GLORIOUS MYSTERIES"Ever since, with Pentecost, the People of the New Covenant 'began their pilgrim journey toward the heavenly homeland, the Divine Sacrament has continued to articulate their days, filling them with confident hope' (ibid.).

Thinking specifically about this, I wished to dedicate to the Eucharist the first encyclical of the new millennium and I am now happy to announce a special Year of the Eucharist. It will begin with the World Eucharistic Congress, planned from October 10-17 in Guadalajara (Mexico), and will end with the next ordinary assembly of the Synod of Bishops, which will be held in the Vatican from October 2-29, 2005, and whose theme will be 'The Eucharist: Source and  Summit of the Life and Mission of the Church.' 

We are all God's children so it is important to share His gifts. Do not worry about why problems exist in the world - just respond to people's needs.

I approve of your work for gaining souls for Jesus. By all means receive Holy Communion for the Holy Father's intentions (Letters III, p 463).

"Whenever we set out to give `good example,' we generally do not give it.

The best example is given when we are off duty and are not acting `professionally, ' such as the minister or rabbi or priest when he comes down from his pulpit, the womanizer after he has finished his discourse on the `necessity of recognizing the rights of women,' the politician when he has finished his television oration on `my profound interest in social justice and my love of the common good.'

When Peter told Our Lord that though others failed Him, he would never fail, the Savior retorted that within twenty-four hours Peter would deny that he even knew Him. What we say is less important in the way of influence than what we do

Oh, how ardently I desire that every soul would praise Your mercy. Happy is the soul that calls upon the mercy of the Lord. It will see that the Lord will defend it as His glory, as He said. And who would dare fight against God?

 All you souls, praise the Lord's mercy by trusting in His mercy all your life and especially at the hour of your death. And fear nothing, dear soul, whoever you are; the greater the sinner, the greater his right to Your mercy, O Lord. O incomprehensible goodness! God is the first to stoop to the sinner.

O Jesus, I wish to glorify Your mercy on behalf of thousands of souls. I know very well, O my Jesus, that I am to keep telling souls about Your goodness, about Your incomprehensible mercy.       (598)

Jesus, You know that I love suffering and want to drain the cup of suffering to the last drop; and yet, my nature experienced a slight shudder and fear. Quickly, however, my trust in the infinite mercy of God was awakened in all its force, and everything else had to give way before it, like a shadow retreating before the sun's rays.

O Jesus, how great is Your goodness! Your infinite goodness, so well known to me, enables me to bravely look death itself in the eye. I know that nothing will happen to me without God's permission. I desire to glorify Your infinite mercy during my life, at the hour of death, in the resurrection, and throughout eternity.       (697)

In the second month of the apparitions, the visionaries have a vision of Christ. Our Lady says to them:

My angels, I send you my Son, Jesus, who was tortured for his faith, yet he endured everything. You also, my angels, will endure everything (First Years July 27, 1981).

Therefore we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith during all your persecutions and the afflictions that you are enduring. This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, and intended to make you worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering (2 Thes 1:4-5).

Reflection:

Every life includes trials and hardships. Theologians tell us it is the consequence of sin and evil in the world, which disrupts even nature affects the innocent as well as the guilty. Today, St. Paul teaches that God can draw good out of our hardships:

Our problems can help us look upward and forward, rather than inward. They can help to build strong character, and they imbue us with an extra measure of compassion for others who are struggle. Problems are unavoidable for people of faith living in a faithless world. Yet, linked to the sufferings of Christ, they have a redemptive value and meaning.

Application: