Really spoke to my heart today:

O LORD, Master of my life, grant that I may not be infected with the spirit of slothfulness and inquisitiveness, with the spirit of ambition and vain talking. Grant instead to me, your servant, the spirit of purity and of humility, the spirit of patience and neighborly love. O Lord and King, grant me the grace of being aware of my sins and of not thinking evil of those of my brethren. For you are blessed, now and ever, and forever. (St. Ephrem)

Thanks to Elizabeth Foss for posting her Lenten meditations.

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

Prayer time: make it a treat!

We all struggle with finding time to be with our Lord. Prayer time is tough, but it is even harder for me to sit and listen and enjoy my time with my Best Friend Jesus.

The best way I have found to make prayer time something to look forward to and not feel guilty about not doing it enough...is making it a treat.

Find a special spot and light a candle, put your favorite devotionals in a pretty nearby basket. Be prepared with your favorite books and prayer journal.

If you are a coffee drinker, have this be your special time to have coffee with Our Lord. If you like having a soda, special tea, a hot bath, a piece of chocolate, or a glass of wine...set this time aside to spend with your best friend.

It will be a treat for you, and for Our Lord as well. Enjoy basking in His presence like Mary at his feet taking it all in!!!

THY WILL BE DONE!!!

Mary and Joseph on FACEBOOK?

THY WILL BE DONE!!!+JMJ+

Meditation:

Being a mom to seven son's...yesterday's reading really hit home with me...

Reading 1 2 Mc 7:1, 20-31

It happened that seven brothers with their mother were arrested
and tortured with whips and scourges by the king,
to force them to eat pork in violation of God's law.

Most admirable and worthy of everlasting remembrance was the mother,
who saw her seven sons perish in a single day,
yet bore it courageously because of her hope in the Lord.
Filled with a noble spirit that stirred her womanly heart with manly courage,
she exhorted each of them
in the language of their ancestors with these words:
"I do not know how you came into existence in my womb;
it was not I who gave you the breath of life,
nor was it I who set in order
the elements of which each of you is composed.
Therefore, since it is the Creator of the universe
who shapes each man's beginning,
as he brings about the origin of everything,
he, in his mercy,
will give you back both breath and life,
because you now disregard yourselves for the sake of his law."

Antiochus, suspecting insult in her words,
thought he was being ridiculed.
As the youngest brother was still alive, the king appealed to him,
not with mere words, but with promises on oath,
to make him rich and happy if he would abandon his ancestral customs:
he would make him his Friend
and entrust him with high office.
When the youth paid no attention to him at all,
the king appealed to the mother,
urging her to advise her boy to save his life.
After he had urged her for a long time,
she went through the motions of persuading her son.
In derision of the cruel tyrant,
she leaned over close to her son and said in their native language:
"Son, have pity on me, who carried you in my womb for nine months,
nursed you for three years, brought you up,
educated and supported you to your present age.
I beg you, child, to look at the heavens and the earth
and see all that is in them;
then you will know that God did not make them out of existing things;
and in the same way the human race came into existence.
Do not be afraid of this executioner,
but be worthy of your brothers and accept death,
so that in the time of mercy I may receive you again with them."

She had scarcely finished speaking when the youth said:
"What are you waiting for?
I will not obey the king's command.
I obey the command of the law given to our fathers through Moses.
But you, who have contrived every kind of affliction for the Hebrews,
will not escape the hands of God."

May I always be a good example to my children...Lord bless my sons (and all my children) to live a life dedicated to you!!!

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

PERFECT?

I was meditating on "the perfect life" this morning...

If I was perfect...
If my husband was perfect...
If my kids were perfect...
If my house was perfect...
If my neighborhood was perfect...
If my church was perfect...
If my friends were perfect...

There would be no desire for HEAVEN...

No striving for being a better person...
A better wife...
A better mom...
A better housekeeper...
A better neighbor...
A better Christian...
A better friend...

Suffering is a part of every ones life...it is what you do with it that makes you different...we must embrace the struggles to become a better person and change the world around us. It takes starting over each day with Christ on your side to help you through. May God grant me the strength and wisdom to be the best (not perfect) person I can be!!! With me, it especially means keeping my mouth shut and my ears open to the inspirations of the Holy Spirit!!!

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

ONE IN CHRIST:

Ephesians 4:1-6

Unity of the Spirit
1 Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, 3 being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.

+AMEN+

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

Words of wisdom:

DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU but I can't tell (I mean nag) my kids enough about staying close to the Lord and living a Godly life. Especially with half my kids being teens or older, I find myself awake at 3 in the morning trying to figure out how to share the truth with them to be strong in the Lord and never give up hope!!!

I just cry when I hear this song and pray that my kids will catch the faith and live it each day!!!

I printed this as my daughter's wedding shower card...what more could I possibly say?

Three in the morning, and I’m still awake
So I picked up a pen and a page
And I started writing just what I’d say
If we were face to face
I’d tell you just what you mean to me
Tell you these simple truths

Be strong in the Lord
And never give up hope
You’re gonna do great things
I already know
God’s got His hand on You
So don’t live life in fear
Forgive and forget
But don’t forget why you’re here
Take your time and pray
These are the words I would say

Last time we spoke you said you were hurting
And I felt your pain in my heart
I want to tell you that I keep on praying
That love will find you where you are
I know cause I’ve already been there
So please hear these simple truths
`
from one simple life to another
I will say… come find peace in the Father

I LOVE YOU SWEETIE!!!
THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

Imatation of Christ Meditation...

It has been a real long time since I shared my meditation on The Imitation of Christ. It is the best devotional book to just pick up and read a little at a time. It really puts so many of my daily struggles and passions into perspective of what Christ expects of me. I thought I would try to finish up the book and share the rest of my thoughts. Here is the message on receiving communion worthily.

From Book Four: The Seventh Chapter: Blessed Sacrament:The Examination of Conscience and the Resolution to Amend

You can Read here: or Buy here:

The Voice of Christ

ABOVE all, God’s priest should approach the celebration and reception of this Sacrament with the deepest humility of heart and suppliant reverence, with complete faith and the pious intention of giving honor to God.

Carefully examine your conscience, then. Cleanse and purify it to the best of your power by true contrition and humble confession, that you may have no burden, know of no remorse, and thus be free to come near. Let the memory of all your sins grieve you, and especially lament and bewail your daily transgressions. Then if time permits, confess to God in the secret depths of your heart all the miseries your passions have caused.

Lament and grieve because you are still so worldly, so carnal, so passionate and unmortified, so full of roving lust, so careless in guarding the external senses, so often occupied in many vain fancies, so inclined to exterior things and so heedless of what lies within, so prone to laughter and dissipation and so indisposed to sorrow and tears, so inclined to ease and the pleasures of the flesh and so cool to austerity and zeal, so curious to hear what is new and to see the beautiful and so slow to embrace humiliation and dejection, so covetous of abundance, so niggardly in giving and so tenacious in keeping, so inconsiderate in speech, so reluctant in silence, so undisciplined in character, so disordered in action, so greedy at meals, so deaf to the Word of God, so prompt to rest and so slow to labor, so awake to empty conversation, so sleepy in keeping sacred vigils and so eager to end them, so wandering in your attention, so careless in saying the office, so lukewarm in celebrating, so heartless in receiving, so quickly distracted, so seldom fully recollected, so quickly moved to anger, so apt to take offense at others, so prone to judge, so severe in condemning, so happy in prosperity and so weak in adversity, so often making good resolutions and carrying so few of them into action.

When you have confessed and deplored these and other faults with sorrow and great displeasure because of your weakness, be firmly determined to amend your life day by day and to advance in goodness. Then, with complete resignation and with your entire will offer yourself upon the altar of your heart as an everlasting sacrifice to the honor of My name, by entrusting with faith both body and soul to My care, that thus you may be considered worthy to draw near and offer sacrifice to God and profitably receive the Sacrament of My Body. For there is no more worthy offering, no greater satisfaction for washing away sin than to offer yourself purely and entirely to God with the offering of the Body of Christ in Mass and Communion.

If a man does what he can and is truly penitent, however often he comes to Me for grace and pardon, “As I live, saith the Lord God, I desire not the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live”; Ezek. 33:11. I will no longer remember his sins, but all will be forgiven him.

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

Offer it all up for your family and for Priest:

I got to hear two speakers this week speak on the importance of mom's taking their daily sufferings and uniting them to Christ for the salvation of our families and for Priest.

Here are some notes I took. Make sure to check out their website here.

Fr Jordi Rivero

Through suffering we share deeper into our relationship with Christ.

Our faith has to be contagious!

Don’t be embarrassed to be catholic (Catechism:#853)

The narrow way of the cross is hard.

Early Christians believed in the power of the cross…so do we!

We must proclaim the truth and bring other closer to Christ.

At times when we are so wounded we need to embrace suffering not just walk away.

Jesus faces His cross and embraces it; we need to unite our sufferings to His cross.

He is empowering us to embrace our cross and the Love of God.

Suffering is our greatest tool to love.

It sounds strange but rejoice in suffering.

Say to the Lord, “I know you are with me”.

We are set free when we give ourselves to Christ in suffering. It is a terrible injustice by not trying to change our ways.

Let the Holy Spirit burn in our hearts and we can change others.

Luke 12:49

"I came to bring fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already set ablaze!

Let our fire consume others to fall in love with Christ.

We must learn to DISCIPLINE ourselves.

Become victims of love in our everyday life.

Nothing can stop us and our love for Jesus.

Our entire life belongs to Christ. Are we really ready to say yes and offer up our spirit to him?

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mrs.Lourdes Pinto (spoke on Spiritual Motherhood)

We must embrace our calling in life as women and mothers…this is our vocation.

Our most ordinary daily life actions…the tedious things that annoy us, we must united them with Christ.

Our prayers and sacrifices can help others, especially priest. The priest that God put in our lives as well as the priest we don’t even know.

St Terese the little flower at age 15 offered up many sacrifices for priest all over the world.

We live in a Domestic Monastery; this is where our lives can be transmitted by just hugging our children and doing our daily, mundane tasks for Christ.

A mother’s hands…there is infinite power in a mother’s hands. We must use our hands to bless our Children. Just as a priest’s hands are sacred so to a mother must transmit the love of Christ to her children with her hands.

As mothers we must make our life pure.

Turn everything into a prayer. Then we are in constant prayer turning everything to God for the purity of our family and for priests.

Try to make time for prayer. The sacraments, especially communion, also try to get to holy hour.

Satan wants to destroy motherhood and disregard our small tasks of love for our family.

Our mission field is our family and home…it is our Domestic Monastery.

Motherhood of the cross: Behold the handmade of the Lord

At the cross Mary is called Women…Christ gives her womanhood to all mankind. She becomes our mother and we become her children.

Mothers have so much to offer the world through their daily trials and struggles…we must use it to bear fruit.

Venerable Concepción (Conchita) Cabrera de Armida
archangelsfamily.org/heroes/conchita.html

She found joy in the cross, asked for souls, and had pure love.

John 15: How does Jesus love us?

We must be at the foot of the cross so our maternal heart can expand with love!

When we enter our spiritual mothering we can have room to add our intentions for priest. Priests are chosen instruments of God. They need our prayers and sacrifices; they are being attacked by Satan. They are our shepherds who lead us to heaven. We need priest to transform us to be holy and become saints!

God is choosing ordinary women like us to become warriors of love for our family, priests, and the world!

Mary crushed the head of Satan, we must be her heel!!!

To become prayer warriors, we must desire to become saints and live heroic lives in our HOME.

We will obtain a crown of glory in place of our suffering, provided we remember to offer up our suffering for Christ.

WE all have interiors suffering in our souls, even just offering up our hurt feelings is redemptive, when we unite our pain with Christ and offer it all up for our family and Christ’s beloved priests.

When we enter into Jesus’ heart we will find our pearl of great treasure.

When our children are complaining and we don’t have anything left to offer them ask Christ to turn our hearts of stone into soft loving hearts.

When a child refuses to eat or complains about food, don’t be bitter. Offer it up for those who don’t believe in the true presence of our Lord in the Eucharist.

Simple actions like these will turn our days into fruit for our family, priest, and the world.

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

St. Catharine of Bologna (1413-1463)

Thanks Joann for sending this:

Catharine wrote a book on the seven spiritual weapons to be used against temptation.
"Jesus Christ gave up his life that we might live," she said.
"Therefore, whoever wishes to carry the cross for his sake must take up the proper weapons
for the contest, especially those mentioned here.
First, diligence;
second, distrust of self;
third, confidence in God;
fourth, remembrance of the Passion;
fifth, mindfulness of one's own death;
sixth, remembrance of God's glory;
seventh, the injunctions of Sacred Scripture
following the example of Jesus Christ in the desert"
(On the Seven Spiritual Weapons).

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

My heroic minute:

One of my Lenten Sacrifices has been to get back to my habit of going to bed early and waking up early. It isn't too hard for me since I am a morning person. As I get older it is harder to get up, and now that most of my children are in the teen or older bracket it isn't as easy to go to bed at 9pm anymore.

So my Guardian Angel and I have a deal...wake me up at 5:30 so I can have some meditation time before the babies start waking...so far so good. Then the time change came and boy oh boy was this a challenge!!!

So this morning after staying up way late doing laundry, cleaning, and watching a movie with my hubby and big kids, I could barely get up.

At 5:28am- my Guardian Angel woke me up...

At 5:29am- I convinced myself that they best thing to do for my family was to go back to sleep so I would have energy for my kids and wouldn't be a grouch...

At 6:08am- I got a text message and my phone woke me up...my first thought was, why is my angel getting me up...doesn't he know I need more energy to take care of the kids? Maybe I will close my eyes for a couple more minutes...

At 6:10am-As I was still pondering getting up...my phone rang!!! This is crazy...I got up and saw that my 19 year old son who had jury duty was calling me because he got locked in his "garage room" and couldn't get in the house.

I finally got my lazy self up and praying. I figured God had some real important stuff to tell me today or someone really needed my prayers and failed sufferings. Had about a half hour with God...then started to convince myself at 6:40am that a couple of minutes with my eyes closed on the couch wouldn't hurt...I laid down, put the blanket over me and then at 6:44am I heard the baby crying upstairs!!!

Maybe I will get a nap later...but I doubt it.

Thy Will Be Done!!! +JMJ+

Tips for disciplining children:

"Honor your Father and your Mother." (Exodus 20:12)

1.Do not over-react, the less emotion the better and the punishment needs to be proportional to the infraction.

2.United front- mom and dad must be on the same page and punishments should be discussed as a couple before announcing it to the child.

3.You need to make the children understand the gravity of the offense and why you are punishing them.

4.You need to determine what they most enjoy doing and use that as collateral (cell phones, video games, computer, facebook, ipod, dessert,…)

5.Disrespect can never be tolerated.

6.The punishment should be pro-active. Give them a book, an assignment or a chore so as to make good use of this time.

7.Unconditional love- no matter what happens, they still need to see that you love them.

God bless,
Fr. Michael Sliney, LC

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

PUSH:

No not advice for those in labor...

just a great reminder from a holy priest named Father Dan Leary.

P.U.S.H.= pray until something happens

THY WILL DONE!!! +JMJ+

Today's Gospel

Gospel Luke 1: 46-56
Mary said:

“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my savior.
for he has looked upon his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed:
the Almighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him
in every generation.
He has shown the strength of his arm,
and has scattered the proud in their conceit.
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones
and has lifted up the lowly.
He has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has come to the help of his servant Israel
for he remembered his promise of mercy,
the promise he made to our fathers,
to Abraham and his children for ever.”

Mary remained with Elizabeth about three months
and then returned to her home.

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

Receiving Communion and Spiritual Communion

My meditation today from the Intimation of Christ.

The Sixth Chapter
An Inquiry on the Proper Thing to Do Before Communion

The Disciple

WHEN I consider Your dignity, O Lord, and my own meanness, I become very much frightened and confused. For if I do not receive, I fly from Life, and if I intrude unworthily, I incur Your displeasure. What, then, shall I do, my God, my Helper and Adviser in necessity? Teach me the right way. Place before me some short exercise suitable for Holy Communion, for it is good to know in what manner I ought to make my heart ready devoutly and fervently for You, to receive Your Sacrament for the good of my soul, or even to celebrate so great and divine a sacrifice.

When you can't get to daily mass make a spiritual communion.

Act of Spiritual Communion
by St. Alphonsus Liguori (A.D. 1696-1787)

My Jesus, I believe that Thou art present
in the Blessed Sacrament.
I love Thee above all things and I desire Thee in my soul.
Since I cannot now receive Thee sacramentally,
come at least spiritually into my heart.
As though thou wert already there,
I embrace Thee and unite myself wholly to Thee;
permit not that I should ever be separated from Thee.

Thy Will Be Done!!! +JMJ+

Meditation: THY WILL BE DONE!!!

From: THE GIFT OF FAITH by Father Tadeusz Dajczer (page 50 chapter two)

Maturity in faith means the willingness to give up to the Lord everything that He gives us, entrusting ourselves totally to Him.
We should not attach ourselves; not even to spiritual gifts, and not even to Holy Communion. God's will is the only one reality which one may attach oneself to, with out claiming it for oneself. Everything besides God's will is a gift and a means to reach the aim, but it is not the aim. If we claim the gift for ourselves, God will either destroy it or-through giving us the experience of suffering-show us that we have nothing to offer, that we are helpless and that it is God who gives us everything.

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

Imitation of Christ: Meditation of the day-

What a perfect meditation for the Year of the Priest that is ending soon.

The Fifth Chapter
The Dignity of the Sacrament and of the Priesthood


The Voice of Christ

HAD you the purity of an angel and the sanctity of St. John the Baptist, you would not be worthy to receive or administer this Sacrament. It is not because of any human meriting that a man consecrates and administers the Sacrament of Christ, and receives the Bread of Angels for his food. Great is the Mystery and great the dignity of priests to whom is given that which has not been granted the angels. For priests alone, rightly ordained in the Church, have power to celebrate Mass and consecrate the Body of Christ.

The priest, indeed, is the minister of God, using the word of God according to His command and appointment. God, moreover, is there—the chief Author and invisible Worker to Whom all is subject as He wills, to Whom all are obedient as He commands.

In this most excellent Sacrament, therefore, you ought to believe in God rather than in your own senses or in any visible sign, and thus, with fear and reverence draw near to such a work as this. Look to yourself and see whose ministry has been given you through the imposition of the bishop’s hands.

Behold, you have been made a priest, consecrated to celebrate Mass! See to it now that you offer sacrifice to God faithfully and devoutly at proper times, and that you conduct yourself blamelessly. You have not made your burden lighter. Instead, you are now bound by stricter discipline and held to more perfect sanctity.

A priest ought to be adorned with all virtues and show the example of a good life to others. His way lies not among the vulgar and common habits of men but with the angels in heaven and the perfect men on earth. A priest clad in the sacred vestments acts in Christ’s place, that he may pray to God both for himself and for all people in a suppliant and humble manner. He has before and behind him the sign of the Lord’s cross that he may always remember the Passion of Christ. It is before him, on the chasuble, that he may look closely upon the footsteps of Christ and try to follow them fervently. It is behind him—he is signed with it—that he may gladly suffer for God any adversities inflicted by others.

He wears the cross before him that he may mourn his own sins, behind him, that in pity he may mourn the sins of others, and know that he is appointed to stand between God and the sinner, never to become weary of prayer and the holy offering until it is granted him to obtain grace and mercy.

When the priest celebrates Mass, he honors God, gladdens the angels, strengthens the Church, helps the living, brings rest to the departed, and wins for himself a share in all good things.

Dear Lord, Please bless and give an abundance of wisdom to our priest. Guide and direct them to minister to your flock.

***Prayer Request: Please pray for my son who is in the seminary.
That God will let him know what HIS WILL is
and he will be able to discern his future vocation.

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

Imitation of Christ: Meditation of the day:

The Fourth Chapter

Many Blessings Are Given Those Who Receive Communion Worthily (part two)

Full text here:

The Disciple

You, my God, the protector of my soul, the strength of human weakness, and the giver of every interior consolation, have given and still do often give in this Sacrament great gifts to Your loved ones who communicate devoutly. Moreover, You give them many consolations amid their numerous troubles and lift them from the depths of dejection to the hope of Your protection. With new graces You cheer and lighten them within, so that they who are full of anxiety and without affection before Communion may find themselves changed for the better after partaking of this heavenly food and drink.

Likewise, You so deal with Your elect that they may truly acknowledge and plainly experience how weak they are in themselves and what goodness and grace they obtain from You. For though in themselves they are cold, obdurate, and wanting in devotion, through You they become fervent, cheerful, and devout.

Who, indeed, can humbly approach the fountain of sweetness and not carry away a little of it? Or who, standing before a blazing fire does not feel some of its heat? You are a fountain always filled with superabundance! You are a fire, ever burning, that never fails!

Therefore, while I may not exhaust the fullness of the fountain or drink to satiety, yet will I put my lips to the mouth of this heavenly stream that from it I may receive at least some small drop to refresh my thirst and not wither away. And if I cannot as yet be all heavenly or as full of fire as the cherubim and seraphim, yet I will try to become more devout and prepare my heart so that I may gather some small spark of divine fire from the humble reception of this life-giving Sacrament.

Whatever is wanting in me, good Jesus, Savior most holy, do You in Your kindness and grace supply for me, You Who have been pleased to call all unto You, saying: “Come to Me all you that labor and are burdened and I will refresh you.”

I, indeed, labor in the sweat of my brow. I am torn with sorrow of heart. I am laden with sin, troubled with temptations, enmeshed and oppressed by many evil passions, and there is none to help me, none to deliver and save me but You, my Lord God and Savior, to Whom I entrust myself and all I have, that You may protect me and lead me to eternal life. For the honor and glory of Your name receive me, You Who have prepared Your Body and Blood as food and drink for me. Grant, O Lord, my God and Savior, that by approaching Your Mysteries frequently, the zeal of my devotion may increase.

My Lord and Best Friend,
please help me be strong against temptations and frequent your sacraments often.
Help me to be a better wife and mother.

THY WILL BE DONE!!!+JMJ+

Meditation of the day: Imitation of Christ -

The Fourth Chapter
Many Blessings Are Given Those Who Receive Communion Worthily (part one)

The Disciple

O LORD my God, favor Your servant with the blessings of Your sweetness that I may merit to approach Your magnificent Sacrament worthily and devoutly. Lift up my heart to You and take away from me this heavy indolence. Visit me with Your saving grace that I may in spirit taste Your sweetness which lies hidden in this Sacrament like water in the depths of a spring. Enlighten my eyes to behold this great Mystery, and give me strength to believe in it with firm faith.

For it is Your work, not the power of man, Your sacred institution, not his invention. No man is able of himself to comprehend and understand these things which surpass even the keen vision of angels. How, then, shall I, an unworthy sinner who am but dust and ashes, be able to fathom and understand so great a mystery?

O Lord, I come to You at Your command in simplicity of heart, in good, firm faith, with hope and reverence, and I truly believe that You are present here in this Sacrament, God and man. It is Your will that I receive You and unite myself to You in love. Wherefore, I beg Your mercy and ask that special grace be given me, that I may be wholly dissolved in You and filled with Your love, no longer to concern myself with exterior consolations. For this, the highest and most worthy Sacrament, is the health of soul and body, the cure of every spiritual weakness. In it my defects are remedied, my passions restrained, and temptations overcome or allayed. In it greater grace is infused, growing virtue is nourished, faith confirmed, hope strengthened, and charity fanned into flame.

read the rest here

Dear Lord, Help me always receive you worthily and often. Help my family desire to be with you in this amazing sacrament all the days of their lives!!!

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+

Meditation of the day: Imitation of Christ-

The Third Chapter
It Is Profitable to Receive Communion Often

The Disciple

BEHOLD, I come to You, Lord, that I may prosper by Your gift and be delighted at Your holy banquet which You, O God, in Your sweetness have prepared for Your poor. Behold, all that I can or ought to desire is in You. You are my salvation and my redemption, my hope and strength, my honor and glory.

Gladden, then, this day the soul of Your servant because I have raised my heart to You, O Lord Jesus. I long to receive You now, devoutly and reverently. I desire to bring You into my house that, with Zacheus, I may merit Your blessing and be numbered among the children of Abraham.

My soul longs for Your Body; my heart desires to be united with You. Give me Yourself—it is enough; for without You there is no consolation. Without You I cannot exist, without Your visitation I cannot live. I must often come to You, therefore, and receive the strength of my salvation lest, deprived of this heavenly food, I grow weak on the way. Once, most merciful Jesus, while preaching to the people and healing their many ills, You said: “I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way.” Matt. 15:32. Deal with me likewise, You Who have left Yourself in this Sacrament for the consolation of the faithful. You are sweet refreshment to the soul, and he who eats You worthily will be a sharer in, and an heir to, eternal glory.

It is indeed necessary for me, who fall and sin so often, who so quickly become lax and weak, to renew, cleanse, and inflame myself through frequent prayer, confession, and the holy reception of Your Body, lest perhaps by abstaining too long, I fall away from my holy purpose. For from the days of his youth the senses of man are prone to evil, and unless divine aid strengthens him, he quickly falls deeper. But Holy Communion removes him from evil and confirms him in good.

If I am so often careless and lax when I celebrate or communicate, what would happen if I did not receive this remedy and seek so great a help? Although I am neither fit nor properly disposed to celebrate every day, yet I will do my best at proper times to receive the divine Mysteries and share in this great grace. This, indeed, is the one chief consolation of the faithful soul when separated from You by mortality, that often mindful of her God, she receives her Beloved with devout recollection.

Oh, wonderful condescension of Your affection toward us, that You, the Lord God, Creator and Giver of life to all, should see fit to come to a poor soul and to appease her hunger with all Your divinity and humanity! O happy mind and blessed soul which deserves to receive You, her Lord God, and in receiving You, is filled with spiritual joy! How great a Master she entertains, what a beloved guest she receives, how sweet a companion she welcomes, how true a friend she gains, how beautiful and noble is the spouse she embraces, beloved and desired above all things that can be loved and desired! Let heaven and earth and all their treasures stand silent before Your face, most sweetly Beloved, for whatever glory and beauty they have is of Your condescending bounty, and they cannot approach the beauty of Your name, Whose wisdom is untold.

I have been trying to go to daily mass since I was 16 years old. Of course there are times when it just doesn't work in my state in life. Those times that I do get there are amazing. There are times when I have brought all the kids and amazing isn't the word that I would use~stressful is more like it. Although what a great habit when it is part of our daily schedule.

This site has tons of great info.
I always tell the kids that when we receive Holy Communion it is like a little piece of heaven giving us the wisdom to make wise decisions.
God knows I need all the help I can get.

Here are some of the graces we get from frequent communion:
*removes the guilt of repented venial sins
*supernatural strength to resist temptation
*strengthening the virtues and gifts of the Holy Spirit
*gives us a spiritual joy

That is enough great reasons to get my lazy self out of the house and spend time with my best friend!!!

THY WILL BE DONE!!! +JMJ+