Friday, December 29, 2006

Day in Octave of Christmas - comm St Thomas of Canterbury


It has been quite a few days since I posted anything, have been experiencing some connection problems and now am also in the midst of bidding for my next semester's modules.


a very simple rant before the actual post :)


I just had a great sem 1 (I feel) :) that's because I was a "make believe" arts student with 3 history modules and only 2 life science modules. Not that there is anything bad about being a science student. I love being a science student. The only drawback I feel is that the sciences, except for biology, makes my brain go flat. lol.


This semester I'm stuck with 4 science modules, Deo gratias!, 3 of them are at least life science modules. And yay, I'm sincerely looking forward to the French module I'm taking to "counter-act" the non-LSM science module - BioStatistics. lol again. :) ora pro me! gratias! :) An interesting point to note: in the old days, before modern science came about, biology was called natural philosophy. And I totally agree with the name. :P


Alright, enough blabbling away. Here are some very good meditation materiel that I wanted to post up but couldn't because of the modem problem for the past few days. My sister found them in a very good old book in the priory. :)

It's called Alone with God by Fr. J. Heyrman, S.J.


Here's the excerpt from the book:

December 28
THE HOLY INNOCENTS

1. There was a dread and consternation in the little town of Bethlehem, as Herod’s soldiers were snatching little infants from their mothers’ arms, and slaying them. Cries of grief resounded everywhere. In profound humility we bow in adoration before this decree of Providence.

2. Petition: May we always and in all things trustfully accept and adore the decrees of Providence in the government of our own souls and of the world at large.

I. The Cruelty of Herod

Only a while ago the heavens at Bethlehem were filled with the joyful song of the angels, and now the shrieks and groans of striken mothers fill the air. “A voice in Rama was heard, lamentation and great mourning; Rachel bewailing he children, and would not be comforted, because they are not” (Mt. 2:18)

Herod, a cunning and cruel oriental despot, who out of hatred and jealousy had murdered many of his own relatives, had decreed to kill the new King, about whom the Wise Men of the East had told him. “Then Herod, perceiving that he was deluded by the Wise Men, was exceedingly angry: and sending killed all the male children that were in Bethlehem and in all the borders thereof, from two years old and under” (Mt. 2:16). To what monstrous crimes a man can be driven by an unbridled passion! Remorselessly Herod sacrifices innocent children to his ambition and his jealousy. What had he to fear from the King of Peace?

Non eripit mortalia
Qui regna dat celestia

He does not snatch away earthly crowns
Who bestows a heavenly Kingdom.

Thus the Church sings at Vespers on the eve of the Epiphany. Self-love, when uncontrolled, can drive a man to the utmost limits of stupidity, blindness, and cruelty, where every vestige of justice vanishes. Remember also the cowardice and vacillation of Pilate, who to safeguard his own interests condemned an innocent Man.

II. God’s Ways Are Not Our Ways

In this frightful tragedy we cannot help asking ourselves: How could God allow it? Are these the ways of Providence? These ways are indeed inscrutable. How often does it seem that supreme Power fails when faced with the powers of Evil. Could not God have saved His Son from the clutches of that tiger, Herod, whose son and heir Jesus would call “that fox”? Why did Divine justice not strike the brutal tyrant now, as it would chastise him later? Then there would have been no need for Mary to flee with the Child into Egypt, and the innocent babies would not have been slain.

Why did the Divine Justice not stretch out its avenging hand? We humbly confess that the ways of the Lord are inscrutable.

And what did mothers of Bethlehem feel when they were told that their children had perished, whilst the victim sought by Herod had escaped? Poor desolate Rachel! Her children are the first martyrs to bear testimony to Christ. Their blood will fertilise the earth, and in God’s own time a golden harvest of souls will rise.

But it remains true that God’s ways are not our ways. We cannot unravel the mystery of His Providence: it is the Providence of a loving Father, of a Father who abideth in heaven and who sees so much further than our eyes can reach. He is wiser than we are and more powerful, and infallibly He guides us to the goal He has appointed for us, in His love and mercy: eternal bliss in heaven.

III. Joy and Suffering at the Manger

It has been said that, when Jesus enters the life of a man He comes with His blessing and His cross. So it was with Mary and Joseph, with the shepherds of Bethlehem, who heard the tidings of great joy: with the mothers of Bethlehem who mourned their little ones.

The life of every man is a succession of blessings and of trials. God Himself has mapped out our course, He spares our weakness but steadily directs us to the goal He has appointed for us. He does not lay burdens on us that are beyond our strength, and when we fail and falter He is there to raise us up. Our duty is humbly to trust, to accept, to adore the divine Counsel. “Yea, Father, thus it has pleased Thee.”

Prayer: O Lord, give light to our minds and strength to our hearts, that we may know and firmly believe that “to them that love God all things work together unto good”, and that nothing “shall be able to separate us from Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 8:28, 39)

Here's another excerpt from the book:

December 27
SAINT JOHN

1. St John is the disciple “whom Jesus loved”, and to whom on the cross He entrusted His holy Mother; “from that hour the disciple took her to his own” (19:27). We may rightly think that Mary related to St John all she knew about her Divine Son, “how the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us”.

2. Petition: Grace to understand better John’s lesson of love, and to practice it more thoroughly every day of our life.

I. The Disciple Whom Jesus Loved

John calls himself by that name. We know that he wrote his Gospel when all the other apostles were dead; otherwise delicacy would have prevented him from claiming this title.

Jesus loved all the disciples with His whole heart; yet among them there were three to whom He showed special predilection: Peter, James and John. They had accompanied Him to the mountain and seen His glory; they had entered with Him the garden of Gethsemane and had beheld Him lying prostrate on the ground. And among these three Jesus seems to have shown greater affection for John. At the Last Supper, John was very close to Jesus. “Now there was leaning on Jesus’ bosom one of his disciples whom Jesus loved” (Jn. 13:23). To him Jesus revealed who was the man that was to betray Him. John was the only one of the Twelve to stand beneath the cross, and Jesus entrusted His Mother to him.

Humbly and reverently, remembering that the Almighty is free to elect whomsoever He pleases, we may ask, why was John the disciple whom Jesus loved? John was not exempt from petty human failings, no more than the others. He together with his brother James had urged their mother to ask that her sons might occupy the first places when the Kingdom would be established; and when, one day they had stood before the closed gates of a town of Samaria, these two sons of Zebedee, whom Jesus Himself had dubbed Boanerges, which means “fanatics”, had said to Jesus: “Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven and consume them? And turning, he rebuked them, saying: “You know not of what spirit you are” (Lk. 9:54,55). Theirs was not yet the spirit of Jesus, who “came not to destroy souls, but to save” (ib. 56). They had to learn of Him that He is meek and humble of heart.

There is an ancient tradition that John had preserved his virginity; and for this reason Jesus bore him special love, and for this reason also Jesus was pleased to entrust His blessed Mother to him.

God’s creative love is free; it is not bound by any law, neither is it subject to caprice. “Is thy eye evil, because I am good?” said the householder to the disgruntled labourers (Mt. 20:15). In all things and at all times it behoves us to thank God and obey His decrees.

II. Behold Thy Mother

John himself heard these words from the lips of the dying Saviour, and he set them down in his Gospel. “Woman, behold thy son; behold thy mother.” Simple but creative words, words which God alone can utter. During many centuries the Church has pondered over them, ever penetrating deeper into their meaning, and which perhaps is not yet fully understood.

At the foot of the cross Mary is given a new mission; she is appointed by Christ to be the mother of all the brothers and sisters of her Son. Together with John, all of us are entrusted to her as her children.

We pray that John, who from that moment “took her to his own”, would obtain for us the grace to love and honour the Mother of Jesus as our own Mother, as he did until the day when she was assumed into heaven.

III. The Apostle of Love

The eagle is the symbol of St John among the Evangelists. What his piercing eye has discovered in God he has communicated to us in the words “God is Charity, and he that abideth in charity abideth in God, and God in him” (I Jn. 4:16). Nor may we forget those other words: “If any man say: I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar” (ib. 20).

When the Apostle had become very old, his only words to his disciples were “Little children love ye one another”; and when they asked him whether he could not teach them any other lesson, he replied: “It is the Lord’s own commandment.” Our Lord Himself had called brotherly love his own commandment. “This is my commandment, that you love one another, as I have loved you.” (Jn. 15:12). It was not the first commandment, but like unto it and inseparable from it, and its observance proves that we truly love God. These words should be remembered by every disciple of Jesus, above all by those who strive to lead a holy life and who would follow Christ closely.

Prayer: “Pour into our hearts, O Lord, the spirit of Thy Love, so that all those whom Thou hast fed with the same heavenly Bread, may through Thy fatherly goodness be united in Thee, through Christ our Lord (Postcommunion Votice Mass for concord).

O St John, who with great love and reverence didst take the Mother of Christ “to thy own”, intercede with her for us, and teach us how to abide in the presence of the Mother of God.
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and thus, I will end here for today. :) God Bless all reading this.

Jesus, Mary, I love Thee, Save Souls!

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Monday, December 25, 2006

The Nativity of Our Lord


To all Ye faithful readers of this blog :),

Here are my greetings to you!

Unto us a Child is born:
Let heaven and earth rejoice!
‘Tis the night of the great Mystery:
A Son is given to us!

The golden star shone
Above a lonely stable
Unto us a Child is born:
Let heaven and earth rejoice!
Through Him, evil is forgiven
He is the salutary Victim,
The living water quenching our thirst!
Lo! All the bells were ringing…

Unto us a Child is born!


-Geneviève Duhamelet


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And I would also love to post something more from a very good meditation, Excerpts from the Midnight Cave by Father Frederick William Faber, though I can't do it today or tomorrow because I don't know why, I'm so pressed for time =D.

Pray for me as I will for you and all the best wishes to thee.


Have a Holy and Blessed Christmas.

And here's a very good medition from another book, alone with God by By Father J. Heyrman, S.J.

December 25
CHRISTMAS DAY

1. We kneel by Mary’s side. She herself, says Holy Scripture, has “wrapped the Child in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger”, full of love and respect. Remembering the angel’s thrilling message, she now adores the “Son of the Most High”, her very own Child.

2. Petition: Impart to us, O Mary, some of thy faith, thy hope and thy love for this Child born of thee for our salvation.

I. God Has Become Man

In the inexhaustible subject of the Christmas mystery we consider first of all the most amazing aspect: God infinite, and omnipotent, has become man.

The Blessed Trinity is the “original mystery” inside the very Divinity, that “silence without modes, by whose incomprehensibility all loving souls find themselves overcome” (Ruusbroeck). The action of creating makes the Three reach “outside”, reach “other beings” in which They are unfathomably present; but outside of the order of creatures, “in Themselves,” They have a being that utterly transcends the created universe.

Now, by the incarnation God joins unto His Divinity a human soul and body: “The Word is made flesh,” says St John, the Son of God is now also a man. Henceforth He exists no more apart from His human nature. God can effect nothing more thorough than this in the order of creatures or in the history of mankind. When He was born, He entered the world of creatures. In that weak speechless little Child, in all things equal to any human child, “dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead” (Col.2:9). Nay, St Paul uses the adverb “corporeally”.

An ancient Latin hymn, in the style of St Augustine, has it:

O Most High, Thou liest there
In what a homely stable!
Thou, who mad’st the glowing stars
Shiver’st with cold in a manger!

Omnipotence has become weak,
Immensity is tiny,
The Deliverer lies in bonds,
The Eternal One is born.

He who robes angels in brightness
Is wrapped in swaddling bands;
Lo! The Ruler of the heavens
Is fed at His Mother’s breast.

The refrain: How wonderful are Thy works,
O Jesus, which Thou didst for man:
In boundless love for the exile
Whom sin drove our of Paradise.

II. God is Love


“God is love”: such is the very definition of God given by St John, who also writes, “God was made Flesh.” Love craves for union, irresistibly; overthrows all obstacles, leaps over all chasms. Infinite Love, “with whom nothing is impossible,” unites by the Incarnation what appeared impossible to unite: the Creator and the creature, the All-Holy and “sinful flesh” (Rom.8:3). The Word of God now joins the ranks of sinful men. We fail to understand: we can only “believe the charity which God hath for us” (1 Jn.4:16). But if mere human love not seldom goes beyond the bounds of reason we should expect God’s Love to surpass all understanding. God’s Love is not, like man’s, a response to the attractions of some object lovable in itself; It is absolutely prevenient: and renders its object worthy of love.

III. Mary Believed in That Love

We are kneeling by the side of our Lady, joining her as she adores the Child. She was the first to believe in God’s Love. “Blessed art thou, that hast believed,” exclaimed Elizabeth when greeting her. We call her blessed also for having been the first to behold “God made visible” and to believe. He was indeed visible, but at the same time so little, and so weak. All there was in Him, He had drawn from her substance, and He was dependent on her for everything He needed. Yet, as she gazed on Him, there shown from her eyes something more than what sparkles in every new mother’s eyes: “You treasure, you are mine.” Mary’s look was an act of self-surrender: “I am all thine!” In “the body of our lowness” (Phil.3:21), her faith and her love perceived and adored her Creator and her Lord. She loved and adored Him perfectly on behalf of all of us.

Prayer: May the oblation of this day’s festival be pleasing to Thee, O Lord, that by Thy bountiful grace we may, through this sacred intercourse, be found conformed to Him, in whom our substance is united to Thee: and who with Thee liveth … (Secret, 1st Mass of Christmas).

Remember, O Creator Lord,
That in the Virgin’s sacred womb
Thou wast conceived, and of her flesh
Didst our mortality assume.
-Jesu Redemptor, Vespers of today.

Jesus, Mary, I love Thee, Save Souls!

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Tuesday, December 19, 2006

Ferial Day in Advent, eve of Ember Wednesday.

Part of what I wanted to do during the holidays, I'm successfully accomplishing them :) thanks to it really being the holidays! Alright, I think I am no longer making any sense here in as much as I want to, I'll come to the point of my post.

I've just read a very very scary but interesting, compelling and exciting book. AND, I am recommending it to all ye faithful readers of my very very little blog.


A recommended must read, (please follow the link to see where you can get it from), this book may help you see why is it so very necessary to embrace only the true faith, and not the "faith" that comes out of VCII. It helped me to understand why dearest Mother Mary, in her Fatima apparitions, that begin on May 13, 1917, stated explicity to consecrate Russia to her Immaculate Heart.
Beware of communist errors! They are so subtle, so subtle. One of the 4 main communist slogans states this: Religion as opiate of the masses. And in order for the thorough and real communist revolution to occur, there is a need to subvert and destroy religion.
In communism, horrible philosophers such as Nietzsche who stated that "God is dead", have come dreadfully alive.
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I need to go off now, but I will post a little more on this in time to come, if I have the time.
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Jesus, Mary, I love Thee, Save Souls!
In manus tuas Domine, commendo spiritum meum.
Jesu mitis et humilis corde, Fac cor nostrum secundum cor tuum.

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Saturday, December 16, 2006

St. Eusebius and Jesus, Thou art my Only True Friend


Ah, a long post for today.



It's been quite a while since I last blogged, the vacation's been good, I'm resting well, I think I need to rest more (haha) and I thank God for everything so far. =D





I love this picture! It's one of my favourites on the Most Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. It says so much, I feel. The true priest, in imitation of the only Eternal High Priest, Jesus, offering the most holy sacrifice, Jesus's arms outstretched on the Cross, waiting, waiting to enter the hearts of those who believe in Him. His love, so infinite, willing to come down from heaven into golden vessels, Jesus, present body, soul, divinity, in the Most Holy Eucharist, waiting to enter the hearts, souls, minds of those whom He has chosen, for many. The whole mass, is Calvary repeated, the whole sacrifice, so wholly divine. The pains, the tortures, the scourgings, the nailings, the crucifixion, the crowning with thorns, the wounds of love, the whole sacrifice, so lovingly presented in the mass, with all its rubrics and actions. Consummatum est! The immense love, the everything. Deus caritas est. One word sums up the whole sacrifice, caritas - love! and the Only woman who first understood what it all meant, who understood and even partook of His pains, sufferings and joys, ever since Her Immaculate Conception, dearest Mother Mary, her existence, is also proof of God's great and infinite love for us all. As my patron, Saint Thérèse exemplified here. Love Him in order to find Thyself!


And this is dear Sancte Pio, the stigmatist of our times, the one who exemplified that the sacrifice of the mass is most wholly divine, truly the sacrifice. God sends us different people, different saints to aid us all in our brief sojourn to heaven, here on this temporary world, all of our sufferings, all our joys, all our 'immensities' all our pains, worries, He knows them all and He sends us different people to show us how true He is. He uses different means, different ways to aid every single one of us to Heaven. With what love and what mercy Jesus presents us to himself in the Most Holy and Blessed Sacrament! What immense love and mercy, He opens Himself out to us, the Love, to die for each one of us, to suffer just for each one of us. To show us the Only way to heaven, the only way to the Father. For He says, after His Last Supper, the First Mass, with the first communicant, the Most Blessed Virgin, I am the way, and the Truth, and the Life. No man cometh to the Father, but by me. - John 14:6 (dicit ei Iesus ego sum via et veritas et vita nemo venit ad Patrem nisi per me )


This loving discourse, I'll paste it here, also shows us the immense care and love, caritas, that He shows us all:


The Gospel according to St. John


Christ's discourse after his last supper.



1 Let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house there are many mansions. If not, I would have told you: because I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I shall go, and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and will take you to myself; that where I am, you also may be. 4 And whither I go you know, and the way you know. 5 Thomas saith to him: Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?



6 Jesus saith to him: I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No man cometh to the Father, but by me. 7 If you had known me, you would without doubt have known my Father also: and from henceforth you shall know him, and you have seen him. 8 Philip saith to him: Lord, shew us the Father, and it is enough for us. 9 Jesus saith to him: Have I been so long a time with you; and have you not known me? Philip, he that seeth me seeth the Father also. How sayest thou, Shew us the Father? 10 Do you not believe, that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? The words that I speak to you, I speak not of myself. But the Father who abideth in me, he doth the works.



11 Believe you not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? 12 Otherwise believe for the very works' sake. Amen, amen I say to you, he that believeth in me, the works that I do, he also shall do; and greater than these shall he do. 13 Because I go to the Father: and whatsoever you shall ask the Father in my name, that will I do: that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you shall ask me any thing in my name, that I will do. 15 If you love me, keep my commandments.



16 And I will ask the Father, and he shall give you another Paraclete, that he may abide with you for ever. 17 The spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, nor knoweth him: but you shall know him; because he shall abide with you, and shall be in you. 18 I will not leave you orphans, I will come to you. 19 Yet a little while: and the world seeth me no more. But you see me: because I live, and you shall live. 20 In that day you shall know, that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.



16 "Paraclete"... That is, a comforter: or also an advocate; inasmuch as by inspiring prayer, he prays, as it were, in us, and pleads for us. 16 "For ever"... Hence it is evident that this Spirit of Truth was not only promised to the persons of the apostles, but also to their successors through all generations.



21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them; he it is that loveth me. And he that loveth me, shall be loved of my Father: and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. 22 Judas saith to him, not the Iscariot: Lord, how is it, that thou wilt manifest thyself to us, and not to the world? 23 Jesus answered, and said to him: If any one love me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him, and will make our abode with him. 24 He that loveth me not, keepeth not my words. And the word which you have heard, is not mine; but the Father's who sent me.


25 These things have I spoken to you, abiding with you.
26 But the Paraclete, the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring all things to your mind, whatsoever I shall have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, do I give unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be afraid. 28 You have heard that I said to you: I go away, and I come unto you. If you loved me, you would indeed be glad, because I go to the Father: for the Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you before it comes to pass: that when it shall come to pass, you may believe. 30 I will not now speak many things with you. For the prince of this world cometh, and in me he hath not any thing.



26 "Teach you all things"... Here the Holy Ghost is promised to the apostles and their successors, particularly, in order to teach them all truth, and to preserve them from error. 28 "For the Father is greater than I"... It is evident, that Christ our Lord speaks here of himself as he is made man: for as God he is equal to the Father. (See Phil. 2.) Any difficulty of understanding the meaning of these words will vanish, when the relative circumstances of the text here are considered: for Christ being at this time shortly to suffer death, signified to his apostles his human nature by these very words: for as God he could not die. And therefore as he was both God and man, it must follow that according to his humanity he was to die, which the apostles were soon to see and believe, as he expresses, ver. 29. And now I have told you before it come to pass: that when it shall come to pass, you may believe.



31 But that the world may know, that I love the Father: and as the Father hath given me commandment, so do I: Arise, let us go hence.
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and here's also something from St. Alphonsus Maria de Ligouri (Doctor of the Church) on the Crucifixion and the Love of Jesus the Christ.


And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all things to Myself. But this He said, signifying what death He should die. – John xii. 32


Jesus Christ said that when He should have been lifted up upon the Cross, He would, by His merits, by His example, and by the power of His love, have drawn towards Himself the affection of all souls: “He drew all the nations of the world to His love, by the merit of His blood, by His example, and by His love.” Such is the commentary of Cornelius a Lapide. St. Peter Damian tells us the same: “The Lord, as soon as he was suspended upon the cross, drew all men to Himself through a loving desire.” And who is there, Cornelius goes on to say, that will not love Jesus, who dies for love of us? “For who will not reciprocate the love of Christ, who dies out of love for us?” Behold, O redeemed souls (as Holy Church exhorts us), behold your Redeemer upon that Cross, where His whole form breathes love, and invites you to love Him: His head bent downwards to give us the kiss of peace, His arms stretched our to embrace us, His heart open to love us: “His whole figure” (as St. Augustine says) “breathes love, and challenges to love Him in return: His head bent downwards to kiss us, His hands stretched out to embrace us, His bosom open to love us.”

Ah, my beloved Jesus, how could my soul have been so dear in Thy sight, beholding, as Thou didst, the wrongs that Thou wouldst have to receive at my hands! Thou, in order to captivate my affections, wert willing to give me the extremist proofs of love. Come, ye scourges, ye thorns, nails and cross, which tortured the sacred flesh of my Lord, come ye, and wound my heart; be ever reminding me that all the good that I have received, and all that I hope for, comes to me through the merits of his Passion. O Thou master of love, others teach by word of mouth, but Thou upon this bed of death dost teach by suffering; others teach from interested motives, Thou from affection, asking no recompense excepting my salvation. Save me, O my love, and let my salvation be the bestowal of the grace ever to love and please Thee; the love of Thee is my salvation.
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Thou art my only True Friend, Dearest Jesus,


The True Friend Prayer (by Saint Claude de la Colombiere)


Jesus, Thou art the only and the true friend.


Thou knowest my difficulties. Thou takest them upon Thyself. Thou knowest how to transform them for my good. Thou hearest me with goodness when I speak of my afflictions and never dost Thou fail to lighten them.


I find Thee always and everywhere; Thou dost never leave me and, if I am obliged to move, I never fail to find Thee where I go.


Thou dost not tire of listening to me; Thou dost never cease to do me good. I am assured of being loved if I love Thee. Thou dost not need my goods, and Thou dost not become poorer in giving me Thine own.


However wretched I may be, someone more noble, more intelligent, even holier will not steal from me Thy friendship. Death, which tears us away from all our other friends, will serve only to reunite me to Thee. All the disfrace of age, or fortune cannot detach Thee from me. On the contrary, I will never enjoy Thee more fully, Thou wilt never be closer than when everything will seem to fail me.


Thou sufferest my imperfections with admirable patience, even my infidelities. My ingratitude does not hurt Thee, so much so that Thou art always willing to come back, if I desire it.


O Jesus, grant that I may desire it, so that I be all Thine, in time and eternity!


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Jesus, Mary, I love Thee, Save Souls!

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Saturday, December 09, 2006

Ferial Day in Advent

A little post before the next post you will see, which will only be in a few days time.

It's the time of the year for a vacation and this blog will also take a little vacation to rest, revamp and revitalise. =D (most likely by this friday)
and a little bit of interesting news from this my dearest family, please do
priez pour vous! merci beaucoup =D

Today, Fr. C enthroned our whole family to the Sacred Heart of Jesus! and also to the Immaculate Heart of Mary! The King of Kings and the Queen of Queens! enthroned in our house! mighty unbelievable at first, but true, very much so! =D
Thank you Fr.! and also of course the dearest heavenly beings who made this possible!, yay, we have all been waiting for this!!! =D Deo gratias et Mariae! I have been marvelling at the way God helps and answers all our prayers in some way or another and by the way He does everything and anything. It's the way He does all the things that amaze me and it sure never fails to live me up. He is God! Even though there are trials and temptations and every other obstacle that somehow irritates you and temporarily stops you, albeit only for a short while, Deo volente, everything will turn out alright and fine.
After all, the words of this Saint, Dear Saint Pio =), are very true. Meditate on it for a while and you will soon see how true it is. Dearest Jesus works in all marvellous ways that somehow we humans have a hard time deciphering, but in the end when His will prevails, you will know it and you will see how beautiful the way the hands of God work through the Most Holy Ghost and the Angels and the Saints and of course the Queen of all Queens, Dearest Mother Mary, our Mother.

The life of a Christian is nothing but a constant struggle against itself, and its beauty does not become manifest except at the price of suffering. - Saint Padre Pio

And my daddy, uncle clement and kenneth and the rest of the men came back from their retreat, nicely, safely and soundly, with halos all over their heads =D. Fr. Joseph Pfeiffer was good they say, and so was Fr. Couture. I can't wait for the next ladies' retreat or any retreat. but I'm also glad that now, finally, a little break from the horrendous studies (just joking). Daddy gave me this today and the next picture, though a little scary, is sincerely very beautiful in all respects.

As what St. Augustine says, "Let us love the Bridegroom, and the more he is presented to us veiled under deformity, the more precious and sweet is he made to the bride."

Adding on, St. Alphonsus de Ligouri adds, "the more I see Thee so disfigured, Oh my Lord, the more beautiful and lovely dost Thou appear to me. And what are these disfigurements that I behold but signs of the tenderness of that love which Thou dost bear towards me? I love Thee, my Jesus, thus wounded and torn to pieces for me; would that I could see myself too torn to pieces for Thee, like so many martyrs whose portion this has been! But if I cannot offer Thee wounds and blood, I offer Thee at least all the pains which it will be my lot to suffer. I offer Thee my heart; with this I desire to love Thee more tenderly even than I am able. And who is there that my soul should love more tenderly than a God who has endured scourging and been drained of his blood for me? I love Thee, O God of Love! I love Thee, O infinite goodness! I love Thee, O my love, my All! I love Thee, and I would never cease to say, both in this life and in the other, I love Thee, I love Thee, I love Thee!"


Twenty centuries gave come and gone

And today He is still the central figure of the human race.

All the armies that ever marched, All the navies that ever sailed,

All the parliaments that ever sat, All the kings that ever reigned,

Have not effected the life of men on the earth as much

As the life of this one, solitary, single person.

-Adapted from an anonymous source-

-------

Jesus, Mary, I love Thee, Save Souls!

Jesu mitis et humilis corde, Fac cor nostrum secundum cor tuum.

In manus tuas domine, commendo spiritum meum.

Deo gratias et Mariae!

-------

Rachel Anne Thérèse =D

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Friday, December 08, 2006

Deo gratias et Mariae! and the Feast of the Immaculate Conception




DEO GRATIAS ET MARIAE!


the exams are over and im glad =D

the general sprucing up of this blog will commence soon in a few days

and now for rest.
and
today, December 8th, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception! =D Mamma Mary, Mummy!


O Dearest Mother Mary, Through thy Most Holy Virginity and thy Immaculate Conception, O Most Pure Virgin, Please purify my body and sanctify my soul!


God bless all!


Jesus, Mary, I love Thee, Save Souls!

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Sunday, December 03, 2006

The 1st Sunday of Advent

Sacred Heart of Jesus, Have Mercy on us,
Immaculate Heart of Mary, Pray for us.
Saint Joseph, Pray for us.

Saint Ignatius receiving the Spiritual Exercises From the Immaculate Virgin Mary

As we embark on this new Catholic year, the whole liturgical year starts today, with the 1st Sunday of Advent, with the whole advent period also known as "the second lent" as we prepare for the greatest gift of our redemption, the birth of our Lord and Saviour, Dearest Jesus, I thought I did like to post something up, to ask for your continual prayers, especially as in the post as stated on the feast of St. Catherine of Alexandria and also for the men's retreat that is now, even as I'm typing here, just beginning for a group of men from the Singapore priory.

My daddy, uncle clement and kenneth are there now, having their retreat together with 5 other men, let us all remember them in our prayers as they embark on their journey, as a few others of us did in June this year (for the ladies - picture in the flickr badge at the sidebar of this blog). A very important time in their Catholic lives, as it sincerely was for the ladies =), the silent retreat according to the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius as given to St Ignatius by our Dearest Blessed Mother in the year 1521-1522 A.D. (as per the picture as above). Let's say a Veni Creator for them.

Angeline and I were just saying how we wished we were the ones going for the retreat!
(as we waved the men away at the ferry terminal, nisey was at her fencing competition)
I haven't blogged much about the retreat we had from 4th to 9th of June 2006, so I will elaborate a little here: My first Ignatian Retreat and also the 1st retreat of my entire life, it was the most beautiful and touching moment of my life, the time of my life when it actually turned around and the event that helped me turn my whole life around. It really helps to center your life, "catholically", and make you think straight, especially in this chaotic times we live in now. (not a case of presentism)
It will help you in making decisions that will change your life, as in a previous post, on how it will help in helping you with your Catholic life and regarding the state of your life, especially for young adults. Please pray for me. =) Everything according to God's will! but one thing I'm sure is that I will be very happy because I will be making Jesus happy if I do His will. =D

=) and I'm only a few days to the end of this semester's exams, I cannot wait, but still, I must run this final lap, with 2 heavy papers on the 6th. Do pray for me, and I will pray for all my blog readers too! and do let us all also pray for the Dear Holy Pope, His Holiness Benedict XVI, to give him the strength for all his decisions, that he must remember that he is the Vicar of Christ, the most powerful man on earth now at this very moment in time, that he will have the strength to do the right things, May the Blessed Virgin Bless Him and Protect Him! =D p/s: do read the latest news from dici.org, the million rosaries bouquet has passed the 1 million mark! (its 2.5 million if I read correctly) Deo gratias et Mariae!
Let us continue to "Storm the Heavens"!

and, here's something really very interesting from this morning's sermon by Fr. Pfeiffer (i think that's how his name is spelt) who is preaching the men's retreat together with Fr. Couture:

O yes, here's something written by Pope Pius XI in 1925 in his encyclical Mens Nostra recommending the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius:

Now it is recognized that among all the methods of "Spiritual Exercises"
which very laudably adhere to the principles of sound Catholic asceticism one
has ever held the foremost place and adorned by the full and repeated
approbation of the Holy See and honored by the praises of men, distinguished for
spiritual doctrine and sanctity, has borne abundant fruits of holiness during
the space of well nigh four hundred years; we mean the method introduced by St.
Ignatius of Loyola, whom we are pleased to call the chief and peculiar Master of
"Spiritual Exercises" whose "admirable book of "Exercises" ever since it was
solemnly approved, praised, and commended by our predecessor Paul III of happy
memory, already to repeat some words we once used, before our elevation to the
Chair of Peter, already we say "stood forth and conspicuous as a most wise and
universal code of laws for the direction of souls in the way of salvation and
perfection; an unexhausted fountain of most excellent and most solid piety; as a
most keen stimulus, and a well instructed guide showing the way to secure the
amendment of morals and attain the summit of the spiritual life."


And in very deed, the excellence of spiritual doctrine altogether free from the perils and
errors of false mysticism, the admirable facility of adapting the exercises to
any order or state of man, whether they devote themselves to contemplation in
the cloisters, or lead an active life in the affairs of the world, the apt
co-ordination of the various parts, the wonderful and lucid order in the
meditation of truths that seem to follow naturally one from another; and lastly
the spiritual lessons which after casting off the yoke of sin and washing away
the diseases inherent in his morals lead a man through the safe paths of
abnegation and the removal of evil habits up to the supreme heights of prayer
and divine love; without doubt all these are things which sufficiently show the
efficacious nature of the Ignatian method and abundantly commend the Ignatian
meditations.

God Bless All!
Deo gratias et Mariae!

In Christo et Mariae!

Jesus, Mary, I love Thee, Save Souls! =)

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