it says, “Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you.” Ephesians 5:14
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Nothing causes more fear and trembling to non believers then the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. So many times have they been blown out of proportion by Hollywood and writers that there is more human curiosity to them, rather then to Our King, Jesus Christ, who commands them. I to was one of those. In my youth I used to think how cool it was to be able to bring death and destruction to the world. How cool it would be to hold the world in pestilence and wows and all those who causes me harm or called me names. Not taking into account, that death and destruction in this world, has no limit. Imagine the same death and destruction caused to our enemies, will be issued to our family’s, friends, children, and every soul we love, whom we wish harm to. Then imagine being the footstool for all of them, for eternity. I in some strange way, wish every human being could go on a “Ride Along” with them to see how much pain it causes the soul to see such things. Just a simple note to make sure we all understand who’s death we are cheering about in regards to who our “Enemies” are in this time of man’s war. Yes, I am speaking of Osama Bin Laden. Every human being has a soul that was created by God. Treat them as such and pray for mercy, not justice. Yes they danced in the streets on 9/11, but that does not mean we have been given ANY right to also, least we become our enemy.
“But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you”
Peg Pondering Again 