Wednesdays: Through the Holy Heart of St. Joseph: Week 1: “Go To Joseph!”

Posted on February 6, 2013 by M.A.U.

To Jesus, Through the Holy Heart of St. Joseph © SalveMaterDei.com 2013

Over a decade ago Fr. Redemptus Short, O.C.D., (a dear Carmelite friend and confessor) offered this sage counsel: “consecrate yourself and your family each and every day to the Holy Heart of St. Joseph.” Fr. Redemptus explained that St. Joseph’s Holy Heart is an abundant source of grace – though unfortunately one which is often over-looked – and he gently urged me to frequently enlist the powerful intercession of this beloved saint.

Fr. Redemptus Short, O.C.D., my wise and saintly Carmelite friend, © SalveMaterDei.com, 2013.

Whenever Fr. Redemptus spoke, I listened. He was always right. From that day forward I added the consecration to St. Joseph’s Holy Heart (in addition to the consecration to Jesus Sacred and Merciful Heart, and Mary’s Immaculate Heart) to my prayers at rising and retiring, and our family prayers at each meal. It didn’t take much convincing; for I have always had a deep devotion to St. Joseph. Who wouldn’t?

St. Joseph The Strong, Silent, Righteous, Chaste, Protector of the Holy Family and the Universal Church © SalveMaterDei.com 2013

I’ve always seen St. Joseph as the strong, silent, righteous, chaste, protector of the Holy Family, and of the Universal Church. Scripture and tradition portray St. Joseph as the Just Man, full of compassion toward Mary, and unwilling to expose her to the penalty of the law (Matthew 1:19). He is seen as a practical man, a laborer who provides for his family by the sweat of his brow. Yet St. Joseph also possesses the heart of a philosopher and a theologian: he is willing to reflect on his dreams and act upon them in accordance with God’s plan for not only himself, but also for those whom he has been given the responsibility to protect (Matthew 1: 20-24, Matthew 2:13-14). St. Joseph is thorough and decisive: he immediately acts upon the command to flee with the Christ-Child and His Mother that is given in a dream by the Angel of the Lord (Matthew 2:13-14). Yes, St. Joseph is a wise and intrepid protector, but the quintessential virtue of his character is the depth of his love, a love contained within his Holy Heart.

St. Joseph’s profound capacity for authentic love is evident throughout each of the scriptural passages where he is mentioned. In the few short lines of Matthew 2:18-20, we can sense his agony as St. Joseph grapples with a decision to divorce his betrothed unobtrusively, rather than expose her publicly to the capital penalty of the law. He is a just and righteous man, whose human heart must have ached with a sense of betrayal upon discovering Mary’s untimely pregnancy. Yet, scripture offers no hint of a desire for revenge, nor sense of rage. Rather, we see that out of love, St. Joseph is willing to act in a way that will preserve his righteousness, while preventing Mary from being stoned to death for this out of wed-lock birth.

The Quintessential Virtue of St. Joseph’s Character is His Holy Capacity for Love © SalveMaterDei.com 2013

Each time the Angel of the Lord speaks to St. Joseph, his reaction is swift and decisive. He does exactly what the angel commands – immediate obedience. Again, Joseph demonstrates a great capacity for love – he loves God, and is willing to put aside his own human goals, plans, desires, dreams and hopes, and in their stead to embrace the will of God. He accepts Mary’s baby as His own, and loves Him with the deepest love a human father can offer. The physical danger of fleeing Herod’s soldiers, the voluntary exile to Egypt, the daily chores and labor requisite to feed and shelter his family were all embraced within a spirit of holy love.

As Joseph absorbs the predictions of Simeon for both Jesus and Mary, his mind must have been flooded with questions. Scripture tells us: “The Child’s parents were amazed at what was said about Him (Luke 2:33).” Yet, Joseph rests neither in awe nor trepidation. Rather, he chooses to trust God, and thus embarks upon the task of raising the Christ-Child, Who in turn “grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon him (Luke 2:40).” St. Joseph’s strength and protection, rooted in love, were essential components of the family structure within which God had elected to raise His Divine Son, Jesus.

I can only imagine the depth of anxiety Joseph and Mary experienced searching for the young missing Jesus after the Passover celebration (Luke 2: 41-52). Every parent’s worst nightmare is a missing child. It was pure love that propelled Joseph and Mary to search rigorously for three days – days replete with grief, frustration and exhaustion. The explanation: “Did you not know that I must be in My Father’s house (Luke 2:49)?” must have seemed incomprehensible at the moment. Yet, because of love, the Holy Family was able to move beyond the exasperation of an agonizing search, and return to Nazareth to live in peace.

St. Joseph, Patron of a Holy Death, Please Pray for Us! © SalveMaterDei.com 2013

It is precisely because of St. Joseph’s capacity for unconditional love that God the Heavenly Father chose him to head the Holy Family. God the Father willed that St. Joseph be placed in authority over His Divine Son. He willed that St. Joseph would teach the Christ-child – in both word and example – what it meant to be a human man.

God the Father instilled an abundant capacity for love in the Holy Heart of St. Joseph. Through his intercession, we too may receive a plenitude of grace – both temporal and supernatural.

St. Teresa of Avila possessed an abiding devotion to St. Joseph, and instructed those in her care to “Go to St. Joseph” with their necessities.

St. Teresa of Avila, The Holy Mother © SalveMaterDei.com 2013

In Chapter 6 of her Autobiography, St. Teresa states:

“I took for my advocate and lord the glorious Saint Joseph and commended myself earnestly to him; and I found that this my father and lord delivered me both from this trouble and also from other and greater troubles concerning my honor and the loss of my soul, and that he gave me greater blessings than I could ask of him. I do not remember even now that I have ever asked anything of him which he has failed to grant. I am astonished at the great favors which God has bestowed on me through this blessed saint, and at the perils from which He has freed me, both in body and in soul. To other saints the Lord seems to have given grace to succor us in some of our necessities but of this glorious saint my experience is that he succors us in them all and that the Lord wishes to teach us that as He was Himself subject to him on earth (for, being His guardian and being called His father, he could command Him) just so in Heaven He still does all that he asks. This has also been the experience of other persons whom I have advised to commend themselves to him; and even to-day there are many who have great devotion to him through having newly experienced this truth.”

St. Joseph is a powerful protector, patron and intercessor. As such, I am initiating a new series on this blog: “Wednesdays: Through the Holy Heart of St. Joseph.” This series will be an attempt to combine prayer, theology, philosophy, reflection, photography, and art to render glory and honor to God, by focusing on the merits of the Holy Heart of St. Joseph.

May St. Joseph carry you and yours in his Holy Heart with the tenderness with which he carried the Christ-Child in his capable arms.

May St. Joseph Carry You and Yours in His Holy Heart as He Carried the Christ-Child in His Capable Arms © SalveMaterDei.com 2013

Blessings,

Ad Jesum per Mariam,

M.A. JMJ

Lord, My Eyes Have Seen Your Salvation

Posted on February 3, 2013 by M.A.U.

A Light for Revelation. . . © SalveMaterDei.com, 2013.

Now, Master, You may let Your servant go in peace according to your word, for my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You prepared in the sight of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory to Your people Israel, Lord (Canticle of Simeon, Nunc dimittis, Luke 2: 29-32).

Yesterday, February 2, we celebrated the rich and ancient feast of Candlemas, which is commemorated in both the Western Roman Rite Church and as well as the Eastern Church. This liturgical festival is known under a variety of titles, and its early existence is verified in the homilies of many ancient bishops including: St. Methodius of Patara (C. 312), St. Cyril of Jerusalem (c. 360), St. Gregory the Theologian (c. 389), St. Amphilochius of Iconium (c. 394), St. Gregory of Nyssa (c. 400), and St. John Chrysostom (c. 407).

Candlemas Celebration, Holy Hill, Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians, February 2, 2012, © SalveMaterDei.com, 2012-

In the Western Roman Catholic Latin Rite this feast is known as: The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple, the Purification of the Blessed Virgin, and the Presentation of the Lord. For the Eastern Orthodox and many of the Eastern Rite Catholic Churches, this feast is celebrated as one of the Twelve Great Feasts. It is the Hypapante which is Greek for “Encounter. As such, it celebrates the encounter of the Christ-Child and Simeon ( the Just Man) and the Prophetess Anna, as recounted in the Gospel (Luke 2: 22-40). For the Byzantine Catholic and Greek Orthodox this feast is also unique because it is celebrated as both a Great Feast of Our Lord, and a Great Feast of Our Lady, the Theotokos, and is known as: “Feast of the Presentation of our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ in the Temple” or as “The Meeting of Our Lord, God and Savior Jesus Christ.” In the Eastern Rite, this beautiful festival is celebrated with a forefeast of one day, and an after feast of seven days (thus, I can assure myself that even though this post is late, it is still relevant….). Often candles are blessed during the liturgical rites of this celebration and distributed among the faithful.

Candlemas Celebration at Holy Hill, the Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians, February 2, 2013 © SalveMaterDei.com, 2013.

In his recent book, Jesus of Nazareth: The Infancy Narratives, the Holy Father, His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI, notes that three specific events are celebrated on the fortieth day after Christmas: “the “purification” of Mary, the “redemption of the first-born child Jesus through an offering prescribed by the law, and the “presentation” of Jesus in the Temple (p. 58).”

The Book of Leviticus (12:1-4) stipulates that after giving birth to a male child, the woman was considered to be impure (excluded from taking part in public worship) for seven days, the child himself was to be circumcised on the eighth day, and the woman was to remain at home for an additional span of thirty days, in purification of her blood. After this time, she was to present a purification sacrifice – a burnt offering – of a young lamb, as well as a sin-offering of two turtle doves or young pigeons. The poor were absolved of the need to bring the young lamb. Thus, St. Luke stipulates that Mary and Joseph brought the offering of the poor: two turtle doves or young pigeons. In his book, Jesus of Nazareth: The Infancy Narratives, Pope Benedict notes that the entire Gospel makes it clear that Jesus and His family belonged to the poor of Israel, and it was therefore through the poor that the long awaited Messiah would fulfill the promise of salvation. It is precisely through the poor that God chose to offer His gift of salvation for all humankind.

Candlemas Celebration, Holy Hill Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians, February 2, 2012 © SalveMaterDei.com, 2012.

The Holy Father goes on to state that:

“Mary does not need to be purified from the birth of Jesus: his birth ushers the purification of the world. But she obeys the law, and in this way she serves the fulfillment of the promises (p. 59).”

Our Lady is a model of poverty and obedience. She did not excuse herself from the precepts of the law rather, in her holiness, she perfectly fulfilled scripture.

Hail Full of Grace © SalveMaterDei.com, 2013.

One might also consider that while because of her poverty, Our Lady was absolved of the requirement under the Mosaic Law to bring a young lamb to the temple as a purification sacrifice, in actuality He Whom she (and St. Joseph) brought to the temple IS the Ultimate Purification Sacrifice: the infant Lamb of GOD. It is precisely because of Our Lady’s spiritual poverty, her willingness to empty herself totally, and be filled with the grace of God (Hail Mary Full of Grace… kechatitomene – Kεχαριτωμένη-) that this privilege was bestowed upon her by Almighty God.

In Mosaic Law, the first-born male was to be redeemed, and a price of five shekels was to be paid to a priest. The first-born male child was thus to be given unreservedly to God: “Every male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord (Exodus 13: 2).” In his text, the Holy Father points out that this prescribed action did not necessarily have to take place in the Temple. Yet, in Jesus’ case the Temple setting is absolutely essential to God’s plan. Recall, the Temple was considered to be the “footstool” of God’s presence for the people of Israel. In an authentic way the Temple was an indication of the validity of God’s presence among His people. In this encounter, The Redeemer of the World is redeemed according to the law, and by virtue of this act, Jesus is publicly handed over to God His Father. As Jesus is presented in the Temple, in a real way the Son of God is presented to God the Father. Thus, both acts are completed in this encounter in the Temple, the prescribed redemption under the law, and the Presentation of the Son to God the Father.

The Presentation of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Temple, © SalveMaterDei.com, 2013.

These significant events unfold fulfilling both scripture and the letter of the law against a backdrop of prophesy. First, Simeon the “Just Man” is described in scripture as “righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel (Luke 2: 25).” It had been revealed to Simeon by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death until he had seen the Messiah of the Lord. On this particular day, Simeon came to the temple “in the Spirit of the Lord (Luke 2:27).” Upon seeing the Child Jesus, Simeon took the Child Jesus in His arms and blessed God, proclaiming:

“Now, Master, You may let Your servant go in peace according to your word, for my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You prepared in the sight of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory to Your people Israel Lord (Canticle of Simeon, Nunc dimittis, Luke 2: 29-32).”

Mary and Joseph are amazed at this public proclamation regarding their infant son. As Simeon blesses them, he continues to prophesy, saying specifically to Mary:

“Behold this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted, and you yourself a sword will pierce, so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed (Luke 2: 33-35).”

Simeon’s prophesy indicates the truth that the cross is intimately intertwined with the Messianic mission. Yes, the Christ-Child is the Salvation of Israel – and of all people – but to embrace the glory of Salvation, the Cross is essential.

Candlemas celebration, February 2, 2013, Holy Hill, Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians © SalveMaterDei.com, 2013.

Like Simeon, Anna the Prophetess, is equally pious, leading a sacrificial life of prayer and penance (Luke 2: 36-38). Like Simeon, she steps forward at the moment Jesus is presented in the Temple, to thank God, and to speak “about the child to all who were awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem (Luke 2: 38).”

This beautiful feast is replete with grace and meaning. Scripture is fulfilled and we are invited to bear witness to the true Light which has come into the world. Just as Simeon and Anna encounter Christ, we too are invited to “see” Who He truly is – with the grace of the Holy Spirit – to encounter Him. Like Simeon, we are also invited to “take the child into our arms” and bless God. Embracing Christ and His Cross, we too are invited to praise God for the gift of the Incarnate Word – Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Blessed Feast of the Presentation of our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ in the Temple; Joyous Candlemas!

M. A. JMJ

Living the Nativity

Posted on January 13, 2013 by M.A.U.

Like the Magi, we are called to perpetually bring the Gold of charity, the Frankincense of prayer and the Myrrh of penitential sacrifice. © Salve Mater Dei 2013

“Give to the Lord, you sons of God, Give to the Lord glory and praise, Give to the Lord the glory due His name, adore the Lord in holy attire (Psalm 29:1-2).”

With the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord the Liturgical Season of Christmas officially draws to a close and the season of Ordinary Time commences. As the colorful Christmas lights are packed away, and the ornaments find their way back into the attic, we shift spiritual gears from the preparing for the birth of Christ and rejoicing in His Incarnation to the nitty-gritty of daily life. The preparations are over, the thrill of anticipation and the reminiscences of Christmas morning are but memories. The glitz of tinsel and shimmer of Christmas lights have faded into the subdued glow of a cold winter morn.

We are to Challenged to Keep Christmas all the Year- to Become Living Nativities. © Salve Mater Dei 2013

Now comes the hard part. We must face the challenge of carrying Christmas – and with it, the Christ-Child – in our hearts all the year through. We are called to be christophers, that is Christ-bearers. With the immortalized Scrooge in Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, we are called to vow:

“I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me.”

Yet the Spirit we are asked to grasp is not illusory, rather we are called to fully welcome the Holy Spirit. We are called to embrace the Christ-Child and never let Him go. We are asked to refrain from packing Him away like the plastic and porcelain replicas from our nativity crèche.

For Unto Us a Child is Born! © Salve Mater Dei 2013

With God’s grace, may we strive each and every day to wrap the newborn Christ Child in a blanket of love, and keep Him warm in the cradle of our hearts. Unlike the inn-keepers from of old, may we welcome the Holy Family. As we shelter Jesus, Mary and Joseph in our hearts, may the Holy Family sanctify our lives and strengthen within us the virtues requisite for authentic family life. Through Our Lady’s maternal love, may we see the face of Christ in all whom we meet. As St. Joseph protected the Blessed Mother and Infant Jesus, through his intercession may our chastity and that of our families remain safe, even in the midst of a licentious pagan culture.

With the Humility of Shepherds, We are called to Glorify God even in Mundane Tasks. © Salve Mater Dei 2013

With the humility of shepherds, may we respond immediately to His messengers and glorify God even in our most menial of daily duties. May we seek Him with the zeal of the Magi, and perpetually offer the gold of charity, the Frankincense of prayer and the myrrh of penitential sacrifice. Lastly, with the angels may we seek to do His Holy Will and perfectly reflect His goodness so that one day we may join the celestial chorus in praising Him in Paradise for all eternity.

Blessings,

Ad Jesum Per Mariam,

M.A. JMJ

*** Photos taken at the annual Living Nativity at the Basilica of the National Shrine of Mary Help of Christians at Holy Hill on December 16, 2012. Used with Permission.

This is My Beloved Son. . . .

Posted on January 13, 2013 by M.A.U.

Caeli aperti sunt caeli et vox Patris intonuit: “Hic est Filius meus dilectus, audite illum.”

Unless One is Born of Water and The Spirit. . . . © Salve Mater Dei 2013 EA Photo

The heavens were opened and the voice of the Father thundered: “This is My Beloved Son, listen to Him (Alleluia Verse, Holy Mass, Mark 9:7).”

Today we celebrate the Baptism of the Lord. In this singular act, Our Lord Jesus publicly demonstrates that He is the “Lamb of God Who takes away the sins of the world.” In all humility, Jesus – though sinless – nonetheless allows Himself to be counted among sinners, so that through His humility and sacrifice our fallen humanity might be redeemed.

Today’s Gospel:

This is what John the Baptist proclaimed: “One mightier than I is coming after me. I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of His sandals. I have baptized you with water; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.

It happened in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized in the Jordan by John. On coming up out of the water he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit, like a dove, descending upon him. And a voice came from the heavens, “You are My beloved Son, with You I am well pleased (Mark 1: 7-11).”

I Have Baptized You with Water. . . He will Baptize with the Holy Spirit. . . . © Salve Mater Dei 2013 EA Photo

In this moment of Christ’s baptism, we experience the tangible presence of the Most Blessed Trinity: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are truly manifest, distinct yet unified. God the Father announces to heaven and earth that Jesus Christ is His beloved Son, the One in Whom He is well pleased. In that instant we clearly comprehend that Christ perfectly embodies the Will of the Father: Jesus accepts His role as Suffering Servant and with it anticipates His baptism into death for the remission of the sins of all humanity. The Father Loves the Son, and acknowledges that He is pleased with Jesus for perfectly conforming to His Divine Will. The Holy Spirit – the Divine reflection of the Love that exists between the first two persons of the Blessed Trinity – visibly demonstrates the reality of this unity of Supernatural Love.

The Heavens Declare the Glory of God. . . . © Salve Mater Dei 2013

The Baptism of Jesus is replete with grace and meaning. It is the inauguration of Christ’s public ministry. Through it we are given a glimpse of the glory of God, and of the life that we are called to emulate if we are to attain the eternal joy for which we are created. Just as Christ humbly accepts His eternal role as mediator for our sins, we too must humbly accept our own baptism into the death and resurrection of Christ. As Christ takes on our human flesh and blood, so we too must be willing to embrace the salvific action of His Flesh and Blood. Through the Sacrament of Holy Eucharist, we are given the privilege to embrace this very mystery of our salvation each and every day.

Rejoice, For You are a Child of God! © Salve Mater Dei 2013

At our own Baptism, we profoundly encountered the Most Blessed Trinity, as the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit became truly manifest in our lives. At the moment our souls were cleansed of Original Sin, we became adopted children of the Heavenly Father. Now armed with Sanctifying Grace, we endeavor to live worthy lives, such that one day, when we shall appear before the throne of the Most High, we too may hear: “You are my beloved child, in whom I am well pleased.”

Blessed Feast of the Baptism of The Lord,

Ad Jesum per Mariam,

M.A. JMJ

Beneplacitum est Domino in Populo Suo: The Lord Takes Delight in His People.

Posted on January 9, 2013 by M.A.U.

Vidimus stellam eius in Oriente et venimus cum muneribus adorare Dominum.

Where is the Newborn King of the Jews? We Have Come to Do Him Homage. © SalveMaterDei.com, 2013. EA Photo

“We have seen His star in the East, and have come with gifts to adore the Lord (Epiphany Mass, Communion Antiphon, Mt 2:2).”

Each one of us has been endowed with extraordinary gifts from Our Creator. We are immeasurably loved, and out of Love Itself, God had deigned to create each and every one of us just the way we are. Each of us possesses a unique collection of talents that God has ordained be directed to achieving the unique purpose for which He has planned our existence from all eternity. To some, God has granted musical ability, to others intellect; some are athletes, or artists, great listeners, or contemplative pray-ers.

Overjoyed They Opened Their Treasures, and Offered Him Gifts. . . © SalveMaterDei.com, 2013. EA Photo

This is the time of the year for New Year’s resolutions. Traditionally we take stock of ourselves, examine our flaws and endeavor to change those areas that are defective. While on the whole this process can be beneficial if it is directed to improving our spiritual well-being and embracing a closer relationship with God and those others with whom He has placed us on this earth, it can also be problematic. For if as our process of introspection focuses only upon superficialities – like appearance, weight, wealth, possessions, then instead of deepening our relationship with God, we may actually be tempted to lose sight of the enormous depth of God’s love for us. While concentrating on trivialities, we may ignore the spiritual reality, and inadvertently neglect to take advantage of opportunity for true growth.

Caravans of Camels Shall Fill You, Dromedaries from Midian and Epah; All From Sheba Shall Come. © SalveMaterDei.com, 2013. EA Photo

Comprehending that we are immeasurably loved is essential. When we truly take time to consider that God loves us as we are – fat, skinny, bald, toothless, cranky – whatever – a profound change takes place. Superficialities become less important –not only in ourselves, but in others as well. God Loves us! He created us as we are for a reason. Yes, we are expected to strive to make the best use of the gifts we have been given, and ultimately to render the greatest honor and glory to Him through appropriate use of those gifts. We are called, with His grace, to perfect the work He has begun in us. Yet, to do that efficiently, we must gratefully acknowledge the gifts we have been given.

Bearing Gifts of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh. . . © SalveMaterDei.com, 2013. EA Photo

To some degree that means not only accepting what we have, but also realizing that certain gifts are not part of His plan for us. I have a hard time imagining that Balthazar, Caspar and Melchior squabbled over their gifts. As I contemplate the journey of the Magi, I just don’t hear Melchior saying to himself, “I wanted to present the Christ-Child with the Frankincense, and now I’m just stuck with the Myrrh.” Part of the lesson of the Epiphany lies in accepting the gifts we are given to lay before the crib of the Divine Infant. For like the Magi, each of us is following a Divine Light, and one day that journey will in fact end. When it does, we will be asked to open our coffers and present the gifts with which we have been entrusted from all eternity.

One Day, We Will Each Be Called to Make Account Of The Treasures We Have Been Given. © SalveMaterDei.com, 2013. EA Photo

As we embark upon this new year, let us resolve to make good use of those gifts in the service of God and our neighbor. In so doing we will adore the King of Kings in the way He has ordained for each of us from the beginning of time, and render unto Him the Glory that He is due.

Give Him the Praise that is Due. © SalveMaterDei.com, 2013.

Adorabunt te, Domine, omnes gentes terrae.

Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

Blessed Epiphany,

Ad Jesum Per Mariam,

MA JMJ

Lord, Every Nation on Earth Shall Adore You. . . .

Posted on January 6, 2013 by M.A.U.

Vidimus stellam eius in Oriente et venimus cum muneribus adorare Dominum.

Lord, Every Nation on Earth Shall Adore You. © SalveMaterDei.com, 2013.

“We have seen His star in the East, and have come with gifts to adore the Lord (Epiphany Mass, Communion Antiphon, Mt 2:2).”

Today we are invited to follow the Star and adore Our Infant Lord with the Magi. Scripture tells us:

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold Magi from the East arrived in Jerusalem, saying “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw His star at its rising and have come to do him homage.” When King Herod heard this he was greatly troubled, and all of Jerusalem with him. Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it has been written through the prophet: And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; since from you shall come a ruler Who will shepherd my people Israel.”

Magi From the East Arrived in Jerusalem. © SalveMaterDei.com, 2013.

Then Herod called the Magi secretly and ascertained from them the time of the star’s appearance. He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search diligently for the child. When you have found him, bring me word, that I may go and do him homage.” After their audience with the king they set out. And behold the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it stopped over the place where the child was. They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. They opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another route (Gospel, Epiphany Mass, Mt. 2: 1-12).

They Saw the Child with His Mother Mary. . . © SalveMaterDei.com, 2013.

We know from Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition that the Magi were real, and that in supreme humility they visited Our Lord, and offered tokens of their earthly wealth in Adoration of their Creator. We have come to revere the wisdom and courage of these royal visitors. They embarked on a perilous journey, forsaking the comfort of their dwellings in search of the Infant King. Deep and abiding faith fueled their sojourn. They had never seen the Divine Infant, the object of their desire, yet they searched for Him diligently.

We are commanded to “love God with our whole heart, whole mind and whole soul, and to love our neighbor as our selves (Luke 10: 27).” The Magi provide a tangible example of the Great Command in action. These wise men loved God from the depths of their being, and sought Him earnestly with their intellects, hearts, and souls. They were willing to forsake familiarity and comfort. Leaving behind the security of wealth and prestige, they embraced humility and danger while searching for the Infant King. The Magi understood that their great abundance was a product of God’s Divine Providential Love. Their saw their treasure and talents as gifts from God, and sought to express sincere gratitude to Him for such copious blessings. God had given them everything, and in return for His superabundant providence, they offered their health, wealth, and service.

We have seen His Star in the East © Salve Mater Dei 2013.

When we contemplate the serenity of the crèche, there is a sense of silent awe. We see the Infant Jesus resting in the arms of His Mother Mary, and the Magi prostrating themselves in hushed Adoration. There is a sense of contentment – the object of their desire has been found! Now that their arduous journey is complete; like Jesus, they too can rest in placid joy.

Today, as we celebrate the Epiphany, we are offered an opportunity to partake in the visit of the Magi. We are asked to forsake the comforts of familiarity, and to truly seek the Christ-child with sincere hearts. We are asked to love God deeply, and enlist our hearts, minds, and souls profoundly in the task searching for His Kingdom among us. We are challenged to be content with the gifts we have been given, and to use our earthly treasures to render to Him the greatest honor and glory possible.

Venimus adorare Dominum – We have Come to Do Him Homage. © Salve Mater Dei 2013

Like the Magi, if we earnestly seek Christ, we too shall see His Light dawn within us in radiant beauty, and rest in silent awe as we contemplate His Divine Majesty.

Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini: Deus Dominus et illuxit nobis

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord: The Lord is God and has given us Light (Psalm 118(117):26-27).”

Striving to Resemble Christ as a Holy Innocent

Posted on December 28, 2012 by M.A.U.

Weeping for her Children, because they were no more. . . © SalveMaterDei.com, 2012

A voice was heard in Rama, sobbing and loud lamentation; Rachel weeping for her children, and she would not be consoled, since they were no more (Jeremiah 31:15).

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Innocents and in so doing we honor the lives of the infants who were slaughtered at the command of King Herod.

Today’s Gospel states:

When the Magi had departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him.” Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt. He stayed there until the death of Herod, that what the Lord had said through the prophet might be fulfilled, “Out of Egypt I called My Son.”

At The Kings Command These Innocent Babes Were Put to Death. . . .

When Herod realized that he had been deceived by the magi he became furious. He ordered the massacre of all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity two years old and under in accordance with the time he had ascertained from the magi. Then was fulfilled what had been said through Jeremiah the prophet: A voice was heard in Rama, sobbing and loud lamentation; Rachel weeping for her children, and she would not be consoled, since they were no more (Matthew 2:13-18).

Christmas Reflects the Joy of Innocence. © SalveMaterDei.com, 2012

In the midst of Christmas bliss, our joy is today tinged with sorrow. It is impossible to contemplate the concept of Christmas without simultaneously thinking of children. The Christ Child is integral to the nature of Christmas itself: without the Divine Babe, Christmas itself would not exist. Both religious and secular society recognize the centrality of children to Christmas. From crèche to carolers, cookies to candy canes, our cherished Christmas images reflect the joy of innocence. We treasure memories of our own youthful Christmases past, and strive to allow our progeny to experience cherished traditions with the same delight we held so long ago.

Cherished Memories of Christmas Past. © SalveMaterDei.com, 2012

This rhythm of innocence and joy is among the blessings of this sacred season. Fresh are the memories of our youngsters kneeling by the crèche to wish Baby Jesus a “Happy Birthday”, of wee ones enthralled with glittery festive wrap, chubby cheeks sticky with holiday sweets, and angelic choruses singing “Silent Night.” Yet, today, on the Feast of the Holy Innocents we acknowledge that the Cross and the Crib are not all that far apart. If we are to embrace the Babe in the Manager, we must also prepare ourselves accept the Cross as well.

We must be Prepared to Welcome both the Christ in the Crib and One on the Cross. © SalveMaterDei.com, 2012

Ours is an imperfect, fallen, temporary world. Eternity is forever and in His wisdom, our loving God allows us to unite our suffering with that of His beloved Son. This grace is offered to all, irrespective of age, race, or station in life. The tender babes who we remember as the Holy Innocents achieved the grace to perfectly reflect Christ to a troubled world.

The martyrs whose feast we celebrate were victims of the cruel, irrational jealousy of King Herod. Their innocence and light contrasts his evil darkness. Herod “The Great” is recorded in history as a brutal, maniacal, despot; diabolical shadows are evident throughout his entire reign. Herod was appointed Governor of Galilee by Rome at the age of 25. His cruelty was already known and condemned by high-ranking Jewish officials. He briefly lost his throne in a power struggle with his nephew, Antigonus; upon which Herod swiftly traveled to Rome to politically spar for his precious throne. Evidently he was persuasive and his history of brutal suppression of opposition was thought by Rome to be an asset; the Roman Senate declared Herod “The King of the Jews” c. 39 B.C.

Upon returning to Judea, and securing his throne, Herod promptly married the adolescent niece of Antigonus, Mariamne I, in an effort to ameliorate Jewish discontent at his return. Herod banished his own wife Doris and her children rather than deal with palace squabbles over legitimate heirs to the throne. Actually this fate was kinder than that which was in store for Mariamne and some of her sons. Fueled by jealous rage and paranoia Herod had each of them brutally murdered.

Aware that his subjects despised him, Herod “The Great” devised an elaborate plan to ensure that at his death his subjects would mourn. His final illness was described by the renowned Roman historian Josephus. He recounts details that include visible worms within his flesh, purification, and agony, – his son, Herod Agrippa’s fate included a similarly recorded death. As Herod’s health began to fail, he ordered that many of the most beloved citizens and revered rabbis be imprisoned and that upon his death they be executed. There is however some evidence that Herod’s son Archilaus failed to carry out this diabolical request.

Herod “The Great,” the Roman appointed “King of the Jews,” was an evil man. Darkness and light cannot exist simultaneously. The True Light was coming into the world, and neither Herod, nor the Evil which fueled him, could tolerate that reality. Thus, in an effort to extinguish the Light, Herod ordered the slaughter of all baby boys two years and under living in the region of Bethlehem. These children died because they resembled our Savior in gender, age, and innocence. Their senseless massacre was mourned in heaven and on earth. Truly one can sense God Himself weeping over their deaths. Two millennia later tears are still shed for their passing and their lives are remembered with great devotion. They have achieved the glory of immortality that eluded their brutal murder.

These babes were martyred because they resembled the Christ-Child. Yet, for those of us who believe, there is no greater grace than to conform perfectly to Our Savior as to be confused for Him. In reality, those of us who bear the name Christian strive daily to become living, breathing images of Christ, such that when one sees us they truly see Him alive within us. The Holy Innocents achieved this monumental task at a tender age.

Become a Living, Breathing, Image of Christ. . . © SalveMaterDei.com, 2012

In our world today there are other holy innocents whose lives speak volumes. Last month a young boy named Andrew succumbed to an aggressive brain cancer. His faith was unwavering, and in his final weeks he was often heard praying and offering his suffering for other children with cancer. He prayed that his family might accept his death, and that they all might one day be reunited in Paradise.

Last year, another young girl prayed that closeness which through her devastating illness had bonded her troubled family would not be shattered upon her death.

A tiny babe recovering from massive surgeries to correct devastating birth anomalies clings to life surrounded by his amazing faith-filled family http://www.dominicpio.com/. (Please pray for little Dominic Pio!)

Each day in the abortion mills throughout this country and the world, thousands of precious, tiny lives are taken. Their light is extinguished by the darkness of ignorance and selfishness.

One has only to look to the recent events in Newtown Connecticut to sense the preciousness of innocent lives, and that fact that dark and disturbed people still exist.

Today, as we remember the Holy Innocents and celebrate their Feast, let us pray that we too achieve the grace to resemble Christ so closely that we might be mistaken for Him. Let us pray for all the innocent children of the world – born and unborn – that they might enjoy freedom to live in health and safety, and come to proclaim the reality of the love of Christ.

May His Light shine through them and through us for all eternity.

Merry Christmas Blessings,

Ad Jesum per Mariam,

M.A. JMJ

The Lord Himself Will Give You a Sign

Posted on December 22, 2012 by M.A.U.

Kings Stand Silent in your Presence © SalveMaterDei.com, 2012

O Flower of Jesse’s stem, you have raised up as a sign for all peoples; kings stand silent in your presence; the nations bow down in worship before You. Come let nothing keep you from coming to our aid (O Antiphon, Divine Office).

As Advent draws to its culmination, there is a sense of eager anticipation that builds like a crescendo. Our home is filled with the sights, sounds and scents of Christmas. The Nativity stands on the mantle, the Christmas tree is decorated, lights glow, stringed instruments rehearse for Christmas Mass, the children sing and whisper Christmas secrets. . . our busy home is abuzz with festive cheer.

The rhythm of readings from the daily Divine Office and Holy Mass have served as a foundation upon which we have endeavored to construct worthy hearts; prepared to welcome the Infant Christ Child, and His Beloved Mother. The daily recitation of the St. Andrew Novena has helped to reinforce the essential truth and beauty of the season of Advent. With every: “Hail and blessed be the hour and the moment in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary at midnight in Bethlehem, in piercing cold, in that hour vouchsafe O my God to hear my prayer and grant my desire through the merits of our Savior Jesus Christ and of His Blessed Mother. Amen,” our hearts are one step closer to welcoming the One Who is our heart’s greatest desire.

Yesterday’s blizzard offered a unique opportunity for reflection and Advent preparation. Winds howled and heavy snow blanketed our area. By this morning we had 14 inches of heavy wet snow, encrusted with ice. Trees laden beyond their breaking point littered our yard today.

All week we knew the storm was coming. Modern meteorology with its Doppler radar has tracking approaching storms down to a science. On Wednesday, I regretfully informed the kids it was doubtful that we’d venture to the Basilica for daily Mass. We all hate missing Mass, but missing Mass during these final days of Advent seems a particular blow. My daughter Gemma summed it all up: “The Lord has invited us to His banquet, and we won’t be there!” However, I assured them that as the responsibility of their young lives is mine, I knew Our Lord would understand our absence from His holy Banquet. Still, I prayed, as did they, that if possible, we might get to Mass.

Holy Hill

Before the icy, wet snow truly piled up on Thursday morning, my husband discovered that his clinic was closed in advance of the inclement weather. By Mass time, as anticipated, the roads were beyond my driving capabilities, but he is more proficient behind the wheel than I, and thus we safely ventured to Mass as a family. The beauty of the Basilica, encrusted with pure white snow from the twin spires to the trees below, is breath-taking. Fr. Jude delivered a magnificent homily to the mere handful of us who were privileged to traverse the steep hill. He explained why King Ahaz preferred to enter a disastrous military alliance with the Assyrians rather than trust in God’s providential care (First Reading, Isaiah 7:10-14). Ahaz was a weak king, who sought his own security and prestige through worldly means and was uninterested in invoking God. Ahaz was not about to trust that God would protect his tiny Kingdom, and in fact he preferred to side-step God, rather than risk losing his precious throne. Politics preempted theology. Thus, with mock humility, Ahaz refused to even ask for a sign. Even though Ahaz refuses to cooperate, the prophesy is uttered aloud: “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you this sign: the Virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall name Him Emmanuel.”

The fulfillment of this prophesy reaches completion through the fiat of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which was described in yesterday’s Gospel (Luke 1: 26-38). King Ahaz refused to cooperate with God’s grace, and rejected His loving plan to protect His chosen people. Alternatively, the Blessed Virgin chose to cooperate fully with the Divine Will. King Ahaz principally valued his own temporal and political desires. He was full of himself, and placed his personal security above the good of his people and the will of God. In contrast, the Blessed Virgin was (and is still) full of Grace, she sought the Will of God preeminently without consideration of her personal goals and safety. Unlike Ahaz, she trusted God thoroughly, and thus through her God’s loving plan would reach fulfillment in Christ Jesus.

Trust: it seems so simple, yet it is profoundly challenging. Trust is not something that happens accidentally. No, rather it requires a volitional act of the will. We must summon our courage and rest in faith, realizing the validity of the Angel Gabiel’s promise: “Nothing is impossible with God.” Mighty kings and rulers like Ahaz have proven incapable of such trust. Yet, a lowly, humble, poor, young virgin demonstrates exactly how one must proceed. Emulating her example, we can place our trust in the providential love of God, and receive into our hearts the fruit of this love, which is Jesus Christ Our Savior.

Through Mary, may we have the grace to say: “Jesus, I trust in You!”

Advent blessings,

M.A. J.M.J.

Our Lady of Guadalupe, Pray for Us!

Posted on December 12, 2012 by M.A.U.

Happy Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Empress of the Americas! The origin of this feast goes back to the 16th century, when a radiant Heavenly visitor appeared to a simple Indian peasant, – a 57 year old widower named Juan Diego, who was on his way to Holy Mass in honor of Our Lady’s Immaculate Conception, on December 9, 1531. As Juan passed Tepeyac Hill, he heard beautiful music, and then a lovely voice calling his name: “Juanito, Juan Dieguit.” He then saw Our Lady wearing the raiment of an Aztec Princess – one who was with child. Our Lady spoke to Juan in his own language, and gave him the mission to request of Bishop Juan de Zumarraga that a chapel was to be built in her honor. She stated:

“Know and understand well, you the most humble of my sons, that I am the ever Virgin Holy Mary, Mother of the True God for whom we live, of the Creator of all things, Lord of Heaven and the Earth. I wish that a chapel be erected here quickly, so I may therein exhibit and give all my love, compassion, help, and protection, because I am your merciful mother, to you, and to all the inhabitants on this land and all the rest who love me, invoke and confide in me; listen there to their lamentations, and remedy all their miseries, afflictions and sorrows. And to accomplish what my clemency pretends, go to the palace of the bishop of Mexico, and you will say to him that I manifest my great desire, that here on this plain a chapel be built to me; you will accurately relate all you have seen and admired, and what you have heard. Be assured that I will be most grateful and will reward you, because I will make you happy and worthy of recompense for the effort and fatigue in what you will obtain of what I have entrusted. Behold, you have heard my mandate, my humble son; go and put forth all your effort.”

Juan reluctantly carried out her request. The Franciscan Bishop, though kind, thought Juan was hallucinating. Our Lady appeared to Juan two more times, and again Juan conveyed the Blessed Mother’s requests to Bishop Juan de Zumarraga . Finally, the Bishop sent Juan away with the seemingly impossible task of bringing back a sign – Castilian roses from the Bishop’s home region in Spain (recall this was the middle of December in Mexico).

The morning of the fourth apparition, Juan’s uncle became gravely ill, and as Juan hurried to find a priest to administer the Last Rites, he purposely avoided seeing Our Lady. He skirted around Tepeyac Hill, fearing that should he run into the Heavenly visitor, she might detain him in his important task of finding a priest. Our Blessed Mother is not easily deterred, and simply found Juan on the other side of the hill. She compassionately assured Juan that his uncle would completely recover (which he did). Our dear Lady of Guadalupe gently stated again in his own tongue:

“Hear me and understand well, my son the least, that nothing should frighten or grieve you. Let not your heart be disturbed. Do not fear that sickness, nor any other sickness or anguish. Am I not here, who is your Mother? Are you not under my protection? Am I not your health? Are you not happily within my fold? What else do you wish? Do not grieve nor be disturbed by anything. Do not be afflicted by the illness of your uncle, who will not die now of it. be assured that he is now cured.”

Our Lady of Guadalupe, Please Pray for Us! © SalveMaterDei.com, 2011. GM photographer

The Blessed Mother pointed to a patch of Castilian Roses growing in the cold and instructed Juan to pick them. After he did, her loving hands arranged them in his tilma (coarse Indian cloak). Empowered by our Lady’s words, Juan again visited the Bishop. When Juan entered the room, and opened his arms, the Castilian roses cascaded to the ground, and the amazed Bishop fell to his knees. A beautiful, inexplicable image of Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared on the rough fiber Indian cloak. While the cloak itself should have disintegrated in about 50-75 years as others of the same time period did, this cloak, and its miraculous image have endured for 480 years.

The image itself is the object of much study and writing, and someday I’ll devote an entire post to it. This image has survived much – even an attempt to bomb it that severely damaged the church which contained the treasure. NASA scientists have analyzed the image, and find no known earthly element involved in its existence – it is not painted, nor is it a photograph. The stars on Our Lady’s mantle appear exact pattern that would have occurred in the sky on that December morning in 1531. Computer analysis of the eyes of the image – when magnified – reveal several figures who appear to be kneeling. The number of miracles associated with Our Lady of Guadalupe and this image are uncountable. Perhaps the greatest miracle is that within a decade after Our Lady’s appearance 9 million people were converted, and the gruesome Aztec practice of human child sacrifice was abandoned.

Our Lady of Guadalupe’s miraculous intercession continues to this present day. Please join me on Her Feast in requesting her unfailing aid.

Our Lady of Guadalupe, Empress of the America’s and Protector of the Unborn, please pray for us, for our beloved country which desperately needs Your Miraculous and Motherly intercession. Please give us the grace to respect each other regardless of race, handicap, income or age. Please pray that we may also end the scourge of child sacrifice performed daily under the clinical name of abortion. Please help us to convert our hearts, and mend our lives as You aided others so long ago. Recognizing that you are “the ever Virgin Holy Mary, Mother of the True God for whom we live, of the Creator of all things, Lord of Heaven and the Earth,” we place our confidence in the protection of Your Immaculate Heart. Our Lady of Guadalupe, Please pray for us!

Blessed Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe!

Ad Jesum per Mariam

M.A. JMJ

“Hail Full of Grace!” (Kεχαριτωμένη)

Posted on December 7, 2012 by M.A.U.

The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception is one of the most beautiful celebrations in the liturgical year. Today we commemorate the singular grace and privilege that God Himself bestowed upon Our Heavenly Mother: namely that she was conceived without the stain of Original Sin. Through this feast we are invited to thank God for the tremendous grace with which He has endowed Our Lady, and also to seek Her powerful maternal intercession for ourselves.

The privilege of being the Immaculate Conception is unique in Salvation History. Never before – nor ever again – has a mere creature been given so great a gift. Yet the gift is truly fitting when one contemplates the solitary role Our Lady was to occupy within God’s Divine Plan. The Blessed Mother was to provide a pure Tabernacle of human flesh within which Our Divine Savior was to rest and grow for nine months. In anticipation of Mary’s fiat, Our Lord prevented the disfigurement of Original Sin from ever touching her Immaculate Soul- His gift of grace to Our Lady who existed absolutely and totally replete with grace from the first moment of her being.

Indeed, the Angel Gabriel greets the Blessed Mother not with the words “Hail Mary,” but rather “Hail Full of Grace.” The Greek word, kechatitomene (Kεχαριτωμένη) is used exclusively to name the Blessed Mother, and it means full (overflowing) with grace. The connotation of this word is that Our Lady, was so brimming with the gift of God’s grace that there was not even an iota of room for anything opposed to that grace. My Koine Greek is pretty rusty, but what I remember is that kechatitomene is in the aorist tense – a past perfect tense denoting an action that was begun in the past, but continued into the present. Mary was conceived sinless, and that state continued into present.

When God uses a word in place of a person’s name or renames an individual, it bears deep significance as it reflects the very being and mission of the individual. Recall for example that: Abram (exalted father) was renamed Abraham (father of many nations), Jacob wrestled with an angel and was given the name Israel (contended with God), Simon the fisherman was renamed Peter- the Rock, and the Pharisee Saul was transformed into the Christian Paul. Thus, when the Angel of the Annunciation refers to the Blessed Mother, not by her given name of Mary, but rather as “kechatitomene,” it reflects the past of her sinless conception, the present of the moment of the Annunciation, and the future of her mission as the Immaculate Conception – a mission which continues to this very day.

In the United States of America, devotion to Our Lady under the title “Immaculate Conception” has early antecedents. For example, a feast of the Immaculate Conception was celebrated in all the Spanish colonies, and established as a Holy Day of Obligation by the First Provincial Council of Lima in 1552. Franciscan Missions to Our Lady under this privileged title include: Convento de Inmaculada Concepcion in St. Augustine, Florida (established in 1573), and La Purisima Conception Mission in New Mexico (1629) and La Purisima Concepcion in California (1787).

The renowned Jesuit explorer, Pere Jacque Marquette explored the Mississippi River, and not only entrusted his perilous expedition to Blessed Virgin, but also renamed the Indian Village of Kaskasia “Immaculate Conception of Mary,” as well as renamed the Great River: “Conception River.” Fr. Marquette’s devotion to Our Lady under this title also included spreading a devotion to the Chaplet of Our Lady, the Immaculate Conception, a chaplet he himself created in Her honor.

As early as May 17, 1846 Our Lady was proclaimed patroness of the entire country under this privileged title by the bishops if the United States at the Sixth Provincial Council of Baltimore. From early antiquity, a belief in the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception is evident through the writings of the early Church Fathers. Even before the dogma of the Immaculate Conception was officially promulgated by Pope Pius IX December 8, 1854, in his papal bull Ineffabilis Deus, this doctrine was widely espoused and celebrated, not only in Europe, but also in the United States. In 1884, the bishops of the United States united at the Third Plenary Council of Baltimore to require that the feast be celebrated as a Holy Day of Obligation by all dioceses in the United States. This decision received the full approbation of Rome in 1885.

We have a rich history of celebrating the immense privilege that God has bestowed upon Our Lady. Throughout the centuries She has shown Herself to be responsive to the supplications of Her beloved children, especially when they invoke Her under this title. As our nation faces unprecedented threats to Religious Liberty, let us unite on this Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception to thank God for the graces He has bestowed upon Mary, and to invoke Her Intercession for ourselves and nation.

Blessed Feast Day!

Ad Jesum per Mariam,

M.A. JMJ

Salve Sancta Mater Dei

Hail, Holy Mother of God! – a journey of praise and thanksgiving

Wednesdays: Through the Holy Heart of St. Joseph: Week 1: “Go To Joseph!”

Lord, My Eyes Have Seen Your Salvation

Living the Nativity

This is My Beloved Son. . . .

Beneplacitum est Domino in Populo Suo: The Lord Takes Delight in His People.

Lord, Every Nation on Earth Shall Adore You. . . .

Striving to Resemble Christ as a Holy Innocent

The Lord Himself Will Give You a Sign

Our Lady of Guadalupe, Pray for Us!

“Hail Full of Grace!” (Kεχαριτωμένη)

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