Sunday Meditation: Everyone Has a Heart to Love With

My spiritual reading yesterday kept leading me to the "heart" of the matter starting with the daily devotional from the SSPX which examined "purity of intention." A good question for each of us is this. Does my action come from a heart filled with love for God or other lesser motives? People can perform the same external actions with very different results in the eyes of God:

We can go to Mass out of routine or out of obligation, or else simply to see a particular person. We can also go to Mass out of love of God. Externally, the actions are the same, but in the eyes of God they are each very different. The same external act will be meritorious for some, not for others, depending on the purity of their intention. It is the same for our duty of state. We can set to work out of obligation, out of pleasure or out of love of God. The same action is meritorious for some and not for others. [Source]

The Estranged Cat is Out of the Bag and the Herd of Elephants in the Room is Being Acknowledged

Before I begin, I want readers to know that I have a lot of trepidation about posting this two-part article. Although I don't get too specific about my husband's and my experience with estrangement, it identifies us as members of the discarded parents club. The post has been sitting in my draft folder for several weeks and Larry and I have been mulling over it and praying. I spoke to my spiritual director as well. 

After serious consideration, I've decided to post it now during the month of the Sacred Heart uniting our sorrow to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and to the Immaculate and sorrowful heart of the Blessed Mother.

As a companion to my previous post about St. Alphonsus

In this month dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, I offer this reflection from St.  Alphonsus Liguori as a companion piece to my previous post. How often have we despised love and returned ingratitude for the suffering and sacrifices, not only of our Savior Jesus Christ, but of others. How often have we taken for granted the love of Christ and failed to thank Him? Let us get up every morning thanking God for the new day, for everything that will take place in it, for all our blessings and benefits. And let us remember our duty to "love your neighbor as yourself."

Today, the bishops of the United States consecrate our country to the most Sacred Heart of Jesus. May that heart strengthen all our faithful bishops, our good shepherds for whom we are so grateful and convert the hearts of all our unfaithful bishops, the wolves and hirelings, for whose conversion we sacrifice and pray.

Sunday Meditation: Sacred Heart of Jesus Month

While the secular world celebrates June as sodomy month, a sin that cries to heaven for vengeance; Catholics celebrate the Sacred Heart of Jesus. So here are a few quotes from the saints on which to meditate. The Sacred Heart graphically reveals to us the tremendous love of Jesus Christ for sinful men. May we express our gratitude by offering all our wounds to Him in atonement for our sins.

Love Does Not Keep a Record of Wrongs

I often read St. Paul's description of love from 1 Corinthians 13 and ask the question, "How 
am I doing, Lord?" Sometimes well; too often not so well:

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Feast of the Most Sacred Heart - Prayer for the Day to Be Repeated Often!

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in You. 

Sunday Meditation: "Take up your cross and follow me."

As a member of the Church Militant (not the Church Milquetoast), I believe in studying warriors' manuals. One of them is The Spiritual Combat by Dom Lorenzo Scupoli, a 16th century priest. The book was a favorite of St. Francis de Sales, master of the spiritual life, who carried it in his pocket and read from it every day. He also recommended it to his spiritual sons and daughters. One can't go wrong with such an effective manual for fighting the world, the flesh, and the devil.

Sunday Meditation: Let Us Worship Jesus as the Sacred Heart!

Fr. James Buckley, FSSP 1937 - 2023 Rest in peace, dear and holy priest of God!

In this month of the holy souls, I want to remember with love and gratitude Fr. James Buckley, FSSP who had such an impact on my life. I attended a 5-day silent, Ignatian retreat every summer with Fr. Buckley for almost 20 years. The last one, in 2022, showered me with incredible memories and blessings that I treasure. God obviously knew it was Father's last meeting with us. He died in 2023.

Of Puzzles that Spark the Imagination...

I like puzzles. Last night my granddaughter was saying she didn't like Geometry, but it was my favorite math class for two reasons. It was like a puzzle and it involved logic. They both intrigue me and put my brain to work.

Every week when The Epoch Times arrives, I immediately go to the puzzle page to work on the big sudoku puzzle and the cryptic quote. Often the quote sets my mind thinking about what it means. Spoiler alert: If you get the Epoch Times and haven't done the cryptic quote but intend to -- STOP! Work on the cipher first and come back later to read the rest.

Sunday Meditation: O Lord, Give Us Many Holy Priests!

St. Jean Vianney, patron of parish priests

In these times, so like the ignorant days after the French Revolution when many people had lost the sense of the sacred and the knowledge of Catholic doctrine, we need priests who will instruct the ignorant, counsel the doubtful, admonish sinners, and pray diligently for the living and the dead. Just a handful like St. Jean Vianney, the patron of parish priests, could turn our pagan culture back to God.

Feelings and Their Proper Role in Our Lives

This week has been interesting with regard to my spiritual reading. Everything I pick up has been about feelings and their proper place. Looking at the statue of the Sacred Heart at our chapel on Sunday, stirred feelings of gratitude and love for Jesus and awe over His love for us. Beauty has a way of doing that. Feelings are a significant part of our makeup. Having said that, it's important to keep them in their proper role.

 Yesterday, I read this in The Imitation of Christ:

Pray the Rosary to Advance the Reign of Christ the King!

We can't all raise a giant flag to give public witness to the Sacred Heart, but there are plenty of smaller versions that would look wonderful on the front of the house or in the garden. The flag of the Vendee is one that I like to fly that features the two hearts for Jesus and Mary.

It's Monday. Got Humility? It does a body (and soul) good!

Humiliation is good for the soul. It help us grow in the virtue of humility!

Sometimes, I feel like a lunatic. (Please, no nasty comments from trolls.) Over the weekend we went to a grandson's soccer game, the last of the season. He made several goals and was very happy. As I sat on the side of the field chatting with my daughter-in-law, I asked if Charlie had made his First Communion. Normal question right? Well, it would be except we went to his First Communion in May. (How soon they forget!) I'd worry that I had Alzheimer's coming on except for the fact that I've always been absent-minded and often ask about things I already know. If I thought about it for thirty seconds I'd have the answer. But there I was, once more, humiliating myself. It's a reminder to stop and think! Which I would if I thought about it for a minute. Ah well...one more humiliation.

June Used to Be Devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus...

It was also the month of weddings and Father's Day as Robert Knight points out in his column yesterday. What does it stand for now in this age of secular wokism?

June is the Month Dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Are You Ready to Sacrifice Out of Love?

St. John Eudes 1601-1680

Fr. Tom Colllins sent me the quote below from St. John Eudes. It's a fitting start for the month the Church dedicates to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Let me invite you to join in the Sacred Heart novena which begins on June 3rd in preparation for the Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus on June 11th. I'm going to be offering it in reparation for the all the sins of the world, especially those committed by our shepherds. How much they must break the heart of our Mother Mary, Queen of the Clergy. How much their sins must have added to Christ's suffering in the garden and the burden of His cross. May this month be a grace-filled time for all of us to enter more deeply into the Sacred Heart and to join our own sufferings to "make up what's lacking in the suffering of Christ." (Colossians 1:24)

Sunday Meditation: Imitation of Christ Book 3, Chapter 17

The Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis was one of St. Therese of Liseux's favorite books of spiritual reading. She felt Christ's infinite love when she meditated on it. St. Ignatius of Loyola was said to have only one book in his room when he died -- again, The Imitation of Christ. The influence Thomas a Kempis had on Ignatius' development of the Spiritual Exercises is obvious to anyone who's made them. Reading a chapter a day (very short) offers sound nourishment for the soul.

Let's Pray Today on the Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary...

...in the month devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, to be so united to the hearts of Jesus and Mary that we change the world by our love!

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.

Immaculate Heart of Mary, Pray for us. 

Liturgical Year: Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Pray for Us

June is the month in the liturgical year dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. One thing we can celebrate this month is the fact that President Trump did not follow the Obama abomination of dedicating this month to the LGBTQXYZ agenda. Some federal agencies will continue to celebrate events and Ivanka sent encouraging messages to those with disordered attractions (She's a cafeteria Orthodox Jew.), but we can be thankful that there is no official recognition from the White House of misplaced pride in sodomy.

The Heart of Christ was pierced for the sins of mankind. Let us choose some penitential practices this month to atone for outrages against Jesus' love for us. Like the Roman centurion, we have thrust the lance of sin into Christ's heart. Have mercy on us, O Lord. O Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart like unto Thine!

Random Thoughts for Monday

Strange isn't it? The Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity says that, “Catholics are now able to hear Luther’s challenge for the Church of today, recognizing him as a ‘witness to the gospel.’” (source) But the cardinals who wrote the dubia are in hot water for daring to challenge the conclusions of Pope Francis' confusing and ambiguous exhortation, Amoris Leatitia. Soooo....the heretic takes his place of honor at the Vatican, while the orthodox get the hobnailed boot. We are truly seeing the days predicted by Christ when evil is called good and good is called evil. Pray and keep the faith.

The celebration of the vile Martin Luther makes me think of the recent celebration of the vicious tyrant Fidel Castro by so many "progressives" on the left. Fidel was so wonderful in what he did for Cuba - murdering his own people, summarily executing his enemies, impoverishing the nation, etc. Talk about rewriting history and dumping the unpleasant truth about the man down the memory hole.

Justice Scalia's Greatness was Revealed More in His Private Moments than in His Public Ones

If you want to see how Justice Scalia resembled Jesus read the article below, a personal story of an event witnessed by Jeffrey Tucker. As I read it, I thought of the picture of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and thought how close to Christ's heart Justice Scalia must have been.

I hope you are praying for the repose of this man's soul. He didn't just believe in the Catholic faith; he lived it. And while you reflect on his charity consider the disgrace of so many liberals tweeting glee over Scalia's death. No surprise really. Jesus said they would treat the servants like the Master and we all know how they treated Him. May each of us resolve to imitate the charity of those who treat the lowly and unimportant as if they are pearls of great price.

A Man with a Great Heart