Communication with Visitors* Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on us! April 1 (P.S. April 12,13,14,22) Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, How are you? Here is a quick Lenten thought to share concerning the marvelous virtues of poverty, chastity and obedience which the present world, as never before, are in great or even desperate need of. In view of the current problems with our physical environment, the world is clearly facing two choices, either the citizens there -- both in the developed and developing nations --- are going to practice voluntary poverty, or they and their children (as well as their children's children, etc.) are going to have to live with all kinds of adverse greenhouse effects. With regards the problems of AIDS, child pornography and so on, either the people are going to practice voluntary chastity, or they are going to suffer graver curses. Regarding the problems related to postmodern rebellion against (or despair over) God, either the world is going to practice voluntary obedience to God and the [God's] Ten Commandments, or the world is going to embrace much more violence everywhere. Let us hope that the wonderful wisdom, experience and teaching of the Catholic Church over these virtues, i.e., sacred poverty, chastity and obedience, would begin to shine without precedence. As we know, the editor has more than one roles in this tiny organization called Grace Institute of the Holy Eucharist. Wearing the hats of both the editor and the author, he does not find it easy to do advertisement here for his recent booklet. Just look for it over the Happening section. Thank you. Here we wish that our visitors would continue to have a prayerful Lent in Jesus, for Jesus, with Jesus and by Jesus! St. Louis de Monfort would say that we should do in Mary, for Mary, with Mary and by Mary, so that we would do it more completely in Jesus, for Jesus, with Jesus and by Jesus. In any case, continue to have mercy on us sinners, dear Lord Jesus! And continue to pray for your children, dear Heavenly Mother! Yours sincerely in Christ and Our Heavenly Mother, Editor . P.S. (April 12) Holy Thursday Primarily, God created us (1) first and foremost to be with us and love us, (2) then for us to be with God and love God, (3) and then for us to be with and love one another as part of God's family. The first (i.e., for God to love us) seems to manifest only God's very nature of love, as God is love. The second and the third are certainly God's Great Commandments for [or Expectations of] us. All in all, the Triduum appears to be the greatest occasion during the whole Liturgical Year to prove this truth. Tonight God/Jesus institutes the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist to be with us and love us, giving God/Jesus countless real occasions to unite with us in love, most intimately on earth. This Sacrament of Sacraments also gives us countless real occasions to unite ourselves most intimately with God/Jesus in love, just as we are. Yet we need to spend an appropriate amount of time after Mass to thank God/Jesus and to make this union with God/Jesus truly real and intimate. Some may need to go to Confession to make sure they are not receiving God/Jesus in sacrilege. At the same time, the celebration of the Holy Eucharist gives us countless real occasions on earth to unite ourselves with one another in love as part of Christ's Mystical Body, intimately so. From these real, personal encounters with God/Jesus, we receive also much grace (divine strength or energy) and inspiration (through the Word, sermon, our personal dialogue with God and with one another after Mass, etc.) to further realize our love for one another as part of God's big family (which includes the whole Divine Heavenly Family and all in the human family). P.S. (April 13, Good Friday) Thanks to the immense Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Novena to the incredible Divine Mercy of God starts today. This may be precisely what we or our loved ones need. Click here or here for further information. Whenever God loves, whether the object is God Himself (in the Holy Trinity ad intra) or His creatures (in the Holy Trinity ad extra), God seems to love with all His Heart, all His Soul, all His Mind and all His Strength. As we commemorates the suffering and death of Christ for us today, we remember most gratefully God's immense love for us, i.e., God/Jesus loves us with all His Heart, all His Soul, all His Mind and all His Strength, to the extent of going through His indescribable suffering and death on the Cross for us.* Created as God's image, we are therefore destined to partake in God's very nature of love, i.e., to love God, others and ourselves, even in continuous reflection, repentance or improvement. It is important to know that God does not ask us to do anything which God Himself has not first done or cannot first do for us.** Eternally, God's two Great Commandments for us reflect simply God's uncreated nature in the Holy Trinity ad intra, i.e., among the Three Divine Persons. -------------------------------------------------------- *Two schools of thought are possible here. The first school, which most of us belong to, tends to think as follows: 1) It seems that it was only God the Son who suffered for us, not God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. 2) It seems that Jesus only went through His suffering for us for no more than a few hours or decades. The second school, which many canonized mystics and some good-standing theologians appear to belong to, tends to think like this: 1) As the mystery of Perichoresis necessarily implies, at no time in history could we separate the Three Persons as if They lived separately in three separate compartments. If it were so, the Three Divine Persons might have gone through the Passion together, though in different forms. 2) Jesus would continue His Passion and salvation of us until His Second Coming. For an example, click here. P.S. (April 14) Easter Vigil Tonight -- during the Easter Vigil -- we celebrate the irreversible, everlasting family union or re-union between the whole Uncreated and created reality in the Resurrected Christ. This exuberant family re-union is particularly true between the whole Uncreated Family (of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit) and the whole human family (except for those souls who have chosen to reject God and want nothing to do this incredible and awesome free gift). In preparation of the coming Divine Mercy Sunday (April 22), the following message is accorded with several quotes from Christ which this Saint reported in her Diary. First and foremost, Jesus (in whom dwells the infinite fullness of God the Father and the Spirit) is resurrected to be in loving union with us, in fulfillment of His Uncreated Dream to be forever united with each precious member of His family on earth. Did Christ not call us His mother, sister and brother in the Sacred Scriptures (cf. Mt 12:50; Mk 3:35; etc.)? Jesus said, "I desire to unite Myself with human souls; My great delight is to unite Myself with souls." (Diary 1385) "My Heart overflows with great mercy for souls, and especially for poor sinners." (Diary 367) At the same time, Jesus is resurrected to help us love God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength, to fulfil our heavenly dream of our loving union with God for all eternity. Jesus said, "Without special help from Me, you are not even capable of accepting My graces." (Diary 738) "What joy fills My Heart when you return to me. Because you are weak, I take you in My arms and carry you to the home of My Father." (Diary 1486) To each soul who responds to His love, Jesus would say, "O child, especially beloved by Me, apple of My eye, rest a moment near My Heart and taste of the love in which you will delight for all eternity." (Diary 1489) Further, Jesus is resurrected to help us in our struggles to love one another as part of God's family, especially in bringing souls to God. He said, "My omnipotent mercy is active here. Happy the soul that takes advantage of this grace." (Diary 1486) "But child, you are not yet in your homeland; so go, fortified by My grace, and fight for My kingdom in human souls." (Diary 1489) Practically speaking, one of the best ways we can help our sisters and brothers today is to take part in the current Novena of Divine Mercy by praying the Chaplet of the Divine Mercy. Jesus is resurrected! He is truly resurrected for all of us! Together with the whole family of God everywhere in Heaven, on earth and in Purgatory, we proclaim with immense joy and gratitude: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia! Thank you, Jesus dearest! Click here or here for further information regarding the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. P.S. (April 22) Divine Mercy Sunday Today is Divine Mercy Sunday. For further information, click here and here. Is there a person who does not need God's mercy? Who would survive God's merciless judgment? Apparently, this Divine Mercy Sunday is a Sunday for everyone without exception. Alleluia! How would God speak powerfully to us today? Is it not through an authentic or authenticated prophet (or spokesperson of God) who only affirms the teaching of the Sacred Scriptures and that of the Magisterium? Let us thank God today for the Divine Mercy Sunday as passed on to us through St. Sr. Faustina! Alleluia! * The editor and Fr. Michael Lapierre, S.J., are currently taking part in this column. While the latter is doing January, March, May, etc., the former is partaking in February, April, June, etc. As each is completely free to write on any topic without restriction, we would like to apologize for any confusion and inconsistency. Thank you for understanding.
April 1 (P.S. April 12,13,14,22)
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
How are you? Here is a quick Lenten thought to share concerning the marvelous virtues of poverty, chastity and obedience which the present world, as never before, are in great or even desperate need of. In view of the current problems with our physical environment, the world is clearly facing two choices, either the citizens there -- both in the developed and developing nations --- are going to practice voluntary poverty, or they and their children (as well as their children's children, etc.) are going to have to live with all kinds of adverse greenhouse effects. With regards the problems of AIDS, child pornography and so on, either the people are going to practice voluntary chastity, or they are going to suffer graver curses. Regarding the problems related to postmodern rebellion against (or despair over) God, either the world is going to practice voluntary obedience to God and the [God's] Ten Commandments, or the world is going to embrace much more violence everywhere. Let us hope that the wonderful wisdom, experience and teaching of the Catholic Church over these virtues, i.e., sacred poverty, chastity and obedience, would begin to shine without precedence.
As we know, the editor has more than one roles in this tiny organization called Grace Institute of the Holy Eucharist. Wearing the hats of both the editor and the author, he does not find it easy to do advertisement here for his recent booklet. Just look for it over the Happening section. Thank you.
Here we wish that our visitors would continue to have a prayerful Lent in Jesus, for Jesus, with Jesus and by Jesus! St. Louis de Monfort would say that we should do in Mary, for Mary, with Mary and by Mary, so that we would do it more completely in Jesus, for Jesus, with Jesus and by Jesus. In any case, continue to have mercy on us sinners, dear Lord Jesus! And continue to pray for your children, dear Heavenly Mother!
Yours sincerely in Christ and Our Heavenly Mother,
Editor .
P.S. (April 12) Holy Thursday
Primarily, God created us (1) first and foremost to be with us and love us, (2) then for us to be with God and love God, (3) and then for us to be with and love one another as part of God's family. The first (i.e., for God to love us) seems to manifest only God's very nature of love, as God is love. The second and the third are certainly God's Great Commandments for [or Expectations of] us. All in all, the Triduum appears to be the greatest occasion during the whole Liturgical Year to prove this truth.
Tonight God/Jesus institutes the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist to be with us and love us, giving God/Jesus countless real occasions to unite with us in love, most intimately on earth.
This Sacrament of Sacraments also gives us countless real occasions to unite ourselves most intimately with God/Jesus in love, just as we are. Yet we need to spend an appropriate amount of time after Mass to thank God/Jesus and to make this union with God/Jesus truly real and intimate. Some may need to go to Confession to make sure they are not receiving God/Jesus in sacrilege.
At the same time, the celebration of the Holy Eucharist gives us countless real occasions on earth to unite ourselves with one another in love as part of Christ's Mystical Body, intimately so. From these real, personal encounters with God/Jesus, we receive also much grace (divine strength or energy) and inspiration (through the Word, sermon, our personal dialogue with God and with one another after Mass, etc.) to further realize our love for one another as part of God's big family (which includes the whole Divine Heavenly Family and all in the human family).
P.S. (April 13, Good Friday)
Thanks to the immense Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Novena to the incredible Divine Mercy of God starts today. This may be precisely what we or our loved ones need. Click here or here for further information.
Whenever God loves, whether the object is God Himself (in the Holy Trinity ad intra) or His creatures (in the Holy Trinity ad extra), God seems to love with all His Heart, all His Soul, all His Mind and all His Strength. As we commemorates the suffering and death of Christ for us today, we remember most gratefully God's immense love for us, i.e., God/Jesus loves us with all His Heart, all His Soul, all His Mind and all His Strength, to the extent of going through His indescribable suffering and death on the Cross for us.*
Created as God's image, we are therefore destined to partake in God's very nature of love, i.e., to love God, others and ourselves, even in continuous reflection, repentance or improvement. It is important to know that God does not ask us to do anything which God Himself has not first done or cannot first do for us.** Eternally, God's two Great Commandments for us reflect simply God's uncreated nature in the Holy Trinity ad intra, i.e., among the Three Divine Persons.
--------------------------------------------------------
*Two schools of thought are possible here. The first school, which most of us belong to, tends to think as follows: 1) It seems that it was only God the Son who suffered for us, not God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. 2) It seems that Jesus only went through His suffering for us for no more than a few hours or decades.
The second school, which many canonized mystics and some good-standing theologians appear to belong to, tends to think like this: 1) As the mystery of Perichoresis necessarily implies, at no time in history could we separate the Three Persons as if They lived separately in three separate compartments. If it were so, the Three Divine Persons might have gone through the Passion together, though in different forms. 2) Jesus would continue His Passion and salvation of us until His Second Coming. For an example, click here.
P.S. (April 14) Easter Vigil
Tonight -- during the Easter Vigil -- we celebrate the irreversible, everlasting family union or re-union between the whole Uncreated and created reality in the Resurrected Christ. This exuberant family re-union is particularly true between the whole Uncreated Family (of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit) and the whole human family (except for those souls who have chosen to reject God and want nothing to do this incredible and awesome free gift). In preparation of the coming Divine Mercy Sunday (April 22), the following message is accorded with several quotes from Christ which this Saint reported in her Diary.
First and foremost, Jesus (in whom dwells the infinite fullness of God the Father and the Spirit) is resurrected to be in loving union with us, in fulfillment of His Uncreated Dream to be forever united with each precious member of His family on earth. Did Christ not call us His mother, sister and brother in the Sacred Scriptures (cf. Mt 12:50; Mk 3:35; etc.)? Jesus said, "I desire to unite Myself with human souls; My great delight is to unite Myself with souls." (Diary 1385) "My Heart overflows with great mercy for souls, and especially for poor sinners." (Diary 367)
At the same time, Jesus is resurrected to help us love God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength, to fulfil our heavenly dream of our loving union with God for all eternity. Jesus said, "Without special help from Me, you are not even capable of accepting My graces." (Diary 738)
"What joy fills My Heart when you return to me. Because you are weak, I take you in My arms and carry you to the home of My Father." (Diary 1486) To each soul who responds to His love, Jesus would say, "O child, especially beloved by Me, apple of My eye, rest a moment near My Heart and taste of the love in which you will delight for all eternity." (Diary 1489)
Further, Jesus is resurrected to help us in our struggles to love one another as part of God's family, especially in bringing souls to God. He said, "My omnipotent mercy is active here. Happy the soul that takes advantage of this grace." (Diary 1486) "But child, you are not yet in your homeland; so go, fortified by My grace, and fight for My kingdom in human souls." (Diary 1489) Practically speaking, one of the best ways we can help our sisters and brothers today is to take part in the current Novena of Divine Mercy by praying the Chaplet of the Divine Mercy.
Jesus is resurrected! He is truly resurrected for all of us! Together with the whole family of God everywhere in Heaven, on earth and in Purgatory, we proclaim with immense joy and gratitude: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia! Thank you, Jesus dearest!
Click here or here for further information regarding the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.
P.S. (April 22) Divine Mercy Sunday
Today is Divine Mercy Sunday. For further information, click here and here. Is there a person who does not need God's mercy? Who would survive God's merciless judgment? Apparently, this Divine Mercy Sunday is a Sunday for everyone without exception. Alleluia!
How would God speak powerfully to us today? Is it not through an authentic or authenticated prophet (or spokesperson of God) who only affirms the teaching of the Sacred Scriptures and that of the Magisterium? Let us thank God today for the Divine Mercy Sunday as passed on to us through St. Sr. Faustina! Alleluia!
* The editor and Fr. Michael Lapierre, S.J., are currently taking part in this column. While the latter is doing January, March, May, etc., the former is partaking in February, April, June, etc. As each is completely free to write on any topic without restriction, we would like to apologize for any confusion and inconsistency. Thank you for understanding.