Monday, May 31, 2021

THE ONE WHO IS ALL EYES


 Mary is all eyes to pity and help us. Saint Epiphanius calls the Blessed Mother “many-eyed,” because she is ever on the watch to help all poor creatures in this world. Once a possessed person, while being exorcised, was asked by the exorcist what Mary does. The devil in him replied: “She descends and ascends.” By that he meant that Our Lady is constantly coming down from heaven to bring graces to men and going up again to obtain divine favor for our prayers. Saint Andrew of Avellino fittingly calls the Blessed Virgin the “heavenly messenger,” for she is constantly carrying messages of mercy and obtaining graces for everybody, for the good and for sinners. God has his eyes on the good, according to David: The eyes of the Lord are on the just (Ps 33:16). But, according to Richard of Saint Lawrence, the eyes of Mary are on the good and on sinners. Her eyes are the eyes of a mother; and a mother not only keeps an eye on her child to see that it does not fall down, but when it does fall, she picks it up again. 

 Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori

Sunday, May 16, 2021

ACT OF CONSECRATION TO OUR LADY OF FATIMA


O Most Holy Virgin Mary, who at Fatima manifested yourself to the three little shepherds, and who in your maternal goodness revealed to them the greatness of your Immaculate Heart, to prevent souls from being eternally lost. 

 Relying on your promise that your Immaculate Heart will be our safe refuge and the path that will lead us to God; I ………………………………………… consecrate myself freely to your Immaculate Heart.

 From now on, I want to be your son/daugther so that you teach me to live the commandments of God, which are the way to holiness. 

 I consecrate my body, my soul, my spirit to you, so that in the future I will not stray from God.

 Take me, Holy Virgin, from now on, to make me an apostle of your Immaculate Heart. Amen. 

Thursday, May 13, 2021

AT PEACE


 AT PEACE 
Amado Nervo 

 Very close to my sundown,
 I bless you, life,
 because you never 
gave me false hope,
 nor unjust work, 
 nor undeserved punishment. 

 Because I see at the end
 of my rough path
 that I was the architect 
 of my own destiny.

 If I extracted the sweetness
 or bitterness of things, 
 it was because I put
 bitterness and sweetness into them.
 When I planted rose bushes, 
 I always reaped roses. 

 Surely, winter will follow
 my vim and vigor,
 but you never told me 
 that May would last forever!

 I found without a doubt
 the nights long with my sorrows;
 but you didn't promise me 
 just good nights; 
and instead I had
 some blessed and serene ones…

 I loved, I was loved, 
 the sun caressed my face. 
Life, you owe me nothing!
 Life, we are at peace! 


Tuesday, May 4, 2021

THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD; I SHALL NOT WANT


Psalm 23 is one of the most famous and deeply rooted in Christian tradition; but it is also a reminder for the believer to feel guided and accompanied by the firm and protective hand of God.

 David was a shepherd and he knew that the sheep trust the shepherd in any situation. When the sheep are hungry, the shepherd leads them to green pastures where they have enough grass to eat. When they are thirsty, he leads them to a quiet stream where they can drink water. When the sheep are in danger of being eaten by wild animals, the shepherd is their protector. The sheep can trust the shepherd in every situation.

  Every day we are faced with situations of great difficulty and difficult choices. Many times we ask ourselves: "Who can I trust?" The answer is: "Jesus". The Bible tells us that Jesus is "the Good Shepherd" and that we are His sheep. Like David, we can say: "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want." We can trust Him in every situation.

  Dear Lord Jesus, you are the Good Shepherd and we are your sheep. We put our trust in You.