Jesus speaks to St. Gertrude...for our time.

St. Gertrude lived in the Middle Ages, yet our Lord spoke to her words that transcend time...
"Every time one kisses the Crucifix, or looks at it with devotion, the eye of God's mercy is fixed upon his soul. He should then listen within himself to these words of tenderness from Me: Behold how I, for love of thee, hang on the Cross--naked, despised, My whole Body wounded, all My limbs distended. And still my Heart is enkindled with such glowing love for thee, that if it were beneficial for thy salvation and thou couldst not be saved in any other way, I would for thee alone endure all that I suffered for the whole world."
--St. Gertrude the Great, Herald of Love
Tan Publishers, 1983

Compassion in Truth...

"True compassion brings one to share the suffering of the other, not to eliminate the one whose suffering he cannot tolerate." The Gospel of Life, 66

Reflection:The word 'compassion' comes from the Latin words meaning "to suffer with." Love brings us closer to people, and when they are in pain, love wants to come closer still. Love gladly suffers for and with the one who is loved.
The so-called 'right to die' is really a clever disguise for the right to kill
Prayer: Lord, free us from the selfishness that wants to run away from the suffering of others. Instead, fill us with true compassion so that we may suffer with them.
--Pro-Life Reflections for Everyday, Fr. Frank Pavone (2009), p. 37

A Psalm of Asaph...

O God, the heathen have come into thy inheritance;
they have defiled thy holy temple;
they have laid Jerusalem in ruins.

They have given the bodies of thy servants
to the birds of the air for food,
the flesh of thy saints to the beasts of the earth.

We have become a taunt to our neighbors,
mocked and derided by those round about us.

Do not remember against us the iniquities
of our forefathers;
let thy compassion come speedily to meet us...

Help us, O God of our salvation,
for the glory of thy name;
deliver us, and forgive our sins,
for thy name's sake!
Why should the nations say,
"Where is their God?"
--Psalm 79

Lenten reflection on life...

"Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter."
--Proverbs, 24:11

Reflection: Many think that another person's abortion, though wrong, is none of their business. But whenever someones choice destroys someone else's life, that's everyone's business. God makes it our business by commanding us to rescue those in danger. God makes it our business because He entrusts us to the care of one another. Ours is the business of love.
Prayer: Lord, I pray today for all those whose lives are in danger. They are my brothers and sisters. Strengthen me to intervene for them.
--Pro-life Reflections for Everyday, pg. 37
Fr. Frank Pavone, Priests for Life

If we cannot pray outside of an abortion facility or Family Planning Center during this Lenten season coinciding with the 40 Days for Life Campaign let us pray that the Holy Spirit will touch the hearts of mothers who have appointments at abortion clinics. Let us pray that the witness of those praying outside of these facilities will change hearts. Let us pray the Rosary for the conversion of the mothers, and of the abortionists. Let us pray the Rosary for the infants in the womb. The Rosary--our most powerful weapon against the forces of Satan in this world....let us pray!

Lenten reflection...

And Jesus said to his disciples, "Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give alms; provide yourselves with purses that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens, that does not fail; where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."
--Luke, 12:32-34
The season of Lent is a good time to stop and reflect on what we are doing for the salvation of our own souls...and the souls of the world. Not least of which is what we are doing as disciples to share the good news, and to let go of earthly attachments that mean nothing in eternity.

And I tell you...

"And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of man also will acknowledge before the angels of God; but he who denies me before men will be denied before the angels of God. And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of man will be forgiven; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. And when they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not be anxious how or what you are to answer or what you are to say; for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say."
--Luke, 12:8-12
Prayer and contemplation are not only inexhaustable treasures, but by these means we are more perfectly conformed to the Holy Spirit who guards and continually informs our conscience--that we can discern Truth from the ever increasing assault on holiness in our lives.