Pentecost Novena 2010 - Day Nine!

DAY NINE:  YOUR GIFT IS CONSTANTLY GROWING!

Fifty years after my ordination, I can say in the words Mysterium Fidei we find ever more each day the meaning of our priesthood. Here is the measure of the gift which is the priesthood, and here is also the measure of the response which the gift demands. The gift is constantly growing! And this is something wonderful. It is wonderful that a man can never say that he has fully responded to the gift. It remains both a gift and a task: always! To be conscious of this is essential if we are to live our own priesthood to the full (Pope John Paul II – Gift and Mystery, page 79).

Hail Mary….

 

 

Today I attended both an ordination to the transitional deaconate and a wedding.  Parties for both sacraments had truly prepared with discernment, prayer, pausing….Will the deacon and the newly married couple be prepared to live the gift and task of their respective vocations? Without a doubt! But even so, it will be difficult without the gift of the Holy Spirit and the intercession of our Lady and the saints. The gift is constantly growing, as Pope John Paul II said, and they will certainly grow from strength to strength seeing that they truly understood the nature of their commitments from the beginning, but still they will need much help. Human nature can turn on a dime as we know so well, however the Lord labors to keep us on the straight and narrow; we must know that He wants us to live our vocations to the full, and be happy in this life and in the life to come. God is on our side!

 

Come Holy Spirit, into our lives again and fill us with the deep awareness that with you, in the spirit of our Lady, all things are possible; only one thing is necessary, trust! May we trust that the words proclaimed over us at our consecrations and ordinations, will be fulfilled because you are with us and promised to be with us always, until the end of time. Amen.  (Teresa Monaghen)

 

"The experience of the Holy Spirit can happen in a 'pentecostal' way (as in Acts) or through an interior Pentecost where the Holy Spirit is met personally and quietly..."

G. Giaquinta

 

Pentecost Novena 2010 - Day Nine!

Fullerton, California

My Mother, My Confidence!
May 19, 2010

Congratulations!!
Cathy renews her vows for another year and Palmira celebrates her 50th anniversary!

Who is an Apostolic Oblate?
By Bishop Giaquinta

She is…

A contemplative.
A person of prayer.
One who has an intense desire for perfection.
In love with the charism of the Institute to sow hope and encourage holiness.
She is given only for God, set apart for him and for his service.
She is given without reserve to the point that there is nothing else necessary.
She is open to giving a witness that costs.
She is a person who knows what she wants and wants what she knows.
She is actual, real, and relevant.
She is easygoing in meeting with people.
She is authentic and thus believable.
She is able to listen.
Sisterly.
One who works.
Creative.
She is a woman who understands the gradual growth of the others.
She is a woman of the tent, ready to pick up and go at any moment, holding on only to the Lord her Spouse!

This is the woman that Bishop William Giaquinta describes as an Apostolic Oblate. It is the ideal and at the same time it is the challenge that we, as Apostolic Oblates strive
to meet.

Fullerton, California

Pentecost Novena – May 16

Palmira Tafani, Apostolic Oblate,

She will celebrate 50 year of loving Jesus, this Wednesday in Fullerton, California!!

Year of the Priesthood 2010
Pentecost Novena – May 16

Need what you give and give what you need.

Today was the first Holy Communion at St. Polycarp Parish in Stanton California where I attended Mass. The children were beautiful and everyone seemed to have the sense of something great happening – yet, after the children and the congregation had received Jesus there was no silence – no moment to pause and say to Jesus, “I love you, thank you for loving me so much that you have come to me in this way.” The pastor at the end of Mass must have sensed something missing and did not want to let pass exhorting us all to pay attention to Jesus in our hearts. He especially encouraged the children to come to Mass often – to ask their parents to bring them- and to remember that this was not the end of their first holy communion but the beginning of a whole new wonderful relationship with the Lord.

At this point in the Mass, I became more aware that as a church we have the duty and the responsibility to stir into flame the gift that was given, and the more we encourage our children to pay attention to Jesus and remind them of how much he loves them and cannot keep his eyes off of them, the more they will find the silence in their hearts and stay with him, talk to him and have deep and meaningful relationship with him. We must witness that this is a real friendship that happens on Sundays, when we go to Mass, pause before the Blessed Sacrament and in reality every moment of our lives.

If we love Jesus and need him, then all the more we will want to witness this awareness of what we need and give to others what we have received.

I wish to ask every priest…
Dear fathers, cultivate this love for the Eucharistic Jesus in your heart and you will encourage this same love, this ardent flame of love in the hearts of your people. I pray it be so. Amen

Teresa Monaghen

Pentecost Novena – May 16

Pentecost 2010 - lst day

 

"The Spirit dwells in the Church and in the hearts of the faithful as in a temple..."

Vatican Council II, L.G. #4 &# 12

 

Pentecost Novena 2010

May 14, 2010 – May 22, 2010

Year of the Priesthood

We dedicate the Novena for increased graces for the whole Church as the Year of the Priesthood draws to conclusion

 

DAY ONE: YOU SHARE IN THE PRIESTHOOD OF CHRIST

The priesthood, in its deepest reality, is the priesthood of Christ. It is Christ who offers himself, his Body and Blood, in sacrifice to God the Father, and by this sacrifice makes righteous in the Father’s eyes all mankind and, indirectly, all creation. The priest, in his daily celebration of the Eucharist, goes to the very heart of the mystery. For this reason the celebration of the Eucharist must be the MOST IMPORTANT moment of the priest’s day, the center of his life.

Hail Mary….

 

Teresa

 

I see in this first day of the Novena for all of us to go to the heart of Jesus, and like John, priest, lay our head on Jesus; this means to find him in the Eucharist and to stand before the Cross with our priests day in and day out. If the Mass is the center of OUR life, the Lord will raise up more and more young men to the ranks of the priesthood. We need the priests who love the Eucharist, and our priest need people who love the Eucharist and look to their priests for their greatest need, the Eucharist.

 

Oh Lord, I am just now, at this time of my life, stepping through the veil of the mystery. I find you more real and more present to me than I have ever experienced. You are the real and ever near, and yet I still run around so often looking for you; missing you who are right there for me. I pray for all the lay faithful that we may grow in Eucharistic amazement and be for our priests a support and an inspiration to their own priest hood. Amen!

 

 

Pentecost 2010 - lst day

Flying Bethany Car Fund!

M.M.M.C!
May 10, 2010

Dear Members and Friends,

In honor of Joan Patten's First Profession of Vows, the National Council has set up a "Flying Bethany Car Fund,"please read the enclosed note below and if anyone would like to donate, or you know someone who was wondering what to give Joan besides PRAYERS, feel free to encourage everyone to give a dollar or two... Keep in mind that the money will assist all the Oblates who are on the go for the sake of others.

Thank you so much!! Make all checks payable to the Institute of the Apostolic Oblates, INC and send in honor of Joan Patten at 6762 Western Ave, Omaha NE 68132

Blessings, Teresa
***********************************************

Institute of the Apostolic Oblates
May 7, 2010

Dear Joan,

In honor of the occasion of your First Profession of Vows and in light of 1000's of miles you have driven for the sake of others and for the apostolate –which includes every walk of life and in more States than we can count - a fund has been established in your honor called, "The Flying Bethany Car Fund." All our members and friends may contribute to it for the missionary needs of the Apostolic Oblates!

Thank you for your great witness of availability, passion and good driving! Most of the time…
May the Holy Spirit and all your Guardian Angels be with you in these years to come – travel boldly and safely.

Your Apostolic Oblate Family along with the Pro Sanctity,

Teresa Monaghen
National Moderator

Flying Bethany Car Fund!

Apostolic Oblates of Omaha, celebrate God's Blessings!

Margaret, Anne,Franca, Joan!!!, Jessi, Leela, Monica, Teresa

Congratulations to Joan on the occasion of her first profession of Vows!

Apostolic Oblates of Omaha, celebrate God's Blessings!

Motherhood: Sarah and Mary

Extraordinary and mysterious events emphasize how Sarah's motherhood was primarily the fruit of the mercy of God, who gives life beyond all human expectation: "I will bless her, and moreover I will give you a son by her; I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of peoples shall come from her" (Gn 17:15-16) (Pope John Paul II -13 March 1996, page 11)

Mary’s Motherhood transforms!

Motherhood is presented as a decisive gift of the Lord. The patriarch and his wife will be given a new name to indicate the unexpected and marvelous transformation that God is to work in their life.

Reflection

As children we were given pets, in our parents eyes it was for two reasons, partly to learn to take care of a living creature and primarily to teach us responsibility, but in our innocent way, it was, mostly to delight us! Caretaking, being mother to another, is an amazing gift that changes us forever. Just like the responsibility of caring for an animal changed us, so caring for another, as mothers and spiritual mothers, dramatically changes us. Our Lady, like Sarah, was given a life to care for beyond her wildest expectation and it changed her, expanded her, molded and formed her. Never would she be the same, and nor would our world!

Oh Mary, thank you for saying yes to the gift of life in your womb! Your yes brought us all into oneness with you, and with the Father. He is the vine and we are the branches, to be pruned often now, but never separate! Amen.

Teresa Monaghen

Motherhood: Sarah and Mary

Pray for Joan Patten!

Oldest consecrated member and newest consecrated member (as of May 7th). Please pray for Joan on the occasion of her vows and for Franca in thanksgiving for her faithful yes!!

Pray for Joan Patten!

Motherhood and Mary 2010

Motherhood is a gift of God. "I have gotten a man with the help of the Lord!" (Gn 4: 1), Eve exclaims after giving birth to Cain, her first-born son. With these words, the Book of Genesis presents the first motherhood in human history as a grace and joy that spring from the Creator's goodness (PJPII - Wednesday, 6 March 1996)

 

I have had the delight this past year to be present to several newly wed couples when they announced the birth of their first child as well as experienced couples with many children announce the birth of their 6,7 or 8^th child! I have heard the joy in those who discovered their papers for adoption had gone through and soon they too would have a child. In all cases, the awareness of God’s gift of life was received with elation!

 

Thank you, Lord for the gift of those mothers, and those families that heroically witness their faith in you. You are  the giver of life, the source of the seed sown, and the one who helps each of us come into life in order to grow to the full stature of your Son, Jesus. I thank you for my own mother and father who said yes to life so that I too can praise you with my words and my life which is pure gift. Thank you Mother, of God who gave life to your Son Jesus so that we might have eternal life.  Amen!

Motherhood and Mary 2010

Consecration: Prepare for Mother's Day with Mary our Mother!

Mother of All Men and
Women and of All Peoples

O Mother of all men and women, and of all peoples, you who know all their sufferings and their hopes, you who have a mother's awareness of all the struggles between good and evil, between light and darkness, which afflict the modern world, accept the cry which we, moved by the Holy Spirit, address directly to your heart. Embrace with the love of the Mother and Handmaid of the Lord, this human world of ours, which we entrust and consecrate to you, for we are full of concern for the earthly and eternal destiny of individuals and peoples.

 

In a special way we entrust and consecrate to you those individuals and nations which particularly need to be thus entrusted and consecrated.

"We have recourse to your protection, holy Mother of God! Despise not our petitions in our necessities."

 

Behold, as we stand before you, Mother of Christ, before your Immaculate Heart, we desire, together with the whole Church, to unite ourselves with the consecration which, for love of us, your Son made of himself to the Father: "For their sake," he said, "I consecrate myself that they also may be consecrated in the truth" (Jn 17:19).

 

We wish to unite ourselves with our Redeemer in this his consecration for the world and for the human race, which, in his divine heart, has the power to obtain pardon and to secure reparation.

 

This prayer is a combination of prayers when the pope entrusted individuals and nations to Our Lady on the Jubilee Day for Families (2000): Insegnamenti di Giovanni Paolo II, VII, 1 (Vatican City, 1984), 775-777.

Find this prayer in its context on the Vatican web site at: www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith

 

Consecration: Prepare for Mother's Day with Mary our Mother!

Prayer for discernment

 

 

---

From: Teresa Monaghen [mailto:psm@efanz.com] On Behalf Of 'Teresa Monaghen'
Sent: Sunday, April 25, 2010 11:44 PM
To: 'aoinformation.pscenter@blogspot.com'
Subject: Prayer for discernment

 

From Kay Parlor, Local Board Director

 

The local board of Pro Sanctity is asking all of our praying members to join us in an ongoing novena to Our Founder to discern if it is the proper time to begin the fundraising and building project of Our Lady of Trust Chapel and the Msgr. Dunne Fellowship Hall on the Elkhorn Retreat Center grounds. We seem to be outgrowing the space we have and are being called upon to do more adult retreat work but the current buildings on the grounds, though fine for Camp Fun-n-Faith, are not comfortable or conducive to large adult gatherings.  Please pray the following prayer for this intention:

 

Prayer for our Founder’s Intercession

O loving God, Father of all goodness, Christ our Redeemer, Spirit of Holiness. In Your infinite and untiring love for us You never fail to invite us to

holiness. We thank You because in Your servant, William Giaquinta, You have made your gifts shine forth.  He contemplated the infinite love of Your Son, and he

was a tireless apostle of the Universal Call to Holiness. We pray to You, if it is Your will, to manifest in him Your glory and by his

intercession to grant us the grace that we ask of You.

 

Discernment to know if it the time to build Our Lady of Trust Chapel and the Msgr. Dunne Fellowship Hall and generous benefactors to make this dream a reality.  Amen

 

O Immaculate Heart of Mary, true model of every holiness, give trust to become saints.

 

Prayer for discernment

Cenacle - Chapter 13 - On Christ's heart

Jn 13:21-33.36-38.
Reclining at table with his disciples, Jesus was deeply troubled and
testified, «Amen, amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.»
The disciples looked at one another, at a loss as to whom he meant.
One of his disciples, the one whom Jesus loved, was reclining at Jesus'
side. So Simon Peter nodded to him to find out whom he meant.
He leaned back against Jesus' chest and said to him, "Master, who is it?"

 

 

How often I have had the experience of looking into a person’s face and seeing something that perhaps they did not even know was showing: their feelings, their pain, their worries and even their deepest desires. I don’t mean to pry or to assume, but at times it is like a marquee revealing their deepest secrets. It is then confirmed in the manner with which they then share with me. In the passage from the Gospel of John, our founder highlights the moment when John is leaning on the chest of Jesus.  John was so close to Jesus that it seems he read the Lord’s heart as I sometimes read faces. John “heard” with the ears of his heart the love that flowed through the heart of Jesus. He “heard” love that suffered for the other and he “heard” compassion and mercy; suffering would pass and that the Lord’s joy would be ours and that our joy would be full….

 

Oh John, I read your Gospel and I “hear” the heart of the Master. Thank you for transmitting that love to us and not omitting to communicate to us even a heart beat of love that flowed through Jesus and gave us the Church and his body and blood in the Eucharist. Thank you, John. You are our beloved brother and apostle. May all our priests know the heart beats of Jesus heart as you experienced them. Amen.

 

Teresa Monaghen reflecting on Bishop Giaquinta’s book, The Cenacle

Cenacle - Chapter 13 - On Christ's heart

Sitio: Prayers on Jesus' Thirst by Bishop Giaquinta

“Stay with Us, Lord!” Lk 24:29

Bishop Giaquinta

“Stay with us, Lord,”
the disciples begged
as they felt their hearts reassured and burning with love
at the sound of Your word. 

Today we, too, beg You, “Stay with us, Lord,”
not so much because our hearts wish to taste Your love,
but because the heaviness of life oppresses us unbearably. 

Weighed down by fatigue and worries, O Divine Master,
we come to You, Who alone have words of life.
We come to You Who, hidden under the appearance of bread,
fill us with hope and peace. 

O Jesus, Our Lord, Eucharist, Immanuel, God-with-Us:
in the midst of our suffering, we beg You for help.
Come among us, come within us, and whisper the word
that You alone can say: My Father’s peace I give you. 

Thus we will experience our hearts being at peace
in the rest that You alone can give,
in the strength that You alone can provide,
in the faith that You alone can grant.  

Then we will be more docile to Your grace
and will taste
the joy of being children of the Church,
the certainty of living the tomorrow in the eternal, never-passing vision,
the profound value of our self-giving to our brothers and sisters in You. 

We will go back to our work and to our suffering,
but we will bear in our hearts the living desire for You.
Grant that this desire grows and becomes a burning love that,
after consuming the ashes of our humanity and sin,
transforms us into You
so we may journey together
towards the holiness of the Father.  
 Amen

Sitio: Prayers on Jesus' Thirst by Bishop Giaquinta

Holy Week at the Pro Sanctity Center, Elkhorn

Join us at the Pro Sanctity Center in Elkhorn for the Stations! Tonight was absolutely breathtaking!

7:00 pm Tuesday and Wednesday. Personal time with the stations any time during the week.

7:15 pm on Good Friday!

Kite Flying and Potluck on Sunday!

Holy Week at the Pro Sanctity Center, Elkhorn

Sitio: Prayers on Jesus' Thirst by Bishop Giaquinta

From the Height of the Cross
Bishop Giaquinta 

Enflamed by the Spirit,
we come to You, Father,
to receive Your love
and the love of the Word made flesh and crucified. 

Lord Jesus, from the height of the Cross,
may Your thirst reach us,
who  - thirsty for love - wish to quench Your thirst. 

Few loved enough to share with You
the sorrowful tragedy of Calvary.
Few are those who,
docile to the action of the Spirit,
remain with You now, Source of love. 

Father, we come here today
to make up for such human senselessness
and to give to You
our love without reserve. 

Lord, that alone is not enough for us. 

We pray that our number increase evermore
until it becomes a chorus of love
lifted up from all parts of the world
in response
to Your thirst on the Cross,
to the invitation of the Spirit,
to Your call, O God-Love. 

Heavenly Father, this is our desire that we offer You
as a commitment,
trusting that Mary, mother of holiness,
will help us to generously live it.
Amen.

Sitio: Prayers on Jesus' Thirst by Bishop Giaquinta

If they did not praise him the stones would cry out

I have been reflecting on Fr Jindra's wonderful talk on Palm Sunday and the Passion that he gave at our membership gathering yesterday.  What has stayed with me most, and I pray it will always stay with me is his question:  What is your heart crying out?  He said with all the complexity of emotions and actions during the passion it has to cry out in some way, either with the sadness of the passion or the joy of the ressurection or some combination of both.  What the Holy Spirit has been asking me since I heard the talk yesterday, because of my tendency of inaction and laziness, is:  If your heart is not crying out, why not?  If stones would cry out, either non living or barely alive as parts of the earth, how much more should you (we) as an immortal soul made in the image and likeness of God, cry out with everyting that is in you.  May everyone have a prayerful Holy Week and Easter, thank you Fr Frank for your gifts to us and letting the Holy Spirit speak through you

If they did not praise him the stones would cry out

Sitio: Prayers on Jesus' Thirst by Bishop Giaquinta

“I Thirst”
Bishop Giaquinta 

Crucified Lord,
from Your parched mouth
a humble request for water
is addressed to those who are present.
Your “I thirst”
expresses a nameless suffering
that pervades Your gaunt body. 

The soldier heard Your plea,
and wanting to help You,
offered the fire of vinegar
to Your bleeding lips. 

Mary listened to Your lament
which penetrated
the depths of her broken heart.
How she longed to come closer to the wood
and quench Your thirst
with her sorrowful tears. 

I, too, listen to Your lament
“I thirst.”
I, sick as I am,
understand more than some
the dryness of Your mouth,
the suffering of Your thirst. 

What can I do to alleviate Your pangs
except offer You my little suffering? 

Lord, I do know that Your thirst
was not only a physical need,
but a need for souls. 

Just as at the Well of Sicar,
You ask again for water.
You address Yourself to us
who are far from You,
inviting us to come back to You
to quench our thirst. 

You thirst for us who do not thirst for You,
the only Source of living water. 

Lord, I could not alleviate
Your physical suffering,
but I wish to quench
Your keen thirst for souls. 

Feeble and sick as I am,
neither exhausting travels
nor lengthy discourses or discussions
are for me. 

O Lord, I do offer You in response
to Your thirst
all my love,
my suffering,
my sickness,
my weakness. 

May our sorrowful Mother,
the co-redeemer Virgin,
unite my small offering
to the immense torment of her soul.
May she obtain for me and all my brothers and sisters
ardent thirst for Your love
and humble acceptance
of the adorable will of God.
Amen.

Sitio: Prayers on Jesus' Thirst by Bishop Giaquinta

Reflections on the Cenacle - Chapter 12

Friday, March 26, 2010
Cenacle reflection.Be Brothers and Sisters
Teresa Monaghen

"There is no other love than to lay down one's life for one's friends."

What does this mean? Or how would I know if my love was indeed full, to overflowing?"
What keeps me from being brother or sister to the other? Where am I called
to be the first to take down the barriers?
I first and foremost must stay connected - Priest to Jesus; Jesus (through
the hands of the priest) to the people.

This is such a difficult area, precisely because it is so clear and the command of the Lord so precise that we spend most of our time trying to avoid its truth and live in the shadows of love rather than wholeheartedly embracing it. The Apostle must be filled with the love of the Father and of Christ and as a consequence can only love the others; there is no excuse, no option, nor any other way! Our actions as followers of Jesus, priest and people, must prove that we understand the commandment of fraternal love. "There is NO other love than to LAY down one's life for one's friends" NO other love.whew! In our hearts we are called to listen to the other, thank the other, notice the other, pray for the other and lay down our lives for the other. Not only love in proximity of each other, sitting around a table, in the home, at a meeting, in the office, in the Church, but more. We are asked even more. We are called to be of one mind and heart.

Our Founder boldly invites us to reclaim true fraternal and priestly love. Mediocrity is to live a life of love according to my likes and avoid what and whom I dislike.this is not acceptable. Only by loving unconditionally which requires me to lay down my life for the other, will I know the love of Christ's love. I cannot do it, but I can give permission to the Lord to love in me, through me, and thus love the other when I cannot. This is the grace of our union with Jesus. This is the intimacy and oneness with the Lord that will allow us to be Christ for and to the other.

I cannot love you - the other, but Christ living in me loves you and he loves you all the way.

May this love of Christ overflow in my life to ALL. Amen.

Reflections on the Cenacle - Chapter 12

Sitio: Prayers on Jesus' Thirst by Bishop Giaquinta

Let Me Quench Your Thirst
Bishop Giaquinta 

O Jesus Who, agonizing on the cross,
left Your faithful people
Your “I thirst” of love and sorrow,
grant that I, too, may quench Your tormented thirst. 

I understand that Your thirst is for all people,
and that for each one You, Eternal Word,
became flesh in the womb of the Immaculate Virgin
and cried in the cave at Bethlehem. 

For people, for their salvation and holiness,
You spent many years laboring and in silence
to teach them the way of work, silence, and humility. 

And in the villages of Judea and Galilee
You preached,
You taught,
You prayed and worked miracles
so that they could understand that You
alone
are the true source of the living water,
and that only in You is there hope of peaceful rest. 

Many did not understand You,
some abandoned You,
and You,
betrayed,
began Your suffering way
that ended on the cross.
But from it, in a loud voice,
You told all people of Your love and Your thirst for souls. 

The Immaculate Virgin listened to Your voice;
John and the pious women stood with her.
Many others, throughout the centuries,
have listened to it and have experienced
torment for the salvation of others. 

Grant such a torment to me,
not only for their salvation but for their holiness.
Let this be my great ideal, the only ideal of my life.
Neither suffering nor work, neither death nor life,
neither joy nor sorrow constitute my reason
for choosing or desiring something
but only the good of others. 

I am and want to remain
in a state of complete availability to Your redemptive love.
What I ask of You, Heart of Christ the Redeemer,
is that I may be Your docile instrument in the work of redemption.
I am certain that through the intercession
of the Immaculate Heart of Mary,
You will accept my prayer,
the prayer of a humble creature. 

Anything that I think or feel is mine,
I give to You, O Lord;
but give me the grace
to enter into Your Heart,
Furnace of Redemptive Love,
in order to consume myself in it
out of love for You and my brothers and sisters.
Amen.
 

Sitio: Prayers on Jesus' Thirst by Bishop Giaquinta

Pausing with Mary under the Father's Loving Gaze

"Imagine how tender Mary’s prayer was to the Father, whenever she looked at the Son with her heart filled with gratitude: 'Thank you, Father, for you have given me the gift of Your Son.'  The joy she must have experienced because she could repeat the words of the Father: 'You are my Son; today I have begotten you.'  The difference is that the 'today' of Mary is in time and space, while the 'today' of the Father is from eternity.  How did Mary live this marvelous reality?  Mary’s canticle, the Magnificat, helps us understand.  Faced with these marvelous realities which begin with the Annunciation and Incarnation, we wonder at the light that must have pervaded Mary’s soul, so that she can say: 'He who is mighty has done great things for me' (Luke 1:49).  And if Mary is says this from the beginning, that is, during her visit to Elizabeth, who knows how many more times she repeated her Magnificat to the Father?  And who knows the love that united her to Jesus in His prayer to the Father during His deepest suffering: 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?' (Mark 16:34)." (Bishop Giaquinta, Face of the Father)

Pausing with Mary under the Father's Loving Gaze

Sitio: Prayers on Jesus' Thirst by Bishop Giaquinta

Stay by Them, Lord
Bishop William Giaquinta

Jesus our Lord, from the height of the Cross
You called us to contemplate Your love;
here we are, docile to Your invitation.

O Eucharistic Jesus, while we are here before You
how can we forget
our struggling and suffering brothers and sisters,
far and near,
who ask for help through our prayers?

We present to You, Lord, their desires
and their unspoken invocation for help
in all their needs. 

Stay by them, Lord, and give them interior certainty
that Your love does not abandon any child
born from the suffering of the Cross.

We make this prayer trusting that
Mary -- Your mother and our mother --
will beg from You what we are asking today.

Lord, we have yet another request.
As suffering and need are common to all the world
and make us one,
so may we be one in brotherhood.
May we cultivate an ever-growing love
for You until we reach You in Heaven.

Grant this to us, O Lord. Amen

Sitio: Prayers on Jesus' Thirst by Bishop Giaquinta

Sitio: Prayers on Jesus' Thirst by Bishop Giaquinta

The Smiling Christ
Bishop William Giaquinta

Surrounded by darkness,
The Lord’s frail, dying body
Was throbbing with pain.
He emitted a feeble sigh and moaned:
“Lord, my Father,
Why have you abandoned me?”

An invisible ray of light
Pierced the darkness
and rested on the Heart of Christ:
The response of love from the Father.

On the face of the Lord
A smile radiated
As life stirred with his memories
Of the children he had caressed and
who, in their innocence gazed on him,
the smiling Christ,
with their mothers nearby
lost in reverie . . .
Of the sick who received
not only health but the gift of his smile . . .
Of the adulterous woman who was saved
by the smile of Christ . . .
Of his mother smiling at him,
his smile to her . . .
And there Mary was, standing by him.

He slowly turned and,
Smiling through his pain,
Murmured:
“Mother, behold your son;”
And to John:
“Behold your mother.”

Then his face
Became radiant with eternity.
He uttered a loud cry,
Throngs surrounded him:
He breathed on them the Spirit of love.
He smiled again . . .
Then he bowed his head.
It was finished.

Let us pray.
To be able to smile always,
     in joy and in pain,
     to friends and to foes,   
     to the indifferent,
is the grace that we ask of you,
Smiling Lord of Calvary,
through the intercession
of your Mother, our Smiling Mother. Amen.

Sitio: Prayers on Jesus' Thirst by Bishop Giaquinta

OUR LADY OF TRUST NOVENA DAY 9 FEBRUARY 13TH

 So repeat this word often – trust. Repeat it to us and to everybody, O Mary, because all people must become saints. Amen.

The value of repeating-- in order to develop a habit or become good at something it must be repeated.  This is a good reminder as we come to the end of our novena.  Because although this has  been a nice period of reflection, prayer is not meant to end.  Paul tells us to pray without ceasing.  This means in whatever we do or say we are to consider our faith first.  This is not always easy to do.  I fail often.  As I was dealing with a caller at work today and becoming impatient, after I hung up what occurred to me is that it is easy to be pleasant to those who are pleasant to us, but the true test of our faith, compassion and understanding is how we react when we are treated unkindly.

We must repeat especially often during the upcoming desert season of Lent, that Jesus and Mary expect the best for us and will help us along the way if we trust them.  Even in the desert, how can we not trust the One who gave everything He had because of love, including His  very life so that we all might live together as saints and brothers and sisters.

Prayer:  Dear Jesus and Mary:  Please help us as we prepare to begin our Lenten journey, in letting go of things that keep us from you and holding fast to those things that draw us to you.  You are ever trust worthy, ever holy, and composed of nothing but love.  Give us the strength to follow your example and trust that we will reach our goal. 

OUR LADY OF TRUST NOVENA DAY 9 FEBRUARY 13TH

OUR LADY OF TRUST NOVENA DAY 8 FEBRUARY 12TH

 If we will listen to this word of yours, the way will be easier, the goal closer, and our confidence more certain that we shall reach sanctity

Listening to Mary's voice telling us to trust.  In my daily life, I know that if there is something I am uncertain about in something as simple as  a recipe I am cooking or as complex as a hard decision I need to make or a relationship I am struggling with, the first person I think of to ask for help is my mom.  She always listens well and gives wise advice.  If I trust her this much, being human as she is, how much more should I listen to Mary, who has all the resources of heaven and earth at her disposal!  I have to admit listening for me is much harder than talking is.  I know one of my worst faults is to jump in and interrupt before the other person is finished speaking.  

Prayer:  Mary, teach us to listen to you, knowing that you will always show the way and point us to your Son.

OUR LADY OF TRUST NOVENA DAY 8 FEBRUARY 12TH

OUR LADY OF TRUST NOVENA DAY 7 FEBRUARY 11TH

 When the ascent to the perfection of the Father leaves us weary, whisper a word of help, O Mary – trust!

As I was thinking and praying through this sentence tonight, the word that caught my attention was ascent.  In the beginning of my thought process I was thinking about climbing and reaching higher to God through extraordinary effort.  The Holy Spirit, however had other plans which he showed me through a particulary sacrificial act of my loving husband.   My wonderful husband showed me tonight as he often does from his servant's heart, through an action he took in service of me,  that reaching to God is not achieved by striving to be great but rather the opposite, serving others in the humblest way possible without seeking an ounce of glory or credit.  Thank you Holy Spirit and my dear beloved for your continuous acts of service.  In focusing on the humility of Mary in accepting God's plan and the humility of God himself to be born in a stable and hang on a cross, surely this will lessen our own weariness and cheer us on toward holiness.

Prayer:  Dear Jesus and Mary thank you for your own humility and the example of those around us.    Help us to press on even in our weariness, knowing that you will not ask of us something you will not help us achieve. 

OUR LADY OF TRUST NOVENA DAY 7 FEBRUARY 11TH

OUR LADY OF TRUST NOVENA DAY 6, FEBRUARY 10TH

When mediocrity absorbs us, do not leave us

The central word of this particular thought is mediocrity.  It gives me pause because I realize when I am completely honest with myself how often I slip into it and think it to be just fine.  Only a casual review of our Founder's writings makes it very clear how much he detested it.  In his mind, anything less than the very best we could possibly do, the maximum, was completely unacceptable   I challenge myself and all of us to strive for excellence in what we do, at home, at school, at work, in our relationships.  Let us give everything in our power, just as Jesus did.

Prayer:  Dear Mary, help me be more aware of the times when mediocrity has become the norm so that I can ask for your help to overcome it. 

OUR LADY OF TRUST NOVENA DAY 6, FEBRUARY 10TH

OUR LADY OF TRUST NOVENA DAY 5 FEBRUARY 9TH

When sin entices us, stay with us and be our strength

I don't know of any mother who would not stay with her child if that child were sick or in need or in pain.  Sin is a sickness and a painful reality that we must face.  Mary is a source of incredible strength for us.  I can't imagine the strength it took for her to stand by the cross and watch as her son was dying and in so much pain.  When we feel overwhelmed by sin and weakness and tiredness we can come to her and trust in her motherly care to help us

Prayer:  Dear Mary thank you for your strength.  Help me to know that strength is there when I need it and I can call on your strength for myself and for others in need

OUR LADY OF TRUST NOVENA DAY 5 FEBRUARY 9TH

OUR LADY OF TRUST NOVENA DAY 4, FEBRUARY 8TH

But your motherly look which follows us, and your Immaculate Heart, which your Son points out to us, open our souls to a new feeling – the assurance of your help. And we want it, O Mary. We ask it of you, we beg for it, O loving Mother.

What a lesson for me is the longing evidenced in this passage.  Because although I know I have a relationship with God and Jesus and Mary, the times when I long for it are entirely too few.  Easier for my heart to contemplate are the longings I have to be with those closest to me here on earth, my husband, my mother and dear friends who have passed away.  Perhaps the most valuable lesson, then, is to consider God the Father, Mary and Jesus just as real to us (or maybe even  more real since they are divine and truly know everything about us and love us infinitely) as those people who are dearest to us. 

Prayer:  Dear God and Jesus and Mary, help me to know just how real you are and how infinitely strong your desire is to help me know the will of God and follow it

OUR LADY OF TRUST NOVENA DAY 4, FEBRUARY 8TH

OUR LADY OF TRUST NOVENA DAY 3, FEBRUARY 7TH 2010

And all the while, our suffering along the way, our own interior weakness and temptations press heavily to torment us and produce in our souls a feeling of faintness and sadness, which means only one thing: distrust, in ourselves, in our ideal, in the means to attain it.

Yet another chorus of disheartening phrases in today's passage, torment, faintness, sadness, distrust. These are often a part of our daily lives-- it only takes a moment of viewing television news or a newspaper to see it all around us. Yet I think we would be surprised if we could see it from God's perspective, just how thin the vail between heaven and earth is. We do not have a heavenly father who is surprised by human nature or in Jesus a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses or in Mary a mother who is unaware of every cry of each of her children. We need to be aware now more than ever how near those on the other side are to us to help us along the way, and as we continue on with the prayer it does get more hopeful I promise :) (read ahead if you don't believe me). We will continue on in hope.

Reflection: Dear Father, Jesus, and Mary, help us hear your voice and be aware of how near you are to us even when the way is difficult, knowing that nothing can touch us without passing through your hands first

OUR LADY OF TRUST NOVENA DAY 3, FEBRUARY 7TH 2010

OUR LADY OF TRUST NOVENA DAY 2, FEBRUARY 6, 2010

Although it is our duty to strive for perfection, it is also true that our mortal body makes the path difficult, and the enemies of our soul cease not from their attacks, while everywhere we are enticed to leave the difficult and straight way known by only a few travelers.


This is a difficult passage-- rightly so as it is a passage about the difficulties presented to us in everyday life. They can weigh us down so much we are tempted to give up. We get tired, physically and emotionally, but even in this difficulty we are encouraged to be one of the "few travelers" who strive to do what is right-- we do this with the help of the Trinity and also Mary, and good and holy friends who encourage us and hold us accountable, who want what is best for us even more than we want it for ourselves.

Reflection: Dear Jesus and Mary, I know you faced difficulties on earth but you never lost heart. Help me to never tire of starting over and to seek your help to overcome what keeps me from you.

OUR LADY OF TRUST NOVENA DAY 2, FEBRUARY 6, 2010

OUR LADY OF TRUST NOVENA DAY 1 FEBRUARY 5, 2010

Drawn by the need of your help in the many trials that engulf us in this life, we come to your feet, O Virgin of Trust, to pour out to the heart of a mother our wishes and failings.

What this portion of the prayer speaks to me is that the first step in any meaningful relationship is to draw near. Let us draw near to Mary our Mother, not thinking of it is as an overly mystical spiritual exercise but rather the most natural thing in the world, a child drawing near to his/her mother for help and comfort.

Reflection: Mary, my Mother, help me to draw near to you and seek your face, knowing that through you I will be closer to your Son. Help me to know I can really talk to you and you will listen and understand

OUR LADY OF TRUST NOVENA DAY 1 FEBRUARY 5, 2010

OUR LADY OF TRUST NOVENA 2010

Greetings in Jesus and Mary everyone

The year seems already to be going by so quickly. The Christmas season has just ended and now the Lenten season is not far away. In preparation for Lent, Pro Sanctity invites us to reflect on our Patroness, Our Lady of Trust. We will be using as a basis for the novena Bishop Giaquinta's beautiful prayer to Our Lady of Trust

PRAYER TO OUR LADY OF TRUST

Drawn by the need of your help in the many trials that engulf us in this life, we come to your feet, O Virgin of Trust, to pour out to the heart of a mother our wishes and failings.
Although it is our duty to strive for perfection, it is also true that our mortal body makes the path difficult, and the enemies of our soul cease not from their attacks, while everywhere we are enticed to leave the difficult and straight way known by only a few travelers.
And all the while, our suffering along the way, our own interior weakness and temptations press heavily to torment us and produce in our souls a feeling of faintness and sadness, which means only one thing: distrust, in ourselves, in our ideal, in the means to attain it.
But your motherly look which follows us, and your Immaculate Heart, which your Son points out to us, open our souls to a new feeling – the assurance of your help. And we want it, O Mary. We ask it of you, we beg for it, O loving Mother.
When sin entices us, stay with us and be our strength. When mediocrity absorbs us, do not leave us. When the ascent to the perfection of the Father leaves us weary, whisper a word of help, O Mary – trust!
If we will listen to this word of yours, the way will be easier, the goal closer, and our confidence more certain that we shall reach sanctity.
So repeat this word often – trust. Repeat it to us and to everybody, O Mary, because all people must become saints. Amen.

Bishop Guglielmo Giaquinta


Let us pray that as we reflect more deeply on this beautiful prayer that our relationships with God the Father, Mary our Mother, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit will grow deeper and our confidence will reach new heights as we enter the Lenten season

OUR LADY OF TRUST NOVENA 2010

Every day...

Decalogue of Anthropological Optimism
by G. Giaquinta

Every day…

 

1. REMEMBER that God has created you with love, and with maximum love.

2. CONTEMPLATE His face in your heart as in a mirror: you have been

created in His image and likeness.

3. LISTEN every moment to God Who repeats to you: You are precious in My eyes, worthy of My esteem, and I love you.

4. LOOK at everything that happens with "good eyes" and with the mercy of God your Father.

5. LEARN to conquer evil with Goodness, with Love: in Christ, with Christ, and for Christ.

6. SMILE always, in joy and in sorrow, with hope and trust.

7. WITNESS the light of Christ in the light and in the darkness.

8. CHOOSE hope, and do not give into sterile pessimism with the excuse that you are a realist.

9. SING of the joy of being a "little thing" passionately loved by Christ who gave His life for you.

10. CONJUGATE these nine verbs of anthropological optimism for every person you encounter and in every moment: All things work for the good of those who love God, and...all are candidates for holiness!

 Believe it with all your heart,

with all your soul and with all your strength!

 

www.prosanctity.org

 

 

Every day...