The Paralytic (Luke 5) and the Communion of Saints

1 John 4:7-8 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.

That is today's 'quote of the day' on myCatholic.com. But this day has been even more special to me. I experienced the communion of saints in a very particular way.

Yesterday, as I was praying that rosary of the Seven Sorrows. I realize more of the mysteries of the human heart. Somehow the Lord explained to me how graces are gained by a meditation on the suffering of Mary. If we love Jesus we have to be concerned with his mother as well. When a person like me review how much she has been good to me. I can't just seat and remain indifferent. I have a very long and rich experience with Our Lady. Before I personally consecrate myself to her in many ways, I think my father consecrated me to her when I was born. I know he did it to my little sisters. Plus, he always put on our neck a miraculous medal specially when we were in danger (like during the Rwandan Genocide). But I personally experienced her direct influence on me when she saved me from a very near death. Both times my family thought I was surely dead, but I implored her help and she came for me. In addition to that she called me in her wonderful Schoenstatt family: a grace I don't know how I can describe. Despite all this and many more, I never really understood the mystery of her 'sacred heart' until yesterday when I was meditating on her sorrows. She pondered everything in her heart. She looked at the world from her heart. I realize more and more that life is more 'full' and purposeful when we look at other people's heart. We can notice their needs and related better to them. Titles like 'Queen of Peace' are connected to the human heart. Peace of heart: not worries, no regrets, peace of being forgiven, reconciliation, hope, more faith and confidence, etc.

What does all this have to do with today? Well, I decided to keep meditating on the sorrows and her relationship with me. Today, as I was going to work, I reached into the pocket of my coat and discovered a small prayer to St. Peter. I decided to pray it about five times. Then I prayed Hail Mary's in honor of the Seven Sorrows. After a while, I realise that I need help in praying to her. Just as I need her help to pray to Jesus, I realize I need somebody help to pray to her. So I kind scanned my mind looking for a saint to do the job. Blessed Pio showed up (EWTN was talking about him recently), and later I got St. John Vianney. Later, I remembered my guardian Angel. So I spent the day with these three guys. Asking one after an other to pray for me and with me.

At the end of the day. By an act of obedience and surrender to the will of God (I had something else in mind), I found my self watching Mother Angelica again. This time she is talking about the paralytic. Few months ago, I used to see myself paralyzed in my dreams frequently. Later, I realized that, before, I had asked God to help me to see how my spiritual state was like. In almost all those dreams, I had had to call 'Jesus' before I could become 'normal'. Jesus didn't show himself or speak loudly "get up and walk..." but I came to understand that God had been speaking to me through my dreams. I have other cases which proved later that they were special announcements.

When Mother Angelica started talking about the paralytic, I remembered a 'Healing Novena we are finishing with the Sr. Patricia (and other Franciscans praying for many people around the world...). But then I had a strong, sad feeling: " What if this is what my dreams were about !!!" Before I started wondering whether some 'men' took/are taking me to the Lord, Mother Angelica confirmed my suspicions with a small anecdote: " ...our protestant brothers have clever ways... I see many clever signs in front of their churches...one of them says: DON'T WAIT UNTIL SIX STRONG MAN CARRY YOU TO CHURCH... " Mother Angelica had immediately mentioned that we are very often spiritually paralyzed. You can tell like "when you confess the same sin over and over again..."

Well, I don't' generally miss weekly Mass, but I must be spiritual paralytic for a reason. Bad confessions would be the most likely reason. Going to confession often doesn't necessary mean spiritual health. It is really most important to do a good and deep examination of conscience. A simple scan may not show any sin. And we may think we are okay. But over many years, we may turn out to be spiritually paralyzed without realizing it. In my case it will requires some 'strong men' to realize it. Just look at these men who carried me to Jesus :):

1. Blessed Padre Pio: famous for being a good confessor with capacity to read people conscience and minds...
2. St. John Vianney of Ars: famous confessor who gave confessions for about 20+ every day
3. My guardian Angel: well....
4. St. Peter: power to bind and loose...
5. The Blessed Mother
6. My Schoenstatt friends who carry me always to the Shrine and many other saint-friends of mine...

Six strong men huh :)!!!

This is how wonderful is the communion of saints. The paralytic was healed because his friends (or people who know him) brought him to Jesus. It is even said that his physical paralyzes might have been related to his sins. Jesus healed his sins first, and then his physical illness next.

Well, I want to finish with a note of thanks for all those who pray for me. No matter how healthy we may feel, if we ask God, he can show us more areas where we need help. And we can be surprised that while we thought we were serving God we were also hurting him without knowing it. Then we can have the Lord's Peace. That's probably where the rosary of the Seven Sorrows is so powerful: a more powerful antivirus. Our Lady always promises us more peace, less time in purgatory, and other wonderful things. Protestants and and even catholics see this as nonsense... isn't this a result of some paralysis? We need all to participate in this wonderful communion of saints. Carrying each other in our hearts to the Lord. We never know what the next miracle will be.

Last, one of the Church Fathers reminds us of one word the Lord said to one of the paralytics he healed: "sin no more lest some worse thing happen unto you." This article was supposed to appear yesterday, but didn't because of some editing (which are still not over...). It looks like my publishing is getting worse...I need to review my schedule.

The Eucharistic Kingdom

(Edited Sept 14)

Today we are remembering 9/11! The world and especially America experienced the evil in a very unique way. It is said that many people returned to God in those days. People generally remember that God exists when they recognize the reality of the Evil One. Other people ask why would a good God allow such a thing to happen. Saints would tell us that He only allow it when He can bring a greater good out of it. Now, every 9/11 people remember..., they ask question about good and evil, why would people cultivate such a hatred?, how about God?

Even though sometimes we don't understand everything involved, Christians know that every things work for good for those who love God. God is all good and everything that happens it is for good. The greatest evil that ever happened was the Crucifixion of God's own Son Jesus Christ. If God is more loving, more perfect and perfectionist than we are, how can he make sens of what happened to his Son? How can He allow it to happen? Where is the power of God? How does He used it and in what direction?

Man makes war to protect himself, he is willing to 'kill and crucify' in order to save his temporal life and his temporal possessions. But Jesus has taught us a different way of making war against the evil one. His general commandment was "Love one an other as I have loved you". He loved us by taking risks one after an other. He came into the world as a fragile baby at our mercy, we sent him to exile, we persecuted him, and we eventually killed him. But He who is Truth can not stay in the dead, Truth is always victorious, He rose from the dead and He is alive with the Father.

He is the Way. He showed us the way to make true war against evil. We need to go to the School of the Eucharist (this link is a rap song by Fr. Stan Fortuna...see video...quite interesting:) )in order to know how to built a 'civilization of love' and bring peace in the World.




"You have to make your life essentially, totally eucharistic."
St. Josemaria Escriva, The Forge, #826

This picture caught my attention few months ago. I made it my desktop picture. It helps me to meditate on the mysteries of the Cross, the Eucharist, and the Sacred Heart and our human heart. This is our King and this is how He conquers. It reminds me of the importance of the Crucifix in the Church or in our homes. It pains me when I realize where/when/how I failed, but it is also comforting because it shows the great Mercy of God. It reminds me be merciful to others, to make efforts to do God's will in all things everyday. Eucharistic life is about everyday sanctity. EWTN has an interesting show about this: Eucharistic Journey.

By looking at it I realize what true love is. How true love conquers. It reminds me that Eucharist I receive is the heart of Jesus. It reminds me to check my heart to see if I can feel any fire. The fire that Jesus brought into the world. The fire that Christians are supposed to spread around the world. Of course this is only possible when one is in a state of grace.


When Peter attempted to defend Jesus with a sword, Jesus stopped him. Pope John Paul II has asked forgiveness for sins of the crusaders. True love conquers by the cross; by sacrifice. I like to call our great saints Generals of God. They have conquered by offering their lives as sacrifices for their brothers and sisters. They did not do it their ways, but the way of Jesus. They conquered like Jesus and in Jesus. Now many Holy Orders are like armies aligned behind the Cross of Christ. It is in those Holy Orders or Movements that we are at/become our best in being Christians.

In those spiritual organization we learn more about Reality. We grow to know what real evil is. There is a very very interesting topic on CAF about spiritual warfare. Some times we seem not to be aware of the fact that we are constantly at war.

The Eucharistic Kingdom is built on self-sacrifices. It is not at all easy to sacrifice ourselves. We need to pray unceasingly in order to be able to 'believe' and to follow Jesus until the end. We need the help of each other, the help of the Church and of Angels.

Too many times we wonder why things go wrong, why even simple things seem harder to be done. We have to remember the disciples falling asleep failing to pray with Jesus at the critical point of his life.

I think demons put all their weight in preventing even a simple act from being done if it is to be done with love and in the name of Christ. He knows that that simple act can turn out to be the mustard seed. Think of how much resistance Jesus accountered. Think of his experience in the Garden of sorrow. But we know that He has conquered the world, this should be the reason for our joy, our courage, and our hope.

With the help of our allies (angels, saints,...) we should engage in a proper holy war against the right enemy: the one who is the Liar, the Murderer, and the Accuser from the Beginning!

Christus vincit,
Christus regnat,
Christus, Christus ímperat.

Christ is the victor, Christ is King,Christ is the ruler of the world.

May good times come,

May the peace of Christ come,

May the kingdom of Christ come.

.

Please pray for Schoenstatt here in Canada

Last time I forgot to ask for your prayers for Schoenstatt here in Canada.

In Vancouver, we are currently going through some legal actions in order to introduce the Schoenstatt movement in canadian parishes. Please pray for us, for those who have already been introduced to Schoenstatt, and for those who will be. Pray that our Mother be victorious. That Christ increase in us and that we decrease!

Child of God, what have you done up to now to help the souls around you? You
cannot be content with that passiveness, with that idleness of yours. He wants
to reach others through your example, through your words, through your
friendship, through your service.
– St. Josemaria Escriva, The Forge, #880

The Four Temperaments

I learned first about temperaments when I joined the schoenstatt movement. I then forgot about them for a while until recently when I discovered the 4marks.com web site.
It is said that there are generarly four temperaments:

1. Choleric
2. Sanguine
3. Melancholic
4. Phlegmatic

It is also said that each individual has a mixture of mostly two of the four. Well, I am not a psychologist, or an other kind of expert in the matter, but I would like to intruduce them to you. 4marks.com does a good job of detail description with examples. Plus you can to a test and discover your own temperaments.

In schoenstatt we were introduced to them so we can know ourselves better, develop virtues and fight vices. Again 4marks does an other great job of listing a number of virtues and vices associated with each temperaments or combination. So learn about yourselves and compare with your friends if you can, and have great relationships.

If you happen to be my friend pay attention here: My temperament combination is: Melancholic (92%), and Phlegmatic (8%); one of those mysterious boxes out there! So, please forgive me for whenever I displayed the vices associated with this combination around you, be assured that I am fighting them. Of course they are discrepancies in %s as I noticed that the test wasn't detailed enough for me. Oups! sorry for my criticism! I said I am fighting that!

Conduite des disciples de Jesus

Le mouvement des focolare produit chaque mois une meditation approfondi sure un verset biblique. Voici la "Parole de Vie" pour le moi de Mai.

"A ceci tous vous reconnaîtront pour mes disciples : à l'amour que vous aurez les uns pour les autres" (Jn 13, 35)

Et les commentaires de Chiarra Lubich:

À la fin de son dernier repas avant de quitter ce monde, Jésus fait part à ses
amis de ses dernières volontés. Dans ce moment solennel, ses paroles prennent
alors valeur de testament : « Comme je vous ai aimés, aimez-vous les
uns les autres ». Ce sera, au long des siècles, la caractéristique des
disciples de Jésus, ce qui permettra de les identifier : à ceci tous les
reconnaîtront !Dès le début, la première communauté de croyants jouissait à
Jérusalem de l’estime et de la sympathie de tout le peuple, justement grâce à
son unité, si bien que chaque jour de nouveaux membres se joignaient à
elle.Quelques années plus tard, Tertullien, un des premiers écrivains chrétiens,
rapportera ce que l'on disait des chrétiens : « Voyez comme ils
s'aiment, voyez comme ils sont prêts à mourir les uns pour les autres ».
C'était l'accomplissement des paroles de Jésus :

« A ceci tous vous
reconnaîtront pour mes disciples : à l'amour que vous aurez les uns pour
les autres. »

L'amour réciproque est donc « la tenue des chrétiens
anonymes, celles des jeunes et des plus âgés, celle des hommes et des femmes,
celle des familles, des adultes ou des enfants, des malades ou des bien
portants, celle que tous peuvent endosser pour crier sans cesse et en tout lieu
le nom de celui auquel ils croient et qu’ils désirent aimer ».L'unité qui
naît de l'amour réciproque entre les disciples de Jésus reflète et rend presque
visible ce Dieu qu'il nous a révélé comme étant l'Amour : l'Église est
icône de la Trinité.Cette manière de vivre demeure aujourd’hui le chemin
pour annoncer l'Évangile. Quand une société est étourdie par trop de paroles,
elle cherche souvent des témoins plutôt que des maîtres, elle veut des modèles
plutôt que des discours. Elle adhère plus facilement si elle voit un Évangile
devenu vie, capable de créer des rapports nouveaux, empreints de fraternité et
d'amour.

« A ceci tous vous reconnaîtront pour mes disciples : à
l'amour que vous aurez les uns pour les autres. »

Comment vivre cette Parole
de vie ? En ravivant entre nous l'amour réciproque, et en formant partout
des « cellules vivantes ».« Si le feu que Jésus a apporté sur
terre prenait en divers points d'une ville – a écrit Chiara Lubich – et si, avec
le concours de ses habitants, ce feu résistait à l'indifférence du monde, en peu
de temps la ville serait embrasée de l'amour de Dieu. Le feu que Jésus a apporté
sur terre, c'est Dieu lui-même. Il est charité : un amour qui unit non
seulement à Dieu, mais aussi les uns aux autres. []Lorsque deux ou trois, unis
au nom du Christ, se révèlent leur désir de l'amour de Dieu, lorsqu'ils font de
l'unité entre eux, dans le Christ, leur idéal, ils représentent une puissance
d'action divine dans le monde.Or, dans toutes les villes, de telles personnes
peuvent se rencontrer. Dans les familles : mari et femme, fils et père,
belle-fille et belle-mère. Dans les paroisses, les associations, les groupes,
les écoles, les entreprises, partout.Il n'est pas indispensable qu'elles soient
déjà saintes, sinon Jésus l'aurait précisé. Il suffit qu'elles soient unies en
son nom et qu'elles ne manquent jamais à cette unité. Bien entendu elles ne
resteront pas longtemps deux ou trois, car la charité est communicative et se
répand d'elle-même.Chacun des foyers ainsi allumés par Dieu sur terre s'étendra
nécessairement. La providence de Dieu distribuera alors ces flammes, ces
hommes-flammes, où elle voudra, afin que le monde soit réconforté à la chaleur
de l'amour de Dieu et qu'il retrouve l'espérance ».