Founders Novena Day 9, June 14th 2010

When they brought their boats to the shore, they left everything and followed him. 

Luke 5:11

Wow, that is quite the statement of faith.  To leave everything and follow Him.  I know that I have not done this, it is the greatest challenge for me and perhaps all of us.  I have to ask myself, what things have I left to follow Him and what things do I still to readily cling to, even though I know they need to be left-- my bad habits, my laziness, my willfulness and desire to be in control, my desire to spend my time exactly as I want to rather than seeing it as a gift from God, the list is endless. 

In spite of this long list of shortcomings, we should not get discouraged and give up.  When I have tried to give up, I often hear the voice of God saying, that is too easy, I have too much I want you to do, ask my forgiveness and we will move on together. 

Bishop Giaquinta please pray with us to gain the insight into what we need to leave behind to follow You and give us the courage and the strength to do it.   Lord, we know you don't ask us to do anything that you don't equip us to do.  Help us put our lives completely in Your hands

Founders Novena Day 9, June 14th 2010

Founders Novena Day 8 June 13th 2010

Jesus said to Simon, "Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men."  (Luke 5:10)

Although fear and trembling is an appropriate response to the awesomeness of God as we discussed yesterday, throughout all of Scripture we are reminded again and again to "fear not".  Scripture also tells us that a sparrow does not fall without the Father's knowledge and that even the hairs on our head are numbered. 

This intense love and care that God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit has for us should fill us with hope and confidence. I know for me and perhaps others of you, I approach the unknown with fear more often than hope.  I would  much rather control everything myself and know exactly what is going to happen when than to trust God.  But how can we not trust the one who loved us enough to die for us and knows all of the hairs on our head. 

And being fishers of men means doing everything we can to cummunicate God's love to those around us so that they may too be "caught" into the family of God and know His love. 

Bishop Giaquinta please pray with us that we may put our fear into God's hands and look for the opportunities to "fish" that you put into our path daily. 

Founders Novena Day 8 June 13th 2010

Founders Novena Day 7, June 12th 2010

When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said, "Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man."   Luke 5:8. 

After my first reading of this verse, I had thought about focusing on the love and forgiveness of Jesus displayed later in the passage.  I have since changed my mind.

 I am struck by the humility of Peter in this passage.  Peter could have just laughed and been overjoyed at their good fortune after the catch.  Instead, as was proper for the occasion, he was filled with fear and trembling.  I fear too often in my own life, I take the love and grace of God for granted, in knowing that he will forgive me I push my sinfulness and bad habits to the side.  I need to learn a lesson from Peter. 

Bishop Giaquinta, please pray with us that we will learn what Peter did that day-- to fear the Lord with trembling and confess our sins wtih a sincere heart   

Founders Novena Day 7, June 12th 2010

Founders Novena Day 6 June 11th

The overabundant provision of God

"When they had done this, they caught a great number of fish and their nets were tearing.  They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come to help them.  They came and filled both boats so that they were in danger of sinking"

Luke Chapter 5:6-7

Our Lord is so much bigger than our mortal minds can fathom.  I remember Teresa Monaghen saying at a talk earlier this year that God wants so much  to fill us to overflowing and we hold out a teacup.  How very true that is.  If we only could truly understand that the power and desire and strength and love and might and joy of God is infinitely vast, we would never worry about anyting, and without a moment's hesitation we would trust Him completely. 

Bishop Giaquinta please pray with us for the realization of the greatness of God, and to know how much He wants to use us to communicate this to everyone. 

Founders Novena Day 6 June 11th

Founders Novena Day 5 June 10th

At Your Command

As I have been reading and rereading this passage from Luke about putting out into the deep, I have realized there is so much to meditate on in such a few verses of scripture.  In verse 5 of Luke chapter 5 which is the verse just after Jesus instructs Peter to put out into the deep, he says "Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets". 

What struck me as I read this is how apparent it is that Peter expresses no emotional attachment to his action.  Sometimes before we act we want to have an experience of joy or elation and knowing exactly how things are going to turn out.  We can learn from Peter that doing something just because the Lord asks us to should be sufficient.  We know as we read ahead to the end, that following what God asks can have amazing results

Bishop Giaquinta please pray with us that we can be more attentive to the Holy Spirit in hearing God's voice as to what He wants us to do, knowing that even though we do not know the outcome, following Him is never a mistake

Founders Novena Day 5 June 10th

Founders Novena Day 4 June 9th

Put out into the Deep   (Luke 5:4)

The word  "the deep" in it's original context when the Lord was talking to Peter referred to the putting nets into deep water for a catch.  But it is more than apparent that Jesus had so much more in mind, that the catch was a symbol for something infinitely bigger that he had in mind.  Jesus said in verse 10 of chapter 5
"Don't be afraid, from now on you will catch men"

As I write this I am profoundly confronted with exactly why Bishop Giaquinta considered this his life passage.  He was ever following our Lord's example and catching men, with his writing, his humor, his gentleness.  Pro Sanctity's motto of All Saints All Brothers and Sisters implies that we are to "catch" everyone with whom we come into contact and tell them of God's love. 

Bishop Giaquinta please pray with us that we will strive to put out into the deep to catch men for your glory

Founders Novena Day 4 June 9th

Re: [The Pro Sanctity Family Reflects] Founders Novena Day 3 June 8,2010

Dan and Joan, the reflections are wonderful!! Thank you so much! We have news that Simon Ommachen our pro sanctity member who was very sick is getting better faster than ever expected. They attribute the healing to our Founder's intercession!! What a grace it has been. God bless you for offering the novena, pray now in thanksgiving too for the gift of healing received. Teresa

Re: [The Pro Sanctity Family Reflects] Founders Novena Day 3 June 8,2010

Founders Novena Day 3 June 8, 2010

We continue to reflect on Bishop Giaquinta's motto from his coat of arms in honor of founders day

"put out into the deep"  (Luke 5:4) 

The next word in the passage is "into" and at first I thought this little word in and of itself had no real meaning.  But as I pondered it more with the Holy Spirit's help, I came to a new conclusion.  The little word into implies direction and purpose.  When we go into something such as a place, a relationship, a project, it is usually with direction and the purpose of finding meaning, insight and information.  Let us ask the Holy Spirit what direction he wants us to take with the encounters we have in these days, to give us insight into His love and what he wants us to communicate to others

Bishop Giaquinta, please pray with us as we go into our day tomorrow-- into our relationships, into our work, into our play to know how you want to use us as your instruments

Founders Novena Day 3 June 8, 2010

Founders Novena Day 2 June 7th 2010

As you recall, we are reflecting on Bishop Giaquinta's motto from his coat of arms  "Put Out into the Deep"

The second word of this simple phrase "out" implies moving beyond ourselves.  Of course we must start with our own interior holiness, but we cannot become so isolated that we forget about those around us.  The very heart of Bishop Giaquinta's spirituality involves reaching out to our brothers and sisters, which,  by his definition, includes all people.  He said in his book "Brotherhood" that we should treat all people as though we already know them because they either already are our brother in Christ, or by His grace could potentially be wtih the proper evangelization. 

Bishop Giaquinta please pray that I may have the strength today to move beyond myself, to bring the love of Christ to my brothers and sisters. 

Founders Novena Day 2 June 7th 2010

Founder's Novena Day 1, June 6th 2010

The first very simple word   "Put" is a word of action.  It implies effort on our part.  We must make an effort to be all that God wants us to be, to take action in bringing ourselves and those around us closer to Him.  I must ask myself, how much effort do I really put into my relationship with God?  How much time do I dedicate to Him?  How can I strenghten my dedication to the things that I know He is asking of me? 

We can take comfort in knowing that my efforts are never made alone.  If we seek God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit with a sincere heart, they are more than ready to help us and give us the strength for what we need to do. 

Bishop Giaquinta please pray for us for the courage to take action where it is needed in our own lives, and to brighten the lives of others.   

Founder's Novena Day 1, June 6th 2010

Novena in Honor of Bishop Guglielmo Giaquinta.  Founder of the Pro Sanctity Movement

This year in honor of our Founder, we are going to be reflecting on the saying at the heart of his Coat of Arms  "Duc In Altum"  Put out into the deep

At first glance this seems like a very simple saying hardly material for nine days of reflection, but the more we ponder it in the light of God's grace, the more infinite the store of wisdom becomes.  Please join us as we reflect together, in order to become more like our founder, whose ultimate goal was to reflect Jesus Himself