For the glory of God

Eph 3:14-19

Reading for the memorial of St. John Eudes

For this cause I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom all paternity in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened by his Spirit with might unto the inward man,   That Christ may dwell by faith in your hearts; that being rooted and founded in charity,  You may be able to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth, and length, and height, and depth:   To know also the charity of Christ, which surpasseth all knowledge, that you may be filled unto all the fulness of God.

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GREAT SIMPLICITY

419th Meditation

“I know your needs, your desires, and everything in your hearts. But how happy and grateful I would be if I saw you coming to Me and confiding in Me your needs, like a son who has total trust in his father. How could I refuse you the smallest or biggest thing if you asked Me?” (Father’s message to Sr. Eugenia Ravasio). Read More

Flavia Helena Augusta

Today’s meditation is dedicated to St. Helena, Empress and mother of Emperor Constantine. The 18th of August is considered to be the day of her death, which is why her memory is celebrated on this date in some parts of the Catholic Church.

Instead of taking a biblical reading, we will begin this meditation with a few words from the Magnificat canticle:

The Lord “has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up the lowly” (Lk 1:52).

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The grace of forgiveness

Mt 18:21-35

Then came Peter unto Jesus and said: Lord, how often shall my brother offend against me, and I forgive him? Till seven times? Jesus saith to him: I say not to thee, till seven times; but till seventy times seven times. Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened to a king, who would take an account of his servants. And when he had begun to take the account, one was brought to him, that owed him ten thousand talents. And as he had not wherewith to pay it, his lord commanded that he should be sold, and his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made.

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INFINITE GRATITUDE

418th Meditation

“When I realized that neither the patriarchs nor the prophets had been able to make Me known and loved by men, I decided to come Myself” (Message of the Father to Sr. Eugenia Ravasio).

A deep sorrow and, at the same time, an immense gratitude can invade our heart when we hear these words. A deep sorrow because it is so difficult for us people to understand the language of God. Not even the presence of the patriarchs and the message of the prophets could sufficiently touch hearts. In fact, we know what was the fate of the prophets. The pain intensifies even more when we consider what mankind did to the Son of God Himself. Read More

Fraternal correction

Mt 18:15-20

Jesus said to his disciples: “if thy brother shall offend against thee, go, and rebuke him between thee and him alone. If he shall hear thee, thou shalt gain thy brother. And if he will not hear thee, take with thee one or two more: that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may stand.  And if he will not hear them: tell the church.

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THE CONSTANT PRESENCE OF THE FATHER

417th Meditation

“Remember that you are not alone: a Father thinks of you and offers you a share in the unfathomable privileges of His love” (Father’s message to Sr. Eugenia Ravasio).

Our Father exhorts all people to think of Him. These words of His remind us of the exhortation that St. Benedict addressed to His monks, calling them to do everything in the presence of God. Read More

MARIAN MEDITATIONS (3/3) – Mary: Bride of the Holy Spirit

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Beloved Virgin, how many manifestations of love shine forth in you!

In relation to the Father, we see you as a loving daughter; to the Son you are mother and disciple; to the Holy Spirit you are united in a spousal love.

If already here, in our earthly reality, we are moved by the tender love of a human spouse, and can observe how she blossoms and turns her whole heart and attention to her husband, how much more so is it with you, since your Bridegroom is the Holy Spirit Himself!

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EYES OPENED

416th Meditation

“When I contemplate with open eyes what You, my God, have created, I already possess heaven here” (St. Hildegard of Bingen).

We need eyes that see and ears that hear (Mt 13:16). Once these are opened, we begin to contemplate the glory of God. We discover everywhere the Father’s love in action, either to make His love known to us directly, or to fill us in superabundance with His beauty, or to heal the sick, remove evil from us and impel us to do all the infinite good that the infinitely Good One willed that we should do. Read More

WATCHFULNESS IN SPEAKING

415th Meditation

“Let my speech be acceptable to him: but I will take delight in the Lord” (Ps 103:34).

Vigilance in speaking is very pleasing to the Lord. In fact, He Himself exhorts us to clarity and unambiguity in our speech: “Let your speech be ‘Yes, yes’; ‘no, no’. That which is over and above these, is of evil” (Mt 5:37). The words that come from our lips must be like crystal-clear, unclouded water, flowing from a purified heart and rejoicing God and people. Read More