HOLINESS THROUGH GROWTH IN PRAYER

Jesus at prayer: our Model

In our pursuit of the call to holiness one of the most efficacious tools to attain holiness of life is by striving on a constant and daily basis to grow in one’s personal prayer life.  Following are ten short suggestions on how to grow in one’s prayer life.

1.    DESIRE AND DETERMINATION.  If we desire to attain any important goal whatsoever in life, an indispensable condition is a firm purpose and determination.   This must be applied to prayer!  One of the four women doctors of the Church, “The Doctor of prayer”, Saint Teresa of Avila, asserted:  “We must have a determined determination to never give up prayer.” 

   

Jesus always forgives: Mercy!

2.    PURIFICATION.   The Word of God calls God a “Burning or consuming fire”. In the temple Isaiah felt the need for purification because he was in the presence of a three times holy God.  An angel came and with a burning coal touched his lips purifying the great Prophet of his iniquity.  A good confession can purify our minds, memories, wills of the dross of sin so that we can contemplate the face of God.  “Blessed are the pure of heart, they will see God.” (Mt. 5:8)   The most efficacious means of purification is through the Precious Blood of Jesus that washes us clean every time we frequent the Sacrament of Confession.  Jesus I trust in your mercy!

3.    TIME AND PLACE.  Man is a creature of habit. Interesting to note is that we all have certain habits—bathing, getting up in the morning, exercise rhythms. However, the greatest and most important habit we can form is the habit of prayer.  This being said, we should find a set time and set place every day and not be blown to and fro by the whims of our feelings! The best of places to pray is in front of the Blessed Sacrament where Jesus is truly present. If impossible, find some quiet place where you will not be interrupted by noise! If possible, pray as early as possible. The Gospel of St. Mark chapter one presents Jesus as rising way before dawn and He was absorbed in prayer---- “way before dawn….’’--- meaning, very early in the morning!

               

We are all beggars before God!

4.    BEGGARS BEFORE GOD! Beg help at the very start of your prayer period. Ask the Blessed Mother to help you through her powerful prayers. Her prayers penetrate the heavens and can touch the very Heart of God. Then implore the Holy Spirit for His intercession.  St. Paul reminds us, “We do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Holy Spirit with ineffable groans intercedes for us so that we can say ‘Abba’, Father”. (Romans 8). Begging help from Mary and the Holy Spirit, the Interior Master of Prayer, we cannot go wrong!

5.    BIBLE.   Without doubt, the best text to ignite a fervent prayer life is the Word of God, the Bible.  St. Jerome exhorts us with these words:  “Ignorance of  Sacred Scripture is ignorance of Christ.”  The Council Fathers and the saints have constantly reminded us to dive in to the riches of the Word of God.

                 

Jesus is the center of our prayer life!

6.    JESUS.  The very heart of the Bible are the four Gospels--- Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.  St. Teresa of Avila says that contemplating the Humanity of Christ is one of the best means to plumb the depths of prayer.  In the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola the saint insists that when we contemplate the Life of Jesus that we beg for this very special grace:  “Intimate knowledge of Jesus, that we love Him more ardently and follow Him more closely.”

7.    READING ON PRAYER.  As a supplementary help, it is highly recommended that we read on the topic of prayer. Times are tough, but never have we lived in an age with so many opportunities for good spiritual reading.   Books on prayer are countless, but first on the list should be the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Part IV—numbers 2558—2865.  This last section of the Catechism of the Catholic Church is a masterpiece on prayer. Anybody who takes their prayer life seriously should become familiar with this excellent literary jewel!

St. John of the Cross-- patron of Spiritual Directors

8.    SPIRITUAL DIRECTION. In any professional field there is an imperious and constant need for formation, orientation, encouragement, alteration as well as correction. Teachers, Doctors, Lawyers, Musicians, Writers, Professional Athletes are all keenly aware of their need for improvement and constant growth. There is a universal law: no growth, stagnation sets in!  A rower in the midst of the rapids must make a concerted effort to row against the current; if not, the currents drag him down-stream.  Growth in prayer demands much effort, even more, the grace of God. However the additional assistance of a competent Spiritual Director can prove of incalculable help!  St. John of the Cross expressed it ironically:  “He who has himself as Spiritual Director has an idiot as a disciple.”  We all have blind spots in our spiritual life and need the guide to help us to see them!

      

Our Lady of Fatima asked for prayer and penance

9.    PENANCE. Jesus stated that some devils can only be expelled by prayer and fasting. On one occasion, while taking a walk, I was quickly approaching a Black-bird (A CROW!). Interestingly something did not happen: the bird did not take to flight! At first, I thought maybe I had a latent or dormant Franciscan charism! Not true!  The bird did not fly due to a broken wing! My reflection led me to this conclusion: to fly high in the spiritual life we need two wings! Prayer must be fervent and constant, but also, we must find ways that we can practice penance,  and to carry out sacrifices. Our Lady of Fatima told the world to pray--- especially the Holy Rosary. In addition to prayer, Our Lady insisted on the importance of offering sacrifices to console the Heart of Jesus and for the conversion of poor sinners.

             

St. Ignatius-- patron of retreats!

10. SPIRITUAL RETREATS. Highly to be encouraged as a sure means to grow in one’s prayer life is to get away for a while---eight days, a weekend, or even a day to dedicate oneself totally to one’s spiritual life and have large blocks of time to pray.  When Jesus saw the Apostles absorbed in work to the point of exhaustion, He told them to come apart and rest for a time. This can be interpreted for us in terms of leaving our overly busy and active lives and finding a time and place for a retreat.   In the modern world, many of us tend to be more “Martha” then “Mary”, more “Actives” then “Contemplatives”, to focus more on the “Horizontal” over the “Vertical”. Jesus invites us with these tender but encouraging words:  “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Mt. 11: 28-30)
 

Our Lady and the Holy Spirit

ONWARD CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS—THE MARCH TO HEAVEN!

St. Ignatius of Loyola

 

The Primary Purpose of man on earth is to know God, love God, and serve God in this short life so as to be happy with him forever in heaven. This is a clear and unequivocal truth taught in the Baltimore Catechism.

St. Ignatius of Loyola in the Spiritual Exercises, in Principle and Foundation, expresses the same truth but using slightly different words:   “Man is created to praise God, reverence God, serve God, and by means of that to save his soul. “ (Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, # 23)

Many today live in a perpetual identity crisis as to who they really are, what their ultimate destiny is and how to arrive at their ultimate and final destiny!

Another approach to this existential problem and the answer to it is expressed in the fifth chapter of the Dogmatic Constitution of the Second Vatican Council, Lumen Gentium--- the universal call to holiness.  In the most concrete of expressions: All are called to become saints.   None other than Jesus Himself taught this in the Sermon on the Mount. (Mt. 5—7)  “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for holiness, they will be filled.” (Mt. 5:6)  Then a little later:  “Be holy as your Heavenly Father is holy.” (Mt. 5:48)

St. Paul, in his letter to the Thessalonians, reiterated the same message:  “This is the will of your Heavenly Father, your sanctification.”

The saints are unanimous in their teaching as well as their having lived out this call to holiness. No surprise, the reality that they indeed are saints!

Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta

 

 Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta expressed an unchangeable condition for entrance into the Missionaries of Charity--- the ardent desire to become a saints.   She asserted with firm conviction: “Holiness is not the privilege of the few, but it is the duty of all.”   This is  simply another way of expressing the concept of Vatican II of  the Universal call to holiness.

The recently canonized saint, founder of Opus Dei, Saint Josemaria Escriva de Balaguer lamented over many modern crises.  Viewing the world at large full of crises, he stated that the biggest and most serious crisis was the lack of saints!

St. Maximilian Kolbe

In catechism classes frequently I challenge children, teens as well as adults to pursue holiness of life and an ardent yearning for sanctity.  I ask the simple question:  “How many of you want to go to heaven?”  All hands shoot up immediately!  Then the following question is:  “How many of you want to become saints?” Very few hands, if indeed any at all, spring to the air!  Pursuing the concept, I point out that God is in heaven, Mary is in heaven, the angels are in heaven, as well as the saints are in heaven.   The conclusion follows: to make it to heaven all of us have to become saints--- no exception to the rule is permitted!  Of course it must be explained that most saints are not canonized but anonymous, but still they are saints.  

Therefore, starting today, why not make a firm commitment: I will strive with all of the energy in my soul and with the help of God’s grace to become a saint. May Our Lady, “Mary most holy”, the Queen of all of the angels and saints, intercede for me and help me to become the saint that God indeed has called me to become!

Mary, the Mystical Spouse of the Holy Spirit

 

LORD, GRANT ME WISDOM—a discerning heart!

The seven gifts of  the Holy Spirit

When chosen by God to be the King of Israel to replace his father, King David, King Solomon was inspired to ask God for anything.  Solomon did not ask for riches, fame, nor honor; rather, he asked God for wisdom, for a discerning heart so that he could rule the people with justice.

Through the Sacrament of Baptism we have receive the seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit: Wisdom, Knowledge, Understanding, Counsel, Piety, Fortitude and Fear of the Lord. With Confirmation these seven Gifts are fortified. According to the Angelic Doctor, Saint Thomas Aquinas, the greatest of the seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit is that of Wisdom.

In imitation of the intention and decision of King Solomon we should also beg for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit in our lives and that the seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit become powerfully manifest in our lives, as was clearly evident in the lives of the saints.  Blessed Pope John XXIII called the saints, “The Masterpieces of the Holy Spirit.”  We are called to be the modern “Masterpieces of the Holy Spirit.”  Jesus commanded this with these clear but challenging words:  “Be holy as your heavenly Father is holy.” (Mt. 5:48)

The saints were filled with Wisdom

In this short essay we will strive to explain the first and greatest Gift of the Holy Spirit: the Gift of Wisdom.  “Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and enkindle in us the fire of your divine love.” Lord, breathe forth your spirit of Wisdom upon us!

Of the many sublime and beautiful titles given to Mary she has been called and invoked as “Seat of Wisdom”. May her powerful prayers of intercession attain for us Heavenly Wisdom. May the Mystical Spouse of the Holy Spirit, rush to our aid!

DEFINITION.  A short and “easy to memorize” definition of Wisdom is the following:  “To relish the things of God.”   As a child, entering Baskin Robbins on a hot day, sits licking bit by bit his triple-scoop ice-cream cone, relishing every lick of the cone until it is gone, so those filled and enamored with the Gift of Wisdom relish all that pertains to God.

BIBLICAL PASSAGES THAT EXEMPLIFY THE GIFT OF WISDOM…

“Taste and see the goodness of the Lord….”  From the Sermon on the Mount: “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and everything else will be given to you beside.”  Finally, the disciples on the Road to Emmaus commented, “Did not our hearts burn within us as He explained to us the word of God…?”(Lk. 24: 13-35)

MANIFESTATIONS OF THE GIFT OF WISDOM.    If one is  filled  with the Gifts of the Holy Spirit these Gifts must become operative, active, and manifest in one’s life. Jesus Himself said that we can tell the tree by the fruits.   What then are clear signs of the operation of Wisdom in life?  Following are a list of manifestations of a truly “Wise”person!   He desires to pray and does not get tired or bored with prayer but hungers and thirsts for it all the more.  “As the deer yearns for the running streams so my soul yearns for you, O Lord.” LEARNING!  He has a great desire to learn and grow in his faith.  In this “Year of Faith” (October11, 2012- November 24, 2013) the desire is all the more ardent to make leaps and bounds in his faith.  Furthermore, he manifests an insatiable desire to drink in the most abundant source of graces through assistance, participation and reception of the Most Blessed sacrament of the Altar in Holy Mass.  There is no greater desire in his heart than to receive the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Spiritual Congresses, Spiritual Retreats, Spiritual Conferences, TV. and Radio programs that are spiritually enriching, Mass homilies--- all of these elicit in his heart great consolation, peace, and joy!

The Wisdom Of St. Teresa of Avila and the Holy Spirit

OPPOSITE OF WISDOM: FOLLY!  In one of His short but powerful Parables, Jesus teaches clearly what “Wisdom” is  not!  (Luke 12: 16-21)   It is the Parable of the Rich Fool!  An abundant harvest resulted in tearing down the barns to build more spacious ones.  Then the attitude of the “Rich fool” is expressed:  “Now as for you, you have many good things stored up for many years, rest, eat, drink and be merry.”   But God said to Him, “You fool  this night your life will be demanded of you; and the things you have prepared, to whom  will they belong? Thus will it be for the one who stores us treasure for himself but is not rich in what matters to God.”   What Jesus is clearly saying is that to live only for the passing pleasures of this world is the heights of folly. Also, we know neither the day, nor the hour, nor the manner that the Lord will call us from this life to the next for Judgment which will determine our destiny for all eternity, either salvation or condemnation.   St. Ignatius challenged Francis Xavier with these words of wisdom, words of Jesus Himself:  “What would it profit a man if he were to gain the whole world and lose his life in the process. What can a man give in exchange for his immortal soul?

FIVE SHORT BUT EFFICAIOUS WAYS TO CULTIVATE THE GIFT OF WISDOM!

               

Wisdom-- eyes fixed on heaven!

1.    TIME AND ETERNITY.  Wisdom can be attained by meditating often on the transitory, ephemeral, and fleeting character of our life.  The Psalmist expresses it concisely: Our life is like the flower of the field that rises in the morning and withers and dies in the evening!  A wise person has his feet on earth, but his eyes fixed on eternity!

2.    HEAVEN. Also, with respect to eternity, a person imbued with the Gift of Wisdom, constantly reminds himself that Heaven is his ultimate goal. This thought motivates him to put all the means at his disposition to attain to such a lofty goal--- nothing less than union with God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

              

Saint Dominic Savio

3.    DEATH TO SIN.  At times we meet old fools and wise youth!  St Dominic Savio, who died, not even fifteen years of age, was filled with Wisdom at a very tender age.  His motto for his First Communion, and he had not even turned eight, was  death rather than sin!!!    True Wisdom is loving what God loves and hating what God hates. God hates one thing: sin!

4.    SHARING WISDOM.   A truly wise person does not keep his “Pearl of infinite price” to himself. Rather, following the exhortation of Saint Paul, what we have received freely we are called to give freely!  A truly wise person shares his treasure--- God and His treasures—with others!  By sharing heavenly treasures and wisdom one is not impoverished but enriched all the more!  Remember the words of Saint Paul:  “There is more joy in giving than in receiving.”

               

Savio's love for Mary!

5.    MARY SEAT OF WISDOM.   Bring others to Jesus though the Blessed Virgin Mary.  MEETING OF SAINTS!   After the death of St. Dominic Savio—14 years and 11 months of age--- the teenager appeared to St. John Bosco.  St. Dominic Savio told St. John Bosco that the greatest joy he experienced in life was his love for Mary, his devotion towards her and his promoting devotion towards her. Savio told St. John Bosco to do the same!  True Wisdom can be attained by cultivating a deep and tender devotion to Our Lady, “Seat of Wisdom”.

 

Like King Solomon let us all beg for a great gift this very day.  “Lord, grant me wisdom, a truly discerning heart.” Let us always look to the Lord and be radiant with joy. This is true Wisdom!

SUFFERING FOR A PURPOSE: MAKES US BETTER, NOT BITTER!

Suffering shared is suffering sanctified!

In and of itself suffering has no positive value!   It all depends upon one thing: uniting our suffering with the suffering of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!  Once this “Divine-connection” has been established, then and only then, does human suffering have positive value.

Suffering can be of many forms and of different degrees of intensity as well as duration.  Physical suffering, emotional suffering, psychological suffering, economic suffering, family suffering, spiritual suffering, and moral suffering--- all are forms of suffering but different in expression.

What you do to your brother/sister you do to me!

Suffering can make us either better or bitter!  Suffering without any vertical-or divine connection inevitably transforms the individual who suffers into a bitter, angry, and spiteful person.   A “Masochist” suffers only for the sake of suffering and nothing more.   A “Sadist” rejoices in the suffering of others!   A Stoic strives with all of the energy in his will to eliminate all ways and manners  of suffering.

Jesus never promised His followers that they would be freed from the reality of suffering.  On the contrary, as a primary condition to be His follower, He stated: “If anyone wishes to be my follower, he must renounce himself, take up his cross and follow me.”   Taking up the cross is another way of saying to accept the reality of suffering in one’s life.

Joey Velasquez and Jesus with the suffering children

Jesus did not simply preach the reality of suffering and its value, but He also put into practice what He preached in the clearest way imaginable--- the Cross, Calvary, and Crucifixion!   Jesus did not flee from the cross; nor did He avoid the Dolorous Way of Calvary, much less did He renounce the nails, the cross and the spear all present in the Crucifixion.

THE REASON!   The reason for the many and painful aspects of Jesus’ suffering was to obey the will of the Heavenly Father, but also to show to all of humanity and to each and every one of us individually indeed how much He loves us.

Jesus suffered His Passion to save all of humanity but also to save each and every one of us individually.  It staggers the imagination the reality of Jesus suffering it all for you and for me as if we were the only individuals in the whole created world.  How great the love of God and His willingness to suffer to the point of shedding His Precious Blood for my eternal salvation.

 TAKING ADVANTAGE OF MY SUFFERING.  How then can I take advantage of my own suffering so that when suffering does visit me--- and it will sooner or later—it will not transform me into a bitter person but rather into a much better person!

No greater love than to give one's life!

First, CONTEMPLATE THE PASSION OF CHRIST.   Make it a habit to contemplate some element of the Passion, suffering and death of Jesus frequently.  Why not choose “Friday” every week to take at least one aspect of the Passion of Christ and spend some time in silence and prayer meditating and contemplating Jesus’ supreme love for you in His suffering. It might be the Blood that poured out of His Body in the Garden; or it might be the Scourge wounds leaving His Sacred Body an open gaping wound; it might be one of the many thorns that pierced His Sacred brow; moreover, it might be the nail that pierced one of his feet; finally, it might be  His Precious Blood oozing forth from His wounds as He hung valiantly on the Cross. Choose and contemplate any detail that moves you to love the Lord Jesus more intensely.

JPII taught us how to suffer and alleviate suffering

Second, RESIGNATION TO GOD’S WILL.   When God deigns to send you suffering in whatever form it might be, strive immediately to accept the suffering with trust and confidence, with the full-awareness that Jesus purposely has sent this suffering to you because He loves you and wants you to share at least to a limited degree in His suffering.  Whatever God sends us is always for our benefit and well-being.  Remember the Augustinian concept:  God can allow what appears to be evil--- various forms of suffering—to bring a greater good out of it!

 Third, BEG FOR THE GRACE.   It is not wrong to beg to be freed from suffering.  In His Agony in the Garden, Jesus begged the Father three times to free Him from the chalice of suffering, but always with the concluding words, “Not my will but yours be done.”  However, if God deems it best not to take that cross from you, then He indeed will bring greater future blessings from it.    We live in the present moment, but God sees all at once. He sees A to Z and has the jig-saw puzzle already assembled.   In the light of the salvation of your soul and eternity God could allow that cross for your purification, sanctification and eternal salvation. God sees the over-all picture.    We are like an ant at the foot of an enormous mountain; God is like an  eagle hovering over the mountain. Obviously, God’s vantage point and His perspective far transcends the vision of the little ant—that is us!

St. Catherine of Siena, mystic, Doctor and stigmatist

Fourth, UNITE IT TO THE MASS AND CALVARY.  Of  greatest importance, in sanctifying our suffering, is its relation to Mass and Calvary.  At every celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, Jesus offers Himself as the spotless Victim for the salvation of the world.   To maximize to the fullest extent possible the value of our suffering, we must place it on the altar in the Sacrifice of the Mass. At the moment of Consecration, when the Body of Jesus is being elevated on high to God the Father, we should place our sufferings on the paten beside Jesus.   Then when we receive Holy Communion, offering our sufferings to Jesus and with Jesus, countless graces and blessings will flow upon you, your family, the Church as well as the whole world.  God the Father will see you on the cross with His Beloved Son in whom He is well-pleased!

Go to Mary. She will be your consolation!

Fifth, OUR LADY OF SORROWS (STABAT MATER).  After Jesus nobody ever suffered to the extent of Mary, the Mother of God, known also with the title “Our Lady of Sorrows”.   Saint Juan Diego ran to Our Lady of Guadalupe in his bitter sufferings--- the possible death of his uncle Juan Bernardino. Immediately Our Lady responded to Juan Diego healing instantaneously the elderly man.  In our sufferings—physical, emotional, family, economic, moral, or even spiritual--- why not turn to Our Lady of Sorrows and place all in her Immaculate Heart.  Through her powerful prayers she will turn your thorn into a rose, storm into rainbow, death into life,  and Good Friday into the Glory of the Risen Lord Jesus!

In conclusion, my friends, let us all come to terms with the inevitable and unavoidable reality of human suffering. Let us not waste it but rather unite it to the suffering, passion and death of Jesus with the firm conviction and limitless hope that suffering united with Jesus purifies, elevates, ennobles, and sanctifies.  If done in this way suffering will not make us bitter individuals but better!  “We adore you O Christ and we bless you because by your cross you have redeemed the world.”

Our Lady of Fatima and the children offer sacrifices

Harvest is Rich but the Laborers are Too Few

As a boy he lived in Bohemia, now the Czech Republic.   He was an extremely hard-working student who desired to be a missionary in America.  By the time he was twenty-four he had already learned six languages and had already completed his studies to the priesthood.  However, there was a serious problem for him being ordained to the priesthood: there were too many priests in his country and the Bishop would not ordain him.

This obstacle did not deter the young man. He said good bye to his parents and brother jumped on a ship for the new world--- The United States of America.  He had one pair of clothes and a dollar in his pocket. Within three weeks he had found a Bishop who ordained him a priest.  Can anyone name this priest?  He is the only American Bishop to be canonized as of yet.  He lived from1811 to 1860 and dropped dead of a sudden heart-attack in Philadelphia, where his body is presently venerated. This great hero of God is SAINT JOHN NEUMAN!

FOSTERING VOCATIONS TO THE PRIESTHOOD AND ITS URGENCY!

 

Once Jesus looked about and exclaimed with a heavy heart:  “The harvest is rich but the laborers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send more laborers to work in his vineyard.”   Jesus was making an urgent appeal 2000 years ago and His voice can be heard even to this day that we must strive with all of the energy of our will to pray for vocations, seek out vocations, cultivate vocations, and sustain vocations to the priesthood.

At the moment of Baptism, who is present?  The priest!  The first confession and the many that follow? The priest!  Who is there to confect the Eucharist and give the Body and Blood of Christ the day of the First Communion and the many that will follow until our dying day?  It is the priest!  For Confirmation who is there? It is the Bishop who of course is a priest.   Who is there to prepare the couple for Holy Matrimony as well as to officiate at the ceremony?  No surprise again, it is the priest!  Then in those very critical and difficult moments when a loved one is extremely sick, who is there to calm the fears, absorb the pain, and administer the Sacrament of the Sick?  The priest. Finally, at the funeral Mass and burial, who is there to pray for and assist in the burial? Once again, it is the priest!

NO PRIEST? NO MASS?  

What indeed happens  without the priest related to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass?   No priest no Mass which of course follows this logical sequence, no Consecration, no Holy Communion, no Body and Blood of Christ, no SACRAMENTAL JESUS!  In a certain sense we become “Spiritual orphans”.   Indeed how essential is the priest for the spiritual well-being of the world and the salvation of souls!

This being the reality of the essential importance of the priest in the realm of the spiritual, the realm of the Sacramental, and in the realm of the arena of salvation, what can we do to foster vocations to the priesthood?

First, fostering vocations is not simply the duty and responsibility of priests, nuns, Bishops, and Religious, even though all of these categories play a primary role! No! Vocational awareness and promotion is the duty and call of all disciples of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

Second, PRAYER!  Jesus Himself commanded all of us to pray because the harvest is exceedingly rich, but the laborers are all too few. We must beg the Lord of the Harvest to send more to reap and bring in the harvest.

Third, THURSDAYS!   It has become a very noble and worthy practice in several parishes to set aside THURSDAYS as the specific day to pray for and to foster vocations.  The reason for this is that Jesus instituted the Eucharist on Holy Thursday as well as Holy Orders the same night, in the same place--- the Cenacle or the Upper Room.  When Jesus said these solemn words: “Do this in memory of me”, He was instituting the Sacrament of Holy Orders, the Priesthood.   Praying the Holy Rosary (especially the fifth Luminous Mystery, the Institution of the Eucharist), Vocational Holy Hours, and the offering of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass are all concrete ways to pray and foster vocations to the Priesthood.

Fourth, THE FAMILY.  Blessed Pope John Paul II stated that the first seminary is the family.  The family is the “domestic church” as well as the primary building block of society.   A family that prays together, receives the Eucharist frequently, prays the Rosary together on a daily basis, and a family in which, peace and joy and love flow spontaneously--- all of these are equal to a fertile planting ground for the seed of a future vocation to the priesthood to be planted, blossom and flourish!

Fifth, INVITATION!   St. Andrew met Jesus and was fascinated with this encounter.  Andrew could not keep this unforgettable experience to himself, but he felt the imperious desire to share this treasure with someone else.  This someone else happened to be his brother, Simon Peter.   We all know what happened!  Jesus changed Simon’s name to “Peter”; He challenged Peter to leave his profession as fisherman to become a “fisher of men”. And of course, Jesus appointed Peter as the “Rock” on which He would build His church, designating Peter as the first Pope in the Catholic Church.   What would have happened if St. Andrew were to have kept his encounter with Jesus as a secret, only to himself as his personal treasure?   We will never know! But what we do know is that Peter met Jesus through the mediation of Andrew his brother.   In short, if you meet some young man that might be considering the possibility of a vocation, or some young man that seems magnetically drawn to prayer, especially in front of the Blessed Sacrament and manifests an irresistible desire to attend Holy Mass and receive Holy Communion, why not encourage him to consider the priesthood?  Better yet, give him a contact number of a priest, vocational director, as well as the “Come and see” vocational meetings.  It could be that many vocations are never discovered because, possibly due to cowardice, we fear suggesting and inviting young men to the Priesthood!

Speaking as a priest, for more than a quarter of a century, I am still astounded over the sublime reality that every day—despite my sinfulness and unworthiness—God has chosen me to change a little bit of bread and wine into His Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. Then to give God Himself to others who will receive Him in the very depths of their hearts! For this reason, in an effusion of love for his priesthood, the Cure of Ars (St. John Marie Vianney) exclaimed: “The priest is like the Son of God (Heb. 7:3) Only in heaven will we be able to appreciate the greatness of the priesthood.  If we understood it fully on earth we would die, not of fear, but of love. After God the priest is all.”

 

JOHN CHAPTER 21…. THE FISHERMEN!

The following is a series of points for Meditation/Contemplation on one of the most appealing, inspiring and challenging chapters in the New Testament: John chapter 21!    The word of God is like a two-edged sword that separates bone from marrow. The Word of God can console and comfort, reprove and correct, enlighten as well as motivate. Jesus responded to the devil himself: “Man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Mt. 4:4) May we hunger more and more daily for the “Bread of the word of God!”

1.    FISHING!  Some of the Apostles were by profession fishermen.  Instead of just standing around loitering and giving in to laziness, Peter decided to go to work! It is good to work.  The Book of Genesis says that we should earn our bread by the sweat of our brow. Idleness is the workshop of the devil! Many sins we commit because we are inactive/inertia… St John Bosco said that vacation time is the harvest ground of the devil. Why? The young people have too much free time on their hands!   If you do not have anything to do then the devil will give you a lot to do. Experience proves this truth: if you do not have anything to do then the devil will give you a lot to do!

2.    NOTHING.  They caught nothing.  Why? They were expert fishermen; they knew the lake and they were fishing at night which was a prime time to catch fish!  The reason is clear--- Jesus was not in the boat with them. Symbol of mortal sin. Parallel passage—the Vine and the Branches (Jn. 15).  The branch cut off from the vine will dry up and die and be cast into the fire.  If we are not united to Jesus, like the branch to the vine, and living in mortal sin, then we will have no spiritual productivity.

3.    STRANGER ON THE SHORE.   Mary Magdalene did not recognize Jesus. The disciples on the road to Emmaus failed to recognize Jesus. Once against Jesus is on the shore early in the morning, watching them and concerned about them, but they do not recognize Him. How often do we fail to recognize Him? How often in the Gospel narratives do they fail to recognize Jesus?   One of the biggest problems today in the church is that most Catholics—about 75% in total in USA--- fail to recognize Jesus in the Eucharist. As in Jn.6, when many walked away from Jesus when He gave the “Bread of Life discourse” the same is happening today.  Many Catholics fail to receive the most Holy Eucharist; they fail even to come to Holy Mass. Judas was there and the prophecy of him being a devil was made. He got up and left the Last Supper; he rushed out of Mass.

4.     TIME: EARLY—THE RISING SUN.   Jesus is the “Rising Sun!”  We should get up early to pray where we meet Jesus and not let the devil of laziness bind us to the bed covers!

5.    OBEDIENCE!   They obey Jesus by throwing the net on the other side of the boat.  THE GREAT CATCH!   If we obey Jesus, the Pope, the Church and the Commandments, then God will give success to the work of our hands. “Lord, give success to the work of our hands.”

6.    ABUNDANCE!  They catch 153 whoppers!!!  What Jesus does--- like in the Wedding Feast of Cana—is always the “Best”.  If we let Jesus do the work it turns out perfect!

                  

7.    “Team-work”.   Peter could not have hauled in such a huge catch of fish by himself; he needed the help of his companions to haul in such numerous as well as large fish; these were big fish and the number 153 was enormous. Families, parishes, parish-groups must learn the importance of working together as a team.  In unity there is strength.  A chain is only as strong as its weakest link; an iron chain that has one card-board link will be rent-asunder with one simple pull!  What are typical enemies?  Jealousy, envy, rivalry, ruthless competition, and of course pride that is at the root of all sins--- all of these, can ruin any group.  With Paul we should learn to rejoice with those who rejoice and to weep with those who weep. We are on the same team and are not rivals!

8.    JOHN: EYES OF THE MYSTIC, EAGLE –EYE JOHN!  He saw Jesus first. Reason? He was the beloved disciple, leaned on His Sacred Heart at the Last Supper, stood at the foot of the cross, took Mary, and was the pure and virgin disciple--- a lot of material to meditate on with respect to John!

9.    PETER’S SWIM.  Peter dived in and swam the 100 yards with enthusiasm! Preparing for the Olympic Games—the swimming meet, the 100—next Galilean Olympic Games! ENTHUSIASM.  We should all be ready to jump in the cold water to meet Jesus. We must have enthusiasm today as Catholics--- like the Pentecostals and born-again Christians. Too many dead-beat Catholics!

             

10.MODESTY!  Peter girds himself.  Must be modest in front of Jesus in Church, but also at all times. Why?  We are  Ambassadors/representatives of Christ at all times!  Modesty is the guardian of the virtue of chastity. (CCC)

11. TENDER ATTENTION AND CONCERN OF JESUS.  Jesus knows that they are hungry so he prepares Breakfast for them of bread and fish.    He is the Bread of life!  The Our Father: “Give us this day our daily bread….” There can be three interpretations to the “Daily Bread”.  We ask that God will provide for our physical needs; our mental needs; still more important, the needs of our soul.

12.JOY!   All filled with joy in being in the Presence of Jesus. Jesus is the reason for our joy!  Money can buy us pleasure but true joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit and comes from God.  This indeed is the “Risen Jesus” who came to bring us life and life in abundance.

13. THE WALK ON THE SHORE.   Jesus is walking and talking to Simon-Peter.  This is another description for prayer--- talking to the Lord.   Why not today take a walk and talk with Jesus on the seashore of your life. Tell Him all that is going on in your life because He really cares for you.

               

14. TRIPLE QUESTION ON LOVE.  Peter is asked three times by Jesus if he loves Him.   Peter is asked “three” times because he denied Jesus three times. It was like a Confession experience in which Jesus as “priest” was giving Peter his penance--- the right proportion and type—to repair for his sin. A good penance should be proportional, practical, and medicinal and pedagogical.

15.PAIN. It pains Peter!  To repair for our sins penance is done which causes us some form of pain. If we accept it willingly it purifies us like gold in the fire, it sanctifies us and makes us more like Christ who suffered on the cross for us.

16. FEED MY SHEEP/LAMB.   Jesus not only forgives Peter, but He also commissions Peter.   He would be called to leave the fishing business so as to be a true “Fisher of Men”.  He was called to be the 1^st Pope!   The mercy of the Sacred Heart of Jesus has no limits!

              

17. DEATH!  Jesus also makes the prophecy of the death by which Peter would glorify Jesus—the crucifixion.  Peter would be crucified upside down.

18.PETER’S CONVERSION (3): 1) The eyes of Christ, Right after the triple denial 2) The triple affirmation of love at Lake Galilee (Jn. 21); 3) Pentecost, the coming of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2). Our conversion probably has similar aspects! We should contemplate the loving gaze and peer into the eyes of Jesus; tell Him that we love Him totally and beg for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit.

19.FOLLOW ME!  These challenging words that Jesus spoke to Peter are meant for you and for me. What concrete and specific way/ways do you think Jesus wants you to follow Him now?   What might be the major obstacle to follow Jesus now? Your major roadblock?

       

20. FISHERMEN TO “FISHERS OF MEN”.   Following up on the prior point of meditation of “Follow me”, what type of Apostolic work as well as “where” might you be able to exercise this?  The family apostolate?  What can I do to evangelize in my family?  At work?  Is there a fellow-worker or colleague that God inspires me to bring to the Lord? Distant family member? Maybe there is a cousin or an uncle to bring to the Lord? Friend? Maybe he is floundering and needs a boost?

21. MARY IS THE QUEEN OF THE APOSTLES. (PENTECOST).  Among the many beautiful titles given to the Blessed Virgin Mary is “The Queen of the Apostles”. She was present at that first Novena of Pentecost.  During the course of nine days Mary was with the Apostles. She prayed with them, fasted with them and patiently awaited the coming of the Holy Spirit. Indeed He did come!  Wind, earthquake, fire--- these three natural phenomena ushered in the presence of the Holy Spirit, transforming weak and cowardly men into courageous soldiers of Christ. All of them, with the exception of Saint John shed their blood for Christ as martyrs.

 

Conclusion.  Read prayerfully the last chapter of the last Gospel, John 21! Allow the Holy Spirit to inspire you. Then feel totally free to use these points to go deeper into the infinite ocean of God’s spirit.  “Speak O Lord for your servant is listening.”   “Here I am O Lord I come to do your will!”