🏉 “The Church has taken away the kingdom from the synagogue. Christ is my kingdom. The kingdom of Heaven is taken by force when Christ is denied by those of His own household, and is worshipped by the Gentiles. He is taken by force when he is rejected by the former, but cherished by the latter.” By St. Ambrose
🥌 “In the life of S. Perpetua and her fellow-martyrs, we read that she was forewarned of her martyrdom in a dream. She beheld a golden ladder reaching from earth to heaven, which was hedged in and surrounded on all sides by knives and sharp swords. By this ladder they had to climb up to heaven. At its foot lay a horrible dragon who sought to hinder the climbers. She saw moreover one of her companions, Satyrus by name, bravely mounting the ladder, and inviting his companions to follow him. When she had related her vision they all understood that they were to suffer martyrdom. And so indeed it befell. Thus let each believer consider that with his utmost energy he must struggle up to Heaven by means of a ladder hedged about with knives”. By Fr. Cornelius A Lapide
📚Book excerpt:“I love to repeat what is so deep in my heart—that this is the woman’s season. It is a season of burgeoning life, a season of tending life, and a season of becoming. This is perhaps the greatest theological thunderclap of Advent: that God, who is, who only is—who has no was, who has no will be—now, in the Incarnation, is becoming. God is doing something that, as God, He could not do: He could not change, He could not grow, He could not become. He simply is essence. He is the “is-ness” that is the heart of being. Now, choosing to become incarnate, God, as man, can become. During the Advent season we commemorate His becoming in the womb of a woman, the season of God’s becoming.”
When poetic sparks fly, you know something is touching. Well that is going to be served up next week.
The focus is now on the Book: “The Cloud of Unknowing”, chapter 39. Here is the rundown of the second Advent Exercise:
⛅️The Cloud of Unknowing
"Find a repeatable word compatible with the nature of prayer. If you understand prayer, you will be able to select a proper word more easily. The essence of prayer is a devout intention directed to God to reduce evil and increase good. The word “sin” summarizes all evil. “God” is the epitome of good. These are marvelously compact words with profound content."
(MC=My Comments- The key is finding a short word with much meaning. A compact word with a profound compact. Hadn’t read anything in that book all yearlong, and searching for 2020 material, that caught my eye. After reading the following about finding short words with much meaning, my compact word with profound compact is this:
In the style of The Cloud of Unknowing, the word that came to me was peace. “Peace” and it summarizes “Christ Abiding”. “Peace” is the epitome of wellbeing.
Hours later, these thoughts developed: It's impossible to be whole without peace, and it's impossible for stability to reign without peace. The coming of the Prince of peace, He who leads us to the Kingdom. We first experience the Prince, and it is He who takes us to the King. We can't reach higher grounds without peace. Experiencing Jesus as King is different from the Princely relationship that we can have. There is strength in peace, there is power in peace. Was planning on sharing this part with Addie, as the textingwas going on, her text came in saying the following:
Addie= ,,,,,,, I was inspired to add to your word of “PEACE”,,,,, because it is such a POWERFUL WORD,,,,, the base for every good fruit of the Holy Spirit.
I will now pray for my own inspiration from the Holy Spirit,,,,,,
Me=Wrote my Text Mess before receiving yours. Wow, what a start to this advent. Got this from the Holy Spirit: “There is power in peace!” Now it is clear how this is a journey. As time goes we may be given examples of how and why Peace is so powerful. At that point things cemented in the spirit, it can become a part of me resulting in a visible transformation. Becoming more transformed, looking like Jesus in the Father’s sight is key. This really is taking on a life, what a great start to this Advent Season. So glad for partners, Clara shared something, that will be an upcoming sharing.
Addie= Soooooooo Amazing!!!!!!!——-BOTH OF US GOT “POWER” with the PEACE word,,,,,, ONE HOLY SPIRIT,,,,, many bodies ,,,,,,,, BE AFRAID,,,,, BE VERY AFRAID,,,,,, I say these words with SUCH EXCITEMENT OF HOW THE HOLY SPIRIT TRULY WORKS,,,,,,,,,, if we are OPEN,,,,
⛅️The Cloud of Unknowing
"If God ever leads me to shorter words with this much meaning, I will use them instead. You should do the same. Do not waste time searching for the right word. If God inspires you to use one of the two I have mentioned, then do it."
(MC=My Comments- Plans are surely to use the word "sin" and "God" another day in Advent and pray through them. Hope all continue with the exercise and do the same. It's not a flash in the pan thing, but an going dialog for a further understanding of the words we get or using the words of the Cloud of unknowing. An example of a no flash in the pan interaction was what we just experienced. We must let the footsteps of the Lord lead us to higher grounds, an understanding that continues unto eternity. Green is Addie’s favorite color. In my life she is a Rose, a green Rose, one of the GIG's colors and of course Roses have thorns. But the sweetness can't be beat. Led to share with her the significance of a green Rose. Our discourse:
Me= Do you know anything about green roses? For sure you know there is no other "Addie" like you, or will there ever be, and that's a fact!!! Also green is one of da GIG's color to signify growth.
Info on a green Rose -“Rosa chinensis viridiflora”. They are true roses, but unlike other varieties of roses, they don't have petals - they only have sepals which are green anyway"
Addie’s response: “Thank You For My Beautiful Green Rose; the info is soooooo interesting ; I had to look up “sepal”: “each of the parts of the calyx of a flower, enclosing the petals and typically green and leaflike”
Me= Ok let's go deeper, that’s how it is in the spiritual life, there is meaning to the meaning, and it goes on infinitely because with God there is always more, more, more. Can you now see why you like green and are perfectly suited to be a Green Rose. Take note of the function of a sepal, don’t you function like a sepal? Yes or No?
“A sepal is a part of the flower of angiosperms. Usually green, sepals typically function as protection for the flower in bud, and often as support for the petals when in bloom. The term sepalum was coined by Noël Martin Joseph de Necker in 1790, and derived from the Greek σκέπη, a covering.
Addie=,,,,,,, Yessssssssss!!!!!! I want and TRY to Protect and SUPPORT OTHERS!!!!! I TRY TO RAISE “ 3” JOHNS; this Apostle had the COURAGE, TRUST AND STRENGTH TO STAND AT THE FOOT OF THE CROSS WITH OUR LADY!!!
I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THE MEANING OF MY GREEN ROSE; SOOOOOOOOO BEAUTIFUL !!!
⭐️✨💚💚💚⭐️✨
Me= Asked you to be one of the ones who would be willing to participate in an Advent Exercise with me, and you were the first to respond and do so blindly. Linda came in second, and the bronze goes to Clara, who just sent me a song that will be used as the prelude to the exercise.
youtu.be/iO7ySn-Swwc
Please listen with the heart and implore the Holy Spirit to come along with His spouse Our Blessed Lady, who have St. Joseph at her side and Jesus is of course always present and the Father over all reigning supreme
Addie= I found The Music On My Apple App : Soooooooo Beautiful !!!!
I am sharing it here; the Deluxe Version!!
music.apple.com/us/album/o-come-o-come-emmanuel/694972234?i=694972309
Me=Yes, now “dat’s what I’m talkin bout”! God knows it’s always about more, more, and more, that’s what Deluxe signifies, it's a sign, proving that. In the spiritual life we are only scratching the surface, so much to master and learn, for it will go on infinitely. Entering the picture at this point is Claudia, like in horse racing, turning up as a "show"
Claudia: I need it. For me I felt the urgency and desire to come. There’s more but I can’t get the words to express it yet. Trudy,the song, it was soothing, I just want to keep listening.
Me= Listening to it over and over myself. Had to tell Clara that this is my most favorite, favorite, Advent song, and this rendition is perfect. It might be my all time favorite, not might, it is, until it's dethroned. It matches my spiritual growth, oh God, thank you so much. Love a violin and the cello is like it's "kissing cousin". At the moment the song came, it was work time, busy with the Ijournal, and had just been inspired to create a poem after my 1st Advent exercise. With This prelude song for the Advent Season, the tone have been set. It's on, thank you Jesus, the exercise, the poem, the song, our journey, and to top that off a phone call a few minutes ago from Fr. Denzel. He called to say the Advent candle wreath just arrived today. He didn't receive it on Saturday and was thinking maybe it would come on Monday, but he wanted it on the start date, Sunday, Nov. 29th. He just happened to go outside for something and noticed a package, he thought it was for the church, and what a happy surprise on a Sunday. He could now have the candle wreath to use when he does his night prayers, he was indeed glad.
⛅️Cloud of Unknowing: The Meditation continues
"If you think of a better word, adopt it for your own use."
(MC=My Comments- Came up with my own word, but hopefully before the season is over will be given another word, for the first word given was definitely an "Advent"word.
⛅️️Cloud of Unknowing:
If you would rather pray with no word at all, then ignore what I have said. Though I highly recommend brief prayer, there is no limit on the frequency of prayer. Pray in the dimension of the Spirit, never stopping until you find what you are seeking. The person in great distress will continue calling for help until someone hears and responds. Pray until you penetrate the cloud of unknowing".
(MC=My Comments- My constant word will be the one we learned from the monks in one of the videos we used for prayer: Yeshoua, Yeshoua, Yeshoua. They pronounce it like this: “Yea--Ho--Shoe--Aah, Aah, Aah”
📖Romans 13:11-12 “And that, knowing the season, that it is now the hour for us to rise from sleep. For now our salvation is nearer than when we believed. The night is passed And the day is at hand. Let us, therefore cast off the works of darkness and put on the armour of light”
📖John 1:9 “The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world”
Info from this site: https://www.catholicsstrivingforholiness.org/temptations-daily-struggle-and-maturity/
📖Luke 7:31 “To what then shall I compare the men of this generation, and what are they like? They are like children sitting in the market place and calling to one another, “We piped to you, and you did not dance; we wailed, and you did not weep.”
“Our Lord, with his divine skill at teaching, wants to help us understand the quality of the love he expects from us. He alludes to a popular children’s song or game in order to reproach us for our resistance to grace, our shallow excuses.
Our path on earth requires continual struggle, without making any compromises with the enemy of our soul. To maintain the fight, we need God’s grace and unbending fortitude.
- In the pilgrimage of our present life, St Augustine teaches, we will always have temptations, for it is through them that we make progress. No one knows himself unless he is tempted; no one can be crowned unless he has conquered; no one can conquer unless he has struggled; and no one can struggle unless he is tempted or has an enemy.
- Without struggle, there will be no victory, no peace. For victory and peace cannot be attained if loyalty and resolve to win the combat are lacking (St. Josemaría). Supernatural peace is the rich fruit of grace, but our full response is needed, and this presupposes a strong, mature, well-developed personality for its foundation.
- Don’t say, “That’s the way I’m made…, it’s my character.” It’s your lack of character.
- No one is born with their character already shaped; character is formed over the course of a lifetime through the repetition of certain acts, the fostering of good dispositions, and the determination to cut out what has to be cut out. Together with these human means, there needs to be trusting abandonment to the will of God, our almighty Father. St Bernard says: I shall go forth to the mountain of grace and to the hills of mercy, whose treasures I well know are found in Christ Jesus. I will go to the one who is filled with grace and truth, to receive of his fullness, or rather to be received into his fullness, so that one day I may go out to meet him in the company of all his members, after reaching the full measure of the age of Christ, for no one can ascend to heaven except by way of the one who descended from heaven … While here on earth we have every reason to trust, and none to despair. We can look confidently to heaven to receive precious and perfect gifts from the Father of all lights and mercies.
Our Lord makes use of difficulties and temptations to strengthen our character, as we fight against discouragement and struggle on bravely, relying on God’s strength.
- Temptation, St. Josemaria wrote, is overcome by prayer and mortification: When they were troublesome to me, I wore sackcloth, I afflicted myself with fasting; I prayed with head bowed…Be strong, firm, upright, unyielding before the deceitful attractions of unfaithfulness.
- The determination not to give in but to keeping struggling does not mean we have to be insensitive to sorrow and tiredness. What is needed is a sufficient reason to respond to grace: to love, believe and hope.
The difference between Christians and those who do not know God, St Cyprian says, is that the latter complain in the face of adversity, whereas we are only strengthened by it.
- The basis for this strength is God’s grace, supported by an upright character and a resolute will that refuses to give in. Nothing worthwhile is achieved simply on the basis of initial enthusiasm.What good are plants that blossom and then quickly wither? St John Chrysostom asks. Our Lord requires the steadfast endurance of his followers. We must pursue our goal resolutely, patiently, using the right means to attain it.
- Will-power. -Energy. -Example. -What has to be done, is done… Without wavering… Without giving in to human respect. If we are not decisive, we cannot go far in our interior life, apostolate or work. St. Josemaria often reminded us: “Pray that I may never be satisfied with what is easy.” -I have prayed. Now what’s needed is for you to carry out that fine resolution.
We need to grow in strength of character, in fortitude, for we are not contending against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. We need to cultivate serene courage, flexible and intelligent daring. As St John Chrysostom teaches,
- God has given us intelligence to overcome ignorance, to make correct judgements, and as a shield and light to stand ever-steadfast amid life’s trials and tribulations. Only in this way will our love for God and souls be effective and not get lost in dreams and fantasies.
We need strength of character to correct ourselves as often as necessary, and to take the risk that every step forward entails. This is the only way to arrive at maturity.
- In order to walk, St. Josemaria explained, we need to have one foot in the air. We can’t get anywhere with both feet planted on the ground. In every human venture there’s always the chance of failure, but if you refuse to lift either foot, you’ll never get anywhere. By responding to grace, we will be increasingly better instruments in God’s hands. We will never allow our laziness or indecision to slow down the apostolate or obstruct God’s Will
- Temper your will, strengthen your will: let it become, with God’s grace, like a spur of steel. Only by being strong-willed can you know how not to be so in order to obey (St. Josemaria).” EXCERPT FROM THE BOOK OF MEDITATIONS
“If we penetrate into the profound mystery which occupies the mind of the Church during this season, we find that this mystery of the Coming, or Advent, of Jesus is at once simple and threefold. It is simple, for it is the one same Son of God that is coming; it is threefold, because he comes at three different times and in three different ways. In the first Coming, says St. Bernard, " he comes in the flesh and in weakness; in the second, he comes in spirit and in power ; in the third, he comes in glory and in majesty; and the second Coming is the means whereby we pass from the first to the third." This, then, is the mystery of Advent. Let us now listen to the explanation of this threefold visit of Christ, given to us by Peter of Blois, in his third Sermon de Adventu: "There are three Comings of " our Lord ; the first in the flesh, the second in the soul, the third at the judgment. The first was at midnight, according to those words of the Gospel : At midnight there was a cry made, Lo the Bridegroom cometh! But this first Coming is long since past, for Christ has been seen on the earth and has conversed among men. We are now in the second Coming, provided only we are such as that he may thus come to us; for he has said that if we love him, he will come unto us and will take up his abode with us.”
So that this second Coming is full of uncertainty to us; for who, save the Spirit of God, knows them that are of God? They that are raised out of themselves by the desire of heavenly things, know indeed when he comes; but whence he cometh, or whither he goeth, they know not. As for the third Coming, it is most certain that it will be, most uncertain when it will be ;for nothing is more sure than death, and nothing less sure than the hour of death. When they shall say, peace and security, says the Apostle, then shall sudden destruction come upon them, as the pains upon her that is with child, and they shall not escape.
So that the first Coming was humble and hidden, the second is mysterious and full of love, the third will be majestic and terrible. In his first Coming, Christ was judged by men unjustly; in his second, he renders us just by his grace; in his third, "he will judge all things with justice. In his first, a Lamb; in his last, a Lion; in the one between the two, the tenderest of Friends. The holy Church, therefore, during Advent, awaits in tears and with ardour the arrival of her Jesus in his first Coming. For this, she borrows the fervid expressions of the Prophets, to which she joins her own supplications.
These longings for the Messias expressed by the Church, are not a mere commemoration of the desires of the ancient Jewish people; they have a reality and efficacy of their own,—an influence in the great act of God's munificence, whereby he gave us his own Son. From all eternity, the prayers of the ancient Jewish people and the prayers of the Christian Church ascended together to the prescient hearing of God; and it was after receiving and granting them, that he sent, in the appointed time, that blessed dew upon the earth, which made it bud forth the Saviour.”
Video link: youtu.be/3H69fRclxR0