Inspired during my morning rosary -May 6, 2020

The sun is beaming. It’s a hot and arid day.  I’m walking up a dusty road to a simple house of mortar and stone. Mother Mary, you see me through your kitchen window– I’m pacing back and forth – hesitating to go in and see your son, Jesus.  You open your door and pull me into the doorway.  You give me a big hug and a gentle kiss on my forehead.  It is cool within the house and I feel refreshed. Without letting go of me, you walk me into your home and closer to Jesus.  Like a good mother who knows what’s best for me, you lightly nudge me towards Him, while assuring me that I will be “just fine”.  You start walking away back towards your kitchen – telling me to go on and speak with Jesus.  You whisper, “In the meantime, I’ll be right here preparing something special.”  I feel at ease as I begin to tell Jesus all the things in my heart.  My joys and sadness.  Some of the things I tell Him are difficult to say and I hesitate, but you catch my eye from where you stand in the kitchen.  “Go on, keep telling Him.  He loves you”, you say.  Jesus hears me out and I slowly rise – ready to leave.  Mother Mary reaches me before I make it out of the house, bringing me back into the warmth of her kitchen.  She has made a space for me, tea and freshly baked biscuits waiting on a table.  “Sweet daughter, sit.  I’m so glad you came in.”

there are not many choices

really there are only two to be exact

to suffer in union with Christ, or not

for to suffer not is not a choice

at least not while we are passing through

so, we lift up our tired eyes

we strain our necks elevating our chins

we become like David

we strum our harps

for kings are not the only ones who sing sad psalms

David is not the only musician of pain

for just this morning I saw several on their way to work

one drove a van, another a box truck, a third carried a broom

each had a song, each strummed along

each is of the house of David, each a spouse of Mary

which ones however, if any, offered up the pain

that I do not know

only our Father above knows who it is that unites his suffering to Christ’s

only the silent Christ in each one of us could make such a noble choice

—yet another man named Joseph, a son of David

(Howard Hain)

http://www.howardhain.com

Taddeo Gaddi, “Tree of Life, Last Supper and Four Miracle Scenes”, (c. 1360), Refectory, Santa Croce, Florence

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Go to the foot of the Cross, stay at the foot of the Cross, and the Precious Blood of Christ Crucified will drip straight down upon you.

It will mingle with the blood that drips from your open wounds.

This is the “bloodline” that breathes life into “dry bones” and brings forth the new family tree.

It is the Tree of Salvation—the tree watered by His mercy—the mercy he promised “to our fathers, to Abraham and his children for ever.”

———

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit…

—Howard Hain

                                                                                                                                In the year 2011 I attended a women’s retreat at the Passionist Retreat House (Bishop Molloy Retreat House) in Jamaica, NY. It was my very first retreat ever! I didn’t know what to expect and how it was going to help me continue my path to our Lord Jesus Christ , you see, in 2011 I met Jesus. It took me over 40 some years to meet Him and fall in love, and I truly believe that I was led by Him to this retreat experience.     The retreat was led by a luminescent being (actually that is the way I saw her). Her name was Sister Maria Regina. She was a sight for my sore eyes and an enlightening to my soul.On the first night we had Evening Prayer in the upstairs chapel of the retreat house and she introduced to us this intercessory prayer that changed the way I pray for others. I’d like to share this with all of you now. It is perfect for this time that we are going through in 2020.     An Intercessory Prayer Method:     There are different ways of making intercession for others. Here is a way that uses no words. Sometimes we don’t even know what to ask for, and this way of interceding leaves it up to God. God knows exactly what is needed. What God wants and is waiting for is our own love and concern to provide an opening for God’s transforming energies to enter into the situation.     Close your eyes lightly, and spend some time becoming aware of the presence of Christ and of getting in touch with Him. Throughout this time of prayer, maintain this strong sense of connection with Christ. Without this, the intercession is in danger of becoming not prayer , but a mere exercise in remembering people. Keep in focus both the people you will be praying for and the presence of Christ.     Imagine Jesus flooding you with His life and light and power…. See the whole of your being, in imagination, lit up by this light that comes from Him.     Now conjure upon in imagination, one by one, the persons you wish to pray for… Lay your hands on each one, communicating to him or her all the life and power that you have just received from Christ… Take your time over each individual… Call down Christ’s love on him or her wordlessly… See the person light up with Christ’s life and love… See the person transformed… Then move on to the next person… and the next.     When you finish come to rest for a few moments in Christ’s presence, drinking in His light and His life, allowing yourself to be filled again with His Spirit, His love and especially His peace. End it with a brief prayer of thanksgiving for the privilege of collaborating in extending God’s reign.
     The beauty of this intercessory prayer is that it can be done for others as well. You can pray for those who are committed to your care… pastors for their people… teachers for their pupils…health care workers for their patients. Isn’t this perfect for our situation now? What about praying for your “enemies”? Didn’t Jesus ask us to do that? You can pray for each one of the persons whom you dislike and have difficulty with… or people who dislike you… or those who have caused you any kind of hurt… Think of the healing and forgiveness that would take place in you and through you to the other person. You can move on to pray for our Church… for whole nations… The treasures of Christ are infinite and you need not fear that you will exhaust them by lavishing them on His people.           At this moment I would like to thank our Lord God for putting people like Sister Maria Regina in my path to Him. She brought His light, His love and His peace into my life that weekend and I am eternally grateful to her. I love you Sister Maria Regina, please pray for us! And to my Beautiful and  Loyal Redeemer and Savior I would like to say thank You for all You have done for me here in the present and throughout my life. I love You my God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit! I praise and adore You! Glory to You! Berta Hernández