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striving to radiate Him always

Everything is YOURS

by Filed Under: Fitness, Health, Meditation 7 Comments

Here is a reflection I had on Phase I of my fitness journey.  It came after I found myself defeated and raw with emotions.  There were multiple factors at play.  I was post-partum and hormonal.  I was also tired of not seeing results in my fitness and weight-loss journey.  The most prevalent factor was spiritual warfare.  I was weakened by my flesh and Satan did not miss a beat.  He was right there, ready to bring me down.  I give thanks and praise to the Good Lord for teaching me early on, what to do at such time of trial — call on Our Blessed Mother.  She always leads me directly back to her son, Our Lord Jesus Christ.

~~~

  • I desire to be thin.
    • He calls me to be healthy.
      • That means moderate exercise and a healthy intake of food – not excessive daily exercise outside of my state of life and no starvation.
  • I desire to get out of this stage in my journey and move onto a maintenance stage.  A stage which I perceive to be an easier road.
    • He calls me to embrace where I’m at and find Him in all the struggles.
      • That means that i must seek to glorify Him in everything I do.  This includes my failures as well as my successes, they are all His.  He is pleased with my faithfulness to Him alone.
  • I desire to gain order and control of my life and family.
    • He calls me to surrender it all to Him.
      • That means that I must not seek a worldly standard of success but embrace my crosses.  I must be a joyful servant and be right ordered.  My every moment should revolve around Him.  I should seek his face in those around me.

My desires conformed to His will…

  • Forget about my desires and seek only His will for me. 
  • Be content were I am.
  • Find JOY (Him) in all that I’m surrounded with.
  • Live each moment as though it were my last so that I can make it HOME!

~~~

You have given it all to me. To you, Lord, I return it. Everything is yours; do with it what you will. Give me only your love and grace. That is enough for me.  ~St. Ignatius of Loyola

Through Mary

by Filed Under: 05 May, 05 May Saints, Catholic Girl's Guide, Marian, Meditation 3 Comments

"Today, more than ever, we must take pains in choosing true devotion to our Blessed Lady." ~St. Louis de Montfort

Rose has taken the lead in our home for the month of May.  She is coordinating the family’s spiritual meditations.

Here are her primary resources. 

Catholic Girl’s Guide by Fr. F. X. Lasance & Maiden and Mother: Devotions to the Blessed Virgin Mary throughout the Year

Catholic Girl's Guide    

Rose has posted the list below, on our home altar.  We are committed to adopting the prescribed practices for the month of May and beyond.

~~~

Father Bowden, of the Oratory, in his Miniature Life of Mary, suggests the following practices in honor of Mary. They may be drawn by lot, or otherwise chosen, at the beginning of a month.  ~Fr. Lasance

Practices in Honor of Our Lady
from Miniature Life of Mary by Father Bowden

1. Take a short time from your recreation to spend in solitude conversing with Mary, or in meditation on the mysteries of her life.

2. Rise punctually in the morning, invoking her as "the morning star."

3. Invoke her sixty-three times as " Virgin Mother " in honor of her sixty-three years.

4. Visit in spirit one of her great sanctuaries.

5. Mortify your will three times as an offering to Mary.

6. Say three Glorias in honor of the saints and Doctors who have explained and defended her pre-rogatives.

7. Gain indulgences for the soul in purgatory most devoted to the Blessed Virgin in life; offer Mass
and communion for this purpose.

8. Ask Mary to be present with you during the day to drive away evil spirits.

9. Perform some act of kindness with inconvenience to yourself.

10. Say three Hail Marys in reparation for the blasphemies uttered against her.

11. Give an alms in honor of her poverty.

12. Invoke the saints who were related to her — Saints Joseph, Joachim, Anne, etc.

13. Mortify your sight, once or more, in honor of Mary’s modesty.

14. Burn a candle before her image or picture.

15. Recall with devotion her words recorded in the Gospel, remembering how many of your sins are committed in speech. Bear your sufferings and sorrows silently and patiently.

1 6. Say the litany for the conversion of a soul for Mary to offer to God.

17. Shun idleness during the day in imitation of Mary at Nazareth.

18. Say a Hail Mary in honor of St. Gabriel, who brought it to earth.

19. Practise some little mortification at meals.

20. Before going to sleep, place yourself with the infant Jesus in Mary’s arms.

21. Say seven Glorias with extended arms, in honor of her seven dolors.

22. Make a spiritual communion in union with her dispositions at the Annunciation.

23. Say a Memorare to obtain Mary’s help at the hour of death.

24. Keep silence for a short time, and with Mary ponder on God’s words in your heart.

25. Say a Hail Mary before going to bed, to prevent one mortal sin during the night.

26. Visit her altar or image in atonement for the desecration of her sanctuaries.

27. Say nine Hail Marys in union with the nine choirs of angels who are ever praising her.

28. Say a Salve for the spread of devotion to her.

29. Say fifteen Glorias, in honor of the last fifteen years of Mary’s life, for the grace of perseverance.

30. Kiss the ground, and say three Hail Marys for the virtue of holy purity.

31. Say a Hail Mary in reparation for your neglect of Mary’s service during this month.

32. Distribute leaflets in praise of Mary, scapulars, medals, pictures, and beads, to promote devotion to the blessed Mother of God.

~~~

"It is impossible for a client of Mary, who is faithful in honoring and recommending himself to her, to be lost." ~St. Alphonsus Ligouri

How to Attend Mass

by Filed Under: Holy Mass, Meditation

My dear love sent me a love note (email) this morning.  He attached a beautiful reflection/letter from Fr. Padre Pio.

Below is a snippet of the letter.  The letter is from St. Padre Pio to Annita Rodote – Pietrelcina, July 25, 1915.  The full letter is taken from Volume III of Padre Pio’s Letters, "Correspondence with his Spiritual Daughters (1915-1923)" and can be found here.

~~~

Comportment at Holy Mass and Afterwards

…Enter the church in silence and with great respect, considering yourself unworthy to appear before the Lord’s Majesty.  Amongst other pious considerations, remember that our soul is the temple of God and, as such, we must keep it pure and spotless before God and his angels. Let us blush for having given access to the devil and his snares many times (with his enticements to the world, his pomp, his calling to the flesh) by not being able to keep our hearts pure and our bodies chaste; for having allowed our enemies to insinuate themselves into our hearts, thus desecrating the temple of God which we became through holy Baptism.

Then take holy water and make the sign of the cross carefully and slowly.

As soon as you are before God in the Blessed Sacrament, devoutly genuflect.  Once you have found your place, kneel down and render the tribute of your presence and devotion to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.  Confide all your needs to him along with those of others.  Speak to him with filial abandonment, give free rein to your heart and give him complete freedom to work in you as he thinks best.

When assisting at Holy Mass and the sacred functions, be very composed when standing up, kneeling down, and sitting, and carry out every religious act with the greatest devotion.  Be modest in your glances; don’t turn your head here and there to see who enters and leaves.  Don’t laugh, out of reverence for this holy place and also out of respect for those who are near you.  Try not to speak to anybody, except when charity or strict necessity requests this.

If you pray with others, say the words of the prayer distinctly, observe the pauses well and never hurry.

In short, behave in such a way that all present are edified by it and, through you, are urged to glorify and love the heavenly Father.

On leaving the church, you should be recollected and calm.   Firstly take your leave of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament; ask his forgiveness for the shortcomings committed in his divine presence and do not leave him without asking for and having received his paternal blessing.

Once you are outside the church, be as every follower of the Nazarene should be.  Above all, be extremely modest in everything, as this is the virtue which, more than any other, reveals the affections of the heart.  Nothing represents an object more faithfully or clearly than a mirror.  In the same way, nothing more widely represents the good or bad qualities of a soul than the greater or lesser regulation of the exterior, as when one appears more or less modest.  You must be modest in speech, modest in laughter, modest in your bearing, modest in walking.   All this must be practiced, not out of vanity in order to display one’s self, nor out of hypocrisy in order to appear to be good to the eyes of others, but rather, for the internal virtue of modesty, which regulates the external workings of the body.

Therefore, be humble of heart, circumspect in words, prudent in your resolutions.  Always be sparing in your speech, assiduous in good reading, attentive in your work, modest in your conversation.  Don’t be disgusting to anybody but be benevolent towards all and respectful towards your elders.   May any sinister glance be far from you, may no daring word escape your lips, may you never carry out any immodest or somewhat free action; never a rather free action or a petulant tone of voice.

In short let your whole exterior be a vivid image of the composure of your soul…

~ Fra Pio, Capuchin

Lenten Resolution Renewal

by Filed Under: Lent, Meditation

I am finding it necessary for me to renew my Lenten resolutions on a regular basis.  My spirit is willing but my flesh is weak. Matthew 26:41
Below is an excerpt from a sermon on Audio Sancto.  It has helped me stay firm in my resolve.

+AMDG+
~~~
Lent: Our Spiritual Tithe – Audio Sancto Sermon  Romans10seventeen.org
It is urgent that we return to the pristine spirit of the great fast, which is so badly needed, in our materialistic world.

Corporal: (external practices)

  • Take less of what you like today and more of what you dislike at meals today.
  • Take nothing to drink between meals.
  • Do not use seasoning on your food today.
  • Do not use any sweeteners with your food or drinks today.
  • Avoid listening to the radio at all today.
  • Take nothing to eat between meals today.
  • Avoid any TV or videos, instead, read the passion of the Christ in your bible or missal.
  • Take only one helping of each item at meals today.
  • Say an extra rosary.

Spiritual: (internal practices)

  • Don’t do any unnecessary talking instead say little prayers, aspiration throughout the day – My Jesus Mercy.
  • Exercise your patience today in all things.
  • Don’t make any complaints today.
  • Restrain any anger and go out of your way to be kind to the person who caused you anger.
  • Don’t be distracted with someone else’s business.
  • Avoid any gossip today. Instead, say an extra rosary to overcome this great fall.
  • When asked to do something extra, do it with a joyful and pleasant attitude today.
  • Speak in a pleasant tone to everyone today.
  • Avoid using the phone today.
  • Tell the truth in all your dealings today.
  • Avoid any vanity or self-seeking today.

Practices to Grow in Virtue & Good Works:

  • Practice humility today in all your actions.
  • Be generous today. Help someone in need.
  • Look for ways to be helpful throughout the day.
  • Do a job that needs to be done without being asked.
  • Be courageous, walk away from any impure situations today.
  • Don’t be idle at all today, always be doing something for others or for your spiritual growth.
  • Go out of your way today to help or talk to someone who is usually difficult.
  • Volunteer for an extra job today.
  • Say an extra rosary today for the conversion of a sinner.
  • Visit someone who is sick or lonesome today and offer to say the rosary with them
Pray & Sacrifice
I resolve to have the holiest Lent that I’ve ever had.
~~~

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