Apr 01

Gospel Reading for March 31, 2017 with Divine Will Truths – Jesus and the Will of the Father

April 1, 2017

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Apr 01

Meditation for the First Saturday of the Month – April 1, 2017

April 1, 2017

Meditation for the First Saturday of the Month: the blasphemies against Our Immaculate Mother.

On the 1st April, we will celebrate the fourth in the series of the five first Saturday’s of the month in reparation of offences against Our Lady’s Immaculate Heart. In this month’s meditation, we will offer reparation for all those who publicly seek to sow in the hearts of children, indifference, or scorn or even hatred of this Immaculate Mother. This attitude tears at Our Lady’s maternal heart because they also reject her maternal care for the salvation of their souls. These hard-hearted souls argue that honouring Our Lady is “idolatry” because such veneration is only due to God. St Thomas Aquinas reminds us that honour is given to the king’s mother on account of the king. This is the case with Mary. At Fatima, Our Lady requested that we pray for these poor sinners, her lost children, to convert them to the truth.

If the scales are weighted with indifference, scorn or hate against Our Lady, we must repair this weight by honouring her and celebrating the gift of Our Heavenly Mother.

“…All generations will call me blessed, for the Almighty has done great things for me. Holy is His name” (Lk 1:48-49)

Mary’s great prophecy is true! From the dawn of Christianity people of all generation have honoured the Virgin Mary. It is an uninterrupted tradition of the Church from the moment that St John took Our Blessed Mother to his home (cfr. Jn 19:27). We see her importance in the early Church because she was there with the Apostles praying for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.

Each evening at Vespers the Church sings Mary’s great canticle of praise to God – the Magnificat. It is with Mary’s words that the Church praises God as the day draws to a close because she is the believer par excellence! She is the one who can teach us a true canticle of praise. In the Magnificat, Mary tells us the motive for which she will be honoured: it is because the “Almighty has done great things for her” (cfr. Lk1:48) by choosing her to be the Mother of Christ. Mary’s greatness, by her own account, resides in the fact of her Son! She is the Lord’s humble servant who wants only the Magnify the Lord, or, in other words, tell of His greatness.

Sr Lucia of Fatima explains that Our Lord wanted to establish devotion to Our Lady’s Immaculate heart as “a means to bring people to a full consecration through conversion, self-dedication, intimate esteem, veneration and love…We all know that a mother’s heart represents love in the bosom of a family…All children trust in the heart of their mother, and we all know the we have in her a place of special affection. The same applies to the Virgin Mary…Hence, the Heart of Mary is the refuge and the way to God for all His children” (Sr Lucia, Calls from the Message of Fatima)

St Louis-Marie de Montfort said, “Of Mary there can never be enough”! This month let us make reparation to Our Lady’s Immaculate heart by loving and honouring her with “intimate esteem, veneration and love”.

We offer reparation to Our Lady’s Immaculate heart for:
–   All those who are indifferent to Our Blessed Mother.
–   Those who sow scorn or hatred in the hearts of children about Our Blessed Mother,
–   Those who hate Our Blessed Mother and encourage others to do the same

Prayer
A Petition to Mary (By St. Alphonsus Liguori)
Most holy Virgin Immaculate, my Mother Mary, to thee who art the Mother of my Lord, the queen of the universe, the advocate, the hope, the refuge of sinners, I who am the most miserable of all sinners, have recourse this day. I venerate thee, great queen, and I thank thee for the many graces thou has bestowed upon me even unto this day; in particular for having delivered me from the hell which I have so often deserved by my sins.

I love thee, most dear Lady; and for the love I bear thee, I promise to serve thee willingly forever and to do what I can to make thee loved by others also. I place in thee all my hopes for salvation; accept me as thy servant and shelter me under thy mantle, thou who art the Mother of mercy. And since thou art so powerful with God, deliver me from all temptations, or at least obtain for me the strength to overcome them until death.

From thee I implore a true love for Jesus Christ. Through thee I hope to die a holy death. My dear Mother, by the love thou bearest to Almighty God, I pray thee to assist me always, but most of all at the last moment of my life. Forsake me not then, until thou shalt see me safe in heaven, there to bless thee and sing of thy mercies through all eternity. Such is my hope. Amen.

Permanent link to this article: https://bookofheaven.org/2017/04/01/meditation-for-the-first-saturday-of-the-month-april-1-2017/

Mar 31

What is a Third Order Benedictine Oblate of Divine Will?

March 31, 2017

What is a Third Order Benedictine Oblate of Divine Will?

Third Order Benedictine Oblates of Divine Will of St. Benedict are Christian individuals or families who have associated themselves with the Benedictine Daughters of Divine Will Community in order to enrich their Christian way of life. Third Order Benedictine Oblates of the Divine Will shape their lives by living the wisdom of Christ as interpreted by St. Benedict and the knowledge of the Truths in The Book of Heaven by The Servant of God Luisa Piccarreta. Third Order Benedictine Oblates of the Divine Will seek God by striving to become holy in their chosen way of life. By integrating their prayer and work, they manifest Christ’s presence in society by reading and putting the Writings of The Servant of God Luisa Piccarreta into practice.

Saint Paul tells us that each member of the body of Christ, the Church, has a special function to perform. Most are called to the married state and the raising of a family. Some are called to the single life in the world and others to the life of a priest or religious man or woman. The role of Third Order Benedictine Oblates of the Divine Will is to live in the world, to become holy in the world, to do what they can to bring the world to God by being witnesses of Christ by word and example to those around them through the Truths in the Writings of The Servant of God Luisa Piccarreta.

Third Order Benedictine Oblates of the Divine Will concern themselves with striving to be what they are, people of God and temples of the Holy Spirit. Their prayer life shall flow from this awareness, as shall their willingness to offer themselves (that is the meaning of the word oblate) for the service of God and neighbor to the best of their ability. Third Order Benedictine Oblates do not take on a new set of religious practices and are not required to say a certain number of prayers or engage in special devotions. They do not live in a religious community or take vows but focus on the Truths found in the Writings of The Servant of God Luisa Piccarreta.

Saint Benedict and Third Order Oblates of Divine Will

Saint Benedict lived in the sixth century. He was born in a small town north of Rome and came to Rome for his education. Before long he abandoned his studies and lived as a hermit for several years at a place called Subiaco, where in time he acquired a reputation for holiness and miracles. Attracting many followers, Benedict established monastic communities at Subiaco, Terracina, and Monte Cassino. It was at Monte Cassino that he wrote a Rule which combined moderation with fidelity to the best traditions in Christian monasticism. During the following centuries, his monastic way of life spread throughout Europe, and Benedictine monasteries and convents became the principal centers of prayer, culture, education, and now, we also shall focus on the Writings of The Servant of God Luisa Piccarreta.

From the very beginning Benedictine monasteries accepted boys, and convents received girls, “offered!’ to them by their parents for their religious training and education. These children lived in the community, shared its daily round of religious activities, and became known as Third Order Benedictine Oblates. In the course of time, lay people asked to be associated with the work of the monks and nuns, without however leaving their homes, families, and occupations. These too were received, offered. themselves to God, became Third Order Benedictine Oblates of a monastery or convent, and promised to regulate their lives according to the spirit of the Rule of St. Benedict. They applied the teachings of the Rule to their lives in the world, in their family circles, in their places of work, in their civic and social activities and especially now through the Writings of The Servant of God Luisa Piccarreta.

Today, throughout the world, there are hundreds of Third Order Benedictine Oblates of the Divine Will praying and working in spiritual union with Benedictine Daughters of Divine Will Community and receiving spiritual strength and inspiration from their association as Third Order Benedictine Oblates of the Divine Will through studying the Truths in the Writings of The Servant of God Luisa Piccarreta.

The Rule: A Guide for Third Order Oblates of Divine Will

Third Order Benedictine Oblates promise to lead an enriched Christian life according to the gospel as reflected in the Rule of St. Benedict. In this way they share in the spiritual benefits of the Benedictine Daughters of the Divine Will Community who are dedicated to the monastic life by vow. After a time of preparation, which culminates in an act of Oblation — a rite approved by the Church — the candidates become Third Order Benedictine Oblates of the Divine Will. This promise affiliates them with the Benedictine Daughters of the Divine Will Community and commits them to apply to their lives the characteristic monastic principles especially through the Writings of The Servant of God Luisa Piccarreta.

Third Order Benedictine Oblates strive after stability and fidelity in their lives by regular worship with other Christians and by the support they give to the social and educational apostolates of their local parishes as well as that of the Church as a whole based on the Truths found in the Writings of The Servant of God Luisa Piccarreta.

In accord with the teaching of Benedict, Third Order Benedictine Oblates of the Divine Will practice moderation. This moderation manifests itself in the use of the goods of this world, an increasing concern to their neighbor, and in the way they temper and direct their desires. Their fidelity to Christian living shall provide a much needed example of genuine Christianity and a stabilizing influence for good on all around them based on the Writings of The Servant of God Luisa Piccarreta.

In the spirit of the gospel, Third Order Benedictine Oblates of the Divine Will commit themselves to a continual conversion to and communion with Christ. They see sin and any attachment to it as basically incompatible with a serious following of Christ. Through this deepening of the baptismal promise, Third Order Benedictine Oblates of the Divine Will are free to put on Christ and to allow him to permeate their lives. In this way Third Order Benedictine Oblates of the Divine Will shall come to recognize that in all the phases and events of their lives, in their joys and successes as well as in their sorrows and disappointments, they are in close union with Christ and participate in His very death and resurrection. This ‘putting on of Christ’ is the goal the Third Order Benedictine Oblates of the Divine Will pursue in their conversion of life based on the Writings of The Servant of God Luisa Piccarreta.

In the spirit of obedience, Third Order Benedictine Oblates of the Divine Will strive to discover and maintain their proper relationship toward God, their family, and the civil and religious society in which they live. Before God, Third Order Benedictine Oblates of Divine Will must come to recognize themselves as creatures dependent on their Creator and as sinners before their Redeemer. Aware of their own spiritual poverty and need of God, Third Order Benedictine Oblates of Divine Will come to realize that they have no other reason for being, except to be loved by God as Creator and Redeemer and to love and seek him in return in wanting to be Sanctified based on the Writings of The Servant of God Luisa Piccarreta.

In loving obedience to God’s plan, Third Order Benedictine Oblates of Divine Will develop a deep reverence for life. They shall respect life as a Precious Gift in the Divine Will from God and defend those groups which because of age, health or race are defenseless and most open to attack. Seeking harmony and integrity of life, they perpetuate and enhance the traditional Benedictine motto: “Peace.” Personally and together with other Christians, Third Order Benedictine Oblates of Divine Will work to promote living as a member of The Family of Nazareth. They take care to seek out opportunities for the practice of charity and warm hospitality to those around them as they strive to live the Truths in the Writings they read and put into practice from The Servant of God Luisa Piccarreta.

Third Order Oblate Spirituality of Divine Will

Third Order Benedictine Oblates of the Divine Will seek God in association with the Benedictine Daughters of Divine Will Community: as individuals and as members of a body, they grow in love of God, neighbor, and self. With the Rule as their guide, Third Order Benedictine Oblates of Divine Will adopt values that are part of the very fabric of Christian spirituality, such as, spending time daily reflecting on the Sacred Scriptures and the writings of The Servant of God Luisa Piccarreta; cultivating an awareness of the presence of God in silence; devoting time to the praise of God; performing acts of mortification. An acquaintance with these and other Christian values presented in the Rule of St. Benedict shall enable Third Order Benedictine Oblates of the Divine Will to attain that special peace and joy that Christ came to bring and promised to all who follow him as especially taught by Jesus in the Writings of The Servant of God Luisa Piccarreta.

The Director of Third Order Benedictine Oblates of the Divine Will provides direction and instruction through letters or meetings. Conferences, group discussions, common prayers, and participation in the community’s liturgical life afford Third Order Benedictine Oblates of the Divine Will the opportunity for spiritual growth. In offering this assistance to the individual Third Order Benedictine Oblate of the Divine Will, the guiding principle is that stated by St. Benedict in chapter 64 of his Rule: “Let the Abbot so moderate all things that there be something for the strong to strive after, and nothing to dishearten the weak,” and also to grow in the knowledge of the Truths from The Book of Heaven by The Servant of God Luisa Piccarreta.

Fiat!

Permanent link to this article: https://bookofheaven.org/2017/03/31/what-is-a-third-order-benedictine-oblate-of-divine-will/

Mar 31

Round of the Soul in the Divine Will Twenty-Second Hour – Luisa Piccarreta

March 31, 2017

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Mar 30

Gospel Reading for Mar. 30, 2017 with Divine Will Truths – Die to Self

March 30, 2017

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Mar 29

Gospel Reading for Mar. 29, 2017 with Divine Will Truths – The Father Generates the Son

March 29, 2017

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Mar 28

Gospel Reading for Mar. 28, 2017 with Divine Will Truths – Man No Longer to be Sick

March 28, 2017

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Mar 27

Gospel Reading for Mar. 27, 2017 with Divine Will Truths – Miracles of Jesus’ Public Life and the Kingdom of the Divine Will

March 27, 2017

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Mar 26

Laetare Sunday

March 26, 2017

From: TraditionalCatholic.net · Liturgical Calendar

Fourth Sunday of Lent, called “Lætare”

    By the Introit of the Mass the Church reminds us of the joys of heaven, to encourage us to persevering zeal in penance and fasting, and to patience under persecution, crosses, and sorrows.
    The Introit of the Mass begins with the word lætare (rejoice), from which the Sunday derives its name: “Rejoice, O Jerusalem, and come together, all you that love her. Rejoice with joy, you that habe been in sorrow, that you may exult and be filled from the breasts of your consolation. I was glad at the things that were said unto me: we shall go into the house of the Lord.”

he Epistle of St. Paul to the Galatians, iv. 22-31.

    Brethren: It is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, and the other by a free woman: but he who was of the bondwoman, was born according to the flesh: but he of the free woman, was by promise: which things are said by an allegory: for these are the two testaments. The one from Mount Sina engendering unto bondage: which is Agar: for Sina is a mountain in Arabia, which hath affinity to that Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. But that Jerusalem which is above is free, which is our mother. For it is written: Rejoice thou barren, that bearest not: break forth and cry, thou that travailest not; for many are the children of the desolate, more than of her that hath a husband. Now, we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. But as then he, that was born according to the flesh, persecuted him that was after the spirit: so also it is now. But what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son; for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the free woman. So then, brethren, we are not the children of the bondwoman, but of the free: by the freedom wherewith Christ has made us free.

Explanation.

    The Jews, typified by Agar, served God like servants, from fear of punishment and in hope of rewards. Christians, typified by Sara, lift up their hands to Him as their Father, and if they fulfil His will faithfully will become partakers of His glory in heaven.

Prayer.

    O Jesus, grant that by fasting, prayer, and patience under persecution I may partake in Thy sufferings, and be found worthy of Thy divine promises and Thy eternal consolations in the heavenly Jerusalem. Amen.

he Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ, According to St. John, vi. 1-15.

    At that time: Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is that of Tiberias: and a great multitude followed Him, because they saw the miracles which He did on them that were diseased. Jesus therefore went up into a mountain: and there He sat with his disciples. Now the pasch, the festival day of the Jews, was near at hand. When Jesus therefore had lifted up His eyes, and seen that a very great multitude cometh to Him, he said to Philip: Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? And this He said to try him, for He Himself knew what He would do. Philip answered Him: Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one may take a little. One of his disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, saith to Him: There is a boy here that hath five barley loaves, and two fishes: but what are these among so many? Then Jesus said: Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. The men therefore sat down, in number about five thousand. And Jesus took the loaves; and when He had given thanks, He distributed to them that were set down: in like manner also of the fishes, as much as they would. And when they were filled, He said to his disciples: Gather up the fragments that remain, lest they be lost. They gathered up therefore, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above to them that had eaten. Now those men, when they had seen what a miracle Jesus had done, said: This is of a truth the prophet, that is to come into the world. Jesus therefore, when He knew that they would come to take Him by force, and make Him king, fled again into the mountain Himself alone.

    Why did Christ thus try St. Philip?
    1. To try his faith and confidence. 2. To teach us to make use of natural and ordinary means before we have recourse to the supernatural. 3. So that the miracle would be the more striking to the people, when they were satisfied that the provisions they had were quite small and insufficient. 4. That we might have confidence in God, Who is a helper in time of tribulation (Ps. ix. 10).

    What ceremonies did Our Saviour use at this miracle, and why?
    He first looked up to heaven, to remind us that every good gift comes from above, and that it is God only Who opens His hand, and fills all with benediction. 2. He thanked His heavenly Father, to show us that we also should be careful to thank God for all His benefits, The table, says St. Chrysostom, which begins and ends with prayer shall never know want. 3. He blessed the bread that we might learn that it is the blessing of God which gives success.

    Why did Jesus flee after this miracle?
    1. To teach us to seek not the admiration and applause of men, but only the glory of God and the good of our neighbor. 2. To love solitude; that, far from the noise of the world we may with more freedom converse with God.

Goffine’s Devout Instructions on the Epistles and Gospels for the Sundays and Holy Days, 1896

Permanent link to this article: https://bookofheaven.org/2017/03/26/laetare-sunday/

Mar 26

Fourth Sunday of Lent

March 26, 2017

Fourth Sunday of Lent

Jesus, the Lord is the Light and Joy of Life

Dear brothers and sisters, Fiat!

The Liturgy of this Sunday, called “Laetare”, invites us to be glad and rejoice as the Entrance Antiphon of the Eucharistic celebration proclaims: “Rejoice, Jerusalem! Be glad for her, you who love her; rejoice with her, you who mourned for her, and you will find contentment at her consoling breasts”. What is the profound reason for this joy? It is the Gospel, it is Jesus Himself, who is beside us as light and salvation.

Pope Francis wrote for us: The joy of the gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus. Those who accept his offer of salvation are set free from sin, sorrow, inner emptiness and loneliness. With Christ joy is constantly born anew. We have proof in today’s Gospel, in which Jesus heals a man blind from birth.

The question which the Lord Jesus asks the blind man is the high point of the story: “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”. The man recognizes the sign worked by Jesus and he passes from the light of his eyes to the light of faith: “Lord, I believe!”.

It should be noted that as a simple and sincere person he gradually completes the journey of faith. In the beginning he thinks of Jesus as a “man” among others, then he considers him a “prophet” and finally his eyes are opened and he proclaims him “Lord”. In opposition to the faith of the healed blind man is the hardening of the hearts of the Pharisees who do not want to accept the miracle because they refuse to receive Jesus as the Messiah. Instead the crowd pauses to discuss the event and continues to be distant and indifferent. Even the blind man’s parents are overcome by the fear of what others might think.

We can ask ourselves: and what attitude to Jesus should we adopt? Because of Adam’s sin we too are born “blind” but in the baptismal font we are illumined by the grace of Christ. Sin wounded humanity and destined it to the darkness of death, but the newness of life shines out in Christ, as well as the destination to which we are called. In him, reinvigorated by the Holy Spirit, we receive the strength to defeat evil and to do good. The Lord Jesus is the “light of the world”, because in him shines “the knowledge of the glory of God” that continues in the complex plot of the story to reveal the meaning of human existence.

In the rite of Baptism, the presentation of the candle lit from the large Paschal candle, a symbol of the Risen Christ, is a sign that helps us to understand what happens in the Sacrament. When our lives are enlightened by the mystery of Christ, we experience the joy of being liberated from all that threatens the full realization.

In these days which prepare us for Easter let us rekindle within us the gift received in Baptism, that flame which sometimes risks being extinguished. Let us nourish it with prayer and love for others. Pope Francis writes: “The Church, in her maternal concern, tries to help them experience a conversion which will restore the joy of faith to their hearts and inspire a commitment to the Gospel”.

On September 14, 1923, Jesus told Luisa the purpose for which He created man in Creation: that he would always revolve around Him; and He, like Sun, being at the center of his round, would reflect in him His light, His love, His likeness and all His happiness. At each round of his, He would give him ever new contentments.

Before man sinned, His Divinity was not hidden to man, because by revolving around Him, he was His reflection, and therefore he was the little light. So, it was as though natural that, He being the great Sun, the little light would be able to receive the reflections of His light. But as soon as he sinned, he stopped revolving around Him, his little light became dark, he became blind and lost the light to be able to see His Divinity in his mortal flesh, as much as a creature is capable of.

In coming to redeem man, God took on mortal flesh in order to let Himself be seen, not only because man had sinned with the flesh and with the flesh He was to expiate, but because he lacked the eyes to be able to see His Divinity. This is so true, that His Divinity, which dwelled within His Humanity, could only unleash, through glimpses and flashes, a few rays of light from His Divinity.

What great evil sin is: it is for man to lose his round around His Creator, to annul the purpose of his creation, to be transmuted from light into darkness, from beautiful into ugly. It is such a great evil, that with all Jesus’ Redemption He could not restore in him the eyes to be able to see His Divinity in his mortal flesh, but only when this flesh, undone and pulverized by death, would rise again on the day of judgment.

What would happen if the whole Creation could fall short in its revolution around the sun? All things would be upset, would lose light, harmony, beauty; each one would bump against the other; and even if the sun were present, because they would not be revolving around it, the sun would be as though dead for the whole Creation. Now, because of original sin, man lost his round around His Creator, and therefore he lost the order, the dominion of himself, the light.

And every time he sins, not only he doesn’t not revolve around his God, but he makes his stops around the goods of Redemption which, like new sun, came to bring him forgiveness, escape, salvation. But do you know who it is that never stops in her round? The soul who does the Divine Will and lives in It. She always runs, she never stops, and she receives all the reflections of Jesus’ Humanity, and also the flashes of light of His Divinity.”

don Marco

Permanent link to this article: https://bookofheaven.org/2017/03/26/fourth-sunday-of-lent/