St. Teresa of Avila

Entrusting My Words to the Holy Spirit

Linda Mary Liotino

Today is the Memorial of the Beloved Saint of the Carmelites, Teresa of Avila, Virgin and doctor.

Saint Teresa was born at Avila in Spain in 1515.She joined the Carmelite Order, made great progress in the way of perfection and enjoyed mystical revelations.When she reformed the order, she met with much resistance, but she succeeded with undaunted courage.She also wrote books filled sublime doctrine, the fruit of her own spiritual life.She died at Avila in 1582.[Liturgy of The Hours]

The Blessed Saint and I have had a casual relationship until recently but I will cover this little later.I read her life story as a young girl and saw a documentary on her life several times on EWTN [Catholic Network].I have pick up her book Interior Castle but my comprehension being what it is I am usually lost by the third castle.However, over the years different homilies have given me the insight wanted I could not obtain on my own. The only Doctor of the Church I can read and understand is the Little Flower.

It is in a homily about the Beloved Saint several years ago that I heard these words attributed to her…

I had the greatest sorrow for the many souls that condemned themselves to Hell […] I saw souls falling into hell like snowflakes.They fall because not enough pray or suffer for them…St. Teresa of Avila

The latter part of her words had a profound affect on me.As long as I can remember, I have prayed for the lost souls here on earth.I refer to them as the souls at the very gates of hell.At first, it was periodic times of prayer but since my conversion, it is a daily rosary.Prayers of someone for me bought me out of darkness/times at the gates of hell. I remember that time vividly and I owe those in the place I once was help.What can I/we offer for these souls in grave danger our prayers and sacrifices.Can we do anything less for these troubled souls than Jesus did for us?Are we not call to pick up our cross and follow Him?If we cannot look back to where we once were and remember the struggles in the mire and clay at those who yet struggle and help in some way we lost the gift of our conversion.The gift of conversion from God is not to be hoarded it is to be given away it is then and only then we have reach the apex of what conversion is all about.We extend the same tender mercy God gives to us in the same measure we received from Him to those who yet are lost.

Often times we forget the pain of our struggles and grow inpatient with those yet to be free.Conversion is humbling with a deep sorrow for those yet lost.It is deep loves of desire for all of God’s children turned from him, once again turn to Him.We must be able to discern in humility when to minister to a lost soul with words or in the silence of our hearts travail for this soul before Our Blessed Lord.The simplest prayer is to entrust these souls to our Lord everyday rendering them to His charge with our trust.

My friend is entering the Benedictan Monastery in January 2009 and he having to give away all his personal belongings gave me some of his treasured possessions one being a Reliquian Rosary of the Beloved Saint of Avila.Therefore, the saint and I are now in daily communication.How bless am I for both my friends.

May the Hearts of Jesus and Mary Bless You.

DEDICATED:To the Blessed Saint of Carmel…I love you dear Teresa.

Copyright Linda Mary Liotino

I LOVE YOU BROTHER JOHN

TRIBUTE TO ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST

Entrusting My Words to the Holy Spirit

Linda Mary Liotino

Today is the Memorial of the Beheading of John the Baptist.  I love many saints but I not only love the Blessed Saint John but he is my mentor.  His life was one of simplicity and detachment of worldly possessions.  He lived in the desert alone for some thirty years being taught by God.  His life was God centered and it had to be in order for him to be prepared to execute the calling on his life by God.  It is in this time in the desert he was given the courage to live out this calling in thought, word and deed.

When I meditate on the life of the Blessed Saint John, I think about him alone in the desert as a man if he ever felt lonely or thought what is God thinking to ask this of me.  I wonder if he looked at the big picture and thought nah this is not going to work with me at the helm of this calling.  However, whatever the struggles the Blessed Saint went through in the end he gave his all for his calling. 

I think of the calling God places on my life for the plight of the Unborn and I have had my days of nah I will not make any difference or impact hearts to change about the Unborn.  I am far from the best writer, I flounder when writing about the Unborn and ill equip in many issues about the Unborn and yet here I am.  Therefore, I look at the life of the Blessed Saint John and find the courage I need to plow forth. 

I learn from the mentoring of this Beloved Saint to rely solely on the Spirit of God for everything. To know whom I am in Christ and live my beliefs.  To distance myself from the worldly entrapments that can bog me down and divert my heart from the calling.  To not make what feeds my ego or desires to take root.  I somehow feel the Blessed Saint had the same struggles. 

The most important thing the Beloved Saint tells me in the life he mentors from to me is that what I am called to I must give my all.  I must believe in the calling given to me and advocate from this position.  I must stand firm and unwavering in my beliefs.  I can never compromise the calling.  I am not here to increase but to decrease and all that I do points to my Beloved Savior.  Lastly, that I must like my mentor be willing not only to live the life of my beliefs but also to be willing to die for those beliefs.  It is only the one who is willing to die for their beliefs is one that is living those beliefs.

I love you Blessed Saint John and I pray that I too rely on the same Spirit in all I am called to do in the same convictions as my dear Mentor. 

May the hearts of Jesus and Mary Bless You.

DEDICATED:  To one who gave his life in witness to truth and justice. 

Copyright 2008 Linda Mary Liotino

ST. JOHN OF THE CROSS, PRIEST AND DOCTOR

Memorial

THE DARK NIGHT OF THE SOUL

by

St John Of the Cross

On a dark night,
Kindled in love with yearnings–oh, happy chance!–
I went forth without being observed,
My house being now at rest.

In darkness and secure,
By the secret ladder, disguised–oh, happy chance!–
In darkness and in concealment,
My house being now at rest.

In the happy night,
In secret, when none saw me,
Nor I beheld aught,
Without light or guide, save that which burned in my
heart.

This light guided me
More surely than the light of noonday
To the place where he (well I knew who!) was awaiting me–
A place where none appeared.

Oh, night that guided me,
Oh, night more lovely than the dawn,
Oh, night that joined Beloved with lover,
Lover transformed in the Beloved!

Upon my flowery breast,
Kept wholly for himself alone,
There he stayed sleeping, and I caressed him,
And the fanning of the cedars made a breeze.

The breeze blew from the turret
As I parted his locks;
With his gentle hand he wounded my neck
And caused all my senses to be suspended.

I remained, lost in oblivion;
My face I reclined on the Beloved.
All ceased and I abandoned myself,
Leaving my cares forgotten among the lilies.

May the Hearts of Jesus and Mary Bless all who read this.

St. John Pray for Us.

Linda Mary Liotino MTH

Saint Terese through a new friend sent me three roses. At the time I received the roses yesterday I was in my third day of a nine day novena to her. The roses makes me know readily that am receiving the grace of the intention prayed for not only for myself but my grandson as well.

Thank you Lord for the grace and thank you St. Therese for your prayers.

May the Hearts of Jesus and Mary bless all that read this.

Copyright 2007 (written) Linda Mary Liotino

All Saints Day

November 1

Solemnity

This is a special day for me in thanksgiving to the Saints, Blessed and those on the journey to being declared Saints of the church for praying with me. There are many intentions that they pray for daily. I would like to honor them by name it is my way of expressing my love and thankfulness for their prayers and closeness to me.

St. Maximilian Kolbe

Pope John Paul The Great

St. Therese of The Child Jesus

Blessed Mother Teresa

St. Gerard

St. Benedict

Fr. Solanus Casey

St. Padre Pio

St. Anthony of Padu

Blessed Father Seelos

St. Simon De Rojas

St. Faustina

St. Isdore of Sevilla

You all are loved and honored by me.

May the Hearts of Jesus and Mary Bless you.

Copyright 2007 Linda Mary Liotino MTH

DEDICATED TO ALL THE SAINTS, BLESSED, AND THOSE BEFORE THE CHURCH FOR SAINTHOOD. THANK YOU FOR PRAYING WITH ME, FOR ME, AND FOR THE INTENTIONS I HAVE PUT BEFORE OUR LORD.

May the Hearts of Jesus and Mary Bless You.

Linda Mary Liotino MTH

St. Margaret Mary Alaqcoque

Memorial

“Behold this Heart which has loved men so much, and yet men do not want to love Me in return. Through you My divine Heart wishes to spread its love everywhere on earth.”
- Jesus to Saint Margaret Mary in a vision

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The sacred heart of Christ is an inexhaustible fountain and its sole desire is to pour itself out into the hearts of the humble so as to free them and prepare them to lead lives according to his good pleasure.

From this divine heart three streams flow endlessly. The first is the stream of mercy for sinners; it pours into their hearts sentiments of contrition and repentance. The second is the stream of charity which helps all in need and especially aids those seeking perfection in order to find the means of surmounting their difficulties. From the third stream flow love and light for the benefit of his friends who have attained perfection; these he wishes to unit to himself so that they may share his knowledge and commandments and, in their individual ways, devote themselves wholly to advancing his glory.

This divine heart is an abyss filled with all blessings, and into the poor should submerge all their needs. It is an abyss of joy in which all of us can immerse our sorrows. It is an abyss of lowliness to counteract our foolishness, an abyss of mercy for the wretched, an abyss of love to meet our every need.

Are you making no progress in prayer? The you need only offer God the prayers which the Savior has poured out for us in the sacrament of the altar. Offer God his fervent love in reparation for your sluggishness. In the course of every activity pray as follows: “My God, I do this or I endure that in the heart of your Son and according to his holy counsels. I offer it to you in reparation for anything blameworthy or imperfect in my actions.” Continue to do this in every circumstance of life.

But above all preserve peace of heart. This is more valuable than any treasure. In order to preserve it there is nothing more useful than renouncing your own will and substituting for it the will of the divine heart. In this way his will can carry out for us whatever contributes to his glory, and we will be happy to be his subjects and to trust entirely in him.

- from a letter by Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque

The Twelve Promises
of the
Sacred heart of Jesus

Given to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque in a vision.

• I will give them all the graces necessary for their state of life.
• I will establish peace in their families.
• I will comfort them in all their troubles.
• I will be their safe refuge against all the snares of their enemies in life, and above all in death.
• I will pour abundant blessings on all their undertakings.
• Sinners shall find in My Heart the source and infinite ocean of mercy.
• Tepid souls shall become fervent
• Fervent souls shall speedily rise to great perfection.
• I will bless the homes in which the image of My Sacred Heart shall be exposed and honored.
• I will give to priests the power to touch the most hardened hearts.
• Those who propagate this devotion shall have their names written in My Heart, and it shall never be effaced.
• The all-powerful love of My Heart will grant to all those who shall receive Communion on the First Friday of nine consecutive months the grace of final repentance; they shall not die under my displeasure, nor without receiving their Sacraments; My Heart shall be their assured refuge at that last hour.

May the Hearts of Jesus and Mary Bless you.

Linda Mary Liotino MTH