Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium - 1.4

The books of the Old Testament predicted that the joy of salvation would abound in messianic times. The prophet Isaiah exultantly salutes the awaited Messiah: “You have multiplied the nation, you have increased its joy” (9:3). He exhorts those who dwell on Zion to go forth to meet him with song: “Shout aloud and sing for joy!” (12:6). The prophet tells those who have already seen him from afar to bring the message to others: “Get you up to a high mountain, O herald of good tidings to Zion; lift up your voice with strength, O herald of good tidings to Jerusalem” (40:9). All creation shares in the joy of salvation: “Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth! Break forth, O mountains, into singing! For the Lord has comforted his people, and will have compassion on his suffering ones” (49:13).

Zechariah, looking to the day of the Lord, invites the people to acclaim the king who comes “humble and riding on a donkey”: “Rejoice greatly, O daughter Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter Jerusalem! Lo, your king comes to you; triumphant and victorious is he” (9:9).

Perhaps the most exciting invitation is that of the prophet Zephaniah, who presents God with his people in the midst of a celebration overflowing with the joy of salvation. I find it thrilling to reread this text: “The Lord, your God is in your midst, a warrior who gives you the victory; he will rejoice over you with gladness, he will renew you in his love; he will exult over you with loud singing, as on a day of festival” (3:17).

This is the joy which we experience daily, amid the little things of life, as a response to the loving invitation of God our Father: “My child, treat yourself well, according to your means… Do not deprive yourself of the day’s enjoyment” (Sir 14:11, 14). What tender paternal love echoes in these words!

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This is the joy which we experience daily, amid the little things of life, as a response to the loving invitation of God our Father: “My child, treat yourself well, according to your means… Do not deprive yourself of the day’s enjoyment” (Sir 14:11, 14). What tender paternal love echoes in these words!

 We can only do this by existing in the nunc, in the now.  If we love each moment, and the people who are in each moment, and are fully present in this moment, then we will partake in the day's enjoyment. 

God meant us to be happy. If we are stuck in the past or worrying about the future, happiness will pass us by. Let this not be our fate. Look around you. Take in the positive. Respond to it. Be a light where you are, right now, to whomever you are with. You will light up yourself.

“Remember that there is only one important time and it is Now. 

The present moment is the only time over which we have dominion. 

The most important person is always the person with whom you are, who is right before you, 

for who knows if you will have dealings with any other person in the future? 

The most important pursuit is making that person, the one standing at you side,

 happy, for that alone is the pursuit of life.” -- Leo Tolstoy

Rule 1: No complicated answers.

So, what do you do when you are asked a question about something that is really important to you, but you have no idea how to answer it?

Well, if you are me, you might bumble around spurting out stupid things, hoping that the other person will grab on to something you can explain... until you realize that you are just shooting yourself in the foot, so then you just shut up.

This happened to me recently.

The question was something to the effect of: "Why pray, when you can spend the same amount of time doing something practical?"

Basically: contemplative nun vs normal person.

In other words, do cloistered nuns have a place in today's society? If one must be a nun, why not be a religious nurse, or teacher, or something that requires physical/visible contributions to society?

Well... I can pull out my Bible, my Catechism, Church Fathers, Lives of the Saints and repeat the traditions of 2,000 years + some. However, this would only be helpful if I were talking to someone who believed in the power of prayer. But when someone doesn't have the same founding premises as I do, what can I say? And how can I prove the benefits of a life dedicated to prayer naturally, from purely a philosophical/natural level? And simply?

This person is a blessing in my life, because he helps me get rid of the fluff. In talking to him there is a rule:

Rule 1: No complicated answers.

Ok. So here is my non-complicated answer... I hope:

       • For a society to excel, the people must be virtuous. (Read Aristotle's Ethics & Politics, Aquinas' On Kingship, De Toqueville's Democracy in America.)

       • Virtuous people (i.e., the happy people) are focused on the greater good. (Aristole, Plato, Scriptures, Mother Teresa, Martin Luther King, experience, etc.,.)

       • Virtuous people become closer to perfection by continually striving to be better. These heroes are civil servants, volunteers, who do good things because they are good. "No greater love than giving up a life for a friend." They live to serve.

       • Holy nuns live to serve. Some serve as nurses, etc.,. however, even as contemplatives, they view themselves as raising up humanity. They dedicate their whole life to contributing to the greatest good: valuing every person and helping every individual to heal from his/her own brokeness, or in their language, sinfulness. They do this by offering up prayers and supplications.

      • Now say there is no God; and/or say their prayers don't really do all that they believe. Are their lives a waste?

       No. They offer hope. They offer a place of peace. They are real examples of total self sacrifice, a virtue that even Hollywood tries to capture. Millions of people over centuries and even at this moment flock to places dedicated to prayer and healing, because at some point, all persons seek release from suffering.

        Contemplatives offer real solutions: they live redemptive suffering (using suffering for good) and teach others how to do the same. Thus, they inspire others to be first class citizens, to walk the better, though harder road. They, by their own lives of prayer, learn how to rely not on events or persons to make them happy, but to find happiness in what cannot be taken away. In this, they are grounded and centered. This centeredness is very attractive to "normal" persons, who try to find this in everyday ways, such as in yoga. (Every culture has some form of persons specifically assigned to contemplation.)

         AND even, if they have no contact with "normal" persons, they can be happy with themselves because they are living for a cause and entirely dedicating themselves to it.

        • Now say there is God; and say their prayers really do all that they believe.

         :-) Wouldn't you say they have the most noble life?

          1. They strive to in every moment be focused on the will of God and conform themselves to perfection.  In their seclusion and prayer focused life, they limit the distractions that the more "practical" secular life offers.

         2. They are spending their lives in serving others, and not just anybody. They serve complete strangers and often the rejected, lonely, sick, and the hated.

         3. The hope and peace that they offer others is greatly magnified because they have a unique connection with God, who is the Author of healing, joy and peace. Miracles through their intercession are possible and are more valuable than anything science can offer.

The Most Important Person Is...

“Remember that there is only one important time and it is Now. The present moment is the only time over which we have dominion. The most important person is always the person with whom you are, who is right before you, for who knows if you will have dealings with any other person in the future? The most important pursuit is making that person, the one standing at you side, happy, for that alone is the pursuit of life.” -- Leo Tolstoy

Just a Thought: There are...

There are four letters in HATE,
but there are also four letters in LOVE...

There are seven letters in ENEMIES,
but there are also seven letters in FRIENDS...

 HURT,
 HEAL...

 NEGATIVE,
 POSITIVE...

FALSE,
TRUTH...

Everybody has a story. But none of us know how long it will be. Some of us have volumes, others have chapters, while others, mere pages, paragraphs, or simply, the title. Death comes like a thief in the night. Every comma, letter, word, subplot adds up to the life we lived. Giving a finite amount of characters, how do we fill them? Leaving them empty is a choice, too.

If your story were to be written, what words would be used to describe your life? Would those around you agree with you? How many other stories would be inspired by yours? How many have been or will be extinguished because of you?

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TAKING,           ANGER,           FIGHT,            SAD,           FAITHLESS,

  GIVING...          MERCY...         PEACE...         JOY...          INTEGRITY...

WASTE,        COLD,          REVENGE,         RUDE,         STAGNATE,

  RENEW...      WARM...      FORGIVE...         KIND...        IMPROVES...          

LUST,            ADDICTIONS,          DISAPPOINTS,       NEGLECT,       

  PURE...          DISCIPLINE...          RESPONSIBLE...    NURTURE...  

Tripping

Just when I thought I was in a good spiritual place, I tripped.
 
I have been praying, going to Mass and adoration, reading a lot of St. Faustina, etc. and I felt confident that nothing could shake me. 

I thought I have already been through the worst -- the last year has been traumatic.

Today, in fact, a few minutes ago, I received an email about an order of books.  I did something really stupid and shipped them to the wrong place.  It'll be really ANNOYING to fix this issue since the books have already been shipped and from different sources. However, in comparison to all the other anxieties in my life, this is nothing.  If it was an earthquake it would about 1.0 Mag, barely felt or worth noting. 

However, I lost all my peace. Can't even the simplest thing go my way?  How did this mistake go unchecked?  Can I have peace in anything?  Does everything big and small have to be a nightmare? 

I was angry.  My attitude was: "Yes, God. I only want THIS much suffering. And You already gave it to me. I have had my share. ENOUGH." 

In these few moments, I realized that I was once again trying to conform God's Will to my will.  My will is that things go well in my life, maybe a hang up every here and there, but nothing constant and nothing to stretch me or to tip the scales. 

However, who am I to have this attitude towards God, who Wills my very existence?  I may not understand His plan for me, but I am nothing without Him.  He never promised me that I would have any earthly consolations.  I assumed I have "rights" to happiness, peace, love, etc.,. and I am angry when I don't get these.  Rather, to be a Christian it means to give up the "rights" to my own life. 

This shipment issue is still annoying, but I have wiped away the tears and now I say, "Thank you, Jesus, for another opportunity to carry my cross and unite myself to You in love."

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Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial among you, which comes upon you to prove you, as though a strange thing happened unto you: but insomuch as you are partakers of Christ's sufferings, rejoice; that at the revelation of his glory also you may rejoice with exceeding joy. - 1 Peter 4:12


Count it all joy, my brethren, when you fall into manifold temptations. - James 1:2


Fr. John Riccardo talks about when life doesn't make sense: A Tapestry of Chaos and Suffering

What is Love?

Recently, I was challenged to evaluate what I mean by "love".

Others before me have distinguished it as existing in four forms: agape (charity), eros (passion), philia (brotherly), and storge (affection).

St. Paul describes for us the characteristics/virtues associated with love:

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.

 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 

 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." 

--1 Corinthians 13

   
The type of love that St. Paul talks about is charity (agape).

In my personal experience, I have found that love is seeing a person for all of his/her faults and still willing and acting for that person's greatest good.  As St. Mary Mazzarello says, "True charity means returning good for evil - always."

It is an active choice.

I also see that it is a life long mission.  It involves all the virtues.  The most obvious are: humility, mercy, forgiveness and perseverance.  It is always being purged and deepened.  It is the hardest thing in life; it is what also what brings true peace and happiness.

I think it is both too complicated and too simple to formally define.  However, if I were limited to a few words, I would have to say that love is voluntary self-sacrifice for the good of another.

People to love:
1. Those to whom we are bound through blood.
2. Those who we have committed to love.
3. Those whom we encounter day by day.
4. Those who are suffering; think of the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy.
4. Those who we have no affection for.
5. Those who have hurt us.

See The Way of Perfection

I'm a Little Stressed Right Now...

 

There are some days where I feel perpetually stressed and anxious.  In fact, on these days I bet my insides look worse than the guy with the coffee. :-) 

My goal is to do at least one relaxing activity a day until I have formed the habit of serenity; I want my default mode to be one of joy.  I no longer want little things to disturb my being and throw off my day.  I want to live such that I reflect St. Teresa of Avila's maxim:  Let nothing disturb you, let nothing frighten you...

Here is a list of simple things that I found helpful in calming the body down: 

Watch a sunset	Go to the beach	Be positive
Sing a song	Pet a cat	Tell a joke
Listen to music	Be silent	Take a nap
Talk to a friend	Take a walk	Go barefoot
Have a cup of tea	Count your blessings	Smile
Take a break	Do it now!	Stretch
Write	Hum a tune	Practice patience
Get up early	Exercise	Say a prayer
Forgive that person	Prioritize	Give a hug
Throw/kick a ball	Play with a child	See an inspiring movie
Practice Kindness	Say "No"	Set Limits
Eat a snack	Read a book	Give a blessing
Light a candle	Laugh out loud	Do a puzzle
Give a gift	Draw/pastel	Give a compliment
Take a bubble bath	Avoid negative people	Take a deep breath
Ask for what you need	Go to bed on time	Organize

These prayers have been very healing for me as well:

Simple Prayer by Fr. Swamy Ch. Balashowry:

Come Lord Jesus, come into my life, bless me, help me, heal me.

Anima Christi

Soul of Christ, sanctify me; Body of Christ, save me; Blood of Christ, inebriate me; Water from the side of Christ, wash me; Passion of Christ, strengthen me; O good Jesus, hear me; within your wounds, hide me; let me never be separated from you; from the evil one, protect me; at the hour of my death, call me; and bid me to come to you; that with your saints, I may praise you forever and ever. Amen.

Prayer for Inner Healing 

Dear Lord Jesus, please come and heal my wounded and troubled heart. I beg you to heal the torments that are causing anxiety in my life. I beg you, in a particular way, to heal the underlying source of my sinfulness. I beg you to come into my life and heal the psychological harms that struck me in my childhood and from the injuries they have caused throughout my life.

Lord Jesus, you know my burdens. I lay them on your Good Shepherd’s Heart. I beseech you—by the merits of the great open wound in your heart—to heal the small wounds that are in mine. Heal my memories, so that nothing that has happened to me will cause me to remain in pain and anguish, filled with anxiety.

Heal, O Lord, all those wounds that have been the cause of evil that is rooted in my life. I want to forgive all those who have offended me. Look to those inner sores that make me unable to forgive. You who came to forgive the afflicted of heart, please, heal my wounded and troubled heart.

Heal, O Lord Jesus, all those intimate wounds that are the root cause of my physical illness. I offer you my heart. Accept it, Lord, purify it and give me the sentiments of your Divine Heart.

Heal me, O Lord, from the pain caused by the death of my loved ones. Grant me to regain peace and joy in the knowledge that you are the Resurrection and the Life. Make me an authentic witness to your resurrection, your victory over sin and death, and your loving presence among all men. Amen.

Healing the Family Tree 
Heavenly Father, I come before you as your child, in great need of your help; I have physical health needs, emotional needs, spiritual needs and interpersonal needs. Many of my problems have been caused by my own failures, neglect and sinfulness, for which I humbly beg your forgiveness, Lord. But I also ask you to forgive the sins of my ancestors whose failures have left their effects on me in the form of unwanted tendencies, behavior patterns, and defects in body, mind and spirit. Heal me, Lord, of all these disorders.

With your help I sincerely forgive everyone, living or dead members of my family tree, who have directly offended me or my loved ones in any way, or those whose sins have resulted in our present sufferings and disorders. In the name of your divine Son Jesus, and in the power of his Holy Spirit, I ask you Father, to deliver me and my entire family tree from the influence of the evil one.

Free all living and dead members of my family tree, including those in adoptive relationships, and those in extended family relationships, from every contaminating form of bondage. By your loving concern for us, heavenly Father, and by the shed blood of your precious Son Jesus, I beg you to extend your blessing to me and all my living and deceased relatives. Heal every negative effect transmitted through all past generations, and prevent such negative effects in future generations of my family tree.

I symbolically place the cross of Jesus over the head of each person in my family tree, and between each generation; I ask you to let the cleansing blood of Jesus purify the bloodlines in my family lineage. Send protective angels to encamp around us and administer your divine healing power to all of us, even in areas of genetic disability. Give special power to our family members’ guardian angels to heal, protect, guide and encourage each of us in all our needs. Let your healing power be released at this very moment, and let it continue as long as your sovereignty permits.

In our family tree, Lord, replace all bondage with a holy bonding of family love. And let there be an ever-deeper bonding with you, Lord, by the Holy Spirit, to your Son Jesus. Let the family of the Holy Trinity pervade our family with its tender, warm, loving presence, so that our family may recognize and manifest that love in all our relationships. All of our unknown needs we include with this petition that we pray in Jesus’ precious name. Amen.

Purpose of this blog

Every day we suffer. Every day we encounter difficult obstacles or people that frustrate us. 

For myself, I know that sometimes the bumps of life can be overwhelming. 

This blog is a way for me to maintain hope, and for living a fulfilled, joyful and holy life.  My goal is to turn all suffering (even minor ones) into blessings.  How can I do this?  By giving every moment to God, whether good or bad. We will be held accountable on our particular judgement day for all that we have done and even for what we failed to do.  Consequently, we must do everything (even breathe) for the glory of God. 

While this blog is intended to keep me on track, I hope that it is also used as a source of joy for you too.  I want to use all my moments for good. 

I hope to include things that personally inspire me to make a difference in my life.  I also will include my reflections on important events/principles in my life as they happen.

I pray that God may bless you and keep you strong in the journey that lies ahead. May we bless His Holy Name in all situations.

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I can do all these things in him who strengthens me. -Philippians 4:13

Then Job arose, and rent his robe, and shaved his head, and fell upon the ground, and worshiped. And he said, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I shall return; the Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord." In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong. - Job 1:20-22

Let nothing disturb you, let nothing frighten you. All things are passing. God never changes.  Patient endurance attains all things... Whoever possesses God lacks nothing, God alone is sufficient. -St. Teresa of Avila