A book of prayers to the Holy Face of Jesus

Hey, Be Careful Where You Point That Thing! Anger and vengeance are the weapons used to destroy us! Humility and forgiveness are the armor and shield to preserve and protect us! We stand at a Pivot Point with Our pride and ego.  Anger and vengeance on one side and humility, forgiveness and Love on the other! These are the “pivot points”which dictate which side is winning in the spiritual battle for our souls, for as the ego Shrinks the Spirit Grows! And Like a teeter-totter, with either one side up or down, the lack of one of these traits encourages the other! The Development of one, eliminates the other! We need to create an environment and a process to foster humility and a heart of forgiveness! So what are the tools and the processes necessary to invoke a spirit of humility and forgiveness and what are the “check points” and resources to help us recognize which dominates our lives on a day-to-day basis? Two Important Questions: 1) Humility or Pride or 2) Vengeance or Forgiveness? Creating a validation process in each decision we make that asks which of these two pivot points are being “fed” or are being “bolstered” by this action I am about to take or by this decision I am about to make!  Here are some scriptural passages to reflect on which may guide you further! “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me!’”  2 Corinthians 12:9. “He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he that rules his spirit than he that takes a city.”  Proverbs 16:32. “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword.”  Matthew 26:52. As you reflect on these passages, especially the last one, remember the tongue can be a sword that harms or even destroys another!  It can also be the healing balm that carries ourselves and others through difficulty!  Our words can be a weapon to either hurt or heal! These two pivot point questions should be used to gauge which words you want to deliver!! And finally remember that our actions speak louder than words! Let your Words be the “Sword of Truth” and Let Your Actions Back It Up!  And Let Humility and Forgiveness Bleed Through Both!

“The First Shall Be Last and The Last Shall Be First.” Where Do You Stand In Line? “Humility is the foundation of all the other virtues, hence, in the soul in which this virtue does not exist, there cannot be any other virtue except in mere appearance.”–St. Augustine We cannot be truly humble unless we have experienced humiliation! Nor can we experience “true peace” without experiencing humility! The Blessed Mother is the best example of humility and a model for all to live by! Her “yes” to God was the beginning of the redemption of humanity! Chosen to be the mother of our Lord, she remained humble, subservient and obedient to God’s will! Contrast those 3 character traits to the evil one! They are polar opposites! Prideful, Self-serving, disobedience! We should all know then the measuring stick by which we should model our lives! “I will put enmities between thee and the woman, and thy seed and her seed: she shall crush thy head, and thou shalt lie in wait for her heel.”  Genesis 3:15. The blessed mother was martyred through the witness she made at His passion. No mother wishes to see their child suffer, much less die before they themselves do! Our Lady did both through His crucifixion and death in humble silence! “Take up my yoke upon you, and learn of me, because I am meek, and humble of heart: and you shall find rest to your souls.”  Matthew 11:29. Six Things to Help Develop and Encourage Humility: 1. Pray For It.  A suggestion is the Litany of Humility; 2. Accept Humiliations.  God gives us special graces through humiliations, especially those incurred doing His works. NEVER fear rejection or even humiliation when sharing the Good News of Christ with others; 3. Obey Legitimate Superiors.  Obedience and Subservience are a necessary part of becoming humble.  “I am meek and humble at heart;” 4. Distrust Yourself.  Every sin we commit is due to our pride and self-reliance! Rely only upon God; 5.  Acknowledge your nothingness.  We are but dust in the immensity and countenance of our God.  If St. John the Baptist was unfit to unfasten our Lord’s Sandle straps, who are we? And 6. Think Better of others than of yourself.  Pride and self righteousness are harmful to our souls and detestable to God. “And she kept all the sayings’ concerning her Son, ‘in her heart.” Luke 2:19. Very little is Written in scripture concerning our Blessed Mother!  Knowing her humble nature, I am sure she wouldn’t have it any other way!​

 Got Self? There are numerous studies and documentaries recently about the healing Power of Extended periods of fasting to illness and disease!  Fasting, penance and Small sacrifices also help us from getting possessive about things! We need to exercise Strength of Will and Detachment over pride and possessions! When we immolate ourselves through self-giving and fasting we strengthen our wills and we distance ourselves from the desire to have luxuries and worldly possessions. Through penance and fasting We “let go” as we give up through small sacrifices our attachment to those things that keep us fixated on things of this life so we can focus on the supernatural and the divine! The soul is “lifted” and we become closer to God! Fasting penance, and small sacrifices are the greatest sign of Love! They are a deliberate demonstration of our Love for  God and for others around us over our own personal desires! Humility, Love and True strength of Will are some of the greatest virtues that come from a regular practice of fasting, penance, and small sacrifices! Structured and proper fasting may even help you lose weight!  At least the weight of the world! “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”  John  3:16.

The Ransom Jesus Paid To Free God’s Most Precious Treasure…Us Ransomware That Hijacks Your Brain I just read there is a new ransomware called “Zenis” that not only encrypts your files but deletes your back up! Yesterday I saw that Google and Facebook have enough data that they could strategically target through emails, Facebook notices and other sources behaviors that could swing elections, manipulating our behaviors to act!  It is as though our brains have been hijacked by ransomware, and we don’t even know it! I think this Holy Week about the Ransom paid to save our Souls some 2000 years ago! “For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time.”  1 Timothy 2:5-6. This Holy Week is the proper time to witness our Lord’s ultimate sacrifice He made to mediate for us and give Himself as ransom for our Souls!   There is no greater cause and no greater sacrifice ever given! With all the lies, manipulation, and all out extortion we are subject to in this age let us cling to the knowledge that our souls can never be compromised if we keep the faith in Christ Jesus and the the reward His suffering, death and resurrection allows us! We only have to exercise our own free will to recognize and believe God’s greatest gift! Pray especially this Holy week for the ransom paid to free our souls and the Love it took to make that happen! “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”  John 15:13.

We Can Be Subject To Many Masters On Independence Day most of us had a Free Day to spend time with Loved ones! A day away from work! A day to celebrate our Independence as a Nation! On Independence Day, may you have had a moment to reflect on what’s really important and is our work giving us what we “really” need.  Is it giving us satisfaction in giving back in meaningful ways to others? To God?Or are we slaves to the possessions we have acquired and the money it takes to “feed the beast?” “Work without love is slavery.”  St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta. Any work done with Love is not work!Here’s a little reminder I have used over the years to help me determine if I have balance in my life and to keep my Priorities straight:     -Money is only Good for the Good it can Do;     -Time Is Precious; and     -Your family and Your Health are Priceless.These three things have helped me over the years to stay rooted in what’s really, really important in my life!  Lately, however, I decided I need to add one more to keep me focused and grounded in staying passionate about everything I do whether it is work, play, or prayer and reflection! It is the ultimate measuring stick on giving me fulfillment and on knowing that I am getting the most that this life has to offer! It is knowing that what I do is making a difference in my own life and in the lives of others. It is the reward of my time and generosity that allows others to blossom:“Love One Another As I Have Loved You.” John 13:34. I sincerely hope that on Independence Day you enjoyed the “New Freedom” that happens when we use our Passions. Gifts and Talents in a Loving Way to serve others, that we in turn are rewarded and fulfilled!  Anything else is just a paycheck!