U.K. Eucharistic Day of Renewal

 

 Eucharistic Day of Renewal

 

May 16^th 2015

Our Lady of the Rosary and St. Therese of Lisieux Church

Venue: Our Lady of the Rosary and St. Therese of Lisieux Church.

Address: Parkfield Road, Saltley, Birmingham, B8 3BB, U.K

Time: 9.30am – 4pm

The day will include talks by Anne, a lay apostle, Mass and homily by Fr. Darragh Connolly. The day will end with a Holy Hour of Eucharistic Adoration and an opportunity for Confession.

 Talks will include:

-    Vertical relationship with God

-    Becoming Co-responsible Laity 

-    Living a Contemplative Life in the world

This is an opportunity for us all to gather in prayer and fellowship to learn more about what it means to be a lay apostle of Jesus Christ the Returning King.  

Everyone  is welcome!

 

Have you been blessed through the Volumes? Please help others receive these words by donating a dollar a day. Your donation makes a big difference.  

  

Direction for Our Times (DFOT) is a 501(C)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to spreading God's messages as revealed in the Volumes.

Accomplishing the End Goal

A repost from 2013, one of my favorite subjects, my girls:

No marriages or babies until you have a college degree in your hands. I can't remember how many times I told my daughters this throughout their lives. I went back to school full-time for a BSN when my youngest was two. Not an easy thing to do when raising three little girls. I am happy to report my mission is complete. Taylor just finished her BS last month and began her dream job today. As we spoke on her drive to Boca Raton this morning, she lovingly congratulated me on accomplishing exactly what I wanted for my girls. The thing she doesn't realize is . . . they all listened to me! They believed what I said. They plowed through the obstacles along the way, never losing sight of the end goal. Now, the hard work and dedication is paying off. What a great metaphor when thinking about being a Christian! We must believe what we read in the Bible . . . and believing is the easy part. Living a life driven by the words of Christ will lead us to the end goal . . . heaven. Not always easy, but worth leaping over every hurdle. 

In todays Gospel (John 10:22-30), Jesus reassures us He knows who we are: 

The feast of the Dedication was taking place in Jerusalem. It was winter.  And Jesus walked about in the temple area on the Portico of Solomon.  So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long are you going to keep us in suspense?  If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.”  Jesus answered them, “I told you and you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify to me. But you do not believe, because you are not among my sheep. My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me.  I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish.  No one can take them out of my hand.  My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one can take them out of the Father’s hand.  The Father and I are one.”

In Volume Four, Jesus again asks us to unite ourselves to Him:

"Believe Me when I say to you that you will never have peace, true peace, while you are separated from Me. And your eternity must be considered. You will spend eternity in one of two places, dear little soul. You must give this serious thought and determine where you would like to reside. You say you do not believe in God or you do not believe that God would send people to hell forever. I tell you today that it is not I, the only God there is, who condemns souls to hell. It is the soul himself who chooses to reside in hell. Do you know why the soul chooses hell? Because there are like-minded souls there. A soul who aligns himself with darkness does not choose heaven because that soul would not be comfortable in heaven. You must understand that you can be angry with God but God is not at fault. You can blame God for all that is wrong with your world and perhaps this will work for you on earth. I assure you though, on this day that this will cease to work for you at the moment of your death. At that time there will be only yourself to blame as the Truth is inescapable. You will be facing the one, the only, and the true God and attempting to tell Him that He does not exist. How do you think this will go for you? It will not go well, dear soul, and that is why I am speaking to you now."

Lay apostles, do you find yourself veering off the path to heaven? If you are, think about why. Is it because if you listened to His words you would have to eliminate certain things in your life? Do you lack complete trust in Him because you have been let down in the past? My friends, Jesus only wants what is good for us. He wants us to make choices with Him in mind. Letting go of behaviors or habits which lead us away from Him can be freeing rather than restraining. Take the first step . . . just a baby step . . . and get back on track. He is waiting with open arms!

Thank you, Lord, for allowing my daughters to accomplish their goals in life with You in mind. Please continue to lead them in their careers/lives to do everything for Your Glory!

God bless,

Bonnie

Listen To Him

Raise your hand if you've ever made a poor decision?  Go ahead . . . raise it high! If you aren't raising your hand, then you have some work to do. I can tell you, mine is raised. So many times I made decisions based on what would make me feel better instead of listening to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. If only the 53 year old Bonnie could have alerted the 18 year old Bonnie! But as I reflect on what I would have told the younger me, I realize my journey thus far has made me who I am today. Without all the mistakes, I could have ended up like a Pharisee, rigid and judgmental.  Instead, I have become more compassionate as I age. I see good people suffering rebukes and taking it on the chin instead of lashing out. I see good people making poor choices and making the best out of difficult situations. Because of my flaws and mistakes, I see others in a different light. I can identify with the poor choices of others because I've made them too. I understand the frame of mind when choosing darkness for its fleeting comfort. Now, I listen to Him. At times my listening capabilities can cause Him to speak a little louder, but I hear His loving call to holiness . . . and pray I make my Father in heaven proud.

In todays Gospel (John 6:44-51), Jesus is asking the crowd to listen and believe:

Jesus said to the crowds: “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him, and I will raise him on the last day. It is written in the prophets:

They shall all be taught by God.

Everyone who listens to my Father and learns from him comes to me. Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God; he has seen the Father.  Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life.  I am the bread of life.  Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died; this is the bread that comes down from heaven so that one may eat it and not die.  I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my Flesh for the life of the world.”

In the Monthly Message from April 2010, Jesus provides His lay apostles with comfort and a way to draw closer to Him:

"My plan is perfect and if you are serving Me, listening to My voice, there are no problems. If you are not serving Me and you are not listening to My voice, then there are many problems for you and there will continue to be many problems for you. ‘Ah’, you say, ‘Jesus, I am listening to you and still I have these problems’. We must differentiate small problems from big problems. Small problems are the sufferings you bear for the sake of the divine will. Big problems are the problems you face when you abandon My will and insert your own will. Are you praying? Are you in steady communication with Me? Do you ask Me what I want you to do in situations where you are unsure? Do you spend time in silence, considering heaven and heaven’s plan for you in the day? Answer yes to these questions and I assure you, your problems will be manageable. Do not believe I ignore your sighs or turn away from your fears. I am with you. I will never abandon you. My plan will be realised through your perseverance and through the perseverance of many apostles like you. I am so pleased when you pray for each other because this is how you experience, in advance, My gratitude. You see My gratitude in the graces received by others through your intercession. Rejoice. I am responding to your pain and answering your prayers. Truly, I am with you."

Lay apostles, how well are you listening to His promptings? I know it's easier to ignore or make excuses for poor choices. But don't you think it's time to take His heavenly advice? Life is short and any one of us could be called home in the next minute, hour, day or year. Personally, I want our first Face to face meeting to be joyous . . . and hearing the words, "Well done, My child."

Thank you Lord for all Your promptings. And most importantly, guiding me to the choice of following them!

God bless,

Bonnie

Gospel Thoughts Today: Words Never Forgotten

I am notorious for forgetting to return phone calls. I tend to misplace my keys more often (although now I have a purse with a place to hook my keys on, so less misplacing!). I would like to blame it on my age, but I must admit it's been like this for awhile. I can't begin to imagine suffering from Alzheimer's . . . makes me think about my friend Joyce's mother, Del. Joyce and Paul cared for Del in their home for over 3 years. Her memory became more and more distant as the days turned into months and months turned into years. But I have to tell you, she did not skip a beat when she prayed. I was blessed to pray the Rosary with her a few times over the years. She would have no clue who I was sitting next to her, but not one word of the Our Father or Hail Mary was forgotten. The Memorare she prayed before a meal flowed so beautifully, it felt as if the next thing out of her mouth would be casual conversation. Alas, it wasn't. And she would drift back to her younger days. She was a strong Catholic woman and brought her children up loving God as much as she did. So, I try to be easy on myself when I misplace my keys or forget a follow up phone call. It's all very trivial when you look at the big picture. Like Del, we must know and trust Jesus with all our heart and soul. It's comforting to know the love I feel for Christ will never leave me, and I pray I leave His Words behind for my children and grandchildren to carry on. It's the best inheritance we can leave our children. Everything else fades away.

Todays Gospel (John 6:35-40) shows Jesus declaring His inheritance:

Jesus said to the crowds, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst. But I told you that although you have seen me, you do not believe. Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and I will not reject anyone who comes to me, because I came down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me. And this is the will of the one who sent me, that I should not lose anything of what he gave me, but that I should raise it on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him on the last day.”

In Anne ARK's book The Mist of Mercy, Jesus reminds us why we shouldn't get too attached to our earthly body and possessions:

“There is an attempt to obscure the reality of the next life, life eternal. For this reason, many souls do not accept that they have an inheritance awaiting them. Poor souls. How discouraging for them to labor and suffer without understanding the purpose. Is it any wonder there is such an attempt to discover substitutes for true peace? My apostles understand that there is no value in being too comfortable in an earthly body because they will one day relinquish it. The body is not a god, for all the enemy would like to portray it as such. Each body is a creation of the Father. Each soul is a creation of the Father. Humanity, precious humanity, I want you to understand that you are cherished. I, Jesus, love you and cherish you. My enemy does not feel this way. My enemy seeks to hurt you. Do not reject Me. Spend time in silence, considering the remainder of your days on earth and how you would like to conduct yourself. The enemy cannot promise you that you will live forever. Only I can make that promise and only through Me will you find the Father, the One who loves you. Have no fear when considering the next life, regardless of your sins. If you repent, you will be saved. It is that simple."

Lay apostles, our time on this earth is limited. Our bodies may begin to fail as we age. Our forgetfulness will probably increase as time goes on. Do you have an elderly parent, relative or friend who you become easily frustrated with because they say the wrong thing or seem to forget what you told them 5 minutes ago? What about patience with our children or grandchildren? Impatience and anger don't come from God. Or, are you the forgetful one? Give yourself a break and understand one of the most important lessons of this life: love God and aim for heaven.

Thank you, Lord, for teaching me to have patience with others and especially with myself. But can you please help me to remember where I put my keys?

God bless,
Bonnie

The Richness of Our Faith

The Gospel today triggered the thought of a conversation Jay and I had with a good friend of his, a non-Catholic, but strong Christian. He said works have nothing to do with going to heaven. Belief that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior was all we needed. Well, I can understand after reading the passage below how other Christian religions believe this. So I searched the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops website (where I get the daily readings) for some back up. The first thing I found regarding works is a letter from John Paul II. Here is a clip from this beautiful letter:

"The liturgy itself is prayer; the confession of faith finds its proper place in the celebration of worship. Grace, the fruit of the sacraments, is the irreplaceable condition for Christian living, just as participation in the church's liturgy requires faith. If faith is not expressed in works, it is dead (cf. Jas. 2:14-16) and cannot bear fruit unto eternal life." John Paul II

Then I found this excellent article about "works" by Tim Staples, Director of Apologetics at Catholic Answers. Definitely worth the read:  http://www.catholic.com/magazine/articles/we-can-work-it-out

After reading the above, I feel so blessed to have the richness of my Catholic faith!

In todays Gospel (John 6:22-29) Jesus sets the crowd straight:

[After Jesus had fed the five thousand men, his disciples saw him walking on the sea.] 

The next day, the crowd that remained across the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not gone along with his disciples in the boat, but only his disciples had left. Other boats came from Tiberias near the place where they had eaten the bread when the Lord gave thanks. When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into boats and came to Capernaum looking for Jesus. And when they found him across the sea they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?” Jesus answered them and said, “Amen, amen, I say to you, you are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate the loaves and were filled. Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.  For on him the Father, God, has set his seal.”  So they said to him, “What can we do to accomplish the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent.”

In Anne a lay apostle's book Climbing the Mountain, she urges us to detach from desiring any ego stroking in our works, lest we find ourselves in the trap of the enemy:

"Very often, to protect our humility, the Lord Himself will conceal the fruits of our efforts. But I am not talking about that here. I am talking instead about the concentrated effort of the enemy of goodness to persuade us to stop our heavenly service by convincing us that our sacrifices are neither appreciated nor effective. This should not sneak up on us because it is such a predictable snare, but alas, it does. It is here that we need to learn Holy Indifference. This concept, identified by Saint Ignatius of Loyola, allows us to work hard but be detached from the outcome of our efforts. It is enough that Jesus has asked us to complete a task. Our “yes” answers to God give Him the praise and honor He is entitled to. What He brings through our “yes” answers and our efforts is up to Him. The way I see it, this attitude removes us from the enemy’s line of fire. If I am acting in good faith, in prayerful obedience to the will of God, I do not need to annoy myself with the outcome of my works. I leave the outcome to Him, who after all is the Director of all service. I may not see the need for an action but I will complete the action. I may not see the benefit of the action I have performed but I commit the act to His divine power and let Him do what He wishes with it. If we proceed in this way, we will be liberated from the outcome of any of our works."

Lay apostles, yes, works matter. We must continually strive to do God's Will in everything we do. Don't just give lip service to the fact you are a Christian . . . prove it! Do everything for His Glory, and I mean everything. You will soon realize you are accomplishing the works of God on a daily basis.

Thank you, Lord, for all the opportunities every day to do Your Will. Help me to be alert at all times, seeking to find what You have placed before me.

God bless,
Bonnie

Through Christ We Can Do All Things

A previous post written by my husband, Jay:

Disney makes millions of dollars a year reminding people to believe in their dreams . . . to never lose hope . . . and the impossible is possible. Have you lost the ability to dream? If yes, when was it? When you decided you were an adult? Didn’t our Lord remind us to remain childlike our entire lives? In order to be in constant communication with Christ, doesn’t it require a childlike belief our Father has an eye on us at all times . . . and He is looking out for our best interest? He wants us to experience the most benevolent outcomes in life and we can have them if we just believe . . . if we just trust. Trust we can do all things thru Him. A trust which believes if we do our part (use our gifts and talents to the best of our ability regardless of how large or small that contribution may be), He will see to it the rest gets put into place. If we trust in Him, knowing it is His Will, then we can allow it to occur in His time. God has perfect timing. He knows our dreams and aspirations. He wants us to prosper and live in abundance. He desires to live a life in communion with us . . . and thus a life much larger than we could possibly imagine without Him . . . without His love. If we will allow Him, He will go before us and have all events necessary occurring in perfect order and in perfect timing . . . if we just believe.

In todays Gospel (John 6:1-15), Our Lord has the apostles befuddled (again!). He sees a large crowd approaching in the distance and wants to feed them. Remember, the apostles were traveling very light at the time. All they have are the tunics on their backs . . . and the Lord is talking about feeding the mass of people gathering. Nomadic and befuddled . . . but more important, trustingly, they go about doing the best they can. In the end, the surplus is gathered. (Read that again . . . the surplus is gathered):

Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee. A large crowd followed him, because they saw the signs he was performing on the sick. Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. The Jewish feast of Passover was near. When Jesus raised his eyes and saw that a large crowd was coming to him, he said to Philip, “Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?” He said this to test him, because he himself knew what he was going to do. Philip answered him, “Two hundred days’ wages worth of food would not be enough for each of them to have a little.” One of his disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what good are these for so many?” Jesus said, “Have the people recline.” Now there was a great deal of grass in that place. So the men reclined, about five thousand in number. Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to those who were reclining, and also as much of the fish as they wanted. When they had had their fill, he said to his disciples, “Gather the fragments left over, so that nothing will be wasted.” So they collected them, and filled twelve wicker baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves that had been more than they could eat. When the people saw the sign he had done, they said, “This is truly the Prophet, the one who is to come into the world.” Since Jesus knew that they were going to come and carry him off to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain alone.

In Anne a lay apostle's book Whispers From the Cross, she provides an excellent visual showing us our need for Christ is at our core:

"It is clear that the more closely connected we become to Christ in us, the more closely we project an accurate communication of our true self. Our true self, created by God, merges into God and we reflect God’s intent. Imagine a pot with one healthy flourishing flower, a hyacinth, for those who like clear imagery. Imagine this flower having the perfect nutrients in the soil, the perfect amount of light and water and the perfect quality of environs, meaning not too hot and not too cold. This is an ideal image, and crossing over a bridge to humanity, unrealistic. But to follow it down, this hyacinth projects a presence that is the ideal plan for a hyacinth bulb in that it has received the best possible circumstances and it has duly flourished. Sometimes, all around a flower bulb can seem ideal and yet some flaw, some biochemical happening, results in a bloom that is half-hearted or in a bulb that never blooms. The promise of a bloom, with the right circumstances, does not always result in what we expect and there is disappointment. But it is too soon to talk about disappointment when we are admiring what appears to be the perfect outcome of the plan for the bulb. Such a scent is given off by this flower! One is hard put to smell this scent and not find his heart transported to a good place. We can say that the fully blooming hyacinth accuratelreflects God’s plan for the bulb."

Lay apostles, He provides for us beyond our needs . . . in abundance. If we trust Him in good times and in times appearing grim; if we thank Him at all times; if we have faith, a childlike faith where we just believe Him no matter what is going on in our lives at the time, we will have a life of peace. We can live a life of joy. A life, once again, that we may only have once dreamed.

Thank you, Lord, for the beautiful writer in Jay, and the ability to shine our love for You together.

God bless,

Jay

Our Lady of Light (Estero) Lay Apostle Group

I always love spending time with lay apostles. We had the honor of a small get together Tuesday night at our house with 3 ladies representing the Estero prayer group and 3 Ave Maria University students heading to Ireland this summer for School of Holiness 2015. Two of the students, Beth and Sam, will be first timers. This year there has been a record number of applications coming in from young people all over the world wanting to attend. As you can imagine, there are many in need of scholarship money to make the trek. This wonderful prayer group has made a donation toward scholarships for the Ave Maria students. 

I know how much these young people appreciate any help available to offset the costs of this spiritual adventure in Ireland. If you are able to help a student, please send donations to:

Direction for Our Times

9000 W. 81st St.

Justice IL 60458

Make sure you designate School of Holiness scholarship donation on your check. Or, go to the DFOT website where it specifies donations for School of Holiness: Donate to School of Holiness

For more information about this spiritual retreat for young adults, click here: Info on School of Holiness

God bless,
Bonnie

New Life

With Easter comes new life. And new life comes with responsibilities. How can we deepen our faith if we don't nurture and care for it on a daily basis as we do our children? Just as a child is a precious gift from God, so is belief in Him. Neglect only leads to dire circumstances.

Today's Gospel (Luke 24:13-35) finds two disciples walking along the road discussing all that had occurred over the past few days. Jesus appears walking along side of them, asking what they were so intently debating. The disciples don't recognize Jesus. Their eyes could not distinguish His presence until Jesus removed the veil:

And he said to them, "Oh, how foolish you are! How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?" Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them what referred to him in all the Scriptures. As they approached the village to which they were going, he gave the impression that he was going on farther. But they urged him, "Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over." So he went in to stay with them. And it happened that, while he was with them at table, he took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them. With that their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he vanished from their sight.

In Volume Three the Blessed Mother is speaking to priests, but the message applies to all of us:

"Better you say to a soul, 'Follow the path of righteousness.' In the event you have been wronged, look clearly at what happened. Be assured God is displeased with the wrong levied against you. It was not God’s will that you be injured. But God will judge your offender. The offender will not escape divine justice and the offense will not remain hidden. There are no successful lies or deceits in heaven, my children. God will heal even the most grievous of wounds and injuries. Believe this. If you do not believe this, dear souls, how on earth can you convey this gift of healing to others? You cannot. It would be impossible. So you must obtain this gift of faith before you can share it. To obtain it, you must spend time with Jesus. There is no other way. You cannot give what you do not have."

Whenever I gaze into the eyes of our grandchildren, I am overwhelmed with love for Jesus. These beautiful babies remind me to love and cherish my gift of Faith. To nurture it as our grandchildren will be nurtured by our daughters and their husbands. 

Our four angels! 

Beautiful Easter Mass with Whit/Kev/and kids!

Savannah loves her Papa!

Thank you, Lord, for the precious gifts of our four grandchildren. They have strengthened me to new heights!

God bless,
Bonnie

Easter Sunday Reflection by Anne a lay apostle

Let us imagine that when the Lord viewed His Passion anddeath from the place of His Resurrection, He saw that He had all

He could manage on the cross in the physicality of His suffering.

He, who possessed hope for all humanity, fought the greatest

battle ever fought for hope. He did not die in desolation, despite

the circumstances of His death. He died in hope because He

retained His hope against the enemy’s effort to destroy all hope for

all time for all people. The Lord looked upon the physical reaction

to the suffering, which, it must be said, took place not in one part

of His body but in all parts of His body. He was wounded

simultaneously and thus, as a human being, was trying to tend to

Himself in that suffering in many, many areas, physically,

emotionally, spiritually, psychologically…the Lord truly took it on

in every area all at once.

We resemble Christ when this happens to us, that is, many

sufferings at one time. One suffering can impact all of these areas

and we will have to be busy tending to all of the areas during the

time of the suffering and after.

What will we look like when we are suffering grave trials?

Well, did Christ look like a King when He trudged up the hill,

bleeding, seemingly powerless, mocked and rejected? Did He look

like a King when they took away even His clothing, rendering Him

naked before cruelty? Did Christ look like a King when they nailed

His beautiful hands and feet to wood, something the Father

created in His great benevolence? The answer is no. And each one

of us is a treasure, like Christ, in that we were created by the Father

to be reverenced and assisted by others as we make our way

through the sufferings in our lives.

Apostles, when people are suffering the many aching passions

in their lives, they will show signs of wear and tear. Christ is the

jewel of humanity. Christ is the only perfect specimen. But He did

not look like that when they turned on Him, distorting his

Kingship to the furthest possible extent by disempowering Him

completely. What emerged from this situation?

The King emerged.

Excerpt from Transforming Grace 

 I am truly the King of heaven and I am the King of all God’s children on earth. I am the King of all that is good and I am the King of love. Most of all, and most importantly for you, I am your King. -Jesus

Have you been blessed through the Volumes? Please help others receive these words by donating a dollar a day. Your donation makes a big difference. 

 

Direction for Our Times (DFOT) is a 501(C)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to spreading God's messages as revealed in the Volumes.

Good Friday Reflection by Anne a lay apostle

Good Friday Reflection 

Stations of the Cross: Excerpt from Whispers from the Cross

 

1st Station- Jesus is condemned

The condemnation of Christ was anticipated, and was part, perhaps the greatest part, of God’s plan for Jesus and for us. Tabor and Calvary. Transfiguration and Crucifixion. Both woven into the tapestry of the life of the Blameless One. Jesus was unjustly judged and condemned. When we share that experience, we must accept it quietly, like Christ.

 

2nd Station- Jesus accepts his cross

Accepting the cross is not a momentary action without consequences. It is a doorway through which we walk, entering an ongoing experience of Calvary as one who follows Christ.

 

3rd Station- Jesus falls the first time

Life throws us to the ground, whether through our own failures or the failures of others. This should not discourage us, even though discouragement accompanies the experience. Sometimes, even in the same day, following Christ requires a series of decisions to rise and continue on.

 

4th Station- Jesus meets his mother

Often our pain is increased by the reaction of others to our suffering. This painful prism of misunderstanding is another facet of the cross and should be viewed as such. Our Blessed Mother understands our pain perfectly, and just as she never left her Son, she will never leave us.

 

5th Station- Simon helps Jesus

We resemble Christ when we move to assist another who struggles to manage a cross and Christ Himself is pleased when we humble ourselves and accept the help of others.

 

6th Station- Veronica wipes the face of Jesus

We are prompted through charity and mercy to help others. Others are blessed and consoled. And we take away with us the imprint of God’s goodness flowing through us, conforming us more completely to Jesus as He makes His way into the world.

 

7th Station- Jesus falls the second time

Oh sad disappointment! More pain. Still, the journey remains incomplete. Must we continue? We rise and return to the cross, to the plan unfulfilled.

 

8th Station- Jesus consoles the women of Jerusalem

Pity the women who share the dreadful concern of Mary for the children of God. Each person is someone’s child and holds the hopes and prayers of a mother that the world will be gentle and kind. Oh Jesus, give us your mercy for others.

 

9th Station- Jesus falls the third time

The commitment is to the death. The Collapsed knows only that life remains and, as such, must be offered until it is exhausted. Up. Onward. God will sustain. Let the Spirit drive us forward.

 

10th Station- Jesus is stripped of His garments

How sublime is the offering of standing naked before those who hate us and yet, in some way, less cruel than standing stripped before those who love us. Oh Jesus, give us the trust to endure all humiliation with confidence in the ultimate triumph of God’s love.

 

11th Station- Jesus is nailed to the Cross

Agony and relief. Total commitment leaves less room for question. We ask not ‘if ’ anymore. We ask simply, ‘how’, moment by moment in life’s anguish.

 

12th Station- Jesus dies on the Cross Perseverance is the jewel of all jewels. Do not doubt the triumph. Do not back away from the course.

 

13th Station- Jesus is laid in the arms of His Mother Quiet at last. A grief complete, but pregnant with joy. Humanity endures total stillness, even while time awaits the birth of all hope, the triumph of triumphs.

 

14th Station- Jesus is laid in the tomb The body is reposed and the life is concluded, returned to timelessness once again.

 

 

Oh Jesus, help us to remember that the opportunity to serve you on earth will end. Give us the grace to be laid to rest after a life of offering, knowing that on each day we recognized you as our beloved King and lived, to the best of our ability, our allegiance to the Father. Give us the power of the Holy Spirit that we may continue to love in every circumstance life presents. Amen 

 

Excerpt from Whispers from the Cross

 

 

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Holy Thursday Lenten Reflection by Anne a lay apostle

Holy Thursday Lenten Reflection

Every lover of Jesus Christ will eventually find his way to the foot of the cross, where he will gaze at the Crucified One and engage in contemplation of those wounds which delivered salvation to humanity. Through contemplation of these wounds, we find our own place in the salvation story. Our sufferings begin to become understandable as also co-redemptive, like Mary’s, and therefore also meaningful and valuable.

Jesus gazes down at us from the throne of His earthly Kingship, that is, His cross, and He offers each follower His gratitude. Just as one views those rare friends who arrive to share suffering, Jesus views us, imperfect but present, lacking in full understanding, yes, but also tremulously interested and engaged in the pain of the Savior we seek to know and emulate.

Jesus saw His mother at the foot of the cross and He saw one of His twelve apostles, John. What qualified John to stand as both sentinel and witness to the most pivotal moment in the history of the redemption of mankind? Love qualified John and ultimately love will qualify each one of us, the apostles for this time. John was known as John the Beloved and it was love that allowed John to be intricately woven into the tapestry of the Passion.

Because John was present to Jesus at the foot of the cross, John witnessed the Savior’s pain as Jesus asked, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” John learned about holiness through this experience of apparent abandonment and John also received His instruction which was “Son, behold thy mother.”

So John, through love, later knew that feelings of utter abandonment were part of the experience of one who is commissioned to spread the Good News. And this made him strong. And John, through love, was able to execute the plan of heaven because he received his instruction directly from Jesus, which was to protect Our Lady and her role in the early Church. And this made John fearless.

In the same way, Jesus wants to teach us about those sufferings which will happen upon us as we make our way through our life’s witness to God. In the New Testament, we find apostles willing and even eager to be crucified like Christ. This cannot be ignored. The model sent to us by the Father, of the Son, provides us with all that we need to successfully navigate the call to holiness that is love’s mandate. To continue reading click here.

 An excerpt taken from  

Whispers from the Cross

  

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Maundy Thursday: To Wash Another's Feet

Holy Thursday invokes visions of Jesus calmly washing the feet of His disciples, knowing His hour had come and the inhumane torture He was about to endure. I try to imagine what He must have been feeling . . . thinking. Sad because those He loved would betray Him? Frustrated He would be put to death like a criminal? Anxious about the pain of the first whip to strike His Body?  Probably. He was human. But He is also looking at the big picture, thinking about us and God's Will for Him. He knows His death leads to our salvation. This contemplation lead me to thinking about Jay and our girls, sons-in-law and grandchildren. I would do anything for them. I would die for them. If I knew my death would save them, I would do it in a heartbeat. I can see myself, for the their sake, being calm and loving the night before; trying to assure them of the destination I had been working toward before I died. Trying to help them live a better life by walking closely with Christ in humility. Jesus loved His disciples as deeply as we love our spouses, children and grandchildren. We must all remember on this Maundy Thursday how the Son of God humbly washed the feet of those He loved . . . including the man who would betray Him. It's all about love, isn't it? Loving others despite their intentions. Forgive them, Lord, for they know not what they do.

In the Gospel today (John 13:1-15), Jesus doesn't skip a beat in teaching His disciples the meaning of service to others:

Before the feast of Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to pass from this world to the Father. He loved his own in the world and he loved them to the end. The devil had already induced Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot, to hand him over. So, during supper,  fully aware that the Father had put everything into his power  and that he had come from God and was returning to God, he rose from supper and took off his outer garments. He took a towel and tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin  and began to wash the disciples’ feet  and dry them with the towel around his waist. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him,  “Master, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing, you do not understand now, but you will understand later.” Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him,  “Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with me.” Simon Peter said to him,  “Master, then not only my feet, but my hands and head as well.” Jesus said to him,  “Whoever has bathed has no need except to have his feet washed, for he is clean all over;  so you are clean, but not all.” For he knew who would betray him; for this reason, he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

So when he had washed their feet  and put his garments back on and reclined at table again,  he said to them, “Do you realize what I have done for you? You call me ‘teacher’ and ‘master,’ and rightly so, for indeed I am. If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet,  you ought to wash one another’s feet. I have given you a model to follow,  so that as I have done for you, you should also do.”

In Anne a lay apostle's book Lessons in Love, she directs us to spend time with Jesus in Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament if we feel we are faltering:

"Jesus sends the greatest sacramental graces through the Church and those who have decided to do without these graces are in actual fact rejecting the very food that nourishes holiness. Also, God, as the source of all wisdom, knows the most effective ways to assist humanity. If we are serving with Him, He can direct our efforts in a way that makes them abundantly fruitful, far more fruitful than if we do not access and heed His direct counsel. Perhaps those fallen-aways who were baptized Catholic can be encouraged to meet the Jesus of the Bible. If one studies Jesus Christ scripturally, one falls in love with Him. He was fair, just, and always loving. Since all of Christianity is based on the Lord’s life, it would seem wise to have a good look at Him personally before rejecting Him and the way of life He  began. While doing this, one could ask the Lord to reveal Himself if He chooses. At that point, after one has studied Jesus in Scripture and found Him to be good, perhaps the one who searches for truth should sit with Jesus in front of the tabernacle. As Catholics, we believe in the Lord’s true presence in the Eucharist, which He Himself announced on Holy Thursday at the Last Supper. The one who has rejected his faith could then ask the Lord to reveal Himself through the Eucharist."

Lay apostles, imagine this is your last day on this earth. How would you spend it? Organize your day with this in mind. Call a loved one; attend daily Mass; babysit for a young mother; talk to your children about Jesus and humility (even if your children are 50!). Live this day, then the next day, and the next as if your last. I couldn't imagine any better preparation to meet our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

Thank you, Lord, for Your humble service the night before Your death. I promise to do my best to live each day as my last. 

God bless,
Bonnie  

Monthly Message for April 2015

We continue our cycle of monthly messages for 2015 with the message from April 1, 2007 for our prayer groups and personal reflection.

Jesus

My beloved apostles rest in My heart each time they pray. Truly, when you come to Me, I am there. There are times when you feel abandoned as I felt abandoned. I allow this so that you can share My experience. In this way, by sharing My experience of abandonment, you come to know Me more completely. Through this intimacy you become more like Me. My dear ones, it is through sharing My experience that you learn to love others who carry crosses. There are times when your humanity leads you to judge another but because you have suffered, you offer compassion instead of condemnation. Each experience in your life, shared with Me, increases your holiness and your capacity for compassion. Think of the times when someone treated you with compassion when you expected condemnation. Think of the times in your life when someone treated you with kindness and support, overlooking a failure or a flaw. My friends, you do not always understand but it is the crosses you carry that enhance these heavenly capabilities in your soul. I know you struggle. I accept your weaknesses. Do not think that your anguish is a measure of your holiness. Do not think that because you find your cross heavy, you are not making progress. I am with you and I am advancing you, even while you groan with weariness. The Kingdom will make the best possible use of the inevitable suffering that accompanies your humanity. Your decision to serve is all that is necessary to draw graces for others from your life. Be at peace that I understand your suffering and your movement to holiness. I am with you in each moment. I take the greatest joy in accepting your offering of suffering and rewarding it with heavenly gains, both in your soul and in the world. You are My beloved ones. You are My chosen ones. The greatest care is taken with each of your little souls. Your progress is apparent from My vantage point. You must trust Me and allow Me to access others through you. Think back on our walk together. Think of the great graces I have flowed through you in the past. This flow of grace is increasing by the moment and is not dependant on your perfection but on My perfection. My presence in your soul brings a perfume into the world that is irreplaceable. I need you. Our unity, yours and Mine, brings unique benefits to the Kingdom. Yes, you are important to Me and to your heavenly family. Rest against your Jesus now as I send you courage and strength and heavenly calm.

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