On Mother's Prayers and Tears Getting Their Children to Heaven

Original drawing from the Honolulu Academy of Art

The following excerpt from The End of the Present World and the Mysteries of the Future Life will not only give much hope to parents whose children have fallen away from their faith, but will also greatly comfort their mothers.

"...Then the child will read all the treasures of grace, solicitude, and tenderness enclosed in the heart of his mother. He will know that, next to God, it was the tears, prayers, and sighs of that mother which brought about his salvation. 'O mother,' he will exclaim, 'I used to love you because you gave me an earthly life, and provided for my food and my childhood needs; now I love you a thousand times more tenderly, because of the eternal life I have received, and without which the first would have been a fatal gift, a source of calamities and torture for me.

O new and happy Monicas, how great your triumphs and joys will be, when you see yourselves surrounded by a whole circle of children whose glory you have secured after having brought them into existence! Then, Christian fathers, your sacrifices, courage, and heroic constancy in strengthening your sons by profitable examples, and in rearing them by noble, laborious training, will no longer be unknown...

Saint Faustina's Prayer to be Completely Transformed into God's Mercy

The following is an excerpt from Themes of Divine Mercy: Way of Life, found in the Divine Mercy app for iPod Touch, iPhone and iPad.

It is a very beautiful prayer that Saint Faustina wrote in her diary. We pray to see God's mercy in every aspect of our lives, through our human bodies and thereby transforming ourselves into His mercy.

I want to be completely transformed into Your mercy and to be Your living reflection, O Lord. May the greatest of all divine attributes, that of Your unfathomable mercy, pass through my heart and soul to my neighbor.

- Help me, O Lord, that my eyes may be merciful, so that I may never suspect or judge from appearences, but look for what is beautiful in my neighbors' souls and come to their rescue.

Help me, that my ears may be merciful, so that I may give heed to my neighbors' needs and not be indifferent to their pains and moanings.

Help me, O Lord, that my tongue may be merciful, so that I should never speak negatively of my neighbor, but have a word of comfort and forgiveness for all.

Help me, O Lord, that my hands may be merciful and filled with good deeds, so that I may do only good to my neighbors and take upon myself the more difficult and toilsome tasks.

Help me, that my feet may be merciful, so that I may hurry to assist my neighbor, overcoming my own fatigue and weariness. My true rest is in the service of my neighbor.

Help me, O Lord, that my heart may be merciful so that I myself may feel all the sufferings of my neighbor. I will refuse my heart to no one. I will be sincere even with those who, I know, will abuse my kindness. And I will lock myself up in the most merciful Heart of Jesus. I will bear my own suffering in silence. May Your mercy, O Lord, rest upon me (...).

O my Jesus, transform me into Yourself , for you can do all things. (163)

Text source.

Father Robert Barron - Persecuted Church and her Heroes

Books for the New Year to Give Me a Spiritual Lift

Photo by Esther

The start of the new year made me review my spiritual life like I am sure many of you were called to do. One place I needed to concentrate on was reading books that would enrich my spiritual life. In the past, I would choose one book and read it prior to daily Mass. But at home, I would read a good mystery novel. I would only give up secular books during Lent. But while I sat there in church, adoring our Lord, I felt Him calling me to read more good books. A big boost to this resolution came from one of my good  friends, blogger Mary of
The Beautiful Gate. She,a very generous soul, send me a collection of books, many of which I had been wanting to read. Some of those books along with others I have in my collection are really helping me to find out exactly where I should focus my attention.

Main priorities:  - Asking God to help me love Him more.
                         - Keeping interior peace
                         - Being more silent and careful with words

The books I am currently reading or have read so far are:

1. The End of the Present world and the Mysteries of the Future Life by Father Charles Arminjon and translated by Susan Conroy. I am actually finishing reading this book which I began I few months ago.

The following is an excerpt from the book on how it will be in heaven for husbands and wives:

Without doubt, in heaven the spouses who have come from earth will themselves be like angels, and will no longer aspire to the delights of the senses. However, they will taste the ever-pure pleasures of the spirit, and, as they were one in flesh during their earthly exile, so in glory they will form one single heart and soul, in the delights of another union that will have no end.

In heave, we shall see and recognize one another, and in heaven, we shall love one another..."

2. Progress in Divine Union by Father Raoul Plus, SJ - Recently finished reading.

The following is an excerpt about the silence of the Blessed Mother.

"The great model of interior silence is the Blessed Virgin. She lived on supernatural realities alone; other things did not count. She kept the divine in her heart; the human remained ath the door and could gain no entrance..."

-or advice to busy people on improving their spiritual life-

"Let us be active, yes, if possible, very active, but calmly, under the eye of God, only for His glory and with sufficient good sense to forbid ourselves whatever might impede our life or union, our prayers, and our spirit of prayer which alone can fructify our activity and zeal."

3. Keep it Simple: The busy Catholic's guide to growing closer to God by Emmanuel de Gibergues (Currently reading).

The following are the 4 Principal Signs of the Virtue of Simplicity

-1. Indifference to our own success. (We need to see the purity of our intentions)
-2. Joy in the success of other s or in their spiritual progress (we should rejoice because God has been glorified).
-3. Attachment to the Will of God (Be prepared to sacrifice my personal tastes, to give myself up to whatever obedience exacts from me.)
-4. To desire nor covet the praise and approbation of men for the good that I do and to retain my calm and interior peace if I receive only reproaches and blame.

4. The Soul of a Lion: Dietrich von Hildebrand by Alice von Hildebrand

This book is an in depth biography by someone who knew him intimately, his wife who is amazing in her own right.  She shares with the reader the amazing life of this Catholic convert philosopher who was considered a big enemy of the Nazis. He was the only son in a loving family of talented people. His entire family were much involved and surrounded themselves with good art and music. They were friends were famous composers like Wagner and Strauss. I am just up to the part when Dietrich is a young man but already he is a very moral young man.

One description of his personality really made an impression on me. He was even-tempered. Nothing upset his cool. It is a good quality to imitate.

Well, there are my book selections so far. I also need to finish the Secret Diary of Elizabeth Leseuer. I took a break from it because I lent it to my friend.  I find her diary to be filled with virtues that would benefit all of us in our quest to being closer to God.

Interview with a Saint - Father John A. Hardon, S.J.

The following interview with Rev. John A. Hardon, S.J., by Anita Crane, appeared in the Dec. 1997 edition of Crisis Magazine. Father Hardon died on Dec. 30, 2000, and the cause for his canonization has already been introduced.

You can read the entire interview at Crisis Magazine's site

Mahalo to Venny V. for sharing.

New - Pope Benedict's Daily Inspirations

A new widget from St. Luke's Productions.

I have also placde this on Spiritual Moms Apostolate blog, World Apostolate of Fatima - Honolulu Division blog and The Catholic Homeschooling Directory Blog.

Mahalo St. Luke's Production!

Congratulations to Archbishop Timothy Dolan - Elevated to Cardinal

By now you have heard or read the wonderful news! Pope Benedict names 22 new cardinals, including New York’s Timothy Dolan>.

I wanted to share an interesting post about Archbishop Dolan so this is a perfect time to do so.

Picture source

Young John, who blogs at Writings of a Boy Discerning God's Call wrote Archbishop Dolan an interesting a couple of months ago. He recently received a response from the very busy archbishop. If you click the above link you can read about it and even read the scanned letter.

I'd also ask that you keep Archbishop Dolan in your prayers as well as young men like John, who continue to discern the priesthood.

"The Truth about Falsely Accused Priests"

The accused are often presumed guilty until proven innocent, while the media distorts the narrative of child abuse in the US.

The Catholic World Report article can be read HERE

Prayer by Saint John Neumann

O my Jesus,
I rejoice that I can again show my love for you.
Come, O my Lord, come and inflame my heart with love for you.
You raised Lazarus from the dead.
As I rise, let your mercy awaken me from the darkness of sin, from the bonds that hold me fast.
You can heal all wounds of my soul.
For this, O Jesus, accept my thanks.
From this day I will begin a new life.
With the help of your grace I will be patient, diligent, and devout.
Show me the occasions in which I may practice my good resolutions.
Grant, O Jesus, my request to love and praise you with my whole heart, with my whole soule, and with all my strength.
Mother of Jesus, pray to your Son for me.
Jesus, be with me; stay with me this day...

O Jesus, my divine and most amiable teacher, teach me humility and resignation to your most holy will.
This I ask with confidence.
You granted me temporal favors when I called on you; you will not now reject my prayer for spiritual favors.
True, the favor I know beg is infinitely superior to any temporal one and I am altogether unworthy to receive it, yet it was your will that I should be humble, truly humble, with sincere, heartfelt humility.
Grant me this favor, that I may be more conformable to you.
Grant it , my beloved Savior, my most amiable. Teacher.

Source Magnficat

Reminder - Epiphany Blessing

Picture source

Just a reminder to have your blessed chalk ready.

0 C + M + B 12
May Christ bless this House…
All who dwell and pray in it…
And All Whom they Welcome in His Name
....................

BLESSING OF A HOME AT EPIPHANY

Let us pray, In the name of + The Father, and The Son, and The Holy Spirit. Amen.

V. On entering the house, the Magi found the Child Jesus with Mary his mother.
R. They did Him homage and presented to Jesus symbolic gifts: gold to the great King, incense to the true God, and myrrh as a foreshadowing of his suffering and death.

Let us pray, God, our Father, by the guidance of a star, You revealed Your only Son as the Savior of all nations. Grant that we who already know You by faith, may be brought to the contemplation of Your glory in our heavenly home. We ask this through Christ your Son, Our Lord. Amen.

All may recite the Canticle of the Blessed Virgin Mary (The MAGNIFICAT) by which Mary praised God at the time of her Visitation to the house of Elizabeth found in St. Luke's Gospel Chapter 1, verses 46-55.

V. Be enlightened, O Jerusalem, and shine forth …for Your light has come!
R. And upon you is risen the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ, born of the Virgin Mary.
V. All nations shall walk in Your light and kings in the splendor of Your birth.
R. And upon You is risen the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ, born of the Virgin Mary.
Now, a Reading of the Gospel for the Solemnity of the Epiphany of Our Lord
from St. Matthew's Gospel, Chapter 2, verses 1 to 12.
V. Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, has appeared and been revealed to the nations.
R. The prophets foretold His coming, and the angels and shepherds adored Him.
V. The Magi rejoiced to find Him and they lay their treasures before Him.
R. All you nations and peoples, …come and adore Him!

All recite The OUR FATHER as all the rooms of the house are sprinkled with holy water …and also if possible with blessed salt.

Let us pray, Blessed are you, Lord, God of all creation. Through Your goodness we have received all benefits. Come, visit and bless + this house so that it may be a shelter of health, chastity, self-conquest, humility, goodness, mildness, obedience to the Commandments, - and thanksgiving to God, + The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit.

May the love and blessings of God, + The Father, and The Son, and The Holy Spirit, descend upon this house, all those who reside within it, and upon all those whom they welcome in the Sacred Name of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and may God's grace and peace remain with all of them forever. Amen.

NOTE: The initials of the names ascribed by tradition to the Magi (Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar), and the numerals of the current year are to be written with the blessed chalk above all the entry doors of the house in the following manner:
20 C + M + B 12

(Some interpret the letters to stand for Christus Mansioni Benedicat! May Christ bless this house!

Source