It seems satan has recruited a new member in the attempt to bring down the Church that was founded by Jesus Christ. Nicki Minaj, who purports to be a singer, performed a song on the Grammy's Sunday night that quickly turned into a sacrilegious mess. She has been roundly criticized but responded on her Twitter account that she is not sorry and basically meant to offend people. We cannot print her response because it is also offensive to civil society. At a time when the president of the United States is pushing policies that are aimed point blank at Catholic beliefs based on the teachings of Jesus Christ, it seems that satan is working overtime to continue the assault against the Church. St. Bernard Clairvaux said that being a Christian in this time will be difficult. He notes that only the heroic will survive. Are you ready to be a hero for Jesus' Church? If you are, be aware that satan and his army will come against us. You must arm yourself appropriately and the best way is to receive the Eucharist. Having Jesus inside of you will make you strong enough to withstand the power of evil. St. Bernard tells us, "We are to love God for Himself, because of a twofold reason; nothing is more reasonable, nothing more profitable." Loving God requires us to be His church on earth. The attempts to destroy us by our enemies must be met with prayer and fasting. We must also respond to these attacks with love and the truth. We must be vigilant in our protection of what we hold deep in our hearts, namely our faith. It is what sustains us in life and allows us to hope for eternal life with God our Father. Before we were conceived, God knew us. Before our parents ever laid eyes on us, God loved us. Loving God, as St. Bernard said, is a profitable endeavor. We know that God will not be outdone. His love is endless. The depth of His love is immeasurable. We must return His love with our own inadequate love. Each day strive to love God more. But remember that we should respond to God not only in words but deeds. Loving God should take all of the forms of the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. I find that four spiritual works of mercy apply directly to the Minaj incident. They are namely: To counsel the doubtful; To admonish sinners; To bear wrongs patiently; and, To forgive offenses willingly. Let's go Prayer Warriors. Now is the time to be heroic.
I am just beginning to dive into the beautiful, ancient devotion to the Five Wounds of Jesus, and I wanted to share a bit of the journey with you. It can feel a little overwhelming at first to look at the Crucifix this closely, but I’ve found such a gentle guide in St. Bernard of Clairvaux . In his Jubilee Rhythm on the Passion, Bernard doesn't treat the wounds of Jesus as distant historical facts or sights to be avoided. Instead, he approaches them with the tenderness of a friend, speaking directly to the feet, hands, side, and face of our Lord. For someone like me who is just starting out, his rhythm teaches that prayer isn't just about reciting words; it’s a holy hide-and-seek. Bernard invites us to literally hide ourselves within these wounds, seeing them as clefts in the rock where we can find shelter when our own lives feel turbulent or heavy. As I start this process, I’ve been practicing what I call gazing and greeting. Following Bernard’s lead, I look at the Crucifix an...
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