SPEAK WITH CLARITY

“Do not be afraid to call a spade a spade” (Inner Word).

Our Father loves it when we are sincere and transparent, because that is how He is. Anything that is crooked or complicated, any attitude that lacks transparency, is and will remain alien to His being. The Lord gives us the example of the simplicity of children: “Unless (…) you become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Mt 18:3). He also exhorts us to be clear in our words: “Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil” (Mt 5:37). Read More

SO IS OUR FATHER

“Fear nothing and no one, for I am your Father” (Inner Word).

Again and again we find this exhortation, both in Scripture and in the Father’s message. It is as if our Father wants these words to penetrate the depths of our soul, where various fears can still hide, which want to limit our life and take away our freedom. And the reason He gives us not to be afraid is as simple as it is profound: “I am your Father”.

Read More

The virtue of fortitude (Part IV)

In yesterday’s meditation, we had heard that, according to St John of the Cross, when one makes the decision to follow Christ more intensely, the Devil tries to prevent the decisive step by instilling fear, distracting us and tempting us in various ways. Not infrequently the obstacles can come from people who are close to us, but who have not made up their minds to follow the Lord fully, nor do they understand this path. They may even be pious people, but who do not have a deep enough relationship with the Lord to understand the mystery between God and the soul called by Him. Thus, it may happen that these people feel they have to discourage or even warn against embarking on this more intense path.

Read More

THE FLAME OF THE FATHERLY LOVE

In the Message to Mother Eugenia, the Father expresses a deep desire of His:

“Let My priests go fearlessly everywhere, among all nations, to bring the flame of My fatherly love to men. Then souls will be enlightened and conquered, not only among unbelievers, but in all those sects which are not of the true Church. Yes, I want these men also, who are My children, to see this flame shining before them, to know the truth, to embrace it and to put all the Christian virtues into practice.” Read More

The virtue of fortitude (Part III)

We had reflected on the virtue of fortitude in context with the readings from the book of Maccabees; those courageous men and women of the People of Israel. I also pointed out that we need this virtue for our Christian witness in the world, which, in an extreme case, can go as far as martyrdom. We can train ourselves in the virtue of fortitude, and we should not be discouraged if we are naturally fearful. The story of the novice Blanche de la Force (narrated in Gertud von Le Fort’s novel “The Last One at the Scaffold”) can encourage these fearful souls, showing them that they too can be capable of heroic deeds. Read More

A SOURCE OF JOY FOR THE FATHER

If we want to deepen our relationship with our Heavenly Father, it is important to take time to be alone with Him. Many fruits could be listed that arise from this intimacy. However, there is one reason that can be our main motivation for seeking and cultivating this silent dialogue with our Father. He Himself mentions it:

“No one can imagine the joy I experience when I am alone with a soul!” Read More

Judged in love

Solemnity of Christ the King

Mt 25:31-46

At that time, Jesus said to his disciples: When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the left. Read More

ASK AND IT WILL BE GIVEN TO YOU

517th Meditation

Even though our Father knows in advance what we need, He wants us to ask Him for it. It is precisely this prayer of petition that leads us into the right relationship with God: on the one hand, because we become aware of Who it is that we are addressing; and, on the other hand, because we take the right attitude towards Him, that is, a trusting attitude, knowing that we are dependent on God and firmly believing that He will listen to us.

Read More

The virtue of fortitude (Part I)

The readings of the last few days presented us with impressive examples of faith, faithfulness and fortitude. I have therefore decided to dedicate some meditations to the cardinal virtue of fortitude. In these times of turmoil, it is particularly important to aspire to and practice this virtue, in order to be able to resist the various temptations that are presented to us. Let us take as our model those people we met in the readings of the last days, who showed us that obedience and faithfulness to God are above all earthly values and that, with God’s help, it is even possible to overcome fear.

Read More