Month: March 2015

“The World is all in Flames”: Join World Prayer for Peace March 26th

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“The world is all in flames…and are we to waste time asking God for things of little importance?”  This was the lament of St. Teresa of Jesus as she contemplated the wars, conflicts and divisions of her own time.  March 28th marks the 500th anniversary of her birth.  Today, ever increasing wars, terrorism and violence seem to rage in every corner of the globe. Yes, “the world is in flames!”

St. Teresa of Jesus, Doctor of the Church
St. Teresa of Jesus, Doctor of the Church

We (the sons and daughters of Holy Mother Teresa, the Discalced Carmelite Order of Friars, Nuns and the Secular Order) would like to offer her a 500th birthday present, of which, she would approve; we invite all persons of good will to join us in an hour of prayer for World Peace, which we hope will fill the day with prayers for peace, as people unite in prayer around the world, on March 26 (beginning at 6:00 GMT)and continuing till March 27th. This is the proposal of the Father General of the Discalced Carmelite Order, Fr. Saverio Cannistra.

Our Holy Father Pope Francis has looked kindly on this initiative and on March 26th “will unite with us in supplication to God, Father of us all, so that through the intercession of His Son Jesus Christ, He will pour His Holy Spirit over all the nations, so that dialogue will triumph over violence and conflicts that scourge our world.”  Please share this message and join with us on this day, “holding tightly to the power of the redeeming Cross of Christ” and lifting our eyes to heaven, let us beg the Father to look upon the Face of His Son, the Prince of Peace, Jesus Christ, and grant us the gift of peace…  Not the peace the world gives, but the peace that Jesus promised us, which nothing can take from us. Through the powerful intercession of The Blessed Virgin Mary, Our Mother the Queen of Peace and St. Teresa of Jesus let us also “beseech God for the opportunities for dialogue and encounter among men, that we learn to ask for forgiveness so that peace may grow in the world like the fruit of the reconciliation that He has come to bring us.” Nothing is impossible with God!

Pope Francis adoring The Eucharistic Face of Christ
Pope Francis adoring The Eucharistic Face of Christ

 

 

St. Joseph Restoration, and Reparation

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Last year I had not one, but three statues of St. Joseph in my house, old, broken, with decades of

St. Joseph in need of restoration
St. Joseph in need of restoration

different layers of flaking paint. I have restored countless numbers of such statues of Jesus, Mary, St. Joseph, Saints, Angels, even lambs and camels… large and small, in various distressed conditions; some nearly smashed to smithereens, seemingly beyond hope.  Some of the worst had been through Hurricane Katrina.  All the statues had one thing in common, they were dearly loved by someone who couldn’t bear to get rid of them.

The first one showed up on my doorstep twenty years ago.  I am a watercolor artist, so when a friend asked me if I could “fix a statue” because I “painted,” I was confused but decided to give it a shot.  The statue was in terrible shape –but it was me or the trash can. (Not a great choice.)  So, I did some research on restoration and got to work.  Statues have been showing up ever since and I repair them for one reason: I can’t bear to see them broken.  For me, it’s a labor of love.

Restored St. Joseph
Restored St. Joseph

I’ve often wondered if this is how God looks at our souls; broken, disfigured, and in various states of decay.  He looks on us with love and a desire to restore us to our original beauty.  When we come back to His “doorstep,” which is the Church, and “turn back to His Face,” the Divine Artist restores His Image in us.

Our Lord revealed the work of reparation, which is devotion to the Holy Face, “the most beautiful work under the sun,” to Sr. Marie St. Pierre, a Carmelite nun.  Jesus told her that the image of His Holy Face is like a Divine Stamp, which, if applied to souls through prayer, has the power of imprinting anew within them the image of God.

This is Sr. Marie St. Pierre’s beautiful prayer to reproduce the image of God in our souls, “I salute you!  I adore you and I love you, Oh adorable face of my beloved Jesus, as the noble stamp of the Divinity!  Completely surrendering my soul to You, I most humbly beg You to stamp this seal upon us all, so that the image of God may once more be reproduced in our souls.  Amen.”

In fact, anytime we turn to His Face, in prayer, He is beautifying and restoring our souls… and that is THE “labor of love!”

Teresian Sr. Martha and her beloved St. Joseph.
Teresian Sr. Martha and her beloved St. Joseph.

 Happy Feast of St. Joseph!

ISIS vs. The Face of God

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ISIS destruction of Sacred Christian Sites in Nineveh. Photo: EMRIJTTM
ISIS destruction of Sacred Christian Sites in Nineveh. Photo: EMRIJTTM

It is clear to anyone who has seen these sort of images from around the world what is the ultimate goal of terrorism – They seek to destroy The Face of God.  This manifestation of Evil is blasphemy and why reparation to The Holy Face is so necessary, particularly at this time.

Statue of The Blessed Virgin Mary and Infant Jesus. Faces smashed by ISIS. Photo EMRIJTTM
Statue of The Blessed Virgin Mary and Infant Jesus. Faces smashed by ISIS. Photo EMRIJTTM

image1Whether is the smashing of the Face of Jesus, of His Mother, Mary, His Saints, His Churches or the beheading of Christians, made in His Image, around the world, that evil which seeks to hide it’s own face, also seeks to destroy The Face of God, if that were possible.  We need not fear, but, turn to His Holy Face and make reparation for these grave offenses and pray for these souls, also made in God’s Image, that they may be converted and released from the slavery and service of the evil one. (Please say a prayer of reparation from the “Prayers” tab.)

Devotion to the Holy Face is the powerful weapon and remedy for this great evil of our time.  As Emeritus Pope Benedict has said, “From contemplation of the Face of God are born, joy, security, peace.” So, please, contemplate the Face of Jesus and encourage other good souls to do so as well, to make reparation and obtain for the world a “peace which nothing can take from us.” (Emeritus Pope Benedict)

"Whoever gazes upon me already consoles me." - Our Lord to Bl. Mother Pierina De Michelli
“Whoever gazes upon me already consoles me.” – Our Lord to Bl. Mother Pierina De Michelli

Lord, I do not desire the death of the sinner, but I want him to be converted and live. Forgive them, Father, for they know not what they do.

“May the Lord bless and keep you; may He make His Face shine upon you and be merciful to you; may the Lord turn His Countenance toward you and give you His PEACE!” (Num 6:24-26)

A Christian Response to ISIS: