"The Spiritual Upheaval"

Once The Holy Spirit enters into The Soul, those things that, at one time gave joy, no longer Satisfy, and The Change is so Profound that The Heart, Turning to God, finds Its Pleasure, no longer in seeking out Transitory Delights, but rather in what used to grieve It.

Thus, The Soul gravitates Toward those Things that were deemed difficult or Impossible to bear, such as Humiliation, the renunciation of "Things" for their own sake, even Prayer and Meditation, which was once considered "Burdensome," is sought out, and even Preferred to the "Noise" of the world and Worldly.

This "Movement" of The Soul, Inspired by God Himself, is The Most Precious of all Gifts of The Spirit, for not Only does it prepare the Soul for the Greatest of Graces, but enables the Mind to See, Clearly Created Reality, including "Time" Itself, in Proper Perspective.

This "Gift" of The Presence of The Holy Spirit within the Soul, must be Guarded Fastidiously, for to disregard it, would be to Enslave The Heart with those things, that not only cannot Save, but have the capacity to Eternally Destroy all the Divinely inspired Good within, and rather than Securing one's Salvation, the Soul ends up Embracing that which will Degrade its Dignity, by reducing it to the image and Likeness of the Dead things that it will eventually crave.

The War that will undoubtedly be waged against this Gift by the World and the Enemy of our Soul, the Devil, must be fought with every tool that God, Our Most Loving and Affectionate Father Has Given us Through His Son.

Beginning with The Sacraments and utilizing every Sacramental at our Disposal, I can, not only Purge my Soul of its attatchments to those things that tie me down, but, along with The Saints, make great strides in The Way of Perfection.

God Bless You

"The Gift or the Giver"

When receiving a gift from another, once received, one should focus their attention, Not on The Gift, but The Giver.

In the same way, it often happens that the Gifts that Our Heavenly Father gives to us, becomes the Focus of our attention rather than A Humble and Grateful Recognition of Their Origin.

And along with The Gift, comes Tremendous Responsibility, for no Spiritual Gift is solely for The,

"Me, Myself and I" which could eventually lead to the sin of Pride. Therefore I, as a Recipient of such Grace must Express a Sincere Appreciation and Continued Love for The Giver.

Most Loving and Affectionate Father, may I Never take for Granted the Multitude of Gifts that I have Recieved and Continually Recieve from Thy Great Generosity. May I Utilize them with the Utmost Reverence and Attention, that by so doing, I will fulfill Thy Holy Will in my regard and Through them, Manifest Your Love and Mercy toward every single Person that You place in my path, for I know that Nothing is just by chance and though I may not completely comprehend, All has a Divine Purpose.

God Bless You

"The Joy of Lent"

In Reality, there is no Trial or Tribulation that can destroy or take away True Christian Joy. For along with Faith this Deep and Enduring Response to Salvation, can Only be damaged by our own Personal choices or, by giving others the power to take it away.

Laetare Sunday shows us, that even amidst the Pennance and Fasting of Lent I must cling continuously to The Interior Joy that comes from Grace and The Knowledge of The Resurrection.

This "Fruit of The Holy Spirit," is a "Personal" Gift that Fills The Soul with Peace and an outlook founded on the Knowledge of God's Merciful Love and Compassion.

And since each of us is Loved by God in a Unique way, this Fruit of The Spirit is derived from that very Unique Love. The more I seek to Know my Beloved Lord, the more Grateful I become, and the More I am able to Comprehend The Gift of Life.

It is by Way of this "Fruit" that I am able to maintain an even keel in whatever circumstances I find myself, be they happy times or Sad, in Sickness and Health, regardless of External influence, I through Grace, will Never Waver in my Resolve to seek out and Fulfill The Holy Will of God in my Regard.

Most Loving and Affectiinate Father, Grant that The Spirit of Joy may Permeate my entire Being and Living Constantly Aware of Your Presence Around me and Within me, that Joy will carry me Into Eternity.

God Bless You

"Offer it up"

This may seem to be something that we must do during disagreeable times and moments of Suffering, but Giving up to God, each and every day Everything, at Every Moment, both Good and bad, is Essential, for by doing so, I Ready myself for The Great Encounter with Christ at the end of my Life upon this Earth.

Everything Good in my life, comes from God, and by recognizing that, and offering everything in a Selfless act of Love, I will ensure that come the time for that Final Act, I will offer to God The One Thing that He did NOT Give to me, MY DEATH.

It is important to note that Death, is of our Own making, for Sin is the author of Death and thus is God's Enemy. In fact it is The Only thing that He didn't give to me that He Wants.

By Habitually Offering Everything, without Exception, I Will, when that moment comes, when I am suspended between Heaven and Hell, I will in a "Continuation," Offer up my Very Death Itself, as Our Beloved Lord Taught us from The Cross.

"Father, Into Your Hands I Commend My Spirit."

God Bless You

"Internal and External Poverty"

We are All Called to one or the other, or Both. Circumstance will Dictate External Poverty, but without The Internal "Virtue" of Poverty, one will simply choose Misery over Joy. For the Poor that carry within their Hearts The Virtue, will find A True and Lasting Peace which is Marked by The Virtue of Generosity.

The Internal Virtue of Poverty, enables one to Utilize the Things of this earth in a way that leads them to The Realization that The Only Possession Truly Worth Having is Our Beloved Lord, in other words, to Possess and Be Possessed by God Himself.

To Liberate my Heart from all attatchments, to be held Captive by Nothing other than The Fulfillment of His Holy Will, through this Great Virtue, I will never place either my Hope Or Peace in whatever wealth that I may have. therefore be I Rich or Poor, knowing that I am Loved by My God, I will be able to achieve that to which I have been Called as a Son or Daughter of The Father.

God Bless You