"The adoration of the Lord in the sacrament is also an education in sensitizing our conscience . . . .  When the conscience becomes dulled, this lets in the violence that lays waste the world" (Pope Benedict XVI).

St. Patrick, Bishop and Patron of Ireland (d. 461)—Feastday, March 17
Although kidnapped and brought to Ireland as a youth, following his escape, St. Patrick returned to the island as a priest to bring Jesus to the people. 
By the time of his death, almost the entire country of Ireland adored Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord!

Pope John Paul II -

Mons. Maurillo Kreiger, former bishop of Florianopolis (Brazil), visited Medjugorje four times. His first visit was in 1986. He writes as follows:
In 1988, I was with eight other bishops and thirty three priests on spiritual retreat in the Vatican.

 The Holy Father knew that many of us were going to Medjugorje afterwards. After a private mass with the Pope, before leaving Rome, he said, without having been asked anything, "Pray for me in Medjugorje". On another occasion, I told the Pope "I am going to Medjugorje for the fourth time".

He concentrated his thoughts and said, "Medjugorje, Medjugorje, it's the spiritual heart of the world". On the same day I spoke with other Brazilian bishops and the Pope at lunch time and I asked him: Your holiness, can I tell the visionaries that you send your blessing?" He answered: "Yes yes", and embraced me.

Mother Teresa  -

Even if you give somebody a glass of water, you do it to Jesus.

Meditations by Padre Pio -

Charity, wherever it comes from, is always the daughter of the same mother, that is, Providence (AdFP 554).

 Archbishop Fulton Sheen  -

Trapped in our own comfort zone of discontent

"Suppose one took a paper and wrote down the number of times he succumbed to the vice of self-pity in a day. What a catalog of egotism it would be and what a revelation of character.

 On another page, one could write down those who were blamed for what was really our own fault. It could make one penitent, which means recognizing that the root of all our troubles lies within ourselves. How much do my neighbors have to put up with because of me, and how often does my egotism stand in the way of brotherly affection on their part? But a more serious question is: how often does this self-pity stand in the way of God's doing anything for me?

 I have so blocked up the cave of my mind that no light can enter. When the Master says to our Lazarus' soul, wrapped in the trappings of egotism, 'Come out,' we say, 'No, I want to stay here in the grave of my inner discontent.' "

St. Faustina's diary  http://www.marian. org/directory_ flash.html  -

   Today, I went to meditate before the Blessed Sacrament [in the sanatorium chapel]. When I approached the altar, God's presence pervaded my soul, I was plunged into the ocean of His divinity, and Jesus said to me, My daughter, all that exists is yours. I answered the Lord, "My heart wants nothing but You alone, O Treasure of my heart. For all the gifts You give me, thank you, O Lord, but I desire only Your Heart.

Though the heavens are immense, they are nothing to me without You. You know very well, O Jesus, that I am constantly swooning because of my longing for You." Know this, My daughter, that you are already tasting now what other souls will obtain only in eternity.      (969)

And all of a sudden, my soul was flooded with the light of the knowledge of God. Oh, would that I could express even a little of what my soul experiences when resting near the Heart of the incomprehensible Majesty! I cannot put it into words.

 Only a soul who has experienced such a grace at least once in is life, will recognize it. When I returned to my room, it seemed to me that I was coming from real life to death. When the doctor came to take my pulse, he was surprised: "Sister, what happened? You have never had a pulse like this! I would like to know what has speeded it up so much."

What could I tell him, when I myself did not know that my pulse was so rapid. I only know that I am dying of yearning for God, but this I did not tell him, for how can medicine help in this instance?       (970)

 MEDJUGORJE DAY BY DAY

July - 12 PRAY THE ROSARY

To the prayer group on Mr. Podbrdo, the Blessed Mother speaks of the rosary:

Dear Children, your Mother is so happy tonight to see you all. I wish to call you

again to pray the rosary, and to pray this month especially, because I am in need of your prayers (VPG 5-7-90).

Jesus speaks of persevering prayer in this passage from Luke:

Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. He said, "In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people. In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, `Grant me justice against my opponent.' For a while he refused; but later he said to himself,

`Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming."

And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them?" (Lk 18:1-8)

Reflection:

Fr. Albert Shamon tells the story of Austria's great Rosary Crusade that liberated the country from Soviet control. At the end of World War II, the victorious allies pulled out of Austria and left it in Soviet hands.

After three years of tyranny the Austrian people could no longer bear the communist yoke, but they were helpless to do anything. Then a certain priest named Pater Petrus was put in mind of a revered Austrian hero, Don John, who credited the rosary with his miraculous defeat of the Ottoman turks at Lepanto in 1591, though he was outnumbered three to one.

And so Fr. Peurus called for a Rosary Crusade against the occupying Soviets. He asked for a tithe: that ten percent of the Austrians, 700,000, would pledge to offer a daily rosary for the withdrawal of Russian forces from their country.

The needed ten percent, 700,000 Austrians, made the pledge, and the Rosary Crusade continued for seven years. And then, on May 13, 1955, the anniversary of the Fatima apparitions, the Russians withdrew from Austria. Their evacuation made no sense. Austria was a war prize, industrialized, strategically located, and rich in natural resources. To this day historians are baffled by the pullout.

Application:

Do not hesitate to offer the rosary for great intentions: world peace, an end to abortion, the conversion of sinners, and the special intentions of the Blessed Mother. It was for such intentions as these that Our Lady came to Medjugorje to seek our help.

November 25, 1987
"Dear children! Today also I call each one of you to decide to surrender again everything completely to me. Only that way will I be able to present each of you to God. Dear children, you know that I love you immeasurably and that I desire each of you for myself, but God has given to all a freedom which I lovingly respect and humbly submit to. I desire, dear children, that you help so that everything God has planned in this parish shall be realized.

If you do not pray, you shall not be able to recognize my love and the plans which God has for this parish and for each individual. Pray that Satan does not entice you with his pride and deceptive strength. I am with you and I want you to believe me, that I love you. Thank you for having responded to my call."

"Make use of devotion to the Blessed Sacrament as a means of persevering in the practice of virtue.  Let us go to Him toward evening and tell Him about our shortcomings, let us ask Him for help and forgiveness. 

Our Lord loves us, He thinks of us constantly, and His glance follows us every moment of the day"
(Rafael Cardinal Merry del Val, Servant of God).

Mother Teresa   -

Whatever you do, even if you help somebody cross the road, you do it to Jesus.

Meditations by Padre Pio -

To lack charity is to wound the pupil of God's eye. What is more delicate than the pupil of the eye? To lack charity is like sinning against nature (AdFP 555).

 Archbishop Fulton Sheen -

The difference between Pity and Penitence

"Both Peter and Judas did deny the Master and both repented or were sorry. But the Greek word used in the Scripture is not the same in both instances. Judas repented unto himself - he had self-pity.

Peter repented unto the Lord - he had penitence, sorrow and a desire for amendment. Peter cleaned the weeds out of the garden, but Judas killed the nocturnal brood of remorseful serpents in his breast by hanging himself."

St. Faustina's diary  http://www.marian. org/directory_ flash.html  -

   O Lord, I feel your grace and Your peace filling my poor soul. I feel overwhelmed by Your mercy, O Lord. You forgive me, which is more than I dared to hope for or could imagine. Your goodness surpasses all my desires.

And now, filled with gratitude for so many graces. I invite You to my heart. I wandered, like a prodigal child gone astray; but you did not cease to be my Father. Increase Your mercy toward me, for You see how weak I am.

Jesus: Child, speak no more of your misery; it is already forgotten. Listen, My child, to what I desire to tell you. Come close to My wounds and draw from the Fountain of Life whatever your heart desires.

Drink copiously from the Fountain of Life and you will not weary on your journey. Look at the splendors of My mercy and do not fear the enemies of your salvation. Glorify My mercy.       (1485b)

  MEDJUGORJE DAY BY DAY

July 11 - ST. BENEDICT, ABBOT

The Blessed Mother gave Jelena this explanation after she saw a beautiful pearl divide itself. Each half sparkled and then faded away:

Jelena, everyone's heart is like this lovely pearl. When one belongs completely to the Lord, one shines even in the darkness. But when one is divided—a little to Satan, a little to sin, a little to everything— one's heart fades away and becomes worthless. (LJM 6-15-85)

And from the book of Revelation:

I know your works; you are neither hot nor cold. I wish you were either cold or hot. So, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold not hot, I will spit you out of my mouth. (Rv 3:15-16)

Reflection:

St. Benedict, the father of Western monasticism, was known for his steadfast loyalty and love of the Lord, and he carefully inculcated these virtues in his friars. Born in 480 and educated in Rome, he began the monastic life at Subiaco where he gathered disciples, and then departed for Monte Cassino.

There he established the famous monastery and composed the Benedictine Rule, which spread throughout Europe.

His undivided faith, which Our Lady calls us to today, can be easily discerned in his writing. From the Rule of St. Benedict:

What could be more delightful, dearest brothers, than the voice of Our Lord's invitation to us? In his loving kindness he reveals to us the way of life. And so, girded with faith and the performance of good works, let us follow in his paths by the guidance of the gospel; then we shall deserve to see him who has called us unto his kingdom. If we wish to attain a dwelling-place in his kingdom we shall not reach it unless we hasten there by our good deeds.

Application:

Today, pray for an undivided heart that expresses itself in good deeds for others.

FATHER MELVIN DOUCETTE

The Importance of Forgiveness

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Dear Friends,

“Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness; in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense. Thoroughly wash me from my guilt and of my sin cleanse me.” Psalm 51:3-4

The Importance of Forgiveness

I come back again today to Dr. Bob Rice’s story. He was a Protestant Pastor for thirty-three years and now he is a Catholic Lay-Evangelist.

He wrote a little book about the Holy Eucharist. In it he wrote about forgiveness. He was told by Jesus Himself that lack of forgiveness can hinder us from being healed and having our prayers answered.

He narrates for us the story of a particular woman who had very poor eyesight. She came to Bob at one of his services to ask healing for her eyes.

As he began to pray for her, Jesus stopped him to tell him that this woman lacked forgiveness for her sister-in-law and she would not be healed until she went to her sister-in-law. After telling her about what the Lord had told him, she knew what the Lord was talking about.

Shortly after that she went to see her sister-in-law and forgave her and asked for forgiveness as the Lord had instructed her.

When she did all that, her eyesight was instantly healed. Jesus was still working, however, on this lady on the subject of forgiveness.

During a retreat sometime later, which was attended by the whole congregation, the Lord showed the lady that she had to ask forgiveness of one brother.

Around 2:00 p.m. on Sunday the lady went to the kitchen and came back with a basin of water and a towel. She knelt down before this man and began to cry.

She told him that she was having a really hard time loving him as a Christian brother. While she was confessing her hard feelings toward him, she was taking off his shoes and socks. As she washed this man’s feet, the chapel was penetrated with the presence of God.

FATHER MELVIN DOUCETTE

 Expectant Faith

Dear Friends,

“To you I lift up my eyes who are enthroned in heaven, Behold, as the eyes of a servant are on the hands of their masters, As the eyes of a maid are on the hands of her mistress, So are our eyes on the Lord, our God, till he have pity on us.” Psalm 123:1-2

I continue today to tell the story of Dr. Bob Rice, a Protestant Pastor who became a Catholic and together with his wife, Anita, are Catholic Lay-Evangelists. Bob tells us that after thirty-three years of ministry, he discovered three enemies that hinder answers to our prayers.

These enemies are 1. doubt and unbelief, 2. a lack of forgiveness towards others and 3. not discerning the Body of Christ properly.

Let us now look at the first enemy, namely doubt and unbelief. When we come to prayer, the Lord wants us to come to Him with expectant faith just like a child. Bob gives a beautiful example of this kind of faith. While working one day he broke his arm.

The Lord told him, “You find it easy to pray for others don’t you? Well, now you’re the one in pain. How’s your faith now? With all the pain you’re in right now, can you still believe that I will heal your broken arm?”

He told the Lord, “Yes Lord, I believe.” He was driving and he took hold of the steering wheel with his broken arm and laid the other hand on it and he said, “Arm be healed in Jesus’ Name.”

He was instantly healed and all the pain and other discomfort left immediately. With expectant faith the Lord can heal you too.

It is a fact that God does not want us to be doubled-minded. Here is a quotation from James1:6-8: “But he should ask in faith, not doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.

For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord, since he is a man of two minds, unstable in all his ways.” 

In 1 John 5:14-15, Jesus says, “And we have this confidence in Him, that if we ask anything according to his will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in regard to whatever we ask, we know that what we have asked Him for is ours.”

Jesus says in Mark these words, “Therefore I tell you, all that you ask for in prayer, believe that you will receive it and it shall be yours.”

Father Melvin