Explore the Treasures -- Part 2

     In the second installment of our series, we will explore the Sacrament of Baptism.

     Having our children Baptized is the one of the greatest gifts we can give to them. Because of the sin of our first parents, Adam and Eve, every human person is born with the stain of original sin on their soul. Yes, even that sweet little infant who has stolen your heart! It is a great privilege, as well as a grave responsibility, as parents to have our children baptized. Baptism erases original sin by imparting the life of Christ’s grace.

Explore the Treasures - Part 1

     This past Sunday we celebrated the Feast of Corpus Christi. It is a Solemnity that was established in the thirteenth Century. The purpose was to recognize and celebrate the fact that Jesus Christ is truly present in the Eucharist – Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. Christ’s presence is not symbolic but real. This is something that has always been believed and taught in the Catholic Church from the time of the Apostles and continues to this day.

     During a homily at Mass on Corpus Christi, my parish priest made a startling statement: Of the 50% of the Catholics who attend Mass, half of them do not believe that Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist!

Balm for the Soul

     “To learn from the Heart of Jesus the secret love for souls and deep knowledge of them: how to touch their hurts without making them smart and to dress their wounds without reopening them; to disclose Truth in its entirety and yet make it known according to the degree of light each soul can bear. The knowledge required for the apostolate can be had only from Jesus Christ, in the Eucharist, and in prayer.”                                                                                                                                                                               Elizabeth Leseur, Servant of God


     Our world is full of wounded souls; each longing to be listened to and loved. It is not evident to the naked eye; they hide their pain quite well! Life has brought happiness and joy, but also many disappointments and hurts that scream, deep within our hearts, and go unheard.

Transformed by Love

     “Holiness doesn’t consist of knowing much, or doing much, but of loving much.”                                            Mother Angelica



     Holiness does not come easily. It is not something that we can obtain by wishing for, or reading a book. It is received when we are able to empty ourselves of all selfishness. It happens when our hearts resemble the Heart of Jesus – His Sacred Heart!

     We are in great need of a heart transformation. Our good God calls us to love as He does and that is very difficult for us to accomplish -- day in and day out. There are many circumstances when we see it as impossible; our love is wanting.

Catherine and the Hail Holy Queen

     Her name was Catherine. I did not know her, but was asked to visit and bring Jesus to her, in Holy Communion. She resided in a nursing home and dying of stomach cancer.

     Although I had visited and ministered to dying people in the past, I was taken aback when I walked into Catherine’s room. She was very frail and weak and quite emaciated from the disease.  Cancer had taken its toll, and she was, for the most part, bedridden. She spoke very softly and I needed sit close to her in order to hear. It seemed clear to me that death was not far off and that her suffering was intense.