🧀The Cheese & Crackers = Quotes by St. John Chrysostom, St. Francis de Sales, and St. Joseph Marello
🌽The Veggies = My 2💰
🍟The Potatoes = “On the necessity of reading scripture daily and the importance of instructing children in the Holy Scriptures, by St. John Chrysostom
🍗The Meat = Book: ”The Prayer of the Presence of God, Answers to Prayer”, by Dom Augustin Guillerand, O. Cart
🍰The Dessert = YouTube Video: “Keeping Christ's Peace in Our Hearts”, byFr. Jacques Philippe (Part 7 of 8)
🥃 “Always give good heed to the Word of God, whether you hear or read it in private, or hearken to it when publicly preached: listen with attention and reverence; seek to profit by it, and do not let the precious words fall unheeded; receive them into your heart as a costly balsam; imitate the Blessed Virgin who 'kept all the sayings' concerning her Son, ‘in her heart.’ And remember that according as we hearken to and receive God’s words, so will He hearken and receive our supplications." By St. Francis de Sales
🐳 How many forces are unknown to us, how many secrets hidden from our scanty experience, how many areas of action as yet explored! By St. Joseph Marello
It was my great joy, and so perfect with what is continuing to evolve because of studying the Holy Liturgy. Lately it’s at Consecration, when the bread is first to be consecrated, in spirit it’s like He is lying there motionless, like in the tomb. Then comes the Consecration of the wine into the Precious Blood. At that moment it courses through His body, and Jesus is now alive in the house, present Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity right before my eyes. The veil is there, but nothing obscures faith in the reality of that presence. What a really high moment, a quivering one for sure.
Someone mentioned something to me that is taking my breath away upon reflection. She said the Father led His children to the promised land of milk and honey, it’s now heightened for God’s children. So it’s exciting to tell the Father thanks right after the Consecration. How grateful to be given better than milk and honey, the bread and wine turned into Jesus Himself to be with us as food and strength for the journey as we go back to the Father. This is priceless, and all via the Holy Mass.
To go deeper is to see that Jesus Himself is no longer just with me, as He always is, but so much greater is the fact that He is now in me. So much is always developing. This is the most valuable thing in my life besides the other Sacraments, a Holy Liturgy experience is profoundly transforming, day after day. For sure it’s nothing to enter in into a routine way. Recently met another Vietnamese lady who really, really, is inspiring. To hear about her experience at Holy Mass and the way she mindfully enters in brought me such joy. It was so good to see someone very serious about what was going on, appreciating being there and knowing why she was there, and concentrating deeply living the present moment. How truly amazing when we truly live this out, for then there is no time for talking, drinking water, hushing up a crying baby etc. The consecration is a mind blowing moment, and the Holy Mass should be a time wholeheartedly dedicated to the Lord.
Another important part of the Holy Liturgy capturing my attention lately is the epiclesis, when the Holy Spirit transforms the substance of bread and wine. That is a highlight because of what we witness spiritually. We were not present when the Holy Spirit overshadowed the Blessed Virgin and she conceived Jesus, but here we are at each Holy Mass a witness to the action of the Holy Spirit in Jesus becoming fully alive for us.
📖 Matthew 1:20 “Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord* appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her”
The real presence, and on top of that imagine being able to consume Jesus as our food and drink unto life, this is all so amazing. What a blessing to have been chosen and given the great gift of faith and to be Catholic. Thank you God, truly giving thanks for such favor.
Info from this site:
http://www.orthodox.net/journal/2011-09-08-saint-john-chrysostom-on-the-necessity-of-reading-scripture-daily.html
“I also always entreat you, and do not cease entreating you, not only to pay attention here to what I say, but also when you are at home, to persevere continually in reading the divine Scriptures. When I have been with each of you in private, I have not stopped giving you the same advice. Do not let anyone say to me those vain words, worthy of heavy condemnation, "I cannot leave the courthouse, I administer the business of the city, I practice a craft, I have a wife, I am raising children, I am in charge of a household, I am a man of the world; reading the Scriptures is not for me, but for those who have been set apart, who have settled on the mountaintops, who keep this way of life continuously." What are you saying, man? That attending to the Scriptures is not for you, since you are surrounded by a multitude of cares? Rather it is for you more than for them. They do not need the help of the divine Scriptures as much as those do who are involved in many occupations.
The monks, who are released from the clamor of the marketplace and have fixed their huts in the wilderness, who own nothing in common with anyone, but practice wisdom without fear in the calm of the quiet life, as if resting in a harbor, enjoy great security; but we, as if tossing in the midst of the sea, driven by a multitude of sins, always need continuous and ceaseless aid of the Scriptures. They rest far from the battle, and so they do not receive many wounds; but you stand continuously in the front rank, and you receive continual blows. So you need more remedies. Your wife provokes you, for example, your son grieves you, your servant angers you, your enemy plots against you, your friend envies you, your neighbor curses you, your fellow soldier trips you up, often a law suit threatens you, poverty troubles you, loss of you property gives you grief, prosperity puffs you up, misfortune depresses you, and many causes and compulsions to discouragement and grief, to conceit and desperation surround us on all sides, and a multitude of missiles falls from everywhere.
Therefore, we have a continuous need for the full armor of the Scriptures. For recognize, it is written, that you go through the midst of snares and walk on the ramparts of the city. For example, the designs of the flesh attack more fiercely those who live in the midst of the world. A handsome face, a splendid body strikes us in the eyes; a shameful phrase piercing our ears troubles our mind; and often an effeminate song weakens the tension of our soul. But why am I saying this? That which often seems the slightest of all these attacks, the scent of perfume falling from courtesans as they pass somewhere nearby has captured and taken us away as prisoners by a mere accident. And there are many things like these which besiege our souls: we need the divine medicines to heal the wounds which we have received and to protect us from those which we have not yet received but will receive. We must thoroughly quench the darts of the devil and beat them off by continual reading of the divine Scriptures.
For it is not possible, not possible for anyone to be saved without continually taking advantage of spiritual reading. Actually, we must be content, if even with continual use of this therapy, we are barely able to be saved. But when we are struck every day, if we do not use any medical care, what hope do we have of salvation? Reading the Scriptures is a great means of security against sinning. The ignorance of Scripture is a great cliff and a deep abyss; to know nothing of the divine laws is a great betrayal of salvation. This has given birth to heresies, this has introduced a corrupt way of life, this has put down the things above. For it is impossible, impossible for anyone to depart without benefit if he reads continually with attention.
On the importance of instructing children in the Holy Scriptures. "Do you wish your son to be obedient? From the very first, "Bring him up in the chastening and admonition of the Lord." Never deem it an unnecessary thing that he should be a diligent hearer of the divine Scriptures. For there the first thing he hears will be this: 'Honor thy father and thy mother'. So then, this is for you. Never say, 'This is the business of monks'. Am I making a monk of him? No, there is no need he should become a monk. Why be so afraid of a thing so replete with so much advantage? Make him a Christian. For it is of all things necessary for laymen to be acquainted with the lessons derived from this source, but especially for children. For theirs is an age full of folly and to this folly are added the bad examples derived from the heathen tales, where they are made acquainted with those heroes so admired amongst them…[A child] requires therefore the remedies against these things.
How is it not absurd to send children out to trades and to school, and to do all you can for these objectives, and yet, not to "Bring them up in the chastening and admonition of the Lord?" And for this reason truly we are the first to reap the fruits, because we bring up our children to be insolent and profligate, disobedient and mere vulgar fellows. Let us not then do this; no, let us listen to this blessed Apostle's admonitions "Let us bring them up in the chastening and admonition of the Lord". Let us give them a pattern. Let us make them from the earliest age apply themselves to the reading of the Scriptures…..Study not to make him an orator, but train him up to be a [Christian] philosopher. In the want of the one there will be no harm whatever; in the absence of the other, all the rhetoric in the world will be of no advantage.
Tempers are wanted, not talking; character, not cleverness; deeds not word. These gain a man the kingdom. These confer what are benefits indeed. Whet not his tongue but cleanse his soul. I do not say this to prevent you teaching him these things, but to prevent your attending to them exclusively. Do not imagine that the monk alone stands in need of these lessons from Scripture. Of all others, the children just about to enter into the world especially need them."
“This is a difficult subject to write about, because it is so vast. And yet I must say something about it, because it reflects God's glory so much. History is full of the answers to prayer. All the saints of the Old and New Testaments were great supplicants. Their lives were a continuous colloquy with God. He entered into everything, and they sought his assistance in all their needs. And God, they said repeatedly, always heard them. The movement of their souls toward him, whether to ask for grace or to thank him for it; whether to beg for the forgiveness of their sins or to praise the greatness of this best of Fathers, so real to them and so solicitous for their good - this is invariably the theme running through the Scriptures, or at least the predominant one.
The Psalms are full of the same idea. It runs through them like an incredibly rich and abundant sap, the sap of true life, simple yet strong, and expressive of all that is deepest in us. It is a theme we can repeat endlessly and, like all love's expressions, it never tires. It would seem to possess eternal youth and freshness and, ever new, grows with repetition ever greater and more splendid. At times, it seems to us as though God departs from the order he has established, when he hears the voices of his friends begging him to do so. This order is beautiful indeed. The divine perfections are reflected in lines we can barely discern, but which we are never tired of admiring. Dearly would I love to follow up this thought, but I would not know where to stop! Let the following suffice. ... Springs gush forth from rocks in the desert
📖 Numbers 20:11 “Then, raising his hand, Moses struck the rock twice* with his staff, and water came out in abundance, and the community and their livestock drank”
the waters of the sea of rivers divide to allow a vast concourse of people to pass over
📖 Exodus 14:21 “Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD drove back the sea with a strong east wind all night long and turned the sea into dry ground. The waters were split”
📖 Hebrews 11:29 “By faith they crossed the Red Sea as if it were dry land, but when the Egyptians attempted it they were drowned”
📖and Joshua 3:16 “the waters flowing from upstream halted, standing up in a single heap for a very great distance indeed, from Adam, a city in the direction of Zarethan; those flowing downstream toward the Salt Sea of the Arabah disappeared entirely.* Thus the people crossed over opposite Jericho”
The walls of cities fall down
📖 Joshua 6:20 “As the horns blew, the people began to shout. When they heard the sound of the horn, they raised a tremendous shout. The wall collapsed, and the people attacked the city straight ahead and took it”
and 📖 Hebrews 11:30 “By faith the walls of Jericho fell after being encircled for seven days”
enemies are put to flight
📖 Leviticus 26:8 “Five of you will put a hundred of your foes to flight, and a hundred of you will put to flight ten thousand, till your enemies fall before your sword”
and manna descends daily from heaven
📖 Exodus 16:15 “On seeing it, the Israelites asked one another, “What is this?” for they did not know what it was. But Moses told them, “It is the bread which the LORD has given you to eat”
The sick are healed, the lame walk
📖 Matthew 8:16 “When it was evening, they brought him many who were possessed by demons, and he drove out the spirits by a word and cured all the sick”
and the dead are raised to life
📖 Luke 8:54-55 “But he took her by the hand and called to her, “Child, arise!” Her breath returned and she immediately arose. He then directed that she should be given something to eat.
Hardened sinners are touched by grace, while the minds of men are elevated so that they perceive beyond them perspectives of light by which they almost seem to enter into the very truth of God. Wills are strengthened, and at once take control of passions till then unleashed. Divine Love comes so near to souls that he seems almost to consume them, and to transform them into his own likeness
📖 Deuteronomy 4:24 “For the LORD, your God, is a consuming fire, a jealous God”
Such and even more wonderful things which can only be revealed to my dazed sight by the light from beyond - this is what prayer can do. This is what it has done and is continually doing. In face of all this, I can only remain silent. When discussing these things it is easy enough to find words and phrases in which to express the movement of the mind when concerned with the things of God. But when it is a question of making known God's action to the world, above all to the world of souls, mere human language is altogether inadequate to describe the reality. We must either give up the attempt or return to the unfailing simplicity of what the Holy Spirit tells us in the sacred Scriptures”.
https://youtu.be/6Ud3qwBiGok