Ijournal entry 010217 # 01. January, Month of the Holy Name of Jesus.
Truffles, The Rule of St. Benedict. Quotes by Blessed Jan van Ruusbroec, St. John Bosco, and St. Jose Escriva. Article: "A $20 Dollar Shine", by Tony Agnesi. Magnificat article: "Whoever receives this child", by Caryll Houselander. YouTube Video presentation of Fr. Walter Ciszek, SJ, by Rev. Carlos Esparza, SJ
Truffles, The Rule of St. Benedict. Quotes by Blessed Jan van Ruusbroec, St. John Bosco, and St. Jose Escriva. Article: "A $20 Dollar Shine", by Tony Agnesi. Magnificat article: "Whoever receives this child", by Caryll Houselander. YouTube Video presentation of Fr. Walter Ciszek, SJ, by Rev. Carlos Esparza, SJ
"All hail the pow’r of Jesus’ Name!
Let angels prostrate fall;
Bring forth the royal diadem,
And crown Him Lord of all"
Info from this site: http://catholicism.about.com/od/prayers/tp/Prayers_January.htm
Let angels prostrate fall;
Bring forth the royal diadem,
And crown Him Lord of all"
Info from this site: http://catholicism.about.com/od/prayers/tp/Prayers_January.htm
"1Up with us then at last, for the Scripture arouseth us, saying: Now is the hour for us to rise from sleep. Let us open our eyes to the divine light, and let us hear with attentive ears the warning that the divine voice crieth daily to us: Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
2 And again: He that hath ears to hear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches.
3 And what doth he say? Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord.4 Run while ye have the light of life, lest the darkness of death overtake you"
MC=Noticeable is that the call goes out to "us", we are all in this together and must help one another. The "response" and the "coming" is to "ye", the individual. Lord enlighten us to the many ways we are asleep.
2 And again: He that hath ears to hear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches.
3 And what doth he say? Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord.4 Run while ye have the light of life, lest the darkness of death overtake you"
MC=Noticeable is that the call goes out to "us", we are all in this together and must help one another. The "response" and the "coming" is to "ye", the individual. Lord enlighten us to the many ways we are asleep.
⚫️ "The ant does not make new paths, but all follows the same way, and, when the time comes, become capable of flight... So too is it with those who live amidst the stirrings of love. They will never make fresh paths or seek unusual ways of acting, but in spite of every tepest they will follow the way of love to the place to which love leads them. And then, in due time, by persevering in all the virtues, they will be able to see God and to be carried up within his mystery." By Blessed Jan van Ruusbroec
⚪️No matter how good food is, if poison is mixed with it, it may cause the death of him who eats it. St. John Bosco
🔴"Let us take a good honest look at our own lives. How is it that sometimes we just can’t find those few minutes it would take to finish lovingly the work we have to do, which is the very means of our sanctification? Why do we neglect our family duties? Why that tendency to rush through our prayers, or through the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass? How are we so lacking in calm and serenity when it comes to fulfilling the duties of our state, and yet so unhurried as we indulge in our own whims? You might say these are trifling matters. You’re right, they are, but these trifles are the oil, the fuel we need to keep our flame alive and our light shining". St Jose Escriva
The Dawning Of A New Day ~ An Opportunity To Realize The Need To Live Life In A Different Way
🔥If mediocrity is your thing
🔥Then with regrets it'll be a sad song that you'll eventually sing
🔥It's not the lukewarm nor the cold
🔥But those who are red hot that gets the gold
🔥Believe Revelation 3:16, that's where we are plainly told
🔥So important it is, that we belong to the right fold
🔥There comes a time when it's necessary to stop and drop,
🔥Next it's to roll, allowing the mercy of God to take us over the top
🔥Astuteness is a must, replacing acedia as a sad and sorry prop
🔥By the grace of God things can in a heartbeat change or like a lightening strike in a pop
🔥 What is needed is desire
🔥That's the match that lights the fire
🔥Knowledge is deadly, if with it is little or no understanding
🔥 A very good reason why some rather than stand are constantly free falling
🔥Spiritual blinders makes it hard to see
🔥That truth is being evaded that can help one to be set free
🔥A key ingredient missing is humility
🔥But of course for a know it all, pride is no where on their radar, how could it be?
🔥 Therefore
🔥A closed door
🔥Hearts obstinate and impenetrable
🔥By the enemy easily deludable
🔥A fire tried remedy is worthily receiving the Precious Blood
🔥Begging that one's soul be bathed in a flood
🔥Along with partaking of His Body as our Heavenly food
🔥An either/or proposition it certainly is not, as He Himself says to eat & drink, a combination alone that can for the soul fully soothe
🔥So if the wish to be on fire & to wed & wear the Eternal High Priest's wedding ring
🔥Then Jesus must abide in the heart wholeheartedly as Lord &obeyed as the Sovereign King
tmm/TruGIG
™
🔥If mediocrity is your thing
🔥Then with regrets it'll be a sad song that you'll eventually sing
🔥It's not the lukewarm nor the cold
🔥But those who are red hot that gets the gold
🔥Believe Revelation 3:16, that's where we are plainly told
🔥So important it is, that we belong to the right fold
🔥There comes a time when it's necessary to stop and drop,
🔥Next it's to roll, allowing the mercy of God to take us over the top
🔥Astuteness is a must, replacing acedia as a sad and sorry prop
🔥By the grace of God things can in a heartbeat change or like a lightening strike in a pop
🔥 What is needed is desire
🔥That's the match that lights the fire
🔥Knowledge is deadly, if with it is little or no understanding
🔥 A very good reason why some rather than stand are constantly free falling
🔥Spiritual blinders makes it hard to see
🔥That truth is being evaded that can help one to be set free
🔥A key ingredient missing is humility
🔥But of course for a know it all, pride is no where on their radar, how could it be?
🔥 Therefore
🔥A closed door
🔥Hearts obstinate and impenetrable
🔥By the enemy easily deludable
🔥A fire tried remedy is worthily receiving the Precious Blood
🔥Begging that one's soul be bathed in a flood
🔥Along with partaking of His Body as our Heavenly food
🔥An either/or proposition it certainly is not, as He Himself says to eat & drink, a combination alone that can for the soul fully soothe
🔥So if the wish to be on fire & to wed & wear the Eternal High Priest's wedding ring
🔥Then Jesus must abide in the heart wholeheartedly as Lord &obeyed as the Sovereign King
tmm/TruGIG
™
Time to STOP= Ponder and examine oneself closely with Divine help.
Time to DROP=Get on our knees and repent, begging for graces for self knowledge and for graces to see and act always within the Divine Will. For there is much that is in need of being changed in our lives, the distillation process regarding purity begs to be revved up. For sure we are not all that we are called to be. Read the lives of the saints, and that will be plain for even the blind to see. Maybe carving away a little TV time will provide a bit more of reading time, study time, or meditative/Contemplation time.
Time to ROLL= Taking the following actions will then allow us to roll right along the corridors leading us to new spiritual horizons resulting in a metamorphosis pleasing in the sight of God.
Something exciting to get into for the New Year. Thank God for Shelley who shared this wonderful info with me. May she receive extra blessings for everyone who get to take advantage of this freebie, and grow in grace, growing in God. Many blessings and thanks to the GIG participants, may this year be even more fruitful than last.
The website is called Formed. The parish code from St. Paul the Apostle church is listed below. This allows you to access to everything, all all materials free, as if you belonged to their parish. There are over 1000 things for their parish to have access to, many programs, audio presentations. Books, etc. wait until you see. Praise the Lord, and may that parish, priest etc., have a special place in heaven for their evangelistic efforts.
When you register, here is the site:
Register here: https://formed.org
When you Register, Sign up free using the parish code: 9de851
Parish code = 9de851
It is very expensive, so thank the Lord for the blessings. Please take advantage and get groomed for heaven.
Just a lil tidbit being shared here:
Led to consecrate 2017 to Jesus by way of the Blessed Mother. So once again embarking upon the 33 days Consecration to Jesus through Mary. Invited a few, not sure who will be led to proceed, but start date is January 9th and completion date is February 11th. Last time over a dozen participated the Consecration to Divine Mercy. Praise the Lord for the support of sisters and brothers in Christ seeking the way of holiness at every opportunity where the call is clearly heard. If anyone wishes to join, say Aye. Have never been able to watch the video of Fr. Michael Gaitley presenting the talks on the Consecration to Jesus through Mary. Thanks to "FORMED", we can watch the video and participate in the exercises. You can download the exercise book free, needing only an ebook or hard copy to carry on.
Here are the Links for other audio presentations about the 33 days Consecration To Morning Glory workshop. Remember the retreat companion ebook is free to download, so is the test coordinator guide a free PDF book. Trying to make it easy for you, here are links to the necessary materials:
Link to 33 day podcasts
⛓Link to retreat companion:
http://www.sptacc.org/documents/2015/10/happ-33dmg-retreatcompanionbook-w1-web-en.pdf
⛓Link to everything
docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1pU3sxhfq6vLAn1QDzgvVUAItZ8tq7oiILCi198uOI7s/htmlview#gid=0
⛓Link to retreat coordinator guide
www.allheartsafire.org/assets/leaders/resources/33tmg/retreat-coordinator-guide.pdf
Time to DROP=Get on our knees and repent, begging for graces for self knowledge and for graces to see and act always within the Divine Will. For there is much that is in need of being changed in our lives, the distillation process regarding purity begs to be revved up. For sure we are not all that we are called to be. Read the lives of the saints, and that will be plain for even the blind to see. Maybe carving away a little TV time will provide a bit more of reading time, study time, or meditative/Contemplation time.
Time to ROLL= Taking the following actions will then allow us to roll right along the corridors leading us to new spiritual horizons resulting in a metamorphosis pleasing in the sight of God.
Something exciting to get into for the New Year. Thank God for Shelley who shared this wonderful info with me. May she receive extra blessings for everyone who get to take advantage of this freebie, and grow in grace, growing in God. Many blessings and thanks to the GIG participants, may this year be even more fruitful than last.
The website is called Formed. The parish code from St. Paul the Apostle church is listed below. This allows you to access to everything, all all materials free, as if you belonged to their parish. There are over 1000 things for their parish to have access to, many programs, audio presentations. Books, etc. wait until you see. Praise the Lord, and may that parish, priest etc., have a special place in heaven for their evangelistic efforts.
When you register, here is the site:
Register here: https://formed.org
When you Register, Sign up free using the parish code: 9de851
Parish code = 9de851
It is very expensive, so thank the Lord for the blessings. Please take advantage and get groomed for heaven.
Just a lil tidbit being shared here:
Led to consecrate 2017 to Jesus by way of the Blessed Mother. So once again embarking upon the 33 days Consecration to Jesus through Mary. Invited a few, not sure who will be led to proceed, but start date is January 9th and completion date is February 11th. Last time over a dozen participated the Consecration to Divine Mercy. Praise the Lord for the support of sisters and brothers in Christ seeking the way of holiness at every opportunity where the call is clearly heard. If anyone wishes to join, say Aye. Have never been able to watch the video of Fr. Michael Gaitley presenting the talks on the Consecration to Jesus through Mary. Thanks to "FORMED", we can watch the video and participate in the exercises. You can download the exercise book free, needing only an ebook or hard copy to carry on.
Here are the Links for other audio presentations about the 33 days Consecration To Morning Glory workshop. Remember the retreat companion ebook is free to download, so is the test coordinator guide a free PDF book. Trying to make it easy for you, here are links to the necessary materials:
Link to 33 day podcasts
⛓Link to retreat companion:
http://www.sptacc.org/documents/2015/10/happ-33dmg-retreatcompanionbook-w1-web-en.pdf
⛓Link to everything
docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1pU3sxhfq6vLAn1QDzgvVUAItZ8tq7oiILCi198uOI7s/htmlview#gid=0
⛓Link to retreat coordinator guide
www.allheartsafire.org/assets/leaders/resources/33tmg/retreat-coordinator-guide.pdf
"A $20 Dollar Shine", by Tony Agnesi
Info from this site:
tonyagnesi.com/2016/12/a-20-dollar-shine/
“If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as a Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, ‘Here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.” ― Martin Luther King Jr.
After weeks of shopping, hanging ornaments, planning meals, and making arrangements for flights home, Christmas is finally here. The pressure, anxiety, and worry will soon be over. It’s so easy to get so caught up in the hoopla and anticipation that we overlook the most important elements of the holiday.
I was searching for something to write this Christmas that might make this a better Christmas for you and me. , I have to admit that I was so stressed that nothing came to mind. These were the thoughts that went through my mind as I made the first of three trips to the airport on Christmas Eve.
I arrived about 15 minutes before my son, Matthew’s flight was to arrive from Orlando. As I walked through the terminal, I passed an older gentleman in a stocking cap.
As our eyes met we exchanged Merry Christmas greetings. And, as we passed each other, he looked at my shoes and said, “I can put a Christmas shine on those shoes for you.”
Surprised, I replied, “Maybe later, I’ve got to check on my son’s flight.”
I sat down outside the restricted area waiting for his arrival. As I looked up there was a shoe shine stand a few yards away. Standing there was the gentleman with whom I had just exchanged Christmas greetings.
As he spotted me he smiled and asked, “Ready for that Christmas shine now?”
“Sure,” I replied with a smile. “I’ve got about 15 minutes before my son’s flight arrives.
As I climbed up to the seat on his stand, it felt great as I realized that this was the first time I had a chance to sit all day.
“How are you,” I offered making small talk.
“Blessed, I’m blessed,” he replied.
With that he began to tell me that he was just released from the hospital a week ago and this was his first day back on the job. He had heart problems and wasn’t expected to make it.
“It’s a miracle that I am alive today and I am so grateful,” he said in a humble voice. “Now, it’s Christmas Eve. I’m alive, my wife is home cooking, and my children and grandchildren will be at my house on Christmas day. This could have been sad week. But, God has blessed me with a second chance at life and this will be the best Christmas ever!”
As he applied the polish and brushed away at my shoes they began to take on a shine.
“Wow!” I exclaimed. “They look shinier than when I bought them.”
“I’m just getting started,” He replied. “Most shoe shine stands just brush and buff; I’ll give them a spit shine.”
As he continued to apply coats of polish and snap his cloth I asked, “How long have you been shining shoes?”
“53 years,” he responded without missing a beat of the rhythm of the snapping cloth. “I started when I was 9 years old and I’m 62 now. I am proud of the job I do; I think I am the best in the business!”
After a few finishing touches he finished and I agreed that this was the best shoe shine I had ever seen. As I stepped down from the stand our eyes met again.
He questioned me, “Does that look like a $5 dollar shine to you?”
“No,” I said. “It looks more like a $20 dollar shine to me,” as I reached for my wallet and handed him a $20 dollar bill.
“Merry Christmas,” He said humbly.
“And a Blessed Christmas to you, your wife and family too!” I responded as I noticed that my son’s flight had just arrived.
Later that evening, as I stood near the manger in our living room, I began to reflect on our conversation.
I too, have had health scares and was here to enjoy the holiday.
I too, am grateful to be alive.
My wife was cooking, baking and preparing for Christmas Day.
I’ve been at a job I love for 50 years this past January, and just like the shoe shine man, I feel that I am the best at what I do.
As I stood before the manger scene, I realized that his humble gratitude had rubbed off on me. Just as the dust and grime had been rubbed off my shoes. He had shined my heart at the same time he shined my shoes.
As my head bowed, a tear fell from my face onto my newly shined shoes and I could feel God’s love shining in my heart.
And, that’s my Christmas wish for you, my friend. May you be grateful to be alive, to be spending time with your family. And, be proud of the work you do to support them, whether you are a doctor or a shoe shine man.
May the light of our Savior, Jesus Christ, the light of the world, shine in your heart, like the glow in my heart and the gleam of my $20 dollar shine."
Info from this site:
tonyagnesi.com/2016/12/a-20-dollar-shine/
“If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as a Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, ‘Here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.” ― Martin Luther King Jr.
After weeks of shopping, hanging ornaments, planning meals, and making arrangements for flights home, Christmas is finally here. The pressure, anxiety, and worry will soon be over. It’s so easy to get so caught up in the hoopla and anticipation that we overlook the most important elements of the holiday.
I was searching for something to write this Christmas that might make this a better Christmas for you and me. , I have to admit that I was so stressed that nothing came to mind. These were the thoughts that went through my mind as I made the first of three trips to the airport on Christmas Eve.
I arrived about 15 minutes before my son, Matthew’s flight was to arrive from Orlando. As I walked through the terminal, I passed an older gentleman in a stocking cap.
As our eyes met we exchanged Merry Christmas greetings. And, as we passed each other, he looked at my shoes and said, “I can put a Christmas shine on those shoes for you.”
Surprised, I replied, “Maybe later, I’ve got to check on my son’s flight.”
I sat down outside the restricted area waiting for his arrival. As I looked up there was a shoe shine stand a few yards away. Standing there was the gentleman with whom I had just exchanged Christmas greetings.
As he spotted me he smiled and asked, “Ready for that Christmas shine now?”
“Sure,” I replied with a smile. “I’ve got about 15 minutes before my son’s flight arrives.
As I climbed up to the seat on his stand, it felt great as I realized that this was the first time I had a chance to sit all day.
“How are you,” I offered making small talk.
“Blessed, I’m blessed,” he replied.
With that he began to tell me that he was just released from the hospital a week ago and this was his first day back on the job. He had heart problems and wasn’t expected to make it.
“It’s a miracle that I am alive today and I am so grateful,” he said in a humble voice. “Now, it’s Christmas Eve. I’m alive, my wife is home cooking, and my children and grandchildren will be at my house on Christmas day. This could have been sad week. But, God has blessed me with a second chance at life and this will be the best Christmas ever!”
As he applied the polish and brushed away at my shoes they began to take on a shine.
“Wow!” I exclaimed. “They look shinier than when I bought them.”
“I’m just getting started,” He replied. “Most shoe shine stands just brush and buff; I’ll give them a spit shine.”
As he continued to apply coats of polish and snap his cloth I asked, “How long have you been shining shoes?”
“53 years,” he responded without missing a beat of the rhythm of the snapping cloth. “I started when I was 9 years old and I’m 62 now. I am proud of the job I do; I think I am the best in the business!”
After a few finishing touches he finished and I agreed that this was the best shoe shine I had ever seen. As I stepped down from the stand our eyes met again.
He questioned me, “Does that look like a $5 dollar shine to you?”
“No,” I said. “It looks more like a $20 dollar shine to me,” as I reached for my wallet and handed him a $20 dollar bill.
“Merry Christmas,” He said humbly.
“And a Blessed Christmas to you, your wife and family too!” I responded as I noticed that my son’s flight had just arrived.
Later that evening, as I stood near the manger in our living room, I began to reflect on our conversation.
I too, have had health scares and was here to enjoy the holiday.
I too, am grateful to be alive.
My wife was cooking, baking and preparing for Christmas Day.
I’ve been at a job I love for 50 years this past January, and just like the shoe shine man, I feel that I am the best at what I do.
As I stood before the manger scene, I realized that his humble gratitude had rubbed off on me. Just as the dust and grime had been rubbed off my shoes. He had shined my heart at the same time he shined my shoes.
As my head bowed, a tear fell from my face onto my newly shined shoes and I could feel God’s love shining in my heart.
And, that’s my Christmas wish for you, my friend. May you be grateful to be alive, to be spending time with your family. And, be proud of the work you do to support them, whether you are a doctor or a shoe shine man.
May the light of our Savior, Jesus Christ, the light of the world, shine in your heart, like the glow in my heart and the gleam of my $20 dollar shine."
Magnificat article: "Whoever receives this child", by Caryll Houselander
"Because the whole orientation of our will, in which is the secret of peace, will depend upon whether we act as if we did see Christ in them or not.
It is part of God's plan for us that Christ shall come to us in everyone; it is in their particular role that we must learn to know him; he may come as a little child, making enormous demands, giving enormous consolation; he may come as a stranger, so that we must give the hospitality to a stranger that we should like to give to Christ; he may come to us in his Passion, disfigured by our sins and all sin, asking the utmost courage of us, that we may not be scandalized and may believe. He may come to us as a servant and compel us to the extreme of humility which accepts his service, as Peter had to do, when he washed his feet, and as the disciples did with unquestioning joy, when he cooked their little meal on the seashore.
If we see everyone in our life as "another Christ we shall treat everyone with the reverence and objectivity that must grow into love, and as a matter of sheer logic we shall accept whatever they bring to us, in the way of joy or sorrow or responsibility, as coming from the hand of Christ; and because nothing comes from his hand that is not given for our ultimate happiness, we shall gradually learn that the things they do, the demands they make, all are part of God's plan for us. Once that is understood we can never again feel completely frustrated by anyone, or lose the serenity of our minds by nursing a grievance. Neither shall we ever again miss a joy that should have been ours through another person, because we dared not give ourselves to it, bravely."
"Because the whole orientation of our will, in which is the secret of peace, will depend upon whether we act as if we did see Christ in them or not.
It is part of God's plan for us that Christ shall come to us in everyone; it is in their particular role that we must learn to know him; he may come as a little child, making enormous demands, giving enormous consolation; he may come as a stranger, so that we must give the hospitality to a stranger that we should like to give to Christ; he may come to us in his Passion, disfigured by our sins and all sin, asking the utmost courage of us, that we may not be scandalized and may believe. He may come to us as a servant and compel us to the extreme of humility which accepts his service, as Peter had to do, when he washed his feet, and as the disciples did with unquestioning joy, when he cooked their little meal on the seashore.
If we see everyone in our life as "another Christ we shall treat everyone with the reverence and objectivity that must grow into love, and as a matter of sheer logic we shall accept whatever they bring to us, in the way of joy or sorrow or responsibility, as coming from the hand of Christ; and because nothing comes from his hand that is not given for our ultimate happiness, we shall gradually learn that the things they do, the demands they make, all are part of God's plan for us. Once that is understood we can never again feel completely frustrated by anyone, or lose the serenity of our minds by nursing a grievance. Neither shall we ever again miss a joy that should have been ours through another person, because we dared not give ourselves to it, bravely."
Video presentation of Fr. Walter Ciszek, SJ, by Rev. Carlos Esparza, SJ
YouTube video link:
youtu.be/oRLjX2ZVROc
YouTube video link:
youtu.be/oRLjX2ZVROc