“My son, even sin can become a stepping stone that brings us closer to God, that lifts us up, that leads us even more surely towards Him, as long as sin is followed by deep sorrow for having committed it, when we sincerely resolve not to repeat it, when we feel how badly we have acted against God’s mercy, when He is able to tear at the hardest fibres of our heart, bringing forth tears of repentance and love” (St. Pio of Pietrelcina).
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SERENITY IN THE FACE OF WEAKNESS
“The horse leaves his dung in the stable and, although it is dirty and stinking, he himself carries it with great effort to the field, from which then sprouts good wheat and noble and sweet wine, which would never grow if it were not for the dung. So, carry with effort and diligence your dung—that is, those weaknesses that you cannot discard or overcome—into the field of God’s loving will with a serene attitude. Undoubtedly, a delicious fruit will grow from it in humble serenity.” (John Tauler)
Following the voice of the Lord
Jn 17:1a,11b-19
Reading corresponding to the memory of Saint Cornelius and Cyprian.
“Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and said. Holy Father, keep those you have given me true to your name, so that they may be one like us. While I was with them, I kept those you had given me true to your name. I have watched over them and not one is lost except one who was destined to be lost, and this was to fulfil the scriptures. But now I am coming to you and I say these things in the world to share my joy with them to the full. I passed your word on to them, and the world hated them, because they belong to the world no more than I belong to the world. I am not asking you to remove them from the world, but to protect them from the Evil One. They do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world. Consecrate them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world, and for their sake I consecrate myself so that they too may be consecrated in truth.”
The Sorrowful Mother
Jn 19:25-27
Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. Seeing his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing near her, Jesus said to his mother, ‘Woman, this is your son.’ Then to the disciple he said, ‘This is your mother.’ And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.
On Calvary in Jerusalem, next to the very place where Our Lord died for us on the Cross, there is a moving image of the Sorrowful Mother. A sword pierces her heart and her eyes have an expression of deep suffering. Very early in the morning, the faithful pilgrims who come to pray often come to her as well, to ask for her help and comfort, or to thank her because she knew how to remain close to her Son even as He hung on the Cross. It is difficult to even imagine the immensity of her suffering. That is why, at Holy Mass this day, these words resound before the Gospel:
THE GREATEST SECURITY
“The greatest security we can have in this life consists in the pure and irrevocable surrender of our whole being into the hands of God, as well as in the unwavering decision never to commit, under any circumstances, any sin, whether great or small. Our security does not depend on whether or not we feel God’s love. The great security lies only in what has been said above” (Letter of St. Francis de Sales to St. Jeanne de Chantal).
TO CONSOLE AND LOVE THE FATHER
“I would also like (…) that you could dedicate half an hour a day to console and love Me” (Message of God the Father to Sr. Eugenia Ravasio).
This is a request that our Father addresses to Mother Eugenia, but as she adds, it is what He desires from all His children: half an hour.
The Triumph of Love
The Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, which we celebrate today, has its origins in an event that took place in the year 335. On 13 September of that year, after many years of construction, a large church in Jerusalem was solemnly consecrated. It is known as the “Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre” or “Church of the Resurrection”. It was Emperor Constantine who had it built, after his mother, St. Helena, had found the Cross of Christ on September 13, 320.
One day after the consecration of the Church – that is, on 14 September 335 – the Holy Cross was first shown to the people and “exalted” for veneration. Macarius I, who was then Patriarch of Jerusalem, took the “vera Cruz” (as it was called) to an elevation on that day. From there, he “exalted” the Cross, so that all could see it and venerate it. Hence the name of the Feast: “Exaltation of the Holy Cross”.
OUR FATHER MAKES AMENDS FOR WHAT WE HAVE FAILED TO DO
“When you sincerely confess your mistakes, omissions, and shortcomings, you make Me happy as if you had entrusted Me with a treasure. As soon as your soul opens up, My Spirit takes possession of it unobtrusively but victoriously. What could I not repair if I am left to act? Then I am pleased to adorn your soul according to My taste.” (Words of Jesus to the mystic Louisa Jaques)
An indestructible house
Lk 6:43-49
‘There is no sound tree that produces rotten fruit, nor again a rotten tree that produces sound fruit. Every tree can be told by its own fruit: people do not pick figs from thorns, nor gather grapes from brambles. Good people draw what is good from the store of goodness in their hearts; bad people draw what is bad from the store of badness. For the words of the mouth flow out of what fills the heart. ‘Why do you call me, “Lord, Lord” and not do what I say?’ Everyone who comes to me and listens to my words and acts on them – I will show you what such a person is like. Such a person is like the man who, when he built a house, dug, and dug deep, and laid the foundations on rock; when the river was in flood it bore down on that house but could not shake it, it was so well built. But someone who listens and does nothing is like the man who built a house on soil, with no foundations; as soon as the river bore down on it, it collapsed; and what a ruin that house became!’ Read More
The Blasphemer becomes believer
1 Tim 1:1-2, 12-14
Paul, apostle of Christ Jesus appointed by the command of God our Saviour and of Christ Jesus our hope, to Timothy, true child of mine in the faith. Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Christ Jesus our Lord. I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength. By calling me into his service he has judged me trustworthy, even though I used to be a blasphemer and a persecutor and contemptuous. Mercy, however, was shown me, because while I lacked faith I acted in ignorance; but the grace of our Lord filled me with faith and with the love that is in Christ Jesus.
The grace of God, which called the Apostle Paul to follow the Lord, is a great comfort. According to the words of the Apostle himself, he had been “a blasphemer and a persecutor and contemptuous”, until the grace of God found him, and he, for his part, offered no resistance to God’s call.