I was taking care of an elderly lady, doing her laudry and helping her out. She ask from her sunroom to please bring a sheet of paper to scoop us a large black ant that she had smashed to total flatness. I asked her why she had killed this ant that would never do her any harm. She said that the ant should not be here in the house. I said that all like was sacred and killing an ant unnecessarily was not right to do. A little in jest and yet a little serious, too, I said that she should go to confession for killing this innocent ant. I knew a priest was coming to bring her Holy Communion because I had arranged it; so, I felt she should use this opportunity to go to the sacrament of reconciliation to prepare for her receiving Jesus in Holy Communion on the Feast of Corpus et Sanquinis Christi (The Body and Blood of Christ). She actually agreed with me about going to confession. I don't think she would mention the demise of the poor ant. But I wanted to let her know that on this earth, all life is precious. I explained to her that the 60,000,000 babies killed in abortion since Roe v Wade was because of the total loss of the sense of the sacredness of life. Our culture is a culture of death not live. So all life: trees, flowers, ants, birds, animals are sacred because God made them all and God gave them life. What God gives is sacred. She listened with interest because she really is pro-life. I guess what got to me was the ease she had in killing this ant. She - a big woman or nearly 300 pounds - stampted on this ant weighing about the same as a postage stamp.
So, I scooped up the ant in the paper. I started to carry it to the front door to give it a fitting burial in the front yard. But before I got a few feet, it stopped playing dead (it had played dead to not get another smashing) and began to move! This was incredible! It was so smashed when I saw him on the carpet floor which was backed up by a cement floor, that all his legs and torso were completely distorted. I was impossible for it to move. By the time I got to the front door, it was on all 6 feet, upright. As I carried it to the yard, it looked perfectly back to life, fully alive with no injuries. This just could not be! This ant was reusrrected and healed in front of my very eyes!
Would God heal a tiny ant? Well for sure God heard me speak of the value of this ant. Did He want to show His agreement? I have never seen anything like this resurrection in my life. This ant looked like a steam roller had run over it. He was flat. His body would have had to be made of steel to survive a 300 pound smash. The blow the woman gave to this ant was 300 lbs X 100 lbs of trust. That is about 30,000 lbs of force on this little ant. It could not have survived it. To me this was a little miracle. God was proving a point. He knows not only when every sparrow falls from the sky, He even knows when an ant is smashed. He is the Artist. He made the great whales as well as the little guppy. To Him everyting is beautiful and precious. Of course His humans are the most precious. Jesus said: "You are worth more than many sparrows." But His point was this: Sparrows are precious; but you are even more precious.
Here is another example of God's care of little creatures: I had to make a turn around on a large street just after a big rain. I chose an abandoned concrete parking lot that had high curbs. As I pulled in, I notices a lot of water that had collected on the curb's edge that could not be seen from the street but could be seen when driving out of the lot as I was doing. I slowed down to look at this water, even existed the car for a better look because I thought I saw some worms struggling under water. I was right; 4 worms were white because they had drown before I got there. But there were many that were just moving underwater, struggling with no hope. Now, no one pulls into this lot. I had never done so before. But why now? I realized that God's Providence had sent me to rescue these 13 remaining worms. I picked them out one by one. I placed them on the grass safe from falling back into the water. I looked for more worms; but I had rescued them all.
The chances of my driving into to the abandoned lot at that precise time is hard to ever calculate; I believe that it was so unlikely, that I felt that God sent me. Does God worry about drawing worms. Apparently He does. Everything He has made is under His care. My kitten, Leo, is under my care. I take care of him like I would a baby. He lives in a royal palace, eats the best of foods and has the best of royal perches. Nothing is too good for my little Leo. He thinks I am his mother. I say "Meow"; and he answers me with the same tone. He only meows when I meow first. He comes into my arms. Well, if we human take care of out cats, what does God do to take care of us?
Another rescue: this one was overseas. I was at the right place at the right time to notice a large bumble bee in the ocean. I was swimming in the Mediterranian Sea off the shores of Malta. The salt water was up to my chest when I saw this large bumble bee swimming with me. He had landed on the water for 2 possible reasons. He may have been tired and just had to land on the water since we were quite a ways from land. The other is might not have had any experience with deep water and just landed hoping it would be a supportive surface. Whatever the reason, this bee was going to drown. How much water had he already swallowed I do not know; but he was not very active. No doubt he had been in this perdicament for some hours. If another swimmer were to come by, he or she would probably not risk a rescue because getting stung would not be very pleasant. But I would not hesitate to rescue this bee; and God knew that. Now this little bee and me, how did we meet when I lived 13 hours of air flight away. So we - the bumble bee and me - lived many, many thousand of miles away; but here we are a few feet from each other. I scooped up the exhaused bumble bee into my open palm of my hand. He was so tired that he just rested there. He did not try to escape or even walk away. He just rested: soaked, tired and exhausted. But he was alive! I walked with my hand high as to not get him washed away. I got to shore and took him far from the ocean and far enought from people, too. He was safe. He was home on mother earth. Maybe he went on to make thousands or more little bumble bees down the generations that came from him. What strikes me most in all of this is that people or animals or insects that only we will see will depend on to live. If we do not save them, they will die. I sent two letters with photos to the 875 Planned Parenthood clinics across the nation to plead for the lives of babies in the womb. I asked Planned Parenthood to use thier funds and resources and medical personnel to SAVE babies in the womb not kill them in the womb. It cost about $3000 to do those mailings. I do not know how many babies were saved. I did get a call from one P.P. location to thank me for the info. I sent them especially pictures of babies in the womb sucking their thumbs. I am very partial to this picture because that one picture DID save a baby's life. Here is how: I was praying and counseling women going into an abortion clinic here in Michigan. An African-American woman brought her 15 year old pregnant daughter into the clinic for an abortion, and they both disappeared inside. The father of the pregnant teen lingered behind and had not entered the building. As he walked passed me, I called out to him: "That little girl is 5 months pregnant!" Seemingly glad to have someone to talk to, he replied: "She is a little more than 5 months pregnant." I said: "Do you know what a 5 month old baby in the womb looks like?"
He said: "No." I said as I handed him a beautiful color photo of a baby in the womb at 5 months sucking his or her thumb, "Here is what a baby looks like at 5 months in the womb!" He took the picture and reacted emotionally and said: "O my! Can I have this picture!" I said: "It is yours!" He then hurried into the clinic, and I saw go up to the steps to the second floor since the stairway is all glass. He was inside for about 15 minutes. Then out he came with daugther and wife in tow. The precious teen was just as big as she was going in. Besides no abortion could be performed in 15 minutes. The father - grandfather to the baby in the teen's womb - really acted like a true "Papa"; he saved the life of this little child. He will always know that he did; and one day that child will find out of his heroic deed. When he came out, his face was most most serious. He had been in a battle with the nurses, the doctors and his wife - maybe his daughter - but in now way was he going to let anyone take the life of his grandchild. Good on him! Only he could have saved that child; and he did it!
You, my dear reader, will be placed into a special circumstance that only you...you alone...will will be able to rescue a child or even a patient. We need more and more women and men outside of abortion clinics to counsel women to not abort but give birth to their children. Maybe only you can talk to the heart of a teen to show her love and help...to give her the compassion and help she needs. Don't put any guilt on her; put love and compassion and support. These pregnant teens need a mom and dad figure to give the UNCONDITIONAL love. And anyone who has had an abortion, please send them to project Rachel.com to get the healing love they need. You can write to Planned Parenthood, too, to ask them to save not take lives. By googling Planned Parenthood by State, you can get all 875 clinics names and addresses. I did.
Lastly, regarding saving patients! Do you know that 70% of doctors in the Netherlands have performed euthanasia on patents WITHOUT the patients knowledge or consent. How long will it take for this to become US policy? Roe v Wade has taken the lives of 60,000,000 babies lives WITHOUT THEIR CONSENT! Where there is wholesale abortion (1.3 million a year), euthanasia is very close to follow. There are patients here in the US who get lethal doses of morphine to end their life not just kill pain. I has happened. Assisted suicide is illegal but there are those are pushing to get legislation passed to legalize such so called mercy killing. When this legislation is past with consent of patients, then is a just a slippery slope to euthanize patients without their consent. One doctor in the Netherlands who killed a patient without consent of the family was asked, did the patient ask for this? He replied the patient did ask for euthanasia. They asked him how did he ask? He said, "The patient said, 'Help me!'" Now this doctor committed murder because "Help me" does not mean "Kill me!" But this is what we are in for here in the US. I know a patient who had a bad infection but he was paralized. He was of no use to society. He name was Lee. I visited often. He told me he overheard a nurse say when a bloodtransfusian was ordered for him: "What a waste!" Lee did die under that nurses care. He went in for a urinary infection and came out a corpse. What happened to him? I believe proper care was denied to him because they felt he was unfit to live. So, please when any of your relatives and friends go into hospital, do leave them in the care of doctors and nurses. Be a watchdog. My daughter, Christin, a registered nurse, saved my life at HFH. She noticed my hemogloben very, very low. He told the doctor I was bleeding unteriorly. He did not see that in any way; but she insisted on tests to verify her suspicians. It took 4 hours of corre tive surgery to stop my interior bleeding that the tests verified. My abdomen was so full of blood! So, Christin saved my life. If I did not have a nurse daugher, I would not be writing to you now. I would be in heaven.
I I write to you, I see two swans 200 feet away on Lake St. Clair. I see them often. When I an at the shore, they come swimming to greet me. Maybe they think I will feed them which I did not a couple of seansons ago. But what is marvelous about these great birds is their magnificent beauty and gracefulness. When they fly pass me side by side, you can hear the distinct whistle of their wings in the downward thrusts. O, here is one who has now come to shore. Sometimes they put their wings out like sales and let the wind push them around to travel faster than they could by paddling. Amazing. Only God can make swans; and only God can make you!
LOVE, Pio
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Pio's Proverb 17: Duck Couple's Answered Prayer!
On Michigan Avenue in Dearborn, on June 16, 2011, traffic came to a halt as 13 little ducks (2 could fit in the palm of your hand) walked across Michigan Avenue 4 lane highway. They followed the duck ahead of them, and somehow arrived safely at the median which was about 20 feet of grass. On the grass, they still followed the lead duck who did not know where he was going; but he knew that grass was better than pavement. Michelle got out of her car and went to catch the ducks. Another driver came running with a cardboard box. Another driver came to assist. All the ducks were rounded up into the box. Since Michelle was the first to arrive on the scene, she was given the box matter of factly without ceremony. She got her husband and 4 boys and they took the ducks to Ford Field which was two miles down off Michigan Avenue. Ford Field has a natural stream and pond. The ducks jumped out because they just know that water was near! But the real amazing thing was that a childless (chickless) duck couple came swimming over immediately and toally adopted all the ducks as their own! Now this couple had longed for chicks of their own but had none. God knew their longing for chicks. He heard their silent instinctive prayer. He gave them 13 chicks all at once. that is like having no duck children, and then instantly having an orphanage! The couple were amazed by how Divine Providence has given them 13 little ducks....more than they could ever had dreamed of or hoped for. Should we not trust in God's Providence to provide for us!
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Pio's Proverb 16: "Corpus Christi" - "Body of Christ" - June 26, 2011.
Today the Catholic Church celebrates the Feast of "Corpus Christi" - the "Body of Christ". The complete title of thei Feast is "Corpus et Sanquis Christi" - the Body and Blood of Christ". This Feast in honor of the true Presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament - His true Body and Blood contained in the Blessed Sacrament was instituted by Jesus Christ Himself when He said at the Last Supper: "Take and eat for this is my Body; take and drink for this is My Blood." The Church then established a special feast day to commemorate and honor the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ instituted in the Blessed Sacrament. Today is that day, June 26, which was established in the year: 1246 by Bishop Robert de Thorte of Liege at the suggestion of St. Juliana of Mont Carvillon. "This Feast was then extended to the universal Church by Pope Urban in 1264." St. Thomas Aquinas composed the office of readings and the customary procession was approved by Popes Martin V and Eugene IV. This Feast is celebrated in June, the first Sunday after the feast of the Holy Trinity (Modern Cathoilc Dictionary, by Fr. John Hardon, S.J.)
The most important aspect of this great Feast is that we participate in the eternal life of God when we worthily receive the Body and Blood of Christ in Holy Communion from the Priest:
"Jesus said to the Jews: 'Truly, truly I say to you, he who blieves has eterna life. I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread which comes down frm heaven, that a man may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if anyone eats this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh!" Jesus also said that we cannot have life apart from the Eucharist when He said: "Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man, you will not have life in you....and I will raise you up on the last day." Every knows we need to eat daily to sustain our life, do we know we need to feed our souls to stay alive!? We know now!!
Jesus was very clear here. It is His flesh He is giving to give life to the world. This is no symbol. St. Paul said whoever eats and drinks this unworthily is guilty of the Body and Blood of the Lord. He eats and drinks judgment unto himself. If this were mere symbolic bread or wine, how can a man be condemned by taking it unworthily? St. Paul is very clear! When Jesus explained this to his listeners, some said: "How can this man give us his flesh to eat? This is a hard saying." And many of his followers left Him. Did Jesus run after them and tell them: "No you got me wrong! I was only speaking symbolically!" No, Jesus did not do that. Jesus does not water down His truth or compromise His truth. Jesus turned to Peter and said: "Do you wish to go, too?" Peter said: "To whom shall we go, Lord? We believe and have come to know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God!" Jesus had prepared his chosen 12 by two miracles. 1) He changed water into wine by his will and word. 2) He multiplied five barley loaves and two fish into thousands and fed 5,000 people once and 7,000 another time. "Jesus saw a great throng, and He had compassion on them for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and He began to teach them many things. The He commanded them all to sit down in groups, by hundreds and by fifties. And taking five loaves and two fish He looked up to heaven and blessed and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people; and He divided the two fish among them all. And they took up twelve baskets full of broken peices and of the fish. And those who ate the loaves were five thousand men." So, Jesus' chosen 12 saw that He could just say what He wished and it was done. Is this not what the Father did when creating the Universe! If Jesus not doing the works of His Father. So, when Jesus says" This is My Body; this is My Blood", that's it! How can anyone question Jesus' own word or changed Jesus' word into symbols? For over 2,000 years since the days of St. Paul, Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament has been adored. The Catholic Church has never changed this doctrine. It has never not believed in Jesus' true Presence in the Blessed Sacrament. If those who break faith from the Chruch and establish their own, then you will see a non-belief in the Blessed Sacrament; but you will never see the Catholic Church ever, ever teach anything but the Word of God: "This is My Body; this is My Blood." The full context of Jesus' words are as follows: Please note how almost exact are the parallels between the feeding of the 5,000 and how Jesus had done this with the following way Jesus feeds His disciples with His own Body and Blood. The Evangelist Matthew wants us to see how close Jesus acts in both instances because he wants to show that if Jesus can feed 5,000 by multiplying loaves and fish, so He can feed all with His own Body and Blood, multiplying His Presence to the ends of the Earth:
"Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread and blessed, broke it, and gave it to His disciples and said, 'Take and eat; this is my body.' And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks He gave it to them, saying, 'Drink of it all of You; for this is my blood of the new converant, which is poured out for the many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you I shall not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's Kingdom."
Even after Jesus' Resurrection, He still shows His Real Presence in the Blessed Sacrament:
"[The two disciples] constrained Him saying, 'Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.' So He went in to stay with them. When He sat at table with them, He took bread and blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognized Him and He vanished from their sight. They said to one another, 'Did not our hearts burn within us while He talked to us on the road, while He opened to us the Scriptures?' And they arose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven gathered togehter and those who were with them, who said, 'The Lord has risen indeed, and has appaered to Simon!' Then they told what happended along the road, and how He was known to them in the breaking of the bread."
In the above passage, we have Jesus presiding a Priest of priests, presiding at Mass and giving Himself to his disciples. He clearly intends that we forever recognize Him in the breaking of the bread at Holy Mass.
Thank you for reading this meditation of the Real Presence in the Holy Eucharist. Please feel invited to any Catholic parish's RCIA program "Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults" - a class for non-Catholics to come and see all the blessed and beautiful truths that the Catholic Church teaches. Jesus has intrusted to His Church to manifest His Presence in Word and Sacraments. "Come and See" if the Lord is calling you to participate completely in the Holy Eucharist - See John 6: 51-71. RCIA begins its class in last July and it goes to Easter Saturday night Vigil Mass where those who have completed this Christian Initiation are then able to receive their first Eucharist. They will also be confirmed. Protestants who have already been baptized are not rebaptized because Protestant baptism is a sacrament. It cannot be repeated. These Protestants are graciously received into the Catholic Church on Easter Saturday Vigil Mass. I have seen Baptists, Lutherans and those not ever baptized become Catholic on the holy night. Every Catholic Parish has RCIA or its equivalent. Please "Come and See!"
Love, Pio
The most important aspect of this great Feast is that we participate in the eternal life of God when we worthily receive the Body and Blood of Christ in Holy Communion from the Priest:
"Jesus said to the Jews: 'Truly, truly I say to you, he who blieves has eterna life. I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread which comes down frm heaven, that a man may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if anyone eats this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh!" Jesus also said that we cannot have life apart from the Eucharist when He said: "Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man, you will not have life in you....and I will raise you up on the last day." Every knows we need to eat daily to sustain our life, do we know we need to feed our souls to stay alive!? We know now!!
Jesus was very clear here. It is His flesh He is giving to give life to the world. This is no symbol. St. Paul said whoever eats and drinks this unworthily is guilty of the Body and Blood of the Lord. He eats and drinks judgment unto himself. If this were mere symbolic bread or wine, how can a man be condemned by taking it unworthily? St. Paul is very clear! When Jesus explained this to his listeners, some said: "How can this man give us his flesh to eat? This is a hard saying." And many of his followers left Him. Did Jesus run after them and tell them: "No you got me wrong! I was only speaking symbolically!" No, Jesus did not do that. Jesus does not water down His truth or compromise His truth. Jesus turned to Peter and said: "Do you wish to go, too?" Peter said: "To whom shall we go, Lord? We believe and have come to know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God!" Jesus had prepared his chosen 12 by two miracles. 1) He changed water into wine by his will and word. 2) He multiplied five barley loaves and two fish into thousands and fed 5,000 people once and 7,000 another time. "Jesus saw a great throng, and He had compassion on them for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and He began to teach them many things. The He commanded them all to sit down in groups, by hundreds and by fifties. And taking five loaves and two fish He looked up to heaven and blessed and broke the loaves and gave them to the disciples to set before the people; and He divided the two fish among them all. And they took up twelve baskets full of broken peices and of the fish. And those who ate the loaves were five thousand men." So, Jesus' chosen 12 saw that He could just say what He wished and it was done. Is this not what the Father did when creating the Universe! If Jesus not doing the works of His Father. So, when Jesus says" This is My Body; this is My Blood", that's it! How can anyone question Jesus' own word or changed Jesus' word into symbols? For over 2,000 years since the days of St. Paul, Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament has been adored. The Catholic Church has never changed this doctrine. It has never not believed in Jesus' true Presence in the Blessed Sacrament. If those who break faith from the Chruch and establish their own, then you will see a non-belief in the Blessed Sacrament; but you will never see the Catholic Church ever, ever teach anything but the Word of God: "This is My Body; this is My Blood." The full context of Jesus' words are as follows: Please note how almost exact are the parallels between the feeding of the 5,000 and how Jesus had done this with the following way Jesus feeds His disciples with His own Body and Blood. The Evangelist Matthew wants us to see how close Jesus acts in both instances because he wants to show that if Jesus can feed 5,000 by multiplying loaves and fish, so He can feed all with His own Body and Blood, multiplying His Presence to the ends of the Earth:
"Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread and blessed, broke it, and gave it to His disciples and said, 'Take and eat; this is my body.' And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks He gave it to them, saying, 'Drink of it all of You; for this is my blood of the new converant, which is poured out for the many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you I shall not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's Kingdom."
Even after Jesus' Resurrection, He still shows His Real Presence in the Blessed Sacrament:
"[The two disciples] constrained Him saying, 'Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.' So He went in to stay with them. When He sat at table with them, He took bread and blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened and they recognized Him and He vanished from their sight. They said to one another, 'Did not our hearts burn within us while He talked to us on the road, while He opened to us the Scriptures?' And they arose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven gathered togehter and those who were with them, who said, 'The Lord has risen indeed, and has appaered to Simon!' Then they told what happended along the road, and how He was known to them in the breaking of the bread."
In the above passage, we have Jesus presiding a Priest of priests, presiding at Mass and giving Himself to his disciples. He clearly intends that we forever recognize Him in the breaking of the bread at Holy Mass.
Thank you for reading this meditation of the Real Presence in the Holy Eucharist. Please feel invited to any Catholic parish's RCIA program "Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults" - a class for non-Catholics to come and see all the blessed and beautiful truths that the Catholic Church teaches. Jesus has intrusted to His Church to manifest His Presence in Word and Sacraments. "Come and See" if the Lord is calling you to participate completely in the Holy Eucharist - See John 6: 51-71. RCIA begins its class in last July and it goes to Easter Saturday night Vigil Mass where those who have completed this Christian Initiation are then able to receive their first Eucharist. They will also be confirmed. Protestants who have already been baptized are not rebaptized because Protestant baptism is a sacrament. It cannot be repeated. These Protestants are graciously received into the Catholic Church on Easter Saturday Vigil Mass. I have seen Baptists, Lutherans and those not ever baptized become Catholic on the holy night. Every Catholic Parish has RCIA or its equivalent. Please "Come and See!"
Love, Pio
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Pio's Proverb 15: Hope and Freedom for Bumble Bee and me.
Coming home from Mass this morning, I opened my storm door to see a very large bumble bee - the largest I have even seen - resting at the bottom in the space between my storm door and my main door. He did not move very much at all. Being trapped for so long in this space, he had lost hope of flying freely eventhough he could see the heavens through the large glass storm door. He had lost hope so much that even when I opened the storm door and told him to be free, he still did not move. I was not scared to move him outside with my index finger to coax him to freedom! Once he was outside on the portch and felt the wind in his wings, he began to fly low and slowly. Once in the air and knowing he was completely free, he flew away but still rather slowly. Perhaps he was either hungry or thirsty. It was hard to understand how such a large insect could actually fly. He was like a small 747 taking off. It is a marvel that God designed them to do so much work pollynating flowers and be able to fly about freely. They seem to have intelligence, perception, sense of navigation, memory and both mobility and hovering skills. They are ever busy and do not seem to worry about anything. Their energy in phenominal. They exercise their freedom with great focus of purpose.
In freedom this particular bumble bee, I felt good about it; that I had done my duty for the day. Without me, this large bumble bee would have parished from lack of moisture and food. I saved him. But he taught me a little about hope. For sure he had tried to escape for many hours. Then, loosing energy, he just gave up and rested on the bottom awaiting his end. Giving up hope is the last that can be lost while conscious. He could not believe he was free when I opened the door. He would not go on his own. If you have seen the movie, Shawshank Redemption, Tim Robbins says that there is one thing that the guards "cannot take from us. They cannot touch it." - Morgan Freeman says, "What is that?" And Tim Robbins says, "Hope!" Morgan Freeman says, "Hope is a dangerous thing. It can drive a man insane." That was the response of a prisoner who had been turned down for parole many times in his last 40 years at Shawshank. Like the bumble bee, he lost all hope and even did not want any one to offer hope or even discuss it. Like the bumble bee, he just rested down in the hopelessness of never getting out. Do we ever do that? Do we ever think a situation or confinement or job or relationship is hopeless? IF WE BELIEVE IT IS HOPELESS, THEN IT IS! But Tim Robbins believed in hope, and eventually both men were free and met by the Pacific Ocean, looking at the future with new eyes and a new happiness. The Ocean itself was the vast paradign of Hope and Freedom. Now, Hope had given way and bloomed into Happiness - vast and free. Without hope, both men would still be there in Shawshank. Hope creates the future according to the desires of our hearts.
I believe that God opens the door to all of us to let us be free; but we have lost hope and do not fly into the sky of love and trust in Him. He has to coax us to fly. Some people think freedom means without any constrainst of law, without any constraints of God's law in religion as given to us through Scripture and Jesus' Church. Freedom is not living without constraints. Freedom is the capacity and courage and will to chose to do what is truth right and good. A man and woman in marriage are totally free to love one another and grow in thier faithful love to one another. If they throw off constraints and have a so called open marriage which allows other sexual intimacy with others outside of the marriage, then that is not true freedom because sexual relations with others outside of their holy marriage will destroy their marriage covenant as well as break their covenant with God by breaking His 6th Commanment: "Thou shalt not commit adultery." [The 10 Commandments have to do with relationships: the first 3 commandments directly deal with out relationship with God. The last 7 deal with the rights of people on the earth. But breaking of any of the 10 Commandments makes one guilty of breaking them all because any one breaks our relationship with God.] Thus an open marriage (which is no marriage at all) will not cause them to grow in their love for one another. Well, a lot of people feel they want to life a life freely without God or His Commandments to slow them down. But, this is not freedom, because breaking His 10 Commandments, hurt not only their relationship with God but hurts their true happiness of becoming who they really are - sons and daughters of God. True freedom is to be able to choose to love God and one another in God. Well, what of those who wish to remain single and many partners? This is not freedom either because true love is created between one man and one woman by nature. It is exclusive and holy. It is a mirror of the covernant relationship God has with us. Living outside of marriage in sexual union with one or many breaks the 6th Commandment; and thus results in unhappiness. When Arrol Flynn was about to die, he was given an opportunity to confess to a priest and die with God's blessing. He refused the priest and said to those who asked him to receive the priest, "Give me my wine, women and song!" Those 3things will not give him the happiness of heaven; but the priest could have given him the freedom to choose God in the last moments of his life. They say that "as we live, so we die." There may be much truth in that; but I pray that Arrol Flynn, when he saw Christ face to face, would have said to Jesus: "My Lord and my God!" With that confession of Hope, Faith, and Charity, he would have gone straight into Paradise - just as the good thief, Dismas, did!
So, Hope is a virtue. There are 3 Theological Virtues: Faith, Hope and Charity. The virtue of Hope is the "substance of things hoped for that appear not." The Holy Spirit has said in Holy Scripture: "Eye has not seen; ear has not heart; nor has it ever entered into the heart of man what God has in store for those who love Him." Those words were to impregnate us with Hope and give birth to eternal Love of God in heaven.
Lord, we offer You every trouble we have today -especially those things in our lives that seem so very hopeless. Send Your Holy Spirit into these areas in our lives - especially our relationship with the Father, so that we will have Hope in His forgiveness just as the prodigal son had in coming home. He had hope for the loving embrace of the Father. Please give us that Hope, too, to come home to the Father's arms and to never let despair and desparation come into our hearts. Give Hope to all POW's, all people with cancer, in loveless marriages, in monotonous jobs, in homelessness, in joblessness, in blindness, in deafness, crippleness, in any handicap that makes life harder. Give them all hope that they are participating in the sufferings of Christ for the redemption of the world - that their sufferings are so redemptive for themselves and for the whole world. As Ghandi fasted for peace in the world, let all who suffer fast ease to accomplish peace and love in the World. Just as Mother Teresa fasted from wealth and made herself the poorest of the poor to minister to the poorest of the poor, let all who suffer be caretakers of the world around them. Let their sufferings help the young pregnant mothers who are scared find all the help and love and compassion they need to give birth to their infants and love their infants - love them into life! Father, please reward all these who suffer find consolation and courage to cast their whole cares up the Lord who will sustain them and give them peace. Give to all of us the great virtue of HOPE untill we all see you face to face, forever. In Jesus' Name, Amen."
Love, Pio
In freedom this particular bumble bee, I felt good about it; that I had done my duty for the day. Without me, this large bumble bee would have parished from lack of moisture and food. I saved him. But he taught me a little about hope. For sure he had tried to escape for many hours. Then, loosing energy, he just gave up and rested on the bottom awaiting his end. Giving up hope is the last that can be lost while conscious. He could not believe he was free when I opened the door. He would not go on his own. If you have seen the movie, Shawshank Redemption, Tim Robbins says that there is one thing that the guards "cannot take from us. They cannot touch it." - Morgan Freeman says, "What is that?" And Tim Robbins says, "Hope!" Morgan Freeman says, "Hope is a dangerous thing. It can drive a man insane." That was the response of a prisoner who had been turned down for parole many times in his last 40 years at Shawshank. Like the bumble bee, he lost all hope and even did not want any one to offer hope or even discuss it. Like the bumble bee, he just rested down in the hopelessness of never getting out. Do we ever do that? Do we ever think a situation or confinement or job or relationship is hopeless? IF WE BELIEVE IT IS HOPELESS, THEN IT IS! But Tim Robbins believed in hope, and eventually both men were free and met by the Pacific Ocean, looking at the future with new eyes and a new happiness. The Ocean itself was the vast paradign of Hope and Freedom. Now, Hope had given way and bloomed into Happiness - vast and free. Without hope, both men would still be there in Shawshank. Hope creates the future according to the desires of our hearts.
I believe that God opens the door to all of us to let us be free; but we have lost hope and do not fly into the sky of love and trust in Him. He has to coax us to fly. Some people think freedom means without any constrainst of law, without any constraints of God's law in religion as given to us through Scripture and Jesus' Church. Freedom is not living without constraints. Freedom is the capacity and courage and will to chose to do what is truth right and good. A man and woman in marriage are totally free to love one another and grow in thier faithful love to one another. If they throw off constraints and have a so called open marriage which allows other sexual intimacy with others outside of the marriage, then that is not true freedom because sexual relations with others outside of their holy marriage will destroy their marriage covenant as well as break their covenant with God by breaking His 6th Commanment: "Thou shalt not commit adultery." [The 10 Commandments have to do with relationships: the first 3 commandments directly deal with out relationship with God. The last 7 deal with the rights of people on the earth. But breaking of any of the 10 Commandments makes one guilty of breaking them all because any one breaks our relationship with God.] Thus an open marriage (which is no marriage at all) will not cause them to grow in their love for one another. Well, a lot of people feel they want to life a life freely without God or His Commandments to slow them down. But, this is not freedom, because breaking His 10 Commandments, hurt not only their relationship with God but hurts their true happiness of becoming who they really are - sons and daughters of God. True freedom is to be able to choose to love God and one another in God. Well, what of those who wish to remain single and many partners? This is not freedom either because true love is created between one man and one woman by nature. It is exclusive and holy. It is a mirror of the covernant relationship God has with us. Living outside of marriage in sexual union with one or many breaks the 6th Commandment; and thus results in unhappiness. When Arrol Flynn was about to die, he was given an opportunity to confess to a priest and die with God's blessing. He refused the priest and said to those who asked him to receive the priest, "Give me my wine, women and song!" Those 3things will not give him the happiness of heaven; but the priest could have given him the freedom to choose God in the last moments of his life. They say that "as we live, so we die." There may be much truth in that; but I pray that Arrol Flynn, when he saw Christ face to face, would have said to Jesus: "My Lord and my God!" With that confession of Hope, Faith, and Charity, he would have gone straight into Paradise - just as the good thief, Dismas, did!
So, Hope is a virtue. There are 3 Theological Virtues: Faith, Hope and Charity. The virtue of Hope is the "substance of things hoped for that appear not." The Holy Spirit has said in Holy Scripture: "Eye has not seen; ear has not heart; nor has it ever entered into the heart of man what God has in store for those who love Him." Those words were to impregnate us with Hope and give birth to eternal Love of God in heaven.
Lord, we offer You every trouble we have today -especially those things in our lives that seem so very hopeless. Send Your Holy Spirit into these areas in our lives - especially our relationship with the Father, so that we will have Hope in His forgiveness just as the prodigal son had in coming home. He had hope for the loving embrace of the Father. Please give us that Hope, too, to come home to the Father's arms and to never let despair and desparation come into our hearts. Give Hope to all POW's, all people with cancer, in loveless marriages, in monotonous jobs, in homelessness, in joblessness, in blindness, in deafness, crippleness, in any handicap that makes life harder. Give them all hope that they are participating in the sufferings of Christ for the redemption of the world - that their sufferings are so redemptive for themselves and for the whole world. As Ghandi fasted for peace in the world, let all who suffer fast ease to accomplish peace and love in the World. Just as Mother Teresa fasted from wealth and made herself the poorest of the poor to minister to the poorest of the poor, let all who suffer be caretakers of the world around them. Let their sufferings help the young pregnant mothers who are scared find all the help and love and compassion they need to give birth to their infants and love their infants - love them into life! Father, please reward all these who suffer find consolation and courage to cast their whole cares up the Lord who will sustain them and give them peace. Give to all of us the great virtue of HOPE untill we all see you face to face, forever. In Jesus' Name, Amen."
Love, Pio
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Pio's Proverb 14: "Let me live!"
There is a famous International recording artist and Irish Catholic singer named Dana. She sang a beautiful song on EWTN last night which she wrote herself in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Patroness of the Unborn. The song is the loving and pleading words of a baby in the womb singing to his/her mother. From memory, I will try to give you the few words that stood out in this beautiful ballad:
"Let me live...Let me live! If you have to choose, choose me! Let me live!
I have so much love to give. Let me life! What a difference I will make
in your life when I look into your eyes. I am waiting...only waiting
for the day you will hold me in your arms. Look into my face. You are my mother!
I will be with you and you with me...forever...we will be together.
Let me live....Let me live!"
When Dana sings this song, it really comes from her heart. There is no song like it. The melody, the words, the beautiful way it is song truly moves the hearer to hear the silent song of pleading of all babies in the womb who are in danger of being aborted. Dana gives a voice to all these babies. This song was song by 60,000,00 babies who were aborted since Roe v Wade. That is 1.3 million a year - over 5,000 a day. That is a lot of songs that are not heard or heeded by pregnant mothers. These moms need compassionate help to give birth, help medically, emotionally, financially. Catholic Social Services in their area would help them. Family members should support them in giving birth. It is hard to understand who it can be legal to kills a child in the womb in our civilized society. If it is wrong to kill a child outside the womb, how can it be right to kill a child inside the womb? President Clinton and President Obama have both introduced legislation to make it legal to abort a child AFTER birth. On President Clinton's last day in office, he wrote an executive order to allow abortion of a child after natural birth if the child was not wanted. Does this not remind us of Nazi Germany who killed Jews because they were not wanted. President Obama has intoduced legislation that was called "Freedom of Choice Act" that would allow abortion of a child after birth. President Clinton's executive order was cancelled by President Bush, who on his first day in office, wrote an executive order to cancel President Clinton's executive order. President Obama's legislation has not passed; and there is legislation called "Freedom of Conception Act" that counter's it. President Bush would not allow any tax-payer-federal monies for abortion - especially for overseas. President Obama gives millions of dollars to Planned Parenthood and overseas to fund abortion. Why are Democrats for abortion and Republican's against abortion? President Regan was very, very much against abortion. I believe that not only the man but the very philosophy and theology of Political Parties are crucial. Democrates drop the idea of :inalienable rights endowed by the Creator." In five speeches, President Obama when quoting from the Constitution omitted the words: "endowed by the Creator." He does this because he feels that rights are defined by the Government not by God. Whereas Republicans stand behind the "rights endowed by the Creator." In Nazi Germany, Hitler and the Gestapo defined what "rights" anyone could have. They defined rights for Arians not for Jews. Jews had no rights. But we are no better because we as a government in Roe v Wade have defined that babies in the womb have no rights whatsoever. It is hard for me to believe that money should be given to kill a child in the womb. That money should be given to mothers to help pay for medical help to give birth and to help support mother and child after birth or help to give the child for adoption so the child can have loving parents. Abortion is the Greatest Abomination facing the US today. It has killed more people than all the American wars combined from the Revolutionary war till the present. 60,000,000 casualties is an astronomical number of babies killed. Every child in the womb from the heart can sing: "Let me live...let me live!"
Please be careful whom you vote for. When choosing, please choose life! If you ask a person who is "pro-choice", what are you choosing, they will not answer. It sounds nice to say "pro-choice" because freedom of choice sounds good. But no one on this earth has the right to choose to kill another human being. I have heard the words: "Abortion rights"! The US Constitutioin does not give any one the right to abortion. Rather it says: "endowed by the Creator with the inalienable rights to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness." I do not ready or hear anything that says "abortion as a right". Quite the opposite, the Constitution says that we are all endowed by the Creator with the RIGHT TO LIFE. That means that every child in the womb has the RIGHT O LIFE"! That means that Roe v Wade is absolutely UNCONSTITUTIONAL. During Hitler's time, it was legal to kills Jews. Civilians (350 of them) volunteered to execute Jews. Abortion is legal civilian executions of civilians. What is legal is not always moral. What is legal is not automatically moral. The 5th Commandment says" "Thou shalt not kill!" No civil law can nullify the 5th Commandment. We are obligated to disobey any civil law that contradicts the law of God. We should honor all civil authortity that is legitimate and honorable. But we must disobey any civil or military command that goes against the 10 Commandments. That is why we have martyrs like St. Thomas More, St. John Fisher, Fr. Pro, Fr. Delp, St. Joan of Arc, St. Cecilia, St. Steven, St. Lawrence, St. Thecla, all the Apostles except John....and of course Jesus, Himself! With all of these people, God came first! So, with us, let us make God first in our lives and in our voting and in our fiancial support. There are 1000's of Compassion Pregnancy Centers who support pregnant teen and your mothers. Let us support those groups. If we would pray outside Abortion Mills and counsel women as they go in, we can save many babies' lives. If a Compassion Van with ultrasound equipment were parked outside the doors of every abortion clinic in the US, millions of babies would be born instead of aborted. Federal tax money should go to procure these Compassion Vans instead of supporting abortion clinics because every child in the womb has the RIGHT TO LIFE! To support LIFE is to be Contitutional, Godly, Compassionate and Life giving. The Bible says: "I place life and death before you; choose life!" Women who have had abortions suffer from it all their lives...unless they receive healing from the Lord. Project Rachel is a program to give love, support and compassion for women who have lost their child to abortion. God loves these women. He does hate abortion; but He loves these moms who are His children.
Show love and kindness to all these mothers. Encourage moms who are pregnant. Help them to give birth! To give birth is to give joy to the baby, to the mothers and to the family.....and to God!
Father of us all, please give young mothers the compassionate love for their babies in the womb. Give them all the Providential help they need to give birth and be a loving mom to their precious infants. Give joy to all by this new life..who will love You, Father, forever....let this new life find love in a loving family here....and in the family of God forever and ever, amen.
"Let me live...Let me live! If you have to choose, choose me! Let me live!
I have so much love to give. Let me life! What a difference I will make
in your life when I look into your eyes. I am waiting...only waiting
for the day you will hold me in your arms. Look into my face. You are my mother!
I will be with you and you with me...forever...we will be together.
Let me live....Let me live!"
When Dana sings this song, it really comes from her heart. There is no song like it. The melody, the words, the beautiful way it is song truly moves the hearer to hear the silent song of pleading of all babies in the womb who are in danger of being aborted. Dana gives a voice to all these babies. This song was song by 60,000,00 babies who were aborted since Roe v Wade. That is 1.3 million a year - over 5,000 a day. That is a lot of songs that are not heard or heeded by pregnant mothers. These moms need compassionate help to give birth, help medically, emotionally, financially. Catholic Social Services in their area would help them. Family members should support them in giving birth. It is hard to understand who it can be legal to kills a child in the womb in our civilized society. If it is wrong to kill a child outside the womb, how can it be right to kill a child inside the womb? President Clinton and President Obama have both introduced legislation to make it legal to abort a child AFTER birth. On President Clinton's last day in office, he wrote an executive order to allow abortion of a child after natural birth if the child was not wanted. Does this not remind us of Nazi Germany who killed Jews because they were not wanted. President Obama has intoduced legislation that was called "Freedom of Choice Act" that would allow abortion of a child after birth. President Clinton's executive order was cancelled by President Bush, who on his first day in office, wrote an executive order to cancel President Clinton's executive order. President Obama's legislation has not passed; and there is legislation called "Freedom of Conception Act" that counter's it. President Bush would not allow any tax-payer-federal monies for abortion - especially for overseas. President Obama gives millions of dollars to Planned Parenthood and overseas to fund abortion. Why are Democrats for abortion and Republican's against abortion? President Regan was very, very much against abortion. I believe that not only the man but the very philosophy and theology of Political Parties are crucial. Democrates drop the idea of :inalienable rights endowed by the Creator." In five speeches, President Obama when quoting from the Constitution omitted the words: "endowed by the Creator." He does this because he feels that rights are defined by the Government not by God. Whereas Republicans stand behind the "rights endowed by the Creator." In Nazi Germany, Hitler and the Gestapo defined what "rights" anyone could have. They defined rights for Arians not for Jews. Jews had no rights. But we are no better because we as a government in Roe v Wade have defined that babies in the womb have no rights whatsoever. It is hard for me to believe that money should be given to kill a child in the womb. That money should be given to mothers to help pay for medical help to give birth and to help support mother and child after birth or help to give the child for adoption so the child can have loving parents. Abortion is the Greatest Abomination facing the US today. It has killed more people than all the American wars combined from the Revolutionary war till the present. 60,000,000 casualties is an astronomical number of babies killed. Every child in the womb from the heart can sing: "Let me live...let me live!"
Please be careful whom you vote for. When choosing, please choose life! If you ask a person who is "pro-choice", what are you choosing, they will not answer. It sounds nice to say "pro-choice" because freedom of choice sounds good. But no one on this earth has the right to choose to kill another human being. I have heard the words: "Abortion rights"! The US Constitutioin does not give any one the right to abortion. Rather it says: "endowed by the Creator with the inalienable rights to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness." I do not ready or hear anything that says "abortion as a right". Quite the opposite, the Constitution says that we are all endowed by the Creator with the RIGHT TO LIFE. That means that every child in the womb has the RIGHT O LIFE"! That means that Roe v Wade is absolutely UNCONSTITUTIONAL. During Hitler's time, it was legal to kills Jews. Civilians (350 of them) volunteered to execute Jews. Abortion is legal civilian executions of civilians. What is legal is not always moral. What is legal is not automatically moral. The 5th Commandment says" "Thou shalt not kill!" No civil law can nullify the 5th Commandment. We are obligated to disobey any civil law that contradicts the law of God. We should honor all civil authortity that is legitimate and honorable. But we must disobey any civil or military command that goes against the 10 Commandments. That is why we have martyrs like St. Thomas More, St. John Fisher, Fr. Pro, Fr. Delp, St. Joan of Arc, St. Cecilia, St. Steven, St. Lawrence, St. Thecla, all the Apostles except John....and of course Jesus, Himself! With all of these people, God came first! So, with us, let us make God first in our lives and in our voting and in our fiancial support. There are 1000's of Compassion Pregnancy Centers who support pregnant teen and your mothers. Let us support those groups. If we would pray outside Abortion Mills and counsel women as they go in, we can save many babies' lives. If a Compassion Van with ultrasound equipment were parked outside the doors of every abortion clinic in the US, millions of babies would be born instead of aborted. Federal tax money should go to procure these Compassion Vans instead of supporting abortion clinics because every child in the womb has the RIGHT TO LIFE! To support LIFE is to be Contitutional, Godly, Compassionate and Life giving. The Bible says: "I place life and death before you; choose life!" Women who have had abortions suffer from it all their lives...unless they receive healing from the Lord. Project Rachel is a program to give love, support and compassion for women who have lost their child to abortion. God loves these women. He does hate abortion; but He loves these moms who are His children.
Show love and kindness to all these mothers. Encourage moms who are pregnant. Help them to give birth! To give birth is to give joy to the baby, to the mothers and to the family.....and to God!
Father of us all, please give young mothers the compassionate love for their babies in the womb. Give them all the Providential help they need to give birth and be a loving mom to their precious infants. Give joy to all by this new life..who will love You, Father, forever....let this new life find love in a loving family here....and in the family of God forever and ever, amen.
Monday, June 20, 2011
Pio's Proverb 13: Happy Fathers' Day, June 19, 2011 and Happy Trinity Sunday!
Today we celebrate Father's Day and Trinity Sunday. They are very related because the Holy Trinity is composed of Three Divine Persons: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Wait a minuty! Wait a minute! This certainly sounds like three Gods to me. Not really. It only sounds like it; but it is not! Let me explain by way of an analogy or image of the Trinity that we do understand and are very familiar with: we all have seen lightning! What is lightning? We can look at lightning in its molecular processes, I suppose; but let us look at lightning in the layman's obvious way: there are three properties to lightning: heat, light, and power! All together, these properties produce lightning. There is not three concepts of lightnings but only one. Lightning is one but has three components. The heat alone is not lightning, nor the light alone, nor the power alone. No, all of those properties of operations of lightning go together to produce lightning. Well, in the same way, there are three operations in God. God the Father who is Creator; God the Son who is Redeemer; and God the Holy Spirit who is Sanctifyer. These three Operations in God are personal .....in fact they are infinite operations....infinitely personal...in fact they are infinite Persons! So, we can have in God three Divine Persons in ONE God. Each Person is not 1/3 God. Each Person is fully God. These Persons cannot be added up to make One God. Each Person is God. In lightning, each component make up one lightning. But each component is not lightning by itself. But in the Trinity each Person is God. Lightning only helps us to understand how three components can make up lightning. It is a helpful image but not perfect because each component is not lightning in itself. But in God, each Person is God. Jesus said: "I am in the Father and the Father is in Me." So, this Divine Community of Persons is God's revelation of Himself. He told Moses to tell Pharoah that "I AM" sent him. The "I AM WHO AM" is God's name for ever. We get Iahweh from "I Am." But it was not until Jesus came to earth that the Holy Spirit was revealed with Jesus in the form of a Dove while the voice of the Father was heard. The Trinity is a mystery in that we cannot fully comprehend it; but God has revealed enough for us to "worship Him in Spirit and Truth". We know that God is Three in One. We know this with certainty because of the following quotes from the Gospels:
1) The Baptism of Jesus: Mark 1:10-11: "And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens town apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, 'You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.'"
2) The Transfiguration of Jesus: Mark 9:7: "Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, 'This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!'"
3) The Baptism of Jesus: Luke 3:21-22: "Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, 'You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.'"
4) The Transfiguration of Jesus: Luke 9:34-35: "While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, 'This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him.'"
5) The Promise of the Holy Spirit: John 14:15: "'If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the wold cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.'"
6) The Commissioning of the Disciples: Matthew 28:18-20: "And Jeus came and said to them, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you alwlays, to the end of the age.'"
As I write this all to you dear readers, I am following the Spirit's lead. I do know the Holy Spirit, and you can, too. He does not leave us orphans and lives in us. Please understand, too, that the Holy Spirit is the author of those four above Gospel accounts which clearly manifest the Three Persons in one God. This is an astounding revelation that no Old Testament Prophet ever heard. Yet the Genisis account of creation, does speak of the Spirit of God hovering over the waters. So, the Creator was known, and the Spirit was known. But that there were Three Persons in God was not revealed fully until the coming of Jesus. When Jesus said, "I am in the Father and the Father is in Me" this was how Jesus was trying to teach Phillip how the Divine Community interact, how the inner life of the Trinity happens, how the Divine Persons in the Trinity relate. And Jesus calls us to relate to God in knowing and loving God, thus to be be taken up into the life of the Trinity by allowing the Spirit of God to dwell in us. Look at the word "enthusiasm" - it is made up of two Greek words: "en" and "theos" --meaning "to be caught up in God!" So, to think that The Spirit of God dwells in us drawing us into the life of the Trinity is mind bogling, but nonetheless TRUE.
Let us now talk specifically about the first Person of the Holy Trinity who is God the Father...from Whom all Fatherhood comes. All Fatherhood here on earth mirrors the loving Father of us all. The best of fathers here on earth should reflect to us the loving kindness and tenderness of God the Father. The Prodigal Father in the prodigal son story told by Jesus is the most loving, affectionate and merciful Father ever described in the history of mankind. He runs out to meet His son and embraces him, forgives him and gives him a robe and a ring as well as a great home-coming party. The elder brother is jearlously furious. But the Father kindly explains that "Your brother was lost; and now he is found." That's typical of a loving Father who cares for the safety of His son more than any possible offense he may have committed. Also, in this story, the Father does not punish His son at all. Quite the contrary. He reinstates the boy and gives a banquet in his honor. Honor for a runaway can only happen as told by Jesus who KNOWS His Father better than anyone. In fact Jesus even say: "Nobody knows the Father but the Son...and to those whom He choses to reveal Him." So, Jesus knows the heart of God the Father like no other. Jesus, Himself, in forgiving the woman caught in adultery is being very Fatherly. Jesus even said to Phillip: "When you see Me you see the Father." "Jesus also has said: "No one has seen the Father except the Son." How then is Jesus saying "no one has seen the Father.."? Jesus is saying that no one has seen the Father face to face but the Son. Moses saw an image of the Father in the burning bush on Mt Sinai. But Moses did not see the Father directly. We can only see the Father by looking into the Face of His Son, Jesus. But we can hear the Father directly. When Jesus was being baptized, a voice came from heaven: "This is my beloved Son, in him I well pleased!" At that time, Jesus was present; the voice of the Father was present and the Holy Spirit was present in the form of a Dove. So, we have here manifested in the Bible for the first time: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit - all together. That never happened in the entire Old Testament. This was a new revelation to manking. So, even if the Bible never mentions the word: "Trinity" - it does manifest three Persons in One God being present at the same time. Still God is revealed to us as One God in three Devine Persons. The Old Testament was correct when it says: "Hear O Israel, the Lord is One!" Yet in Genesis, there is a line that says: "Let us create man in our own image!" Could this be a hint already in the first book of the Bible that there were three Persons in One God? To the Jewish mind, the Son of God was God. That is why a few Jewish leaders wanted to stone Jesus because He made himself to be God. They were right in that conclusion but could not accept him. They said: "You are a mere man and make yourself to be God!" They got that right! When Phillip asked Jesus: "Show us the Father, and that will be enough for us." Jesus lovingly says to Phillip: "How can you ask me to show you the Father? When you see me, you see the Father. Do you not know the Father is in me and I am in the Father?" Wow! We now have a great theological revelation that the Father and Jesus are one; that Jesus is in the Father and the Father in Jesus. This is astouning! Now, Jesus has explained how two Persons of the Holy Trinity can be in one another yet not of one another. The Three Persons are in the One Godhead but are distinct. What they do are completely distinct. The Father generates and loves the Son from all eternity. The Son loves the Father from all eternity. The Love between the Father and the Son is the Holy Spirit! These three Persons are completely distinct. They are not blended together. The Trinitarian life is distinct but relational. What is going on is knowing and loving. God the Father gives Himself to the Son in love. The Son gives Himself to the Father in love; and their Love is the Holy Spirit. Since we are created in the image and likeness of God, we too are therefore able to know and love and create. You and I can create. All fathers and mothers join with God the Father in creating new life. The husband loves the wife and gives himself to her completely. She loves her husband and gives herself to him completely. Their love given to one another can stand alone...it is in their hearts and IS is a new child. So, we have here three persons joined in one act of love. Marriage is the most perfect image of the Holy Trinity on this earth.
Today we should celebrate both fathers' and mothers' day because without mothers no father could exist. It is mothers who give fathers their fatherhood. Together, when man and wife join together in love, they create a new baby and deepen their love for one another. In their creative love, we have a perfect image of the Holy Trinity.
Also, this Fathers' Day was the most beautiful Fathers' Day I have ever experienced. Maybe it was little things; but they touched me deeply. My little grandchild, Celina, age 2 crawled up into my lap and let me feed her. She did not touch her dinner unless I fed her. Once she tasted some cake, then she took the fork and completed the task by herself. But her utter trust in me - total and loving, so affectionate - gave me a deep sense of my Fatherhood. Also, when playing football with my son, Raphael and grandson, Jared, I three a long perfect spiral pass to Jared. After they all marveled at my perfect throw - "perfect" was their word - I had to admit to them that I was captain of my high-school team. Somewhat awed, Jared said: "What else do we not know about you!" I think God created sports to let us men shine for our siblings. But at that game, I did feel one with my son and grandchild, Jared. This oneness comes a direct result of playing with one another. I think a sense of play is really needed in families today. Also, my son, Jonathon gave me a card with a check in it - sizeable. But his words of I love you Dad and pray for you often meant more than any gift. Christin made me a dinner and brought it over to me at home. She cooked it, served it and also gave me a great card that said that I always are there for her....and always beleived in her. She said she loved me so much. She also put some cash in that card too...which was not necessary. I guess since I am retired, the kids like to contribute to feeding me. I think that as kids I may have instilled this by a kind of game we played called "taxes". If they had an ice cream cone, they would give me a lick. Of if they had a candy bar, they would give me a little bite. I would say, "taxes", and they would share their wealth. I don't know where I came up with this game since no one ever played it with me except the state and federal government. But my kids really do share deeply their love for their parents in every way. Raphael just spent $7,000; Jonathan spent $6,000, and Christian $2,000 to get their mom and practically new car. Now that is sharing! My daughter, Cynthia, gave a most loving card with the dearest sentiments of admiration and love. Christian called me today as well as Cathrin to wish me a loving and happy Fathers' day. They spent some time on the phone with me. I had just seen both of them on Saturday at my grandchild, Natalie's Graduation party; but still they called me on Father's day, itself. So, Christin, Cathrin, Christian, Jonathan, Cynthia, and Raphael as wished me a Fathers' Day and all kissed me and hugged me. That was the greatest of all presents: their love and presence! I think God today from Whom all Fatherhood comes because I know the joy the Father in Heaven has over all of us, His children. The BEST thing we can do for our children is to teach them by our own lives and words to LOVE God the Father. We do this by showing love for God the Father, God His Son, Jesus, and God the the Holy Spirit. We show this best by living the Gospel. St. Francis said to preach the Gospel; and if necessary, use words." Our example is the strongest way to communicate our love for God. Our kids have to see in our face the face of God the Father. All my kids are devout Catholics. I once when to a Mass in Ann Arbor at 5:00 pm on a Sunday. I just went to attend Mass. I was so surprised to see 5 of my children file in the pew a few rows us. They did not see me....did not know I would be there.....but I was edified that they took time out of their college life at U of M to attend Mass and go to Holy
Communion. I guess we did something right. They saw their parents go to Mass daily, and that made a great impression on them that I did not know.
I hope this little story of life helps you to connect Fathers' Day and Trinity Sunday better. The Liturgy and Gospel readings are ever new to me. I always see something I never saw before. The Holy Spirit detonates the Word of God is ever new ways because as we grow older, He teaches us new things. In heaven, we will grow and grow in knowledge and love for God who ever reveals His beauty to us. For all eternity, God will reveal more and more and more of Himself, His beauty, He love for us. And He will never ever run out of things to reveal to us because He is infinite! Heaven will be a crescendo of surprises....of awe.....of knowing we are loved.....forever...and ever.....and ever...and even...God's Fatherhood of giving us life and love and joy will never ever end and actually grow as our capacity grows in Eternity. "With You, Father, I shall always be!" God the Father will hug us for all eternity. ....Let us love Him now and give Him our Father's Day card....our dearest love for Him. amen.
1) The Baptism of Jesus: Mark 1:10-11: "And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens town apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. And a voice came from heaven, 'You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.'"
2) The Transfiguration of Jesus: Mark 9:7: "Then a cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud there came a voice, 'This is my Son, the Beloved; listen to him!'"
3) The Baptism of Jesus: Luke 3:21-22: "Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, 'You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.'"
4) The Transfiguration of Jesus: Luke 9:34-35: "While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, 'This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him.'"
5) The Promise of the Holy Spirit: John 14:15: "'If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the wold cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.'"
6) The Commissioning of the Disciples: Matthew 28:18-20: "And Jeus came and said to them, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you alwlays, to the end of the age.'"
As I write this all to you dear readers, I am following the Spirit's lead. I do know the Holy Spirit, and you can, too. He does not leave us orphans and lives in us. Please understand, too, that the Holy Spirit is the author of those four above Gospel accounts which clearly manifest the Three Persons in one God. This is an astounding revelation that no Old Testament Prophet ever heard. Yet the Genisis account of creation, does speak of the Spirit of God hovering over the waters. So, the Creator was known, and the Spirit was known. But that there were Three Persons in God was not revealed fully until the coming of Jesus. When Jesus said, "I am in the Father and the Father is in Me" this was how Jesus was trying to teach Phillip how the Divine Community interact, how the inner life of the Trinity happens, how the Divine Persons in the Trinity relate. And Jesus calls us to relate to God in knowing and loving God, thus to be be taken up into the life of the Trinity by allowing the Spirit of God to dwell in us. Look at the word "enthusiasm" - it is made up of two Greek words: "en" and "theos" --meaning "to be caught up in God!" So, to think that The Spirit of God dwells in us drawing us into the life of the Trinity is mind bogling, but nonetheless TRUE.
Let us now talk specifically about the first Person of the Holy Trinity who is God the Father...from Whom all Fatherhood comes. All Fatherhood here on earth mirrors the loving Father of us all. The best of fathers here on earth should reflect to us the loving kindness and tenderness of God the Father. The Prodigal Father in the prodigal son story told by Jesus is the most loving, affectionate and merciful Father ever described in the history of mankind. He runs out to meet His son and embraces him, forgives him and gives him a robe and a ring as well as a great home-coming party. The elder brother is jearlously furious. But the Father kindly explains that "Your brother was lost; and now he is found." That's typical of a loving Father who cares for the safety of His son more than any possible offense he may have committed. Also, in this story, the Father does not punish His son at all. Quite the contrary. He reinstates the boy and gives a banquet in his honor. Honor for a runaway can only happen as told by Jesus who KNOWS His Father better than anyone. In fact Jesus even say: "Nobody knows the Father but the Son...and to those whom He choses to reveal Him." So, Jesus knows the heart of God the Father like no other. Jesus, Himself, in forgiving the woman caught in adultery is being very Fatherly. Jesus even said to Phillip: "When you see Me you see the Father." "Jesus also has said: "No one has seen the Father except the Son." How then is Jesus saying "no one has seen the Father.."? Jesus is saying that no one has seen the Father face to face but the Son. Moses saw an image of the Father in the burning bush on Mt Sinai. But Moses did not see the Father directly. We can only see the Father by looking into the Face of His Son, Jesus. But we can hear the Father directly. When Jesus was being baptized, a voice came from heaven: "This is my beloved Son, in him I well pleased!" At that time, Jesus was present; the voice of the Father was present and the Holy Spirit was present in the form of a Dove. So, we have here manifested in the Bible for the first time: The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit - all together. That never happened in the entire Old Testament. This was a new revelation to manking. So, even if the Bible never mentions the word: "Trinity" - it does manifest three Persons in One God being present at the same time. Still God is revealed to us as One God in three Devine Persons. The Old Testament was correct when it says: "Hear O Israel, the Lord is One!" Yet in Genesis, there is a line that says: "Let us create man in our own image!" Could this be a hint already in the first book of the Bible that there were three Persons in One God? To the Jewish mind, the Son of God was God. That is why a few Jewish leaders wanted to stone Jesus because He made himself to be God. They were right in that conclusion but could not accept him. They said: "You are a mere man and make yourself to be God!" They got that right! When Phillip asked Jesus: "Show us the Father, and that will be enough for us." Jesus lovingly says to Phillip: "How can you ask me to show you the Father? When you see me, you see the Father. Do you not know the Father is in me and I am in the Father?" Wow! We now have a great theological revelation that the Father and Jesus are one; that Jesus is in the Father and the Father in Jesus. This is astouning! Now, Jesus has explained how two Persons of the Holy Trinity can be in one another yet not of one another. The Three Persons are in the One Godhead but are distinct. What they do are completely distinct. The Father generates and loves the Son from all eternity. The Son loves the Father from all eternity. The Love between the Father and the Son is the Holy Spirit! These three Persons are completely distinct. They are not blended together. The Trinitarian life is distinct but relational. What is going on is knowing and loving. God the Father gives Himself to the Son in love. The Son gives Himself to the Father in love; and their Love is the Holy Spirit. Since we are created in the image and likeness of God, we too are therefore able to know and love and create. You and I can create. All fathers and mothers join with God the Father in creating new life. The husband loves the wife and gives himself to her completely. She loves her husband and gives herself to him completely. Their love given to one another can stand alone...it is in their hearts and IS is a new child. So, we have here three persons joined in one act of love. Marriage is the most perfect image of the Holy Trinity on this earth.
Today we should celebrate both fathers' and mothers' day because without mothers no father could exist. It is mothers who give fathers their fatherhood. Together, when man and wife join together in love, they create a new baby and deepen their love for one another. In their creative love, we have a perfect image of the Holy Trinity.
Also, this Fathers' Day was the most beautiful Fathers' Day I have ever experienced. Maybe it was little things; but they touched me deeply. My little grandchild, Celina, age 2 crawled up into my lap and let me feed her. She did not touch her dinner unless I fed her. Once she tasted some cake, then she took the fork and completed the task by herself. But her utter trust in me - total and loving, so affectionate - gave me a deep sense of my Fatherhood. Also, when playing football with my son, Raphael and grandson, Jared, I three a long perfect spiral pass to Jared. After they all marveled at my perfect throw - "perfect" was their word - I had to admit to them that I was captain of my high-school team. Somewhat awed, Jared said: "What else do we not know about you!" I think God created sports to let us men shine for our siblings. But at that game, I did feel one with my son and grandchild, Jared. This oneness comes a direct result of playing with one another. I think a sense of play is really needed in families today. Also, my son, Jonathon gave me a card with a check in it - sizeable. But his words of I love you Dad and pray for you often meant more than any gift. Christin made me a dinner and brought it over to me at home. She cooked it, served it and also gave me a great card that said that I always are there for her....and always beleived in her. She said she loved me so much. She also put some cash in that card too...which was not necessary. I guess since I am retired, the kids like to contribute to feeding me. I think that as kids I may have instilled this by a kind of game we played called "taxes". If they had an ice cream cone, they would give me a lick. Of if they had a candy bar, they would give me a little bite. I would say, "taxes", and they would share their wealth. I don't know where I came up with this game since no one ever played it with me except the state and federal government. But my kids really do share deeply their love for their parents in every way. Raphael just spent $7,000; Jonathan spent $6,000, and Christian $2,000 to get their mom and practically new car. Now that is sharing! My daughter, Cynthia, gave a most loving card with the dearest sentiments of admiration and love. Christian called me today as well as Cathrin to wish me a loving and happy Fathers' day. They spent some time on the phone with me. I had just seen both of them on Saturday at my grandchild, Natalie's Graduation party; but still they called me on Father's day, itself. So, Christin, Cathrin, Christian, Jonathan, Cynthia, and Raphael as wished me a Fathers' Day and all kissed me and hugged me. That was the greatest of all presents: their love and presence! I think God today from Whom all Fatherhood comes because I know the joy the Father in Heaven has over all of us, His children. The BEST thing we can do for our children is to teach them by our own lives and words to LOVE God the Father. We do this by showing love for God the Father, God His Son, Jesus, and God the the Holy Spirit. We show this best by living the Gospel. St. Francis said to preach the Gospel; and if necessary, use words." Our example is the strongest way to communicate our love for God. Our kids have to see in our face the face of God the Father. All my kids are devout Catholics. I once when to a Mass in Ann Arbor at 5:00 pm on a Sunday. I just went to attend Mass. I was so surprised to see 5 of my children file in the pew a few rows us. They did not see me....did not know I would be there.....but I was edified that they took time out of their college life at U of M to attend Mass and go to Holy
Communion. I guess we did something right. They saw their parents go to Mass daily, and that made a great impression on them that I did not know.
I hope this little story of life helps you to connect Fathers' Day and Trinity Sunday better. The Liturgy and Gospel readings are ever new to me. I always see something I never saw before. The Holy Spirit detonates the Word of God is ever new ways because as we grow older, He teaches us new things. In heaven, we will grow and grow in knowledge and love for God who ever reveals His beauty to us. For all eternity, God will reveal more and more and more of Himself, His beauty, He love for us. And He will never ever run out of things to reveal to us because He is infinite! Heaven will be a crescendo of surprises....of awe.....of knowing we are loved.....forever...and ever.....and ever...and even...God's Fatherhood of giving us life and love and joy will never ever end and actually grow as our capacity grows in Eternity. "With You, Father, I shall always be!" God the Father will hug us for all eternity. ....Let us love Him now and give Him our Father's Day card....our dearest love for Him. amen.
Friday, June 17, 2011
Pio's Proverb 12: "Where your treasure is, there is your heart also." Words of Jesus.
Where are our thoughts most? What preoccupies our thoughts - our longings. The "desires of our hearts" are our heart. St. Anthony came across a funeral in Padua, Italy @ 1230 AD. A man was laying in state, and the mourners were many. He was a very wealthy man and his treasure cases of gold and silver surrounded him. He must have made a request for this to be done. St. Anthony gave a strong admonition that this man should not be burried in holy ground of the church cemetery because he did not make it to heaven. Anthony said to open one of the treasure cases. When the family did so, they saw the deceased man's heart in the case. Also, they examined his body and found no heart there as well. St. Anthony showed all that "where your treasure is, there is your heart also." Riches are not evil. They are good; but to be consumed by riches, to live for them and not use them to eleviate the poor, that is evil. Look at Mother Teresa of Calcutta. She owned nothing. She did not even allow her or his sisters to have hot water. She wanted to identify with the "poorest of the poor". She devoted herself to the most important treasure on earth: the poor. She did this because her heart was totallly with Jesus, and Jesus was in every poor person she cared for. For her to love Jesus was to love Him in the poor! She is now Blessed. "Blessed are the poor in spirit, there's is the Kingdom of God."
Where is your treasure? There is where your heart is. For me it was my 6 children. I shared life and faith with them. They are all grown and have children of their own. My 16 grandchildren are now my treasures, too. I pray for and would like to have 4 more children if God would give them to me. Abraham had Isaac when he was 100 and then had 6 more sons when he was 123. Abraham's treasure was his children.
Jesus said to work for things that are not perishable. He advises us to not work for what moth consume and robbers steal. Our love for God; our love for each other - only all that love follow us into paradise.
St. Paul shows us that our trials here on earth lay up treasures in heaven. He said: "I fought the good fight; now, my reward is laid up for me in heaven." Let's look at his "fight". He said: "I was shipwrecked and spent a day and night on the open sea. I was stoned once and received 40 lashes less 1 and was imprisoned." So, his trials were actually deposits into his heavenly account. He did not despise his trials. He knew they were his glory. Even Jesus told us to rejoice when we are persecuted for His name. So, are you having it rough? Don't just suffer by yourself. Give your sufferings to God in union with Jesus' suffering on the cross. This is called "redemptive suffering." We can even offer our sufferings to God in union with Jesus as prayers for atheists, for those who are dying without hope, for young mothers to keep and love their child in their womb and give life. We can pray for these mothers to get all the emotional, financial and medical help they need to give birth and be happy, to trust in God who created the life in them. Then, Jesus will see you on the cross next to Him and will tell you: "This day you will be with me in paradise." Jesus will assure you that if you are suffering with Him, you will also rejoice with and in Him in heaven.'' Take courage. Hear the words of the Psalmist: "Delight in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart." Ps. 37:3-7. So, Jesus Himself will give you the desires of your heart if you delight in Him. He knows even more than you what you really desire. Let us not work so hard to buy happiness. Let us work to love Jesus with all our hearts; and He will work to give us happiness - happiness of heart. Jesus said: "Seek first the Kingdom of God; and all things will be given to you besides!" He cannot lie. He is Truth itself. If we seek Him, we will be happy here in this world and happy in the next! Amen. Love, Pio
Where is your treasure? There is where your heart is. For me it was my 6 children. I shared life and faith with them. They are all grown and have children of their own. My 16 grandchildren are now my treasures, too. I pray for and would like to have 4 more children if God would give them to me. Abraham had Isaac when he was 100 and then had 6 more sons when he was 123. Abraham's treasure was his children.
Jesus said to work for things that are not perishable. He advises us to not work for what moth consume and robbers steal. Our love for God; our love for each other - only all that love follow us into paradise.
St. Paul shows us that our trials here on earth lay up treasures in heaven. He said: "I fought the good fight; now, my reward is laid up for me in heaven." Let's look at his "fight". He said: "I was shipwrecked and spent a day and night on the open sea. I was stoned once and received 40 lashes less 1 and was imprisoned." So, his trials were actually deposits into his heavenly account. He did not despise his trials. He knew they were his glory. Even Jesus told us to rejoice when we are persecuted for His name. So, are you having it rough? Don't just suffer by yourself. Give your sufferings to God in union with Jesus' suffering on the cross. This is called "redemptive suffering." We can even offer our sufferings to God in union with Jesus as prayers for atheists, for those who are dying without hope, for young mothers to keep and love their child in their womb and give life. We can pray for these mothers to get all the emotional, financial and medical help they need to give birth and be happy, to trust in God who created the life in them. Then, Jesus will see you on the cross next to Him and will tell you: "This day you will be with me in paradise." Jesus will assure you that if you are suffering with Him, you will also rejoice with and in Him in heaven.'' Take courage. Hear the words of the Psalmist: "Delight in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart." Ps. 37:3-7. So, Jesus Himself will give you the desires of your heart if you delight in Him. He knows even more than you what you really desire. Let us not work so hard to buy happiness. Let us work to love Jesus with all our hearts; and He will work to give us happiness - happiness of heart. Jesus said: "Seek first the Kingdom of God; and all things will be given to you besides!" He cannot lie. He is Truth itself. If we seek Him, we will be happy here in this world and happy in the next! Amen. Love, Pio
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Pio's Proverb 11: "Walk in gratitude!"
By the Almighty's will and plan and love, you and I are alive at this moment. Should we not put aside worry about doing this or doing that and just "BE"!? Let us just "walk in gratitude" all day today. In your lifetime, can you count or recall how many funerals you have attended of deceased who were younger than yourself? Every time I do, I realize I am being sustained by God's direct decision and will for me. He willed that I would get up this morning as He did for you. Each moment is eternal in that this very moment - the present - will never be gone. Our last moment here on earth becomes our first in heaven. But we will never go out like a candle. The flame of life in our soul is eternal by our very intrinsic nature that God created in us. He is always in His eternal PRESENT, and so are we! Our moment right now will always be our "present moment" in our now and in our eternity. We have the security that God has really...because His eternal light will never go out. Since we are created in the image and likeness of God, our light will never go out either. But this light is not objective reality only; is is "subjective reality" in that we will always be conscious ! We will be able to see, think, communicate with others and God forever! The Psalmist says: "With You, O Lord, I shall always be!"
So will not be alone forever. We are right now with God because His Holy Spirit dwells in us. Our love for God and being with God on this earth will only continue on into eternity and for all eternity.
Eternity for our minds is rather freightening in some ways. In all our lives, we see things have beginnings and ends. So it is hard for our minds to wrap around the idea that we will never end. But God who is eternal made us in His image which is to "know and to love" eternally. If God makes a creature, why would He not make that creature to be as perfect a creation as possible? Therefore He made us to be free and to "know and love" as He does and to "be" as He "is" and to live forever with him just as He lives forever. Do you think you could ever put your own child out of existence? How could God put us out of existence when He loved us into Being. Also, His inner life of the Trinity: The Father loves the Son; the Son loves the Father; and the Love between them is the Holy Spirit. That is God's inner life from all eternity to all eternity. We are caught up into this inner life of the Trinity in that Jesus' image is in us. God the Father loves us and recognizes the image of His Son in us. That is why we should not dispell Jesus from our soul be seriously breaking any of the 10 Commandments. The Holy Spirit in us leaves our souls when we commit a serious sin. He leaves because He cannot live in a dead soul just as our souls leave when a body dies. Serious sin destroys our relationship with God. But the Holy Spirit even after leaving still gives the grace for that soul to repent so He can take up residence in that soul again. Our love for God is inspired in us by the Holy Spirit. And this life of God in us goes on now......and forever..............and ever and ever. Let us walk in gratitude.....for God's gracious and creative Love for us....now and forever.
Thank You, Father, for thinking me up, bringing me into being, creating my soul with all its gifts, and for giving me Your Son to redeem me and Your Holy Spirit to sanctify me. One day take me to Your bosom as You did Enoch. Give me the grace of gratitude all during this day and for all my days and for all my forevers...so I can say now and always, "With You, O Lord, I shall always be!" Amen. Love, Pio
So will not be alone forever. We are right now with God because His Holy Spirit dwells in us. Our love for God and being with God on this earth will only continue on into eternity and for all eternity.
Eternity for our minds is rather freightening in some ways. In all our lives, we see things have beginnings and ends. So it is hard for our minds to wrap around the idea that we will never end. But God who is eternal made us in His image which is to "know and to love" eternally. If God makes a creature, why would He not make that creature to be as perfect a creation as possible? Therefore He made us to be free and to "know and love" as He does and to "be" as He "is" and to live forever with him just as He lives forever. Do you think you could ever put your own child out of existence? How could God put us out of existence when He loved us into Being. Also, His inner life of the Trinity: The Father loves the Son; the Son loves the Father; and the Love between them is the Holy Spirit. That is God's inner life from all eternity to all eternity. We are caught up into this inner life of the Trinity in that Jesus' image is in us. God the Father loves us and recognizes the image of His Son in us. That is why we should not dispell Jesus from our soul be seriously breaking any of the 10 Commandments. The Holy Spirit in us leaves our souls when we commit a serious sin. He leaves because He cannot live in a dead soul just as our souls leave when a body dies. Serious sin destroys our relationship with God. But the Holy Spirit even after leaving still gives the grace for that soul to repent so He can take up residence in that soul again. Our love for God is inspired in us by the Holy Spirit. And this life of God in us goes on now......and forever..............and ever and ever. Let us walk in gratitude.....for God's gracious and creative Love for us....now and forever.
Thank You, Father, for thinking me up, bringing me into being, creating my soul with all its gifts, and for giving me Your Son to redeem me and Your Holy Spirit to sanctify me. One day take me to Your bosom as You did Enoch. Give me the grace of gratitude all during this day and for all my days and for all my forevers...so I can say now and always, "With You, O Lord, I shall always be!" Amen. Love, Pio
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Pio's Proverb 10: "Happy the husband of a good wife," Sirach 26: 1
"Happy the husband of a good wife,
twice-lengthened are his days;
A worthy wife brings joy to her husband,
peaceful and full is his life.
A good wife is a generous gift
bestowed upon him who fears the Lord;
Be he rich or poor, his heart is content,
and a smile is ever on his face.
A gracious wife delights her husband,
her thoughtfulness puts flesh on his bones;
A gift from the Lord is her governed speech,
and her firm virtue is of surpassing worth.
Choicest of blessings is a modest wife,
priceless her chaste person.
Like the sun rising in the Lord's heavens,
the beauty of a virtuous wife is the radiance of her home.
Like the light which shines above the holy lampstand,
are her beauty of face and graceful figure.
Golden columns on silver bases
are her shapely limbs and stady feet." Sirach 26: 1-4, 13-18
As a man who wishes to be married, who wishes to find a good and spiritual wife who is young enough to have possibly four children, those above words are simply beautiful. As I was typing them, my heart was deeply moved. She who is being described truly is a good and beautiful wife. I pray to meet such a woman every day. I made a 120 day novena to meet her, -- for her to find me and me to find her. Here is my prayer said today after Mass before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament:
"Dearest Holy Spirit, You are the Power that baptizes us and makes us children of God. You change bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Jesus at Mass. You confirm us and give us your 7 gifts. You forgive us in Holy Confession. You annoint us in the Sacrament of Healing. You ordain men to become priests. Please grant to me this one great Sacrament of Holy Matrimony to unite my wife and me into a holy union that Jesus said: "What God has joined, let no man put assunder." Please unite me and my wife to be, the woman that God the Father has chosen for me and me for her so as to help one another to get to heaven. Let our love be a foretaste of love in heaven. Please console her right now and tell her that her husband to be is coming, is on his way - from the hands of God. All this I ask in Jesus' Name."
I love children. I have 6 grown children. I wish to have 4 more. I have already picked the names of them which I hope my wife will love as well: Pio Antonio Raphaeli, Pia Antonia Raphaela, Gemma Marie Bernadette, Joannes Paulus.
The Prophet Isaiah gives us a deeper look at the images of woman who is both wife and mother. Let us look at a few to understand the vocation a woman has to be feminine, nurturing and loving:
"No more shall men call you 'Forsaken,' or your land 'Desolate,'
But you shall be called 'Espoused.'
For the Lord delights in you, and makes your land his spouse.
As a young man marries a virgin, your Builder shall marry you;
As a bridegroom rejoices in his bride, so shall your God rejoice in you."
That is beautiful and comforting, too, because these images of marriage are what Isaiah uses to show how God is in love with us and marries us spiritually. It's the model of how we should love one another.
Isaiah goes on to say: "Once you were forsaken...Now I will make you the pride of the ages, a joy to generation after generation. You shall suck the milk of nations, and be nursed at royal breasts; You shall know that I, the Lord, am your savior, your redeemer, the mighty one of Jacob." Isaiah 60: 15-16.
Isaiah again uses the femanine symbol of woman's breasts as God's abundance: "Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad because of her, all you who love her; Exult, exult with her, all you who were mourning over her! O, that you may suck fully of the milk of her comfort, That you my nurse with delight at her abundant breasts!" Isaiah 66: 10-11. Well, those words of Isaiah are personally my favorite words of his whole book. I love to see that a man of God, the great Isaiah seems to be a man who valued large breasts and uses those images as God's abundance of love for us. I hope and pray that my wife whom God sends me also has very abundant breasts which will be for me all the days of my life a sure sign and symbol of God the Father's "abundant love" for me. This is only a particular grace for me; other men will have other signs God's love for them. In thruth, the whole wife is God's love for us - a generous gift from Him. In these feminine images Isaiah is really speaking of God's "abundant" love for us while poetically using feminine images. He uses many images, but the image of "abundant breasts" is my farvorite. I love this image because God's beauty, nurturance, abundance and love for us are so tenderly imaged in this abundant feminine tenderness and love.
St. Paul uses the marriage image as well in 2 Corinthians 11: 1-11: "I feel a divine jealousy for you, for I promised you in marriage to one husband, to present you as a chaste virgin to Christ."
Also, the most beautiful image of human and divine love is Solomon's the Song of Songs: 2, 4, 5, 7: The Bridegroom says: "How beautiful you are, my love, how very beautiful! ....Your two breasts are like two fawns, twins of a gazelle, that feed among the lilies....I will hasten to the mountain of myrrh...You have ravished my heart, my sister, my bride, you have ravished my heart with a glance of your eyes, ...Open to me, mysister, my ove, my dove, my perfect one...Your belly is a heap of wheat, encircled with lilies. Your two breasts are like two fawns, twins of a gazelle. ..O may your breasts be llike clusters of the vine, and the scent of your brath like apples, and your kisses like the best wine that goes down smoothly, gliding over lips and teeth." The Bride says: I am my beloved's and his desire is for me. Come, my beloved, let us go forth into the fields, and lodge in the villages; let us go early to the vineyards....There I will give you my love!" The excitement and joy of marriage can been seen in this line by the author of the Song of Songs: The Bride says: "The voice of my beloved! Look, he comes, leaping upon the mountains, bounding over the hills. My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag!" What happier can a Bridegroom be!
All of this is intense poety, intense love. This is what God intended human love to be. St. John of the Cross used these passages from Solomon's Book to refer to the intense of the love between God and the soul. So, Solomon's Book is about human and divine love.In all of Solomon's book, God is never mentioned because "God is love, and wherever there is true love, there is God."
I also very much love these words from the Book of Tobit, we read" "But do not be afraid, for she was set apart for you before the world existed. You will save her, and she will go with you." Tobit 6: 18.
Those words from Tobit show that with all our trying and looking for the right person to marry, God has one - just one special person - in His mind for us. This person is set apart for one man. To be set apart is the actual translation of someperson or something that is consecrated - set apart for God.
We should rest in this knowledge that there is someone special God has in store for us. How to find that person can be inspired by the Holy Spirit. We should pray that the one God has for us will find us and we find them. How? PROVIDENCE! We must pray and then let Providence take over. We must follow the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. He is the Comforter, Consoler, Author of all Love!
(6-15-11)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
When I wrote the above in June of 2011, I wrote about PROVIDENCE!
At that time I did not know what God had in store for me by His Providence...but now, in October of 2012, I can see! God did have someone special in store for me...and some one special in store for Margaritka of the Ukraine. He has us in store for each other. A loving friend of mine in the Ukraine, introduced me to her girlfriend "Margo" who is Margaritka, now my fiancee. I could never have imagined Margaritka coming in my life. But it was the love of Katya for Margo and for me..that caused her to generously and unselfishly introduce us. There is no one like Margaritka..she is beautiful beyond my imagination. Now I know how Adam felt when he firs saw Eve. She is a mystic in ability to love and express herself and appreciate God's Love and Beauty around her. She is articulate, poetic, and so loving and affectionate...and appreciative. She is from God! God only sends the BEST if we would just wait. She waited...she is a virgin at 30 years old. God's Providence is amazing. I prayed 130 days for the right woman to marry; and God answered me even if He had to go around to World to find her..for me! I love you, Father! We - Margo and me - give You our love in thanks:
"We thank You, Father with all our hearts for You have heard the words of our mouth..in the presence of Angels we thank you..and give praise to Your Name .because of Your love which is greater than we ever knew of you..."
Psalm: 138.
So much Love and Gratitude, Pio and Margo xo
twice-lengthened are his days;
A worthy wife brings joy to her husband,
peaceful and full is his life.
A good wife is a generous gift
bestowed upon him who fears the Lord;
Be he rich or poor, his heart is content,
and a smile is ever on his face.
A gracious wife delights her husband,
her thoughtfulness puts flesh on his bones;
A gift from the Lord is her governed speech,
and her firm virtue is of surpassing worth.
Choicest of blessings is a modest wife,
priceless her chaste person.
Like the sun rising in the Lord's heavens,
the beauty of a virtuous wife is the radiance of her home.
Like the light which shines above the holy lampstand,
are her beauty of face and graceful figure.
Golden columns on silver bases
are her shapely limbs and stady feet." Sirach 26: 1-4, 13-18
As a man who wishes to be married, who wishes to find a good and spiritual wife who is young enough to have possibly four children, those above words are simply beautiful. As I was typing them, my heart was deeply moved. She who is being described truly is a good and beautiful wife. I pray to meet such a woman every day. I made a 120 day novena to meet her, -- for her to find me and me to find her. Here is my prayer said today after Mass before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament:
"Dearest Holy Spirit, You are the Power that baptizes us and makes us children of God. You change bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Jesus at Mass. You confirm us and give us your 7 gifts. You forgive us in Holy Confession. You annoint us in the Sacrament of Healing. You ordain men to become priests. Please grant to me this one great Sacrament of Holy Matrimony to unite my wife and me into a holy union that Jesus said: "What God has joined, let no man put assunder." Please unite me and my wife to be, the woman that God the Father has chosen for me and me for her so as to help one another to get to heaven. Let our love be a foretaste of love in heaven. Please console her right now and tell her that her husband to be is coming, is on his way - from the hands of God. All this I ask in Jesus' Name."
I love children. I have 6 grown children. I wish to have 4 more. I have already picked the names of them which I hope my wife will love as well: Pio Antonio Raphaeli, Pia Antonia Raphaela, Gemma Marie Bernadette, Joannes Paulus.
The Prophet Isaiah gives us a deeper look at the images of woman who is both wife and mother. Let us look at a few to understand the vocation a woman has to be feminine, nurturing and loving:
"No more shall men call you 'Forsaken,' or your land 'Desolate,'
But you shall be called 'Espoused.'
For the Lord delights in you, and makes your land his spouse.
As a young man marries a virgin, your Builder shall marry you;
As a bridegroom rejoices in his bride, so shall your God rejoice in you."
That is beautiful and comforting, too, because these images of marriage are what Isaiah uses to show how God is in love with us and marries us spiritually. It's the model of how we should love one another.
Isaiah goes on to say: "Once you were forsaken...Now I will make you the pride of the ages, a joy to generation after generation. You shall suck the milk of nations, and be nursed at royal breasts; You shall know that I, the Lord, am your savior, your redeemer, the mighty one of Jacob." Isaiah 60: 15-16.
Isaiah again uses the femanine symbol of woman's breasts as God's abundance: "Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad because of her, all you who love her; Exult, exult with her, all you who were mourning over her! O, that you may suck fully of the milk of her comfort, That you my nurse with delight at her abundant breasts!" Isaiah 66: 10-11. Well, those words of Isaiah are personally my favorite words of his whole book. I love to see that a man of God, the great Isaiah seems to be a man who valued large breasts and uses those images as God's abundance of love for us. I hope and pray that my wife whom God sends me also has very abundant breasts which will be for me all the days of my life a sure sign and symbol of God the Father's "abundant love" for me. This is only a particular grace for me; other men will have other signs God's love for them. In thruth, the whole wife is God's love for us - a generous gift from Him. In these feminine images Isaiah is really speaking of God's "abundant" love for us while poetically using feminine images. He uses many images, but the image of "abundant breasts" is my farvorite. I love this image because God's beauty, nurturance, abundance and love for us are so tenderly imaged in this abundant feminine tenderness and love.
St. Paul uses the marriage image as well in 2 Corinthians 11: 1-11: "I feel a divine jealousy for you, for I promised you in marriage to one husband, to present you as a chaste virgin to Christ."
Also, the most beautiful image of human and divine love is Solomon's the Song of Songs: 2, 4, 5, 7: The Bridegroom says: "How beautiful you are, my love, how very beautiful! ....Your two breasts are like two fawns, twins of a gazelle, that feed among the lilies....I will hasten to the mountain of myrrh...You have ravished my heart, my sister, my bride, you have ravished my heart with a glance of your eyes, ...Open to me, mysister, my ove, my dove, my perfect one...Your belly is a heap of wheat, encircled with lilies. Your two breasts are like two fawns, twins of a gazelle. ..O may your breasts be llike clusters of the vine, and the scent of your brath like apples, and your kisses like the best wine that goes down smoothly, gliding over lips and teeth." The Bride says: I am my beloved's and his desire is for me. Come, my beloved, let us go forth into the fields, and lodge in the villages; let us go early to the vineyards....There I will give you my love!" The excitement and joy of marriage can been seen in this line by the author of the Song of Songs: The Bride says: "The voice of my beloved! Look, he comes, leaping upon the mountains, bounding over the hills. My beloved is like a gazelle or a young stag!" What happier can a Bridegroom be!
All of this is intense poety, intense love. This is what God intended human love to be. St. John of the Cross used these passages from Solomon's Book to refer to the intense of the love between God and the soul. So, Solomon's Book is about human and divine love.In all of Solomon's book, God is never mentioned because "God is love, and wherever there is true love, there is God."
I also very much love these words from the Book of Tobit, we read" "But do not be afraid, for she was set apart for you before the world existed. You will save her, and she will go with you." Tobit 6: 18.
Those words from Tobit show that with all our trying and looking for the right person to marry, God has one - just one special person - in His mind for us. This person is set apart for one man. To be set apart is the actual translation of someperson or something that is consecrated - set apart for God.
We should rest in this knowledge that there is someone special God has in store for us. How to find that person can be inspired by the Holy Spirit. We should pray that the one God has for us will find us and we find them. How? PROVIDENCE! We must pray and then let Providence take over. We must follow the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. He is the Comforter, Consoler, Author of all Love!
(6-15-11)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
When I wrote the above in June of 2011, I wrote about PROVIDENCE!
At that time I did not know what God had in store for me by His Providence...but now, in October of 2012, I can see! God did have someone special in store for me...and some one special in store for Margaritka of the Ukraine. He has us in store for each other. A loving friend of mine in the Ukraine, introduced me to her girlfriend "Margo" who is Margaritka, now my fiancee. I could never have imagined Margaritka coming in my life. But it was the love of Katya for Margo and for me..that caused her to generously and unselfishly introduce us. There is no one like Margaritka..she is beautiful beyond my imagination. Now I know how Adam felt when he firs saw Eve. She is a mystic in ability to love and express herself and appreciate God's Love and Beauty around her. She is articulate, poetic, and so loving and affectionate...and appreciative. She is from God! God only sends the BEST if we would just wait. She waited...she is a virgin at 30 years old. God's Providence is amazing. I prayed 130 days for the right woman to marry; and God answered me even if He had to go around to World to find her..for me! I love you, Father! We - Margo and me - give You our love in thanks:
"We thank You, Father with all our hearts for You have heard the words of our mouth..in the presence of Angels we thank you..and give praise to Your Name .because of Your love which is greater than we ever knew of you..."
Psalm: 138.
So much Love and Gratitude, Pio and Margo xo
Monday, June 13, 2011
Pio's Proverb 9: Saint Anthony of Padua, pray for us!
Today, June 13, 2011 is the glorious feast day of St. Anthony of Padua. In Italy, he is simply known as
"Il Santo", "The Saint"! Why is he so popular? He was a contemporary of St. Francis of Assisi. They both knew each other. Both belonged to the same Friars Minor order. St. Anthony in his day was quite the miracle worker. He raised 3 people from the dead. He re-attached a foot that cut off from a youth. He bilocated - that is he was in two places at the same time. He preached, and even the fish came out of the water to listen. He converted many heretics. One heretic was not convinced that the fish came out of the water to listen to him. He said that his mule would have to listen to St. Anthony before he would be converted. The heretic starved the animal for 3 days. Then, he placed a bucket of food down on the ground for the animal to eat, but the mule did not. Rather, the mule went over to St. Anthony who told the mule to bow down to worship the Holy Eucharist. The animal obeyed St. Anthony and came close to the Blessed Sacrament and knelt on all 4 knees and put his head to the ground in worship. The heretic saw this and came near to the Blessed Sacrament and bowed his head to the ground in adoration as well. Like all the others, St. Anthony converted this heretic as well.
My dear friend, Jill, a new convert to Catholicism developed jaundice very badly. No doctor could find the cause. I started a 9 day novena to St. Anthony to find the exact cause, the exact remedy, and her health and happiness. Dr. Saddiqui decided to order her to do a test that was invasive and surgical. She was well aware that she could die on the table. She brought 2 family members to be there in case she expired. During the operation a stone fell out on to the table. Another stone was found as well. I learned later that besides all this, her records of 30 years ago were lost and this test could not have been done without them. But suddenly, all her records were recovered. In recovery, the doctors came in with thumbs up - a gesture that all was well! Her color and health was almost instant. St. Anthony had found the exact cause, the exact remedy and her health and happiness. On the way home from the hospital, Jill raved about St. Anthony. She also told this story to friends at a recent dinner party.
St. Anthony finds anything, anybody, any remedy. He even finds for others the faith that many people have lost!
My white statue of St. Anthony adorns my deck with Lake St. Claire in the background.
St. Anthony was born in Lisbon, Portugal in 1195 and died in Padua in 1231. He was only 36 years old. He was canonized just 1 year after his death and was declared a "Doctor of the Church" on January 16, 1946. Originally he became an Augustinian monk at age 16, but then became a Friar Minor because he saw the remains of martyred saints. Both St. Anthony and St. Francis wanted to preach to the Muslims and be martyred, but God had different plans for both of them.
Here is how I get the attention of a saint, and it never fails. Before asking a saint for a favor I do this: I say this prayer: "Father, I offer you the Precious Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, Your Son, in thanksgiving for the birth, baptism, confirmation, ordination and life of St. Anthony (or any saint) now and for all eternity." Now, it is good to do this several time during the day. The Saint will know that you are thanking God for the saint's gifts and life, now and forever. The Saints do not have needs in heaven except one: to thank God. So, you will be fulfilling the saint's need! He will see this and draw close to you. Then ask of him for your favors. He will be glad to anwer your requests because you are answering his request. Of course, saints will help you even if you do not do this. But I am only telling you how I do it, and I receive very dear answers from St. Anthony and St. Joseph. Today is the feast day of St. Anthony. He will listen to you. He is very,very loving and exact and perfect in his answers! St. Anthony, Pray for us!!Amen. Thank you for all your great answers already given. We love you, St. Anthony! Pio
"Il Santo", "The Saint"! Why is he so popular? He was a contemporary of St. Francis of Assisi. They both knew each other. Both belonged to the same Friars Minor order. St. Anthony in his day was quite the miracle worker. He raised 3 people from the dead. He re-attached a foot that cut off from a youth. He bilocated - that is he was in two places at the same time. He preached, and even the fish came out of the water to listen. He converted many heretics. One heretic was not convinced that the fish came out of the water to listen to him. He said that his mule would have to listen to St. Anthony before he would be converted. The heretic starved the animal for 3 days. Then, he placed a bucket of food down on the ground for the animal to eat, but the mule did not. Rather, the mule went over to St. Anthony who told the mule to bow down to worship the Holy Eucharist. The animal obeyed St. Anthony and came close to the Blessed Sacrament and knelt on all 4 knees and put his head to the ground in worship. The heretic saw this and came near to the Blessed Sacrament and bowed his head to the ground in adoration as well. Like all the others, St. Anthony converted this heretic as well.
My dear friend, Jill, a new convert to Catholicism developed jaundice very badly. No doctor could find the cause. I started a 9 day novena to St. Anthony to find the exact cause, the exact remedy, and her health and happiness. Dr. Saddiqui decided to order her to do a test that was invasive and surgical. She was well aware that she could die on the table. She brought 2 family members to be there in case she expired. During the operation a stone fell out on to the table. Another stone was found as well. I learned later that besides all this, her records of 30 years ago were lost and this test could not have been done without them. But suddenly, all her records were recovered. In recovery, the doctors came in with thumbs up - a gesture that all was well! Her color and health was almost instant. St. Anthony had found the exact cause, the exact remedy and her health and happiness. On the way home from the hospital, Jill raved about St. Anthony. She also told this story to friends at a recent dinner party.
St. Anthony finds anything, anybody, any remedy. He even finds for others the faith that many people have lost!
My white statue of St. Anthony adorns my deck with Lake St. Claire in the background.
St. Anthony was born in Lisbon, Portugal in 1195 and died in Padua in 1231. He was only 36 years old. He was canonized just 1 year after his death and was declared a "Doctor of the Church" on January 16, 1946. Originally he became an Augustinian monk at age 16, but then became a Friar Minor because he saw the remains of martyred saints. Both St. Anthony and St. Francis wanted to preach to the Muslims and be martyred, but God had different plans for both of them.
Here is how I get the attention of a saint, and it never fails. Before asking a saint for a favor I do this: I say this prayer: "Father, I offer you the Precious Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Jesus Christ, Your Son, in thanksgiving for the birth, baptism, confirmation, ordination and life of St. Anthony (or any saint) now and for all eternity." Now, it is good to do this several time during the day. The Saint will know that you are thanking God for the saint's gifts and life, now and forever. The Saints do not have needs in heaven except one: to thank God. So, you will be fulfilling the saint's need! He will see this and draw close to you. Then ask of him for your favors. He will be glad to anwer your requests because you are answering his request. Of course, saints will help you even if you do not do this. But I am only telling you how I do it, and I receive very dear answers from St. Anthony and St. Joseph. Today is the feast day of St. Anthony. He will listen to you. He is very,very loving and exact and perfect in his answers! St. Anthony, Pray for us!!Amen. Thank you for all your great answers already given. We love you, St. Anthony! Pio
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Pio's Proverb 8: What is RCIA: "Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults"?
I met Christine in a court house in Mt. Clemens, Michigan. She looked sad as she sat in a double wide wheelchair. I watched her for a while and decided to try to cheer her up. I walked up to her and placing my face close to hers said in a endearing voice: "You are beautiful!" She looked at herself and at all of her 470 lbs and said: "I don't think so!" I said: "You are beautiful, and I can prove it to you." She said to me: "How can you prove that I am beautiful?" I said: "I am an artist. Just sit as I sketch you." She did. In 12 minutes, I gave her a side view of her face that did not show any weight - just the essence of her beauty. She took the picture and said: "Maybe I am beautiful!" I said, "Of course you are!" After talking for a little while and becoming friends and seeing her smile more, I invited her to go to RCIA class to learn and to see what the Catholic Church teaches so as to see if she would like to become Catholic. She said emphatically: "I am a happy Baptist! Why should I become Catholic?" She did not look too happy to me when I first met her; but I said in reply: "Why not come to RCIA class and see!" To my great surprise she did go to RCIA in the nearest Catholic Church where she lived. All Catholic Churches have RCIA. It goes from August to Easter Saturday. Christine was a very strong student. She actually pinned the priests to the wall with her questions and bold preaching of the Word of God to everyone in the class! She was someting else! She was a Baptist who knew the Word of God! At first the priests were a little afraid of her but gradually grew to love her. Everyone in the class who had questions fed them to her to shoot at the priests! And Christine shoots from the hip! Well, she became the strongest person in that class and became Catholic on Easter Saturday's Vigil evening Mass in 2006. When she made her first Holy Communion, she said she had such a joy she never had in her life. She wanted to go running with her arms out! Jesus did more than come to her which was a miracle in itself. Jesus healed her of her eating disorder. Having the Bread of Life (see John 6: 51-71) caused her to NOT need 3 pizzas a day any more! I saw Christine 2 months ago. She weighs 225 lbs! She is less than half the woman I met at the courthouse. She told me that if she had not met me, she would have died from overweight. Actually, she was with me before loosing all her pounds and fell to the floor and stopped breathing. Three doctors who were nearby came rushing over and saved her. If she had been home, she would have died; but being with me, I happened to be close to a doctor's clinic. I see now that God sent me to save her life. To think all this happened because of her sad face. God uses whatever He wishes to rescue us. Christine, - who now is a veritable "St. Paul," (because when a Baptist becomes Catholic, you have dynamite), - is quite the evangelist and brings others into the Church. Her approach is unique. She is on fire for God. She has made an evangelist out of me, too. She told me with great conviction that I had to invite everyone I meet to RCIA. She said it saved her life. Well, I have never been the same after meeting Christine. She is a loving dynamo for God. Actually, it is because of her that I am inviting you to go to your nearest Catholic Church and register for their RCIA program. "Come and see!" She actually went initially without being sure at all. The class is just to teach and let you decide on your own time table. The Holy Spirit honors your free will. But still I say to you: "You are beautiful! Come to RCIA and see!" Love, Pio
Pio's Proverb 7: "Veni Sancte Spiritus" - "Come Holy Spirit"! (Pentecost Sunday, June 12, 2011)
For the last 800 years, the Catholic Church has prayed this hymn:
"Come Holy Spirit,
And send from heaven
Your radiant light.
Come father of the poor
Come giver of gifts
Come light of hearts
Best of all consolers
Sweet guest of the soul
Sweet respite
When we labor, you refresh
You temper the heat in us
You comfort us when we grieve.
Most beautiful light.
Fill the intimate place of our hearts
with your fidelity.
Without your presence
There is nothing to us
Nothing that will not harm us.
Wash what needs cleansing
Water what is parched
Heal what is sick
Bend what has gone rigid
Warm what has gone cold
guide what has lost its way.
Give to your faithful ones
Who confide in you
The blessed seven gifts
Give grace to those who warrant it
Give salvation to the dying
Give eternal joy."
This prayer was the favorite prayer of Father Alfred Delp, S. J., a priest and martyr, who said that "All of life is Advent," Father Delp was arrested by the Gestapo in 1944. Just two weeks before the war ended, the Nazis hanged him on February 2, 1945 for being a priest confessor to those who attempted to kill Hitler. Father Delp was innocent of any wrong doing. Like Jesus who was imprisoned on trumpted-up charges, so Father Delp suffered in the same way and died for his faith. Father Delp's process for beatification began in 1990 with the help of Archbishop, Cardinal Sterzinsky, in Berlin. Father Delp was included in the German martyrology of 20th century martyrs in 1999. In his letters from prison, Father Delp made a commentary on the above prayer: "Veni Sanct Spiritus".
Today, Pentecost Sunday, June 12, 2011, is the Birthday of the Church; but even more so, it is our own personal birthday as being a child of God. When we were baptized, the Holy Spirit came and made us children of God; so today is our birthday into God's family. He is our Father; we are His kids.
The Holy Spirit is Giver of all life. Spirit means breath. He is our body and soul's life breath. Because He is giver of all life, abortion stops the breath and heartbeat of the unborn. Abortion is diametrically opposed to the Holy Spirit. Abortion is a slap in the face of God who created every human being on the earth. It is basically unbelief in God and lack of trust in His Providence. He has to help mothers to care for their children because He created them in her. He gives life to every child conceived. He creates a soul directly. He provides for all the child needs in her and will care for allher needs and the child's during all nine months in the womb and all of life after birth. God takes care of his own. We are his own!
Sunshine and water are both images of the Holy Spirit: The sun shines with all its fullness on everyone and upon all animals and plants, as well. It gives life to us and all by its he warmth. Without the sun, there would not be any life on earth. In the same way, the Holy Spirit shines on us and gives us life. The Holy Spirit is Soul to our soul. The Holy Spirit dwells in us and gives us 7 gifts to bring good to the world. All our gifts of mind and spirit are from the Holy Spirit. Those who teach, govern, heal, manage, and care for others -- all are doing what the Holy Spirit gives them to give to others. Even when the Holy Spirit shares His sunshine with us -- to each of us, He is not diminished. Everyone receives the fullness of the Holy Spirit. Also, water fills all people, animals and plants. Without water, nothing would be alive on this earth. No matter if water is in a human or in a tree, water is the same element. It does not change. 25 billion years ago, there was the same amount of water there is now. It does not evaporate from our atmosphere. The water that was in the dinosaurs are the same water that is in us now. In the same way, the Holy Spirit fills us with the water of life, His life! Even if His waters of life are in us, He is not diminished. Just as our soul/spirit is the life force of our bodies, so too is the Holy Spirit the life force of our souls. When the Holy Spirit leaves us when we sin seriously, then our souls are dead to God's life and love in us. But the Spirit calls us back and gives us the grace to repent. As soon as we repent, our souls become alive again because God's life of grace comes back to live in us. Those who live all their lives in serious sin, live with souls that are dead. If they die in that state, they may be away from God for eternity. God does not condemn them; they choose to live without Him here and hereafter. He does not force their free will. He lets them choose to be away from him. He is sad as any parent would be if their child does not want to ever come home. The final sin that cannot be forgiven is the sin against the Holy Spirit: the soul's refusal to accept God's forgiveness. Even at the last second of life, we can accept God's love, mercy and frogiveness -- just as the good thief did on the cross. But the other thief did not accept Jesus or His forgiveness. So to leave this world without loving God or accepting His forgiveness can and does happen. "Out of the body, present to the Lord." I believe that when we are "present" to the Lord, we can accept Him as our Lord and Savior and accept His loving merciful forgiveness. But we should not wait till that extreme moment. We should love God now. There is no sin He cannot forgive except the sin of not wanting or accepting His forgiveness. He is all merciful and kind. Some people think they have been too great a sinner that not even God can forgive them. That is the sin of despair - which is refusal to accept God's mercy. God is big enough to forgives all sins. The man who wrote the song, "Amazing Graces......who saved a wretch like me"....had killed 850 African slaves; but he was converted and became a minister. God will not remember all those sins when he dies. Let us let the Holy Spirit to live in us, heal us, forgive us, console us and give us joy! The Holy Spirit has said: "Eye has not seen; ear has not heard, nor has it ever entered the imagination of man what the Father has in store for those who love Him!"
Dear Holy Spirit, come into the hearts of mothers who carrying a child in their womb. Comfort them if they are afraid. Give them hope and consolation to keep their child and give birth to their infant. Heal all women who have had abortions. Give them to forgive themselves because God have forgiven them. Let them never abort again and even help other women who have a difficult pregnancy and do not know where help will come from. Give all these mothers to find local Compassion Centers, listed under "abortion alternatives" and Catholic Social Services who will care for them and their child. Give them hope, peace and deep joy in the Holy Spirit over their new and beautiful life in their sacred wombs, God's cradle. All this we ask in Jesus' Name, Amen.
For healing after abortion, please find healing and consolation and support by seeking Project Rachel which is nation wide. God bless us all on this Pentecost Sunday!
"Come Holy Spirit,
And send from heaven
Your radiant light.
Come father of the poor
Come giver of gifts
Come light of hearts
Best of all consolers
Sweet guest of the soul
Sweet respite
When we labor, you refresh
You temper the heat in us
You comfort us when we grieve.
Most beautiful light.
Fill the intimate place of our hearts
with your fidelity.
Without your presence
There is nothing to us
Nothing that will not harm us.
Wash what needs cleansing
Water what is parched
Heal what is sick
Bend what has gone rigid
Warm what has gone cold
guide what has lost its way.
Give to your faithful ones
Who confide in you
The blessed seven gifts
Give grace to those who warrant it
Give salvation to the dying
Give eternal joy."
This prayer was the favorite prayer of Father Alfred Delp, S. J., a priest and martyr, who said that "All of life is Advent," Father Delp was arrested by the Gestapo in 1944. Just two weeks before the war ended, the Nazis hanged him on February 2, 1945 for being a priest confessor to those who attempted to kill Hitler. Father Delp was innocent of any wrong doing. Like Jesus who was imprisoned on trumpted-up charges, so Father Delp suffered in the same way and died for his faith. Father Delp's process for beatification began in 1990 with the help of Archbishop, Cardinal Sterzinsky, in Berlin. Father Delp was included in the German martyrology of 20th century martyrs in 1999. In his letters from prison, Father Delp made a commentary on the above prayer: "Veni Sanct Spiritus".
Today, Pentecost Sunday, June 12, 2011, is the Birthday of the Church; but even more so, it is our own personal birthday as being a child of God. When we were baptized, the Holy Spirit came and made us children of God; so today is our birthday into God's family. He is our Father; we are His kids.
The Holy Spirit is Giver of all life. Spirit means breath. He is our body and soul's life breath. Because He is giver of all life, abortion stops the breath and heartbeat of the unborn. Abortion is diametrically opposed to the Holy Spirit. Abortion is a slap in the face of God who created every human being on the earth. It is basically unbelief in God and lack of trust in His Providence. He has to help mothers to care for their children because He created them in her. He gives life to every child conceived. He creates a soul directly. He provides for all the child needs in her and will care for allher needs and the child's during all nine months in the womb and all of life after birth. God takes care of his own. We are his own!
Sunshine and water are both images of the Holy Spirit: The sun shines with all its fullness on everyone and upon all animals and plants, as well. It gives life to us and all by its he warmth. Without the sun, there would not be any life on earth. In the same way, the Holy Spirit shines on us and gives us life. The Holy Spirit is Soul to our soul. The Holy Spirit dwells in us and gives us 7 gifts to bring good to the world. All our gifts of mind and spirit are from the Holy Spirit. Those who teach, govern, heal, manage, and care for others -- all are doing what the Holy Spirit gives them to give to others. Even when the Holy Spirit shares His sunshine with us -- to each of us, He is not diminished. Everyone receives the fullness of the Holy Spirit. Also, water fills all people, animals and plants. Without water, nothing would be alive on this earth. No matter if water is in a human or in a tree, water is the same element. It does not change. 25 billion years ago, there was the same amount of water there is now. It does not evaporate from our atmosphere. The water that was in the dinosaurs are the same water that is in us now. In the same way, the Holy Spirit fills us with the water of life, His life! Even if His waters of life are in us, He is not diminished. Just as our soul/spirit is the life force of our bodies, so too is the Holy Spirit the life force of our souls. When the Holy Spirit leaves us when we sin seriously, then our souls are dead to God's life and love in us. But the Spirit calls us back and gives us the grace to repent. As soon as we repent, our souls become alive again because God's life of grace comes back to live in us. Those who live all their lives in serious sin, live with souls that are dead. If they die in that state, they may be away from God for eternity. God does not condemn them; they choose to live without Him here and hereafter. He does not force their free will. He lets them choose to be away from him. He is sad as any parent would be if their child does not want to ever come home. The final sin that cannot be forgiven is the sin against the Holy Spirit: the soul's refusal to accept God's forgiveness. Even at the last second of life, we can accept God's love, mercy and frogiveness -- just as the good thief did on the cross. But the other thief did not accept Jesus or His forgiveness. So to leave this world without loving God or accepting His forgiveness can and does happen. "Out of the body, present to the Lord." I believe that when we are "present" to the Lord, we can accept Him as our Lord and Savior and accept His loving merciful forgiveness. But we should not wait till that extreme moment. We should love God now. There is no sin He cannot forgive except the sin of not wanting or accepting His forgiveness. He is all merciful and kind. Some people think they have been too great a sinner that not even God can forgive them. That is the sin of despair - which is refusal to accept God's mercy. God is big enough to forgives all sins. The man who wrote the song, "Amazing Graces......who saved a wretch like me"....had killed 850 African slaves; but he was converted and became a minister. God will not remember all those sins when he dies. Let us let the Holy Spirit to live in us, heal us, forgive us, console us and give us joy! The Holy Spirit has said: "Eye has not seen; ear has not heard, nor has it ever entered the imagination of man what the Father has in store for those who love Him!"
Dear Holy Spirit, come into the hearts of mothers who carrying a child in their womb. Comfort them if they are afraid. Give them hope and consolation to keep their child and give birth to their infant. Heal all women who have had abortions. Give them to forgive themselves because God have forgiven them. Let them never abort again and even help other women who have a difficult pregnancy and do not know where help will come from. Give all these mothers to find local Compassion Centers, listed under "abortion alternatives" and Catholic Social Services who will care for them and their child. Give them hope, peace and deep joy in the Holy Spirit over their new and beautiful life in their sacred wombs, God's cradle. All this we ask in Jesus' Name, Amen.
For healing after abortion, please find healing and consolation and support by seeking Project Rachel which is nation wide. God bless us all on this Pentecost Sunday!
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