Pio's Proverb 215: God is Love!

We often says that God loves us...and that we love God. But we never say that "we are love". We only say that we love. How can God "be love". Isn't love a thing? No..Love is an action. For God to be Love, then His very Being must be Love. How is this possible?

For God to be Love, His very Essense and Being must be Love. For God to be Love, He would have to be a Trinity. {Fr. Byron of "Catholicism Series".} Why? Because to be Love, one would have to be a Lover, a Beloved and the Love between Lover and Beloved: the Father loves the Son; the Son loves the Father; and the Love between them is the Holy Spirit. So God truly and really is Love. IN fact, God could not be any other way of Being. If God were only one Person: The Father, then who would he be Father of? If the Son were the only Person in God, then who would He be the Son of? And if the Holy Spirit were the only Person in God, then who would He be the Love of?

Thus, The Holy Trinity is the only way God can be: He is Love: which is the inner Trinity's loving Being.

When the Second Person of the Holy Trinity became man, then as the Word He always loving the Father. And the Father said from the cloud: "This is My Beloved Son, whom I am well pleased." And the Holy Spirit was made visible in the Dove.

And Jesus said: "As the Father loves me, so I love you." And He said: "Love one another as I love you."  Lots of Love going on here!

But what about the question: should we love ourselves, too? Jesus said, "Love your neighbor as you love yourself."  Well, then does Jesus love Himself?

There is a most famous quote in Latin:

                        "Erit Unus Christus semetipsum Amans."

Which means: "There shall be One Christ loving Himself."

But this has a very mystical meaning:  This means that the whole Body of Christ - the Mystical Body of Christ - Christ as the Head and we as the members - shall be "The One Christ loving Himself."

That is why we say that the Chuch is the Bride of Christ. That is why Isaiah says: "As the bridegroom delights in his bride, so shall God delight in you."

How truly can it be said with great depth: God is Love!

 Peace and love, Pio

Pio's Proverg 214: Pantheistic or Deistic or True God: Where is Love in all three?

Pantheistic or Deistic or True God: Where is Love in all three?

1) Pantheism:

This New Age Philosophy says that all creation is God. Therefore you and I are God. But God cannot be the sum of all He has created. For example, if a team of engineers and technicians and metal workers and computer experts create a 747 Jumbo Jet Plane, this plane is totally distinct from all who crated it. Those who created this plane did not create the materials of wire, aluminum, electronics or jet fuel. After the Plane takes off to fly, all the workers can go home and they are totally distinct from the plane. So, too, when God creates nature or us, He is totally distinct. Why? Because if God were material, He would limited. God is a Spirit that is Infinite and Eternal.  If God were the sum total of all His creation, then He would not be God.

Also, if we are so close to God as to be God, then how could God love us. If the baby in a crib were the parents, he or she could have no parents to love him or her. No, babies are distinct from their parents. Even when a baby is in the womb, the baby is in the mother's body, but the baby is NOT the mother's body. A baby has a different DNA..and can even have a different blood type. So, too, we are distinct from God. God's being disctinct from us allows God to love us.

A subgroup of pantheism is the Star Wars' god: the force!  This is a philsophy that says that God is merely an impersonal good engergy. And that there is a dark side of the force means that there is good energy and bad engergy. Therefore, the good side of the force is good; and the dark side of the force is evil. Thus good and evil are equal, depending on what you choose in this world. But to make God to be equal to the good force and the bad force is rediculous..because if God were not good, then He would cease to be God.  God is INfinite Good...and shares His goodness: "Bonum est diffusivum Sui." - "Goodness has a tendancy to go out of itself." Therefore, God shares life with creation by His goodness. God does not create evil. Evil comes from not loving God...and choosing ourselves to be in the place of God. Adam and Eve followed Satan..thus all wanting to become equal to God. God is Eternal Uncreated Personal Being. No created being could ever become God. A creature is finite. God is infinite!  And He is infinitely personal...and loves you and me..loves us into existence. We should lvoe Him back...that is what love is: "seeking the good of the other for the other's sake." which is how God loves us!

 Deism:

This philosophy says that God did create everything but just left in on its own to run..like a great watch...and that God is not concerned about His creation. This again a non-personal God. But that we are persons...shows you that God has made us in His own image and likeness which means that we are a free and intellingent person who can know and love!

3) True God:  God gave us His Name: "I am who am!" This "I-ness" in God says that He is Personal. He has an "I-ness".  There are three Persons in One God: God the Father who knows and loves Himself. God the Son who is the Logos, the Word who is begotten by the Father from All eternity. The Word or Logos is the thought that God has of Himself.  The Word, or Logos, or Son loves the Father. The Father loves the Son. Their love for each other is the Holy Spirit. Their love is infinitely personal..therefore IS a Person. I Divine Person. "The Word became flesh and dwelled among us," says, St. John. Jesus said to "go and baptized all people in the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit." Notice that Jesus did not say, "in the names of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit." If Jesus would have used Names in the plural, then there would be three Gods. But there is just one Name: "Father-Son-Holy Spirit." It is like "Elizabeth Barrette Browning." These are three names of just ONE being. So, thus we only have ONE God with three names.

What kind of God is this God?  Never in the history of the entire universe did we know God fully until Jesus came to show us the Father in His own presence. Jesus is the visible icon of the invisible God. Thus, Jesus said to Phillip: "How can you ask me to show you the Father? When you see me you are seeing the Father. Do you know believe that the Father is in Me and I am in the Father..?" And when Jesus was being baptized you had the three Divine Persons made manifest at the same time: "A voice came from the heavens: "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." And the Holy Spirit like a dove was present. And Jesus went on to tell us what the Father was truly like in the Prodigal Son Story given in Luke's Gospel. No one ever knew who the Father was until Jesus told us this story of total merciful and tender love. "God is love; and wherever there is love there is God."...and "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son so that whoever believes on Him shall have everlasting life." John 3:16


What kind of TIME do we have in the above three philosophies of God.

Pantheists and Deists can be very sentimental about the past and very inaccurate of the future. If you watch the History channel these days, you will see that all interaction with God in history is reduced to aliens who brought us culture and life to this planet. There is no mention in the History Channel to God who created these aliens. That is a moot point for the History Channel. Catholic Christians believe in the Big Bang theory - which was formulated by a French Jesuit Priest. In the real past, there was a beginning of life - all life. This happened before aliens ever existed. If there are aliens, God made them. If there are aliens they knew God and God knew them. If they had culture and technology, it is because they were made in God's image and likeness. When we understand who God is fully, then we understand the past more accurately. But all theology cannot be reduced to aliens. The History channel does not mention God in their alien theories. Infact alienism is the religion of those who live in the past without a Christian God.

And do you remember the mass suicide cult that took their own lives to meet the aliens' space ship...that unfortunately did not come.

Likewise, Jesus said about the end of the world, "No one knows - not even the Son of man, nor the angels..only the Father knows.." Yet so many have predicted that the Myan calendar knew the exact day: December 21, 2012. The only thing that the Myan calendar predicted was the end of the Myan calendar. Looking at the past without the help of the Bible is mere folly.

What about the future?  Jesus said to be ready for His coming at all times. Jesus said to not go running after prophets who say they are He...because they are not He. He said that when He comes, it "will be light lightning coming from the East to the West." We can look forward to blessings from God; but we should not phatasize things that may never be. As far as living in the future, Jesus said, "Take no notice of the morrow...sufficient for the day is the trouble there of." He said, "Do not worry about what you shall wear, or eat ...for God knows you need these things. First seek the Kingdom of God and His reign over you, and all will be given to you beside."

Jesus said, "Consider the lilies of the field; they neigther spin or sow, yet not even Solomon in all his glory was arrayed as one of these."

Jesus said, "Consider the birds of the air.....God feeds them...you are worth more than a whole flock of sparrows."

Jesus said: "Every hair on your head is numbered...why worry since you cannot add a inch to your height."

As far as the Future goes, Jesus says to trust in God and follow the ways of the Lord!"

Peace and love, Pio

Pio's Proverb 213: Two Martyrs for today: Jan. 21, 2013

Two Martyrs for today: St. Agnes or Rome and Dr. Martin Luther King: both who died for an ideal. One of chastity and virginity; and the other for
the dignity of human beings no matter of color or creed.  Here are the stories of both martyrs that we celebrate today, Januaury 21, 2013. The Church elebrates St. Anges whose name appears on the canon of the Mass everyday but today is her feast day. Also, in the USA, this is Dr. Martin, Luther King, Jr. Day!
The name Anges comes from the Latin word "agnus" - means lamb of God, which she was as Jesus was.

Agnes was a Roman girl who was only thirteen years old when she suffered martyrdom for her Faith. Agnes had made a promise, a promise to God never to stain her purity. Her love for the Lord was very great and she hated sin even more than death! Since she was very beautiful, many young men wished to marry Agnes, but she would always say, "Jesus Christ is my only Spouse."

Procop, the Governor's son, became very angry when she refused him. He had tried to win her for his wife with rich gifts and promises, but the beautiful young girl kept saying, "I am already promised to the Lord of the Universe. He is more splendid than the sun and the stars, and He has said He will never leave me!" In great anger, Procop accused her of being a Christian and brought her to his father, the Governor. The Governor promised Agnes wonderful gifts if she would only deny God, but Agnes refused. He tried to change her mind by putting her in chains, but her lovely face shone with joy. Next he sent her to a place of sin, but an Angel protected her. At last, she was condemned to death. Even the pagans cried to see such a young and beautiful girl going to death. Yet, Agnes was as happy as a bride on her wedding day. She did not pay attention to those who begged her to save herself. "I would offend my Spouse," she said, "if I were to try to please you. He chose me first and He shall have me!" Then she prayed and bowed her head for the death-stroke of the sword.

 

Agnes of Rome (c. 291 – c. 304) is a virgin–martyr, venerated as a saint in the Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church, the Anglican Communion, and Lutheranism. She is one of seven women, excluding the Blessed Virgin, commemorated by name in the Canon of the Mass. She is the patron saint of chastity, gardeners, girls, engaged couples, rape victims, and virgins.
She is also known as Saint Agnes and Saint Ines. Her memorial, which commemorates her martyrdom, is 21 January in both the Roman Catholic calendar of saints and in the General Roman Calendar of 1962. The 1962 calendar includes a second feast on 28 January,^[1] which commemorates her birthday. Agnes is depicted in art with a lamb, as her name resembles the Latin word for "lamb", agnus. The name "Agnes" is actually derived from the feminine Greek adjective "hagnē" (ἁγνή) meaning "chaste, pure, sacred".

Biography

A statue of Saint Agnes in a parish dedicated to her in Camarin, Caloocan City, Philippines.

According to tradition, Saint Agnes was a member of the Roman nobility born c. 291 and raised in a Christian family. She suffered martyrdom at the age of twelve^[2] or thirteen during the reign of the Roman Emperor Diocletian, on 21 January 304.
The Prefect Sempronius wished Agnes to marry his son, and on Agnes' refusal he condemned her to death. As Roman law did not permit the execution of virgins, Sempronius had a naked Agnes dragged through the streets to a brothel. Various versions of the legend give different methods of escape from this predicament. In one, as she prayed, her hair grew and covered her body. It was also said that all of the men who attempted to rape her were immediately struck blind. In another the son of the prefect is struck dead, but revived after Agnes prayed for him, causing her release. There is then a trial from which Sempronius excuses himself, and another figure presides, sentencing her to death. When led out to die she was tied to a stake, but the bundle of wood would not burn, or the flames parted away from her, whereupon the officer in charge of the troops drew his sword and beheaded her, or, in some other texts, stabbed her in the throat. It is also said that the blood of Agnes poured to the stadium floor where other Christians soaked up the blood with cloths.
A few days after Agnes' death, her foster-sister, Saint Emerentiana was found praying by her tomb; she claimed to be the daughter of Agnes' wet nurse, and was stoned to death after refusing to leave the place and reprimanding the pagans for killing her foster sister. Emerentiana was also later canonized. The daughter of Constantine I, Saint Constance, was also said to have been cured of leprosy after praying at Agnes' tomb. Emerentiana and Constance appear in the scenes from the life of Agnes on the 14th-century Royal Gold Cup in the British Museum.
Agnes' bones are conserved beneath the high altar in the church of Sant'Agnese fuori le mura in Rome, built over the catacomb that housed Agnes' tomb. Her skull is preserved in a separate chapel in the church of Sant'Agnese in Agone in Rome's Piazza Navona.
An early account of Agnes' death, stressing her steadfastness and virginity, but not the legendary features of the tradition, is given by Saint Ambrose.<sup>[2]

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And now our second martyr:</sup>

Martin Luther King, Jr. was an American clergyman, activist, and prominent leader of the African-American civil rights movement and Nobel Peace Prize laureate who became known for his advancement of civil rights by using civil disobedience. He was assassinated at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee on April 4, 1968, at the age of 39. King was rushed to St. Joseph's Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 7:05PM that evening. James Earl Ray, a fugitive from the Missouri State Penitentiary, was arrested in London at Heathrow Airport, extradited to the United States, and charged with the crime. On March 10, 1969, Ray entered a plea of guilty and was sentenced to 99 years in the Tennessee state penitentiary.^[1] Ray later made many attempts to withdraw his guilty plea and be tried by a jury, but was unsuccessful; he died in prison on April 23, 1998, at the age of 70.^[2]
The King family and others believe that the assassination was carried out by a conspiracy involving the US government, as alleged by Loyd Jowers in 1993, and that James Earl Ray was a scapegoat. This conclusion was ffirmed by a jury in a 1999 civil trial.<sup>[3]


 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s most famous, "I have a dream" speach made first in Detroit and then in Washingdon DC in 1963 is as follows:

Here is the greatest speech ever given in this Country since  Abraham Lincoln. How fitting that it was given at the very Lincoln Memorial...as President Lincoln was looking on:</sup>

Martin Luther King - I Have A Dream Speech - August 28, 1963

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Martin Luther King - I Have A Dream Speech ... youtube.comJan 20, 2011 - 17 min - Uploaded by sullentoys I Have a Dream Speech Martin Luther King's Address at March on Washington August 28, 1963. Washington ...

TeacherTube - I Have A Dream Speech

teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=20916


I Have A Dream Speech [8,610,619 views]. Add this video to collection or playlist. Please select collection name from following. No Collection Found. 4 Likes, 0 ...


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I HAVE A DREAM SPEECH - FULL VIDEO - PART 1 ... youtube.comJan 21, 2009 - 8 min - Uploaded by PumaHillary FULL TEXT TRANSCRIPT BELOW: http://www.let.rug.nl/usa/D/1951-1975/mlk/ dream.htm August 28, 1963, i ...

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Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Speech(I Have A Dream ... youtube.comMay 13, 2011 - 1 min - Uploaded by CurtHenniganImpact Uploaded on May 13, 2011. I love and Respect Martin Luther King Strongly. Category. People & Blogs ...

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Martin Luther King, Jr: I Have A Dream — History.com ... history.comDec 22, 2009 - 16 min We are unable to offer the full ''I Have a Dream'' speech, the rights to which are controlled by the ...

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martin luther king, jr., "i have a dream" speech ... youtube.comOct 23, 2012 - 12 min - Uploaded by wesawthat "I Have A Dream" is the popular name given to the public speech by Martin Luther King, Jr., when he spoke ...

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MLK's “I Have a Dream” speech is copyrighted. Share ... vimeo.comNew3 days ago - 18 min January 18th is Internet Freedom Day, the anniversary of the largest protest in Internet history. January 21st is ...

TeacherTube - I Have A Dream Speech

teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?...id...I_Have_A_Dream_Speech


I Have A Dream Speech [8,609,864 views]. Add this video to collection or playlist. Please select collection name from following. No Collection Found. 4 Likes, 0 ...


â–º 17:59â–º 17:59

MLK's "I Have a Dream" speech is copyrighted ... youtube.comNew3 days ago - 18 min - Uploaded by fightforthefutu Today we celebrate the 1 year anniversary of the defeat of SOPA. On Monday we celebrate the legacy of Dr ...

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Martin Luther King Jr's "I Have A Dream" Speech ... youtube.comJun 23, 2011 - 1 min - Uploaded by MixedNationEnt An important part of MLK Jr's "I Have A Dream" speech. His Dream lives on! MixedNation.com.

Thus we have two great saints of virginity/chastity and liberty! May God give them both to reign in heaven and enjoy the face of God for all eternity!! And May God have mercy on St. Agnes' executioners and on Earl Ray --since all of these executioners have now passed on to appear before God ..and His Court of Justice. May God have mercy on their souls...and may they have repented before appearing in God's Court. May the prayers of St. Agnes and of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. for those who took their lives cause these assassins to repent and accept the mercy of God. Amen..in Jesus' Name we pray..amen. amen..

Peace and love, Pio   

 

 

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Pio's Proverb 212: Are You Here!

Dearest Pro-Lifers: Are You Coming!

March for Life observes 40^th anniversary

Santorum addresses crowd for first time, says marchers stand 'for love in a world of death.'

 

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Lehigh Valley anti-abortion activists come to Washington for March for Life.

By Colby Itkowitz, Call Washington Bureau

9:26 p.m. EST, January 25, 2013

WASHINGTON—

— Standing still for hours in subfreezing temperatures wasn't easy for the Rev. Joseph Kanimea, who left his home in Fiji — where it was in the 80s Friday — just a little over a month ago for a new life in the Lehigh Valley.
Defrosting in the warmth of a reception room on Capitol Hill, Kanimea had just attended his first March for Life in Washington, D.C. — an annual gathering of anti-abortion activists that marked the 40^th anniversary of the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision.

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And while the bitter cold wasn't easy for a man accustomed to a tropical climate, Kanimea, a priest at Holy Family Catholic Church in Nazareth, described his amazement that the crowd was filled with so many teenagers and children. He wasn't expecting, he said, that the younger American generation would be so engaged in the anti-abortion movement.

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It's a cause — what he calls "the sanctity of life, the sacredness of life and the holiness of the body" — that he espouses in his sermons.
"It is something we have to advocate, you have to keep on advocating," he said. "It's a lifetime commitment."
Church members from across the Lehigh Valley as well as students from the region's Catholic schools joined the ocean of people on the National Mall clutching handmade and screen-printed signs with anti-abortion messages. One group held hot pink posters that read, "Conceived from rape. I love my life." Another man mixed political messages, holding a sign calling for the end to abortion, war and assault weapons.
One 4-year-old girl clung to a sign that read, "I'm a pro-life generation." Asked why she was there, she said proudly, "To save babies."
Gina Favocci's parents, Christine and Robert, both 32, of Nazareth, came to the march for the first time and brought their two toddler daughters. They'd always been anti-abortion, Christine Favocci said, but the re-election of President Barack Obama, whom she calls the "most pro-abortion president we've ever had" made them want to come to show their support.
To Gina, her bright-eyed, blond daughter, she explained abortion is when babies are allowed to be hurt in the mommies' bellies.
"She asks me why is it OK to hurt a baby in the mommies' bellies, but it's not OK to hurt a baby when it's out of the mommy's belly. And I don't have an answer for her," Favocci said.
Taking the March for Life stage for the first time despite a long and well-known history of outspokenness on abortion was former Pennsylvania U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum. The mere mention of his name prompted an eruption of cheers for the failed presidential candidate who became a star in 2012 among social conservatives.
Santorum, in a bright red winter coat adorned with bumper stickers from his nonprofit Patriot Voices, thanked the freezing crowd for being there "to give a sense of warmth to this city that is a cold city these days."
"You are the voice of the voiceless. You are those who stand for love in a world of death," he said. "One day we will triumph because love and truth always triumph."
Jim Toolan, 73, a deacon at St. Thomas More church in Salisbury Township, said it was nice to have Santorum there to "give witness." Santorum, as he often did on the campaign trail, spoke at length about his ill daughter, Bella, whom the Santorums were told to abort, but did not.
Toolan has been attending the march for more than 30 years. It's an event that always inspires him.
"For us veterans, it's nice to see everyone here," he said, "to renew ourselves and get charged up another year."
citkowitz@mcall.com
202-824-8216

Copyright © 2013, The Morning Call

mc-pa-march-for-life-abortion-20130125

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From: "Martin Fox" <martin.fox@nationalprolifealliance.com>
To: "Pio Zammit" <pio.zammit@comcast.net>
Sent: Thursday, January 17, 2013 11:08:37 AM
Subject: Forty Years of Slaughter

Dear Pio, On Friday, January 25 a quarter million pro-life Americans will gather on the Washington DC mall to protest the 40 years of abortion-on-demand that began with the Roe v. Wade decision in 1973. It's important to cry out in protest against the slaughter. But it is even more important to change the law to protect the innocent unborn. If you -- or anyone you know -- are planning to attend the 40th annual March for Life, I hope you will join me, your National Pro-Life Alliance staff, and tens of thousands of other dedicated pro-lifers from around the country as we collect petitions to demand that Congress act. Whether coming individually or with a group, I hope you will join us and collect petitions to build support for a Life at Conception Act. If you can volunteer, please click here to give me your name and phone number so we can arrange to meet you at the march. And please forward this email to any friends or family who may attend the March for Life as well. For Life, Martin Fox, President National Pro-Life Alliance P.S. If you cannot attend this year's March for Life, I hope you can chip in with a contribution today, by clicking here, because the National Pro-Life Alliance is entirely dependent on voluntary contributions to keep our vital programs running. Please forward this message to any friends who might attend the March for Life. From: "Martin Fox" <martin.fox@nationalprolifealliance.com> To: "Pio Zammit" <pio.zammit@comcast.net> Sent: Wednesday, January 23, 2013 10:10:13 AM Subject: Forty years too many Dear Pio, Our members' response has been awesome. I can't tell you how great it is to see the number of NPLA members, families and young people who have signed up to help out at the March for Life in the cold of January. More than 200,000 people are expected to be there. Such an enormous protest shows how unpopular Roe v. Wade remains. But it's also a great opportunity to do something to stop the slaughter. Every year we still find people at the March who have not heard of the Life at Conception Act and how we can use the Supreme Court's own roadmap to overturn Roe v. Wade. And every year we add thousands of additional signatures to our petition to overturn Roe by passing a Life at Conception Act. I know some of you can't make it, and I understand. But I would like to ask something of you instead. Even if you can't make it, will you make a special effort this coming week to pray for the unborn? Forty years is a long time...and the devastating toll is 56 million unborn babies slaughtered for the mere crime of being "inconvenient." So, please pray for those of us who are participating in this coming March for Life, but especially pray for elected officials in Congress whose votes have the power of life and death over the unborn. For those who might be coming, but haven't yet had the chance to sign up to help at the March, and think that you or somebody you know might come, it's not too late. Just look for our banner near the stage on the right. My staff and I would love to meet you, shake your hand and give you petitions to distribute. I look forward to seeing you there Friday! For Life, Martin Fox, President National Pro-Life Alliance P.S. If you can, please chip in with a contribution by clicking here. Your National Pro-Life Alliance is entirely dependent on voluntary contributions to keep our vital programs running. We receive no government funding. To help NPLA grow, please consider forwarding this message to a friend. This message was intended for: pio.zammit@comcast.net You were added to the system April 3, 2012. For more information click here. Update your preferences | Unsubscribe

This message was intended for: pio.zammit@comcast.net
You were added to the system April 3, 2012. For more information
click here.
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Pio's Proverb 211: Angels Among Us!

Dear Fr. George, (Rutler), 


I have just listened to your talk on Angels! Please believe me when I say that this is your very best presentation to date.

Your description of a baby suddenly crying in the gallery at a Senate Hearing on partial birth abortion at the precise moment that a pro-life Senator held up a picture of the grusume partial-birth abortion surgery while announcing boldly and compassionately to all the Senators present: "This is a baby!!" so he could save babies from partial birth abortion was truly a moving description that even a few journalist wrote about..as a most interesting coincidence! Then you said: "Sometimes angels come to us as a baby!".

And even at that precise moment you told us this story - at that moment - as you were truly telling millions of viewers on ETWN is 228 countries - God was in fact sending to us and the world and in your voice and person a true "angel of light and life"! --- yourself!!!!!


Father, you in this talk probably saved lives where you least expect it. You have fathered many chidren with your angelic message of the dignity and preciousness of a baby! I know a woman named Cara. She came over with her mom Christine whom I brought into the faith through RCIA. Cara had a smart phone and 300 pictures of her 9 month old twins: Eli and Max. But these pictures had something that I have never seen on a phone before: with a touch, you could see the picture become a video with sound. One of these pictures had both boys laughing. As she was talking to her sons, she made special funny noises to which both boys just kept up laughing -with a kind of musical crescendo and descrendo. Truly these boys are "angels" to their parents and to me too. Their laughter was truly the hymns being sung in heaven by perhaps babies who were aborted but now enjoy the great joy of the beatific vision.


I had such a unique and poignant experience at Womancare Abortion Clinic in Lathrup Village in Michigan on Southfield. Rd. I got there very early before it seemed even the staff arrived. There were no cars out front.

But then I felt - as I was saying the rosary for any baby within who may be being aborted - I felt that something very very important and was going on..like being present at St. Joan of Arc's martyrdom. At that precise moment I felt a baby at the first appointment of the day was being aborted. I did not know for sure until this little soul came and stopped just over my head and in front of me a little about. I heard this soul speak to me saying: "Thank you...I love you!" The soul - through free from the body - had come over to me since at her death, there were no family who loved her: not her mother, nor any nurse or doctor. I was this soul's only family. The love and gratitude of this baby was incredibly intense. This baby still showed that she had come through the martydom of great great great trauma! (torn limb from limb). She seemed to have still some residual tears from her martydom...of most intense suffering. But the most overwhelming sensation that over came me was this soul's great, great, great holiness!!! She lingered with me just above me for it seemed half a minute....then gradually ascended to heaven...and faded from the place of her martyrdom...the fire and crucibal ..where she left his earth to go to God. I will never forget this experience. It was so totally overwhelming..like a medicine ball you would catch in the gut of your own soul! I wish that those who pray outside abortion clinics could have been there to see and feel all that God revealed through this little angel of a little girl.


Fr. George, you have the gifts of Wisdom and Understanding and Knowledge combined with the fruits of the Spirit of peace and joy and chastity. Chastity is known for sure a priest has a great gentleness - as you do!


Peace and love, Pio.


If you wish to read a true story of how St. Raphael saved my life when I was 20 years old, just google without spaces: http: // piowordstotheheart. blogspot. com and scroll down to # 44: St. Raphael...

Pio's Proverb 210: Epiphany: 2013!

EPIPHANY is the manifestation of Christ to the entire gentile world - which the Magi symbolized.
These were very devout men who followed a star that seemed to them as a great sign that a great King was to be born in Israel. 
 
Actually this was more than just a star; it was a conjunction of Jupiter and the Star Regulus: Jupiter and the Star Regulus were close enough to seem as one largest star that came to a stop over Bethlehem. How can Jupiter come to a stop? It does not really stop. But when it comes around in orbit and goes in the opposite direction, it seems to stop - at the precise time. So, that is the star that the Magi saw coming to stand still over Bethlehem. They followed this star and arrived at Bethehem to worship the New Born King.  
If you were to look up the word "epiphany" in the dictionary, you will read: "Epipthany: January 6, the anniversary of the coming of the Three Wise Men to honor the infant Jesus at Bethlehem; Twelth day; Little Christmas...from the Latin: epiphania and the Greek: epiphaneia < epi (upon) and plainein (to show).

The second meaning is simply: "epiphany" n. pl. -nies. 1 anapperance or manifestation, especially of a deity. 2 Figurative. a sudden revelation or perception; an insight intothe essense of a thing; ..adj..epiphenomenal - of the nature of an epiphenomenon."

In this year of 2013, Epiphany - the religious Feast - falls on a Sunday, January 6. This is a Feast Day in which Jesus is made manifest to the World. The Magi came from the East to find the King born of the Jews. They found Him alright since the conjunction of the planet Jupiter and the star Regulus which are not superimposed but just close enough to appear as the largest star ever seen in the heavens. Jupiter was rounding its orbit so it appeared to steop over Bethlehem. Regulus would appear to be stopped as well since it was not a roaming star. This conjuction had to be planned from the Big Bang to that very moment to just happen at the time of Jesus' Birth. "The Heavens declare the glory of God" as the Psalmist said.
The gifts of gold, fankensene and myrr were gifts for a King..the myrr was for his burial. We all are born to live; but Jesus was born to die for us. So Epiphany is a great Feast where we like the Magi come to give our gifts...our talents and prayers and service to others...our gifts of love because Jesus would say: "What ever we do to the least of my brethren you did for me."

But what of our own personal epiphanies in which we experience God? First of all we need to look at a little theology of God. Even, atheists, listne up. God has total and perfect access to us. We have limited access to Him. We can pray to Him, carry on a conversation, see Him in His creation of nature and even in our own bodies. But His Spirit is so magnificent that we just do not have the software to access Him fully. But He can access our spirits totally whenever He wishes. When He does contact a soul, this is called "infused contemplation". There is not mistaking this epiphenomenal experience. No one can induce this experience. It is clearly a meeting of God in our own life than cannot be explained by psychology or self inducement. God simply decides to say, "Hello" His own unique way. He knows how much we can take. So, He keeps the experience down enough as not to blow us entirely away. Sometimes His contacting us comes when we are talking to Him...or reading Scripture...or looking at the sky...or the ocean...or experiencing a first kiss..Whenever and whatever He wishes to attach Himself to is His business. Sometime His contact of us is sudden and very unexpected...we may be casually talking to Him and He decisdes to RESPOND! I am sure you have had a epiphany or two. Perhaps it would help if I related a few of mine. I can count them on one hand...they are rare occurances. But some are so magnificent that I find that I no longer believe in God. I know God...have experienced God. Do you ever say, "I believe my wife loves me?' Or rather do you say, "I know my wife loves me because I have experienced her love...I no longer need to just believe and hope in her love. I have her love for certain." Well, that is an analogy of how God contacts us in love and holds us in love..and kisses our soul in love as shown in Jesus' perfect story ever written: "The Prodigal Son which should be called the "Prodigal Father" because it the incredible love of the Father that caused Him to look on the road leading home every day to see if His son would come home. When He saw his son finally coming home, He ran to meet him and embraced him and kissed him. He threw a great celebration for his son's home coming. Now, this son truly had an Epiphany when he experienced his Father' total pardon and celebration. The boy was not punished. He was welcomed, given a new robe, ring and sandals - signs of total family reinstatement. The son now KNOWS the Father and His love for the son like he had never experienced or imagined. God can be very surprising.
Here are a few surprises in my own life of an encounters with God. Please let me share a few of my epiphanies with you in chonological order. But each each experience was not in real "Chonos" time but "Kairos" time: that is the absolute "right time" in God's mind for me to receive His Presence:

1) In the Seminary, I was reading the words of the Lord: "Behold I stand at the door and knock. Any one who opens to me, I will come with My Father; and we will sit down and have supperwith him." Suddenly,
the Presence of God the Father and Jesus were so greatly present that I could hardly stand it.....I was transported into the new dimension of their love for me which is the Holy Spirit. I never forgot that experience when I was just 16..which made me open and looking for any new encounter with Them.

2) When I was only 21, I was coming out of Mass and a ceremony when I had brought Mr. Temoson into the Church from the Baptist church. When he went to Holy Communion for the first time at this Mass, he told me of his epiphany. When he had Jesus inside his soul in Holy Communion, he was so moved that he said: "I have never experienced any thing like this before. I want to leave and become a monk." I told him that this loving experience was an embrace from God; but he should not to become an monk because he is married with 3 children. He gave me in thanks a beautiful medal of St. Christopher, patron of travelers. After leaving him, I surely did need divine help on the way home.

3) On the way home, I drove off a clift in the back roads of Kentucky because there were not warning signs or barricades. In the air, I encountered the Archangel, St. Raphael who saved my life. This was a miraculous event that even the police were baffled because they said no one could survived such a fall from such a height; any my care did not have a scratch on it. For details of this event, please see my Pio's Proverb 44: "St. Raphael saved my life..."

4) An old man crossed over the double yellow line on 6 Mile Rd in Detroit and hit me head on. My head felt like it had been hit by a hammer. When the car came to a standhill, I was on the ground. But then something so unusual happened: a beautiful young man of 20 came pushing through the crowd and took out a huge immaculate white handkerchief and bending down, he patted my bleeding head and said to me: "You will be all right." He left with a smile. All his clothes were immaculate..never been worn before. His shoes were right out of the box. People respected his authority and moved aside. I am sure this being was my guarding angel who has wishpered in my ear just before the crass, "Turn to the right." Thinking this was a strange bit of advice, I continued down the road....to a crash that totalled my care....but gave me a glimpse of my gurading angel who had wispered in my ear in the first place. From then on, I take it seriously when my angel who is not in time...knows impending events before they happen. But isn't so wonderful to give me such a beautiful angelic being to be at my side every moment of the day?

5) I was walking down a very wooded road in upper-state Michigan. The trees were tall; and I walking away from the setting sun. The road was about 25 feet wide. As I am on my way, I see a very large dog...as big as a great dane. But this dog was different that anything I had seen. He was big and black with the face and hair of a regular scottie dog. Well, for sure, I walked around this dog who could have me for supper if he wished. The dog seeing my evasion action of going to the opposite side of the road, quickly trotter over to place himself directly in front of my patch. There was not a bark. I did not talk to the dog; but I did talk to myself and said: "Let us go to the opposite side?" As I did so, the dog quickly trotted over and blocked my path again. So, I said to myself: "You do not need to be going this way...let us retreat back down the road." The dog seeing my turning around did nothing to stop me. This animal was very intelligent and not hostile. He was scary to me though. As I went toward the setting sun, the sky became more and more illuminated. I came to a high bluff or clift. From this height, I could little cottages down below that looked like about two inches long. There was a large lake in the middle of all the cottages that was mirror calm and looked like glass. Then, let me tell you about the sky: it was maginificent (not like the sky at the end of Gone with the Wind or War Hourse). The sky was a great flame from horizon to horison, from the top of the sky to the bottom. And all of this beautiful orange and gold flame was reproduced in the lake. So, I was in two skies!
I am 73 years old; I have never seen anything more beautiful on this earth than I did that early evening at sunset. I believe that God had painted this scene for him since God and I are both painters. God did not want me to miss most incredible scene of His Beauty. He even sent me a angel in the form of a dog to turn me a round. Now, that is very good of God; don't you think?

6) The most powerful Epiphany I have ever experienced was after having come for Mass and Holy Communio. I went into the woods to pray and be alone with God. He was there all right. Casually, I told God the Father aloud: "I can see You, Father, in the clouds and sky." I did not know He was listening to hard. Then I said: "I can hear Your voice, Father, in the wind in the trees and in this babbling brook at my feet. I can also see you in these yellow wild flowers." O...O...what did I say? Suddenly, God the Father answered me in such a powerful way that I will never be able to believe in Him again. I know God. I was experiencing God as He now decided to reveal Himself to me. I was surprised He was listening so much. His voice was powerful....and had a echo that echoed down eternity. This was not a voice in time; it was a voice that was speaking from eternity. The voice said: "YOU BELONG TO ME!" The voice has also with it emotions that actually denuded me: I felt I own nothing: not my clothes nor my body..nor my mind...nor my sould....I completely belonged to God! This was the greatest epiphany in my life. The voice was so powerful and penetrating into my being, that I just stood there and waiting to die.as I thought God was calling me home. I waited about 12 minutes..and realized that I was still in my body. For comic relief of all this loving stress, I said to God whose ear I was certain I had: "Well, Father! If I belong to You that much, then You must belong to me, too." Well, that was the end of the prayer of contemplation and divine infusion. God can decide to contact us whenever He wants. I think He listens to us more than we think and has a lot of emotions for such a great God.

7) This is a big one; but not as big as the previous one. Still you will find it enjoyable. For details of this wonderful event, please see my Pio's Proverb 37: "Getting a high five from God!" Those words are not figurative. They are actual words describing a true event. God actually gave me a high five. It is so real that you need to read the entire event on Pio's Proverb 37. But this experience taught me that God is very very emotional and can respond when He wills to our prayers and actions.

8) My eight little epiphany is small; but still I felt I have been encountering God in this event: Thirty years ago, I owned a 1978 Lincoln Town car that was all white with blue interior. I was the best car I evey owned. My kids loved it and went camping with it. The enormous trunk could store all the tents and still have room left over. It is the biggest trunk ever made. It was also a kind of a "wonder car" in that I could drive up to 1300 feet in the Rockies; and it kept going and going and going. The buses and trucks were parked off the road because the thin air just stopped them cold. But my car just kept going and going. This truly was a wonder car. But going down hill was a bit tricky. You cannot use breaks..they will not work. I had to for three miles put the car in the lowest gear it had; and the car and me sailed down that mountain doing 50 mph in that lowest gear. As I said it was a wonder car. But back in Dearborn, I was parked at a redlight waiting for it to turn green. Then I heard an enormous bang and my back went to metal of the seat. Another big Lincoln hit me in the rear..and totalled the car. I was sad..and never got another Lincoln. But Psalm 37" vs 3 -7 says: "Delight in the Lord; and He will give you the desired of your heart." God knew I wanted that Lincoln.
Well, 30 years later, a few months ago, I had the desire and the inspiration from God to pray for a 1978 or 1979 white Lincon 4 door Town Car. For 33 days in a row, I said to God: "Lord, You said, 'Ask and you will recieve; seek and you will find; knock and it will be opened for you." After 33 days of asking God, I went right into another 33 days of thanking God for hearing my prayer. Then on the 67th day, I went into another 33 days of thanking God for anwering my prayer even if I did not see the results because Jesus said: "When you pray, believe that you already have what you ask for and it shall be yours." So, I followed that counsel to the letter.

After 99 days of prayer for this white '78 or '79 Lincoln, I said to God..."What happened to my white 1979 Lincoln Town Car?" I said this because I thought that it was all a done deal. Well, 4 hours later on that day, I was going down Groesbeck off of 15 mild. Even from 3 blocks away, I could see this huge white car parked 90 degrees to the road. When I neared the car, I pulled into the circle drive to investigate the white 1979 Lincoln Town Car. Then there was an epiphany! I felt that God was there and that He answers all prayers...especially those prayers He has inpired us to say to Him.I felt that another petition I had prayed for for 132 days in a row will also certainly be answered. Go had see this 32 year old car and kept it for me. I knocked on the door. ..As the man came to the door and opened it, I said to him: "I have prayed for this car!" He said: "If the Lord wants you to have it, it will be yours." I just a few days I purchased the car for $4000. It was mint...and had been in the garage for 10 years..had never seen a winter. The back seat was virginal in the no one had ever sat in that back seat. It only had 41 thousand miles....This was the best 79 Lincoln in the Nation.

9) My last epiphany came on Epiphany Sunday, January 8, 2012. It was a Sacramental Epiphany. I received the Sacrament of Reconciliation while the sun was coming through the window right into my eyes. I was conscious that the Holy Spirit was there penetrating my heart and absolving me from all and any sin. I was fully conscious that Jesus was listening to my confession through the priest; and that Jesus' presence was as real as His presence in the Eucharist - spiritually for sure - but Jesus cannot be separated from His body, so in some mysterious and mystical way, Jesus was fully Present there listening to me. How do I know this for certain? Well, eventhough I did not put this event in a separate Epiphany before this time; I am glad I did not so as to show you now more vividly how I am certain that the Lord, Himself, hears and absolves us in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. I have personal proof to offer you not just speculative theology but rather the "spirituality of experience" which St. Teresa of Avila said that "there is no true spiritual experience unless it is reflected upon" in one's life. Well, let us reflect upon my experience together, you and me:

I left work at Ford's about 4:30 pm during a week day and headed immediately to Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church which was on the way to Down Town Detroit. The pastor was a very short (less than 5 feet tall) little Italian priest who still had a slight accent who always conducted his flock in prayer. I did not like any silence as he thought the minds of his flock may wonder; so he always led the Our Father or Hail Mary during those times of when people were waiting for Mass to begin. He may have been a little scrupulous or just very devout because no matter what he always heard confessions before Mass for at least a half an hour during the week. Knowing that and being of very delicate conscience, I went this day to wait in line for my confession before Mass. There was no one before me, so I entered the confessonal and awaited my turn to hear the kindly and saintly old priest greet me. But this time, there was no greeting: just absolute and perfect silence. I heard not even a little rustle of paper or an inadible whisper or mumbling in the background. I remained kneeling for at least 15 mintues. I pulled the curtain back at the entrance where I came in and observed that the kindly priest was not in the sacristy nor the candles lit. All was silent and semi- dark. I waited kneeling for another 10 minutes. Since there still was not a sound, I began to seriously doubt if Father was actually here hearing confessions. I became rather curious since I could see out the curtain
that Father had not in any way prepared the altar for Mass nor vested himself. He was just nowhere to be seen. Now after nearly kneeling for a half an hour, I did a rather bold thing: I pulled aside the curtain that separates the priest from the penitent to see if Father was really there or not. What I saw as clearly as I am seeing the words of this page will forever be indelibally engraved on my memory. What I saw was Jesus hearing a confession with His hands over His face as He was supporting His head and in deep thought and in a very deep listening mode. I was so surprised at such a totally unexpected scene! I slowing pulled the curtain back with great reverence. But being an artist/painter I took a very very good look before the curtain was completely closed. Let me describe to you all that I saw. It was no ethereal vision of vapors. It was solid, precise detailed a picture of Jesus imaginable. Jesus was gentle but big boned, tall even in a sitting position. He was not a body builder, but still very naturallly powerful in His stature and build as would be any strong construction worker who carried large loads regularly. His hair was wheat color and so think that it would not lay down naturally but rather lifted off slightly off his shoulders. He wore a one-peice tunic that was cut like our tee shirts at the neck. His arms were fully exposed and free with a sleeveless cut that matched the neck. The tunic was cut at the shoulders high so that part of His shoulders could be seen at the very top. His arms were so beautiful that I cannot but describe them except by doing a painting of Him. In His whole Presence, there was a tremendous peace and gentleness...a meekness and mercy in His whole vivid body language. His tunic was made of scrap yarns of three colors: light brown, medium brown and dark brown. The garment was immaculate but seems to have been washed so often that the yarn was balled up in many places in front. Two other details: His hair so think was perfectly groomed with not one hair crossing the other. As I fully closed the curtain, finally I heard the old priest's kindly voice greeting me for my confession. I could not for the rest of the day speak to anyone except to Father after Mass what I saw in the confessional. Father smiled as if to say, "What else is new?" For the priest was so very aware that Jesus was hearing the confessions foremost; and he was just there in His stead day after day. He smiled - like the Cure' d'Ars - in a loving-twinkling kind of true confirmation of his priesthood. It was like Jesus would look when He heard His Father's Voice: "This is My Beloved Son in Whom I am well pleased!" I could see that this totally humble and saintly old priest took from my vision of Jesus a real confirmation that indeed while hearing confessions and saying Mass that he was an "alter Christus" - "another Christ."

Two memories that came to my mind later that relate to this "Epiphany": Fr. Joe Chircup, a Maltese priest, told me one day to me: "When you go to confession, you are not confessing to me; you are confessing to Jesus Christ." He also said once as not specifically to me but rather as a Chrstology of the Church: "To leave the Church is to leave Christ." Secondly, I recalled later the words of Pliny the historian who lived during the time of Christ. I will quote as best I can what he wrote of Jesus: "I have seen this Jesus...as he was coming down the main way of the town..looking down (from a roof) on him. He was about 6 feet tall, of blond hair and blue eyes and had the most beautiful arms of any man I have ever seen..."

Coming back to January 8, I went to Holy Communion which is the True Presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. The presence of Jesus in Confesion and the Presence of Jesus in Holy Communion were the whole Christ. I do not see the Presence of Jesus in both Sacraments and any difference except that in Holy Communion you know that Christ is Present: Body and Blood Soul and Divinity. In Confession, His Presence is fully there but in a mystical way that I thought was only by the Holy Spirit whose power all the Sacraments have their source. The Blessed Sacrament in the Holy of Holy on earth: the source and summet of our Faith. But in Confession, Jesus is whole Present as I have seen with my own eyes. I do not have the theology to explain it; but I do have the experience to based all my future Confessions on: that Jesus is most lovingly present in Confession and so totally interested and focused on us. Jesus is like the Prodigal Father welcoming home each of His prodigal sons and duaghters. To stay away from Holy Confesion and Holy Communion is the greatest mistake a Catholic Christian could ever make in this life.

Additonally, the Mass at Assumption Grotto was magnificent: a full orchestry, full choir, many priests saying a Trinitine Solmen High Mass for Epiphany. Truly this was a most holy Mass; in the Kyrie, the voices of the choir were pleading for mercy...and by the end of the Kyrie, the voices were joyful that God was and has forgiven them of their sins. Lastly, my soul was roused at the "hanc igitur" when the Consecration is about to take place because the orchestry haralded this even with as much excitement as the background music of Brave Heart just before the greatest event of the Saga with all the soldiers in battle aray! And the leader of all this incredible liturgical surgeance was the conductor: Fr. Eduard Perrone, musician, liturgist and priest!


Now, for us: what does all this mean? It means that God will reveal Himself so that every one can "know and love and serve God in this life; and be happy with Him in heaven forever." God said: "I will that no person be lost and that all will come to heaven." So, if you think that you do not have a chance, you are wrong. God wants you with Him now and forever. If you have not encountered God yet, why not pray and be alone with Him...why not look back at your life and see those epiphanies and incidents where He has already manifiested Himelf to you. It does not matter if you were atheists or Christian, Jew or Muslem: God will reveal Himself to you and has already done so....because He loves you...is madely in love with you...

Thank, You Lord, for Your Glorious Ephiphany Today!

Love, Pio

    

Pio's Proverb 209: Four Levels of Happiness:

We all seek happiness. It is part of nature to seek the best good that can make us happy. God made us to be happy. And that is why we seek to be happy. But we can be blinded to what true happiness is. Abraham Lincoln said that: "A person can be as happy as he has a mind to be."  Well, surely that says that happiness is within us ...not outside of us.

But there are only four levels of happiness. Down the centuries, every one has lived on one of these levels...or have gone through all four in a lifetime. Many have only lived on level one. Some on level two: Alexander the Great, Napoleon, Hitler, Stalin, Mao, Caeser, President Clinton and President Obama. But none of these first two levels have ever brought true happines. In the end, they have or will bring misery. Why? Because people who live on level one or two, will do anything to stay on top of their game.   Other Peoples' lives mean very little to those who live on level one and two. Let us see why: 

"Happiness", Aristotle says, that it is "the only thing we choose for its own sake." All the steps to happiness we do not choose for their own sake but only for the sake of possibly obtaining happiness in itself.

Thus depending on what level of happiness we are living on or wish to be living on, does our biases have their roots: Here are the four levels of happiness; and the one we choose to live on will determine our bias and who we really are as a person. The Four Levels of Happiness are: 

1) Level one: (Laetus: Latin for happiness)  Pleasure principle: which has a source but is non-enduring happiness consists only in the maximization of our physical pleasures: in eating, entertainment, drinking, drugs, sex, play, and leisure for rest and relaxation. {This does not bring true happiness but more so addiction which is a need for more and more because these things cannot fully satisfy us.} This first level of happiness does not enage our deep loves or intellect. It lives on a surface level. 
We cannot live our life on this level as our life's mail purpose.

2) Level two: (Felix: Latin for happiness) Ego happiness - Ego gratification: happiness sought in having power, prestige, fame, status, possessions, big toys, unlimited earning power in money, lands, real estate: security in things. This level seeks achievement, winning, admiration, respect, power in control of others. This level cannot be an end in itself because seeking happiness at this level creates jealously, envy, ambition, anger, rage. Some times this happiness of happiness seeks a security that could end in  murder of those who would take this level away: e.g Harod killing the Holy Innocents. {This does not bring happiness but causes inner worry that we might lose our possessions, health, or be able to stay on top of our game. This cannot be an end in itself or our Life's purpose.}

3) Level three: Investing our life in something better or greater than oneself: Contributory Happiness: Happiness and satisfaction in knowing that our lives are making an optimal positive difference in the world, in the community, and in our families, church and even to an international societal good/welfare. On this level we seeks "joie de vivre" in doing good for others and making a difference for the whole world. This joy can come from doing for others or from being with others: contributing love to others or to individuals close to you. This could even be the love shared in marriage. This can be a noble purpose for one's life. It is a beginning not and end.
{This does bring some sense of happiness, as when Danny Thomas founded the St. Jude’s Research Hospital for sick children and Jerry Lewis hosted the telethon for so many years to raise money for Muscular Distrophy. This kind of happiness is a desire that our lives would have counted for something other than our own personal well being but the well being of others. But is this want Mother Teresa wanted to do to find her happiness? No. Hers was the next level of happiness.}

4) Level four: (Beatus: Blessed/Happy) Transcendent Happiness: Happiness that comes from the understanding of who we really are as transcendent beings - with soul and body - who have the need for eternal unconditional love, truth, peace, joy, beauty and being: God.
Happiness comes from being with God even here on earth: with God in His love for others; with God in His sacrificial love; with God in His compassion for others; with God on the cross to "fill up what is lacking in the sufferings of Christ." - that is offering up our suffering for the salvation of others - redemptive suffering. This level of happiness - as shown by Sr. Francis of Assisi - can be our life's purpose: All for the love of God. Unless we have this "charity, it profits us nothing." And that is why levels 1, 2, and three cannot be the end purpose of our lives alone. {This level does bring true happiness here on earth and in the hereafter because this level of happiness why God created us and how are wired by God. "We are created to know Him, love Him, serve Him and be with Him forever."  It is our Human Nature joined to God’s Divine Nature which He shares with us by grace and which makes for the fullest Happiness our being can hold.}


Peace and love, Pio