I don't know if anyone is going to pay much attention to this post. But I think things are moving very ,very fast now in the wolrd. Perhaps on the forum we should be turning now towards more directly subject matter on spiritual and material preparedness. Especially spiritual preparedness. You know if your house is on fire you don't want to be discussing what colour paint you are using for redecorating. The world is catching fire perhaps we should be turning towards important things to do with this. Not be getting sidetracked so to speak. Of staying spiritually focused. On things that really matter, it's just a suggestion. I think time may be very short now. Anyway I feel a prayer burden to do this myself and I will be trying to do so.
One thing I will certainly be doing myself is kneeling at the Feet of Mary and asking her for advice and aid, for graces of strength and wisdom and all the many graces needed. She has never let me down in the past. Prayers to Jesus for Light on the dark path. Prayers to the Holy Angels for protection and guidance. Prayers to St Joseph who knew so well how to make do in hard times. Oh Holy Family, walk with us in our own Flight into Egypt. Our own Journey.
John 14:18 Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit …17that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you. 18"I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19"After a little while the world will no longer see Me, but you will see Me; because I live, you will live also.…
Thankyou Padraig. Keep us focussed because there's lots to feel unsettled about. Meanwhile all of people I am around are chatting about holidays and other plans. Because I work with children, I am fearful for them.
The amazing thing is that I have been sounding alarm bells to people I know but no one really senses the urgency. People think things will go on as normal.
We should enthrone our homes to the Divine Mercy/Sacred Heart/Immaculate Heart of Mary http://www.divinemercysundayusa.com/Enthronement pamphlet.pdf
It all starts and edns with the family, doesn't it? Heaven is in a way one big family. We came from there, hopefully we will return to there. The Blessed Trinity is a family which we are all part of. 'As the family goes, so goes the nation, and so goes the whole world in which we live.' 30 November 1986, Perth | Pope StJohn Paul II
I turned this moning to the large family bible to see what the Lord had to say about the State of the World, which of course had me thinking. The Word of God was opened to Psalm 57..a, 'Confident Prayer of Deliverence ', which as you may guess really cheered up up and gave much encouragement. Psalm 57 For the director of music. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” Of David. A miktam. When he had fled from Saul into the cave. 1 Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed. 2 I cry out to God Most High, to God, who vindicates me. 3 He sends from heaven and saves me, rebuking those who hotly pursue me— God sends forth his love and his faithfulness. 4 I am in the midst of lions; I am forced to dwell among ravenous beasts— men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords. 5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth. 6 They spread a net for my feet— I was bowed down in distress. They dug a pit in my path— but they have fallen into it themselves. 7 My heart, O God, is steadfast, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and make music. 8 Awake, my soul! Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn. 9 I will praise you, Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples. 10 For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies. 11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth.
Actually , you know I have been watching the film, 'Daniel' on utube which is quite wonderful, with great well known actors. Very spiritual, good for prayer. I love things from the Old Testament. I never paid enough attention to the Old.
I love the Old Testament. I sometimes struggle with the New, I dont know why. It's all the same story, just different writers I guess. I like your new avatar, are you sprouting a beard? Looks good! Give your dogs a scratch behind the ears for me. pcj
St Louis Grignion De Montford made a Prophecy that these children of the Latter times would tower above earlier saints as the Lebanon Cedar towers above ordinary trees.
The fire is coming back for me and this is a timely post Padraig. Yesterday, instead of going to lunch I decided to stop into the church down the street because I recalled on Wednesday is when they have all day adoration. To my surprise when I stopped in, the blessed sacrament was not on the alter. I do not know why so I decided to go over in front of a statue of St. Joseph holding the infant Jesus and began to pray a scriptural rosary. I have never done this before but felt inspired to say a simple "St. Joseph pray for us all" after each mystery of the rosary. I think I will include that for now on. It is nice to include the whole Holy Family in the rosary in my mind. Today I stopped in to church for confession. I always feel so much better after a good confession.
Padraig, I didn't see your post until this morning so I thought I'd make it the basis for my prayer time this morning. Things have been very, very dry of late, so I was surprised that the Holy Spirit gave me a glimmer of peaceful joy and led me to pray Psalm 27. So I'd thought I would quote it here along with so comments: A Psalm of David. 1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? 2 When evildoers assail me, uttering slanders against me, my adversaries and foes, they shall stumble and fall. 3 Though a host encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident. In these dark times, there are evildoers and there is the enemy. I sometimes fear for my children and grandkids when I consider what is upon us. But then God is our stronghold- it is as certain as the day is short in these winter months! Sometimes I'm challenged at work. And currently one of our cars has died. Things do go wrong, but my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident. It's so important to be at peace. I'm home from work today so I went to the barn and brought in two loads of firewood. The sun was shining on the glistening snow; it was quite beautiful. I stopped and prayed before our statue of Mary and I even took the time to make a snow angel (though with my CP the right wing came up a little short) Let us be joyful and treaure the simple pleasures of life! 4 One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple. 5 For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent, he will set me high upon a rock. 6 And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies round about me; and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the LORD. One constant we need is prayer; O that we may behold the beauty of the Lord. That we may offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy through the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass (though I might restrain from shouting) May we carry in our hearts a melody to the LORD so as to make no room for negativity. Maybe Jesus will even hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent, but if the day of martyrdom come, then God-willing I will dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life anyway. 7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud, be gracious to me and answer me! 8 Thou hast said, "Seek ye my face." My heart says to thee, "Thy face, LORD, do I seek." 9 Hide not thy face from me. Turn not thy servant away in anger, thou who hast been my help. Cast me not off, forsake me not, O God of my salvation! 10 For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the LORD will take me up. One thing we must do is seek the Lord! Thou hast said, "Seek ye my face." My heart says to thee, "Thy face, LORD, do I seek." In what way has God been our help and salvation? We should frequently remind ourselves of these! What interestingly came to mind was that we should seek certain gifts of the Holy Spirit for the sake of others, especially if society breaks down. These might include wisdom, the discernment of spirits, the gift of healing, and especially fortitude. The first and fourth of these we received at Confirmation and need to fan into burning flames. The other two will come in handy for we'll be running into others we might not normally see in our neighborhoods and medical supplies will be in short supply. At times, we will have questions with no one to turn to. I should trust God to be gracious to me and answer me in those moments! 11 Teach me thy way, O LORD; and lead me on a level path because of my enemies. 12 Give me not up to the will of my adversaries; for false witnesses have risen against me, and they breathe out violence. 13 I believe that I shall see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living! 14 Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; yea, wait for the LORD! We should treasure the Scriptures and learn all we can to know our faith better. The Warning and troubles in general will bring people to us with questions. These occasions will indeed require wisdom! And if I don't convey peace and serenity to others in these days so as to attract others when the roof caves in, then I better find a priest quickly and go to confession! And finally let us remember that the Storm is the prelude to the Era of Peace! I believe that I shall see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living! Come Lord Jesus; yea, wait for the LORD! Safe in the Refuge of the Immaculate Heart!
I posted this on another thread, Terry you may find it helpful. It snot talked much about nowadays saldy , but the Fathers of the Desert went on and on about it:
St Joe of course being for the Patron Saint of Prayer and the Spiritual Life. St Teresa of Avila named all her Carmels after him and not by accident. https://carmelourladysdovecote.wordpress.com/2012/07/13/st-teresas-devotion-to-st-joseph/ Saint Teresa has this to say about St. Joseph: “ “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.” “I wish I could persuade everyone to be devoted to this glorious saint, for I have great experience of the blessings which he can obtain from God. I have never known anyone to be truly devoted to him and render him particular services who did not notably advance in virtue, for he gives very real help to souls who commend themselves to him. For some years now, I think, I have made some request of him every year on his festival and I have always had it granted. If my petition is in any way ill directed, he directs it aright for my greater good.” “I only beg, for the love of God, that anyone who does not believe me will put what I say to the test, and he will see by experience what great advantages come from his commending himself to this glorious patriarch and having devotion to him. Those who practice prayer should have a special affection for him always. I do not know how anyone can think of the Queen of the Angels, during the time that she suffered so much with the Child Jesus, without giving thanks to Saint Joseph for the way he helped them. If anyone cannot find a master to teach him how to pray, let him take this glorious saint as his master and he will not go astray.” (Autobiography Chapter 6).
On February 18th until March 19th, I plan on starting and hoping to complete the 31 day devotion to St. Joseph. For some reason it just feels appropriate this lent to spend a lot of time with St. Joseph. This will be quite a large feet to stay dedicated to this devotion but so appropriate that it will end on his feast day with Palm Sunday starting the day after. If anyone wants to join me, that would be great. I will start a thread for it on the forum. I will also be adding it to my facebook novena/devotion page.
There is no such thing as an accident in the Spiritual Life. He has his hand on your shoulder. Let him keep it there.
