March 16, 2008 Palm Sunday:

Meditation from the Diary of St. Faustina

“O Blood and Water which gushes forth from the Heart of Jesus as a Fount of Mercy for us, I trust in You.” #309

Starting with Holy Monday I will make no entries as I shut everything down readying myself for the Passion.

Friday March 14, 2008

In the words of St. Therese of the Child Jesus

I want to console you for the ingratitude of wicked people. I beg you to take away from me the freedom to displease you. If I occasionally stumble out of weakness, I ask that you quickly purify my soul by your divine glance, removing all my imperfections, like a fire that consumes everything within its flames.

 

Thursday March 13, 2008

In the words of St. Josemaria Escriva

God needs men and women who are sure and strong, on whom he can lean.

SILENCING MYSPACE and…

Entrusting my words to the Holy Spirit

March 23 Palm Sunday begins Holy Week. It is here that the fullness of Christ’s gift to us His life for our salvation is remembered. It is here not only do we recall the Passion of Christ but also it is here we are to enter into the Passion with Him. How do we enter into this week in its fullness is by selfishly setting aside time to contemplate the mystery of what God has done for us.

To fully enter in we have to weed out the distractions of our everyday lives. There are those things that we must take care of the responsibilities of the station of our lives, which demands our attentions and rightfully so but all our attention is never solely focused at this place. I speak of the things in our day that can easily be diverted from the indulgences of our flesh to the entering into the Passion of Our Lord.

We are fully aware in a modern society we have “stuff” to occupy all our senses, which we excessively indulge in. Video games, I Pod Nano, the computer, cell phones, with all the added features and the list goes on. Music, which is pleasing to ear is non-stop noise and the TV has our other senses attention. We indulge our bodies with all the whims of every kind of food and delight. Then too we have the social of friends, My Space and countless emails. My question is this are we willing to exterminate our indulgences for one week and enter into the Passion of Christ?

This week affords us a perfect time to enter into Christ but in order to we must be willing to set aside the distractions and if not this week then when? Are we willing to say we cannot give Christ this week? Are willing to say to Him who gave His life we are unable to deny ourselves for one week. What is the extent of our selfishness to not walk in the spiritual the way of the cross with Christ this week? Papa gave us His Son, our beloved to die for us and we cannot die of ourselves for/with Him. The staggering suffering that we cannot fully understand He went through for us we are to deny our sacrifice for love of Him and He who sent Him.

Are we willing to give up if you will the indulgences of the flesh for Holy Week entering into the Passion from the Agony in the Garden to the Crucifixion through meditation and prayer.

It would be a beautiful act of love in action if we all on My Space silenced our sites for the week in spiritual solidarity with our Lord. What beauty of love will Papa see by our actions as we unite ourselves with His beloved Son. His children united with His son.

Will this be easy no, because our bodies will rebel in protest about being denied its indulgences and then too satan will be on full alert on the move of us towards God. Suffering follows, the denying of self but less we forget it comes nowhere close to the suffering of our Lord for us.

If you are willing to Silence My Space and…post your fiat. Pass this on in your Blogs to your friends getting as many as we can to show the pouring out our love to Papa and His beloved Son.

May the Hearts of Jesus and Mary Bless You.

Copyright 2008 Linda Mary Liotino

Tuesday March 11, 2008

 

In the Words of St.Therese

“To be Your spouse, I must be like You; and You are all covered with blood and crowned with thorns. You wish to make me like You; then, should I fear that I cannot carry the cross without weakening? On the way to Calvary, You fell three times; and I, a poor little child, do I not wish to be like You? Should I not wish to fall a hundred times to prove to You my love, rising up again with more strength than before my fall?”

 

Monday March 10, 2008

In the words of St. Josemaria Escriva

Get accustomed to referring everything to God. Furrow Interior Life #675

Trusting God

My words entrusted to the Holy Spirit

In 1999, a spiritual Tsunami crashed into my life. I had a vague knowledge disaster was preeminent but because I master the art (I thought) of holding off the storms of my life I was in false hope. The spiritual Tsunami would last for three years.

My spiritual hard drive was filled up along with my spiritual external hard drive. I had back up files of my spiritual life on discs. I was a mess in a spiritual crashing if you will. I manage to fix my spiritual life with quick fixes downloading anything I needed into my spiritual hard drive to get me through it. I had long been unprotected by any security system and contaminated files were in my spiritual hard drive. Therefore, it was here that God would begin a work of restoration that would take eight years to complete. It was in the eight years that three were in a Tsunami, three in bad storms, one in rough sea and lastly to calm waters.

The first file God would start with is I trusting Him. I saw God and reacted to Him from the place of being in a trust desert. I had major trust issues with majority of the people close to me and I saw God like them. I knew He would reel me in as it so often happen to me only to have a shoe drop. By the time, I was at the place that I would have to trust God because I could not stem the tides of my life I could not.

In 2003, I received a pamphlet from Mother Teresa’s order the Missionaries of Charity titled I Thirst. I read the whole pamphlet but it was these words that would have a profound effect on me and pierce my heart and soul like a two edged sword:

Don’t you realize that My Father already has a perfect plan to transform your life, beginning from this moment? Trust in Me. Ask me everyday to enter and take charge of your life-and I will. I promise you before My Father in heaven that I will work miracles in your life. Why would I do this? Because I THIRST FOR YOU. All I ask of you is that you entrust yourself to me completely. I will do all the rest.

These words were music to my ears I was tired of controlling my life and every circumstance surrounding it. I was tired of battles and trying to measure up to everyone’s expectations. I was tired of tears, unhappiness and not knowing any joy. Therefore, my response to God was you want me to trust you show me how/teach me and so He did. The two things the Lord directed me to do was to say, “O Blood and Water which gushes forth from the Heart of Jesus as a Fount of Mercy for us, I trust in You!” Divine Mercy In My Soul Diary Sister M. Faustina Kowalska 309 to be said at the end of my rosary three times. His second was before my feet hit the floor in the a.m. Lord I entrust my life to you this day take charge of it.

At the beginning they were just words said but the more I said them they began to be a prayer. Everything at beginning that God did in my life I viewed with suspicion because I was sure the shoe was going to drop I was being reeled in. It would take about six months before I could stop looking at what God was doing with squinted eyes for I felt if my eyes were squinted, the shoe dropping would not be as devastating. However, slowly but surely I began to trust God. He understood my fragility. It was here He lead to these words of Psalm 40: 2-4 letting me know He understood my Heart: I have waited, waited for the Lord, and he stooped toward me and heard my cry. He drew me out of the pit of destruction, out of the mud of the swamp; He set my feet upon a crag; he made firm my steps. This is when I truly knew freedom was mine.

It has been a long journey to freedom, joy and peace. My spiritual hard drive has been cleaned up and I no longer need an external spiritual hard drive. My icons on the spiritual hard drive all in red are as follows: (T) for Trinity for my Papa I happily do what He asks of me; in the way he ask for long as he ask , because he ask it. My beloved Jesus for coming to this earth and for shedding His blood for me and the Holy Spirit for all His teachings, for pouring out of graces upon me, empowering me, and breathing new life into a sick heart and soul. (M) for Mama the protector of Spiritual hard drive whose prayers keeps out and or spam those contaminated files. Lastly (S/A) for the saints and angels who keep my life on track in all the sub folders of spirituality.

A Dell computer runs a scan frequently to protect the PC but my spiritual scans are moment to moment leaving nothing to chance because I know me.

It is 2008 I am finally in the ordained will of God and live in His present moment. I worry about nothing for God is in full charge of my life and frankly, I do not want the job back. I am in the true place of freedom and it is here I love with His love, move in His power and can say for those in need of my forgiveness: Forgive them Father for they knew not what they have done let not your wrath visit upon them because of me I am bless by you bless them equally.

I end this with this finale thought; I want on my tombstone these words: Here lies…she lived her life in absolute for she trusted God.

The whole I Thirst pamphlet is in my Blog if you wish to read it.

Lord, I entrust all who read this to you and to Mother and St. Therese’s prayers.

May the Hearts of Jesus and Mary bless you!

Copyright 2008 Linda Mary Liotino

 

 

 

 

Friday March 7, 2008

In The words of St Teresa of Jesus, OCD

Look for Christ Our Lord in everyone and you will then have respect and reverence for all.

There are times during our journey through Lent less said and more contemplating is in order. It is in the quietness of our hearts and souls we are able to hear the voice of God as He speaks to our hearts. It is spending treasured and guarded times in quiet that makes us stronger in our journey with God. It is here we foster an intimate relationship with our God. It is here we learn to love and trust Him. It is here our faith grows. As we get closer to Holy Week let us quiet ourselves as to have this intimate union with God.

May the Hearts Jesus and Mary Bless you.

Copyright 2008 Linda Mary Liotino

Monday March 3, 2008

In the words of St. Josemaria Escriva

If obedience doesn’t give you peace, it’s because you’re proud…The Way #620

Sunday evening:
6:46 p.m. The miracle: On My Space, a Jewish magician asks for St. Therese and me to be his friend. I accept, as I knew I would because I have entrusted the Little Therese to make the decision where we would journey. After accepting the request, I look at his site. His name is Marcelo Gellert obliviously world-renowned. I wonder how many Catholic Saints is in His space so I went through the 239 pages 9,529 friends and the little Saint is the only one. However as I went through the pages I kept hearing this words in my heart these are your children and so they are. It is here there is a mix of the children not with God in various poses and scantly dresses as well as other dark ways. It is here I truly know the place I am called it is verified although I sought no verification.
The little Saint and I are working together in this calling. The little Saint always said she would do more in heaven for souls than she ever did on this earth. I am so privilege to work not only with the Little Saint but also with Mama as well powered by the Holy Spirit. My heart is full of joy to be able to work for the salvation of souls and their conversion. I know I am weak and cannot do this I would quit in a second but I am in good company. I am happy to say yes. Your humble servant Lord, Linda

May the Hearts of Jesus and Mary Bless You.

Copyright 2008 Linda Mary Liotino

 

Sunday March 2, 2008

In the Words of Jesus: John 8:12

I am the light of the world, says the Lord; whoever follows me will have the light of life.

I am moved by the Holy Spirit to an expanded direction of my prayer life. It was several weeks ago I am called to pray for priestly vocations, then for priests whom are having a vocational crises/in darkness of sin. I suspect St. Therese had something to do with this. The prayers were to increase my rosaries Mama’s doing I know. She wants her rosaries prayed and she obtains the graces for me to be able to accommodate her wishes.
However, today I am directed by the Holy Spirit to pray for the souls in darkness at the gates of hell. Mama as well directs me to pray an additional Little Crown Rosary for these souls daily. In order for me to have a deep love and compassion for these souls and to take them to my heart in prayer and suffering, I have to acknowledge them as one of my own. It is here I am directed to see them as my children with the heart of their mother. To adopt them as my own if you will. It is in this place I will be able to plead their cause, pray diligently, cherish their hearts, and willingly suffer for them. My love, heart and tears will be for these my children. As I write this, I know the Holy Spirit speaks to me in the words I write mapping out the direction He wants of me.
Because I am called and I answer the call with a resounding yes I will be given all I need by the Holy Spirit to stay in the call and to do as I am ask. I am willingly joyful to work in union with the Holy Spirit. My heart knows no other joy but for what I am called upon to do.
I love Sundays because although I am fully aware of God’s presences all week long it is on Sunday’s He chooses to pick to direct my life as He wills. This soul is blessed.

May the Hearts of Jesus and Mary Bless you.

Copyright 2008 Linda Mary Liotino

 

 

Saturday March 1, 2008

In the Words of St. Catherine of Siena

” O divine Truth, You give so much strength to the soul which clothes itself with You, that it never falters under the weight of adversity or beneath the burden of troubles and temptations, but in every struggle it gains a great victory. I am wretched because I have not followed You, O eternal Truth; hence I am so weak that in every least tribulation I fall.” Divine Intimacy page 332

If ever there was a week for this soul to be rip out of the calendar this was it. I found in the adversity of the week my pride is strong. I failed to remember all the humiliation a perfect God endured in silence while on this earth. I failed to be silent because the adversity came from a soul in trouble. I failed to be charitable and hold my tongue. I failed because my pride was far bigger than my compassion or mercy. If it were not enough that my pride was strong towards the adversity but I spoke about it in justifiable gossip from my perspective. The troubled soul needed to have understanding and love. The troubled soul is in need and all I manage to do was be a part of the problem instead of a hand of compassion. I have learned about myself my pride still reigns supreme. I faltered with this cross and fell. I pick it up only to fall again because I chose not to recognize my looming pride.

Copyright 2008 Linda Mary Liotino

 

Tuesday February 26, 2008

Meditation for today

” Then his lord summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?’” Matthew 18:32-33

Although through prayers of friends I am no longer depress the situation causing the depression has esculated. I find I am not doing well to allow this to come against me absent pride. It is knowing this my road to holiness is hampered by this pride of mine. I have to let this go forgive and move on while asking for forgiveness. I entrust this situation to the Heart of Jesus Lord take charge of it. Mama, I entrust this situation to your prayers.

Monday February 25, 2008

Meditation of the Day

It is disappointing to be misunderstood by your neighbors. It is even more painful to be misunderstood by your loved ones. God of tenderness, make me grasp the depth of your love, show me how to welcome it. Help me to understand you more fully. St. Therese of The Child Jesus

I am depressed today and it would seem I am in darkness and the joy has left my heart. In as much as I am in this place I am at peace. The circumstances that leads up to and into the depression is of no importance it is upon me. I am attack with this depression. I need to be home and not around anyone. I need to be where quiet is and my life is ordered. I wll not be able to get home until Thursday. I am left with tears.

Sunday February 24, 2008

Meditation for the Day

Jesus only needs our love, not our deeds That same God who claims he does not need to let us know when he is hungry, was not afraid to beg the Good Samaritan for a drink of water. He was thristy…When he said: “Give me a drink,” the Creator of the universe was asking his humble creature for her love. He was thirsty for love.

 

 

 

Tuesday February 19, 2008

In the Words of St. Catherine of Siena

“O omnipotent Father, God of truth, God of love, permit me to enter into the cell of self-knowledge. I admit that of myself I am nothing, but that all the being and goodness in me comes solely from You. Show me my faults, that I may detest my malice, and thus I shall flee from self-love and find myself clothed again in the nuptial robe of divine charity, which I must have in order to be admitted to the nuptials of life eternal.” Divine Intimacy page 317

Monday February 18, 2008

HOLINESS

Entrusting my words to The Holy Spirit

The Sermon on the Mount is the road map to holiness our marching orders if you will starting at chapter 5 all the way through chapter 7. If we start to read this and “think” we can do this Our Lord ends chapter 5 with these words @ (48) “In a word, you must be made perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.” He uses in this sentence those two words that sounds retreat in the human heart “must” and “perfect”. Must and perfect are words that require participation on our part no matter how small the effort. Must goes against the heart for we despise being told we have to do something and perfect is unattainable to us. Perfect usually follows by these words I am not Jesus. As to drive the words of Matthew 5:48 Our Lord reiterates them in different fashion. “Enter through the narrow gate. The gate that leads to damnation is wide, the road clear, and many choose to travel it. But how narrow is the gate that leads to life, how rough the road, and how few there are who find it” Matthew 7:13-14. The human heart rebels at being “restricted” and leaving out of the “enticements” of this world. Therefore, what is it that we “want” from God we want to have an eternal reward while we have a nightlife and boogie. However, God gives us a distinction of how we are to live our lives if we desire eternal reward it is to live a life of holiness. Every word spoken by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount speaks of holiness. We cannot be part-time hearts of holiness because a part-time commitment to God is straddling the fence lukewarm and our Lord words tells us what He intends to do with the lukewarm. Read Revelation 3:15-16 I know your deed; I know you are neither hot or cold. How I wish you were one or the other-hot or cold! But because you are lukewarm, neither hot or cold, I will spew you out of my mouth! This is I speaking now the reason I think Jesus would rather we be hot because we are on the right road and the cold can be converted they are in a single mind set. The lukewarm are wishy washy cannot make a decision and follow anything coming down the pike that sounds or looks good. How do we know we are on the narrow road to holiness that leads to the narrow gate the answer is are we suffering. As soon as we take a baby step to God, we have darkness’s attention. It is here we are tempted and where darkness can abate all our good intentions. Darkness steps up as we move forward and for all he does to dissuade us God deposits into the struggling soul grace to keep it strong. It is when the soul realizes it is being fueled with grace the soul hungers to push forward. Darkness becomes relentless not to lose a soul to God. The question always asked at this point is why am I going through this when I getting closer to God. I never had this much trouble before. The answer is easy while in sin, darkness has no reason to bug us we are where he wants us. It is in the will of the soul to leave sin darkness is on full alert of the movement of the heart. I love these words of Padre Pio, which to me sums this up beautifully. “It is difficult to become saints. Difficult but not impossible. The road to perfection is long, just as long as a lifetime. Consolation is rest along the way, but as soon as your strength is restored, you must get up diligently and continue the race.”We are called to holiness and each of us has to answer the call let us begin this Lent and onward. I wish to note here that although I took passages out of the bible it is well to read the complete chapter they come from to really receive the fullness of what Christ is telling us.

May the Hearts of Jesus and Mary bless you.

Deo gra’tias

Copyright 2008 Linda Mary Liotino

 

Sunday The Transfiguration February 17, 2008

In the Words of St. Augustine

“You only do I love, my God. You only do I wish to seek and to follow; I am ready to follow You alone. I wish to be entirely at Your disposal. I beg you to order and command whatever You will, but cure me, open my eyes, that I may see Your slightest gesture. Cure me, completely, that I may recognize You. Tell me which way to turn my attention in order to see You; and I hope that I shall be able to do all that You command me.” Divine Intimacy page 311

Saturday February 16, 2008

In the words of St. Catherine of Siena

“Sweet Jesus, my soul ardently desires to be bathed and entirely submerged in Your Blood…since in Your Blood I find the source of all mercy; in Your Blood are clemency, fire piety. In your Blood, mercy abounds for our faults. In Your Blood, justice is satisfied and our hardness is melted; what is bitter becomes sweet and what is heavy becomes light. And since all virtues reach maturity in Your Blood, O Christ, inebriate my soul, engulf it in Your Blood, so that it will be adorned with real and solid virtues” Divine Intimacy page 308

Friday February 15, 2008

No Meat

Meditation for this day.

Lord, deliver me from my distress. See my hardship and my poverity, and pardon all my sins. Entrance Antiphon from today’s Mass.

Thursday February 14, 2008

Meditation for this day.

Place your trust in Mary and go to her in your sorrows. She will strengthen your will, heal the wounds of your soul, and give you new courage. Mary Day by Day page 29

May the Hearts of Jesus and Mary bless you.

Linda Mary Liotino

 

Wednesday February 13, 2008

A thought to ponder for this day:

Does our minds and hearts follow the words we pray?

Prayer

Entrusting my words to the Holy Spirit

Prayer is not a bunch of words we say to get God’s attention as we seek an end result from Him an answer if you will. Prayer is more than a petition for want/need. Let us look at the Lord’s Prayer:

• The first part of the prayer we give honor and praise to God.
• Then we go on in recognition that all we need comes from Him. Give us this day our daily bread.
• Then we ask for His forgiveness AS we forgive those who have sinned against us.
• Then we finish with asking God to deliver us from this day and future temptations.

These are not merely words of utterance but words of action within our minds/hearts. We cannot hang on to the words of Christ solely from a singular notion. His words have life for they are spiritual and it is in this they are life and eternal.

He states in Matthew 6:7 In your prayer do not rattle on like the pagans. They think they will win a hearing by sheer multiplication of words. It is here we should understand prayer is not a matter of rattling on like pagans that we are to back the words we utter by making ours minds and hearts follow that which we pray. How useless is the words of prayer if we fail to put these words in action by living them. If we do not make the words of our prayers action, we will be nothing but a …noisy gong, a clanging cymbal 1Corinthians 13:1.

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

Copyright 2008 Linda Mary Liotino

Tuesday February 12, 2008

A thought to ponder for this day:

When we pray that which comes from our lips our mind and heart must conform to or the prayer will be nothing more than a noisy gong a clanging cymbal.

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

Copyright 2008 Linda Mary Liotino

Monday February 11, 2008

 

 

Meditation for this day: …our Lenten conversion should consist in a generous determination to put ourselves more resolutely in the way of perfection. Divine Intimacy page 291

Matthew 25: 31-46

Entrusting my words to the Holy Spirit

I strongly encourage read the entire reading I will focus my attention on the following verses. 35

For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me,

36

naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.’

37

Then the righteous ¹⁶ will answer him and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?

38

When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?

39

When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?’

40

And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’

Lent being a time to move in a closer relationship with

God Holy Mother Church gives us these teachings of Christ, which bring us to not only a closer union with Christ but also one that will move us in holiness. Jesus’ words are the road map to holiness and as simple; as they are, we complicate the journey. The basic roadblocks are:

• We dismiss the Word out of hand.
• We complain about time constraints, pressing obligations, and passing of judgment why someone is in this crisis.

We dismiss the Word out of hand is a determent to the salvation of our souls. In refusing to even let the Word convict our hearts to conversion and souls to sanctification tell us our pride is greater than the Word’s desire for our souls. It is written in Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before disaster, and a haughty spirit before a fall. Therefore, if we want this condemnation to befall us then we are on the right track but if we want to change, ask the Word for hearing ears through His Holy Spirit and begin to put these words into practice. Complaining about time constraints, pressing obligations and being judgmental is a cop-out. In our daily lives, I am sure we take some time out for ourselves to watch TV, enjoy hobbies, going to sporting events and the list goes on. Am I saying give up all our much-needed free time for someone else no that is not what I am saying. But if we are to grow in holiness, we must move in the giving of self for others. Although obligations may not leave us an allotted, time to be in a soup kitchen feeding the hungry, going to a nursing home to visit the sick or going to a prison to visit, the incarcerated we may find all this in the family we live where a need is ever before us. Lastly, we are judgmental about the circumstance, we find a soul living IE: A soul would not be sick if they did not do that which caused them to be ill. This thinking covers the hungry if the position the souls finds itself in is of their own doing as well as the imprisoned. One of the easiest parts of doing what the Word asks of us is to clothe the naked. It is here we can just go into our closets and take out the clothing we never will wear or will ever fit into again and give it to someone in need. The clothing can be drop off at a local church, charity or at any of the containers at shopping centers that encourages our donations. Please note part of this generosity of giving is to give wearable clothing in good condition and clean. The Word puts no parameters on the why, where and what. The Word tells us who the hungry, thirsty, the sick, the naked, the ill and imprisoned. We must remember also, when we read the Word, the Word spoke not only in the temporal but also in the spiritual. Therefore, the hungry may be hungering for the Word, or companionship, love, forgiveness. The naked may be divorced of the Word and needs us to clothe them in the Word. The imprisoned may be in this state from vices that chain and bound them. They may be in a place of oppression or suppression and do not have the courage to leave that, which bounds them. The ill may be sick in spirit and in bondage.If every person tended to the needs of family and friends within their circle, then we would not have a universal need and perhaps this is what the Word is telling us.Therefore, let us not let another visit of the Word pass by us. Let us be ready when He comes to us in the hungry, thirsty, imprisoned, naked, or the ill. We do want to hear these words from the Word’s mouth when we see Him face to face from Matthew 7:21:

21

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, ¹⁰ but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.

May the Hearts of Jesus and Mary bless all who read this.Copyright 2008 Linda Mary Liotino

 

 

First Sunday of Lent February 10, 2008

Meditation for the day:

Temptation is a test that shows us who we are and to whom we serve…Father Joseph @ EWTN

A perfect start for Lent is Mt 4:1-11 it is this gospel I am reminded temptation is the ultimate goal of satan to trip us up and keep us from entering fully into Lent. He uses every weakness within us to make our failures during Lent into us believing we have failed God.

Lent is not about how perfect we can make it for that notion makes us prideful and Lent is about humility. Lent is about prayer and growing closer to God or begin a relationship with Him. Lent is a perfect place for everyone no matter where the spiritual journey. Lent is a time of carrying the cross or falling under the weight of it but in either/both situations neither can be done without God.

It is in the temptation to continue to carry the cross, not to cave in and abandon the cross. It is in carrying the cross to the end we have a great advancement in our spiritual life. Satan hates this and throws up as many detours to keep us from traveling the narrow road through the narrow gate. The detours lead us to the well traveled road to perdition.

Prayer is our greatest weapon against satan/temptation. It is here we can seek the strength /help we need to fight the temptation. It is here we carry the cross and even when we seek to have the cross taken from us we realize this was given to us by God ordained or permitted and we have to carry it. Satan’s sole desire is to make us reject the cross of temptation because it is in this the reward for him is a soul lost from God.

I wrote at the start of Lent that I have had a temptation that has plagued me since before Lent. I have fallen this week more times than I care to admit under the waring of my flesh and my spiritual self in this temptation. I have not abandon the cross or battling the temptation not because I have this get desire not to but because I refuse to listen to my spirit’s foolishness. I also know that this revelation is not by my wisdom. I come to this great knowledge because I know the Shepherd’s voice and hear it. It is because I entrust myself to God everyday for Him to take charge of my life He has my permission at the start of everyday to do what is needed to keep me on the narrow road through the narrow gate. I know Linda it is in knowing self that warrants me to abandon all that I am to God.

Therefore, let us not be dishearten when we fall under the cross/temptation our Lent will be jeweled with the efforts of us to carry the cross and rely on God to see us to the finish line where He will smile and say well done my child.

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

Copyright 2008 Linda Mary Liotino

 

 

Saturday February 9, 2008

Meditation for the day:

A clean heart create for me, God; renew in me a steadfast spirit…Ps. 51:1

There are times in my daily meditations that point to the direction my life in progress or by desire. It is in the morning prayers from the Liturgy of the Hours that says for me on this day more than I can express in my own words…

Ezekiel 36: 24-28

24

For I will take you away from among the nations, gather you from all the foreign lands, and bring you back to your own land.

25

I will sprinkle clean water upon you to cleanse you from all your impurities, and from all your idols I will cleanse you.

26

I will give you a new heart and place a new spirit within you, taking from your bodies your stony hearts and giving you natural hearts.

27

I will put my spirit within you and make you live by my statutes, careful to observe my decrees.

28

You shall live in the land I gave your fathers; you shall be my people, and I will be your God.

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

Linda Mary Liotino

 

Friday February 8, 2008

NO MEAT

Meditation for this day:

The showing of our love for Jesus comes by the way of His love for us…”the cross.” -LML (Linda Mary Liotino)

I find myself starting to focus on Lent. The Sunday before Lent began I had a trying experience and it was difficult because I did not see it coming. Although not expected and not of great importance it still; manage to throw me off kilter. I think the reason why it effected me was not the actions of another but seeing myself in how I was communicating and then my reaction to rejection. Needless, to say I was left with a bitter taste in my heart and soul.

I am now looking at the whole short experience as a place to continue to look at myself and reevaluate the direction of my journey home to Papa God. I found that some old ways of looking at life and decisions still have root in me although not as badly as years gone by. I know for sure I do not fully understand Linda but because I entrust my life to our Lord that all the frailties of Linda are safeguarded from destroying me.

I am at peace and smile as Linda and my journey into Lent begins with this.

Dedicated to DM: May God bless your heart and the journey of your life home to Him.

May the hearts of Jesus and Mary bless all who read this.

Copyright 2008 Linda Mary Liotino

 

 

 

Thursday February 7, 2008

Meditation for this day:

A clean heart create for me, God; renew in me a steadfast spirit. Ps. 51:12

I have copied the message The Holy Father gave on Ash Wednesday it is worth reading and outlines his direction for the faithful this Lenten season.

 

MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI FOR LENT 2008   “Christ made Himself poor for you” (2 Cor 8,9) Dear Brothers and Sisters! 1. Each year, Lent offers us a providential opportunity to deepen the meaning and value of our Christian lives, and it stimulates us to rediscover the mercy of God so that we, in turn, become more merciful toward our brothers and sisters. In the Lenten period, the Church makes it her duty to propose some specific tasks that accompany the faithful concretely in this process of interior renewal: these are prayer, fasting and almsgiving. For this year’s Lenten Message, I wish to spend some time reflecting on the practice of almsgiving, which represents a specific way to assist those in need and, at the same time, an exercise in self-denial to free us from attachment to worldly goods. The force of attraction to material riches and just how categorical our decision must be not to make of them an idol, Jesus confirms in a resolute way: “You cannot serve God and mammon” (Lk 16,13). Almsgiving helps us to overcome this constant temptation, teaching us to respond to our neighbor’s needs and to share with others whatever we possess through divine goodness. This is the aim of the special collections in favor of the poor, which are promoted during Lent in many parts of the world. In this way, inward cleansing is accompanied by a gesture of ecclesial communion, mirroring what already took place in the early Church. In his Letters, Saint Paul speaks of this in regard to the collection for the Jerusalem community (cf. 2 Cor 8-9; Rm 15, 25-27).   2. According to the teaching of the Gospel, we are not owners but rather administrators of the goods we possess: these, then, are not to be considered as our exclusive possession, but means through which the Lord calls each one of us to act as a steward of His providence for our neighbor. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us, material goods bear a social value, according to the principle of their universal destination (cf. n. 2404) In the Gospel, Jesus explicitly admonishes the one who possesses and uses earthly riches only for self. In the face of the multitudes, who, lacking everything, suffer hunger, the words of Saint John acquire the tone of a ringing rebuke: “How does God’s love abide in anyone who has the world’s goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses to help?” (1 Jn 3,17). In those countries whose population is majority Christian, the call to share is even more urgent, since their responsibility toward the many who suffer poverty and abandonment is even greater. To come to their aid is a duty of justice even prior to being an act of charity.   3. The Gospel highlights a typical feature of Christian almsgiving: it must be hidden: “Do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,” Jesus asserts, “so that your alms may be done in secret” (Mt 6,3-4). Just a short while before, He said not to boast of one’s own good works so as not to risk being deprived of the heavenly reward (cf. Mt 6,1-2). The disciple is to be concerned with God’s greater glory. Jesus warns: “In this way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven” (Mt 5,16). Everything, then, must be done for God’s glory and not our own. This understanding, dear brothers and sisters, must accompany every gesture of help to our neighbor, avoiding that it becomes a means to make ourselves the center of attention. If, in accomplishing a good deed, we do not have as our goal God’s glory and the real well being of our brothers and sisters, looking rather for a return of personal interest or simply of applause, we place ourselves outside of the Gospel vision. In today’s world of images, attentive vigilance is required, since this temptation is great. Almsgiving, according to the Gospel, is not mere philanthropy: rather it is a concrete expression of charity, a theological virtue that demands interior conversion to love of God and neighbor, in imitation of Jesus Christ, who, dying on the cross, gave His entire self for us. How could we not thank God for the many people who silently, far from the gaze of the media world, fulfill, with this spirit, generous actions in support of one’s neighbor in difficulty? There is little use in giving one’s personal goods to others if it leads to a heart puffed up in vainglory: for this reason, the one, who knows that God “sees in secret” and in secret will reward, does not seek human recognition for works of mercy.   4. In inviting us to consider almsgiving with a more profound gaze that transcends the purely material dimension, Scripture teaches us that there is more joy in giving than in receiving (cf. Acts 20,35). When we do things out of love, we express the truth of our being; indeed, we have been created not for ourselves but for God and our brothers and sisters (cf. 2 Cor 5,15). Every time when, for love of God, we share our goods with our neighbor in need, we discover that the fullness of life comes from love and all is returned to us as a blessing in the form of peace, inner satisfaction and joy. Our Father in heaven rewards our almsgiving with His joy. What is more: Saint Peter includes among the spiritual fruits of almsgiving the forgiveness of sins: “Charity,” he writes, “covers a multitude of sins” (1 Pt 4,8). As the Lenten liturgy frequently repeats, God offers to us sinners the possibility of being forgiven. The fact of sharing with the poor what we possess disposes us to receive such a gift. In this moment, my thought turns to those who realize the weight of the evil they have committed and, precisely for this reason, feel far from God, fearful and almost incapable of turning to Him. By drawing close to others through almsgiving, we draw close to God; it can become an instrument for authentic conversion and reconciliation with Him and our brothers.   5. Almsgiving teaches us the generosity of love. Saint Joseph Benedict Cottolengo forthrightly recommends: “Never keep an account of the coins you give, since this is what I always say: if, in giving alms, the left hand is not to know what the right hand is doing, then the right hand, too, should not know what it does itself” (Detti e pensieri, Edilibri, n. 201). In this regard, all the more significant is the Gospel story of the widow who, out of her poverty, cast into the Temple treasury “all she had to live on” (Mk 12,44). Her tiny and insignificant coin becomes an eloquent symbol: this widow gives to God not out of her abundance, not so much what she has, but what she is. Her entire self. We find this moving passage inserted in the description of the days that immediately precede Jesus’ passion and death, who, as Saint Paul writes, made Himself poor to enrich us out of His poverty (cf. 2 Cor 8,9); He gave His entire self for us. Lent, also through the practice of almsgiving, inspires us to follow His example. In His school, we can learn to make of our lives a total gift; imitating Him, we are able to make ourselves available, not so much in giving a part of what we possess, but our very selves. Cannot the entire Gospel be summarized perhaps in the one commandment of love? The Lenten practice of almsgiving thus becomes a means to deepen our Christian vocation. In gratuitously offering himself, the Christian bears witness that it is love and not material richness that determines the laws of his existence. Love, then, gives almsgiving its value; it inspires various forms of giving, according to the possibilities and conditions of each person.   6. Dear brothers and sisters, Lent invites us to “train ourselves” spiritually, also through the practice of almsgiving, in order to grow in charity and recognize in the poor Christ Himself. In the Acts of the Apostles, we read that the Apostle Peter said to the cripple who was begging alms at the Temple gate: “I have no silver or gold, but what I have I give you; in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, walk” (Acts 3,6). In giving alms, we offer something material, a sign of the greater gift that we can impart to others through the announcement and witness of Christ, in whose name is found true life. Let this time, then, be marked by a personal and community effort of attachment to Christ in order that we may be witnesses of His love. May Mary, Mother and faithful Servant of the Lord, help believers to enter the “spiritual battle” of Lent, armed with prayer, fasting and the practice of almsgiving, so as to arrive at the celebration of the Easter Feasts, renewed in spirit. With these wishes, I willingly impart to all my Apostolic Blessing. From the Vatican, 30 October 2007   BENEDICTUS PP. XVI     © Copyright 2007 - Libreria Editrice Vaticana

 

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

Linda Mary Liotino

 

Wednesday February 6, 2008

FAST:

• It is required of all Catholics between 18-59 on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. The minimum requirement for the fast is eating one full meal and two snacks which together do not equal one meal.
• Abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday, Good Friday and all the Fridays of Lent.
• Those who are seriously ill should not fast or abstain from meat, if it will harm them. God gave us the gift of our body; we must moderate our appetites with fasting and abstinence, but not harm that body.

Abstinence forbids the use of meat, but not of eggs, milk products or condiments made of animal fat.

Meditation for this day:

Lord, protect us in our struggle against evil. As we begin the disciple of Lent, make this day holy by our self-denial. -Liturgy of Hours Ash Wednesday

Last evening I watched a Mother Angelica Classic on Ash Wednesday 2000. She said somethings worth mentioning as we journey in/through Lent.

• The ashes we receive are reminders from ashes we came and ashes we will go. (M.A.) As I reflect on her words I should experience now in this life during lent a dying of self in the spiritual. Letting go of detachments that keeps me from God. It is also a time to reevaluate my life and how much of what I think, say and do reflects the teachings of Christ.
• Penance is something I do but do not want to do. (M.A.) It is in the readings for this day from the book Divine Intimacy During the imposition of the ashes we chant: ” Let us change our garments, and cover ourselves with sackcloth and ashes; let us fast and weep before the Lord.”…immediately followed by the invitation to be converted: “Let us atone for the sins we have committed.” The end of physical mortification is spiritual penance-humility, recognition of our faults, compunction of heart, and the reform of our lives. We are to Imitate Jesus.
• Strengthen our will. (M.A) It is here Mother Angelica suggest that which in our actions separate us from God we should practice the virtue keeping us close to Him. Here are some examples used: If we have a temper /be nice, if we gossip/read something spiritual, if we are in the big I syndrome/give our time to others to name a few. I believe in order to strengthen our will against evil/sin we cannot lie to ourselves we have to truthfully evaluate ourselves asking the Holy Spirit to convict our hearts and asking the Mother of God to pray for us.

Let us pray for the Holy Spirit to convict our hearts and to give us spiritual eyes to understand our true self. It is in truth, change springs forth and intimacy with God is the reward until we see Him face to face. Through the Heart of Mother we pray. Amen

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

Copyright 2008 Linda Mary Liotino

So it’s Lent…

The modern day world does not have the same connection to the times of Lent of years gone by. However, it is time much needed for souls to reflect, to take stock of their spiritual life, but most especially to reconnect with God. It is in the reconnection with God we see our lives, as they are. It allows time to revisit decisions, take stock of the direction of our lives and see our life styles in truth. We find our lives in disarray. Lives are in shambles and we do not know how to fix it. Lent is a perfect time to get back on track.

The journey in Lent to a reconnection to God should not be (like New Years resolutions) a cramming, in the 40 days the lack of the last 40 years. Make it simple but genuine God will bless the effort no matter how little. It is in the little effort God multiplies and moves the soul through grace to do more. It is in the balance of the spiritual and the soul’s station in life that brings them into God’s presences in a special way.

In reality when a soul is in true union with God, there is no separation. The spiritual life and the station of life of the soul is one with God.

For those of us who are journeying in lent for the first time in a long time make it simple and genuine. If prayer has not been a part of your day since childhood when mom and dad constantly reminded you to say your prayers start with a short prayer. You could begin with a Hail Mary, Our Father, Glory Be or simply thank you Lord for waking me up this day. It is in the faithfulness of praying to God that He will bless and expand it through grace. Riding in the car to work especially if you are alone is a great time to talk to God if it is only to say I do not know what to say, God will bless this small effort.

Prayer being one part of Lent, the sacrament of reconciliation is another. Go to confession even if has been many years since your last confession. The problem most souls who have been away from confession fear is what will the priest think. He is there to help the soul to reconcile itself to its God. He is not there to judge or condemn. We are embarrassed to confess the sins because we are under the false thought we are the only one who committed these sins and we will shock the priest who has never heard these sins confessed before. There is as of 2005 1,086 billion Catholics trust me the sin/sins that keeps you from confession is confessed more times than one could even imagine.

Third part of Lent is for the soul to enter out of self for another. The first reaction of us all is I do not have the time to go visit the sick, feed the poor…Charity should begin at home with family/neighbor. We may find ourselves in a place where we need to take the time to spend time with a spouse, talk with the children and give extra time to a member of the family who needs it. Pick up the phone and call a shut in. Reconnect with the immediate family that is often placed on hold because we want the free time afforded us for us. We cannot nor are we expected to straighten up all the ills of the family in one lent but it is in this effort to start God will bless us depositing graces within us to continue on well past lent.

Keep it simple the journey of this lent for the first timers in a long time. However, for those of us who have an ongoing relationship with God that is growing from our little seed effort continue to move forward in holiness. The worst thing we can do is to stay in non-movement of the spiritual life in our relationship with God. As we well know, the non-movement of water becomes stagnant and foul smelling this not what we want for our hearts and souls to experience.

Therefore, let us journey through lent reflecting on the life of Christ and all He has done for our salvation and us.

Peace

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

Copyright 2008 Linda Mary Liotino