To know You, O Father, is life; true life; eternal life…
Indeed, it is this that we always seek… We are constantly on the lookout for something that will fulfil us, that will make us happy – according to our concept of happiness -; for something that will last… But can there be true happiness without You? Read More
In 1932, God the Father appeared to Mother Eugenia Ravasio, an Italian nun, and gave her a message for all of humanity. Essentially, it is a declaration of love for Mankind (https://www.fatherspeaks.net/eugenia_msg.html#THE%20FATHER%C2%B4S%20MESSAGE,%20book%201,%20part%201). The message was carefully examined by the Bishop of Grenoble, the diocese where the events took place, and he concluded that it could only have a supernatural origin. One of the wishes expressed by God the Father in this message is for a liturgical feast to be established in His honour on 7 August each year. Although only the ecclesiastical hierarchy can officially implement this, we can celebrate it privately and dedicate this day to our Heavenly Father. To this end, we will begin a Novena to God the Father tomorrow, 29 July, in preparation for His feast.
To You, Heavenly Father,
we entrust ourselves wholly and unreservedly,
for You are our loving and most beloved Father.
I place these words as the beginning of the novena to God the Father which we begin today, for this is how we men should live. Read More
“Who can understand sins? From my secret ones cleanse me, O Lord” (Ps 19:13).
We are not always aware of all the faults we carry within us. Our self-knowledge does not reach the ultimate depths. Therefore, it is possible that there are contents in our unconscious that we will have to reject and bring before the Lord once we perceive them, so that He may purify us. Read More
Lk 21:9-19
The Gospel reading for the memorial of Saints Nazarius and Celsus, according to the traditional lectionary.
Then Jesus said to his disciples: “When you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified; for this must first take place, but the end will not be at once. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences; and there will be terrors and great signs from heaven. Read More
“Come, my chosen one, and I will set my throne in your heart” (Antiphon from the Common of Virgins).
Love is the great theme, again and again. It’s no wonder, for it was out of love that our Father created, redeemed, and sanctified everything. Love is the greatest thing that gives deep meaning to all that exists. Without love, everything would be “as sounding brass” (1 Cor 13:1). Read More
Gen 18:20-32
In these days Yahweh said, ‘The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin is so grave, that I shall go down and see whether or not their actions are at all as the outcry reaching me would suggest. Then I shall know.’ While the men left there and went to Sodom, Yahweh remained in Abraham’s presence. Abraham stepped forward and said, ‘Will you really destroy the upright with the guilty? Suppose there are fifty upright people in the city. Will you really destroy it? Will you not spare the place for the sake of the fifty upright in it? Do not think of doing such a thing: to put the upright to death with the guilty, so that upright and guilty fare alike! Read More
“Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Lk 12:32).
Mt 13:16-17
(Gospel for the Memorial of Sts. Joachim and Anne)
At that time, Jesus said to his disciples: “Blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear. For, amen, I say to you, many prophets and just men have desired to see the things that you see, and have not seen them, and to hear the things that you hear and have not heard them”.
“Oh, my good Lord, if only my soul could be called Your beloved” (Blessed Henry Suso).
In these words from the German mystic, we hear the longing of a soul that loves God. This longing has become so intense that it begs for the most intimate union with God. It is the desire of souls who have begun to love the Lord and recognize, in the light of this love, that they can and want to love Him more. Thus, this longing arises from the depths of the heart.
