Holy Family School of Faith
ROSARY MEDITATIONS
First Topic : Taking Up Your Cross
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First Topic : Taking Up Your Cross ▫
Taking Up Your Cross
Dr. Mike Scherschligt
"Many souls who strive for holiness do not wish to enter upon the way of the cross, the way of suffering. They would like to be saints, but with a sanctity that is comfortable and easy. And when God tests them with some painful affliction of spirit, or persecutions and calumny, or any other cross that, if well carried, would lead them to the heights of sanctity, they draw back and abandon the way of perfection. Perhaps they have even reached the point where they asked God to send them some cross, but it is evident that what they wanted was a cross of their own choosing and, when they did not find it, they considered that they had been deceived and gave up the road to perfection.
It is therefore necessary to decide once and for all to embrace our own personal cross as God wishes to allow in our lives: sickness, persecution, calumny, humiliation, disappointment -- whatever He wishes and in the manner He wishes. The attitude of soul must be one of a personal Yes, a total abandonment to God without reserve, a complete acceptance of His loving providence."
At this point I’d like to offer you what are often considered, in the spiritual life, to be the first two stages a soul will pass through on the road toward perfection, as regards the mortification of the flesh:
The first stage is faithfulness to our daily duties.
The second is a cheerful resignation to whatever crosses the Lord sends us.
MEDITATION FOR SECOND DECADE
First, acceptance of our daily duties.
Some people will daydream about accomplishing incredible, world-changing, eye-popping things for the Lord while at the same time neglecting even serious daily duties such as an honest 8-hour day of work, or avoiding critical household tasks. Do you have some desire to take upon yourself greater bodily penances for the sake of souls? First, make your bed each morning. Do you wish to make great sacrifices, heroic sacrifices, notable sacrifices in service of God? First, embrace your 8-hour work day. Stop wasting time at work, cutting corners, clocking out early, and complaining about the difficulty of your daily tasks.
Too many people say: Send me out on mission, Lord! Make me into a saint! Give me some great task to help build your kingdom! And then, when the Lord asks them to cheerfully fill out some Excel spreadsheet for their job, they shirk their responsibility and log onto Facebook, or else they do fill it out, but begrudgingly and mindlessly. Poor soul! You will never again recover that opportunity to encounter Jesus underneath that little cross, and you will never be a saint!
Jesus, save us from our fickleness and inconsistency! Save us from our pride that hides under desire of doing great things, yet flees from little duties of the moment. The Lord says that he who is faithful in small matters, is also faithful in great ones. And he who is dishonest in very small matters, is also dishonest in great ones (Lk 16:10).
St. Josemaria Escriva says:
"Your big cowardices of the moment correspond -- it’s very plain -- to your little cowardices of each day. You have not been able to conquer the big things, because you did not want to conquer in the little ones."
MEDITATION FOR THIRD DECADE
The second stage in overcoming our flesh -- our horror and fear of suffering and of the cross, is a joyful acceptance of the crosses God allows into our lives.
There is a story of a man who was passing through a particularly poignant time of suffering in his life. He complained incessantly to God, not a faith-filled cry for help, but an angry cry. The Lord appeared to him and showed him a room, full of crosses. In it were large crosses, small crosses, wooden crosses, metal crosses, paper crosses. The Lord told the man --- since you are unhappy with your cross, please choose any of the crosses in this room. If you wish to remain my disciple, you must have a cross of some kind, otherwise you cannot imitate me… but go ahead, I’ll let you choose which one. The man walked around for a while until he was confident he had found the smallest, most pitiful looking cross in the whole bunch. It was about three inches tall, made of cheap wood, held together by a staple. He took it off the wall and handed it to Jesus who took it in His hands and said… funny you should choose this one, because this is the one I already gave to you.
MEDITATION FOR FOURTH DECADE
Friends, we must be convicted, convicted, convicted! -- that every cross comes from the loving hands of God! Bury that truth so deep in your mind and heart that nothing can touch it.
St. Francis de Sales says this:
“The everlasting God has in His wisdom foreseen from eternity the cross that He now presents to you as a gift from His inmost heart. This cross He now sends you He has considered with His all-knowing eyes, understood with His divine mind, tested with His wise justice, warmed with loving arms and weighed with His own hands to see that it be not one inch too large and not one ounce too heavy for you. He has blessed it with His holy Name, anointed it with His consolation, taken one last glance at you and your courage, and then sent it to you from heaven, a special greeting from God to you, an alms of the all-merciful love of God."
MEDITATION FOR FIRST DECADE
Luke 9:23-25 ‘If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross every day and follow me. For anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his life for my sake, that man will save it. What gain, then, is it for a man to have won the whole world and to have lost or ruined his very self?
Fr. Mattingly says:
Second Topic: Pope Saint John Paul II and the Cross
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Second Topic: Pope Saint John Paul II and the Cross ▫
Pope Saint John Paul II and the Cross
Dr. Mike Scherschligt
The priest had a broken leg and stood on crutches as John Paul approached him in the receiving line of guests. He said to the Pope with a twinge of humor and self-pity; “I broke my leg. Can I please have your blessing?” John Paul replied; “Don’t waste your suffering.” The Holy Father raised his hand, blessed the priest, and then with an open palm, thumped the priest on the head.
We too often waste our sufferings. They are the most powerful means to empty us of disordered desires, increase our intimacy with Jesus and do the greatest good for the world and others if we know how to accept them with trust and offer them with love to Christ. Do you have crosses or sufferings you are wasting by not offering them up?
MEDITATION FOR SECOND DECADE
The idea of “offering it up” comes from the writings of Saint Paul.
He wrote; “Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church” (Col 1:24). What Paul is asserting is that Jesus did not die so that we would never have to suffer, but so that we would know how to suffer.
In becoming man, Christ redeemed all things human: human labor, human love, human suffering, and so on. Each part of man’s existence can take on a supernatural significance if only one has the eyes to see. The suffering of Jesus was more than sufficient to save the world, but He is inviting us to help Him save souls by accepting with trust and offering with love what we did not choose, do not like, cannot change, and cannot understand. In this way we help Jesus save the world and souls from self-destruction.
The degree of suffering does not matter, but the love with which it is offered. It does not matter if the suffering is a bloody martyrdom, a toothache, unemployment, a rebellious child, or an alcoholic spouse. Once a person discovers the meaning of suffering, it can be transformed into a powerful way to change world events and save souls. But the person who remains ignorant of its potential power could be compared to an illiterate person holding a winning lottery ticket. So much value, all gone to waste.
MEDITATION FOR THIRD DECADE
St. John Paul wrote a letter on the Christian meaning of human suffering, entitled Salvifici Doloris, on the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes in 1984.
In it, he explained how individuals can share in the suffering of Christ because he opened his suffering to all mankind;
“. . . the weaknesses of all human sufferings are capable of being infused with the same power of God manifested in Christ’s Cross. . . . In him God has confirmed his desire to act especially through suffering . . . Christ achieved the Redemption completely and to the very limits but at the same time he did not bring it to a close. . . . every form of suffering, given fresh life by the power of this Cross, should become no longer the weakness of man but the power of God.”
MEDITATION FOR FOURTH DECADE
St. John Paul reminds all who suffer that they are not passive victims of evil but are powerful agents of change to bring in a large harvest of souls.
He wrote; “To meet with suffering, that is a specific type of harvest.” He reminded the sick that they are not merely to be taken care of, but that they too can care for others through their suffering. “You can do very much by your prayer and your sacrifice, your suffering . . . you can obtain much from Jesus Christ for those who may not need physical help, but who often are in terrible need of spiritual help . . . Your role in the parish is not merely passive.”
Through the example of Christ, we learn that not only should a person do good to those who suffer, but we can also do good by one’s suffering. Salvifici Dolores declared; “In this double aspect he has completely revealed the meaning of suffering.” When one understands the value of the cross and overcomes the sense that suffering is useless, the fruits of peace and joy are experienced. As John Paul explained; “The discovery of the salvific meaning of suffering in union with Christ transforms this depressing feeling.”
Although the powerful ones of the world assume they wield the greatest influence, God’s power is made perfect in weakness. In the Kingdom of God, the paraplegic is not less important than the business tycoon or celebrity, but in a certain sense, more so.
St. John Paul believed Christians should live “Not with the Cross of the Savior behind you, but with your own cross behind the Savior.”
MEDITATION FOR FIFTH DECADE
When human suffering is understood in its deepest meaning, it ceases to be a negative thing that is experienced in a passive manner.
Rather, one becomes free to meet suffering with courage, seeing it as an opportunity for active and positive collaboration in the work of human redemption. Through God’s grace, it can be transformed into an irreplaceable service for souls, and is no longer wasted. For this reason, John Paul exclaimed; “Prayer joined to sacrifice constitutes the most powerful force in human history.”
What is the concrete resolution we could take forth from this Rosary meditation?
The closing scene in Schindler’s List is haunting: A Jewish man hands him a ring with an inscription from the Talmud: Whoever saves one life saves the entire world. At this Schindler breaks down weeping. “I could have got more out. I threw away so much money. I could have used it to save more people. You have no idea of what I have wasted…I didn’t do enough. I could have sold this car, this gold pin…it would have given me one more person and I didn’t do it.”
I don’t want to be Schindler in the end. Let us make the resolution to accept and offer up whatever we don’t like with a smile. Let’s build the habit with little things so that when the opportunity comes, we can do the big things to love Jesus and save souls.
MEDITATION FOR FIRST DECADE
In his book St John Paul the Great – His Five Loves, Jason Evert shares this story about JPII. After concelebrating Mass with the Holy Father in his private chapel, a priest from Michigan had a brief opportunity to meet the Pope.
Third Topic: What Does it Mean to Offer it Up?
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Third Topic: What Does it Mean to Offer it Up? ▫
What Does it Mean to Offer it Up?
Dr. Mike Scherschligt
Teresa of Avila, in her book The Way of Perfection writes:
“Everything I have advised you about… is directed toward the complete gift of ourselves to the Creator, the surrender of our wills to His, and detachment from creatures…For we are preparing ourselves that we may quickly reach the end of our journey and drink the living water from the fount."
This complete gift of self to God, the offering of our whole being means to offer up our thanksgiving, joy, prayer, work, and our suffering. By offering up these things we make the complete gift of ourselves to God and in return He floods us with His divine life.
MEDITATION FOR SECOND DECADE
Now, when it comes to offering up suffering, there are ultimately two options:
Offer it up, that is, Give yourself to God in trust and love.
Turn away from God in anger, and despair, and search for an escape route through alcohol, pain meds, porn or simply a life of distraction.
Well, I know where door number two leads so then I choose what’s behind door number one – offer it up – offer yourself to God in trust which is an act of love.
Mary gave herself to God to do His will at the Annunciation, she gave her consent: I am the handmaid of the Lord, be it done unto me according to your word.
Mary gave herself in an even greater way at the Cross, when she had the choice to either,
Turn away from God, rebel against His will in anger or despair.
Accept the will of God, trust Him and consent to what He was doing through the death of Jesus her Son, and by this consent she gave herself totally to God.
Love is a gift of self to another person to do what is good or pleasing for them. Love is total when it is an unconditional gift of self. We say, “God I give myself to you, I consent to your will unconditionally, no matter what!”
But this is gift is really a partial gift when everything goes our way, because in our fallen human nature, inclined to self-centeredness, we love God for what He gives us – like a sugar daddy.
However, this gift of self to God is greater when we get nothing in return; and the gift of self to God is greatest, it is total when we give ourselves in suffering – because then it is pure gift with no self-interest.
Suffering is the most effective way to elicit a total gift of self to God. This in turn empties us to receive God’s total gift of Himself to us to Divinize us!
MEDITATION FOR THIRD DECADE
Why is suffering so important?
Suffering is not evil. Evil is the lack of a good thing. Blindness is evil because the person lacks the good of sight. Suffering is the human response to the absence of a good we should have – like sight.
To offer up suffering means we are giving God our goods one by one, letting them go. We give Him every good we possess and that hurts. As we are letting go of good things we are directing them and ourselves to God. In return God gives everything back with the gift of Himself.
As Teresa of Avila said, the unconditional surrender or gift of self to God is the whole deal. Suffering brings it out in the most complete way. So our response to suffering is to offer it up. And the IT is yourself. It’s not merely our suffering we are offering, it is ourselves, completely.
Its not what you got, but what you give, that matters, only what you give. Offer it up – give yourself totally to God especially in suffering!
MEDITATION FOR THE FOURTH DECADE
The suffering of Jesus was powerful not because of the suffering itself but because it was a total gift of self, total unconditional love of the Son for God the Father.
"Father if it be possible let this cup pass from me, but not my will but yours be done."
"Father, into your hands I commit my spirit."
God does not seek bulls and goats but man; man’s unqualified “yes” to God could alone form true worship. Everything belongs to God, but to man is lent the freedom to say yes or no, the freedom to love or to reject; loves free “yes” is the only thing for which God must wait…p. 217
Christian sacrifice does not consist in giving God what He would not have without us but in our becoming totally receptive, letting ourselves be completely taken over by him. Letting God act on us – that is Christian sacrifice. P. 215
The unqualified Yes of Jesus – to the very end, to His death is what saves us. Jesus invites us to help him save souls by our unqualified yes in suffering.
St. Paul understood that Jesus invites all people to help him save souls through offering up suffering. Colossians 1:24,
“It makes me happy to suffer for you, as I am suffering now, and in my own body to do what I can to make up all that has still to be undergone by Christ for the sake of his body, the Church.”
Literally – all that is lacking from the sufferings of Christ. What could be lacking? Our participation! Jesus is inviting us to help him save souls. Our unqualified “Yes” to God is what we are to offer up.
MEDITATION FOR THE FIFTH DECADE
Jesus said to St. Faustina:
“I am giving you a share in the redemption of mankind.” Diary 310
Jesus also told her,
“I need your suffering to rescue sinners.” (Diary 1612)
Diary 1645 March 25, 1938, Faustina writes:
“Today, I saw the suffering Lord Jesus. He leaned down toward me and whispered softly, My daughter, help Me to save sinners. Suddenly, a burning desire to save souls entered my soul. When I recovered my senses, I knew just how I was to help souls, and I prepared myself for greater sufferings.”
Its not what you got, only what you give. Give yourself totally to God, offer up your thanksgiving, prayer, work, joy and your suffering. Don’t waste it. Offer it up, Give yourself to God, give Him your unqualified Yes! Help Jesus save souls.
MEDITATION FOR FIRST DECADE
Don’t waste your sufferings, offer them up. What does it mean to offer up our suffering?
Fourth Topic: Trust in the Middle of Chaos & Fear
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Fourth Topic: Trust in the Middle of Chaos & Fear ▫
Genesis 39: 2 tells us that God was with Joseph and everything went well with him.
Then Potiphar’s wife tries to seduce Joseph but Joseph refuses and he is thrown in prison for his chastity and fidelity. Genesis 39: 21 tells us and there in jail he stayed but once again, God was with Joseph. In the middle of all of this, Joseph grew in trust, in hope and in love of God.
Then Pharaoh’s Cup-bearer and Baker are tossed in Prison in Genesis 40. The Cup-bearer and the Baker have dreams and Joseph interprets their dreams and tells them: "Remember me when all is well with you."
Two years pass – the Cup-bearer has forgotten Joseph (13 years since Joseph was sold into slavery) and Pharaoh has a dream about 7 fat and 7 skinny cows. Joseph interprets Pharaoh’s dreams correctly and he is placed “over the household of Egypt.”
Joseph marries Asenath, the daughter of the Priest of On. On is where Re (Rah) was worshipped. Re was the highest god – even over Pharaoh! The Priest of On was revered even more than Pharaoh . So Joseph is not only equal to Pharaoh, he marries into the highest aristocracy. He was so highly though of that he was embalmed and put into a coffin in Egypt. This was only done to kings. Joseph becomes, so to speak, king of Egypt. He has two sons:
Manasseh = God has made me forget all my suffering.
Ephraim = God has made me fruitful in the country of my misfortune.
Joseph sees that God has orchestrated all things - even the evil of his brothers - for his good. He abandons himself into the Hands of Divine Providence.
The 7 years of plenty came to an end… There is famine throughout the Middle East and Joseph’s brothers come to Egypt to buy grain. Joseph recognized the brothers who did him evil and he eventually reveals himself to them. They are convinced Joseph will avenge himself and they are scared to death.
Genesis 50:
But Joseph answered them: “Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? The evil you planned to do me has by God’s design been turned to good, that he might bring about, as indeed he has, the deliverance of numerous people.”
In the midst of chaos, Joseph trusted in Divine Providence.
MEDITATION FOR SECOND DECADE
CCC (Catechism of the Catholic Church) 312:
In time we can discover that God in his almighty providence can bring a good from the consequence of an evil, even a moral evil, caused by his creatures. “It was not you,” said Joseph to his brothers, “who sent me here, but God…You meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive.” From the greatest moral evil ever committed – the rejection and murder of God’s only Son, caused by the sins of all men – God…brought the greatest of goods: the glorification of Christ and our redemption.
Romans 8:28
We know that by turning everything to their good God co-operates with all those who love him, with all those that he has called according to his purpose.
MEDITATION FOR THIRD DECADE
We were made for truth, beauty and goodness. These are the unchanging foundations of the world that give the stability necessary for us to thrive. Satan and his followers, fallen angels and humans, reject these and throw the world into chaos. Things are chaotic in the world around us and in the Church. Inside and out it appears everything is spinning out of control and insane. Fear is often a response to chaos. We panic because we want order, but everything is out of control, as a reaction we become a dictator, a control freak, or we place our faith, hope and trust in human solutions alone. In so doing we accept a type of dictator at the price of our freedom. Do we turn to God’s Providence in apparent chaos or do we try to control everything find some human answer that can give us the security we long for?
MEDITATION FOR FOURTH DECADE
What is our stable foundation, our anchor in the storm? It is only Jesus Christ and in Him alone should you place your trust because Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. Jesus cannot change, truth cannot change, right and wrong, good and bad, cannot change. These are expressed in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, but nobody reads it. The world looks like it is in chaos. Im sure it looked that way to Joseph when he was in prison. But God is in charge of the world. Don't worry about what God is in charge of. He'll take care of that. If you focus on what God is doing in everyone else's life (meaning the whole world and the global community), it'll stress you out, because it always stresses us to assume responsibilities that weren't meant for us.
MEDITATION FOR FIFTH DECADE
If you focus on what God has put in your life, you'll be happy.
Spend your attention energy and time on what you are in charge of (i.e., prayer, family, friends, work). Things are going to get more chaotic outside the Church and inside the Church. Don’t panic. Relax, Jesus remains the Lord and Master of history. His divine providence is guiding all things. Our response is to do what we are supposed to do. Go to bed on time. Get up on time, spend time in silence in gratitude, an examination of conscience, meditation, making a practical concrete resolution. Receive the Eucharist as often as possible. Belong to Mary, stick close to her and pray the Rosary every day. Fulfill your duties and responsibilities for the love of God with joy. Spend time with family and friends. Eat, drink, talk, and laugh with them. Most importantly, laugh at yourself and have a good sense of humor. Accept your personal cross each day. Experience beauty through nature, literature, art or music. Help someone else to Mary and Jesus by means of invitation, hospitality, authentic friendship, good conversation and prayer.
The example of Joseph and Jesus shows us how we are to respond to evil in our lives as the reflection below confirms:
Trust in the Midst of Chaos and Fear
Dr. Mike Scherschligt
MEDITATION FOR FIRST DECADE
The 1st reading in the Mass today (March 22, 2019) is the Story of Joseph from Genesis.
Joseph was kidnapped by his brothers and sold as a slave: “Now Joseph was taken down to Egypt, and Potiphar an officer of Pharaoh, bought him.”
Fifth Topic: The Prophetic Messages of Our Lady of Akita
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Fifth Topic: The Prophetic Messages of Our Lady of Akita ▫
The Prophetic Messages of Our Lady of Akita
Dr. Mike Scherschligt
Bishop John Ito approved this apparition on April 22, 1984, after years of extensive investigation.
The Context into which we must situate the Apparition of Mary in Akita is the cosmic struggle between the Mary and the Devil. This struggle begins with the prophecy in Genesis 3:15 that in the end the Woman would crush the head of Satan. It is found again in the Book of Revelation chapter 12 where we are told of the struggle between the Woman Clothed with the Sun and the Great Red Dragon.
In 1830, God revealed the Miraculous Medal apparition, depicting Mary crushing the head of Satan. In 1858, Pope Pius IX proclaimed the Immaculate Conception of Mary, that the devil never had and can never have any power over her. In 1950, Pope Pius XII proclaimed the Assumption of Mary, indicating that Mary in her glorious Assumption of into Heaven, Body and Soul, has gained the complete victory over Satan, by means of her Son, the Savior of the World, Jesus Christ.
On July 13, 1917, Mary proclaimed at Fatima, In the end, My Immaculate Heart will triumph…and a period of peace will be granted to the world.
Mary has already begun to crush the head of Satan, but as he writhes in agony, his tail is sweeping the world and souls toward complete destruction. In 1977 Pope Paul VI “The tail of the devil is functioning in the disintegration of the Catholic world. The darkness of Satan has entered and spread throughout the Catholic Church even to its summit. Apostasy, loss of faith, is spreading throughout the world and into its highest levels in the Church.”
MEDITATION FOR SECOND DECADE
The Messages:
Mary delivered messages three times to Sr. Sasagawa Akita Japan in 1973.
AUGUST 3, 1973 Mary revealed:
”My daughter, my novice, do you love the Lord? If you love the Lord, listen to what I have to say to you...Many men in this world afflict the Lord. I desire souls to console Him to soften the anger of the Heavenly Father. I wish, with my Son, for souls who will repair by their suffering and their poverty for the sinners and ingrates."
This is Reminiscent of the 2nd Apparition of the Angel to the three children of Fatima in the Summer of 1916.
While the children were playing around the well near Lucia’s house, suddenly the Angel appeared and asked: "What are you doing? Pray, pray very much! The Most Holy Hearts of Jesus and Mary have designs of mercy on you. Offer prayers and sacrifice constantly to the Most High. The hearts of Jesus and Mary have a mission for you"
Lucy asked the Angel: “How are we to make sacrifices?”
"Make of everything you can a sacrifice and offer it to God as an act of reparation for the sins by which He is offended, and in supplication for the conversion of sinners. In this way, you will draw peace upon your country. I am its Guardian Angel, the Angel of Portugal. Above all, accept and bear with submission the sufferings which the Lord will send you."
The most spiritually fruitful you can be is the patient acceptance and endurance of the sufferings, which you did not choose yet, which God in His mysterious providence sends you.
MEDITATION FOR THIRD DECADE
August 3, 1973
Our Lady continued, “In order that the world might know His anger, the Heavenly Father is preparing to inflict a great chastisement on all mankind. With my Son I have intervened so many times to appease the wrath of the Father. I have prevented the coming of calamities by offering Him the sufferings of the Son on the Cross, His Precious Blood, and beloved souls who console Him forming a cohort of victim souls. Prayer, penance and courageous sacrifices can soften the Father's anger…Offer in reparation (whatever God may send) for sins. Let each one endeavor, according to capacity and position, to offer herself entirely to the Lord."
OCTOBER 13, 1973
"As I told you, if men do not repent and better themselves, the Father will inflict a terrible punishment on all humanity. It will be a punishment greater than the deluge, such as one will never seen before. Fire will fall from the sky and will wipe out a great part of humanity, the good as well as the bad, sparing neither priests nor faithful. The survivors will find themselves so desolate that they will envy the dead. The only arms which will remain for you will be the Rosary and The Sign left by My Son. Each day recite the prayers of the Rosary. With the Rosary, pray for the Pope, the bishops and priests."
MEDITATION FOR FOURTH DECADE
Mary warned of the impending dangers for the Church
"The work of the devil will infiltrate even into the Church in such a way that one will see cardinals opposing cardinals, bishops against bishops. The priests who venerate me will be scorned and opposed by their confreres...churches and altars sacked; the Church will be full of those who accept compromises and the demon will press many priests and consecrated souls to leave the service of the Lord.
"The demon will be especially implacable against souls consecrated to God. The thought of the loss of so many souls is the cause of my sadness. If sins increase in number and gravity, there will be no longer pardon for them"
"Pray very much the prayers of the Rosary. I alone am able still to save you from the calamities which approach. Those who place their confidence in me will be saved."
MEDITATION FOR FIFTH DECADE
What is the purpose of the message about chastisements? God does not need to punish us.
God leaves mankind free.
Good choices result in good consequences while evil choices cause evil consequences to good and bad alike: war; famine; persecution of the good.
The Purpose of the Message of Punishment and Chastisement is this: The future is not irrevocably set, we can change world events and save souls, if we answer the call of Our Lady.
What is Mary asking of us?
Consecration and living the consecration to Mary.
Pray the Rosary every day.
Personal conversion by a daily examination of conscience and frequent confession.
A Eucharistic life - Mass & Eucharistic Adoration as often as possible.
Fasting
Accepting Your Own Cross:
What you did not choose, do not like and cannot change
Accept it with trust and unite it to the Cross of Jesus
to bring about the final defeat of Satan and the salvation of souls.
Lead people to Mary who will lead them to Jesus.
In San Nicolas Argentina, December 30, 1989, Jesus said: “Before, the world was saved by means of Noah’s Ark; today the Ark is My Mother. Through her, souls will be saved, because she will bring them toward me.”
Pope Benedict XVI
“In the end it is Mary…in whom a new beginning takes place, in whom human existence starts afresh.”
MEDITATION FOR FIRST DECADE
Our meditation today arises from the approved apparition of Our Lady of Akita, Japan from June 12, 1973 until Sept. 15, 1981.
It began with 101 instances of a statue of Mary bleeding and weeping. Sr Agnes Sasagawa then received visions of an angel and messages from Mary, the Mother of God and Our Mother.
Sixth Topic: The Bronze Serpent
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Sixth Topic: The Bronze Serpent ▫
The Bronze Serpent
Dr. Mike Scherschligt
The Israelites left Mount Hor by the road to the Sea of Suph, to skirt the land of Edom. On the way the people lost patience. They spoke against God and against Moses, ‘Why did you bring us out of Egypt to die in this wilderness? For there is neither bread nor water here; we are sick of this unsatisfying food.’
At this God sent fiery serpents among the people; their bite brought death to many in Israel. The people came and said to Moses, ‘We have sinned by speaking against the Lord and against you. Intercede for us with the Lord to save us from these serpents.’
Moses interceded for the people, and the Lord answered him, ‘Make a fiery serpent and put it on a standard. If anyone is bitten and looks at it, he shall live.’ So Moses fashioned a bronze serpent which he put on a standard, and if anyone was bitten by a serpent, he looked at the bronze serpent and lived.
The LORD allowed suffering in the form of fiery serpents to discipline the rebellious souls of the Israelites. In their suffering they make the choice to turn back to God:
The sign of their suffering becomes a sign of their healing
The means of their suffering becomes the means of their healing
MEDITATION FOR SECOND DECADE
Christ did not take away suffering:
He transformed it
He gave it meaning!
Suffering is good for us:
God’s immense blessings can only fit in a heart that is empty (John of the Cross)
Suffering empties us of self-centeredness
Do I love God for what he gives me?
Do I just love God for who He is?
Which takes the greater faith, hope and love?
Suffering increases our Faith, Hope and Love
The more faith, hope and love I have:
The greater capacity I have to receive God
St. Maximilian Kolbe says, “Suffering for love nourishes love.” Sacrifice is the nourishment of love.
MEDITATION FOR THIRD DECADE
Because of Christ, our Suffering can also help others:
Col. 1:24
I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake
And in my flesh I complete what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the Church.
What could be lacking in the suffering of Jesus?
Our participation!
Jesus is inviting us to help him
Rescue sinners from the prospect of Hell
Help souls to holiness
By prayer and sacrifice and suffering
What you
Did not choose
Do not like
Cannot change
Accept with Trust and offer with love for the conversion and holiness of others
MEDITATION FOR FOURTH DECADE
St Faustina – undiagnosed TB
Diary 1767 My daughter, I want to instruct you on how you are to rescue souls through sacrifice and prayer. You will save more souls through prayer and suffering than will a missionary through his teachings and sermons alone… I will now instruct you on what your sacrifice shall consist of, in everyday life, so as to preserve you from illusions. You shall accept all sufferings with love. Do not be afflicted if your heart often experiences repugnance and dislike for sacrifice. All its power rests in the will, and so these contrary feelings, far from lowering the value of the sacrifice in My eyes, will enhance it.
MEDITATION FOR FIFTH DECADE
Archimedes: “Give me a lever long enough and a fulcrum on which to place it, and I shall move the world.”
Our personal cross is a T-bar, a lever to move souls.
Leverage your suffering by uniting it to the Cross of Christ to move souls from sin to virtue and from the prospect of hell to the road to heaven!
MEDITATION FOR FIRST DECADE
Numbers 21:4-9