Monthly Archives: December 2015

Hospice update

A surprise call from the Hospice, something I understand I will have to appreciate and respect.  My anticipated Willoughby, Ohio Wednesday routine will not develop into a routine.  The patient passed away over the weekend.  It is good the Poor Clares are praying for him and his wife.  He passed on Saturday, the day of Roger’s funeral.  I will return to the Bagel Buddy though, attending mass at Our Lady by the Lake, purchasing Christmas baked goods on Wednesday in honor of the patient.

St John of the Cross.  Euclid, Ohio.

St John of the Cross. Euclid, Ohio.

 

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Hail Mary during the opening of a Jubilee year of Mercy

The divine lover, heaving a deep sigh, begins by saying: Let Him kiss me, this dear friend of my soul, let Him kiss me with the kiss of His mouth!  For Your breasts are better than wine, giving forth odors of delicious fragrance.  Your name is as oil poured out which, being composed of all the most precious perfumes, gives forth odors delightful above all others; and that is why young maidens love You.  Then continuing, she adds: Draw me and we will run after your ointments [Song 1:3] 

The Fathers, considering this word of the Song of Songs which the spouse addresses to her Spouse: “Let Him kiss me with the kiss of His mouth,” say that this kiss which she s ardently desires is nothing else but the accomplishment of the Mystery of Our Lord’s Incarnation, a kiss so awaited and desired during the long flow of years by all souls who merit the name of lovers.  But at length this kiss, which had been so long refused and deferred, was granted to this sacred lover, Our Lady, who, above all others, merits the name “spouse” and “lover” par excellence…..the divine union of the Eternal Word with the human nature, represented by this kiss, was made in the sacred womb of his glorious Virgin.  –‘The Sermons of St Francis de Sales on Our Lady

The Annunciation
Adelaide Anne Procter

How pure, and frail, and white,
The snowdrops shine!
Gather a garland bright
For Mary’s shrine.

For, born of winter snows,
These fragile flowers
Are gifts to our fair Queen
From spring’s first hours.

For on this blessed day
She knelt at prayer;
When, lo! Before her shone
An angel fair.

“Hail Mary!” thus he cried,
With reverent fear;
She, with sweet wondering eyes,
Marveled to hear.

Be still, ye clouds of Heaven!
Be silent, Earth!
And hear an angel tell
Of Jesus’ birth.

While she, whom Gabriel hails
As full of grace,
Listens with humble faith
In her sweet face.

Be still—Pride, War, and Pomp,
Vain hopes, vain fears,
For now an angel speaks,
And Mary hears.

“Hail Mary!” lo, it rings
Through ages on;
“Hail Mary!” it shall sound,
Till time is done

“Hail Mary!” infant lips
Lisp it today;
“Hail Mary! With faint smile
The dying saying.

“Hali Mary!” many a heart
Broken with grief
In that angelic prayer
Has found relief.

And many a half-lost soul,
When turned at bay,
With those triumphant words
Has won the day..

“Hail Mary, Queen of Heaven!”
Let us repeat,
And place our snowdrop wreath
Here at her feet.

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A Christmas gift

The most wonderful Christmas gift was opened this morning.  Before heading out for mass, I decided to open a card I received yesterday.  Inside I found the most wonderful hand written letter, mysterious in origin, neat and orderly in penmanship.  It was so wonderful to read.  Although I must be honest.  When I read the marvelous letter, I recognized phrases, a particular individual coming to light.  I will post the letter.  She will not be able to view it online as she rejects all forms of technology.  Advent is a powerful start to a Liturgical year, to the opening of a Jubilee of Mercy.  It is difficult to follow, however I love it and decided to post it, reading it before the Eucharist.  I admire a bit of fanaticism within a simple kind soul, a quiet woman of prayer.  I could actually hear her voice when reading.  How wonderful she decided to write me a personal letter for Christmas.  I am humbled.  Here is the letter transcribed.

Wait for the fulfillment of the Father’s promise” (Rev 10)  John baptized with water…you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit. (Acts 1:4-5)

*** SCRIPTURE has me!!!

I AM who AM. The promised Paraclete Jesus receives from the Father (John 14:26) He sent to the world in 1967 as his Little Open Scroll (Rev 10 I dreamed), (John 15, 26; 16, 8-15) (Acts 1, 4-5).

DESCENT of the Holy Spirit: I AM: Acts 2, 3, tongues as of fire; “1967 I dreamed: the little open scroll in the form of fire. (1 Kings 18,38)

“…when I was a child, my mother cried aloud before me when I told her: “I did not tell you to bring me out in the world.”  She responded, “God knows how much I love you.  When I carried you in my womb I sought the Lord and begged: Let this child be born in exchange for life.  LOVE and LIFE is God.  And when you lost LOVE, it is the END OF THE WORLD.”

Toward the end of December 2012, during the consecration of the Holy Ghost at Our Lady of Mount Carmel (west), I noticed for the first time when Father Richard Rausch consecrated the bread and wine.  He looked up praying: Father send down your Holy Spirit like the dew fall and make Holy this bread and wine made of human hands for the forgiveness of sin. Suddenly, I remembered when I was a child crawling down the three step ladder of the little house my father, mother and I dwelleth in the farm of my mother’s mother.

I crawled toward the backyard of our humble house and I saw a crystal clear morning dew fall on the green grass.  Looking over the beautiful artful work of the hands of God, I saw heaven and the face of God.  My baby eyes saw heaven and the face of God.  My baby hand swipe the morning dew fall and wiped it on my face.  SO HERE I AM: The Holy Spirit promise of the Father received by Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins of those who believed in Him.

The Lord Jesus said: The Son of Man can forgive all blasphemies and sins.  But anyone who thinks anything against the Holy Spirit do not have forgiveness of sin in this age or in the next age to come.

I know your reputation being alone when in fact you are dead.  (Rev 3,11)  Wake up and strengthen what remains before it dies.  I hold this against you—you have turned aside from your early love.  Keep firmly in mind the heights from which you have fallen.  Repent and return… (Rev 2:4-5)

I AM THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION: the Incarnate Holy Spirit, the divine revelation on the earth on 3/19/1919 and departed on 4/24/1971.  The B. V. M. was my handmaid.

Remember man, God the three distinct divine persons, One Spirit God, co-equal to each other are alone “sinless”.  Men are conceived with the “original sin of Adam and Eve” I AM THE ALPHA AND THE OMEGA.  The papers from Paul VI to the present age failed to receive the Spirit of Grace, the Grace of the Divine Heart of Jesus failed by my shepherds and priests to receive me personally here in Cleveland, Ohio, USA

“Noah’s time repeated today in this hour of Jesus’ return.

The Little Open Scroll

I AM

Mary and Joseph

 

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Chalice

Awareness of God: Trinity,
A presence unknowing,
Within understanding,
Within imperfection,
Within mercy,
Being lifted,
Expansion,
Consuming,
Pouring forth,
Divine revelation,
Beyond perception,
Eucharist silence adoring.

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Saturday reflection, a summer vacation is given birth

Morning funeral mass for Roger at St Paul Shrine, many gathered from all walks and ways of life. Roger was an amiable man. His wife presents a newfound attained wisdom, maturity through loss, growth through suffering. Roger’s passing heightens my Advent season. Roger and his wife shared a love of Spain, visiting my mother’s country three times. It is a pleasant coincidence that yesterday I committed to my mother to join her in a visit to Spain in the first week of June. She strongly desires to attend the wedding of her niece. Together we will make the event happen. Through prayer and reflection, the vacation attains divine dimensions, a proper focus of energy and enthusiasm. Opportunities startle in relevancy. Avila the home of Teresa, St John of the Cross, Montserrat Shrine, Seville, Santiago de Compostela Cathedral, Madrid, St Ignatius, Barcelona, St Alphonsus Rodriguez, Our Lady of the Pines on the Canary Islands, the modernistic La Sagrada Família, and most tender in intimacy Our Lady of Pillar, El Pilar Basilica in my mother’s hometown of Zaragoza, the church my parent’s performed their wedding vows within. Six months provides plenty of time to work on my Spanish. It is intriguing that my employer operates two well-established manufacturing plants in Spain. God willing and providing, a settling in Spain presents itself attractive. On a deeper and spiritual level, an awareness implants itself the Spanish vacation provides healing and a proper deepening of faith. Spanish spirituality is blood deep. The first time I even heard the name St John of the Cross my heart rose in admiration and awareness. I intuitively knew he was important, his presence evolving into the saint I implore for prayers of guidance. Mary will possess a day set apart during the vacation. I will rent a car, driving my mother and myself to Lourdes to visit Our Lady’s shrine. Her brother lives in France, a short drive to the shrine, always willing to visit and pay homage to Our Blessed Mother. A deeper aspect of the anticipated healing is intimate time with my mother. She is at her best amongst her Spanish relatives. To experience her in her country, amongst her people, could prove life changing for both of us.

I spoke with the man of prayer deeply last night, our conversation penetrated deep. Finally the man of prayer concluded saying it is very late I must go. I comprehended how exhausted I was after the lengthy talk. The discussion psychologically centered upon my obsession with Ann, driving matters into my subconscious, naturally alighting upon my relationship with my mother. As Dr Nichta stresses, maybe I am right and maybe I am wrong, it really does not matter, healing, removing internal blockage is what matters. Anyway, accepting the possibility of being wrong, a deep intuition always made me aware something happen when I was an infant, severely damaging my comprehension of love and acceptance. I am convinced it was the assassination of John F. Kennedy. My mother came to the United States in 1961, a Spanish girl of simple upbringing. Her father passed away when she was a toddler, and her mother suffered poor health throughout her life. My mother was raised in a convent with nuns, spending brief periods with family throughout her childhood. Her brother, separated from her, was raised in a St John Bosco orphanage, trained to be a tailor as a growing boy, a soccer hero in my mother’s eyes. My mother’s childhood life was cold and hard. She is deeply Catholic, yet her memory of the nuns is harsh. The religious sisters were callous conducting her formation. My mother came to this country by herself, admitting to me she started suffering severe panic attacks after the assassination of John F. Kennedy. One can easily comprehend the admiration a Spanish Catholic young lady would possess for the handsome Catholic young good looking president of a country she looked to for prosperity and a way of life beyond the poverty she knew as a poor Spanish girl. His brutal death uprooted a tender psychology to say the least. My mother is passionately a follower of politics to this day, a staunch hater of Republicans. My earliest memories recollect my mother stopping everything she was doing at six o’clock in order to watch an hour of local and national news. Her rapt digesting of the broadcasted news could not be interrupted. Us children knew we must be quiet, still in motion, demanding no attention during the news. I was born in July of 1963. John F Kennedy was shot in November of that year. I am absolutely convinced the shooting shaped my subconscious, forming a deep seated sense of rejection, anxiety, and fear. From an infant there was something extremely troubled within my psyche. I am convinced of that, yet like Dr. Nichta stresses it is over and done, nothing to dwell upon, or as St Teresa of Avila stresses: self-knowledge is essential, yet too much self-absorption is immaturely dangerous and selfish. Growth is the element of healing arising through the knowing of my deepest self, the gifting upon a supernatural level of the means able to establish a vessel capable of being filled during prayer. Lord let me know and understand myself in order to love you and my brothers and sisters greater. Regarding my complete overwhelming stagnation with Ann, my obsession with her, I have to understand this fundamental core issue of my psyche. My love for her was pure, that of an authentic religious man. I am convinced God blessed our relationship, offering sign after sign He would pour forth grace upon the consummation of a deeper relationship. However, Ann is a woman unable to love on a higher level. I could not accept the fact. My obsession and refusal to accept her rejection and inadequacies proved obsessive, diametrically opposed to my pursuit of God. I could not concede defeat, therefore manically pursued victory, frustrating and thwarting my spiritual efforts. Involvement with Ann unleashed damaging subconscious frailties, my deepest core vomiting forth sickness lurking within. She was a catalyst exposing internal shortcomings needing attention. I know I can have no exposure to Ann for her spiritual lackings, her emotional immaturity with men are a disease to me, satanic, sheer poison seeking to infect and overwhelm my life.

I was pleased with Roger’s funeral mass today for I was considering, and still discerning, the elimination of St Paul Shrine as my spiritual home. However the mass clearly announced a home is a home. Once again, the awareness presented itself that I must not run away, allowing Ann’s tendency to inflict spiritual competition, pettiness, shallowness, and nonsense upon the practicing of faith as a dominating factor. I have established a solid reputation, exercising a deep contemplative faith at the Shrine. There is no doubt my effort is authentic, possessing a charm and high degree of value. Humbly, I understand others admire my worth as a man of prayer. I will pull back from social activity at the Shrine, removing myself from movie watching and dining in the lobby after mass. I will distance myself from the extern sisters. No more coffee and donuts after Sunday mass. I will enter at the front entrance, involving myself strictly in mass and adoration. The man of prayer advises I concentrate lengthy prayer toward Ann, removing my devastating attachment to her by praying continuously for her, weeks and possibly months in duration. He recommends four Rosaries a day prayed specifically for Ann, stressing that removing her unhealthily spiritual influence from my life is my imperative spiritual mission at this time. In the background, a summer vacation to Spain looms large.

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A foundation for advancing

Oh Lord come to my assistance,
Oh Lord make haste to help me,
My mind is weary under waters stagnate,
A psychological sabotaging sting infecting,
Crucifying from within, tormenting and bewildering,
Born an infant wide eyed and aware,
An assassination, a mother broken, an orphanage,
Homeostasis seeking rejection, frustration, and protestation,
Abandoned to the wherewithal of inferior ways, obsession,
Broken ugly jagged edges cutting,
Bleeding, blood flowing, wounds sharing,
Unknowing the nurturing of compassion and care,
Eternal life-sustaining ways understood through negation,
Never known, never experienced, internal lacking, insufficiency,
The love of God, the love of Mary,
Something apart, something different, beyond, unique in surpassing.

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Wearing armor light and easy

You must conceive that this is written for such who aim for particular perfection, and are not in a state of mortal sin. For this medicine will not work for those who offend God negligently every moment, and pass their lives in all wickedness; for such as these must rather use affliction and frequent bewailing and confession of their sins, that so they deprive not themselves of remedy by their faults and carelessness.

Take, then, this rule and method in all the falls you shall make, be they great or little; yea, though ten thousand times in the same day you shall have incurred the same crime, and that not occasionally, but voluntarily and deliberately; observe, I say, inviolably this prescription: That as soon as ever you find yourself in fault, you trouble not nor disquiet yourself, but instant, as soon as you are aware of what you have done, with humility and confidence, beholding your own frailty, cast an enormous glance on God, and fixing there your love, say with heart and mouth: “Lord, I have done that which is like what I am, nor can anything else be expected at my hands but these and the like transgressions; nor had I stopped here, but plunged myself further into al wickedness, if thy goodness had permitted it, and left me wholly to myself. I give thee infinite thanks that You did not thus leave me for Your own sake, and for what You art, but admit me again to the favor of Your friendship.” Having done this lose neither time nor quiet of mind, imagining that God has not pardoned you, and the like, but with full repose proceed with your exercise as if I have said, not once, but every moment, with as much confidence and tranquility the last time as the first. For besides the particular service of God herein, a thousand other advantages are gained by it; time is not lost in fruitless excuses, further progresses is not obstructed, but, on the contrary, sin is subdued and mastered with much profit and perfection. This I would gladly inculcate upon, and persuade scrupulous and disquieted souls of, and then they would soon see how different a state of tranquility they would find themselves in, and pity the blindness of those who, so much to their cost, go on still losing so much precious time. Note this well, for it is the key to all true spiritual progress, and the shortest means to attain to it. –St Peter of Alcantara ‘Treatise on Prayer and Meditation’.

Detraction, distraction for a proficient, one advancing in the spiritual life arises from within. That which calls to a deeper life, complete conviction and focus upon God, scrupulously makes demand upon perfection. The fact is so pronounced St Peter of Alcantara identifies it as the key to further spiritual progress. One devoting his life to a refined pursuit of God, a life of service to God, must relate to God as a friend. Listen to the words of John the beloved disciple, the caretaker of the mother of Christ in the time of His resurrection, the mystical writer of the final Gospel, the recorder of the Final Discourse, the concluding teaching of Jesus to His apostles before the onslaught of His Crucified Passion. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide; so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. Speaking to his disciples a final time, Jesus knows what is about to transpire, therefore he instills within those carrying His word, furthering His mission upon earth a lightheartedness, the assurance of friendship. The road narrows, everything will become difficult, therefore Jesus declares to be at peace, quiet your soul for we are friends, wear life loosely like a comfortable garment, for you have advanced in service to me. Yet keep in mind as Jesus assures them of His friendship the fate of the apostles is atrocious. Most horrific, Andrew will be skinned. All the apostles, aside from John, are martyred. Be still, and know that I am God. Within the trials and tribulations of life, as men of prayer, advancing in love of God and man, dedicating our lives as contemplatives to the overflowing of grace, let us be easy on ourselves, let us not lose energy and focus beating ourselves up. It is the delight of Satan to witness us reject the mercy and might of God.  Let us trust in Jesus, more than wallow in misery and self-castigation.

I remember a dream once. I use to, and now realize have not for so long, dream about my guardian angel, a small baby, a cherub who never speaks yet expresses so much in her overly dramatic gestures and facial expressions. In the dream, I was sitting on a fence watching a horrific battle being waged. The conflict was brutal. I was unafraid, yet I sat and watched, doing nothing but observing. Then I realized within a state of great agitation my little guardian angel flying around me like a hummingbird, darting about, passionately waving her hands, imploring me to take notice of the raging battle. I just stared at her. She was so disconcerted, I could only notice her. She became frustrated and frantic with me, flying right into my face, pointing at the warring. She hovered directly in front of me, making a gesture of great annoyance and displeasure, shaking her head no, anger detailing her every feature before she silently made the firm point of disappointment, harshly making the statement that if you are content to sit here on the fence doing nothing I cannot be that way. I am going directly into the fight. And then just like that she flew away, right in the midst of the conflict.  Let us not waste time sitting upon the fence, absorbed within self-introspection, guilt and shame.  Let’s fly into the midst of the battle.  Let’s take the fight to Satan on a higher plane, within the prayer of repose and focus.

stmichel

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