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The Holy Mass Explained to Catalina by Jesus and Marry

2014-11-04T11:30:00.002-05:00

Taken from - http://www.michaeljournal.org/holymass.htm

The Holy Mass

Explained to Catalina by Jesus and Mary

^{^français}

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Catalina Rivas of Cochabamba, Bolivia, who now dwells in Mérida, Yucatán, México. She is said to receive Messages from Jesus, Mary, and the angels. She has the approval of her Bishop, René Fernández Apaza, who has given his imprimatur to her Messages. The following text is the reproduction of booklet, “The Holy Mass,” in which Our Lord and Our Lady explain to Catalina what is really going on during the Mass in the spiritual realm, and how we should be more concentrated on the great mysteries that are taking place.

Bo. Daniel Gagnon, OMI, of the Commission for the Doctrine of the Faith of the Archdiocese of Mexico, wrote about this book: “I do not find anything against the faith or the customs of the Church. It is not my function to confirm its supernatural character; nevertheless, I recommend it for its spiritual inspiration.”

The testimony of Catalina
on the Holy Mass

In a marvelous catechesis, the Lord and the Virgin Mary have been instructing us first on how to pray the Rosary, that being to pray it with our hearts, and meditate and enjoy the moments when we encounter God and our Blessed Mother. They have also instructed us on the way to make a good confession and, in this document, a teaching on what happens during the Holy Mass and how to live it with our hearts.

This is the testimony that I must and want to give to the whole world, for the greater Glory of God and for the salvation of all of those who want to open their hearts to the Lord. It is also given so that many souls consecrated to God will rekindle the fire of their love for Christ, some of whom are the owners of the hands that have the power to bring Him to our world so that He can become our nourishment. It is also given for others so that they break lose of the “routine practice” of receiving Him, and relive the amazement of their daily encounter with Love. And it is given so that my lay brothers and sisters from the entire world live the greatest Miracle with their hearts: the celebration of the Eucharist.

It was the vigil of the Annunciation, and the members of our group had gone to the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Some of the ladies of the prayer group had not been able to do it, and so they left their reconciliation for the next day before the Mass.

When I arrived at church the next day, a little bit late, the Archbishop and priests were already coming out of the sacristy. The Virgin Mary said with Her soft and feminine voice that sweetens one's soul:

“Today is a day of learning for you, and I want you to pay close attention because of what you will witness today. Everything that you will experience today, you will have to share with all of humanity.” I was deeply moved without understanding why, but I tried to be very attentive.

The first thing I noticed was a choir of very beautiful voices that was singing as if it was far away. For moments the music came closer and, then, it went further away like the sound of the wind.

The Archbishop started Mass and, when he reached the Penitential Rite, the Blessed Virgin said:

“From the bottom of your heart, ask the Lord to forgive your faults that have offended Him. In this way, you will be able to participate worthily in this privilege of assisting at the Holy Mass.”

I thought for a fraction of a second: “Surely I am in a state of grace of God; I went to confession last night.”

She answered: “Do you think that since last night you have not offended the Lord? Let Me remind you of a few things. When you left to come here, the girl who helps you approached to ask you for something and, as you were late and in a hurry, you did not answer her in a very nice way. There was a lack of charity on your part, and you say, you have not offended God...?

“While on the way here, a bus crossed over your lane and almost hit you. You expressed yourself in a very non-advisable way against that poor man, instead of saying your prayers and preparing yourself for Mass. You have failed in charity and lost your peace and patience. And you say you have not hurt the Lord?

“You arrive at the last minute when the procession of the celebrants is already coming out to celebrate the Mass... and you are going to participate without previous preparation...”

I replied, “All right, my Mother, say no more to me. You do not have to remind me of more things because I am going to die of grief and shame.”

“Why must you all arrive at the last moment? You should have arrived earlier to be able to pray and ask the Lord to send His Holy Spirit that He may grant you a spirit of peace and cleanse you of the spirit of the world, your worries, your problems, and your distractions so as to enable you to live this so sacred a moment. However, you arrive almost when the celebration is about to commence, and you participate as if it is an ordinary event, without any spiritual preparation. Why? This is the greatest of Miracles. You are going to live the moment when the Most High God gives His greatest gift, and you do not know how to appreciate it.”

This was enough. I felt so bad that I had more than enough to ask for forgiveness from God. It was not only for the offenses of that day, but also for all the times that, like so many other people, I had waited for the priest to finish his homily before entering the Church. It was also for the times that I did not know or refused to understand what it meant to be there, and for the times that perhaps my soul was full of more serious sins, and I had dared to participate in the Holy Mass.

It was a feast day, and the Gloria was to be recited. Our Lady said: “Glorify and bless with all your love the Holy Trinity, in your acknowledgement of being one of Its creatures.”

How different was that Gloria! Suddenly I saw myself in a far off place full of light, before the Majestic Presence of the Throne of God. With so much love I went on thanking Him, as I repeated: “For your immense Glory we praise You, we bless You, we adore You, we give You glory, we give You thanks, Lord, God, Heavenly King, God the Father Almighty.” And I recalled the paternal face of the Father, full of kindness. “Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God, You take away the sins of the world...” And Jesus was in front of me, with that face full of tenderness and Mercy... “For You alone are the Holy One, You alone are the Lord, You alone are the most High Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit...”, the God of beautiful Love. He, Who at that moment, caused my whole being to tremble...

And I asked: “Lord, deliver me from all evil spirits. My heart belongs to You. My Lord, send me Your peace so that I can gain the finest benefits from the Eucharist and that my life may produce the best fruits. Holy Spirit of God, transform me, act within me, guide me. Oh God, give me the gifts that I need to serve you better!”

The moment of the Liturgy of the Word arrived, and the Virgin Mary made me repeat: “Lord, today I want to listen to Your Word and produce abundant fruit. May Your Holy Spirit clean the interior of my heart so that Your Word grows and develops in it, purifying my heart so that it may be well disposed.”

Our Lady said: “I want you to be attentive to the readings and to all of the homily of the priest. Remember that the Bible says that the Word of God does not return without bearing fruit. If you are attentive, something from all that you heard will remain in you. You should try to recall, all day long, those Words that left an impression on you. Sometimes it may be two verses, other times the reading of the entire Gospel, or perhaps only one word. Savor them for the rest of the day, and it will then become part of you, because that is the way to change one's life, by allowing the Word of God to transform you.

“And now, tell the Lord that you are here to listen, that you want Him to speak to your heart today.”

Once again I thanked God for giving me the opportunity to hear His Word. And I asked Him for forgiveness for having had such a hard heart for so many years, and for having taught my children that they had to go to Mass on Sundays because it is commanded by the Church, and not for love and the need to be filled with God.

I had attended so many Eucharistic Celebrations mostly out of obligation and, because of this, I believed I was saved. But I did not live it and, much less, did I pay attention to the readings or to the priest's homily!

How much pain I felt for so many years of needless loss because of my ignorance! How superficial is our attendance at the Mass when we go only because someone is getting married, or for a funeral Mass, or because we have to be seen by society! How much ignorance about our Church and the Sacraments! How much waste in trying to instruct and enlighten ourselves about the things of the world, which in a moment can disappear, leaving us with nothing and, at the end of our life, not serve to extend a minute to our existence! However, we know nothing of that which will give us a little of heaven on earth and, afterwards, eternal life. And we call ourselves cultured men and women!

A moment later the Offertory arrived, and the Holy Virgin said: “Pray like this: (and I repeated after Her) Lord, I offer all that I am, all that I have, all that I can. I put everything into Your Hands. Build it up, Lord, with the little thing that I am. By the merits of Your Son, transform me, God Almighty. I petition You for my family, for my benefactors, for each member of our Apostolate, for all the people who fight against us, for those who commend themselves to my poor prayers. Teach me to lay down my heart as if on the ground before them so that their walk may be less severe. This is how the saints prayed; this is how I want all of you to do it.”

Thus, this is how Jesus asks us to pray, that we put our hearts as if on the ground so that they do not feel its severity, but rather that we alleviate the pain of their steps.

Suddenly some characters, whom I had not seen before, began to stand up. It was as if from the side of each person present in the Cathedral, another person emerged, and soon the Cathedral became full of young, beautiful people. They were dressed in very white robes, and they started to move into the central aisle and, then, went towards the Altar.

Our Mother said: “Observe. They are the Guardian Angels of each one of the persons who are here. This is the moment in which your guardian angel carries your offerings and petitions before the Altar of the Lord.”

At that moment, I was completely astonished, because these beings had such beautiful faces, so radiant as one is unable to imagine. Their countenance was very beautiful with almost feminine faces; however, the structure of their body, their hands, their height were masculine. Their naked feet did not touch the floor, but rather they went as if gliding. That procession was very beautiful.

Some of them were carrying something like a golden bowl with something that shone a great deal with a golden-white light. The Virgin Mary said: “They are the Guardian Angels of the people who are offering this Holy Mass for many intentions, those who are conscious of what this celebration means. They have something to offer the Lord.”

“Offer yourselves at this moment; offer your sorrows, your pains, your hopes, your sadness, your joys, your petitions. Remember that the Mass has infinite value. Therefore, be generous in offering and in asking.”

Behind the first Angels came others who had nothing in their hands; they were coming empty handed. The Virgin Mary said: “Those are the angels of the people who are here but never offer anything. They have no interest in living each liturgical moment of the Mass, and they have no gifts to carry before the Altar of the Lord.”

At the end of the procession came other angels who were rather sad, with their hands joined in prayer but with their eyes downcast. “These are the Guardian Angels of the people who are here, but do not want to be, that is to say, of the people who have been forced to come here, who have come out of obligation, but without any desire to participate in the Holy Mass. The angels go forth sadly because they have nothing to carry to the Altar, except for their own prayers.”

“Do not sadden your Guardian Angel. Ask for much, ask for the conversion of sinners, for peace in the world, for your families, your neighbors, for those who ask for your prayers. Ask, ask for much, but not only for yourselves, but for everyone else.

“Remember that the offering which most pleases the Lord is when you offer yourselves as a holocaust so that Jesus, upon His descent, may transform you by His own merits. What do you have to offer the Father by yourselves? Nothingness and sin. But the offering of oneself united to the merits of Jesus, that offering is pleasing to the Father.”

That sight, that procession was so beautiful that it would be difficult to compare it to another. All those celestial creatures bowing before the Altar, some leaving their offerings on the floor, others prostrating themselves on their knees with their foreheads almost touching the floor. And as soon as they arrived at the Altar, they would disappear from my sight.

The final moment of the Preface arrived, and when the assembly said, “Holy, Holy, Holy”, suddenly everything that was behind the celebrants disappeared. Behind the left side of the Archbishop, thousands of Angels appeared in a diagonal line, small angels, big angels, angels with immense wings, angels with small wings, angels without wings. As the previous ones, all were dressed with tunics like the white robes of the priests or altar boys. Everyone knelt with their hands united in prayer, and bowed their heads in reverence. Beautiful music was heard as if there were many choirs with different voices, all singing in unison together with the people: Holy, Holy, Holy...

The moment of the Consecration, the moment of the most marvelous of Miracles had arrived. Behind the right side of the Archbishop appeared a multitude of people also in a diagonal line. They were dressed in the same tunic, but in pastel colors of: rose, green, light blue, lilac, yellow, in short, in different and very soft colors. Their faces were also brilliant, full of joy. They all seemed to be the same age. You could note (I can't say why) that they were people of different ages, but their faces looked the same, without wrinkles, happy. They all knelt down as well at the singing of “Holy, Holy, Holy Lord...”

Our Lady said: “These are all the Saints and the Blessed of Heaven, and among them are the souls of your relatives who already enjoy the Presence of God.” Then I saw Her, exactly to the right of the Archbishop, a step behind the celebrant. She was suspended a little off the floor, kneeling on some very fine, transparent but, at the same time, luminous fabric, as crystalline water. The Holy Virgin, with hands joined, was looking attentively and respectfully at the celebrant. She spoke to me from there, but silently, directly to the heart, without looking at me:

“It surprises you to see Me standing a little behind Monsignor [the Archbishop], does it not? This is how it should be... With all the love that My Son gives Me, He has not given Me the dignity that He has given the priests of being able to perform the daily Miracle with My hands as they do with their priestly hands. Because of this, I feel a deep respect for priests and for the miracle that God carries out through them, which compels Me to kneel here behind them.”

My God, how much dignity, how much grace the Lord pours over the priestly souls, and neither we, nor perhaps some of them, are conscious of this.

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Before the Altar, there appeared some shadows of people in a gray color with their hands raised. The Holy Virgin said: “These are the blessed souls of Purgatory, who await your prayers to be refreshed. Do not stop praying for them. They pray for you, but they cannot pray for themselves. It is you who have to pray for them, in order to help them depart so that they can be with God and enjoy Him eternally.

“Now you now see it; I am here all the time. People go on pilgrimages, searching for the places where I have appeared. This is good, because of all the graces that they will receive there. But during no apparition, in no other place, am I more present than during the Holy Mass. You will always find Me at the foot of the Altar where the Eucharist is celebrated; at the foot of the Tabernacle, I remain with the angels because I am always with Him.”

To see that beautiful countenance of the Mother at that moment of the words “Holy, Holy, Holy...” as well as all the others with their radiant faces, with hands joined, awaiting that miracle which repeats itself continuously, was to be in Heaven itself. And to think there are people who can, at that moment, be distracted in conversation. It hurts me to tell you, many men, more than women, stand with their arms crossed, as if paying homage to the Lord as one equal to another.

The Virgin Mary said: “Tell all people that never is a man more manly then when he bends his knees before God.”

The celebrant said the words of the Consecration. He was a person of normal height, but suddenly, he began to grow, becoming filled with light, a supernatural light between white and gold that enveloped him and grew very strong around the face. And because of it, I could not see his features. When he raised the Host, I saw his hands, and on the back of his hands, he had some marks from which emanated a great deal of light. It was Jesus! It was Him Who was wrapping His Body around the celebrant, as if He were lovingly surrounding the hands of the Archbishop. At that moment, the Host began to grow and became enormous, and upon it the marvelous face of Jesus appeared looking at His people.

By instinct, I wanted to bow my head, and Our Lady said: “Do not look down. Look up to view and contemplate Him. Exchange your gaze with His, and repeat the prayer of Fatima: Lord, I believe, I adore, I trust, and I love You. I ask pardon for those who do not believe, do not adore, do not trust, and do not love You. Forgiveness and Mercy... Now tell Him how much you love Him, and pay your homage to the King of Kings.”

I told it to Him, and it seemed as if I was the only one He was looking at from the enormous Host. But I learned that this was the way He gazed at each person, with love to the fullest. Then I lowered my head until I had my forehead on the floor, as did all the Angels and the Blessed from Heaven. Perhaps for a fraction of a second, I wondered how Jesus was taking on the body of the celebrant and, at the same time, He was inside the Host. And as he lowered the Host, it returned to its normal size. Tears ran down my cheeks; I was unable to let go of my astonishment.

Immediately, the Archbishop said the words of the Consecration of the wine and, as the words were being said, lightning appeared from the heavens and in the background. The walls and ceiling of the church had disappeared. All was dark, but for that brilliant light from the Altar.

Suddenly, suspended in the air, I saw Jesus crucified. I saw Him from the head to the lower part of the chest. The cross beam of the Cross was sustained by some large, strong hands. From within this resplendent light, a small light, like a very brilliant, very small dove, came forth and flew swiftly all over the Church. It came to rest on the left shoulder of the Archbishop, who continued to appear as Jesus because I could distinguish His long hair, His luminous wounds, and His large body, but I could not see His Face.

Above was Jesus crucified, His head fallen upon His right shoulder. I was able to contemplate His face, beaten arms and torn flesh. On the right side of His chest, He had an injury, and blood was gushing out toward the left side, and toward the right side, what looked like water, but it was very brilliant. They were more like jets of light coming forth towards the faithful, and moving to the right and to the left. I was amazed at the amount of blood that was flowing out toward the Chalice. I thought it would overflow and stain the whole Altar, but not a single drop was spilled.

At that moment, the Virgin Mary said: “This is the miracle of miracles. I have said to you before that the Lord is not constrained by time and space. At the moment of the Consecration, all the assembly is taken to the foot of Calvary, at the instant of the crucifixion of Jesus.”

Can anyone imagine that? Our eyes cannot see it, but we are all there at the very moment that they are crucifying Jesus. And He is asking for forgiveness to the Father, not only for those who killed Him, but also for each one of our sins: “Father, forgive them, because they know not what they do.”

From that day on, I do not care if the world thinks I am crazy, but I ask everybody to kneel and try to live, with their heart and with all their sensibility that they are capable of, this privilege that the Lord grants us.

When we were going to pray the Our Father, the Lord spoke for the first time during the celebration, and said: “Wait, I want you to pray with the deepest profundity which you can summon. At this moment, bring to mind that person or persons which have done you the greatest harm during your life, so that you embrace them close to your bosom, and tell them with all your heart: `In the Name of Jesus, I forgive you and wish you peace. In the Name of Jesus, I ask for your forgiveness and wish my peace.' If the person is worthy of that peace, then the person will receive it, and feel better for it. If that person is not capable of opening up to that peace, then peace will return to your heart. But I do not want you to receive nor offer peace when you are not capable of forgiving and feeling that peace in your heart first.

“Be careful of what you do,” continued the Lord, “you repeat in the Our Father: forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. If you are capable of forgiving but not forgetting, as some people say, you are placing conditions upon the forgiveness of God. You are saying: You forgive me only as I am capable of forgiving, but no more.”

I do not know how to explain my pain, at the realization of how much we can hurt the Lord. And also how much we can injure ourselves by holding so many grudges, bad feelings and unflattering things that are born from our own prejudices and over-sensitivities. I forgave; I forgave from the heart, and asked for forgiveness from all the people whom I had hurt at one time or another, in order to feel the peace of the Lord.

The celebrant said, “...give us peace and unity...” and, then, “the peace of the Lord be with all of you.”

Suddenly, I saw that among some (not all) of the people who were embracing each other, a very intense light placed itself between them. I knew it was Jesus, and I practically threw myself to embrace the person next to me. I could truly feel the embrace of the Lord in that light. It was Him Who embraced me giving me His peace, because in that moment, I had been able to forgive and remove from my heart all grief against other people. That is what Jesus wants, to share that moment of joy, hugging us and wishing us His peace.

The moment of the celebrants' Communion arrived. There I once again noticed the presence of all the priests next to the Archbishop. When he took Communion, the Virgin Mary said:

“This is the moment to pray for the celebrant and the priests who accompany him. Repeat together with Me: `Lord, bless them, sanctify them, help them, purify them, love them, take care of them, and support them with Your Love. Remember all the priests of the world, pray for all the consecrated souls...'

Dear brothers and sisters, that is the moment in which we should pray for them, because they are the Church as we, the laity, are also. Many times we, the laity, demand so much from the priests, but we are unable to pray for them, to understand that they are human, and to comprehend and appreciate the solitude that many times can surround a priest.

We should understand that the priests are people like ourselves and that they need to be understood, to be cared for. They need affection and attention from us because they are giving their life to each one of us, as Jesus did, by being consecrated to Him.

The Lord wants the people of the flock that God has entrusted to the priest to pray and help in his sanctification. Someday, when we are on the other side, we will understand the marvels that the Lord has done, giving us priests who help us to save our souls.

The people began to leave their pews on their way to Communion. The great moment of the encounter had arrived. The Lord said to me: “Wait a moment; I want you to observe something...” An interior impulse made me raise my eyes towards the person who was going to receive Communion on the tongue from the hands of the priest.

I should clarify that this person was one of the ladies from our group who the previous night was unable to go to confession, but this morning was able to do so before the Holy Mass. When the Priest placed the Sacred Host on her tongue, a flash of light, like a very golden white light, went right through this person, first through her back, then surrounding her from the back, around her shoulders, and then her head. The Lord said:

“This is how I Myself rejoice in embracing a soul who comes with a clean heart to receive Me.”The tone of voice of Jesus was that of a happy person.

I was astonished to see my friend return to her pew surrounded by light, embraced by the Lord. I thought of the marvel that we miss so many times by going to receive Jesus with our small or large offences, when it should be a feast.

St. Padre Pio
celebrating
the Holy Mass

Many times we say that there are no priests to whom to go to confess at any given moment. But the problem is not about confessing at each moment, but the problem resides in our ease of falling into evil again. On the other hand, in the same way that we make an effort to search for a beauty parlor, or men search for a barber when we have a party, we have to also make an effort to seek a priest when we need to remove all that dirt from ourselves. We must not have the audacity to receive Jesus at any moment with our hearts full of ugly things.

When I went to receive communion, Jesus told me: “The Last Supper was the moment of the greatest intimacy with My own. During that hour of love, I established what could be thought of as the greatest act of lunacy in the eyes of men, that of making Myself a prisoner of Love. I established the Eucharist. I wanted to remain with you until the end of the centuries because My Love could not bear that you remained orphans, you whom I loved more than My life.”

I received that Host which had a different flavor. It was a mixture of blood and incense that inundated me entirely. I felt so much love that the tears ran down my cheeks without me being able to stop them.

When I returned to my seat, while kneeling down, the Lord said:“Listen...” A moment later, I began to hear the prayers of the lady who was seated in front of me and who had just received communion.

What she said, without opening her mouth, was more or less like this: “Lord, remember that we are at the end of the month, and I do not have the money to pay the rent, the car payments, nor the children's school. You have to do something to help me... Please, make my husband stop drinking so much. I cannot bear any more his being intoxicated so often, and my youngest son is going to repeat the year again, if you do not help him. He has exams this week... And do not forget our neighbor who must move. Let her do it right away. I cannot stand her anymore, etc., etc.”

Then the Archbishop said: “Let us pray,” and obviously all the congregation stood up for the final prayer. Jesus said in a sad tone: “Did you take note of her prayer? Not a single time did she tell Me that she loves Me. Not a single time did she thank Me for the gift that I have given her by bringing down My Divinity to her poor humanity, in order to elevate her to Me. Not a single time has she said: thank You, Lord. It has been a litany of requests, and so are almost all of those who come to receive Me.”

“I have died for love, and I am risen. For love I await each one of you, and for love I remain with you... But you do not realize that I need your love. Remember that I am the Beggar of Love in this sublime hour for the soul.”

Do you all realize that He, Love, is begging for our love, and we do not give it to Him? Moreover, we avoid going to that encounter with the Love of Loves, with the only love who gives of itself in a permanent oblation.

When the celebrant was going to give the blessing, the Holy Virgin said: “Be attentive, take care... You do any old sign instead of the Sign of the Cross. Remember that this blessing could be the last one that you will receive from hands of a priest. You do not know when, leaving here, if you will die or not. You do not know if you will have the opportunity to receive a blessing from another priest. Those consecrated hands are giving you the blessing in the Name of the Holy Trinity. Therefore, make the Sign of the Cross with respect, as if it was the last one of your life.”

How much we miss in not understanding and not participating every day at the Holy Mass! Why not make an effort to begin the day a half hour earlier and run to the Holy Mass and receive all the blessings that the Lord wants to pour over us?

I am aware that, because of their obligations, not everybody can attend daily Mass, but at least two or three times a week. So many avoid Mass on Sundays with the smallest excuse, that they have a child, or two, or ten, and, therefore, they cannot attend Mass. How do people manage when they have other important types of commitments? They take all the children, or take turns and the husband goes at one hour and the wife another, but they carry out their duty to God.

We have time to study, to work, to entertain, to rest, but WE DO NOT HAVE TIME, AT LEAST ON SUNDAY, TO GO TO THE HOLY MASS.

Jesus asked me to remain with Him a few minutes more after Mass had finished. He said: “Do not leave in a hurry after Mass is over. Stay a moment in My company and enjoy it, and let Me enjoy yours...”

As a child, I had heard someone say that the Lord remained with us for five or ten minutes, after Communion. I asked Him at this moment:

“Lord, truly, how much time do You stay with us after Communion?”

I suppose that the Lord must have laughed at my silliness, because He answered: “All the time that you want to have Me with you. If you speak to Me all day long, offering Me some words during your chores, I will listen to you. I am always with you. It is you who leaves Me. You leave the Mass, and the day of obligation ends. You kept the day of the Lord, and it is now finished for you. You do not think that I would like to share your family life with you, at least that day.”

“In your homes, you have a place for everything and a room for each activity: a room to sleep, another to cook, another to eat, etc. Which place have you made for Me? It should not be a place where you only have an image, which collects dust all the time, but a place where at least five minutes a day the family meets to give thanks for the day and for the gift of life, to ask for their needs of the day, to ask for blessings, protection, health. Everything has a place in your homes, except Me.”

“Men plan their day, their week, their semester, their vacations, etc. They know what day they are going to rest, what day they will go to the movies or to a party, or visit grandmother or the grandchildren, the children, their friends, and to their amusements. How many families say at least once a month: `This is the day for our turn to go and visit Jesus in the Tabernacle,' and the whole family comes to talk to M<%18>e<%0>? How many sit down in front of Me and have a conversation with Me, telling Me how it has been since the last time, telling Me their problems, the difficulties they have, asking Me about what they need, making Me part of these things? How many times?

“I know everything. I read even the deepest secrets of your hearts and minds. But I enjoy your telling Me about your life, your letting Me participate as a family member, as your most intimate friend. Oh, how many graces does man lose by not giving Me a place in his life!”

When I remained with Him that day and on many other days, He continued to give us teachings. Today I want to share with you this mission that He has entrusted to me. Jesus said:

“I wanted to save My creature, because the moment of opening the door to Heaven has been impregnated with too much pain...” “Remember that not even one mother has fed her child with her own flesh. I have gone to that extreme of Love to communicate My merits to all of you.

“The Holy Mass is Myself prolonging My life and My sacrifice on the Cross among you. Without the merits of My life and My Blood, what do you have with which to come before the Father? Nothing, misery and sin...

“You should exceed in virtue the angels and archangels, because they do not have the joy of receiving Me as nourishment like you do. They drink a drop from the spring, but you that have the grace of receiving Me, you have the whole ocean to drink.”

The other thing that the Lord spoke about with pain concerned people who encounter Him out of habit, of those who have lost their awe of each encounter with Him. That routine turns some people so lukewarm that they have nothing new to tell Jesus when they receive Him. He also said that there were so many consecrated souls who lose their enthusiasm of falling in love with the Lord, and have made their vocation an occupation, a profession to which nothing more is given, except that which is demanded of one, but without feeling...

Then the Lord spoke to me about the fruits that must come from each Communion that we take. It does happen that there are people who receive the Lord daily but do not change their lives. They spend many hours in prayer and do many works, etc., but their life does not go on transforming, and a life that does not transform cannot bear true fruits for the Lord. The merits we receive in the Eucharist should bear the fruits of conversion in us and fruits of charity toward our brothers and sisters.

We the laity have a very important role in our Church. We do not have the right to be silent, because the Lord has sent us out, as all the baptized, to go forth and announce the Good News. We do not have the right to absorb all this knowledge and not share it with others, and to allow our brothers to die of hunger when we have so much bread in our hands.

We cannot watch our Church crumble as we stay comfortable in our parishes and homes, receiving and receiving so much from the Lord: His Word, the homilies of the priests, the pilgrimages, the Mercy of God in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, the marvelous union with the nourishment of Communion, the talks of preachers.

In other words, we are receiving so much and we do not have the courage to leave our comfort zone and go to a jail, to a correctional institution, to speak to the neediest. To go and tell them not to give up, that they were born Catholic and that their Church needs them there, suffering, because their suffering will serve to redeem others, because that sacrifice will gain for them eternal life.

We are not capable of going where the terminally ill are in the hospitals, and by praying the Divine Mercy Chaplet, helping them with our prayers during that time of struggle between good and evil to free them from the snares and temptations of the devil. Every dying person has fear, and just taking their hand and talking to them about the love of God and the marvel that awaits them in Heaven next to Jesus and Mary, next to their departed ones, gives them comfort.

The hour in which we currently live does not allow us to be indifferent. We must be an extension of the hands of our priests and go where they cannot reach. But for this, we need courage. We must receive Jesus, live with Jesus, nourish ourselves with Jesus.

We are afraid to commit ourselves a little more, and when the Lord says, “First seek the Kingdom of God, and the rest will be added onto you,” He says it all, brothers and sisters. It means to seek the Kingdom of God, by all possible means and with all means, and to open your hands in order to receive EVERYTHING in addition! This is because He is the Master Who pays the best, the only One Who is attentive to your smallest needs.

Brothers, sisters, thank you for allowing me to carry out the mission that was entrusted to me, that of having these pages reach you. The next time you attend Holy Mass, live it. I know the Lord will fulfill for you His promise that “your Mass will never again be the same.” And when you receive Him, love Him!

Experience the sweetness of feeling yourself resting against the folds of His side, pierced for you in order to leave you His Church and His Mother, to open for you the doors to His Father's House. Experience this so that you are able to feel for yourself His Merciful Love by means of this testimony, and try to reciprocate with your childlike love.

May God bless you this Easter.

Your sister in the Living Jesus,

Catalina
Lay Missionary of the Eucharistic Heart of Jesus

Copyright © 2004 by The Great Crusade of Love and Mercy. All rights reserved. This booklet is published in coordination with The Apostolate of the New Evangelization. Translated from the April 2003 Revision of the original Spanish edition, published in Merida, Mexico. Permission is granted to reproduce this booklet in its entirety with no changes or additions and as long as the reproduction and distribution is done solely on a not-for-profit basis.

This document is available at no cost online, and can be downloaded and printed from the following Web Sites: in English at: www.greatcrusade.org and Spanish at: www.grancruzada.org

For information on ordering printed copies of this booklet and other books and videos, please write to: The Great Crusade of Love and Mercy, Inc., P.O. Box 857, Lithonia, Georgia 30058 USA, or visit the ministry's Internet Site at: www.loveandmercy.org.

This article was published in the August-September, 2005 issue of “Michael”.

Pope Emeritus Breaks Silence to Support Truth Over Dialogue

2014-10-29T19:58:00.005-04:00

Simply agreeing, even if to promote peace, is dangerous to the Faith.

When Pope Benedict XVI announced his resignation in February of 2013, he said he would continue to serve the church "through a life dedicated to prayer.” He has made few public appearances since he left office, and has said and written even less.

His relative silence was broken Oct. 21, when his longtime secretary, Archbishop Georg Ganswein, read a 1,800-word speech written by Benedict on the occasion of the dedication of the Aula Magna at the Pontifical Urbaniana University to the Pope Emeritus. The university belongs to the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. It dedicated the hall as a “gesture of gratitude” for what Benedict “has done for the Church as a conciliar expert, with his teaching as professor, as Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and, finally, the Magisterium."

In the speech, the Pope emeritus said that dialogue with other religions is no substitute for spreading the Gospel to non-Christian cultures, and warned against relativistic ideas of religious truth as “lethal to faith.” He also said the true motivation for missionary work is not to increase the Church’s size but to share the joy of knowing Christ.

“The risen Lord instructed his apostles, and through them his disciples in all ages, to take his word to the ends of the earth and to make disciples of all people,” retired Pope Benedict wrote. “‘But does that still apply?’ many inside and outside the Church ask themselves today. ‘Is mission still something for today? Would it not be more appropriate to meet in dialogue among religions and serve together the cause of world peace?’ The counter-question is: ‘Can dialogue substitute for mission?’"

“In fact, many today think religions should respect each other and, in their dialogue, become a common force for peace. According to this way of thinking, it is usually taken for granted that different religions are variants of one and the same reality,” the retired Pope wrote. “The question of truth, that which originally motivated Christians more than any other, is here put inside parentheses. It is assumed that the authentic truth about God is in the last analysis unreachable and that at best one can represent the ineffable with a variety of symbols. This renunciation of truth seems realistic and useful for peace among religions in the world."

“It is nevertheless lethal to faith. In fact, faith loses its binding character and its seriousness, everything is reduced to interchangeable symbols, capable of referring only distantly to the inaccessible mystery of the divine,” he wrote.

Pope Benedict wrote that some religions, particularly “tribal religions,” are “waiting for the encounter with Jesus Christ,” but that this “encounter is always reciprocal. Christ is waiting for their history, their wisdom, their vision of the things.” This encounter can also give new life to Christianity, which has grown tired in its historical heartlands, he wrote.

“We proclaim Jesus Christ not to procure as many members as possible for our community, and still less in order to gain power,” the retired Pope wrote. “We speak of him because we feel the duty to transmit that joy which has been given to us.”

Catholic News Service contributed to this article.

Source Aleteia - http://www.aleteia.org/en/religion/article/pope-emeritus-breaks-silence-to-support-truth-over-dialogue-5807060570603520

The eyes are the window of the soul

2014-04-23T10:04:00.001-04:00

I did not watch the most recent fight of Manny Pacquiao, nor did I discuss or talk about it. I'm not being a stuck up or being a snob or being un-patriotic. I know a lot of filipinos take pride in Manny Pacquiao. However, I thought about it, and I could not bear to watch a man being beat up by another man...to win...and to make money, I just did not have any interest in watching another game anymore. I was trying to think of Scripture passages that would justify this type of sport, and the only thing I can find is in the Old Testament, when Jacob wrestled with God or an angel (depending on the translation). However, this was an encounter that teaches divine revelation, not just to beat each other up.

I found this article and it pretty much explains what I have in mind (and heart). It is true what the psalmist say "The eyes are the windows of the soul". What you feed your eyes, affects you and your soul in very profound way, in some ways you become what you watch. It all goes the same to the type of movies or TV shows you watch or identify with, books you read, music you listen to...etc.

Click on this link for the article >>> The Uneasy Conscience of a Boxing Trainer

The last time I watched one of his game, I felt this excitement, rush, my heart was beating fast, and I kept praying that the other guy would lose or be knocked out. But then I realized, is this spectacle leading me closer to God? And that is when it all came down to me...the big answer was "No".
I'm not saying that Manny Pacquiao is a bad person, or any of you who watched or watching those type of games are a bad person. But my challenge to you is this. Is it leading you closer to God? Is it leading you to love your neighbor as yourself? Think about it.

Jesus loves you

The Big Picture

2014-04-15T12:12:00.000-04:00

Have you ever been in a situation where God is taking you out of your comfort zone? To a place or a situation where you don’t want to go? Perhaps trading your high paying job for a low paying job so you can spend time in prayer and with your family? Or a work place where you can be challenged all the time? Or enduring that annoying co-worker or boss? Or breaking up with a boyfriend or girlfriend? Whatever it may be, God maybe leading you to see the “big picture”.

You see when Jesus ascended into heaven (Luke 24:50), he could have done it in any other place, but instead he led the disciples outside of Jerusalem and led them to Mount Olives. Perhaps he want them to see or experience something that they would not be able to see if they were in Jerusalem. Before Jesus entered Jerusalem prior to his Passion, he saw it from a distance and wept, he said, “Would that even today you knew the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes.” (Luke 19:42). He saw something from far away. And this is where God may be telling us to step outside of our comfort zone and see the situation from a far away place. It could be a church, chapel, outdoors, retreat, meditation, a conversation or a prayer with a friend, whatever it maybe, we need to detach ourselves from that current situation and see from afar. Maybe our current situation is not advancing our spiritual life.

I once learned that when God puts us in that kind of situation, he is lovingly (and unknowingly to us), trying to stretch our capacity to love. Just when we think that our situation is hopeless and frustrating, and sometimes it is just taking way too long for Him to answer our prayers, instead of turning into grief and complaining, why don’t we praise God for allowing us to share in His cross and pray for the grace to endure and to see the big picture. In the end, we all know that there is victory in the cross. It is when we give God the permission to work in us, even when it’s painful, that grace flows down like rain, and that grace will allow us to see the “Big Picture”.

Jesus loves you.

Mercy = Healing

2014-04-04T11:30:00.004-04:00

It's been a long time since I last wrote a blog. So many changes has happened since then, including the new addition to our family, but one thing remains constant...the love of God and that the mercy of God endures forever. You can see it and feel it, as you walk outside today and experience this nice spring weather. When you go outside, even for a brief moment, take a deep breath...look at the sky...feel the air and the sun...and say "Thank you Lord!".

After reading half way through the book that I am reading "Healing through Mass" by Fr. Robert Degrandis, I can't help but share some insights. In the early days of the church, mass are considered a "healing mass", unlike today, where it has to specifically be called "healing mass" for it to be considered "healing". It doesn't have to be. Every mass that you go to is healing, that's how powerful it is. That in every part of the mass, there is healing going on. We just have to open our eyes, and appreciate the mass moment by moment, word by word, action by action.

It is said in the book, that one aspect of the healing properties in the mass is the mercy of God. We ask for that mercy when we say the Penitential Rite and the Lord have Mercy prayer. And as we receive that mercy, we are also asked to impart that mercy to others. When we receive Jesus in the Holy Eucharist, we become the hands, feet...mouth, eyes, ears of God.

"When you, or any of My children, have mercy on someone, it is equivalent to Me having mercy on that same person, because of My Spirit, which dwells in you. Mercy is a missing link in loving. You cannot love without being able to have mercy. You cannot have mercy if you do not love!" pg. 46 Healing Through Mass by Fr. Robert Degrandis

And in the wisdom of the church through our cathecism, she has identified the works of mercy for us, into seven corporal and seven spiritual works of mercy. It is good to remind ourselves of the corporal and spiritual works of mercy.

And they are:

Corporal: feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless, visit the sick, ransom the captive and bury the dead.

Spiritual: instruct the ignorant, counsel the doubtful, admonish the sinners, bear wrongs patiently, forgive offenses willingly, comfort the afflicted, pray for the living and the dead.

So, have you treated others with mercy today? Let us together with God's grace to commit to be more merciful to one another.

Jesus loves you.

Update 4/4/2014:
Sometimes a lot of the healing doesn't come because of our unforgiveness. We may not know about it, but we have stored up anger and unforgiveness in the past, that we are not aware that need to be forgiven. According to a talk by Fr. Degrandis, some, if not most of the widowers have athritis. He asked them if there is anything that needs to be forgiven in their life, but they could not recall any. But later on realized through word of knowledge that they are angry towards God because of the death of their spouse. They were angry at their spouse for leaving them. So it is worthwhile, to have a deep reflection of that state of our soul and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal what is blocking God from healing us.

Blessings

2013-03-28T15:11:00.005-04:00

Holy Thursday - http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/032813-evening-mass-lords-supper.cfm

As we head into this years Sacred Triduum and tonight the institution of the Eucharist, there is much for us to reflect upon. In today's readings for the Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper, there's one line in the Book of Exodus that struck a chord on me, and it pretty much sets up the foundation for me today, "You shall eat it like those who are in flight." (Ex 12:11) and suddenly I asked myself, "Am I too comfortable in this life?", "Am I losing my ultimate goal of attaining heaven and being with my Beloved when my time has come?".

There are 365 days in a year, different liturgical seasons in our church calendar, but for me it culminates and it points to this one moment in our history. The passion, death and resurrection of our Lord. It's ok to be joyful, but for me on the most holiest and most solemn days of Lent, I commemorate these days as if I am in flight, like the people in Exodus. This is the time for us Catholics with great boldness to declare that as we enter into the re-presentation of Christ in Calvary in the Holy Eucharist, we are to feel and believe even for just these few days that we are there with Christ in Calvary. As we participate in the mass in these last days of Lent, when we behold our Beloved Savior in the Eucharist and as we partake of His body and Blood, let us close our eyes and bring ourselves back in time to that solemn moment when Jesus died for us on the cross. And there dwell in His most glorious wounds, and fall upon our knees in the depths of our soul and venerate the cross.

As my day go by, a song came up to my listening station entitled "Blessings" by Laura Story, and thought of how I sometimes I fail to see the simplest of God's blessings in my life. And that, if I fail to see the most simplest of the blessings, how am I to see the most profound blessings. I only tend to look at the present moment, when God sees eternity. I complain when there are hard times, grumble if I don't get healing, argue with God when prayers don't get answered. But as the song says:

"Cause what if Your blessings come through rain drops, what if Your healing comes through tears, what if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near. What if the greatest disappointments or the aching of this life is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can't satisfy. What if the trials of this life, the rain, the storms, the hardest nights, are you mercies in disguise."

I invite you to listen to the song, and let the message penetrate your heart, so that the simplest of blessings will lead us to see the most profound blessing of all, Jesus dying for us on the cross.

We adore thee O Christ and we praise thee, because by Your Holy Cross, you have redeemed the world. Amen.

Is Judas in heaven or hell?

2013-02-15T10:37:00.000-05:00

A couple of weeks ago, I had an interesting discussion with a good friend of mine. He was a former protestant minister, who came back home to the Catholic church because of the eucharist. His argument was, if Gods mercy is always expanding, then we cannot dogmatically say that Judas, the one who betrayed Jesus, could possibly be in eternal damnation, because he went back to the chief priests trying to give back the money and saying that he betrayed innocent blood.

Before responding to him, two verses came into my head, "It would be better for that man if he had never been born" (Matthew 26:24) and "Let his encampment become desolate" (Acts 1:20). And I told him, that the key to answering Judas' fate is by looking at Peter. Both of them betrayed Jesus, one ended up in self-destruction and the other to redemption. So at this point, I pretty much condemned Judas based on the scripture verses that I mentioned. Here's the interesting part...little did I know that I was presuming Gods judgement. I was taking it upon myself to cast judgement on Judas' actions.

Jimmy Akin on his article regarding the fate of Judas explains it very well: "Jesus' choice to make Judas an apostle "darkens the mystery around his eternal fate, knowing that Judas repented and brought back the 30 pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, saying "I have sinned in betraying innocent blood" (Mt 27:3-4). Even though he went to hang himself (Mt 27:5), it is not up to us to judge his gesture, substituting ourselves for the infinitely merciful and just God."

Lastly, let me share a short story about Padre Pio revealing Gods mercy. A mother whos son comitted suicide by jumping off the bridge came to Padre Pio and asked (I'm paraphrasing), "Padre Pio, where is my son? In heaven or hell?" He answered, "Do not worry, he's in heaven". Surprised by Padre Pio's answer, she asks, "How come?". He answered, "Because he repented between the bridge and the water".

So you see, God is merciful that even the slightest hint of repentance is acceptable to Him, He looks straight into our hearts. And looking into our hearts, do we clearly see a conscience that is worthy of Gods mercy or justice? The prophet Isaiah indicates how our repentance and fasting can be empty:

"Would that today you might fast so as to make your voice heard on high! Is this the manner of fasting I wish, of keeping a day of penance: That a man bow his head like a reed and lie in sackcloth and ashes? Do you call this a fast, a day acceptable to the LORD? This, rather, is the fasting that I wish: releasing those bound unjustly, untying the thongs of the yoke; Setting free the oppressed, breaking every yoke; Sharing your bread with the hungry, sheltering the oppressed and the homeless; Clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own. Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your wound shall quickly be healed; Your vindication shall go before you, and the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer, you shall cry for help, and he will say: Here I am!" (Isaiah 58:5-9)

So is Judas in heaven or in hell? My answer would be...It is not up to us to judge.

Come back to Him, Jesus loves you.

Enter into His rest

2013-01-18T17:22:00.001-05:00

Today's Readings - http://usccb.org/bible/readings/011813.cfm

Let us reflect on this - What is the connection of the paralytic in the gospel reading to "entering into his rest" in the first reading? The answer lies on how we truly honor the Lord's day and the Lords call to rest.

We all work hard to support our families, to nourish our body, and to support others. There is nothing wrong with working hard, it becomes wrong when working hard consumes us to a point where rest, prayer and family time is almost non-existent. It also becomes wrong when we are forcing ourselves to work hard just to support a lavish lifestyle. For example, working hard (sometimes over time), even on the Lords day just to buy that shiny new gadget or to buy that designer leather bag. We have to carefully evaluate what is the right balance in work, life and prayer.

Back in the days when I did not know the importance of honoring and observing the Lords day, I would consume myself with chores in the house, from lawn mowing to house repairs and maintenance, sometimes working from home on weekends and they all consumed me. The moment we get out of church on a Sunday, the order of the day is building up in my head already, if not, I'd be spending the rest of the afternoon watching baseball game or just about anything else on TV. I failed to even think about God even for a second or spend spiritual quality time with my spouse and my children. No wonder I was always tired and exhausted, and I feel as if the weekend is not enough. Now going back to the question about the relationship of the paralytic and resting, looking at myself before, I feel as if I was paralyzed by the work and chores that I put upon myself on weekends that there is no way for God to come into my heart.

According to the message of Our Lady of Lasalette, "I have given you six days to work. The seventh I have reserved for myself yet no one will give it to me. This is what causes the weight of my Son's arm to be so heavy".

So my dear brother and sisters, "Let us be on our guard while the promise of entering into his rest remain" (Hebrews 4:1)

We must also be careful not to be to obsessed about this call to rest that we forget to help others and our reponsibilities. For some, like in the medical profession, working on Sundays sometimes is a given. In everything that we do, and if its unavoidable to work on the Lord's day, let us always remind ourselves to offer everything up to Him.

Jesus loves you.

An excerpt from "The Imitation of Christ"

2012-12-30T17:53:00.001-05:00

VAIN is the man who puts his trust in men, in created things. Do not be ashamed to serve others for the love of Jesus Christ and to seem poor in this world. Do not be self-sufficient but place your trust in God. Do what lies in your power and God will aid your good will. Put no trust in your own learning nor in the cunning of any man, but rather in the grace of God Who helps the humble and humbles the proud.

If you have wealth, do not glory in it, nor in friends because they are powerful, but in God Who gives all things and Who desires above all to give Himself. Do not boast of personal stature or of physical beauty, qualities which are marred and destroyed by a little sickness. Do not take pride in your talent or ability, lest you displease God to Whom belongs all the natural gifts that you have.

Do not think yourself better than others lest, perhaps, you be accounted worse before God Who knows what is in man. Do not take pride in your good deeds, for God's judgments differ from those of men and what pleases them often displeases Him. If there is good in you, see more good in others, so that you may remain humble. It does no harm to esteem yourself less than anyone else, but it is very harmful to think yourself better than even one. The humble live in continuous peace, while in the hearts of the proud are envy and frequent anger.

SHUNNING OVER-FAMILIARITY

DO NOT open your heart to every man, but discuss your affairs with one who is wise and who fears God. Do not keep company with young people and strangers. Do not fawn upon the rich, and do not be fond of mingling with the great. Associate with the humble and the simple, with the devout and virtuous, and with them speak of edifying things. Be not intimate with any woman, but generally commend all good women to God. Seek only the intimacy of God and of His angels, and avoid the notice of men.

We ought to have charity for all men but familiarity with all is not expedient.

Sometimes it happens that a person enjoys a good reputation among those who do not know him, but at the same time is held in slight regard by those who do. Frequently we think we are pleasing others by our presence and we begin rather to displease them by the faults they find in us.

SHUN the gossip of men as much as possible, for discussion of worldly affairs, even though sincere, is a great distraction inasmuch as we are quickly ensnared and captivated by vanity. Many a time I wish that I had held my peace and had not associated with men. Why, indeed, do we converse and gossip among ourselves when we so seldom part without a troubled conscience? We do so because we seek comfort from one another's conversation and wish to ease the mind wearied by diverse thoughts. Hence, we talk and think quite fondly of things we like very much or of things we dislike intensely. But, sad to say, we often talk vainly and to no purpose; for this external pleasure effectively bars inward and divine consolation. Therefore we must watch and pray lest time pass idly. When the right and opportune moment comes for speaking, say something that will edify.

The scepter shall never depart from Judah

2012-12-18T17:30:00.002-05:00

Daily Readings - http://usccb.org/bible/readings/121712.cfm

In the past, I would be so confused and discouraged reading the bible, because there would be days when I would hit readings like the genealogy and numbers. I'd be so frustrated because no matter how hard I try, I just could not relate or understand what is God's message is for me, for that particular verse.

I think for Matthew's genealogy there is just no other way to at least relate to them or gain a better appreciation of all those names and generations without at least knowing some salvation history. Yes, Jesus indeed is the Messiah, the promised One, the righteous shoot from the stump of Jesse. After having read the salvation history again, when I hear those names in the genealogy of Jesus, it is like hearing names of old friends and their story. I'm not a theologian and my memory isn't that great either, but at least I can relate to the lineage of Jesus and His ancestors and what they have gone through. So I highly encourage you to read the salvation history once again, because that is the key to unlocking the genealogies or at least get a greater appreciation of who the names are and what they have done.

Now, let's go to the numbers. St. Matthew said that From Abraham to David is 14 generations, David to the Babylonian exile is 14 generations and from the exile to Jesus is also 14 generations. So as not confuse us even further lets us just stick to the significance of those numbers. (Because there are bible commentaries that actually go deeper on the actual counts of the generations in between).

In Genesis, when Abraham proved his faithfulness to God (Gen 12:1-3), God gave him a three fold promise. The first one is the Land Promise (Gen 15), second is Kingdom Promise (Gen 17) and the third is the Promise of Worldwide Blessing (Genesis 22). So in those three fourteen generations, each of those promise were fulfilled. From Abraham to David, the Land Promise was fulfilled, from David to the Babylonian exile, the Davidic Kingdom was fulfilled, and from the Babylonian exile to Jesus, the promise of worldwide blessing was fulfilled in Jesus Christ. In all of these numbers, we can be rest assured that our God is a God that fulfills His promise, and that He has a plan since the fall of man, to bring us back to Him again.

So yeah, don't worry, God has a plan!

Jesus loves you!

Ang Tanging Alay Ko sa Iyo aking Ama (My only offering to you my Father)...

2012-12-10T18:23:00.001-05:00

There was a small chapel called Holy Family Chapel located in Novaliches, a small town in Caloocan City, Philippines. This small and humble chapel has been built by the efforts of the families that reside in the subdivision and has been with the community for over 30 years. If I remember correctly I was in high school in the late 80s, on a saturday afternoon, me and my friends through an informal invitation by a pious woman named Myrna Ronsayro, decided to attend a choir practice in this small chapel. We didn't know how to read musical notes, didn't know how to play any instruments, and most definitely, we didn't know how to sing gregorian chants. We came there, not expecting anything, but just wanted to share the little talent that we have. Lo and behold, at the end of the practice, we were officially a member of the music ministry and the rest was history.

Way back then, we were young, naive, we were all young in our faiths, but every Sunday and holy day of obligations, we somehow knew that as we sing our hearts out, we were doing something special, we belong to something really good. And little did we know that every mass, we meet our dear Jesus, along with the choirs of angels and the saints. We didn't know back then how impactful this was in our lives.

For me in particular, this phase in my life planted a seed in me, that forever, joyfully singing to the Lord, no matter how bad my voice is, no matter how imperfect my talent is in playing instruments, my hearts desire is to worship the Lord, no matter what is going on in my life. Being a member of the music ministry brought me closer to Him, despite my failures and sinfulness, and has given me new friends and spiritual families. And that no matter where I go around the world, that seed planted in me to sing my heart out to the Lord will always resonate in me, to proclaim the goodness of the Lord, whether in words, action or in songs.

In the summer of 2010, we (the 2nd generation music ministry) decided to meet again. Sitting in that small chapel on a Sunday brings back memories. That chapel, over the years has weathered a lot of storms and wear and tear. The same musical instruments, speakers and amplifiers were still in use, and so is the projector and the projector screens. During mass the amplifier was acting up. Although there were some minor fixes done, visible signs of water damage can be seen. Every time it rains, a pool of water is collecting inside the chapel. The roof has leaks and ceiling is starting to rot. On the outside, moss carpets are everywhere. On the grotto, you can barely make out the face of our Lady.

Water pools at the altar

Leaks and minor repairs

Water damaged pew

Leaks on the wall

Fan controller

Open access ceiling

Stained projector screen

Warped ceiling

Open ceiling

Our Lady :(

Moss laden grotto

Moss laden side

Water pools here

Our humble little chapel

After seeing all this, moved by our hearts desire to give back to God, the chapel and the community, we decided to launch a fund raising campaign, to restore the dignity of this holy place. Though not a main parish, many souls have been refreshed, comforted and renewed in this little chapel.

We are not aiming to build a cathedral, but by the humility and the grace of God, we would like to offer to our dear Lord Jesus Christ, a chapel worthy of his honor, glory and majesty. A chapel that would lift the hearts of the congregation, so that everytime they go there, they would feel that they are in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ and that the glory of God is manifested in this small chapel.

And so we hope and pray, that if you are somehow moved by this writing, to consider donating to our cause...in any amount that comes from your heart. But most importantly, we ask that you pray for our little offering to our Lord, that He may grant this project to come to fruition.

This is not just our project. This chapel is for everyone, and is for the whole community, and so together with our collective efforts and prayers we can restore dignity to this holy place.

May the Lord bless you and keep you, Have a blessed Christmas. And thank you for reading this blog.

If you would like to donate:

In the Philippines, please contact

Angela Coralejo Parma - 0917-5728565

Jan Ronsayro Gaspar - 0917-5922348

Ianne Salonga - 0916-440-4860

In the US, or anywhere in the world, please email or reply to this blog.

Jesus loves you.

They were all filled and satisfied

2012-12-05T09:24:00.001-05:00

Today's Reading - http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/120512.cfm

The miracle of the multiplication of the loaves prefigures the Eucharist, the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. In the Gospel of Matthew, when the people heard the voice of Jesus and his teachings, they were drawn to Him. How do we know that? They stayed with Jesus for three days in the mountain, without food. When Jesus speaks, everyone hears the voice of God. John 14:9 says "Whoever has seen me has seen the Father". In our time today, where can we hear the Word of God? We can either hear Him in Church or when we read the Scriptures on our own, or from others. Now let's ask this question to ourselves, "When we hear or read the Word of God, are we drawn to Him? Or is it like going in from one ear then comes out on the other side, and move on with life?" My friends, let us take the Word of God seriously, and know that when we meditate and read the Word of God, that He is speaking to us, just like Jesus did on the mountain. There is no more excuse of not having enough time or resources. God has allowed the invention of internet and electronic devices, let us use it wisely and read the Scriptures and spiritual readings instead of using it for things that will not benefit our soul. It is available right at your fingertips, you don't have to go up the mountain just like in the old days. We are so blessed with so many learning materials today (books, audio or videos), unlike before, where learning materials were scarce and hard to find. The Catechism, Vatican documents, Bible, Prayers, Novenas, lives of the saints...etc. they are all available online! THERE IS NO EXCUSE! You can even read them while sitting down in the toilet if that is the only time you have, by all means use them for the benefit of your soul!

I believe that going to Church without knowing your faith, is like getting into marriage without knowing the other person. There is no more excuse, Jesus made time for you on the cross, make time for Him. Read the Scriptures, read spiritual books and the lives of the saints and learn about your Catholic faith starting with the Catechism. When the people heard Jesus' teaching up in the mountain, a miracle happened afterwards, the loaves and the fish were multiplied, and they all ate and were satisfied, and there were left overs. I believe, this prefigures the mass. First, we hear the Word of God through the Liturgy of the Word, then we partake of the greatest miracle on earth, the Liturgy of the Eucharist. Let us ask ourselves...after receiving Jesus' body and blood in the Eucharist, are we filled and satisfied?

Jesus loves you.

Be holy, for I am holy

2012-11-23T09:42:00.002-05:00

I am saddened by this...

Therefore, "do not yield to the desires that once shaped you in your ignorance. Rather, become holy yourselves in every aspect of your conduct, after the likeness of the Holy One Who called you; remember, Scripture says, 'Be holy, for I am holy'" (1 Peter 1:14-16)

Are you lost inside the Church?

2012-11-08T10:38:00.000-05:00

Daily Readings - http://usccb.org/bible/readings/110812.cfm

What is your reason for going to church (Daily mass and/or Sunday mass)? Is it because you have to? Is it because you were brought up that way and now you have to continue the tradition? someone told you? Is it because its the minimum requirement of the church? is it a ritual? has it become a cycle of sunday after sunday routine?

Well whatever your reason is, you are not far from where St. Paul was, considering that you are zealous for the law just as he was. St. Paul was a very devout Jew, he followed the law with strict observance. But when he found Jesus Christ, he then realized that everything that he was doing was at lost. His zeal to follow the law line by line was at lost because his heart was far away from God.

So let us look at ourselves. Do we really go to church because we truly love God? Or are we just following a ritual? or are we just trying to achieve a minimum requirement? Or because we are having problems and we need something from Him? Regardless of what your reason is, and I pray that the Holy Spirit will reveal it to you, if our hearts are far away from God and we have not truly repented of our sins, we are like that lost sheep inside the fold of the church. Eventhough we are inside the church, our hearts are so lost that we don't even see or feel the presence of Christ in the church. It is no wonder that we're not even amazed by the very presence of Jesus Christ in the most Holy Eucharist. It was once said, that if we as Catholics, really believe the Jesus is present in the Eucharist, we will be prostrating ourselves on the ground like the angels do. But sadly, we are not, we go to church not dressed appropriately, not paying attention, late (im guilty of this), sleepy...etc. You see the rituals are suppose to aid us in drawing our hearts closer to God, but we must set our hearts right before God and truly repent of our sins, then and only then will the grace of God flow to us and the liturgy that we partake into will make sense, and we will see the Jesus is present in them. Then we will not be lost anymore...

Jesus loves you.

I kneel before the Father

2012-10-25T10:32:00.002-04:00

Today's Readings - http://usccb.org/bible/readings/102512.cfm

The saints will forsake everything just to be with Jesus, and that's including their life, family and their possessions. At first this was shocking to me. I later on realized that I was putting more preference on attachments to people than to God. It's like a battle between the two. But our attachments to human beings cannot satisfy us fully, only Jesus can. Let me put it this way...my love for my wife, children, family and neighbors gets elevated to a whole new level when I focus first on Christ. If I love Christ first, and love Him as if nothing else matters, then the rest follows...I am able to love my wife more, through thick and thin, and not just on days when it's rosy. I am able to love more of my children, even when I'm running out of patience. I am able to love more of my neighbor, even when they have shortcomings. I am able to forgive more, even when it's hard to forgive.

You see, if you put attachments to humans first, ahead of Christ, there will come a time when you will hit a wall and you cant follow through anymore. Your sacrifices becomes meaningless without Christ. After all, we do everything through Christ Jesus, who enables us and strengthen us.

So who do you love more? What if we experience the same thing that Job experienced in the scriptures, would we still love Christ? Are we depending so much of our life on others?

Remember that God put everything in its place around you so that it will remind you of Him and lead you to Him, and that includes your wife, your children, your brothers and sisters, your parents and your neighbors.

"I kneel before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named" Eph 3:14

Let our prayer be... In Christ alone!

Tell the Good News

2012-10-10T10:56:00.002-04:00

Today's Reading - http://www.catholic.org/bible/daily_reading/

When I read the first reading today I am reminded of those times when I was not bold enough to profess my faith or even defend it. Inside the church, I would feel as if I'm in heaven, I soak in the Word of God and the Eucharist and the Liturgy and Music, but when I am outside and meeting people who are unbelieving and/or lacking in faith, I am subdued, just going along with the conversation and not mentioning about the treasure I found in my life. I would imagine that is how Peter and the other disciples must have been like. Take note, this is after the Pentecost when they have received the Holy Spirit. And for me, it's after my Pentecost experience as well. And so I asked myself...what am I afraid of? why can't I speak? Am I afraid of being humiliated? Am I not strong enough in my faith?

And so recently, while we were at a mall, a young man came up to me, and told me that they are doing a survey on faith. And so I said I am not interested because I am taking care of my kids, but he insisted. So I asked him, "Are you evangelizing?" and then I said "I believe in God, I believe in Jesus, I believe in Virgin Mary, the mother of God and the saints...etc.", I forgot what else I said, I felt my heart pumping and my spirit being so moved to profess my faith. And then he responded with an almost offended kind of tone..."Mary is just a woman". Then he mentioned the scripture, when Jesus mentioned "who is my mother?..." (Mark 3:33). And at this point, I feel as if all the scriptures and scholars and books I have read are all flooding into my head to my mouth. As I explained to him that Jesus wasn't disrespecting Mary at that point, but he was glorifying her and honoring her because she did the will of God (Mark 3:35). So we were going back and forth with our arguments, when another man came and said "nice to meet you" and offered to shake my hand and was trying to leave the conversation (maybe because they think I was not a so-and-so Catholic). So as a sign of good gesture, I shook his hands and then I said "But let me finish first..." and so I started explaining that part of the Scripture in context and not just the verse itself (very briefly). And then we broke off, without them saying anything in return. Little did I know...I wasn't charitable to the young man. I was very argumentative and wasn't gentle at all, because I was so offended at this young man telling that Mary was nothing but just a woman. It was at that point that I retaliated and defended my heavenly mother without showing any charity to this young man. I cannot change what happened, just as in the first reading where Peter and the disciples cannot change what happened by being afraid of the Jews at that time, but I can pray for him. I just hope that with our conversation, it helped open a door that would get him to start questioning his faith and doctrines.

So let's get back on track. The council of Jerusalem while agreeing with Paul on spreading the Gospel to the Gentiles, reminded him not to forget about the poor. And so must we, as we profess our faith in our words and/or actions, let us not forget that the best tool for evagelization is not just through words, but through action, let us reach out to the poor, whether by helping one or two or a community...start somewhere. Sponsor a child, a family, help out in soup kitchens, reach out those who are poor in spirit too, those who have problems and having difficulty in life or a friend in need of having someone to talk to.

The early Church wasn't selective of what the Holy Spirit can do for them...they did it all...from mighty deeds to simple ones...to spreading the Gospel in words and/or actions...in helping the poor...in participating in church...in praying and reading and understanding the scriptures. Let us follow their example.

O Blessed Virgin Mary, pray for us.

Jesus loves you.

Her Rosary and those who get others to say it by their example

2012-09-20T17:20:00.001-04:00

By Saint Louis De Montfort

Alphonsus, King of Leon and Galicia, very much wanted all his servants to honor the Blessed Virgin Mary by saying the Rosary. So he used to hang a large Rosary on his belt and always wore it, but unfortunately never said it himself. Nevertheless, his wearing it encouraged his courtiers to say the Rosary very devoutly.

One day the king fell seriously ill and when he was given up for dead he found himselfin a vision, before Our Lord's judgement seat. Many devils were there accusing the king of all the sins he had committed, and Our Lord as Sovereign Judge was just about to condemn him to hell when Our Lady appeared to intercede for him. She called for a pair of scales and had his sins placed in one of the balances and She put the Rosary that he had always worn on the other scale, together with all the Rosaries that had been said because of him example. It was found that the Rosaries weighed more than his sins.

Looking at him with great kindness Our Lady said, "As a reward for this little honor that you paid me in wearing my Rosary, I have obtained a great grace for you from my Son. Your life will be spared for a few more years. See that you spend these years wisely, and do penance."

When the King regained consciousness he cried out, "Blessed be the Rosary of the Most Holy Virgin Mary, by which I have been delivered from eternal damnation!"

After he had recovered his health he spent the rest of his life in spreading devotion to the Holy Rosary and said it faithfully every day.

People who love the Blessed Virgin should follow King Alphonsus' example and that of the saints whom I have mentioned so that they too may win other souls for the Confraternity of the Holy Rosary. They will then receive great graces on earth and eternal life later on."They that explain me shall have life everlasting life." [1] Ecclus. 24:31

Strive eagerly for the greatest spiritual gifts

2012-09-19T11:03:00.002-04:00

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/091912.cfm

I think the answer to todays world of secularization, indifference and unbelief is the miraculous. People these days don't see the miraculous fruits of the Holy Spirit anymore. Some people, even those active in the church don't believe it either. Some think that those mighty deeds done in the "Acts of the Apostles" are past history and some consider them myths (I was once guilty of that).

After attending the Life in the Spirit Seminar last year, I found myself reading the Acts of the Apostles, and I was so amazed at what the early church did during those times. They were healing the sick, casting out demons, speaking in tounges, prophesying, receiving visions...and all those migthy works of the Holy Spirit. When was the last time you see that in our day and age? I mean we are not even in awe of the presence of Jesus in the eucharist, how much more are we going to be in awe of the works of the Holy Spirit? I feel that we are putting the Holy Spirit on the leash. We let the Holy Spirit loose when we are in prayer meeting or worship and then we put Him on the leash when we are outside of the church. It's like living a double lifestyle. How do you suppose the Holy Spirit can work through you if the only time you are charismatic is if you are in your prayer group?

The first reading today especially the 1 Cor 13 has been used as a reading in so many weddings I have attended. If we read it in context, it is not just talking about love, it is also talking about the gifts (charisms). It is talking about love and the gifts working hand and hand, it didn't say to ignore the gifts. St. Paul even said on that line specifically saying "Strive eagerly for the greatest spiritual gifts". It says "Strive eagerly"...I can't emphasize anymore than St. Paul did.

So let us ask ourselves...Have I been at anytime, put the Holy Spirit on the leash? Did I ever doubt God or held the Holy Spirit by saying "It's not my thing" or "I don't have it" (Rev 3:16)? Did I strive eagerly for the greatest spiritual gifts? Do I believe in the miraculous anymore?

The early church got it right! Let us follow their example. Make love our aim and strive for the greatest spiritual gifts...then we can say to this mountain..."Move" and it shall move! Let us be bold in our faith!

"I want to cry out: Be open and docile to the gifts of the Spirit! Accept with gratitude and obedience the charisms that the spirit never ceases to bestow" - Blessed Pope John Paul II

Jesus loves you!

So that all...should bend the knee at the name of Jesus

2012-09-04T15:18:00.001-04:00

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/090412.cfm

Do you like horror movies? While I have not watched any horror movies recently, I have watched them before. I like the horror movies that are based on true stories and proves the existence of God. I have recently learned that some horror movies can also be an entry point for spirits as well, so be careful. Bottomline is, as with any kind of movies, if it does not reflect your values or if it will not benefit your soul...DON'T WATCH IT! If you have children, be careful of what they watch and what you watch along with your kids and be on guard for your own soul as well. Children can easily pick up those foul language on a movie, how much more if they see violence and fornication?!? And if you know you are weak in controlling your anger or sins of the flesh, why watch movies that are violent, bloody, with nudity and sex scenes? These movies or shows will only feed your weaknesses and will make you desensitize to these type of sins.

So prior to watching a movie, read about it. You can check these websites to learn more about the content of the movies, before watching them:

http://www.catholicnews.com/movies.htm
http://pluggedin.com

So let's go back to the first question, why did I ask if you like horror movies that shows demonic spirits bowing down to the name of Jesus Christ? Let's check out the gospel today.

"In the synagogue there was a man with with the spirit of an unclean demon. and he cried out in a loud voice, "Ha! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are - the Holy One of God!" Luke 4:33-34

So if demons exist, God must truly exist as well, and not only that, He is more powerful than any of these unclean spirits. In this day and age, I believe that we are worst than the demons, because they know who Jesus is and we don't! A lot of people today try to disprove the existence of God, why? because they want to justify their own desires. That is basically what Satan wants us to believe, that demons and God doesn't exist, and so you are free to do whatever you want to do with your life without any moral compass.

"at the end of the most difficult exorcisms, when I am confronted with total demonic possession, I pray the Christological hymn of the letter of Paul to the Philippians (2:6-11). When I speak the words "so that all beings in the heavens, on earth, and in the underworld should bend the knee at the name of Jesus", I kneel, everyone present kneels, and always the one possessed by the demons is also compelled to kneel. It is a moving and powerful moment." - 'An exorcist tell his story' - Fr. Gabrielle Amorth (Chief Exorcist for the diocese of Rome).

These unclean spirits recognize who Jesus is and they bow down before Him...do you?

Jesus is alive!

You will see greater things than this

2012-08-24T11:04:00.002-04:00

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/082412.cfm

Happy Friday! May the peace of Jesus be with you all! Last weekend I attended the Charism School by Damian Stayne, hosted by the New Jersey Catholic Charismatic Renewal Conference. And I tell you after that weekend, I feel empowered, edified and on fire...a million times! (I'm talking in the Charismatic terms of expounding). I'm serious! Now more than ever, I am utterly convince that in this day and age, we need the charisms more than ever. People need to know that Jesus is alive! Because we cannot just simply separate the charisms from the Holy Spirit. Yes doing good works, worshiping, giving money...etc. they are all good...but when Jesus and the apostles and the early church walked on the earth, they were also performing miracles, healings and casting out demons.

John 14:12 says "Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father."

Let us ask ourselves, especially those belonging to the charismatic prayer group. Are the charisms being used in our prayer group? our daily lives? are the fruits of the Holy Spirit being manifested? or are we suppressing it? are we just content with just listening to good praise music? are we content with the just meditating on the word of God without putting it into action? According to Damian Stayne. "The early church go it right!" They know that Jesus did make "love" his aim, and performed mighty deeds, because he knows that when people starts to see the manifestations of the Holy Spirit, it completely changes their life, and people starts to see that God is in their midst.

Let us use today's gospel as an analogy. Imagine if Jesus spoke to Nathanael and did not use his gifts of charism, in this case the Word of Knowledge. Imagine if Jesus had just said "Nathanael, I am the Messiah". Do you think Nathanael will believe him right away? He was doubting him already because he knows so much about Nazareth and that no good can come out of Nazareth. But because Jesus used the Word of Knowledge and has told him that He saw him under a fig tree, without Jesus being present...immediately there was a nuclear reaction in him and his faith exploded! Immediately, Nathanael believed the Son of God and uttered "Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel."

So for those belonging to Charismatic Prayer Groups, I challenge you now, believe that Jesus has promised that you will do greater things like He did, believe that you will perform miracles, healings and casting out demons. "Strive eagerly for the greatest spiritual gifts." 1 Cor 12: 31. Do not suppress the Holy Spirit, let it work in your ministry. This is the call of our church today for the new evangelization. And for those who do not belong to a prayer group, look for one now, have a personal relationship with Jesus, and look for Baptism of the Holy Spirit. If you need more info on the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, you can message me on the comments and I will reply to you personally.

Remember the early church got it right! They made love their aim and they allowed the Holy Spirit to work through them, through the charisms. Let us follow their example.

"Pursue love, but strive eagerly for the spiritual gifts, above all that you may prophesy." 1 Cor 14:1

Jesus loves you!

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord

2012-08-15T14:51:00.001-04:00

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/081512-mass-during-the-day.cfm

Today I am going to share with you a little secret on how to get closer to Jesus and obtain prayers, favors and intercession and even to ask for grace. A secret that even the saints know about, such as Padre Pio, St. Therese, Blessed Pope John Paul II...etc.

When I was growing up, being brought up in a Catholic country, I was exposed at an early age to Marian devotion. It was a beautiful experience, and something that is always etched in my mind and my heart. During those years, I was exposed to the Mysteries of the Rosary, but as a young kid and throughout my early adult years, I did not have a full understanding of Mary until now. Although, I must admit there is so much to learn about her, but this is a good step forward to learning more about my Catholic faith and Mary.

So in my own little understanding allow me to share what God has revealed to me about the Blessed Virgin Mary. When you go to a court trial, you can either choose to have a lawyer to represent you or waive your right and go by yourself. A lawyer would of course know the details of the law and how he/she can best represent your case to the judge. You see, that is how Mary is to me, she is like a good lawyer, she knows best how to present my prayers to Jesus and she wraps it with love, purity, hope and compassion and she makes my prayers ever more beautiful in the face of Jesus. Just as a good lawyer can win your case with the judge, it is the same way with Mary. She knows that in order to please Jesus and hear my prayer, there may be cases where I need to persevere, be patient, pray more, do works of mercy, charity, learn from mistakes..etc. She can help us pray to Jesus and give to us what we need. Of all the saints, she knows it best on how to aid and present your prayers to Jesus, she is after all the mother of God. And just as a mother would care for her children with great care and compassion, she will never stop praying for us, until Jesus hears our case. There have been countless miracles, visions, apparitions attributed to Mary. And this is why the Catholic Church believe so strongly that she is a great and powerful intercessor.

So what is my secret? It's Mary!...she's my shortcut to Jesus. She leads me to Jesus in a way that is more effective. She can relate to my shortcomings as a mother can relate to her son. It is no wonder the saints venerate her so deeply because they know she is face to face with Jesus in heaven and they know their prayers are more effective when you ask for her intercession. So if you want to win your case in court, wouldn't you hire a great lawyer? So what are you waiting for? Ask for her intercession...it's free of charge!

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help or sought your intercession, was left unaided.

Inspired with this confidence, I fly to you, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother; to you do I come, before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful.

O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in your mercy hear and answer me. Amen.

In your great kindness answer me

2012-08-03T12:09:00.006-04:00

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/080312.cfm

Hearing the news of death of close friends or families always comes to me by surprise, especially when they die of sudden death. First Father Ron and now, Tita Grace Baquilod. And these are good people who are very active in the vineyard of the Lord. At this point in my faith journey, I should know better, that they are in a better place than us. They are now face to face with the Lord.

There were so many questions in my head on why it happened. I guess the hardest part for me to get over with are these questions...Was I lacking in prayers? in petitions? did I get lazy? especially now that I am starting to learn more about the scriptures, there are so many bible verses that pops out in my head that sends mixed feelings to my soul, for example: "If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it - John 14:14". So I asked...repeatedly for healing of these good people...and yet they were taken by our Lord.

And then this passage... "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways - Isaiah 55:8"...ouch! And then another friend of mine sent this... "the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away - (Job 1:21)"...another ouch! I think what God is teaching me during these times is to have that blind faith on Him and knowing that even if things don't make sense, His ways are still better than mine. You see I was starting to become like those people in the gospel today, asking Jesus about His qualifications and doubting Him, and the end result is, He was not able to perform mighty deeds among them.

I can see now why attachments to people (and material things) can be a hindrance to fully experiencing God and allowing Him to work through us. You see, Fr. Ron and Tita Grace are both dear to me, they both showed me Jesus Christ in some way shape or form and I love them both and will sorely miss them, but Jesus loves them more than I do, I mean...He gave His life for them, that they may experience their reward in heaven. My attachments, my admirations and my longings are nothing compared to what God can give them in heaven. And so I must let go. With blind faith, I believe God has a greater and more grandeur plan than mine, and that He will do mighty deeds in my life...I know He will...Yes Jesus, I believe.

Return, rebellious children, says the Lord

2012-07-27T12:40:00.001-04:00

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/072712.cfm

During my high school and college years, being in a catholic school, we always had religion courses. And one course subject that I remember was Salvation History. I passed, but the sad thing is I vaguely remember some of it. Was I listening? Was I being blind intentionally? It was a blur. However, I do believe that those formative years have put a seed in my heart to put me in the right path.

In connection with the gospel today about the parable of the sower, I have been in all those different types of ground. During my younger years and some of my adult years, I have chosen the worldly life. But there is always that voice that calls me from within to seek Him. And so, I go to church, I was even in the choir back in the days. It was during those time God surrounded me with good people, to aid me in my walk of life. But I was still yearning for something. Even though I go to church, I never really and fully understood my Catholic faith and why I was doing it, I never understood the Liturgy of the Word, the Liturgy of the Eucharist, the order of the mass...etc. But I still went even without knowing. But since my faith was seated on rocky grounds and among thorns, I immediately crumble. When problems and trial comes, I immediately resort to thinking that God is somehow punishing me. There were even times when I blamed Him for bad things that are happening to me. And there are times when I questioned my faith.

But that was then...I was blind, but now I see. So what changed? In my faith journey, I have allowed myself to be the rich soil, and opened my ears to the Word of God, and asked God so that I can understand it and give me the strength to live it and share it with others. As the prophet Jeremiah prophesied to Judah in the first reading today, the seeds on thorny and rocky grounds are somewhat synonymous to being rebellious. We can choose to be the rich soil if we want to, but its our rebellious nature that prevents us from doing it. You might be wondering, how am I rebellious?...by committing sin...sin is a rebellion against God. So you might be asking now...how do I get to be the rich soil? right? There are many ways to be the rich soil. If I were to list it down, this will not be a blog anymore but a novel. But allow me to share this wonderful article from the Sunday Bulletin of St. Dominic's Church in Missouri:

As we ponder an obvious question from today’s Gospel—how do we become the rich soil Jesus describes?—we might learn a lesson or two from compost. When we allow the “waste” of our lives— broken relationships, self-doubts, long-held grudges— to be converted into compassion, forgiveness, and openness, we’re more receptive to God’s movement. As we let go of old hurts and anger, the soil of our lives can hold the nourishment of God’s Word, which sustains us through challenging and painful times. Just as compost takes time, becoming rich soil ourselves doesn’t happen immediately. Just as compost isn’t necessarily beautiful—it’s crumbly, dirty, and sometimes smelly— our self-composting may involve dealing with the not-so-pretty parts of ourselves. But the transformation is rich with life, is worth the wait and, in the end, produces beautiful fruit for God. - Jane Esker (St. Dominic Church, Missouri)

Excerpt taken from - http://www.stdominic-church.org/resources/LSB_071011.pdf

So my challenge to you (and me) is this. Do we choose to be the rich soil? or rocky and/or thorny grounds? If you have read the Bible (Salvation History), we all know well what happened to the people of Israel when they ignored the warnings of the prophets. Will we also be indifferent to God and wait for that day to come?

Come to Jesus...He loves you more than you know.

The last time I saw Father Ron Stanley

2012-07-16T15:52:00.004-04:00

I may have been the last person (among our group of friends) to see Fr. Ron prior to his missions trip to Dominican Republic. So instead of trying to recall his countless works as a priest, missionary, mentor and friend, I would like to paint a picture of him when I came to visit him to drop off some donations for his last trip.

It was the 17th of May, 2012, a little over 6 pm in the afternoon. I pulled over the parking lot of the Church of Nativity in Midland Park, NJ and gave him a phone call. It turned out I was in the wrong parking lot, so I moved over to the next lot. As I pass by a renovated farmhouse adjacent to the church, he came out of the door with a big smile on his face. He was wearing a white shirt, it may have been one of those Catholic Center t-shirts. He was wearing a short, a white socks and a high-cut black boots. Around his neck was his usual mini-Cross that looks like its made out of crystal. It was hanging by a thin thread. It wasn't fancy, but when the sun hits the cross, it looks like its glowing and that is the first thing you'll notice around his neck. He had his usual clean beard (he reminds me of Bono from U2 actually), his hair was a lot more gray than the last time we saw him, but he still looks the same Fr. Ron to me. There were some visible light spots on his face, arms and legs that looks like bruises. But even with his leukemia, he didnt show any weakness, although he did mention that he gets tired easily. He brought me into the old farmhouse and introduced me to a college student who was helping him. He brought me to the basement and showed me the water barrels that he fills up with donations and afterwards they use it to collect rain water in the DR. There were still other donations lying around, but they could not fit all of them anymore. Then we went to an adjacent room where there were duffel bags and he asked me to put some of the stuff in there, and so I did. Afterwards, we went out to my car and he scoured the donations in the trunk. He was very meticulous in selecting the items, they were all new, but he picked the ones that they could use, and the smaller ones that matter the most, like pencils, erasers, wall clocks, some books, clothing...he picked the best of the bunch for the poorest of the poor. Once we all sorted it out, I gave the ones that passed the grade to the female college student with us and loaded it to her car.

I stayed for a bit because Fr. Ron wanted me and the other college student to see the house where he lives. It's funny how I worked in Mahwah for several years and I never get to see him, but now I am farther, I get to see him. We walked inside the beautiful compound and there was a nice garden area, a small chapel, a grotto, lots of trees and grass fields...he then showed us the patio and the house. I was imagining our friends gathering in the patio for a reunion, even the grass field area is big enough to host lots of people. His house, next to the church was very nice. They have a nice kitchen and a nice dining room, and a living room with a fireplace (I just want to sit there a read books...lol). I believe there were several priests that were living there...we met some of them. His new place was a big difference from his more simple home at The Catholic Center in Rutgers. But despite his recent nicer living conditions, he never forgot about the poor and living simply. After that we went out and chatted a bit. He said he will be going ahead of the students to prepare the place for them and assign them houses and families. Being an avid cycling fan myself, we talk about biking together, he said that he likes to bike around the area for exercise and buying groceries. He said, that is his form of exercise to keep up with the physical activities in the DR and with the students. He also did say that it will be his last trip to the DR...maybe he knows something that I dont, but I dont see any sadness in his face, he was more excited to go and could not wait to leave for his last mission. After that, we said our goodbyes and wishing him well for his last trip, but instead of the normal handshake...I felt the urge to hug him...for the last time...maybe I was feeling it too...that it would be our last meeting...and so there goes Fr. Ron...

We love you Fr. Ron...pray for us in heaven. And please whisper to Jesus that we love Him. Till we meet again...

Jesus summoned His twelve disciples

2012-07-11T17:43:00.001-04:00

Today's Readings - http://usccb.org/bible/readings/071112.cfm

For today's sharing I would like to focus on the commissioning of the twelve disciples and reflect on that with my personal experience. Last Friday, we were blessed during mass as "Committed Disciples" in our prayer group and its the first thing that came up in my head. Prior to commissioning they gave us a piece of paper to sign on. I took it seriously...why? It has several items on it that I would have to do and most importantly it has Gods name in it. While the "To do" list doesn't have anything that is opposed to the teachings of the Catholic Church, signing your name with Gods name in it is a serious business. I prayed about it for a week, offered it at mass...and then come Friday...the day of commissioning...we haven't signed the papers yet! I had questions in my head..."What if I don't get to do one of the things listed on the paper? Am I doomed?" Knowing what I know now about the Scriptures and Salvation History, calling upon Gods name is no joke...and should not be taken lightly. So before I signed, I prayed (so hard)...but with my eyes blindfolded and some fear (just a little bit)...meaning I do not know what lies ahead, I just trust that God will lead me and my wife to wherever He wants us to be...and so we signed!

And so the evening comes...I felt that all the readings and the songs and the sermon are all pointing at me! They are all saying one thing! FOLLOW ME! I mean come on...the gospel reading from Matthew last Friday has it. "He said to him, 'Follow me.' And he got up and follow Him" (Matthew 9:9). And the newly ordained priest said something that struck me the most..."The Lord doesn't call the qualified, He qualifies the called". I heard that before...but this time it strikes me to the heart. After that I felt as if I wanted to put a sackcloth on my head and mourn for my unbelief. But God is merciful. All of a sudden God reminded me of how faithful He is throughout the entire Salvation History (this is where reading the Bible comes alive...in times like this) and through friends...He reminded me that no matter what we face, His hand is always there, "For the battle is the Lord's" (1 Samuel 17:47)...it is not ours to begin with. He will make His name known through us, and they will see that it's the Lord that is ever present in us. And it is inevitable that we will fail and we will commit sin at times, but we must have the courage to stand up, repent and trust in His mercy through Jesus Christ our Savior. "Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Cor 12:10)

So trust in the Lord, even if it seems impossible...just look in the Bible...every single one of the called person are sinners, they felt unworthy, they felt they don't have the talent, they doubted...but once they put their trust in the Lord...mighty things happened! It's possible through us you know...just have faith!

Jesus loves you!