JESUS IN SCRIPTURE NO ONE CAN SERVE TWO MASTERS

SCRIPTURE

MATTHEW 6:24-34 NO ONE CAN SERVE TWO MASTERS

“No one can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat (or drink), or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?

 Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they?   Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span.

 So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear?’   All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.  But seek first the kingdom (of God) and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides. 

 REFLECTION:

 Mammon in this passage refers to any treasure or god you put before God…Our God demands full commitment…Listen to Great Commandment once more, “Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone! Therefore, you shall love the LORD, your God, with your whole heart, and with your whole being, and with your whole strength. Take to heart these words which I command you today. Keep repeating them to your children. Recite them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you get up…. Deuteronomy 6:5-7

 These words spoken by Moses at God’s command are as true today as when Jesus spoke them to His disciples in the Gospel of Saint Matthew.

 “Teacher,* which commandment in the law is the greatest? He said to him,* “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it:* You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36

 No one likes to talk about masters, especially today. when the very roots of our country are sown with masters and slaves.  But Jesus is not talking here about ownership and denial of freedom in a plantation sense.  He is talking about what we value will determine our behavior. 

If we value greed, are we ready to share with those in need?  If we value power, will we be willing to share with the marginalized?  If we value pleasure, will we be willing to take up our cross and follow Jesus?

 Jesus asks the question, “Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Well is life more than food, clothes, cars, 401ks, fame and fortune. Is it?  Is this world on earth all there is? …or is there “resurrection of the body and life everlasting” as we state in our Creed every Sunday?

Where will we spend eternity?…with a friend, Jesus, we made in this life or be by ourselves with our addictions and lusts…”Enter by the narrow gate,” Jesus says.  Jesus is the gate, the way, the truth and life….There is no other path to eternal life. 

 Jesus became human while remaining Divine, that He might in justice atone for our disobedience and repair the separation from the Father.  We are now adopted sons and daughters of God as long as we don’t rebel, resist, and reject the promise.  We can’t do it on our own but amazing grace accepted and acted upon is a share in the divine life here on earth and promise of eternal life.

 Jesus tells us that God knows all our bodily needs.  We have all of Scripture that shows God’s loving providence from the liberation of His people in slavery in Egypt to a Savior that saves us from the slavery of sin.  Jesus says,” Seek first the kingdom (of God) and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides.” 

 PRAYER OF ST. IGNATIUS OF LOYOLA

 Take, O Lord, and receive my entire liberty, my memory, my understanding and my whole will.

 All that I am and all that I possess, Thou hast given me:  I surrender it all to Thee to be disposed of according to Thy will.

 Give me only Thy love and Thy grace; with these I will be rich enough and will desire nothing more. Amen.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FRUITS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

1 Comment / CATHOLIC CHURCH TEACHING

 

COME HOLY SPIRIT!

“Now the works of the flesh (our fallen nature) are: immorality, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, rivalry, jealousy, outbursts of fury, acts of selfishness, dissensions, occasions of envy, drinking bouts, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

 In contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control….Now those who belong to Christ [Jesus] have crucified their flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also follow the Spirit”… Galatians 5:19-25,

 COMMENTARY

 On the way to His Ascension, Christ promised to send the Holy Spirit on His followers. “John baptized with water, but you, not many days from now, will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” Christ assured them, “You will receive power, when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and then you will be my witnesses, not only in Jerusalem, but throughout Judea and Samaria and indeed to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:4-5, 8

 When I went to Confession this month and did the examination of conscience to take inventory on what I needed to work on, I remembered another inventory I might make to check how closely I am following Jesus. I examined how I was manifesting the fruits of the Spirit in my life.

I will keep the results of my examination to myself but will say the inventory was quite revealing.  When we are working in harmony with God’s will, he will pour out his Holy Spirit, giving us these qualities in abundance.

 FRUITS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

 1) Charity.  Love and prefer God over everyone and everything.

2) Joy.  Happiness is realized when we live for God, we are with Him now and will be forever in heaven.

3) Peace.  The Holy Spirit gives us order in our souls and a clean conscience.

4) Patience.  Trust in God that all will be well

5) Kindness.  This is the virtue of kindness to others.

6) Goodness.  We renounce evil, seek what is good, and repent of our sins

7) Gentleness, helps us overcome our natural tendency to be harsh or angry

8) Faithfulness, the ability to stay faithful, persevere to the end

9) Self-Control, ability to resist temptations of the flesh

“Make no mistake: God is not mocked, for a person will reap only what he sows, because the one who sows for his flesh will reap corruption from the flesh, but the one who sows for the spirit will reap eternal life from the spirit.” Galatians 6:7-8

 CONCLUSION

 You have probably heard the old saying, “The apple does not fall far from the tree,” sometimes a compliment and sometimes not so much.

“By their fruits you will know them…Just so, every good tree bears good fruit, and a rotten tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a rotten tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. So by their fruits you will know them.” Matthew 7:16-20

”When Jesus was going back to the city in the morning, he was hungry.  Seeing a fig tree by the road, Jesus went over to it, but found nothing on it except leaves. And he said to it, “May no fruit ever come from you again.” And immediately the fig tree withered.” Matthew 21:18-22

 Let us pursue the path of blessings not curses.  Work at it.  Pray about it.  Let our pray for each other that we live in the Spirit and model it for others.  Our human nature, while created good by God, is weakened by Original Sin. St. Paul may have put it best in Romans,

“What I do, I do not understand… I do not do what I want, but I do what I hate….So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. I do not do the good I want, but I do the evil I do not want…it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me….I see  my members at war with the law of my mind, taking me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.  Miserable one that I am! Who will deliver me from this mortal body?” Romans 7:18-22

 

JESUS IN SCRIPTURE YOU ARE THE SALT OF THE EARTH AND LIGHT OF THE WORLD

SCRIPTURE

MATTHEW 5:13-16  YOU ARE THE SALT OF THE EARTH AND LIGHT OF THE WORLD

 “You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

 You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lamp stand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.

 REFLECTION

 We are the salt that invigorates and gives life to the Spirit dwelling within… We need the nourishment but we can’t savor it alone, keep it to ourselves…it is our hands… our voice… ministering to others…speaking out against injustice…proclaiming God’s Word…holding the infirm and the afflicted in our love and prayers…giving comfort and hope in Christ Crucified… and the glory of His resurrection…don’t let it be trampled by Satan…

 It is the same for the light… once illuminated in truth,…don’t hide that truth, the grace we have been gifted, share it with the whole world…perhaps you are familiar with the folk song, This little light of mine…do it…if we are indifferent or slothful who will carry on the work of Christ….our salt and our light brings peace and conversion to an otherwise dysfunctional world… “the light shines in the darkness and the darkness does not overcome it” (John 1:5)

NOTE: I am including below an old folk song and children song, perhaps you know it or even have sung it..  Check out YOUTUBE to hear it sung.

THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE

This little light of mine,

I’m gonna let it shine

This little light of mine,

I’m gonna let it shine

Let it shine,

Let it shine,

Let it shine.

Hide it under a bushel? No!

I’m gonna let it shine

Hide it under a bushel? No!

I’m gonna let it shine

This little light of mine,

Don’t let Satan blow it out,

I’m gonna let it shine

Don’t let Satan blow it out,

I’m gonna let it shine

Let it shine,

Let it shine,

Let it shine.

THE WORLD NEEDS YOU TO SHINE YOUR LIGHT BRIGHT

JESUS THE BRIDEGROOM AWAITS HIS BRIDE

CATHOLIC CHURCH TEACHING, SCRIPTURE

INTRODUCTION

My granddaughter is getting married later in the week so marriage reflections have been on my mind a lot lately. Marriage was one of the first gifts to mankind when God presented Adam with his wife, Eve.  God is the first witness of a sacramental marriage.  It is also the first of six covenants God has made with His people.

God made six covenants with his people, Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, and Jesus.  When covenants were kept by the people, blessings flowed.  When the people did not keep the covenant disaster followed.

 “Have you not read that in the beginning God ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘for this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” Matthew 19:3-12

Jesus went on to teach His disciples, “Not all can accept this, but only those to whom that it is granted.” Not everyone is called to a sacramental marriage but if this is your calling to enter into a covenantal marriage then you must be prepared to keep the promises of the covenant and you will receive the blessings.

In a contract, you exchange something you have – a skill, a piece of property, money. The difference between a contract and a covenant is like hiring a prostitute, contract, and entering into sacramental marriage, covenant.  In a covenant, you give your very self to another person.  When people enter into a covenant, they say: “I am yours and you are mine.”

The grace of this Sacramental Marriage perfects the love of husband and wife, binds them together in fidelity, and helps them welcome and care for children. Christ is the source of this grace and he dwells with the spouses to strengthen their covenant promises, to bear each other’s burdens with forgiveness and kindness

I began looking into nuptial references in all of Scripture. Scripture, both Old and New, are filled with references how God has compared Himself to a bridegroom and the people of Israel as bride. God our Creator desires an intimate relationship with all of us!

Jesus performed his first miracle at Cana in role of bridegroom.  The bridegroom was responsible for providing sufficient wine to his guests. “When the headwaiter tasted the water which had become wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the headwaiter called the bridegroom…John 2:9

When Jesus was asked by religious leaders why his disciples didn’t fast, he replied, “You cannot make the attendants of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them, can you “But the days will come; and when the bridegroom is taken away from them, then they will fast in those days.” Luke 5:33-35

I will now include one example from the Old Testament of God demonstrating His nuptial relationship with His people.  God desires intimacy with us.  He certainly a transcendent God, way separate from us in most respects but He is also an immanent God with us, Emmanuel.  He calls all of us to the Wedding Feast, better prepare your wedding garments!

 HOSEA THE PROPHET

 When the LORD began to speak with Hosea, the LORD said to Hosea: Go, get for yourself a woman of prostitution and children of prostitution, for the land prostitutes itself, a turning away from the LORD. So he went and took Gomer, daughter of Diblaim; and she conceived and bore him a son.” HOSEA 1:2-3

The Lord gives Hosea one of the most shocking commands in the Bible: Marry a prostitute! (1:2) Hosea obeys and marries Gomer and they have three children.  Then she apparently returns to her immoral lifestyle, but Hosea seeks her out, redeems her and takes her back (3:2).  Their relationship is meant to be a metaphor for the Lord’s relationship with his people. 

Hosea’s love seems to have transformed Gomer at least for a little while. But soon after the birth of Jezreel she goes back to her old ways. She ends up totally in the gutter, to be sold as a slave. What the Lord tells Hosea then is very revealing: “Go again, love a woman who is loved by her husband, yet an adulteress” (3:1).

Despite everything that she had done, Hosea still loves Gomer! Hosea brings her back once more and gives conditions.  She must stay many days with him and no more prostitution but work on restoration of a loving marriage.  Gomer’s unfaithful character mirrors Israel’s infidelity to the Lord. 

 The people of Israel are in a covenant relationship with the Lord, but they have all but forgotten their commitment to him.  Israel has committed spiritual adultery against the Lord by worshipping other gods.

The people of Israel worshipped the Canaanite deity, Baal, and participated in the sexually immoral rituals which were part of Canaanite religion.

Hosea rejects this idolatry and calls the people to repent (Hos 8:5-6, 10:5).  Hosea calls the people to return to the Lord and find restoration (Ch. 6, 14).  In his infinite mercy, the Lord promises a future time of healing, salvation and reconciliation for his people.  Though his people had been unfaithful and adulterous, he willingly extends his forgiveness and grace to them.

Hosea powerfully presents the image of the nation as the bride of the Lord.  Other biblical books, such as Song of Songs, Isaiah, Revelation and the Gospels, use this theme to explain the depth of God’s love for his people and the gravity of breaking our relationship with him through sin.

Hosea shows the mercy of God who welcomes back his bride after her time of unfaithfulness (3:5).  The Lord’s willingness to forgive his bride for her betrayal shows his willingness to forgive us for our sins.  Not only does the bridal imagery show the intensity of God’s desire for his people, it illustrates the extravagance of his mercy.

CONCLUSION

A voice coming from the throne said: “Praise our God, all you his servants, and you who revere him, small and great. …The Lord has established his reign, Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory. For the wedding day of the Lamb* has come, his bride has made herself ready….Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed* are those who have been called to the wedding feast of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These words are true; they come from God.  REVELATIONS 19:5-9

JESUS THE BRIDEGROOM WELCOMES HIS BRIDE THE CHURCH

PHYSICIAN ASSISTED SUICIDE, NOT SO FAST!

CATHOLIC CHURCH TEACHING, CATHOLIC COMMENTARY

JESUS THE DIVINE PHYSICIAN

INTRODUCTION

Euthanasia, the painless killing of a patient suffering from an incurable and painful disease or in an irreversible coma. Is definition found in dictionary but as found at work in today’s culture it has become the deliberate killing of another person that one deems not worthy to live anymore.

Euthanasia is back in the headlines big time.  Many euphemisms are used for euthanasia such as mercy killing but the new favorite is “death with dignity.” They have now added the slogan, my life, my choice.  Sounds very familiar  to the cry of pro-abortion lobby.

I find this very troubling since I had absolutely nothing to do with my existence, a pure gift from God the Creator.  Life was not my choice from the very beginning.  I was made to know, love and serve God in this world and be happy with Him in the next.  Do I throw that gift back in His face and say no thanks, I am finished, Count me out.

I am not sure how you feel but I have always thought of death with dignity is dying as I have lived, trusting in Jesus loving God and my neighbor and placing myself in the arms of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph at the time of my passing.

JESUS, MARY, AND JOSEPH PRAY FOR ME AT THE HOUR OF MY DEATH!

HEADLINES

The Medical Aid in Dying for the Terminally Ill Act was signed into law by New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy.  As of Aug. 1, 2019, terminally ill patients with a prognosis of six months or fewer will now be able to self-administer lethal concoctions of drugs in order to take their own lives.

The bill allows adults with a prognosis of six months or less to live to get a prescription for life-ending medication. The prescription is a series of self-administered pills that can be taken at home.” Allowing terminally ill and dying residents the dignity to make end-of-life decisions according to their own consciences is the right thing to do,” said Murphy.

Currently, California, Colorado, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, Hawaii, Montana and the District of Columbia allow physician-assisted suicide.  In Canada, a hospital for sick children has unveiled a plan for how to terminate the lives of terminally ill kids, with or without parental consent.   As the demand for end-of-life care continues to increase, physician-assisted suicide emerges as a cheap alternative to appropriate palliative or hospice care.

 CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

2277 Whatever its motives and means, direct euthanasia consists in putting an end to the lives of handicapped, sick, or dying persons. It is morally unacceptable.

 2283 To assist another’s suicide is to take part in “an injustice which can never be excused, even if it is requested…

 “A government that legalizes assisted suicide sends the terrible message that there is such a thing as disposable people.”

U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)

 COMMENTARY

 In my activist days when I founded an organization to oppose Capital Punishment, I properly called it, STATE SANCTIONED MURDER. Now we have on the books of some states STATE SANCTIONED SUICIDE!

 Already, before birth, if you don’t want the child you can get rid of it by an abortion procedure.  Now it  is established legally that some human life is disposable at the end of life.  People too frail, too mentally disabled to work and contribute to society are at risk.  They are now a drain on insurance companies, family incomes, and an inconvenience, depending on who is setting the definition of which human life matters.

Just because a terminally ill patient chooses to end his own life does not excuse society from moral obligations to intercede.  God gave us life until He calls us home.  An alternative to physician assisted suicide is palliative care, already well researched and well practiced .

PALLIATIVE CARE

The World Health Organization acknowledges that dying is a normal process and defines palliative care as “an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing the problems associated with life-threatening illness. It includes treatment of pain and other problems, physical, psychosocial and spiritual.”

The intention of palliative care is neither to hasten nor delay death.  Effective palliative care allows patients to devote their attention to the unfinished business of their lives, to arrive at a sense of peace with God, with loved ones, and with themselves. Learning how to face this last stage of our earthly lives is one of the most important and meaningful things each of us will do.

 CONCLUSION

 Suffering need not be meaningless but can bring us closer to the mystery of Christ’s sacrifice for the salvation of the world.  Suffering is part of human existence from birth until death, and every human person suffers in a variety of ways: physically, psychologically, socially, and spiritually. The suffering of Christ leads to his glory; so, too, does the suffering of Christians

Some call this “Redemptive suffering.” Jesus Christ accomplished our redemption once and for all by suffering torture and crucifixion for our sins, Jesus our Redeemer suffered in place of man and for man. Every man has his own share in the Redemption. Each man is also called to share in that suffering through which the Redemption was accomplished.

Redemptive suffering takes on our sins, the sins of others, acting as a kind of sponge absorbing the evil all around them.  This form of suffering is so powerful–because love is so powerful–that its arms can span the entire world and has the potential to affect countless souls. “Suffering is medicine for Salvation.” St. Augustine

Our hope and prayer is that when we grow old or sick that we be surrounded by people who care and respect each and every human life.  Catholics should be leaders in the effort to defend and uphold the principle that each of us has a right to live with dignity through every day of our lives, even our last ones.

Jesus, do not leave me alone in suffering. You know, Lord, how weak I am….I am nothingness itself… Do with me as you please, Lord, only give me the grace to be able to love You In every event and circumstance.

 ADDENDUM

 CATHOLIC DIRECTIVE Instructions for My Health Care

My Catholic faith teaches that all human life is a precious gift from God from the first moment of conception to the moment of natural death, and that euthanasia and assisted suicide are not morally permissible.

Therefore, I oppose any action or inaction that is intended to cause my death. I always wish to receive basic care, which will allow me to be most comfortable including food, water, and pain control. I have discussed my desires regarding pain control with my agent.

I wish to receive medical care and treatment appropriate to my condition as long as it is useful and offers a reasonable hope of benefit and is not excessively burdensome to me, i.e., does not impose serious risk, or some other extreme burden.

If I am unable to eat and drink on my own, nutrition and hydration administered by medical means should be provided to me unless death is inevitable and imminent so that the effort to sustain my life is futile, or unless I am unable to assimilate food or fluids.

I request and direct that medical treatment and care be provided to me to preserve my life without  discrimination based on my age, physical or mental disability, or the “quality” of my life.

If my death from a terminal illness is imminent, I wish to refuse treatment that would only secure a precarious and burdensome prolongation of my life. I wish to be attended by a Catholic priest, receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick and Viaticum.

Signature______________________________Date_________Initials: Witness1_____ Witness 2

 

WHAT DOES JESUS TEACH ABOUT THE SIN OF SCANDAL

CATHOLIC CHURCH TEACHING, SCRIPTURE

Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin,

it would be better for him to have a great millstone hung around his neck

 and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. 

Woe to the world because of things that cause sin!

Such things must come, but woe to the one through whom they come!

MATTHEW 18:6-7

 INTRODUCTION

Scandal may be the deliberate leading another into sin like recruiting someone to pick pockets.  But the sin of scandal is more prevalent, nuanced, and pervasive than that.  A priest who abuses a child brings condemnation on a Church and even Christianity.  Catholic politicians who brags publicly they are Catholic and supports abortion undermines Church teaching and leads other poorly informed and weak souls astray.

We can give scandal or be recipient of scandal that influences what we believe and what we promote.  For example people read a poll that a majority of “Catholics” support abortion. The pressure is on in this world to go along to get along.

Many “feel” there is no outside moral authority.  It is what I believe/judge to be right for me.  This is called moral relativism.  i.e. .What is right for me may not be right for you but so what; When I fill out a form and they ask for gender I mark other.  It is up to me to decide what gender I want to be; I can have sex with anybody anytime and it is not anyone’s business.    

Contrary to moral relativists, there is moral authority outside ourselves.  God our Creator is the giver of the moral law.  God made us to show forth His goodness and to share with us His everlasting happiness in heaven. Sin is our separation from God— a cause for unhappiness, dysfunction and ultimately, jeopardizing eternal life and happiness with God.

Sin always has consequences. No one sins without consequences for ourselves and others.  i.e watching pornography coarsens and objectifies our opinion of women and if married our marital spousal relationship; a married spouse has an affair with another, breaks marriage vows, disrespects spouse, gives scandal to children, and could result in divorce and break up of family. 

To live in a pagan culture is nothing new.  Christians have had to persevere from the beginning under the imposition of false idols and immoral man made laws. But today, especially in time of social media, 24/7 news and talk shows, scandal dispersed by “Catholics” is intimidating and discouraging to faithful Catholics.

Discouragement is the tool of the Devil.  God only encourages, never discourages.  If you are discouraged by the society and culture that surrounds you, let a big red flag unfurl in front of you.  Devil alert!  Devil alert!  Jesus I trust in you!  Let me surrender to you not the culture of the times!

News and talk shows do not or should not form our moral compass.  For example I am citing some recent news stories I have been following that attack religious liberty, promotes euthanasia, and denial of the gender you were born with and formed in the womb by God.

GENDER IDENTITY PARENTS BEWARE

Last month, the Supreme Court of British Columbia issued an order that a father may not refer to his 14-year-old daughter as a girl because she identifies herself as a boy. or by her original name, whether in public or in private. Doing so has been ruled to constitute “family violence because it would cause her “psychological abuse in the form of harassment or coercion”

CATHOLIC CHURCH TEACHING GENDER IDENTITY

When the freedom to be creative becomes the freedom to create oneself, then necessarily the Maker (God) himself is denied.  We believe and affirm that all human beings are created by God and thereby have an inherent dignity. What God has created is good. “God created mankind in his image; in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them” (Gen 1:27).

SEAL OF CONFESSION UNDER ATTACK

The proposal, California Senate Bill 360, would seek to require priests to violate the sacramental seal of confession in suspected cases of child abuse or neglect. The bill would force a priest who hears in the confessional about sins regarding sexual abuse to choose to “face possible imprisonment or to betray that confidentiality and violate his deepest conscience and the laws of God and the Roman Catholic Church.”

CATHOLIC CHURCH TEACHING

The Church teaches that the “seal of confession” is inviolable and cannot be changed by human authority, because its origin is in divine revelation. A priest who intentionally violates the seal commits a mortal sin and incurs an automatic excommunication. A priest, therefore, cannot break the seal to save his own life, to protect his good name, to refute a false accusation, to save the life of another, to aid the course of justice (like reporting a crime), or to avert a public calamity.

PHYSICIAN ASSISTED SUICIDE

The Medical Aid in Dying for the Terminally Ill Act was signed into law by New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy. As of Aug. 1, 2019, terminally ill patients with a prognosis of six months or fewer will now be able to self-administer lethal concoctions of drugs in order to take their own lives.

In Canada, a hospital for sick children has unveiled a plan for how to terminate the lives of terminally ill kids, with or without parental consent.

CATHOLIC CHURCH TEACHING

CCC 2277  Whatever its motives and means, direct euthanasia consists in putting an end to the lives of handicapped, sick, or dying persons. It is morally unacceptable.

CCC 2281 Suicide contradicts the natural inclination of the human being to preserve and perpetuate his life. It is gravely contrary to the just love of self. It likewise offends love of neighbor because it unjustly breaks the ties of solidarity with family, nation, and other human societies to which we continue to have obligations. Suicide is contrary to love for the living God.

SCANDAL

CATECHISM OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH

CCC 2284 Scandal is an attitude or behavior which leads another to do evil. The person who gives scandal becomes his neighbor’s tempter. He damages virtue and integrity; he may even draw his brother into spiritual death. Scandal is a grave offense if by deed or omission another is deliberately led into a grave offense.

CCC 2285 Scandal takes on a particular gravity by reason of the authority of those who cause it or the weakness of those who are scandalized. It prompted our Lord to utter this curse: “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened round his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea. ”

POSTSCRIPT

We must fight back daily the influence of scandal and of course not be guilty of scandal ourselves. Pray always that we will persevere and overcome temptation.  All prayers are heard and answered by God. Read and pray Scripture.  God speaks to us though their written words. Take advantage of the Sacramental life of the Church.

 

SEVEN LAST WORDS OF JESUS ON THE CROSS

1 Comment / LENTEN REFLECTIONS

 

SEVEN LAST WORDS OF JESUS

FIRST WORD “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.”

LUKE 23: 26– 37…. As they led him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, who was coming from the country, and they laid the cross on him, and made him carry it behind Jesus. A great number of the people followed him, and among them were women who were beating their breasts and wailing for him.

But Jesus turned to them and said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children”. Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing….

WE ADORE YOU O CHRIST, AND WE BLESS YOU

BECAUSE BY YOUR HOLY CROSS YOU HAVE REDEEMED THE WORLD!

MEDITATION

Jesus always sees beyond what other people see.Jesus always sees. He sees people for who they really are. When he first meets Peter, he doesn’t see just a poor fisherman from a small town beside the Sea of Galilee; he sees someone with the potential to lead a church. When he sees Matthew at his tax table, he doesn’t just see a tax collector but a potential follower.  When he meets Zacchaeus, the chief tax collector in Jericho, he doesn’t see just the most sinful person in the region— he sees someone seeking redemption. When he sees the woman caught in adultery, he doesn’t see just her sin; he sees a person in need of forgiveness and healing.

From the cross, Jesus doesn’t see just executioners, but people making dreadful decisions.  Forgiveness is a gift you give the other person and yourself.  You may want to forgive but feel incapable of doing so. If you have the desire to forgive, God can work with that.  You may not be able to let go of the resentment but God can! True forgiveness is a grace from God.

 SECOND WORD “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

LUKE 23: 39– 43 One of the criminals, hanging with Jesus kept deriding him and saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”  Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

 WE ADORE YOU O CHRIST, AND WE BLESS YOU

BECAUSE BY YOUR HOLY CROSS YOU HAVE REDEEMED THE WORLD!

MEDITATION

In this second word, Jesus promises the hope of the afterlife, of “paradise,” At the Last Supper in John’s Gospel Jesus tells his apostles, “In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. . . . I go to prepare a place for you.” What does your place look like?  I am sure it will be a perfect fit because Jesus has selected it.…Eyes have not seen, ears have not heard what God has prepared for those who love him….

From the moment of our conception, God has been inviting us into relationship.  As we look back over our life and ponder these moments, we can see the presence of God…His intervention on our journey home. St. Paul puts it this way in Romans 8:38, “not even death can separate us from the love of God.”  This relationship will be perfected and complete in “paradise.”

THIRD WORD “Woman, here is your son. . . . Here is your mother.”

JOHN 19: 26– 27 When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.

WE ADORE YOU O CHRIST, AND WE BLESS YOU

BECAUSE BY YOUR HOLY CROSS YOU HAVE REDEEMED THE WORLD!

MEDITATION

Jesus looks upon his Mother and beloved apostle.  He gives them to one another. Mary had many relatives so she does not need John to take care of her.  John already has a Mother, Salome married to Zebedee. When Jesus gives Mary to John, He is giving Mary to us.  Mary is our advocate and intercessor with Jesus.  Mary’s faith and obedience was challenged at the Annunciation but once she understood that God would take care of everything, Mary believed and obeyed.

We who take Mary in are the beloved disciple too.  Every Christian family should take Mary into their heart as John did., We should especially pray to the Mother of Sorrows at the hour of our death.. She assisted so lovingly at the death of her Divine Son, she will also assist us at our hour of death and obtain for us the grace of a happy death.

FOURTH WORD “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

MARK 15: 33– 39 When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. At three o’clock Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, “Listen, he is calling for Elijah; let us see whether Elijah will come to take him”.”

 WE ADORE YOU O CHRIST, AND WE BLESS YOU

BECAUSE BY YOUR HOLY CROSS YOU HAVE REDEEMED THE WORLD!

MEDITATION

Even nature darkened in empathy with its Creator.  As dark of time it was, did Jesus despair and give up hope when he was crucified? No, of course not.  As Jesus took on the sins of all, he in his humanity was the furthest he could be from God.  This last word begins Psalm 22, “my God, my God why have you forsaken me?,” a prayer that all faithful Jews prayed often when in need.  At the end of Psalm 22 the Suffering Servant does not despair but continues to trust.  Psalm 22 concludes, ” He did not hide his face from me, but heard when I cried to Him. “…

There is a big difference between believing God is absent and feeling God is absent.  Jesus has been subjected to an exhausting series of late-night inquests, brutalized by Roman guards, and marched through the streets of Jerusalem under the crushing weight of the cross;  now nailed to the wood and suffering excruciating pain. Even so, Jesus is still in relationship with God His Father— calling on him from the cross. When you pray in suffering, doubt and darkness ask Jesus in His resurrected glory at the right hand of the Father to give you His kind of Trust that in the end all will be well!

 FIFTH WORD “I am thirsty.”

 JOHN 19: 28– 29 …when Jesus knew that all was now finished, he said (in order to fulfill the scripture), “I am thirsty.” A jar full of sour wine was standing there. So they put a sponge full of the wine on a branch of hyssop and held it to his mouth.

 WE ADORE YOU O CHRIST, AND WE BLESS YOU

BECAUSE BY YOUR HOLY CROSS YOU HAVE REDEEMED THE WORLD!

MEDITATION

The child, Jesus, entered the world as helpless as any newborn.  He needed to be nursed, held, fed, burped, and changed. Jesus would have skinned his knees on the rocky ground, bumped his head on doorways, and pricked his fingers on thorns.  Like all of us, Jesus sweated and sneezed and scratched…Everything proper to the human being, except sin.  These bodily experiences include hunger and thirst.  It is not only a physical thirst Jesus expresses on the cross.

Jesus thirsts for conversion, repentance, and salvation of all.  Jesus asks us to thirst for Him the same way He thirsts for us….Do I thirst for Jesus?  Am I confident that Jesus will satisfy my thirst? “The heart is restless until it rests in thee.” St. Augustine.  Think about it!

SIXTH WORD “It is finished.”

JOHN 19: 30 When Jesus had received the wine, he said, “It is finished.” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

WE ADORE YOU O CHRIST, AND WE BLESS YOU

BECAUSE BY YOUR HOLY CROSS YOU HAVE REDEEMED THE WORLD!

MEDITATION

These words clearly say Jesus has done the work assigned Him by the Father.  On the cross Jesus has shown the depth of His Father’s love for us. For some, Jesus’ death on the cross is a stumbling block and others folly.  But Scripture says, ”he humbled himself becoming obedient to death, even death on a cross.*Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth…and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,* to the glory of God the Father” Phillipians 2:8-11

Sometimes our mission from God may seem a mistake or folly because we don’t see the results we would like here on earth.  But in the hands of God,  God can take any of our efforts and multiply and shower abundance on the whole world because of something a faithful servant has begun…we are sowers of seeds…the Holy Spirit cultivates the seeds and brings them to fruition….Have faith, faithful servant and keep your eyes on the prize!

  SEVENTH WORD “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.”

LUKE 23: 44– 49 It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, while the sun’s light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” Having said this, he breathed his last. When the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God and said, “Truly this man was the Son of God” Mark 15:39

WE ADORE YOU O CHRIST, AND WE BLESS YOU

BECAUSE BY YOUR HOLY CROSS YOU HAVE REDEEMED THE WORLD!

MEDITATION

In the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus asked His Father if this cup could past but not my will, your will be done…do we imitate Jesus in submitting to the Father’s will… obeying God’s commandments… not holding anything back from God… like a  part I don’t want God messing with…a pattern of selfishness, a desire for power and wealth…Do we trust God….Jesus trusted the Father and on third day rose from the day with glorified body and sits at the right hand of Father….certainly we do not know the changes that will occur in us if we hand ourselves over to God…but we do know the more we give to the Father the more he gives back… no Easter without Good Friday,,,, God will never be outdone in generosity.  Alleluia! Father into your hands I commend my Spirit, Amen!

 

 

 

JESUS IN SCRIPTURE TEACHER MY YOKE IS EASY AND MY BURDEN LIGHT

SCRIPTURE

COMMENTARY

 When I think of YOKE I think of many uses some positive some negative.  First I will add a couple of pictures of actual yokes so we are all the same page.

PICTURE OF MAN PLOWING HIS FIELD

First yoke as a negative.  Sometimes it is used as a metaphor for slavery or oppression.  Some authoritarian figure has subjected the people to iron clad rule.  It may also refer to the yoke of sin that a sinner is bound to his sinful addictions and is enslaved to sin.  On the positive side a yoke is useful in plowing a field by having the oxen work together as a team to follow the instructions of the farmer. In our Scripture reading today, Jesus is asking us to yoke ourselves to him because it is easier to reach our goal of everlasting life with him than to go off on some other path of our choosing.

Yoke is defined in dictionaries as a bar fitted on the neck of oxen for the purpose of binding to them the traces by which they might draw the plough, It was a curved piece of wood “bar.” which signifies a pair, two oxen yoked or coupled together.  In a literal sense, the word ‘Yoke’ means a bar of wood, so constructed as to unite two animals (usually oxen), enabling them to work in the fields, drawing loads, pulling instruments used for farming.

 

MATTHEW 11:25-30  MY YOKE IS EASY AND MY BURDEN LIGHT

 “I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike.  Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will.

 All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him. 

“Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”

REFLECTION:

Jesus reminds us again that he has revealed his teachings to the child like not the so called sophisticated who are skeptical but the believer and trusting humble looking for something. someone to believe in.   believe in Jesus…He is the Way the Truth and the Life…The Father has handed all over to the Son….whoever sees or hears Jesus sees and hears the Father…

Come to me all you who labor and are burdened and find rest…take the yoke I will give you… Jesus often uses imagery from his culture to make his point… Jesus suggests we bond with him as partners for life…secure and safe on our journey…his yoke is light…he will guide gently, for He is meek and humble of heart…

listen to me, my child, my yoke is easy and my burden light…learn of me for I am meek and humble of heart…if you do you will know the Father, the Father of us all….

 SILENT PRAYER

Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. 

For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common?

Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? 

2 Corinthians 6:14

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.

 Stand firm, and do not let yourselves be burdened again

 by the yoke of slavery (to sin.)”

Galations 5:1:

JESUS IN SCRIPTURE WHO DO YOU SAY I AM

SCRIPTURE

MATTHEW 16:13-20 WHO DO PEOPLE SAY THE SON OF MAN IS?

When Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”  They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah, still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”  He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

Simon Peter said in reply, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”    Jesus said to him in reply, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. 

 And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.  I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”  Then he strictly ordered his disciples to tell no one that he was the Messiah.

REFLECTION:

 Jesus is always bringing God and His kingdom into the secular, the pagan, and the unchatechized.  In this Gospel He brings his disciples to a historic shrine to pagan Gods to announce He is God above all other gods, listen to me, follow me, don’t be misled.. Jesus as a great teacher does not directly say these words but asks questions of His disciples so they can figure it out for themselves, a great way to evangelize Who do people say that the Son of Man is….

 Jesus, the Word made Flesh, affirms his humanity…on the one hand, he is the Son of Mary thus the title Son of Man…but Jesus is seeking more insight…inspired by the Holy Spirit, Peter answers, you are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God….Do we listen to those moments of inspiration or is there too much noise, too many distractions in our lives…

Jesus tells Peter that he is blessed by the gift of faith from the Heavenly Father…because of this blessing…Jesus renames Cephas, Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, Jesus’ CHURCH!…it is not unusual for God to change the name of a person when they are given a new identity and mission, Abram to Abraham; Saul to Paul….reminds me of how we are given a baptismal name when we become a child of God and call Him Abba, Father!

 Pray for gift of faith that I may know Jesus the Son of the living God as Peter affirmed…Jesus built a church on Peter’s faith…from the time of the apostles, the Church has preached the Good News…am I listening…am I embracing the Word made flesh…what stands in my way…Who do you say Jesus is!

 SILENT PRAYER

 NOTES

 CAESAREA PHILIPPI

Caesarea Philippi was an ancient Roman City and the location of the Cave of Pan, the place of the pagan Gate of Hades. It was in this area that the first king of Israel (Jeroboam) led the northern kingdom of Israel into idolatry. King Herod the Great built a magnificent white temple at the site.  Following Herod’s death his son Herod Phillip established Panias as his capital city and called it Caesarea-Phillipi to distinguish it from Caesarea on the coast. The city had been known as Banias, an Arabic pronunciation of Panias. This name honored the Greek god Pan — a half-man, half-goat deity often depicted playing a flute — who was worshipped here. Here the cult of Pan flourished. East of a large cave are the remains of shrines to Pan and inscriptions, from the 2nd century, bearing his name

CAESAREA PHILLIPI TODAY

SON OF MAN

SON OF MAN is used to designate Jesus Christ no fewer than eighty-one times — thirty times in St. Matthew, fourteen times in St. Mark, twenty-five times in St. Luke, and twelve times in St. John.

The Son is Lifted Up (John 12:23, 34). Now the “hour” has arrived. It is the moment when the Son of Man is to be lifted up—and this involves both glorification (John 12:23) and death (John 12:32-34). When the Son of Man is lifted up, the name of the Father is glorified (John 12:28).

The glory of the Son of Man is to glorify the Father through his death, and in response God will glorify the Son.

 “Son of Man” is a reference to Jesus’ humanity, it is not a denial of His deity. “Son of Man” reference makes clear that Jesus in one of us and therefore able to be our Redeemer.  Jesus has two natures (divine and human) conjoined in one person.

 I AM WHO I AM

It is interesting that this scripture passage Jesus asks who do people say I AM?  Jesus is I AM!  Just as God gave His name to Moses, I Am Who Am.  Jesus is God and is often in trouble with his religious enemies who accuse him of taking Yahweh title I AM.

 OLD TESTAMENT REFERENCES
Genesis 15:7, “I am the Lord who brought you out from Ur of the Chaldeans to give you this land to possess.”
Exodus 3:14, “God said to Moses, “I am who I am.”1 And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel, ‘I am has sent me to you.’”
Exodus 29:34, “And they shall know that I am the Lord their God, who brought them out of the land of Egypt that I might dwell among them. I am the Lord their God.”

GOD (I AM) IS NOT ANOTHER BEING BUT EXISTENCE ITSELF HE IS! EXISTENCE IS HIS ESSENCE THE NAME OF GOD IS FATHER SON AND HOLY SPIRIT; ONE GOD THREE PERSONS)

 NEW TESTAMENT REFERENCES

JOHN 4:26  Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.”

JOHN 8:58  Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.”

JOHN 10:36  Do you say of Him, whom the Father sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’?

MESSIAH

The mashiach ( Messiah) will be a great political leader descended from King David (Jeremiah 23:5). The mashiach is often referred to as “son of David). He will be well-versed in Jewish law, and observant of its commandments (Isaiah 11:2-5).

He will be a charismatic leader, inspiring others to follow his example. He will be a great military leader, who will win battles for Israel. He will be a great judge, who makes righteous decisions (Jeremiah 33:15). But above all, he will be a human being, not a god, demi-god or other supernatural being.

When Peter calls Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God, he challenges the customary expectation of the Jewish community.  Rather than a great military leader who will liberate Israel from its occupiers, Jesus is the Messiah who will liberate us from sin and death.

 

OUR LADY OF LOURDES I AM THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION

MARY MOTHER OF GOD

INTRODUCTION

Tomorrow, February 11, we celebrate another Marian Feast Day, Our Lady of Lourdes. It is ironic that only four years after the dogma of the Immaculate Conception was proclaimed by Pope Pius IX, 1854, Mary appeared to a young woman of Lourdes and confirmed she is, “I am the Immaculate Conception”

I suppose the unique message of Lourdes is the heavenly confirmation of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception.  Other messages are consistent with other Marian apparitions.  A call to conversion, praying for sinners, and acts of reparations for our sins and the sins of others.  Mary tells Bernadette the important thing is to be happy in the life to come by attaching ourselves to the crucified Jesus and His cross.  Mary over and over again stresses prayer, especially the rosary. Today, Lourdes, is a favorite shrine of Christian pilgrims for its miracles of healing.  Lourdes water is brought home by pilgrims and shared with thousands in need.

The Immaculate Conception means that Mary, whose conception was brought about the normal way, was conceived without original sin. From the first instant of her existence she was in the state of sanctifying grace and was free from the corrupt nature original sin brings.

She was redeemed by the grace of Christ, but in a special way—by anticipation.  Mary received grace merited by her Son’s death and resurrection applied to her before she was able to become mired in original sin and its stain.  Mary is totally inhabited by God.  She is our model of faith and commitment.  Turn to Mary and ask she help you to always say Yes to Jesus!

(SEE MY POST IN CATEGORY OF MARY FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION)

I AM THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION LOURDES 1858

O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.

APPARITIONS OF MARY AT LOURDES 1858

In Lourdes, France, on January 7, 1844, a baby girl named Bernadette was born to Francois and Louise Soubirous.  Bernadette’s family was very poor, and Bernadette was responsible for looking after and caring for her brothers and sisters.  Bernadette suffered many illnesses including asthma which prevented her from attending school and was schooled at home.

The only education Bernadette received was the Catholic teachings which she studied faithfully in the evenings. At the age of 13, Bernadette was preparing for her First Holy Communion.  One of Bernadette’s chores was to collect wood for the fire.

On a cold day in February 1858, Bernadette and 2 companions headed off to the Gave River to collect pieces of wood.  Near the river outside a grotto/cave, Bernadette heard a great noise like the sound of a storm, but nothing was moving.   She turned her head towards the Grotto of Massabieille and saw in the opening of the rock a rosebush, one only, moving as if it were very windy. Bernadette looked up towards the grotto and the caves on the riverbank.  Near the opening of the grotto, Bernadette glanced and noticed the cave was suddenly filled with golden light.

Lifting up her eyes, she saw a lady of great beauty, dressed in a pure white robe with a blue sash, a veil over her head, a rosary clasped in her hands and yellow roses at her feet.  Bernadette rubbed her eyes.   What a beautiful lady!  But where did she come from?  And what was she doing here?  She looked at Bernadette and immediately smiled and signaled her to advance, in a way that a mother motions her child to come near.

Bernadette took out her rosary and knelt before the Lady, who also had a rosary on her right arm. As Bernadette prayed the rosary, the Lady passed the beads of her rosary between her fingers.  When the recitation of the rosary was finished, the Lady returned to the interior of the rock and the golden cloud disappeared with her.

In the beginning the Lady spoke no words to Bernadette.  Our Blessed Mother appeared eighteen times to Bernadette Soubirous in 1858. Her messages to Bernadette are ageless and apply to all of us today.

BERNADETTE SOUBIROUS

The third time Bernadette went to the grotto, the lady spoke to her.  The beautiful lady asked Bernadette to come here every day for fifteen days.  In Bernadette’s day, the Grotto was a dirty, hidden, damp and cold place. The Grotto was literally called the “pig–sty” because that was where pigs feeding in the area took shelter.

The Lady instructed Bernadette to scrape the mud until a stream appeared.  She said that she wanted Bernadette to tell the priests to build a chapel there.  She told her to drink water from the stream.  The lady also told Bernadette to pray for the conversion of sinners,“Penance, Penance, Penance, pray, pray, pray for sinners.”.

Bernadette’s parish priest asked her to ask the Lady’s name. On March 25, 1858, the day of the sixteenth Apparition, Bernadette went to the Grotto, and asked the Lady for her name. Three times Bernadette asked the question. On the fourth request, the Lady responds in dialect of the area,  ‘Que soy era Immaculada Councepciou’ (I am the Immaculate Conception). Bernadette does not understand the meaning of these words but the parish priest does.  He understands that it is the Mother of God who has appeared at the Grotto of Massabielle.

On March 25, the Lady finally told Bernadette that she was Mary, the mother of Jesus, and that her purpose in appearing to Bernadette was to warn her to pray and make sacrifices for sinners.  Bernadette’s daily visits to the grotto caused quite a stir in the countryside.  Crowds of people began to gather.  They watched Bernadette scrape away soil beside the grotto until a spring of water started to trickle out.  Would you believe this spring still provides 27,000 gallons of water everyday!

At first, the priests, the town’s folk, and the families doubted Bernadette’s visions and the purpose in her activities.  But Bernadette was stubborn and determined to follow Mary’s plans for her.  Eventually everyone did believe Bernadette and the grotto at Lourdes became a place of worship and the Lourdes holy water was sacred for performing miracles.

CHURCH SHRINE AT LOURDES

EPILOGUE BERNADETTE POST APPARITIONS

At the age of 22, Bernadette joined the order of the Sisters of Charity, devoted her life to Mary, to praying for the conversion of sinners and to the service of God.  Throughout her life she remained sickly, but attended patiently to her duties as infirmarian and sacristan. She died a holy death on April 16, 1879.at 34 years old.

Bernadette was buried on the convent grounds.  Her body was exhumed thirty years later on September 22, 1909, in the presence of two doctors, several appointed officials, and nuns from the local convent. When Bernadette’s coffin was opened, there was no odor, and her body was completely untouched by the laws of nature. The sacred relic (Bernadette’s body) was placed in a coffin of gold and glass and can be viewed to this very day in the Chapel of Saint Bernadette at the motherhouse in Nevers, France.