🧀The Cheese & Crackers = Quotes by Servant of God Fr. Walter Ciszek, Fr. Jean LaFrance, and Caryll Houselander
🌽The Veggies = My 2💰
🍟The Potatoes = "Silence- A Series of Conferences, Silence of Appetite", by a Camaldolese Part II
🍗The Meat = "The Value Of Adversity", by Thomas À Kempis
🍰The Dessert = YouTube video: "Reasonability of Marian Co-Redemption", by Dr. John-Mark Miravalle - CONF 444
🍫 "The monks of the Eastern Church, according to the thought of St. Augustine and St. Teresa of Avila, speak of a pilgrimage to the "place of the heart". But we know all too well that instead we often live on the surface, preoccupied with sensible impressions or with abstract reasoning. We may have to make a long journey to establish ourselves in the center of the soul where God is awaiting us. This journey can be made when we go beyond the senses and all that is created. As we do this we will progressively liberate our faculties and allow an encounter with God to happen in the dialogue of prayer". By Fr. Jean LaFrance
🍌“The ultimate miracle of Divine Love is this, that the life of the Risen Lord is given to us to give to one another. He gives that joy and peace to be at the very heart of our suffering, to make suffering and joy, for us as it was for him, not two things incompatible with each other, but just one thing, love—and he gives us his own power of consummated love to use for one another, to comfort and heal and restore one another; even, in a mysterious sense that those who have really known sin and sorrow and love will understand, to raise one another from the dead. It is given to us through our own human loves. It is no violation of our simple human nature. It is not something which must be cultivated through a lofty spirituality that only few could attain; it does not demand a way of life that is abnormal, or even unusual; it is not a specialized vocation. It is to be lived at home, at work, in any place, any circumstances. It is to be lived through our natural human relationships”. By Caryll Houselander
📖John 14: 12 “Believe me when I tell you this; the man who has learned to believe in me will be able to do what I do; nay, he will be able to do greater things yet”
📖 Luke 24:1-3 "But at daybreak on the first day of the week they took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb; but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus"
📖 Matthew 28:6 "He is not here, for he is risen, as he said. Come, and see the place where the Lord was laid"
📖 Acts 2:24 "But God raised Him from the dead, releasing Him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for Him to be held in its clutches"
Each day of the octave was special this year, found myself so blest to daily receive a spiritual or a material gift from the Lord, alleluia, alleluia. Some days privileged to receive both a spiritual and a material gift. My spiritual gift a couple of days ago came by way of a book entitled: "Give Peace To My Soul", by Fr. Jean La France. A passage that was read concerned something St. Elizabeth of the Trinity said, this would be the blessing. The book is about discovering her secret of prayer. Reading from the book was instrumental in leading me to personally revamp my way of praying the "Jesus Prayer". Now, more than ever, aware of the necessity to truly with body, mind, soul, and spirit, implore the Holy Spirit to continue a work of serious transformation. It was written that when the Fire of Divine Love consumes us, every hint of selfishness, impurity, and self love in us will be consumed. It hit the heart as this example came to mind, of how if a piece of paper catches fire, it will completely burn up if there is no intervention. Our wills intervene entirely too much, so we are not consumed by the fire of Divine Love. If the Divine will dominates, what will be left of our will is ashes, wouldn't that be a lovely way to burn.
Realizing the need for the Holy spirit to really help me love, a logical first is the ask. Step one is revamping the Jesus Prayer, yes again, by adding on to the part my aunt Hill added before her death. The other addition is from Servant of God, Fr. Don Dolindo Ruotolo, someone considered a saint by St. Padre Pio.
🛐tmm's modified Jesus Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner,
📌(Hil) and Holy Spirit, heal me with your love
📌(tmm) and also Holy Spirit, please fill me with your love
📌(Servant of God, Don Dolindo) Jesus, I surrender myself to you, take care of everything.
This strong desire to be filled with love would not be possible, had not this unfortunate incident occur. Ringing true is this scripture:
📖 "Romans 8:28 We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose"
Someone borrowed a valuable item and appears to not want to return it. This upset me and from the well of sin that stains my life, it made me harbor ill feelings towards the person. Wanted to confront the person and get my item, but through prayer, feel like the Lord is saying, quiet, be still. My reaction to that was this: well the person may very well think it's "get over" time, but if the Lord is wanting me to leave things in His hands, as hard as it is, will resolve to do just that. It was a realization for me that some of the very people going about saying Lord, Lord, may be the ones you really have to be careful with. This incident brought me face to face with God. He is saying to me that my behavior is not modeling His Way, and it sure isn't indicative of one auditioning for a front row seat. Many things started coming to confirm that indeed the Lord is using this for my good so that my heart can be changed, the goal is to become more like Him.
✝1. At Holy Mass one day when we were listening to the reading, the revelation came how we are Barabbas in a way. He was the first fruit of being guilty, yet being set free because of Christ taking on his guilt. Maybe he was the first person at the beginning of The Passion to be set free in flesh. It appears that once the blood was spilled, maybe St. Dismas was the first to be set free in soul, as he heard that this day he would be in paradise. This all reminded me of how we get set free in body with a physical healing, but what truly counts is freedom of soul to work out our salvation for eternal life. Thanks be to God, the doors are now open by the cross and Resurrection of Jesus, who have set us free.
God closed the meditation by placing before me to choose life or death, in terms of my deciding to set the person free, or to hold on to ill feelings. It is to stop holding the person in bondage by my attitude that is ever before the Lord, and to let God settle everything in due season. Strongly feeling God is saying, let go, do not ask the person for the item, as it have been made clear by a previous inquiry that the item was not a gift. After this, a challenge surfaced and coupled with great meditative delights, hopes were high to walk the road arms and arms with the Lord, then by grace to experience the victory when it comes.
✝2. Bernadine surprised me with some stuffed crabs one day. It was a shock, because about a week earlier, while we were driving past the seafood place, couldn't resist and stopped to buy a dozen of crabs. The plans were to surprise her with six and keep six. Well, there were only nine crabs left, so gave her six and bought some fish to make up for my loss. When discovering the surprise in my mail box that she dropped off, it came to mind that the good you do will come back to you. It may be unexpected and sometimes return in a better way. Ok, Lord, showing good faith and good deeds matter, now it’s to set this church goer free, let go of resentment,and leave all in the Your hands.
✝3. As time have gone on various scriptures have come to mind:
📖Luke 6:30 "Give to every one that asketh thee, and of him that taketh away thy goods, ask them not again"
✝4. Time to become a model.
📖Isaiah 53:7 "He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth; Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, So He did not open His mouth"
✝5. Finally Caudia was able to get this prayer by St. Francis of Assisi, who is befriending me this year, from Grace. Grace prayed it when we had our Flame of Love of The Immaculate Heart of Mary and Our Lady of Good Success double feast day Celebrstion on February second. Well two months in coming my way, but perfect Divine Timing.
🙏🏼St. Francis of Assisi: "Almighty, just and merciful God, grant us in our misery that we may do for your sake alone what we know you want us to do, and always want what pleases you. So that cleansed and enlightened interiorly, and fired with the ardor of the Holy Spirit, we may follow in the footsteps of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, and so make our way to You Most High by Your grace alone-- You who live and reign in August Trinity and simple Unity, ONE God forever and ever , Amen!
Need anything more be said? Thank you St. Francis for this: "Almighty, just and merciful God, grant us in our misery that we may do for your sake alone what we know you want us to do, and always want what pleases you”. St. Francis befriended me for a good reason, this prayer is coming in handy.
✝6. It came me one night that even Stephen didn’t hold it against the people who stoned him, and of course no one is stoning me, so why hold the person in bondage? Lord have mercy, really have so far to go to become more like Jesus and more like the saints. It’s a goal that we allhave to reach in order to see the face of God.
✝7. Just counted these up and arriving at seven, the number of perfection, oh course it wasn’t planned. Also what is last, is a Medjugorge message from April 02, 2013. Continuing to read a message from the past each day. The last words are from Our Blessed Lady, how appropriate, the help of a mother so that we can succeed:
🌹“Medjugorje 2nd of month messages April 02, 2013 "Dear children, I am calling you to be one with my Son in spirit. I am calling you, through prayer, and the Holy Mass when my Son unites Himself with you in a special way, to try to be like Him; that, like Him, you may always be ready to carry out God's will and not seek the fulfillment of your own. Because, my children, it is according to God's will that you are and that you exist, and without God's will you are nothing. As a mother I am asking you to speak about the glory of God with your life because, in that way, you will also glorify yourself in accordance to His will. Show humility and love for your neighbor to everyone. Through such humility and love, my Son saved you and opened the way for you to the Heavenly Father. I implore you to keep opening the way to the Heavenly Father for all those who have not come to know Him and have not opened their hearts to His love. By your life, open the way to all those who still wander in search of the truth. My children, be my apostles who have not lived in vain. Do not forget that you will come before the Heavenly Father and tell Him about yourself. Be ready! Again I am warning you, pray for those whom my Son called, whose hands He blessed and whom He gave as a gift to you. Pray, pray, pray for your shepherds. Thank you."
My Take Away = Humbled to hear and receive this urgent message for our good and God's glory. May graces make it possible for me to rise and march forward in the power of the Holy Spirit to make a difference. It’s to unite myself to Jesus and become more like Him, showing humble love to everyone.
In conclusion scriptures says:
📖Romans 12:19 "Revenge not yourselves, my dearly beloved; but give place unto wrath, for it is written: Revenge is mine, I will repay, saith the Lord"
It's like vengeance is the Lord, so He will take care of everything. Let us not think we can be a thief, a rogue, etc. The Lords decides, judges correctly, and will repay every man according to his deeds. To really silence me, it came to mind how the high school class ring of this guy is still in my possession. While away at college, he came to my parents house to get it, but with my being away, he did not get to see me or get his ring. Have never seen the person since high school, and not sure if he is living or deceased, or his whereabouts. Once thoughts came about pawning the ring, and the immediate reaction was: "I wish you would". That meaning, this better be a thought that is dead on arrival. When we were very little and someone said "I wish would", everyone knew this to be a sign for serious trouble ahead. Pawning would be so wrong because the ring is not mine to dispose of, even though it’s in my possession. So now it's me who is a thief and a rogue, for keeping the ring. Wonder if people still do this today, getting a guy's class ring to wear was big in the past? Hopefully no one is still holding on to a ring for a life time. If the guy ever ran into me, he would surely be able to once again possess his own ring stored away somewhere in one of my jewelry boxes.
So the bottom line is everything works for the good of those who love the Lord. Also when Jesus starts writing in the sand, we’ll all find ourselves guilty of one thing or another that may have completely slipped our minds. A work in progress, please pray that progress continues in the area of forgiveness for those who trespass in ways great and small.
"The last point mentioned by Tanquerey as an abuse is eating with avidity, with greed. He says this fashion of eating is considered by the world as “ill-mannered.” Could such abuses happen in the religious life? All we know is that where there are human beings, there are also human weaknesses. I remember two cases that shocked me. The first happened in an abbey that I visited. I received coffee with cookies from a Brother. He ate almost all the cookies himself. I had the impression that the poor man rarely received cookies and he took advantage of the first occasion presented to him. The second was a sad event also. A religious Brother liked sugar so much that it became a real vice. He could give up many things, but not sugar. When the community took coffee after lunch, the Brother took so much sugar and with such avidity that I felt embarrassed for him. My personal reaction was an examination of conscience; I asked myself if I might have a similar vice and not be aware of it.
It can be wine, beer, coffee, honey, candies, and many other things of which we are not aware, but which could cause astonishment and even scandal. In some instances I should mention that the monastic kitchen can be a source of suffering and of additional penances. Imagine the situation where there is no competent cook, or where the cook is careless, or other situations; for example, where the cook has little to offer, as was the case in our hermitage in Colombia. For St. Bernard, going to the refectory was always a great penance, partly because of his bad health. Permit me to enumerate some good principles which should help us in our own life:
1. We did not come to a hermitage to eat well. But we should eat in such a way so as to be able to serve God and to perform our duties well.
2. We should eat and drink as much as we really need and are permitted by our Rule or Constitutions.
3. It is good, says Tanquerey, to eat always a little of something we dislike.
4. As there should be no day in our normal life without eating or drinking, so there should also be no day in our life without a little mortification at table. “The day you leave the table without having made some small mortification, you will have eaten as a pagan” — says Msgr. Josemaria Escriva de Balaguer. (The Way, p. 158)
5. Let us be happy with all we receive and never complain about food.
6. Some practical rules for the cook:
a. The cook is obliged in conscience to be clean and to do his job well.
b. There should be a great simplicity and variety in the diet, pwhich should be balanced and healthy.
c. The cook should not follow his own likes and dislikes, but serve his Brothers as Christ Himself in the person of his Brothers.
d. In our life the cook should follow our Constitutions and allow others to be good hermits as far as sobriety and moderation goes, but also give what is required and necessary for health.
Now some quotations from the Desert Fathers:
“Abba Poeman said: ‘We have not been taught to kill our bodies, but to kill our passions.’” “The same also said: ‘There are three things which I am not able to do without: food, clothing and sleep, but I can restrict them to some extent.’”
“Abba Poeman heard of someone who had gone all week without eating and then had lost his temper. The old man said: ‘He could do without food for six days, but he could not cast out anger.’”
“Abba Poeman also said: ‘In Abba Pambo we see three bodily activities: abstinence from food until the evening, silence, and much manual work.’”
“Syncletica said: ‘When you have to fast do not pretend illness. For those who do not fast often fall into real sickness.’”
“Someone said to Abba Arsenius: ‘My thoughts trouble me, saying “You can neither fast nor work, at least go and visit the sick for that is also charity.” But the old man, recognizing the suggestions of the demons, said to him, “Go eat, drink, sleep, do no work, only do not leave your cell.”’ For he knew that steadfastness in the cell keeps a monk in the right way.”
We make an end to our reflections on this subject. Let us remember that we have the duty to control our appetites and to bring to silence our imaginary needs. Let us make good use of the nourishment given by God to keep us in good health and enable us to serve God with all our strength and to fulfill our mission on earth. Moderation and sobriety will be our guidelines. Let us imitate Our Lord in this regard also. Amen.
"It is good for us to have trials and troubles at times, for they often remind us that we are on probation and ought not to hope in any worldly thing. It is good for us sometimes to suffer contradiction, to be misjudged by men even though we do well and mean well. These things help us to be humble and shield us from vainglory. When to all outward appearances men give us no credit, when they do not think well of us, then we are more inclined to seek God Who sees our hearts. Therefore, a man ought to root himself so firmly in God that he will not need the consolations of men. When a man of good will is afflicted, tempted, and tormented by evil thoughts, he realizes clearly that his greatest need is God, without Whom he can do no good. Saddened by his miseries and sufferings, he laments and prays. He wearies of living longer and wishes for death that he might be dissolved and be with Christ. Then he understands fully that perfect security and complete peace cannot be found on earth.
Video link: https://youtu.be/Btaa80p1mvc