Ijournal entry 022216. #08. February is the month dedicated to the Holy Family. Maxim by St. John of the Cross. Quotes from Julien Chilcott-Monk, St. John Chrysostom, and Pope Francis. Marti's Lenten Meditation on "Christ of St. John of the Cross", by Salvador Dali. " What Jesus Wants of Us", by Ann Voskamp. Video presentation: "Philippians 4: How to Have Joy, Advice from an apostle", by John Bergsma.
February is the month dedicated to the Holy Family
"Devotion to the Holy Family is a recent development, but one that naturally grows out of a love for Jesus and his family. The cult of the Holy Family grew in popularity in the 17th century, and several religious congregations have been founded under this title. The Holy Family also became portrayed in popular art of the period. On October 26, 1921 the Congregation of Rites (under Pope Benedict XV) inserted the Feast of the Holy Family into the Latin Rite general calendar"
Info from this site: http://www.churchyear.net/holyfamily.html
"Devotion to the Holy Family is a recent development, but one that naturally grows out of a love for Jesus and his family. The cult of the Holy Family grew in popularity in the 17th century, and several religious congregations have been founded under this title. The Holy Family also became portrayed in popular art of the period. On October 26, 1921 the Congregation of Rites (under Pope Benedict XV) inserted the Feast of the Holy Family into the Latin Rite general calendar"
Info from this site: http://www.churchyear.net/holyfamily.html
know what picture was being used this week. Just the day before when walking to church in my hometown along the railroad tracks, my eyes caught sight of the rusty one that can be seen at the bottom of the picture. Thought about stopping to pick it up since we are in the season of Lent, but didn't. Was blest to see the nail, and hurrying, decided to pick it up the next day. Well later in the day, while at her house she said she wanted to give me something. It was amazing to see that spike in her hands. Told her about the one spotted on the railroad track. Picked it up on Saturday, and very glad to have located the spot. Now have two nails, one representing each wrist that was nailed to the cross. My uncle, just a day before, glued some bottle caps and made a Lenten Cross on a board. We wanted to paint the board purple. Thoughts ran to take a photo with the nails on top of the board, along with a picture of our Sorrowful Mother and my Way of the Cross book. Those were the type of nails used for crucifixion from the 1st century that was found on the railroad track.
Maxim by St. John of The Cross: "My spirit has become dry because it forgets to feed on you"
MTA= A parched and dry spirit can only be refreshed and renewed in one way alone: to be drenched in the living water of the Holy Spirit.
MTA= A parched and dry spirit can only be refreshed and renewed in one way alone: to be drenched in the living water of the Holy Spirit.
🔴 “Father in heaven, forgive us our daily omissions and assist us in our desire to live a holy Lent in order to prepare for the celebration of your Son’s glorious resurrection. Our Father … Hail Mary … Glory be …”. By Julien Chilcott-Monk
🔵 “No act of virtue can be great if it is not followed by advantage for others. So, no matter how much time you spend fasting, no matter how much you sleep on a hard floor and eat ashes and sigh continually, if you do no good to others, you do nothing great". By St. John Chrysostom
⚪️ What a beautiful thing that the Church begins her daily prayer with the words, 'O God, come to my assistance. O Lord, make haste to help me'. The assistance we ask for is already the first step of God's mercy toward us. He comes to visit us in our weakness. And his help consists in helping us accept his presence and closeness to us. Day after day, touched by his compassion, we also can become passionate towards others." By Pope Francis
🔵 “No act of virtue can be great if it is not followed by advantage for others. So, no matter how much time you spend fasting, no matter how much you sleep on a hard floor and eat ashes and sigh continually, if you do no good to others, you do nothing great". By St. John Chrysostom
⚪️ What a beautiful thing that the Church begins her daily prayer with the words, 'O God, come to my assistance. O Lord, make haste to help me'. The assistance we ask for is already the first step of God's mercy toward us. He comes to visit us in our weakness. And his help consists in helping us accept his presence and closeness to us. Day after day, touched by his compassion, we also can become passionate towards others." By Pope Francis
Turned to the book of Job in the adoration chapel, and the verses that spawned a meditation was further enhanced later that evening by a reading found in the "Magnificat" magazine for the same day. The reading is the meat being served up, so hope you get to enjoy it. In the chapel it came to me how we are lavishly blest by God. Only when there is a very good reason, known to Him alone, are we allowed to experience "so called" difficulties, trials, sorrows, etc. The dark one encouraging our disquietude, knows the truth about our blessedness and says the following words in Job 1:
tribute to my dad) and buy into the lie, and eat the fruit of untruth good heartedly.
Surely discouragement, depression, anxiety, worry, sadness, etc. is not glorifying God, and trusting in His ways or accepting His will is it? The following point can be liken to this scripture:
Kind of like saying here: if we are not blessing God, then in someway we are cursing, not intentionally, but as the default. Maybe no one agrees, but it's the understanding coming to me in the meditation. The Lord is impressing on my heart to keep moving from the shallow. Of course we are sad about certain situations, for me there are situations that are constantly developing, but my reaction is to internalize the "Truth", which means letting Jesus abide deep within, and be still and know He is God. The Almighty and all Powerful God is in total control and will never allow His own to be overcome. The next step is to ride the waves in freedom until the following occurs:
But what a sad lot to be found, living in unbelief or paralyzed in fear. So, so unnecessary, because the following scripture paints a clear picture. Read the verse for yourself and see if you don't agree:
If those points need a solid "Amen", the check list is complete. Earlier in the morning when getting ready, listening to a conference talk from Steubenville, proves to be the right talk for the right day. The "amen" is coming in loud and clear. Amazing how the Holy Spirit let me find that after looking around for a few minutes for something good to listen to. A nice dessert to share, praise the Lord. Many things were said that caught my attention, hoping it will be the same with someone else.
Adoration Holy Hour
My child, the road is wide for the practice of virtues, but narrow in regards to accommodating sin. Do good all the days of your life, the merits of which can only be determined by the Lord your God. For my thoughts are not like your thoughts, and your thoughts are not like mine. So who can weight the worth of one act in relation to another? Live generously, abide in my Sacred Heart, for there you will be strengthened to live a life of genuine love.
Turned to Job 1, and the following verses caught my attention:
Adoration Holy Hour
My child, the road is wide for the practice of virtues, but narrow in regards to accommodating sin. Do good all the days of your life, the merits of which can only be determined by the Lord your God. For my thoughts are not like your thoughts, and your thoughts are not like mine. So who can weight the worth of one act in relation to another? Live generously, abide in my Sacred Heart, for there you will be strengthened to live a life of genuine love.
Turned to Job 1, and the following verses caught my attention:
Job 1:5 "And when the days of their feasting were gone about, Job sent to them, and sanctified them: and rising up early, offered holocausts for every one of them. For he said: Lest perhaps my sons have sinned, and have blessed God in their hearts. So did Job all days.
👁1:7-8 And the Lord said to him: Whence comest thou? And he answered and said: I have gone round about the earth, and walked through it. And the Lord said to him: Hast thou considered my servant, Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a simple and upright man, and fearing God, and avoiding evil?
👁1:10-11 Hast thou not made a fence for him, and his house, and all his substance round about, blessed the works of his hands, and his possession hath increased on the earth? But stretch forth thy hand a little, and touch all that he hath, and see if he bless thee not to thy face.
👁1:21 And said: Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away: as it hath pleased the Lord, so is it done: blessed be the name of the Lord"
👁1:7-8 And the Lord said to him: Whence comest thou? And he answered and said: I have gone round about the earth, and walked through it. And the Lord said to him: Hast thou considered my servant, Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a simple and upright man, and fearing God, and avoiding evil?
👁1:10-11 Hast thou not made a fence for him, and his house, and all his substance round about, blessed the works of his hands, and his possession hath increased on the earth? But stretch forth thy hand a little, and touch all that he hath, and see if he bless thee not to thy face.
👁1:21 And said: Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away: as it hath pleased the Lord, so is it done: blessed be the name of the Lord"
My Response- Dear God, so lavish is your love for us, how majestic your many gifts to us. I am truly blest. Help us all to render due thanks and to love you with our whole heart, and it's also to love your people as is pleasing in your sight. To you be the glory now and forever amen.
Marti's Lenten Meditation on "Christ of St. John of the Cross", by Salvador Dali
Sent an email to a few people asking them to see if they were led to join me in a Lenten Exercise. The invitation is now being extended to all.
The Lenten Exercise: Meditate on a famous crucifixion scene by some of the master artists. For a least five minutes or more, gaze upon Jesus on the cross, then write down whatever the Holy Spirit brings to your mind regarding the scene. A different scene can be used each day or week, or you can stay with the same scene. The key is following the Holy Sprit's lead. Feel free to share the meditation, it will be served as a potato dish. Whatever so pleases God is what we want to be doing.
This scripture from Matthew is coming to mind:
Sent an email to a few people asking them to see if they were led to join me in a Lenten Exercise. The invitation is now being extended to all.
The Lenten Exercise: Meditate on a famous crucifixion scene by some of the master artists. For a least five minutes or more, gaze upon Jesus on the cross, then write down whatever the Holy Spirit brings to your mind regarding the scene. A different scene can be used each day or week, or you can stay with the same scene. The key is following the Holy Sprit's lead. Feel free to share the meditation, it will be served as a potato dish. Whatever so pleases God is what we want to be doing.
This scripture from Matthew is coming to mind:
Matthew 22"3-9 "And he sent his servants, to call them that were invited to the marriage; and they would not come. Again he sent other servants, saying: Tell them that were invited, Behold, I have prepared my dinner; my beeves and fatlings are killed, and all things are ready: come ye to the marriage. But they neglected, and went their own ways, one to his farm, and another to his merchandise. And the rest laid hands on his servants, and having treated them contumeliously, put them to death. But when the king had heard of it, he was angry, and sending his armies, he destroyed those murderers, and burnt their city. Then he saith to his servants: The marriage indeed is ready; but they that were invited were not worthy. Go ye therefore into the highways; and as many as you shall find, call to the marriage" |
Marti's meditation was the first Lenten exercise to arrive, and it was a surprise that we both chose the same scene to meditate on. It also happens that the next person sharing, chose the same exact scene. That meditation will be presented next week. Thank you Marti girl, and God bless you for your response and support. May graces be yours in abundance. May the words of St. Bonaventure prove to be prophetic for you, and for all participating. May his heavenly assistance and intercession aid us all greatly to grow and have a mature love for Christ and really appreciate His Passion, that is our lifeline to heaven.
✝ St. Bonaventure: "He who desires to go on advancing from virtue to
virtue, from grace to grace, should meditate continually on the Passion of Jesus. There is no practice more profitable for the entire sanctification of the soul than the frequent meditation of the sufferings of Jesus Christ."
Marti: I love this one regarding the crucifixes!! This morning I've been "studying" #5. Absolutely beautiful!! This is how I feel:
God watches over His Son, who in turn watches over us! They see our pain and disappointments, as well as our peace, which is sometimes like the calm of the sea. They are watching us from heaven above and are very close to us -- NEVER VERY FAR AWAY AT ALL!!
Jesus sees us even when we may not "see" or "feel" Him. We are never, ever left alone. He offers us His peace, not the kind of peace that the world offers us.
God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the Holy Family, and all the angels and saints are always watching from above!! I believe that's why the artist paints this as youth we are " looking down" on this scene.
I love this exercise to study these pictures. This one: #5. Christ of St John of the Cross, by Salvador Dali, reached out and grabbed me right away.
✝ St. Bonaventure: "He who desires to go on advancing from virtue to
virtue, from grace to grace, should meditate continually on the Passion of Jesus. There is no practice more profitable for the entire sanctification of the soul than the frequent meditation of the sufferings of Jesus Christ."
Marti: I love this one regarding the crucifixes!! This morning I've been "studying" #5. Absolutely beautiful!! This is how I feel:
God watches over His Son, who in turn watches over us! They see our pain and disappointments, as well as our peace, which is sometimes like the calm of the sea. They are watching us from heaven above and are very close to us -- NEVER VERY FAR AWAY AT ALL!!
Jesus sees us even when we may not "see" or "feel" Him. We are never, ever left alone. He offers us His peace, not the kind of peace that the world offers us.
God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the Holy Family, and all the angels and saints are always watching from above!! I believe that's why the artist paints this as youth we are " looking down" on this scene.
I love this exercise to study these pictures. This one: #5. Christ of St John of the Cross, by Salvador Dali, reached out and grabbed me right away.
As always , thank you for sharing , for following Gods will for you to reach out to others!! Much love, Marti.
Here are the eleven Crucifixion Scenes chosen for you to meditate on:
1. Crucifixion, Matthias Grunewald |
Magnificat mediation: "What Jesus Wants of Us", by Ann Voskamp
Video presentation: "Philippians 4: How to Have Joy, Advice from an apostle", by John Bergsma
Link to YouTube video: http://youtu.be/nMk-XvjPJnQ
Link to YouTube video: http://youtu.be/nMk-XvjPJnQ