🔴God is closer to us than our own soul, for God is the foundation on which the soul stands. Our soul sits in God and in true rest, and our soul stands in God in sure strength, and our soul is naturally rooted in God in endless love." By Julian of Norwich
🔵So I think it is healthy to approach God with this kind of holy fear - the fear of being without Him in our lives, without His love permeating our daily existence in everything we do, sustaining us and becoming our very life. In doing so, we remind ourselves constantly that our central focus on everything we do in our lives should always be on Christ, so that we will be among those who "endure conflict to the end...and with their whole heart loved God alone and who have freed themselves from all other loves for the world." By St. Macarius the Great
Two more pedals have fallen from the friendship flower that brought me such joy from their spiritual fragrance.
📖Matthew 20:16 “Thus, the last will be first, and the first will be last.”
📖Matthew 7:21-23 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name? Did we not drive out demons in your name? Did we not do mighty deeds in your name?’ Then I will declare to them solemnly, ‘I never knew you.* Depart from me, you evildoers”
God in Mae, does a beautiful job in tying up the loose ends. It’s not about doing her own thing as she so pleases, but for her it’s about God’s Holy Will. Thank God He placed her in my life for a season, and really an all to brief one, but hoping at the end of my life’s journey, there will be fruits to show from that encounter. We have people in our lives as examples of what to do and what not to do. Some of the most trying people, help us tremendously, because they help us become better persons. It was a pleasure to be on the same page with Mae, the mystic. Hours would pass by like minutes and we jelled really well. It‘s hard to find some really, really, sold out to the Lord Christians, so you go Mae!
Thinking of her now, it can be seen how so,so, happy she must gave been when actually meeting Jesus. For sure it was nothing compared to the visions and other mystical experiences over her lifetime. It’s possible to inhale her joy, cause in our times together, it was quite evident of her love for God and His love for her. Their relationship excited me. It’s wasn’t just talk, a sleep walk, or hollow actions, but love for others and God was dominant in her thoughts and deeds. As we could say her money was where her mouth was.
Now following her mandate will have to say, please pray for her. Once we were discussing some things from a book by Susan Tassone: “Thirty-Day Devotions for the Holy Souls”, she liked what St. Ephrem had to say in his testament. Mae said that at her funeral she didn’t want people singing her praises. It’s to skip that and focus on praying for her soul, nothing better could unfold. Now hearing her speak through the testament.
✍🏼Testament of St. Ephrem: “Lay me not with sweet spices, For this honor avails me not. Nor yet use incense and perfumes, For the honor benefits me not; Burn ye the incense in the holy place; As for me, escort me only with your prayers. Give ye your incense to God, And over me send up hymns. Be mindful of me in your intercessions. What can goodly odor profit To the dead who cannot perceive it? Bring incense to burn in the holy place, That they who enter may smell the savor. Wrap thou not the fetid carrion In silk that profits it nothing; Cast it out upon the dunghill, For it finds no comfort in tributes of respect. Come, my brothers, and lay out my remains; the decree has gone forth that I can tarry no longer. Give me, as provision for my journey, Your prayers, your psalms, and your sacrifices. When the number of thirty days is complete, Then, O my brothers, make remembrance of me. For the dead truly derive succor, From the sacrifices offered up by the living. Say you that the dead benefit not? Hearken to the words of the Apostle. “If the dead do not rise again, Why should we be baptized for the dead?” What of the men of the family of Mattathias Who discharged their pious office of mercy? As you have read, in that time of war? They atoned by their sacrifices for the sins Of those who fell in the battle, And who had followed the way of the heathen. Much more the Priests of the Son of God Shall avail to purify the dead, By the sacrifices which they offer And by the prayers of their mouth”
Mae was definitely able to use the gas of her spiritual practices to get somewhere. She was living deep under water, not just surfing waves. You talk to her an you could see how she put her faith in action, you encounter a charge, something catches your eye, like a beautiful sunset. Captivating is the way, through God's graces, she was empowered and not incapacitated in situations where the call was to step up to the plate. She really gives me hope that one day my life will be a concrete witness that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. That right here and right now we can truly live according His mandates, by grace, and experience all that He says we should, in spirit and truth. If He says "do not worry", then living empowered by God and not just superficially skimming the spiritual surface, we’ll be able to do just that, and "be not worried".
Complex and simple things can be carried out in the name of Jesus, that is through, in, and with Him. To live according to "The Way" and follow the call, Mae understood this very well and did it, and it was energizing, because most time encounters are exhausting, no exception for others surely find me exhausting. We will be energizing, when we living large in God. In living that way, we are looking beyond with the mind of Christ, living each moment virtuously in His presence, accepting all that happens with serenity, and changing what can be changed by prayer. Most encounters are not of that caliber, so much wish to surrender and receive graces to live like Mae. She was constantly in God's presence, not just at her Holy Hours, Holy Mass, formal prayers, and partaking of her other spiritual activities. Just want to add that her committed hour of Eucharistic Adoration, when she was able, was in the early morning hours. Think it was somewhere between two and four, but can’t remember exactly.
She was found frequently dialoging in the spirit with him, a mind stayed on Jesus, always evaluating her behavior in comparison with "WWJD". She was constantly repenting of errors with the help of the Holy Spirit. It was amazing to me every time we talked and she witnessed that. Because of her openness, it seems God afforded a fruitful vibrant operation of self knowledge to flourish so that she could see with His light. Now this is something desperately needed in my life, so maybe now with a little more help from above with her pitching in, some significant improvement may occur. So very thankful, God allowed us a little time to spend together to grow by sharing through phone visits and sometimes when back visiting in my hometown. Not having grandparents, it was a delight to hear stories about her growing up, parental discipline, etc. Thanks to " Hurricane Katrina" our friendship began to flourish, and what beautiful grace moments that God could showcase her attributes to peak my interest in moving up the spiritual ladder. Want to very much trade up, and buy into that stock. Definitely want my life to be like hers, one entailing living more and more in God and for Him, dead to self, with my will surrendered and controlled by the King of kings.
Mae is an example of that, a rare piece of art, sculptured by God. Thanks be it God for gracing me with the experience to encounter such rarity. It is inspiring, so makes me so want to pray and cooperate with graces to grow in the way of God, and become solid in virtuous Christian living. Mae honey, may God grant you pardon, peace, and everlasting happiness with more of Himself, and that is everything you would want.
After this was written in 2013 (tenses changed because of her now being a member of the faithful departed) some emails came in that day before me going off to Holy Mass. One email was perfect to help describe Mae in a few words: "grounded in God and attuned to his promptings". My earlier references to people having loose ends that are not tied up, and Mae having things tied up, can be equated to not being concretely grounded in God. Thinking a lagniappe “GIG “ can stand for: "Grounded In God"
The email: Grounded in Faith
"Knowing our faith is not enough. We also must live it by cultivating our prayer life, participating in our parish, and frequenting the sacraments. All of that activity grounds us in God and attunes us to his promptings".— from The New Evangelization and You
At Holy Mass the second reading confirmed what was written before me leaving home. It was a reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Colossians:
📖Colossians 3:1-5
“Brothers and sisters: If you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Think of what is above, not of what is on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ your life appears, then you too will appear with him in glory. Put to death, then, the parts of you that are earthly: immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and the greed that is idolatry...".
Now on to Mr. Lloyd, just found out on Saturday that he died in April. He was another of my favorites. This little recorded video about two years ago tells a bit of his story. It was like one of my missions in life to minister to him. He lived in the senior apartment building when it was my duty to bring them Holy Eucharist once a month. When in my hometown after Katrina, Sr. Rita invited me to go with her and we had a weekly prayer service. After returning to N.O. decided to keep bringing the Eucharist once a month. Sr. Was no longer in New Roads, some people died and moved on, but Mr. Lloyd was able to take things to a new level because of God.
It developed that he would sometimes attend Holy Mass with me during the week and definitely on Saturday. One other person, Earl, was graced to do this, and found out that he died in April also. They would sometimes forget or see the bad examples in church and talk, then the plan was to sit in the middle of them, but stressing to them about not talking in church and that we have to go to confession worked. They were game, thank you Jesus. So glad for my assignment and tried to do it the best possible. Hoping some one look after me and keep me on the straight and narrow and not let me be a loose goose.
My goodness, the improvement Mr Lloyd made was phenomenal. If before my death such improvement could be made. He started at zero and accelerated. My starting point was not zero, and find myself here today not as advanced in the grounds covered, whereas Mr. Lloyd made 360 degree turnarounds. For myself and for some others it can be 180 degree or less turnarounds. It can be done also more slowly. Really can kind of be jealous of his response to grace, but like with Cain, it’s to do a better job of surrendering:
📖Genesis 4:6-7 “Then the LORD said to Cain: Why are you angry? Why are you dejected? If you act rightly, you will be accepted; but if not, sin lies in wait at the door: its urge is for you, yet you can rule over it”
🎩Mr. Lloyd, thank God is was a better late than never
🎩From past wrong doings, it was a cut and sever
🎩The “Just do it” mentality to respond to God's call
🎩It’s was surely the most important step in the right direction move of all
Mr. Lloyd’s video link:
youtu.be/8F0xDG6TTDA
All those wonderful people who inspired me are departing one by one and two by two, it saddens me, but the joy is to accept the void and know they all will not forget me and my destiny will be greater because they are in a better position to help. God giveth and God taketh away, Blessed be God for giving me them in the first place. Will any replacements come? As God so wills, let it be done, thankful for the past, very, very, thankful.
"It depends on you, nevertheless, to take heed lest there be a base thought in your heart and to see to it that your heart does not become a market place where like and unlike gather in a continual tumult, until you completely lose sight of what is happening.
📖Deuteronomy 15:9 “Be careful not to entertain the mean thought, “The seventh year, the year of remission, is near, ” so that you would begrudge your kin who is in need and give nothing, and your kin would cry to the LORD against you and you would be held guilty”
Here thieves and robbers hold their tryst, but never the angel of peace you need. Peace, and with it the Lord of peace, flees from such a place. Therefore He has told us through His apostle: Purify your hearts
📖James 4:8 “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you of two minds”
and instructed us Himself Take ye heed, watch and pray.
📖Mark 13:33 Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the time will come.
For if He comes and finds our hearts impure and us asleep, He says: I know you not
📖Matthew 25:12 “But he said in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.”
But the hour is always here, if not at this moment, then at the next; and if not at the next, then at this. For like the kingdom of heaven, the hour of judgment is always present in our heart. Thus, if the watchman does not watch, neither does the Lord watch; but if the Lord does not watch, the watchman watches in vain. Let us, therefore, watch at the door of our heart, while never ceasing to call upon the Lord for help. Do not direct your gaze towards the enemy. Never get into a controversy with him whom you cannot possibly resist. With his millennia of experience he knows the very trick that can render you helpless at once. No, stand in the middle of your heart's field and keep your gaze upward; then the heart is protected from all sides at once: the Lord Himself sends His angels to guard it both from right and left and from the rear at the same time.
This, being interpreted, means that if you are beset by a temptation, you should not consider it a matter for examination or reflection or weighing for or against: by so doing you sully your heart and waste time, and already it is a victory for the enemy. Instead, without the slightest delay, turn to the Lord and say: Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner. And the sooner you draw your thoughts away from the temptation the sooner help comes. Never be sure of yourself. Never make a good resolution, and never think: Oh yes, I'll make out all right. Never believe in your own power and strength to resist temptation of any kind, great or small. Think, on the contrary: I am sure to fall as soon as it comes upon me. Self-confidence is a dangerous confederate. The less strength you credit yourself with, the more surely you stand. Acknowledge that you are weak, completely unable to resist the slightest beckoning of the devil. Then to your astonishment you will find that he has no power over you. For if you have made the Lord your refuge you will soon be able to ensure that no evil shall befall you
📖Psalm 91:1-16 “You who dwell in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shade of the Almighty,Say to the LORD, “My refuge and fortress, my God in whom I trust.” He will rescue you from the fowler’s snare, from the destroying plague, He will shelter you with his pinions, and under his wings you may take refuge; his faithfulness is a protecting shield. You shall not fear the terror of the night nor the arrow that flies by day, Nor the pestilence that roams in darkness, nor the plague that ravages at noon. Though a thousand fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, near you it shall not come. You need simply watch; the punishment of the wicked you will see. Because you have the LORD for your refuge and have made the Most High your stronghold, No evil shall befall you, no affliction come near your tent. For he commands his angels with regard to you, to guard you wherever you go. With their hands they shall support you, lest you strike your foot against a stone. You can tread upon the asp and the viper, trample the lion and the dragon. Because he clings to me I will deliver him; because he knows my name I will set him on high. He will call upon me and I will answer; I will be with him in distress; I will deliver him and give him honor. With length of days I will satisfy him, and fill him with my saving power”
The only evil that can befall a Christian is sin. If you are remorseful because later on you fell anyway, and if you are full of self-reproach and resolutions "never to do so again," it is a sure sign that you are on the wrong road: it is your self-reliance that has been wounded. He who does not rely on himself is thankfully amazed that he did not fall lower; he praises God for sending him help in time, for otherwise he would still have been lying prostrate. Swiftly he rises and begins his prayer with a threefold Praised be God. A spoiled child lies smarting for a long time when it has fallen. It seeks sympathy and comforting caresses. Do not fuss over yourself, no matter how it hurts. Get up again and resume the battle. He who fights gets wounded. Only angels never fall.
But pray God to forgive you and not again to allow you to be unwary. Do not follow Adam's example and place the blame on the woman or the devil or on any other external circumstance. The reason for your fall lay within yourself in the moment when the Master of the house was away from your heart, you let thieves and robbers come in and make havoc there at will. Pray God that this be not repeated. A monk was once asked: What do you do there in the monastery? He replied: We fall and get up, fall and get up, fall and get up again. For not many minutes of your life go by without your having fallen at least once. Thus pray God to have mercy on us all. Pray for forgiveness and grace, and for mercy as a criminal sentenced to death prays, and remember that it is only by grace ye are saved
📖Ephesians 2:5 “even when we were dead in our transgressions, brought us to life with Christ (by grace you have been saved)”
You can make no claim whatever to freedom and grace. Think of yourself as in the position of a runaway slave as he lies before his lord, praying to be spared. Such shall your prayer be, if you will follow St. Isaac the Syrian and "cast off your burden of sin within yourself," in order to find there "the upward path that makes ascent possible."
Info from this site:
https://www.catholicsstrivingforholiness.org/pope-francis-on-the-beatitudes-complete-catecheses-download-pdf/#_Toc39659058
“Today we will consider the fifth Beatitude which says: “Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy”
📖Matthew 5:7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy”
There is a peculiar aspect to this beatitude. It is the only one in which the cause and the fruit of happiness coincide: mercy. Those who show mercy will find mercy, they will be “shown mercy”. This theme of reciprocity of forgiveness is not found only in this Beatitude, but is recurrent throughout the Gospel. How could it be otherwise? Mercy is the very heart of God! Jesus says: “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive and you will be forgiven”
📖Luke 6:37 “Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven”
It is always the same reciprocity. And the Letter of James states that “mercy triumphs over judgment”
📖James 2:13 “For the judgment is merciless to one who has not shown mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment”
But it is above all in the “Lord’s Prayer” that we pray: “forgive us our debts as we also have forgiven our debtors”
📖Matthew 6:12 “and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors”
and this question is taken up again at the end: “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father also will forgive you; but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses
📖Matthew 6:14-15 “If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions”
There are two things that cannot be separated: forgiveness granted and forgiveness received. However, many people struggle; they cannot forgive. Often the harm received is so great that being able to forgive feels like climbing a very high mountain: an enormous effort; and one thinks: it cannot be done, this cannot be done. This fact of the reciprocity of mercy shows that we have to overturn the perspective. We cannot do this alone. We need God’s grace, we must ask for it. Indeed if the fifth Beatitude promises mercy, and in the “Lord’s Prayer” we ask for the forgiveness of debts, it means that we are essentially debtors and we need to find mercy!
We are all debtors. All of us. To God who is so generous and to our brothers and sisters. Everyone knows that he/she is not the father or mother that he or she should be, the bride or groom, the brother or sister. We are all “in deficit” in life. And we need mercy. We know that we too have done wrong. There is always something lacking in the good that we should have done. However, our very poverty becomes our strength to forgive! We are debtors and if, as we heard at the start, we shall be measured with the same measure with which we measure others
📖Luke 6:38 “Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.”
then it would suit us to widen our measure and to forgive debts; to forgive. Each person should remember that they need to forgive, they are in need of forgiveness and they need patience. This is the secret to mercy: by forgiving one is forgiven. Thus God precedes us and he forgives us first
📖Romans 5:8 “But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us”
In receiving his forgiveness, we too are capable of forgiving. One’s own misery and lack of justice therefore, become opportunities to open oneself up to the Kingdom of Heaven, to a greater measure, the measure of God who is mercy. Where does our mercy come from? Jesus told us: “Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful”
📖Luke 6:36 “Be merciful, just as [also] your Father is merciful”
The more one welcomes the Father’s love, the more we can love (cf. ccc 2842). Mercy is not a dimension among others but rather the centre of Christian life. There is no Christianity without mercy [Saint John Paul II, Encyclical Dives in Misericordia (30 November 1980); Misericordae Vultus Bull (11 April 2015); Apostolic Letter Misericordia et misera (20 November 2016)]. If all our Christianity does not lead us to mercy, then we have taken the wrong path because mercy is the only true destination of all spiritual journeys. It is one of the most beautiful fruits of mercy.
I remember that this theme was chosen for the first Angelus that I had to recite as Pope: mercy. And this has remained very much impressed on me, as a message that I would always have to offer as Pope, a message for everyday: mercy. I remember that on that day I even had an attitude that was somewhat “brazen”, as if I were advertising a book about mercy that had just been published by Cardinal Kasper. And on that day I felt very strongly that this is the message that I must offer as Bishop of Rome: mercy, mercy, please, forgiveness. God’s mercy is our liberation and our happiness. We live of mercy and we cannot afford to be without mercy. It is the air that we breathe. We are too poor to set any conditions. We need to forgive because we need to be forgiven.”
Video link:
https://youtu.be/6GYhxxVCApc