But for that very reason, in a sense, God is giving us unprecedented grace. And he chose to feel that need for the sake of friendship, which is a two way street. So, the Offering to Merciful Love not only consoles the Heart of Jesus, but it also (paradoxically) heals our hearts by wounding them with love. 173 Story ofa Soul, p. 259. Ah, but after having rested for a brief time in the fiat moment, your heart and lungs are ready to release what youve just enjoyed. But Abraham kept negotiating, What about for the sake of45? Yes, 111 spare it. 40? I say that because Jesus doesnt just want to pour out his rejected Merciful Love on individuals, like St. Therese. 2, s.c. and ad. Because of lais faith. Because its words reveal the secret of Marys faith, which is this: She believed that what the Lord had spoken to her at the Annunciation would be ful filled. However, if you trust in Jesus for the purpose of consoling him, then trust becomes an act of love. And so, not wanting to be late for class, I took the book. And best of all, shes a kind and gentie modier and who can be afraid of such a mother? The Catechism of the Catholic Church, commenting on die first sin of Adam and Eve, gets to the heart of it all: Man, tempted by the devil, let his trust in his Creator die in his heart and, abusing his free dom, disobeyed Gods command. In order that those who committed these sins may, after repenting, remain humble (p. 70). 33 From a testimony given at the beatification process of Zelie Martin and cited in The Context ofHoliness: Psychological and Spiritual Reflections on the Life of St. Therese of Lisieux by Marc Foley, OCD (Washington, D.C.: ICS Publications, 2008), p. 100. Will you offer yourself as a victim soul to his Merciful Love? Yet, my heart senses You, and my trust grows, and I see all Your omnipotence which upholds me. FINAL FIVE DAYS: Synthesis and Review 117 Grace Mary is not only a perfect model of faith and trust for us, but she obtains for us the grace to believe and to trust in God. She tells us that Gods love for us is so great that he allows us to borrow his own love. It goes to the lowest place and raises up. Its the word from Scripture: Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends (Jn 15:13). Customer reviews. So, after her trust in the Lords words was blessed, Mary immediately praised the Lord. And she also said something else thats familiar: Keep trusting ( and have an unshakable trust). More precisely, we learned that its all about our lack of trust and that the wound of original sin causes us to tend to hide from God because we doubt his goodness. According to Webster's Dictionary, the root word for Gnosticism is gnosis, which means "divinely inspired knowledge." 1 This word is generally used to describe heretical . Alright, well, now its time for a personal story. Well, I was losing that hope and felt tempted to give up. (See the Resource Pages for more information.) 97-100. how I would like to be able to make you understand what I feel! 33 Days to Merciful Love: Retreat Companion by Michael E. Gailey, Miscellaneous Items, Statues, and Fonts, Olive Wood items from the Holy Land (Jerusalem, Is, RCIA - The Right of Christian Initiation of Adults. 143-144). Pere de la Trinite, OCD, at www.fransciscan-sfb.org/ap/litftvrpu.htm (accessed January 10, 2012). We must strive to show mercy. In times past, victims, pure and spotless, were the only ones accepted by the Strong and Powerful God. (See also The Power of Confidence, p. So, I told Fr. WEEK ONE: What Is Trust? (See also ibid.) Agree to stumble at every step therefore, even to fall, to carry your cross weakly, to love your helpless ness. Seeing this very moment from the Cross, Merciful Love willed a new age in Salvation History to coincide with the dawn of the third Christian millennium. And the key lines that reveal its essence are actually' two questions. I suggest the following formula for making a Family Offering to Merciful Love, which begins with Jesus words to St. Faustina, who, like St. Therese, lived this spirituality to the full: LEADER: Jesus, you said to St. Faustina: The flames of mercy are burning me. Conrad de Meester explains Thereses teaching on this point: Therese knew how God's life could lie hidden below the sur face of a human psyche and temperament, and that some souls were much closer to God than might be apparent if they were judged merely by their struggles and inhibitions. As a Doctor of the Church, she teaches us a truth for today with authority, and that truth is this: God wants to work some of his greatest mira cles of mercy in the whole history of the Church today. Today, I have come to understand many of Gods mysteries. Copyright 1988 by Washington Province of Discalced Carmelites ICS Publications 2131 Lincoln Road, N.E. These are die wild flowers whose simplicity attracts Him. Of course, while its been passed on to us by the Pope, its also a gift that comes from on High, a gift that comes from God himself. Living side by side with her Son under the same roof, and faithfully persevering in her union with her Son, she advanced in her pilgrimage offaith" And so it was during Christs public life too (cf. The Latin word fiat comes from Fiat mihi, Let it be done to me. At the Annunciation, Mary spoke this word after she presented herself to the Lord (ecce). Rather, it had to do with simply trusting that there is a heights, that there is a God, diat there is a heaven. 122 To learn how we can console Jesus, see the first section of Appendix One, How We Can Console Jesus. Also, on this topic, its interesting to note that St. Therese took the religious name Sr. They have time for every thing, but they have no time to come to Me for graces.217 My daughter, take the graces that others spurn; take as many as you can carry.2181 want to give myself to souls and to fill them with My love, but few there are who want to accept all the graces My love has intended for them. In odier words, it doesn't focus on lots of vocal prayers each day of the retreat but, rather, on short spiritual readings that you can easily ponder in your heart throughout the day. 27 The Fathers of the Church and numerous popes taught that Mary is the Mediatrix of Grace and several popes have even used the title Mediatrix of All Graces. (For instance, Pope John Paul II used tire latter title seven times during his pontificate.) As you pause here in the ecce moment with empty lungs, the soldiers lance thrusts through Jesus side and into his Heart, causing blood and water to flow out and down like a waterfall, down into your heart and soul. And so begins again that wonderful cycle of love and mercy: rccr/empty fiat/in magnificat/out ectf/emptyfiat/in magnificat/out. So, I recommend diat die Family Offering be accompanied by a Divine Mercy Image Enthronement. Hail Mary 5. Todays Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit, fire of mercy. 80 Story of a Soul, p. 174. When the prodigal son returned home, I dont think his father told him: You, sit down and listen: what did you do with the money? No! Immediately afterward, she went to her sister Pauline (Mother Agnes), who was prioress at the time, a nd asked permission to make the Offering. From the Cross, he cries out for love of us, I thirst! and we mumble our prayers. We give him what we can, and hes happy with that. When I became aware of Gods great plans for me, I was frightened at their greatness and felt myself quite incapable of fulfilling them, and I began to avoid interior conversations with Him, filling up the time with vocal prayer. 183 Story ofa Soul, pp. Michael Gaitley) Consecration to Merciful Love Certificate; Prayer of Consecration to Merciful Love prayercard; St. Thrse card (limited-edition card with a photograph of St. Thrse) Well, Pope Francis has such authority, and he did announce it. Were too focused on the beloved who suffers. 177 See Ahern, p. 84. In fact, her consecration to Divine Mercy, what she calls her Offering to Mercifiil Love, is really the culmination of her whole spiritual teaching on the Little Way, the crowning of her path to holiness, and, Id even venture to say, the most powerfulform of consecra tion to Divine Mercy. Yes, we really are free to choose but also realize that the measure with which we measure will be measured back to us (see Lk 6:38). 'ilni :l> ' It:.'! But Mary leads us and brings us to that source of grace, the Fountain of Mercy. Inspired by the Diary of St. Faustina, I said its to m/rtin him. Anselm W. Romb, OFM, Cap. But theres more to the story. All rights reserved. Sister Marie Febronie, the 67-year-old subprioress at Thereses convent, had heard about the 19-year-old novice mistress teaching on purgatory. It was instituted by [St.] John Paul II. In this magnificat moment, Jesus lungs slowdy fill with your praise and thanks. Well, in that case, wed just be disagreeing widi Therese and siding with Sr. Febronie. It becomes one if we make it our intention when we inhale to receive Gods rejected Merciful Love into our emptiness. Once were humbled, God lifts us up. But heres something we didnt cover earlier, something that pushes us forward along the Littie Way as a way of life, something that also forms our conscience: The choice to see through the lens of mercy." The all powerful God man, the one who walks on water, casts out demons, and heals the deaf and the blind that great man, in a certain sense, is powerless when we dont give him our faith! Alright, so how do we live that act of perfect love always as one act? 30? After all, what is holiness but the Merciful Love of God poured into our hearts? It was about trusting amid the darkness of not seeing the goal, not desiring the goal, and not feeling the slightest bit of joy at the thought of the goal. Well, let me begin to answer that by first telling you an amazing secret: According to St. John Paul II, theres a kind of key which unlocks for us the innermost reality of Mary.12 Imagine that. Endnotes 199 182 Again, for group recitation, I recommend the Prayer of Consecration to Merciful Love. It means we have to keep striving to grow in holiness. I recommend that a family make such an offering (or renew it) on one of their favorite Marian feasts, on St. Josephs feast day (March 19), or on one of the Mercy feasts such as the memorial of St. Therese of Lisicux (Oct. 1), the memorial of St. Faustina APPENDIX TWO: Family Offering & Image Enthronement 173 (Oct. 5), Divine Mercy Sunday (the Second Sunday of Easter),220 or Trinity' Sunday, which is the day St. Therese first received the inspiration to offer herself to Merciful Love. So whether you want to deepen your . Due to a planned power outage on Friday, 1/14, between 8am-1pm PST, some services may be impacted. 220 Regardless of the day on which this offering is first made, its a good idea to renew it on Divine Mercy Sunday, which is a day of great grace and the preeminent feast for the devotion to Divine Mercy. Were you to say that, shed probably look you in the eye and respond in all seriousness, My friend, theres none more lowly than I. Todays Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit, fire of mercy. 221 See endnote 191. When coming down in this way, God manifests His infinite grandeur.186 Did you catch the revolutionary thinking thats hidden in this passage? But know that your decision is going to cost you some work. 217 Ibid., 367. Thats the moment when the priest at the altar takes the Body and Blood of Christ into his hands and offers it up to God the Father with these words: Through him, and with him, and in him, O God, almighty Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is yours forever and ever. And to little souls like us, if we accept it, his greatness is shown in the way that he will give us a share in his own greatness and glory. Jesus needs little souls to receive his Merciful Love. (See also ibid., pp. Oh, how indifferent are souls to so much goodness, to so many proofs of love! But I dont understand why. Of course, Im talking about Mary, our mother in faith. As St. Therese put it, We must be humbled and recognize our nothingness, and that is what so many are not willing to do.143 Now, that surely is true. One expert on Carmelite spirituality contrasted these two paths (that of merit and that of mercy) as follows: [God] brings about [our sanctification] by the diffusion of grace which He gives according to our merits, or simply to satisfy the need ofhis mercy.91 I dont know about you, but I choose the latter path! She describes the reason to her sister Pauline (Mother Agnes), who had given her permission to make the Offering: You permitted me, dear Mother, to offer myself in this way to God, and you know the rivers or rather the oceans of graces that flooded my soul. 142 Cited in Story of a Soul, p. 259. if'i',,11' K lr Mi.in.I Giiil. Well answer all this in the next point. After all, only the merciful will be shown mercy (see Mt 5:7, 18:2135). What? She hoped against hope, believing that, as the angel said, with God nothing will be impossible. Todays Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit, fire of mercy. In another way one may eat Christ spiritually, as He is under the sacramental species, inasmuch as a man r i 202 33 DAYS TO MERCIFUL LOVE believes in Christ, while desiring to receive this sacrament; and this is not merely to eat Christ spiritually, but likewise to eat this sacrament; which does not fall to the lot of the angels. Now, while Jesus promise of grace applies to evert' Image of Divine Mercy,192 I highly recommend the recently restored Vilnius version (see above, center), which is die original image painted under St. Faustinas careful direction. Well, when I saw that claim on the back of the book, I was sold. Also, I cant help but think of his frightening words from the Book of Revelation: So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit you out of my mouth (3:16). Your soul will draw more profit from it than if, carried by grace, you would accomplish with enthu siasm heroic actions that would fill your soul with per sonal satisfaction and pride.64 ii In sum, then, the Little Way is often a little way of darkness. First, for die purpose of consoling the Heart of Jesus, invite the Lord to give you and your family die mercy that other families reject. In fact, we get the sense that shes right down here in the grittiness of ordinary life with the rest of us. 152 For a powerful example of this sentiment, watch the YouTube video of Johnny Cashs rendition of Hurt by Nine Inch Nails. Todays prayer: Come, Holy Spirit, fire of mercy. But theres another extremely important prayer for the present time of mercy: the Chaplet of Divine Mercy. God put Abraham to the test. The Marian Missionaries of Divine Mercy (MMDM) is for people who really want to get into mercy as a spirituality. It penetrates because we need that blessing. In fact, Jesus Christs suffering, death, and Resurrection was enough to save a gazillion worlds. All of these perfections appear to be resplendent with love-, even His Justice (and perhaps this even more so titan the others) seems to me clothed in love. In other words, it called into question Gods 116 33 DAYS TO MERCIFUL LOVE goodness. Specifically, it becomes a plea for mercy.158 As we hold up Christs perfect sacrifice of love to the Father, we cry out for mercy for ourselves and for the whole world. He also stated: Man finds nothing so intolerable as to be in a state of complete rest without occupation, without diversion (622). Well, because she knows this about God: (8) Time is nothing in Your eyes, and a single day is like a thousand years. 101 Diary, 20. DAY 15 What It's Not Probably the best way to begin to understand die Offering to Merciful Love is to contrast it with what its not. Susan Conroy (New York: Alba House, 1998), p. 12. Because Marys suffering at Cavalry was the suffering of compassion. But wheres the third thing? Visit MarianMissionaries.org or see the Resource Pages for more information. He wants to save the world through a legion of little souls inspired by saints like Therese of Lisieux. First, imagine that the heavens above are an infinite ocean. Problem is, many of us dont sec it. We spend the first twelve days emptying ourselves of the spirit of the world. Whats the medication? Now, may I ask you to pray for me, my community (The Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception), and all the Marian Missionaries of Divine Mercy? And so, through our prayers and deeds of mercy that are the fruit of our Offering, theyll get a second chance to receive Gods mercy'. That is why Abraham truly is our father in faith. Is Your disdained Love going to remain closed up within Your Heart? She kept trusting throughout the darkness. 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