JI jf'ARrs Three Words. I smile through my own tears When I contemplate your sorrows Oh! Oh, how indifferent are souls to so much goodness, to so many proofs of love! Seraphim said that to live trust means to praise and thank God for everything? Emphasis added 58 Pope Pius XII stated that St. Therese rediscovers the Gospel on tire occasion of the consecration of the Basilica ofLisieux on July 11, 1954 (AAS46 [1954], pp. But what does all this have to do with becoming a great saint? It basically consists of making a prayer of desire to receive Jesus in Holy Communion. This new era we have entered, and the many problems in the Church like the poor witness given by some priests, problems of corruption in the Church, the problem of clericalism for example have left so many people hurt, left so much hurt. Copyright 1982 by Washington, Province of Discalced Carmelites ICS Publications 2131 Lincoln Road, N.E. Inhale after doing about 20 seconds of empty lungs. What if he wanted to give us a special gift of holiness in our day? Simply put, the Little Way is a choice. 276-77. 14 day loan required to access EPUB and PDF files. But then, one day earlier this year, he called me out of the blue. Ah I cannot receive Holy Communion as often as I desire, but, Lord, are You not all-powerful'! As Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, hes a perfect Family of Love, and we can add nothing to his greatness, glory, or happiness. As I wras praying in this manner, I sawr the Angels help lessness: He could not carry out the just punishment which was rightly due for sins. When she thought of his all-powerful love, she had no doubts about anything (By Those Who Knew Her, p. 46). This Participant Packet is designed for those who would like to join a 33 Days to Morning Glory Small Group Retreat. Yes, I believe everything that God promised about Jesus will be fulfilled, even if everything about him is a sign of contradiction (Lk 2:34). Maybe youre saying to yourself, That sounds wonderful, but whats the catch? In other words, Whats it going to cost me? Great question. Therese s teaching on trust, which, as well learn this week, is called the Little Way. This Little Way will bear striking similarities to Abraham 's and Marysfaith, the essence of which is to believe that what is spoken by the Lord will befulfilled. The event of the Cross and Resur rection abides and draws everything toward life. Also, recall that Thereses words here are similar to something else she said, which we read on Day 15: What sweet joy it is to think that God is Just, i.e., that He takes into account our weakness, that He is perfecdy aware of our fragile nature. 163 For a fuller explanation of the dynamic between consolation and desolation and how to remain faith filled and joyful, see The Rules for the Discernment of Spirits for Little Souls in Appendix One of Consoling the Heart of Jesus: A Do-It-Yourself Retreat Inspired by the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola (Stockbridge: Marian Press, 2010). My nature was such that fear made me recoil; with love not only did I advance, I actually flew" (Ibid., p. 174). And as Aristode righdy pointed out long ago, true friendship requires a kind of equality and mutuality it cant be one-sided.206 So, let me ask you: Have you ever had a friendship where you shared with your friend but he or she never shared with you? For those of you that have not yet done the 33 Days to Morning Glory, I urge you to preorder 33 Days to Merciful Love, which will be released . (See Rom 5:5.) Indeed, her time in the convent truly was a hidden life full of the daily darkness we all experience. In other words, they may be saying, Look, I like the Divine Mercy message and devotion and everything, and I thought Td do a nice little consecration. And while he doesnt specifically use the term console,202 its clear that thats what hes getting at: The events of Good Friday and, even before that, in prayer in Gethsemane, introduce a fundamental change into the whole course of the revelation of love 156 33 DAYS TO MERCIFUL LOVE and mercy in the messianic mission of Christ, The one who went about doing good and healing and curing every sickness and disease now Himself seems to merit the greatest mercy and to appeal for mercy, when He is arrested, abused, condemned, scourged, crowned with thorns, when He is nailed to the cross and dies amidst agonizing torments. So, at the incarnation, Jesus, the eternal Son, assumed a human nature and a human heart.200 And if his Heart truly is human, if he truly is like us in all things but sin, then his Heart is filled with the desire not only to love but also to be loved. After all, that cuts right to the heart of the Little Way, which is really all about heaven. So, the difficulty is to reverse this tendency in ourselves and to trust. But hers is not die unhealdiy preoccupation with suffering that marked her early religious life. Amen. Well also remember that she didnt give in to the darkness, that she eking to God with the light of faith. The moment in obviously refers to inhale and follows the moment of empty lungs. And what is the Gospel? 186 Ibid. (See endnote 159 for instructions on how to pray it.) I say it has the potential, because its up to ns whether or not well let it. Now, of course, as we learned on Days 20 and 21, St. Therese has already composed such a marvelous prayer. 33 Days to Merciful Love (Retreat Coordinator's Guide) - Read online for free. 70 Paraphrasing and applying Marys Magnificat to herself in order to ex press her gratitude to God for having made her so vividly aware of her littleness, Therese writes: The Almighty has done great things in the soul of His divine Mothers child, and rhe greatest thing is to have shown her her littleness, her impotence (Story ofa Soul, p. 210). Join us for our spring Bible study and retreat, 33 Days to Merciful Love, the stirring sequel to the international sensation, 33 Days to Morning Glory.Using the same 33-day preparation format, 33 Days to Merciful Love journeys with one of the most beloved saints of modern times, St. Therese of Lisieux, and concludes with a consecration to Divine Mercy. In other words, I had to go speak with my friend Er. Why did he put himself in need of mercy from us? But I didnt know about the catch and all this talk about an increased longing for God and all that. Making the Family Offering to Mercifill Love is rather simple. 76 Niels Christian Hvidt, Christian Prophecy: The Post-Biblical Tradition (Oxford/New York: Oxford University Press, 2007), p. vii. Actually, its a question for you. Peter and Paul June 29 June 13 Our Lady of Mt. To one degree or another, as sons and daughters of Adam and Eve, we all have a trust prob lem. 164 See Gaucher, p. 94. I cant relate to her. Theres some trudi to this objection. Washington, DC 20002 U.S.A. wwTv.icspublications.org From With Empty Hands by Conrad de Meestcr, O.C.D. In fact, his suffering and death on the Cross obtained the grace of salvation for everyone who has ever lived, is living, and will live, even to the end of time. 62 Cited in With Empty Hands, pp. Reverend Michael Gaitley's book, 33 Days to Morning Glory: A Do-It-Yourself Retreat in Preparation for Marian Consecration, begins with a promise to disclose a "secret" form of knowledge based on Gnosticism. But I didnt feel that he was also speaking to my heart, asking me to write such a book. 1 ask all this in Jesus name. 2M Ibid. Then, for the purpose of consoling Jesus, we ask for all that rejected mercy7. I also thought to myself, Yes, this is true. Let me explain. Now, before we begin looking at the text of die Offering itself (tomorrow), I'd like to cover three potential objections to it. Well hear about that terrible trial tomorrow. 1 mean, here it seems as if nobody believes in God, and living by faith is hard. But now we know that Therese also suffered the temptation to wonder whether 110 33 DAYS TO MERCIFUL LOVE there even is a God and a heaven. 1 think its really important, Mike. But theres something else about trust a key ingredient that will help us better understand what it is, an ingredient that comes from our father in faith, our father in trust: the patriarch Abraham. So here are just three tilings I rec ommend by way of final preparation: (1) If possible, make a good Confession. So, what about you? It takes effort. 169 Diary, 367. Open the eyes of my heart with your love that I may see my need for your Merciful Love. They simply need to try sincerely to turn away from sin, invite the Lord into their home, and receive and share his Merciful Love. - Additional DVD from Episode 2 of the acclaimed Catholic documentary, Divine Mercy in the second greatest story ever told based on the book, 33 Days (The Poetry of Saint Therese ofLisieux, trans. Think of it: The One who doesnt need us decided to make himself need us! Lord, You know it, I have no other treasures than the souls it has pleased You to unite to mine; it is You who entrusted these treasures to me (Story ofa Soul, p. 254). Stores . But if that's not enough, then please consider Thereses own words about making the Offering to Merciful Love as a little soul: I am only a child, powerless and weak, and yet it is my weakness that gives me the boldness of offering myself as VICTIM of Tour Love, 0 Jesus! Well, what I mean by solemnly inviting Jesus, the Divine Mercy, into our homes is somewhat similar. 67 Cited in The Power of Confidence, p. 221. Second, you actually become a Marian Missionary by making the retreat 33 Days to Mary, Mercy, and Community, which comes out next year. In other words, were probably numbered 102 33 DAYS TO MERCIFUL LOVE among the ordinary people. If that describes you, then thank the Lord. (This went on and on.) But what I mean by the consecration to Divine Mercy Therese-style goes even deeper. Basically, the longing of the soul for God becomes so intense that the thread of this life is broken. But whats the catch? Whats the medication? I wanted to find an elevator which would raise me to Jesus, for I am too small to 33 DAYS TO MERCIFUL LOVE 52 climb the rough stairway of perfection. About the Program. Wrong. What should we fear? Kazimierz Chwalek, MIC' Provincial Superior The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Mercy Province January 1, 2016 Library of Congress Catalog Number: 2016930904 ISBN: 978-1-59614-345-6 Layout and page design: Kathy Szpak St.Therese of Lisieux (1873-97) 1928 (w/c on paper), Maxence, Edgar (1871-1954) 2015 Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York ZADAGP, Paris; Private Collection/Archives Charmet/Bridgcman Images. I also said, thanks to Fr. See also The Context ofHoliness, pp. Whats the word he speaks as he knocks at the heart of every man? After all, by consecrating yourself to Divine Mercy, youll be consol ing Jesus and making him happy. And while we can get to the Fountain of Mercy with out making a Marian consecration, such a consecration enables us to drink from it so much more deeply and easily. So really, the lack is on the side of sinful humanity but we can help make up for that. Oh! Then, perhaps, when the son was ready to speak, he spoke. Later, Jesus himself revealed to St. Faustina the importance of trust for receiving the graces of his mercy, which form us into saints: Let souls who are striving for perfection particularly adore My mercy, because the abundance of graces which I grant them flows from My mercy. So, youve made your consecration to Divine Mercy (your Offering to Merciful Love). Far from resembling beautiful souls who practiced every kind of mortification from their childhood, I had no attraction for this. Moreover, such holiness is not a human work but, rather, Gods work, a work of Divine Mercy rushing down to the lowest place. John Clarke, OCD, vol 2, 1890-1897. More precisely, we learned that its all about our lack of trust and that the wound of original sin causes us to tend to hide from God because we doubt his goodness. Theyre not essential to the consecration. When 1 first learned this great lesson that praise itself is a powerful act of trust it had a profound effect on my life. 33 Days to Merciful Love: A Do-It-Yourself Retreat in Preparation for Consecration to Divine Mercy. I feel in my heart immense desires and it is with confidence I ask You to come and take possession of my soul. So, we have a choice: severe justice or tender mercy. My heart is a living 188 33 DAYS TO MERCIFUL LOVE tabernacle in which the living Host is reserved. Todays Prayer: Come, Holy Spirit, fire of mercy. Again, we should do it through Scripture and Church teaching. Wonderful. How could the world be blessed through a dead son? Were saying, Behold, Lord, here I am without your mercy, Ill collapse and die. Of course, when we present ourselves to the Lord like that, he rushes to us with his mercy, and we take a deep breath in. One may be a great sinner and never fall into corruption if hearts feel dieir own weakness. Alright, so heres a most important question: Do you want to help save the world? To learn more, see Appendix One of The Second Greatest Story Ever Told, Regard ing the Lords Final Coming. It is interesting to note here that Pope John Paul II explicitly brought together this topic of preparing the world for the Lords final coming with a consecration or entrustment to Divine Mercy. In other words, I would describe such perfect love of God as our being motivated to serve God not because were seeking merits and the rewards of heaven but, rather, simply because we love God and want to please him and console him. (Libertyville, Ill.: Marytown Press, 2007), pp. Well, I say that because Jesus is God, and again, our wound has to do with God. In other words, seeing the over whelming beauty' of Gods love, our souls will be so attracted to him that they wont be able to resist jumping into the embrace of his Merciful Love. Why? Emphasis added. Moved by this merciful perspective, Therese comes up with a spiritual victimhood thats based on mercy not justice, on love and not fear, on tenderness and not severity. What? DAY 33 Putting It All Together For the last four days, weve been reviewing die last four weeks of our retreat. Its where people live as if God did not exist, as if theres no heaven, as if this world is all there is. Gws Giants Annual Report 2019, Articles OTHER