Showing all posts by Elija

In 3 Minutes for God the Father

“THE BASIC SPIRITUAL ORDER”

Author ElijaPosted on

“Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well.” (Mt 6:33)

How much more orderly everything in our lives would be if we would only follow this counsel of the Lord! That spiritual order—which governs all things but has, unfortunately, become so thoroughly disrupted—would be restored. Our Heavenly Father could then very easily provide us with everything, because we would be receptive to it. In a certain sense, we would already be entering into a “life beyond,” for without question, the holy will of God is the most radiant glory of all angels and saints.

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In Biblical Meditations

IN HONOR OF ST. JOAN OF ARC: “The mission takes shape” (Part 3)  

Author ElijaPosted on

Joan kept this secret between God and herself, hidden within her as she grew up over the following years. She spoke to no one about it—not to the local priest, nor to her parents or friends. Guided by her saints, she oriented her entire life toward this mission, and little by little, her saints revealed more and more of it to her.

Young Joan was well aware of France’s dire wartime situation, for the Hundred Years’ War between England and France did not spare her village. The political fragmentation of the country, the various warring factions, and the roaming, plundering bands were a constant threat, and there was no prospect of peace. Undoubtedly, this dire situation was the subject of anxious daily conversation among the residents of Domrémy and the surrounding area.

In the course of this war, the English had gradually brought large areas of France under their control. They allied themselves with the French Burgundians, so that the conquest of all of France—and thus its subjugation to the rule of the English king—became increasingly likely.

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In 3 Minutes for God the Father

DEALING WITH WORRIES

Author ElijaPosted on

“Do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ (…) Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.” (Mt 6:31-32)

Very often in Scripture we are warned not to give in to worry, for then we easily lose sight of any way out. Worries can constantly accompany us, gnawing at our vitality, and we look out at the world with a “gloomy” gaze. They are already there in the morning, and they do not leave us even in the evening. Read More

In Reflexion

IN HONOR OF ST. JOAN OF ARC: “The heart of the Saint!” (Part 2)

Author ElijaPosted on

Joan was born on January 6, 1412, in Domrémy, France, the fourth child of Jacques d’Arc and his wife Isabelle. She grew up in humble peasant circumstances, could neither read nor write, learned to spin and sew, and sometimes tended to the household. Her parents were considered devout Christians. Her mother instructed her in the faith.

When, in 1456, as part of the process to vindicate Joan (King Charles VII had ordered an investigation into the truth of the church trial against Joan), witnesses from the village of Domrémy were questioned about her, they gave unanimous testimony in her favor. She was regarded as a devout girl who enjoyed going to church and helping others. May the testimony of the farmer Simonin Musnier from January 30, 1456, stand for many similar testimonies:

“I grew up with Joan, whom they called the Virgin. I lived near her father’s house. Truly, I know how good she was, how simple and pious! She revered God and His saints. She often and gladly went to church and to holy places, comforted the sick, and gave alms to the poor. I experienced this myself: when I was little, I was unwell, and Joan came to comfort me….”

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In 3 Minutes for God the Father

“THE LORD’S PRAYER”

Author ElijaPosted on

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

This is the prayer that Jesus entrusted to us so that we may address our divine Father in this familiar way together with Him. Read More

In Reflexion

IN HONOR OF ST. JOAN OF ARC (Part 1): “The heart of the Saint”

Author ElijaPosted on

It was May 30, 1431, in Rouen, France, one day after the Feast of the Most Holy Trinity.

A large crowd had gathered that morning in the old market square near the Church of Our Savior. In addition to the gathered people and clergy, many soldiers were present. However, these were not French soldiers. They were English, as Rouen was still under English rule during the Hundred Years’ War between France and England.

A scaffold had been erected, and standing on it was a young woman, nineteen years old. The people had gathered to see this woman—both clergy and laymen.

All eyes were fixed on this young woman.

Who was she? Why was she standing there?

Then Nicolaus Midi, Doctor of Sacred Theology, delivered a sermon to the entire assembly on verse 26 of the First Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians, chapter 12:

“If one member suffers, all suffer together.”

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In 3 Minutes for God the Father

“SEEKING THE FATHER IN SECRET”  

Author ElijaPosted on

“But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father” (Mt 6:6).

What an intimate space the Lord offers us! No matter how beautiful churches and sacred spaces may be, even when they host dignified liturgies and the communal prayer of the faithful, our Heavenly Father grants us access to Him that remains ever open. The doors of His heart never close, and He is always ready to listen to us. Therefore, we can enter into unceasing dialogue with Him. This prayer in secret is immensely valuable and does not always require outward gestures, but rather a heart open to our Father.

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In Reflexion

Fourteenth Meditation on the Holy Spirit: Patience  

Author ElijaPosted on

Beloved Holy Spirit, with today’s meditation we conclude this preparation for the great feast of Your coming. May Your fruits grow and ripen in us, for in this way we can glorify the One from whom everything comes and bear witness to You before the world!

For this we need patience, for these fruits ripen more with each passing day. We need patience even more with other people, so that they can receive what God has prepared for them.

How much patience God has with us! How he tries to reach us again and again, and the whole of humanity, which often takes such erroneous paths!

Even as we wait with longing for the return of Christ and prepare ourselves day by day, whether for the hour of death or the parousia at the end of time, we know:

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In Reflexion

Thirteenth Meditation on the Holy Spirit: Faithfulness

Author ElijaPosted on

Beloved Holy Spirit, You want us to live in faithfulness – and this in a time when infidelity is almost becoming a way of life. You will have a lot of work to do, because many people no longer understand the meaning of fidelity, whether it is in the marital relationship or in promises made or even in religious vows. We often need to learn anew what faithfulness, responsibility, constancy and stability mean.

But we have a wonderful example before us. It is the faithfulness of God. God is faithful – and He never gives up this faithfulness! The whole of the Old Testament testifies to this; in contrast to the frequent unfaithfulness of the people of Israel.

If we look into our own time, there are unfortunately more and more people who fall away from the faith and become unfaithful to the Lord. It then becomes more difficult to remain faithful to one another.

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