Epiphany is truly a feast of the Nativity of Our Savior, Jesus Christ. The Three Kings are central to Christmas. They teach us that every single person (ALL!) is called to know, love, serve and adore Jesus Christ. And we are to do this with our entire being.
Let us present a loving heart to the Divine Child and be willing to suffer for Christ; for the Faith. Already as a newborn, Jesus shed His Precious Blood to save us. Keep Jesus in your mind and heart, so that you will never deliberately offend Him. Don't forget the great truths of His four comings and continue to ponder them all year. Consider the link between Our Lord's coming at Christmas and His coming at Holy Mass. Meditate upon the moment of your death when you must render a definitive account of your time on this earth. How loving and [...]
Consider the Transfiguration from the Apostles' point of the view. They perceive a coming struggle and prefer to stay where its comfortable. So Christ immediately ends the consolation. We want to be saints; we want great results; but, we flee from the struggle it requires. This is a natural problem, not just a spiritual one. We want everything to be fine and everyone to be nice. But there is no "ok" or "nice" when it comes to the Catholic soul. It takes hard men and women to break the Gates of Heaven. Lent is not so much a time to 'suffer' [...]
The greatest fruits of the Precious Blood are the saints and martyrs. Consider, for example the life of St. Christina of Bolsena. Many don't realize her connection to the great Eucharistic Miracle which took place over her relics one thousand years after her martyrdom. The link to the Precious Blood is seen in other great saints we venerate in July, such as St. James the Greater, St. Ann, and St. Mary Magdalene. Pray for the specific graces exemplified by these saints and specifically associated with the infinite power of the Precious Blood.
How often do you think about the Precious Blood, the price Our Lord paid for your redemption? In order to be cleansed of sin, we need the application to our souls of this Precious Blood. Adore and invoke the Precious Blood. Even little children can offer this prayer: 'Blood of Jesus, help me!' Recall one of His seven sheddings each day of the week and beg for the specific graces associated with it. Reparation is also essential St. Veronica, pray for us.
How are we to respond to Epiphany - to this great manifestation of Jesus' divinity? We must [1] believe, [2] adore and [3] obey. This is the example of Mary and Joseph, the angels, the shepherds and the Three Kings. Obedience is first given to God. The star represents Faith, the light that comes from God. Then obedience is given to the human authorities God places on earth. This priority must be respected. Human authority can be abused; yet the virtue of obedience exists to conform our will to God's holy will.
St. John helps us to believe in - and live - Christmas. More than anyone else, he provides profound insight into the [1] Incarnation and [2] Holy Eucharist, both mysteries which are central to Christmas. These two mysteries each elicit from us a more profound faith. St. John shows that faith and adoration go together. He presents Christ as the light and life of the world. He teaches us what it means to truly believe and love. St. John gives us an example of perfect devotion to Our Blessed Mother and to the Sacred Heart. He calls us to remain faithful [...]
Despite having a highly developed civilization, the Aztecs demanded human victims as tribute from subjugated tribes for their demonic rituals. However, Christ conquered this barbaric kingdom for Himself. First, Hernan Cortez, who allied himself with many indigenous who despised the Aztecs, conquered militarily. Next, the Spanish Crown outlawed human sacrifice and sent many good missionaries. Yet despite the great efforts of Church and State, the ordinary means of evangelization only bore modest fruit. Something more was needed. The Queen of Heaven herself would have to bring the true u2018Son Godu2019 for the full spiritual conquest of Mexico. Sadly, these demons have [...]
