Prayers Taught by Our Lady

Prayers Taught by Our Lady

O my Jesus, forgive us, save us from the fire of hell.
Lead all souls to heaven,
especially those who are most in need.

O Jesus, it is for love of You,
for the conversion of sinners,
and in reparation for the sins committed
against the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Why We Need To Pray...

Like Jesus, we need to pray fervently before we make any major decisions in our lives so that we will be guided by God to make the right one.

Jesus Christ: A New Commandment -- Love One Another

Now I give you a new commandment: love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also must love one another. By this, everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.

-- John 13:34-35

Life Isn't Always What It Seems

When we look at other people's lives, we think they are so blessed. However, if we walked a mile in their shoes, we would probably realize that it's not actually a bed of roses.

- Rosie & Misty

What is Divine Mercy?

Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska

Revelations

The years Sr. Faustina spent at the convent were filled with extraordinary gifts, such as revelations, visions, hidden stigmata, participation in the Passion of the Lord, the gift of bilocation, the reading of human souls, the gift of prophecy, and the rare gift of mystical engagement and marriage.

The living relationship with God, the Blessed Mother, the angels, the saints, the souls in Purgatory — with the entire supernatural world — was as equally real for her as was the world she perceived with her senses. In spite of being so richly endowed with extraordinary graces, Sr. Maria Faustina knew that they do not in fact constitute sanctity. In her Diary she wrote:

"Neither graces, nor revelations, nor raptures, nor gifts granted to a soul make it perfect, but rather the intimate union of the soul with God. These gifts are merely ornaments of the soul, but constitute neither its essence nor its perfection. My sanctity and perfection consist in the close union of my will with the will of God."

Only God’s Love is Perfect

I would like to share this new post from SoulFood by Bo Sanchez which I find truly inspiring.

Allow God To Love You As You Are

This part really struck me because it hit close to home. It's about God's love and loving God.

For the longest time I thought we had to please God in order to gain His love. Was I wrong!

According to Bo, you should "Allow God To Love You As You Are." Isn't that amazing?

He says:


"Let me shock you. Holiness isn’t primarily about loving God. That’s only a response. Almost like a side effect.

People think holiness is about praying, attending church, or reading the Bible. All that is important. But holiness is not about doing something, but allowing something to happen to you.

Holiness isn’t about working for God. It’s about God working in you. Holiness isn’t about loving God. Holiness is about God loving you.

People think Saints are people who love God. Actually, they’re people who allow God to love them. And loving God just follows automatically.

Because you can’t give what you don’t have.

St. Francis is my favorite saint. And one of my favorite stories of St. Francis was when he was walking with his friend Brother Leo.

While walking through a field of flowers, all of a sudden, without any warning, Francis covered his ears and started running out, all the while screaming, “Stop talking to me!”

Alarmed, Brother Leo ran after him.

Finally, he saw Francis sitting by a rock, catching his breath. Leo asked him, “Master, who was talking to you? I didn’t hear anyone!”

Francis said, “The flowers. They were talking to me.”

Brother Leo’s jaw dropped. The flowers? Has his leader gone loco? He asked a foolish question, “Brother Francis, what did the flowers say?”

Francis was a Saint because everywhere he looked, he saw God loving him.

I repeat: Saints are Saints because they know how to receive God’s Love.  And they allow that love to overwhelm them, overpower them, and transform their lives forever."

I think it's awesome how this answers my previous post about total surrender. It truly is about GRACE. And It's about LOVE most of all. Not our love, but God's love, which is perfect. Isn't that the best news ever?

Does Anyone Know the Way to Total Surrender?

This question has been haunting me for 3 or 4 years now and I still don't know the answer.

It's very distracting, not knowing the answer. It's a bit like running around without direction. Not so funny image in my head right now... a headless chicken running around without any direction. And I mean the not so funny part.

This is really bothering me. I would love to hear some stories or some answers. I hope I find what I'm searching for because this is really giving me a lot of headaches and sleepless nights.

I am grateful. Please don't get me wrong Lord Jesus. I kind of get the feeling that the answer is staring me right in my face but for some reason it's like a sea mist... disappearing just as I'm about to reach out and touch it. Words can't describe it. This is sheer torture. I don't know what to make of this anymore.

It's like I'm scared to death but at the same time very excited. Does that make sense? It sure does not to me!

Sigh! I wish I could get just one hour with you Lord Jesus, maybe I need some scolding or something. At least that's how I feel. But I know that You are such a loving God that You would never want me to suffer without reason. Maybe I'm just punishing myself for something that should've been buried long ago.

Time to shut down, I think. Must be doing too much thinking again. Nothing new. Oh well. At least work is going well once more. Thank You Jesus. I just wish the rest of my life would fall into place soon. Time, please be kind...er. I wish I could take back some of the things I've said and done Lord Jesus Christ but this is probably part of my journey.

Thank God for Music. And Work. And FAMILY & FRIENDS. I would be lost without them. Especially the last two. Whew! Enough for now. I love You Lord Jesus and I always will. Thank You so much for Loving me first. Praise You for everything You Are and all that you have given me. I love You Jesus. Nyt nyt for now. :)

WHO ’S TELLING THE TRUTH?

“He will guide you to all truth.” – John 16:13

One day, I was preaching about the power of our words. I asked my audience to say out loud, “I’m beautiful!” After the talk, I saw a young beautiful woman waiting for me at the foot of the stage. But I sensed deep sadness in her eyes. She asked me, “Bro. Bo, if one says I’m beautiful but I feel ugly, isn’t she lying?” I asked, “Why do you think you’re ugly?” She told me her story. When she was a little child, her father would tell her, “Dorothy, you’re ugly.” And he’d laugh the meanest laugh. She said, “Since then, I’ve always felt ugly.” I asked her, “Define lying.” “When I say something that’s not true.” “We’ve got a problem here. You say you’re ugly. Your father said you were ugly. But today, I announce to you that God says you’re beautiful. Who is telling the truth? You, your father or God? Only one of you claimed, ‘I Am the Truth.’” She broke down. Dorothy allowed the words of her father to create ugliness in her life. She jumped from one lover to another, searching for someone to tell her that she was beautiful. But the truth is in God — who created all of us beautiful.

Bo Sanchez (bosanchez@kerygmafamily.com)

REFLECTION: Are you allowing lies to rule your life?

Lord, help me to always trust in Your truth.

Good Shepherd Sunday Reflections

Today is Good Shepherd Sunday. The Psalm passage is my favorite.


P S A L M

Psalms 23:1-3, 3-4, 5, 6
R: The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 In verdant pastures he gives me repose; beside restful waters he leads me; 3 he refreshes my soul. (R) He guides me in right paths for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk in the dark valley I fear no evil; for you are at my side with your rod and your staff that give me courage. (R) 5 You spread the table before me in the sight of my foes; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. (R) 6 Only goodness and kindness follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD for years to come. (R)

The second reading is just as moving. A gentle reminder of our return to our Good Shepherd, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.


2nd READING

It is interesting to study the nature and dynamic of a flock of sheep. I come from a country where flocks of sheep can number in the tens of thousands, something that would not have really been in the mind of the Gospel writers of Jesus’ time where flocks were probably more like 20–50 sheep in size! However, there are some aspects of small flocks that still hold true for big flocks. One of these is that if you can get a few to move in a particular direction, very often the rest will follow. This is an important dynamic to understand if we want to be able to provide an example for the many through a small group. This is an important aspect of evangelization – one that is becoming ever more important considering the size of the task of evangelization today.

1 Peter 2:20-25
20 Beloved: If you are patient when you suffer for doing what is good, this is a grace before God. 21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in his footsteps. 22 “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.”  23 When he was insulted, he returned no insult; when he suffered, he did not threaten; instead, he handed himself over to the one who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body upon the cross, so that, free from sin, we might live for righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 25 For you had gone astray like sheep, but you have now returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.

Thank you Jesus for this gentle reminder that you will always be the guardian and lover of our souls. May we always adore and praise and worship and honor and love You Lord Jesus Christ, our Saviour and friend. Our Good Shepherd. Praise You Jesus. Thank You Jesus. Amen.

GOSPEL -- Good Shepherd Sunday

ALLELUIA
R: Alleluia, alleluia
I am the good shepherd, says the Lord; I know my sheep, and mine know me.
R: Alleluia, alleluia

John 10:1-10
1 Jesus said: “Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever does not enter a sheepfold through the gate but climbs over elsewhere is a thief and a robber. 2 But whoever enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice, as he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has driven out all his own, he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him, because they recognize his voice. 5 But they will not follow a stranger; they will run away from him, because they do not recognize the voice of strangers.” 6 Although Jesus used this figure of speech, they did not realize what he was trying to tell them. 7 So Jesus said again, “Amen, amen, I say to you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. 10 A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.”

my reflections
t h i n k : I f you can get a few to move in a particular direction, very often the rest will follow. This is an important aspect of evangelization.