"So that the Scriptures might be fulfilled, Jesus said,
‘I thirst’."
"sitio"
In the teachings of Paul
we are called to a deeper response to God.
Such is true in suffering.
The heart is called to love the Suffering, Crucified Christ,
thus the heart that loves
must learn and develop a way of dealing with suffering,
for suffering is a way
into the Mystery of the Crucified Lover.
"Darkness covered the whole earth."
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
"Eloi, Eloi, lama Sabacthani"
"Deus meus, ut guid dereliquiste me?"
"Standing at the cross of Jesus was his mother.
"Woman behold your son, son behold your mother."
"Mulier, ecce filius tuus, ecce mater tua."
"Jesus, remember me, when you come into your kingdom."
“Amen, I say to you, this day you will be with me in Paradise."
"Amen dico tibi, hodie mecum eris Paradiso."
Many years ago in a country far across the big waters, in a small village in the center of Africa lived a Mystic who was very beloved to the people. The children loved to gather around her dwelling and listen to her stories. The elders and tribal chiefs would often consult her for her wisdom and guidance.
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The graces of the Ascension of Jesus, the Risen Lord,
Embraces us,
Filling our being with faith
And our hearts with gratitude and wonder and assurance.
"It was the sixth hour and they crucified him."
"Father, forgive them, they know not what they do."
"Pater, di mitte illis, non enim sciunt, quid faciunt"
I pray the Last Words of Jesus using the Seven Dolors Rosary. The form of the Seven Dolors Rosary lends itself very well to the prayer. It is the trellis upon which the prayer grows.
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People cling to every syllable of word spoken by the dying. These words are remembered, repeated, treasured, and passed down in families. The Gospels have done this for the Church. Those who stood at the foot of the cross and heard the last words of Our Lord clung to them and remembered. Within these last words of Our Lord was a treasure.
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We must never forget that the baptized are all called to imitate Christ according to their state in life. Throughout scripture we find that Jesus taught poverty of spirit by his life, his words and his works. It is not incidental that Jesus chose to be born in a stable in Bethlehem and to end his life bereft of all things of this world by his death on a cross.
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Since 1972, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has declared that the first Sunday of October will be designated as “Respect Life Sunday.” Why? The answer is hopefully obvious. The Catholic Church has always promoted the sanctity of life.
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Sometimes in the Scriptures there are questions
raised by God….. These questions can be rather pointed….
somewhat challenging…. perhaps even put one on the spot.
In today’s reading God asked Adam:
Where are you ?
Little was known of Gabriel's extraordinary spiritual gifts during his life. He was not singular, he conformed himself to the community life; he was only a fervent and exemplary Passionist novice and student hidden from the world in the cloister. "How much more soundly we would sleep, how much more cheerful we would be, in fact, how much more like heaven our life would be, if we left ourselves totally in her hands and said to her "Into your hands, O Lady, I place my cause."
Read MoreOctober 20th, 2012, the solemnity of our Holy Founder, St. Paul of the Cross, was a glorious celebration here at the monastery, as we commemorated the 15th anniversary of the foundation of the Passionist Oblates, and received 16 new members into the Oblate formation program.
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When I began coming to St Joseph's Monastery thirteen years ago, I was looking for a new relationship with God. I had been a very lax catholic up to that point. I was merely attending Mass, not praying with Sharon and the kids the way that I should. It was here at the monastery that my faith would be rekindled. With my first retreat the little ember in my soul was beginning to glow.
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"The Spirit of the Lord God has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the lowly, to heal the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners....." When Jesus read this passage from Isaiah, he meant it to be both an introduction to and a table of contents for his ministry. St Paul of the Cross must have heard something similar when the Lord called him: Paul might well have said: This is the outline of my ministry too
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There are no outsiders with God. While I am not post-abortive, I was called by our Sorrowful Mother to pray for healing for post-abortive women, then later to an active role of ministry with Rachel’s Vineyard Retreats. I have witnessed the mighty hand of God restore dignity and hope to those who thought of themselves as outsiders not worthy of God’s mercy or deserving of new life.
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The spiritual life for all of us involves these two dimensions: the horizontal - reaching out to those we encounter along the way. To be involved with our neighbors, near or far. The other dimension in our lives is the Vertical Dimension, the line that goes from our heart to the very heart of our God. Passionists would say that that vertical line to the Father passes directly through the pierced hearts of Mary, standing at the foot of the Cross, and of Jesus hanging on the Cross.
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