"Living these brief and fleeting moments should not matter much to the children of God, since they will live for eternity in glory with God."
MTA= When the going gets tough it's a consolation to know the grand prize is worth it and a sure thing when the race is completed. Common sense dictates that we hold fast to what is permanent, be it unseen, because we walk by faith and not sight.
🔵 "The convictions acquired in prayer are the only ones that do not collapse. The reason is, as Charles de Foucauld tells us, this: to pray is to think of God and to love him. In the light of the Truth, in the fire of Love, decisions become realities. But that only if the recourse to God is continual. If not, you will find yourself again in the dark. One day passed all the time in continual prayer is like a day surrounded by illuminated fog. The soul expands in prayer. To be small before God: that is prayer". By Fr. Tomás Morales Pérez SJ
⚪️ "Wherever I may be I will often think of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. I will fix my thoughts on the holy Tabernacle — even when I happen to wake up at night — adoring Him from where I am, calling to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, offering up to Him the action I am performing. I will install one telegraph cable from my study to the church, another from my bedroom, and a third from our refectory; and as often as I can, I will send messages of love to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament". By Ven. Andrew Beltrami
The movie was an experience, not just something to view. What resulted for me was hearing through circumstances what Our Blessed Lady and Our Lord loud and clear, wanted to speak.
It seems people sometimes give so little time to silence and pondering, and just want to talk, talk, talk. That way one can come away with little to build upon and may fail to recognize The Lord's visitation, much to their own spiritual disconcertment. It seems some people never let things marinate, it's just non stop talk, then to move right along to the next big thing attracting one's attention. Please, take time to enjoy the lingering fragrance, because all experiences have the bonus of being spiritual odorous unto good, wouldn't you in Christ say so?
Trying to gather my thoughts and write a few things down, proved to be futile after the movie while still in the theater seat. A handful of people stayed behind and started talking. The number eventually turned out to be seven, the perfect number contributing to my penance. Quickly settling ruffled feathers is not an easy task for me, but doing a bit better with a million opportunities always coming my way to foster practice. Of course, what a big surprise to have company after the movie, usually people leave during the rolling credits. Would you believe the last four people to stay were sitting on the row with me. Purposely went all the way to top to not have to be surrounded by a crowd or hear any whispering. All going as planned until the last minute, when these people came up to the top when the movie was about to begin. Having the whole row to myself was my will, but God's will was manifested at the present moment in quite a different way. It's for me to let the will of God operator in my life and make those small sacrifices, enduring aggravations as best as possible. Making reparation for my sins and sacrifices for sinners and poor souls, which is something always in season.
The movie "Apparition Hill" spoke to me in the following ways. Some things were readily apparent and others came to mind while driving home in SILENCE. Sharing seven points that reveals the graces and blessings that were showered upon me by answering the call. Truly God chooses some very unique ways, venues, and avenues to speak to us. Exciting and vibrantly colorful is our walk with the Lord, uniquely individualized and divinized for each soul, glory, honor and praise to our God forever. Thanks be to God for looking upon the lowly, and favoring them highly. The following are the reasons that were discerned for my being allowed to attend the showing.
📽1. The first lesson and my greatest takeaway was that: "All suffering means something in the scheme of things in God's realm. Of course we know that, but it needs to be a "heart" and not just a "head" thing.
📽2. A real grace moment in the movie for me was when someone commented that there were more people present at Our Blessed Lady's statue, and that there were hardly anyone at the statue of Jesus. Immediately after hearing this mentioned on screen, it came to mind the great role Our Lady plays in our lives and how vital it is for those who wish to be most pleasing to God and give their total "fiat" every waking moment. That's where Blessed Mother Mary comes in handy, she helps prepare us and intercede for us in a special way. As Mediatrix of all graces, she liberally dispensing the necessary graces so that we can be for Jesus all that He wishes us to be. We are in far better shape as we are molded by her, and fashion ourselves after her. For she is the perfect Daughter of God, beloved Mother of the Son, and heavenly Spouse of The Holy Spirit. When we approach Jesus, after spending time with her, we are able to give Him our best, more of the authentic self that we were created to be.
This is causing me to have a renewed and profound appreciation for Our Blessed Lady. By wanting to love Jesus more, and to be most pleasing in his sight, is a real possibility that can only happen in the deepest way, by allowing our Blessed Mother to prep us. Being the spouse of the Holy Spirit, that team will always score a perfect ten if we but allow them to melt, mold, and fill us as God so wills. Her role was assigned at the foot of the cross, and She is faithful as a mother ready to nurture and help us develop and mature to become productive, holy children of God.
📽3. Received a confirmation in regards to a practice that the Holy Spirit drew me to years ago. It's been implanted in me to ask priests for a blessing when passing them somewhere. Most of the time it is possible to stop them for a second and ask for a blessing, which many, many, happily oblige. Recently mentioned this to Clara and Shelley when we were together at the Olive Mass. When the priest gave me a blessing, then Shelley also was in line for one, praise the Lord.
📽4. Encouraged and motivated to continue fighting the good fight to make haste and great progress in the spiritual life. Hearing our Lady speak about priestly blessings, so touched my heart, it affirmed me tremendously. It seems that on my trip to Medujorge, God truly did touch me, and is ordering my steps. Being able to response to inspirations for one's own good is a step in the right direction. For the trip to Medujorge resulted in me getting this:
"I myself have picked you up and placed you on the path you are to travel, the path that leads to eternal life. My child do not depart from it. Be faithful and true, for only then shall the kingdom of heaven be yours"
Trying to be online than offline, Lord have mercy on me, on us, and on the whole world.
Writing all this three days before we, (Cathy came with me to minister to Bernice and bring her communion), were to encounter the words: "order my steps", and realize that they are the "now" rhema words from the Lord. So indeed "order my steps" should be our daily prayer. It should be how we look at each moment that unfolds in our lives, mere stepping stones towards the kingdom of God, unfailing steps as God goes before us to lead the way.
📽5. Hearing Our Lady say She is calling us to be a part of the plan, makes me look back at our trip to Medujorge years ago, and say yes, yes, yes, for the GIG apostolate is indeed my way of being part on the plan. First of all, it is helping me to walk the royal road to heaven, then a help for those who cross my path sharing the journey, as God so leads. Kindred spirits click to make each other better, thank you partners who are so valuable to me. Have to give thanks also for those not so kindred spirits whose friction wears on nerves, but that too, makes one better and offers multiple opportunities for penance and sacrifices. Let the truth be told, me an aggravation for some?, for sure.
📽6. Prayer changes things, therefore, let us persevere in prayers as God so wills. A constant reminder and reinforcement that we all need to hear, because we leak. We leak easily and we leak fast, no doubt about that, very amnesia like, forgetting God is in total control.
📽7. Since seven is the perfect number, thinking upon what other point is a positive take away experience produced by the movie. It came to me while driving home: it was stated in the film something about Medujorge being chosen because God chooses what is small and insignificant, and makes it big and special in a way that only He is capable of doing. In that light, can clearly see myself as little, and being allowed to be an instrument to share the good things of God with others, is really that concept in action. Everyone is called to share the Good News in their own way, but not everyone responds to the graces given for the task. For instance, my being blessed with the opportunity to see this movie and get these insights, and not just view it as as passing form of entertainment, is really a grace given to lowly me. It's always with purpose and intent that God acts, bearing a personal message to each; to see this truth and respond, how wondrous. So it's not to just watch something to be entertained, but to experience the love of God and be grateful for the opportunity to live each moment of our lives in Him and with Him. So affirming is that to us as children of the one, true, and living God.
After having this experience, thoughts were that if a like minded partner was at my side, it would be great to bring a 100 dollar bill to the theater and ask people at random to see the movie, offering to pay their way. On a small scale this is like the people chosen for the free trip in the documentary, that so changed their lives. My wish was also strong that many could come to the theater for an experience of their own, and anticipate the message that awaited them. A scriptural reference to John 4, because most definitely having a "woman at the well" moment.
A key point is to keep in mind how precious grace is. For sure not everyone attending will be receptive to their message. This makes me see how "Grace" sometimes is not given its due value in my life. Being such an ordinary and average person, forget that not everyone will be graced to have experiences with God in a sovereign way. Thinking all is very ordinary, because it is given to me, but it's to see that grace is really, really, special. Don't misunderstand, the person is not what is super special, it's the grace of God who is supreme that makes the experience extra ordinary. We must give grace it's due. Hope what is being said is not interpreted as pride. As per St. Therese: "Everything is grace". Would love to get some feedback from anyone who was privileged and graced to see and experience the movie. Thank God for Addie, inviting me to go, then God who sent the post about the movie. Mary said she cried so much and that it was very touching and inspiring, making her want to go back to Medjugorje again. Addie said it had a profound effect on her, and that God is soooo Good to send the Holy Mother to us since 1981.
Info from this site:
www.ccwatershed.org/kids/
"Below you’ll find some books about the Mass which will knock you off your feet! What’s funny is that the first two were designed for children, but I think they’re marvelous even for adults.
The first one is a 1954 cartoon featuring lovely spiritual reflections by Capuchin Fr. Demetrius Manousos. I cannot express to you how inspiring this book is.
* * Campion Children’s Missal
download free PDF
www.ccwatershed.org/media/pdfs/14/06/26/12-34-30_0.pdf
(purchase in full color) — $16.00 per copy (not abridged)
This next book is pure gold. It’s an explanation of the Mass by Msgr. Ronald Knox .
* * The Mass in Slow Motion — Msgr. Ronald Knox: 1948
download free PDF
www.ccwatershed.org/media/pdfs/14/04/09/13-00-12_0.pdf
(purchase this book) — $10.99 per copy
Info from this site:
www.ncregister.com/blog/dianavg/why-fatima-is-still-so-important
"On Oct. 13, 2016, Catholics commemorate the 99th anniversary of the “Miracle of the Sun”: In a small town in Portugal, called Fátima, the sun left its place in the sky and spiraled toward earth. This miraculous event was just an interstellar punctuation mark on the series of messages and miracles that happened during the six months that the Virgin Mary met with three shepherd children in the middle of a field, preceded by visits from the Angel of Portugal. As the centenary celebrations of Mary’s visits to the three little shepherds near, many have asked the question: Is Fátima still relevant today?
The answer to that questions is a resounding Yes. Let me tell you why. In the spring of 1916, the Angel of Portugal began appearing to the three children. He met them three times over the course of a few months, and, each time, he taught them something.
👼🏼He taught them to pray, kneeling, with their foreheads touching the ground: My God, I believe, I adore, I hope, and I love you. I ask pardon for those who do not believe, do not adore, do not hope and do not love you.
👼🏼He taught them to make reparation for sins.
👼🏼He gave them the Blessed Sacrament.
While the angel taught the children these things in preparation for their meetings with the Mother of God, surely his lessons are relevant to us.
🙏Do we pray for those who do not believe? Do we adore? Do we hope? ❤️And do we love God by the witness of our lives?
📿Do we offer reparations and make sacrifices for the conversion of sinners?
⛪️Do we adore Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament?
The second stage of the apparitions began in May 1917, when the children met the Virgin Mary. What did she ask of the children?
⚓️Offer yourselves to God and bear all the sufferings he sends you in atonement for all the sins that offend him and for the conversion of sinners.
📿Pray the Rosary every day to bring peace to the world and an end to war.
🙏Amend your life and ask pardon for your sins.
✝Do not offend Our Lord anymore.
In July, the Virgin Mary gave the children what are today called the “Three Secrets of Fátima.” They are called secrets because Mary asked the children to not reveal them until she gave them permission to do so.
♨️She showed them hell and asked them to pray for sinners, so that they might avoid its fiery end.
🙏She told them to pray for an end to the war (World War I), saying that if men did not stop offending God, there would be greater wars (World War II).
⛰She showed them a vision of a bishop, dressed in white, who was killed at the top of a hill, surrounded by martyrs.
What is the point of these secrets? Without prayer, sacrifice and reparation for sin, many people will go to hell, and there will be no peace on earth.
✉️This is not a new message.
❓This is not a secret.
❇️This message is eternal.
Mary’s messages in Fátima are a continuation of the words of the prophets, of John the Baptist and of Jesus himself. Years later, beginning in 1925 at Pontevedra, Spain, Lúcia was in the convent when the Blessed Mother appeared to her and introduced her to the First Saturday Devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
“Look, my daughter, at my Heart, surrounded with thorns with which ungrateful men pierce me at every moment by their blasphemies and ingratitude. You at least try to console me and say that I promise to assist at the hour of death, with the graces necessary for salvation, all those who, on the first Saturday of five consecutive months, shall confess, receive holy Communion, recite five decades of the Rosary and keep me company for 15 minutes while meditating on the 15 mysteries of the Rosary, with the intention of making reparation to me.”
The centenary of the apparitions at Fátima comes at a perfect time for all of us. The apparitions are a reminder, a tolling bell that we need to hear at all times. This is a time to thank God for our faith and to double down on our prayer efforts. Make sacrifices. Go to confession. Bring your friends if you can. Make the First Saturday Devotion. Pray the Rosary. And be sure to visit Fátima if you can."
Audio link:
www.discerninghearts.com/Gallagher/BA15.mp3