127th Meditation
“If you kept a record of our sins, Lord,
who could stand their ground?
But with you is forgiveness,
that you may be revered” (Ps 130:3-4). Read More
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A SERIES ON THE SPIRITUAL LIFE: Prayer of the Heart (Part II)
The prayer of the heart-or Jesus prayer-requires a certain preparation. In this regard, let us listen again to Metropolitan Serafim Joanta:
“The dispositions for the Jesus prayer are, as for any other prayer, the following: To be at peace with one’s neighbor, to be free from excessive worries, a certain disposition of the soul, a quiet place…. No one can pray a pure prayer – that is, a prayer that is not tainted by extraneous thoughts, by external impressions of the senses and memories – as long as he is not at peace with his neighbor. Read More
THE SNARE WAS BROKEN AND WE ESCAPED
126th Meditation
“We escaped like a bird from the fowlers’ snare.
The snare was broken and we escaped;
our help is in the name of the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.” (Ps 124:7-8) Read More
A SERIES ON THE SPIRITUAL LIFE: Prayer of the Heart (Part I)
Those who wish to enrich and intensify their prayer life will find a very valuable practice in the tradition of the Eastern Church: the so-called “prayer of the heart” or “Jesus prayer”.
In order to avoid misunderstandings, it is worth clarifying that this form of prayer is part of the rich treasure of the Universal Church, although it is practiced mainly by the faithful of Orthodoxy. It is by no means a foreign practice that comes from the forms of meditation of other Eastern religions; it is genuinely Christian. Read More
THE HOLY WORD OF GOD
125th Meditation
“Your promises have been thoroughly tested, and your servant loves them” (Ps 119:140).
The Word of God has been given to us so that through it we may have life. It is different from merely human words. It has the power to illuminate our whole life and to transform us. It is the Lord Himself who communicates to us through His Word. Indeed, God speaks to us and thus gives us access to His own being. Through the words that come from His Heart, He grants us an encounter with His love. Read More
A SERIES ON THE SPIRITUAL LIFE: The Holy Rosary
Having reflected on the sufferings of prayer and on Eucharistic Adoration, let us now turn to the various forms of prayer. Although prayer is in itself a simple thing, it is not always easy for us to pray, and even less so to pray well. This too is an art, and in order to learn it, we need to study the various forms and methods of prayer that exist and, above all, to practice prayer fervently. Read More
I WILL REWARD YOU A HUNDREDFOLD
124th Meditation
“And to you who will work for My glory and commit yourselves to making Me known, honoured and loved, I give the assurance that your reward will be great, because I will count everything, even the smallest effort you make, and I will reward you a hundredfold in eternity” (Father’s Message to Sister Eugenia Ravasio). Read More
A SERIES ON THE SPIRITUAL LIFE: Eucharistic Adoration (Part II)
Eucharistic adoration and inner healing
People in general – including we, the faithful – are often wounded within because we have not received enough love or have experienced an abuse of our love. As a result, serious deficiencies can arise in the soul, and the emotional sphere can suffer such a disturbance that it could become closed inwardly.
If such emotions manifest themselves in us, we can open them up to the healing power of the Blessed Sacrament by surrendering them to the Lord in prayer or by invoking the name of Jesus in silence. Read More
A SERIES ON THE SPIRITUAL LIFE: Eucharistic Adoration (Part I)
Remaining in silence before the Blessed Sacrament, whether the Blessed Sacrament is exposed or simply present in the Tabernacle, has a great effect on the deepening of prayer. Therefore, in the context of these meditations on the theme of prayer, it is fitting that we dedicate two days specifically to Eucharistic Adoration. Read More
LOVE GROWS
123rd Meditation on God the Father
“The more you respond to my love, the more love you will receive” (Interior Word).
It is proper that love would grow the more space it is given. Therefore, the more we welcome the love of our Father within us, and the more we seek it, the more He will be able to communicate it to us.
Let us keep in mind that God’s love is unlimited, while our capacity to love is limited. When our Father dwells in us, He illuminates and warms our hearts with the power of the Holy Spirit. Read More