The Lord is Kind and Merciful

"The Lord is Kind and Merciful"(Psalm 103)

Prodigal son

The gospel from yesterday was the parable of the tenants.  The owner of the vineyard first sends his servants to collect the fruit at harvest time.  When they are beaten, stoned and killed he sends his son.  He too is killed. The gospel from today was the parable of the prodigal son. In the first parable the apostles respond to the violent treatment of the owners son by condemnation and advise that the owner should “bring those wretches to a wretched end”(Matthew 21:41).  In the second parable when the older son, who has squandered the inheritance from his father, returns home his brother believes he should not be accepted home.  Jesus does not share the apostles and younger sons desire for judgement and retribution. Even though they are justly due for such treatment The Lord choses Mercy.  

It is a difficult thing not to judge.  Just the other day I found myself falling into just that trap.  Desiring to buy some fresh homemade bread at a small store near our house the children and my husband and I walked into town.  I had noticed the previous day when we stopped in and they were sold out of bread that they were open until 6PM.  We arrived at the store at 5PM to find the lights out and a small sign in the window reading closed.  On the door inscribed were the hours: open 10-6.  We wondered if they had run to the bank and waited a few minutes.  Disappointed we all walked home empty handed.  My husband and I began to talk.  Things were said like what kind of operation would have posted hours and then not be there.  It was an unseasonably warm day and we wondered if the owner had just left early to enjoy the day.  Our sentiments were not one of understanding but judgement on the situation.  

Two days later we again walked into town to try and buy bread.  I called ahead but no one answered.  My mind again was running... what is this store that no one answers the phone.  Upon entering the store now open, a man ran out from the back.  He was visibly flustered.  His body seemed to have spastic ticks.  We asked for some bread and he mumbled that there had been a big problem yesterday.  He took a loaf from the basket. I mentioned trying to come to the store at 5PM two days earlier and he said it was related to the same problem.  He was not forthcoming as to what the problem had been.  I began to look around and noticed that the refrigerators which used to be filled with frozen prepared food were empty.  As my mind was filling in the missing pieces the man was fumbling with my money looking in the register.  He was looking for change and not finding any he told me to pay the next time.  We could clearly see this poor man was overwhelmed, suffering, and embarrassed.  We all began to feel so bad for the situation and then I remembered how much bad will I had felt for whoever was responsible for the store not being open the other night.  Oh, I had fallen into judging again.  

The words from the gospel only a week earlier now come to mind, “Judge not and you will not be judged”(Luke 6:37). Every day at Mass I hope that others will not judge me.  I have a genetic problem with my joints which prohibits me from kneeling.    I imagine that people look at me and see what looks like a healthy young person.  I hope they are not judging me that I am not reverent enough to kneel at the appropriate time. Over and over again I am confronted with a reality different then I had expected.  Therefore we must heed our Lord’s direction and not judge and leave the judging to Our Father in Heaven.  Thankfully, as the entrance psalm from Mass today said, "The Lord is kind and full of compassion and slow to anger".  

Not only is the Lord forgiving and merciful He is patient and waits for us to turn to Him. Jesus tells Saint Faustina in her diary, "Tell sinners that I am always waiting for them, that I listen intently to the beating of their heart...My heart rejoices when they return to me."(diary 1728)

Why does the Lord test us?

"I the LORD search the mind and try the heart, to give to every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings."(Jeremiah 17:10)

In todays reading from Jeremiah the Lord tells us He will try the heart.  We know that God is our Father and He loves us, so why does He send adversity upon us.  If we tell Him that we want to follow Him why does he put obstacles in front of us as we try to follow the straight path.  

Even St. Faustina found it hard to understand why Jesus would send adversity upon one of His servants trying to do the Lord’s Will.

[Once] when I saw how much my confessor [probably Father Sopocko] was to suffer because of this work which God was going to carry out through him, fear seized me for the moment, and I said to the Lord, "Jesus, this is Your affair, so why are You acting this way toward him? It seems to me that You are making difficulties for him while at the same time ordering him to act."

Write that by day and by night My gaze is fixed upon him, and I permit these adversities in order to increase his merit. I do not reward for good results but for the patience and hardship undergone for My sake.(diary 86)

We know that the message of Divine Mercy was one so important to Jesus and that spreading that message was critical in saving so many souls.  Therefore, if Jesus was allowing obstacles for Fr. Sopocko, who was trying to spread this message, one must stop and appreciate the importance of “the struggle of a soul”.  The merit obtained from such a struggle must have infinite importance to jeopardize spreading such an important message of Divine Mercy.  Maybe in the wisdom of the Lord the two are inseparable and to allow one message to spread without testifying to the other would be incomplete.  

It is as a jeweler polishes his fine treasures.  He holds them in the palm of his hand and gently removes all the dull surfaces so they shine without imperfection.  Likewise the Lord tells us,  “I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on my name and I will answer them; I will say, 'They are my people,' and they will say, 'The LORD is our God.'"(Zechariah 13:9) 

While the Lord tests us he never gives us more than we can handle.  Although Mother Theresa was fond of saying that she wished God didn’t trust her so much.  

The Gospel of Luke today shows the struggle of Lazarus who begged at the doorstep of a rich man.  He was hungry and dogs licked at his sores.  Lazarus never seems to find relief in this life.  However, the rich man enjoyed all the comforts of the world without noticing Lazarus at his doorstep.  The Lord stays true to his promise, I will give to man according to his ways.  Lazarus is taken by angels to Heaven and the rich man is taken to Hades where he begs for a drop of water without relief.

This past Sunday we heard the transfiguration recounted in the Gospel.  From a cloud the Father says, "This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him."  We therefore must listen to Jesus when He shares the story of Lazarus with us.  Our struggles win us a safe place in heaven.  Our soul has been polished smooth through adversity and with the choir of angels we are welcomed home with God.

Jesus, may we the children's rosary never lose site of Your love for us despite the struggles we may encounter. Amen

Children's Rosary this Sunday

This Sunday is our Children's Rosary

Join us this Sunday March 11th from 9:45-10:15 EST in the lower chapel at St. Thomas Apostle Church West Hartford CT USA.  If you can not be with us in person join with us in prayer from your home.  We will pray for our extended group and their intentions at our rosary.

“Give, and it will be given to you”

Jesus asks us to lend and not expect repayment.  To give alms and not let your right hand know what your left hand is doing.  He tells us when we fast to comb our hair and wash our face.  And in today’s gospel he tells us to be merciful even as your Father is merciful. 

Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. "Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For the measure you give will be the measure you get back."(Luke 6 36-38)

Saint Faustina shares an encounter with a sister who approached her for help at her tiredest moment of the day just before she slips into bed.

Once, when I returned to my cell, I was so tired that I had to rest a moment before I started to undress, and when I was already undressed, one of the sisters asked me to fetch her some hot water. Although I was tired, I dressed quickly and brought her the water she wanted, even though it was quite a long walk from the cell to the kitchen, and the mud was ankle-deep. When I re-entered my cell, I saw the ciborium with the Blessed Sacrament, and I heard this voice, Take this ciborium and bring it to the tabernacle. I hesitated at first, but when I approached and touched it, I heard these words, Approach each of the sisters with the same love with which you approach Me; and whatever you do for them, you do it for Me. (diary 285)

It is a difficult thing to see Jesus in everyone.  To see as Blessed Mother Theresa describes "Jesus in his distressing disguise".  However when we do show mercy and hold back judgement the response from our Lord is a cup “running over”. 

Jesus please allow the children's rosary and all associated with us to see you in all people.  Replace our hearts with your heart that we may love the people in our lives who seem the hardest to love.  Amen

A Call to Perfection

"You, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect"(Matthew 5:48)

In yesterday’s gospel of Matthew God calls us to perfection,

"You have heard that it was said, `You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you salute only your brethren, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect" (Matthew 5:43-48)

This weekend both Gospels Saturday and Sunday call us to seek perfection.  Today the gospel was the transfiguration.  We know that contemplation of the transfiguration, which is the fourth Luminous mystery of the rosary, brings the fruit of desire for holiness.  We should desire perfection not only for ourself but the benefits it brings for those around us. Jesus tells Saint Faustina, 

Know this, My daughter: if you strive for perfection you will sanctify many souls; and if you do not strive for sanctity, by the same token, many souls will remain imperfect. Know that their perfection will depend on your perfection, and the greater part of the responsibility for these souls will fall on you. (diary 1165)

This is a consoling reality and and immense responsibility.  We may have dear people in our family who have not been given the gift of faith.  Yet Jesus tells us that our choice to seek perfection and holiness will carry them along with us.  We all know that the more time you spend with someone the more you assume their habits and disposition almost subconsciously.  Pope John Paul II in the Rosarium Virginis Mariae writes:

Pope John Paul II

In the spiritual journey of the Rosary, based on the constant contemplation – in Mary’s company – of the face of Christ, this demanding ideal of being conformed to him is pursued through an association which could be described in terms of friendship. We are thereby enabled to enter naturally into Christ’s life and as it were to share his deepest feelings. In this regard Blessed Bartolo Longo has written: “Just as two friends, frequently in each other’s company, tend to develop similar habits, so too, by holding familiar converse with Jesus and the Blessed Virgin, by meditating on the mysteries of the Rosary and by living the same life in Holy Communion, we can become, to the extent of our lowliness, similar to them and can learn from these supreme models a life of humility, poverty, hiddenness, patience and perfection.”

St. Theresa of Avila speaks also of how a young soul striving to approach the Lord more deeply, as personified by moving through rooms in a castle, will benefit from others who are on the same path.

“It is a very great thing for a person to associate with others who are walking in the right way: to mix, not only with those whom he sees in the rooms where he himself is, but with those whom he knows to have entered the rooms nearer the centre, for they will be of great help to him and he can get into such close touch with them that they will take him with them”. (Interior Castles)

President Abraham Lincoln

The priest on Saturday, Fr. Sas had a wonderful quote that he used in his homily.  It was originally spoken by President Abraham Lincoln in response to criticisms that he was too kind to his enemies. “Am I not destroying my enemies by making them my friend”.  In the context of the Gospel from yesterday where Jesus calls us to “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven” it is worth examining how we approach individuals who have hurt us.  It is my experience that the Lord often uses those whom we least expect to answer our prayers.  When you pray for someone who has hurt you and then months or years later you see them do something so lovely the joy is immeasurable.  These ways are not our ways by nature but when we turn ourselves over to the Lord and seek perfection they become our ways.  It is then that we feel the immeasurable joy and love of being the sons and daughters of our Father in heaven.

Extended Hands

"Ask, and it will be given you"(Matthew 7:7)

Meditating in front of the Blessed Sacrament after Mass I began to look at Jesus’ hands on the cross.  I began to contemplate what it means to be Jesus’ hands. For weeks we have been asking that all associated with the children’s rosary would be the extended hands of Jesus.  Now I really looked at His hands.  These hands are crucified hands. It was clear that to be Jesus’ hands our hands would never be far from suffering.  Either suffering we experience or the suffering of others.

I began to realize why Jesus called me for this mission of the children’s rosary.  The past five years have been a time where I have lost almost all physical use of my hands.  A genetic condition has resulted in a weakness in my joints that results in frequent dislocations.  These injuries have left me reliant on other peoples hands to help me.  Unable to drive or dress myself I have to rely on the compassion of others, especially my husband.  Often the hands to help me prepare food are small ones, those of my children.  Having lost the use of my hands has been an ironic turn of events as I was a trained dentist when my condition began to deteriorate.  Daily I live the fragility of my life and my body.  A fragility we all live in but few recognize as their bodies are strong. Tornadoes in the middle of our country this week underscore the uncertainty of our lives.  

We turn to our Lord in prayer to use us as His hands.  In my case He must use my hands which are weak and almost useless.  Many of you may feel similar to me.  For whatever reason you feel like you have little to offer.  But realize the power of the Lord.  He hears all our prayers.  If we ask as His child to use us for His Will, do you think he will deny us this.  For the gospel on Thursday tells us, "Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him! So whatever you wish that men would do to you, do so to them; for this is the law and the prophets. (Matthew 7:7-12) 

Being a parent has opened my eyes to how Our Heavenly Father must view us.  There are so many times when I just wish my children would be obedient and I realize why the Lord calls us to obedience to Him.  It also allows me to see if one of my children repeatedly asked to help me do the work I myself could not do how pleased I would be.  Our Blessed Mother and Our Lord have many plans but they need earthly hands to realize it.  As we bombard the Saints in Heaven to present our petitions to the Lord how happy must our Father be that we his children want to do His Will and help him.  

Our petition:

MAY THE CHILDREN’S ROSARY, THEIR FAMILIES, THOSE ASSOCIATED WITH THE CHILDREN’S ROSARY INCLUDING OUR PRIESTS, OUR BISHOP AND OUR HOLY FATHER THE POPE BE THE EXTENDED HANDS OF OUR BLESSED MOTHER AND HER SON.  MAY WE GATHER A GREAT MANY SOULS ESPECIALLY YOUNG PEOPLE FOR THE LORD.  MAY WE EXPERIENCE RENEWAL OF FAMILY PRAYER AND SPREAD IT ACROSS THE GLOBE. IN A SPECIAL WAY WE ASK EACH SAINT TO CHOOSE AN INDIVIDUAL, FAMILY OR A PRIEST, ASSOCIATED WITH OUR CHILDREN’S ROSARY GROUP TO LEAD IN THEIR SPIRITUAL JOURNEY. DEAR SAINT PRAY FOR OUR EXTENDED GROUP THAT WE MAY EMBODY THE VIRTUES YOU EXEMPLIFIED HERE ON EARTH.

THIRTY-THREE NOVENAS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED AND ANOTHER ELEVEN ARE UNDERWAY. MANY MORE WILL BE SAID.

Novenas to the following Saints have been completed:

St Gerard majella

St. Joseph,

St. Theresa the Little flower

St Padre Pio

Bl. John Paul II

St. Rita

St. Theresa Avila

St. Peter

St. Blaize

St. Bernadette

St. Thomas More

St. Ann

St. John Bosco

St. Philomena

St. Peregrine

St. Odilia

St Vianney

Blessed Mother Theresa of Calcutta

St. Cuthman

St. John the Baptist

St. Aloysius

St. James the Apostle

St. Anthony of Padua

St. Andre Bessette

St. Matthew

St. Dymphna

St. Apollonia

St. John Evangelist

St. Francis of Assisi

St. Paul

St. Lucy

St. Cabrini

Novenas underway:

St Faustina

Bl Pier Giorgio Frassati

St. Michael

St. Mark

St. Peter Claver

St. Thomas Apostle

St. Joan of Arc

St. Catherine of Siena

St. Mary Magdalene

St. Raphael

St. Francis Xavier

Individuals only have to tell the Lord in prayer that they want to be part of our group to begin receiving the benefits of all these prayers and novenas. 

Forty-four Saints have been asked to join our children's rosary and intercede for the above petition.  Each one has been asked to find a family, priest or individual associated with the children's rosary to lead in their spiritual growth.  Initially I considered doing 60 novenas myself.  It seemed like a good round number.  I knew we had over 30 Bibles and a Saint would be written inside each one.  We also would have a Saint on each bookmark made.(Those attending our April 15th rosary will have an opportunity to randomly choose either a bible or bookmark, those following remotely please contact me and we can send you a handmade bookmark with the Saint that chooses you)  The Lord in prayer shared with me that I should invite others to say novenas as well.  As I was thinking about the rosary an inspiration came, that for each of the beads of the rosary and the crucifix a novena would be said to a Saint.  The exact number of beads including the crucifix attached is 60.  If each member of the children's rosary said 60 novenas how fast would we reach across the globe. ....answer....very fast.  Having a medical background I am aware of diseases that can be spread from one to another.  Often one infected person can infect 2 or 3 others.  If this is the case the disease spreads across the globe very quickly.  As the flu does each year.  Imagine the speed one could attain if each person was reaching out to 60 people. As we invite each saint to join our group they will choose one person to lead associated with our children's rosary. If all our members have saints then that means they must look outside the group and bring more members to us.  Trusting in the words of the Gospel that "he who seeks will find"(Matthew 7:8) we can with certainty set out on such a mission.  While I was in front of the Blessed Sacrament this morning and the ideas of this were flowing I wondered if this was too much to ask people to say 60 novenas.  My heart responded immediately , is anything too much for you Lord.  

The children's rosary 

If you decide that you want to join the children's rosary you only have to tell the Lord in your heart of this desire and all of our rosaries and novenas said daily will include you.  If you want to say a novena to a Saint please email me so I can add it to the list.  This endeavor is  for God.  May the Holy Spirit inspire you to see where your extended hand will fall.  All for the Glory of God. Amen

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A Lesson From Our Lady of Lourdes

"You have made a mistake," she smiled, "that Rosary is not yours."

One hundred and fifty three years ago to the day St. Bernadette knelt in front of Our Blessed Mother in Lourdes, France.  She prayed the Rosary as Our Lady watched.  However, unlike the visits from Our Lady during prior days Our Blessed Mother noticed something was different and said "You have made a mistake," she smiled, "that Rosary is not yours."  The rosary belonged to a friend of Bernadettes named Pauline Sans.  These were strong words that Our Lady used with Bernadette.  In reflecting on them a feeling comes.  It is Love from Our Mother showing us how dear our rosary’s should be to us.  Over time our own personal rosaries take on a personal expression of love for Our Lady.  Because they have been blessed and have accompanied us on our daily journey here on earth they are a constant reminder of our devotion to Our Mother and her Son and also her love for us.  

I am reminded of a day several years ago when I asked one of the women whom I pray a rosary with after daily Mass to bring my rosaries with her to an ordination to be blessed by a bishop.  She agreed and after praying the Rosary I gave her my wooden rosary beads I purchased at age 13.  It was a Friday morning.  Over the weekend I used another pair of rosaries but thought often about my wooden pair.  On the Monday morning I was entering church I saw this friend of mine.  I asked her how the ordination had been and she politely answered well.  Moments later as I was walking down the hallway to the chapel I heard her scream.  She was praising the Lord.  Hurrying back to her I asked what had happened.  Apparently, she had lost my rosary beads and had prayed with another friend all weekend that she would find them.  Her friend prayed with her and tried to reassure her that they would be found.  Upon entering the church she saw my rosaries hanging over a banaster in an area rarely used to display lost items.  When I heard of her suffering over the weekend as a result of the loss of the rosaries and the amazing discovery of them that morning I was overwhelmed at what a gift from God these rosaries were.  It was as if Our Lady had placed them safely in my hand.  From that moment on I began to feel about my rosaries as someone does about such things as a wedding ring.  If a fire were to start in ones home and you could take only one thing what would it be.  The answer for me would be my rosary beads.  

Dear Mary thank you as a mother for showing us how special our rosary beads are for us.  Please pray that we may always keep them close to our hearts. Amen

St. Bernadette