449- HOLY WEDNESDAY + + + « It is the Sovereign Lord who helps me. Who will condemn me? » (Isaiah 50, 9) When someone says bad things about a child in front of his mother, even if he was wrong, she is still there defending him because she loves him unconditionally and mainly because of the maternal fiber that connects her to her child. Imagine what Jesus can say to our Heavenly Father to defend us, He who loves us so perfectly and Who we are so intimately linked to !!! (L.C.)
450- HOLY THURSDAY + + + « Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. » (John 15, 13) When I look at this tiny cross that was given to me with this heart, I see the excessiveness of the Love that God had for us, in comparison with the sufferings He suffered. (L.C.)
452- HOLY FRIDAY + + + « For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. » (John 3, 16) God always speaks the truth and keeps His Promises. « This is My Blood of the Covenant, which is poured out for many. » (Matthew 26, 28) (L.C.)
453- HOLY SATURDAY + + + « He himself bore our sins in His Body on the Cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by His Wounds you have been healed. » (1 Peter 2, 24) Lord you love us so much that Your greatest desire is to imprint You on us ... in our heart in order to us renovate and sanctify even the most 1intimate of our being. When we say: « I got you under my skin! », expressing the great love that we have for someone, let's imagine how much God wants to embrace us body and soul, He who loves us madly! (L.C.)
454- HAPPY EASTER DAY + + + « I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die » (John 11, 25) Like trees, flowers and all nature will be reborn and bloom again in the heat of spring, our body, soul and mind will be reborn and bloom again in the warmth of His Love! (L.C.)
454-A He is risen! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! I lit this lantern and placed it in front of my window all night and it will continue to burn the entire Easter octave. (L.C.)
458- EASTER OCTAVE MONDAY « Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will dwell securely. For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol. » (Psalm 16, 9) This is one of the effects that the Resurrection of Christ produced in the soul and heart of each person who accepts to let himself be transformed and sanctified. In the face of our conversion failures, it is good to repeat this Psalm. Credit: Louise Cardin
Very beautiful image, LC. The opened floodgates of His suffering unleash immeasurable torrents of love.
456- Jesus said to Mary Magdalene, when she sees Him near the empty Tomb, on the day of Resurrection ... « Do not hold on to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. » And He adds... « Go instead to My brothers and tell them, “I am ascending to My Father and your Father, to My God and your God.“ » (John 20, 17) At Communion, it seems to me that Jesus might tell us this Word again to each one personally, too ... « Do not hold on to Me... » By adding... « Go instead to My brothers... » For the Body and Blood of Jesus that we receive, it is divine Love in fullness. And divine Love, we receive it for then share It with all our brothers. (L.C.)
459- EASTER OCTAVE WEDNESDAY « When He was at the table with them, He took bread, blessed and broke it and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Jesus; and He vanished from their sight. » (Luke 24, 30-31) Risen, Jesus is all Transfigured and unrecognizable. Disciples of Emmaus Recognize Him only by the gesture He has put at the meal He ate with them. Fortunately, they invited Him! It’s good for us too. We are more able to recognize Him by the actions He takes on a daily basis, when we invite Jesus in the house of our heart. And at each Eucharist, we see Him when the priest breaks the Bread. But this time, It is He who receives us! We are free to accept or refuse His invitation. (L.C.)
457- EASTER OCTAVE THURSDAY « When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them,human beings that you care for them? » (Psalm 8, 3-4) You love us, Lord! To You, we are so precious, that You give us dignity which goes beyond any weakness in us. We give You thanks with a heart filled with wonder! (L.C.)
460- EASTER OCTAVE FRIDAY Jesus, standing on the shore, says to the disciples, who do not recognize Him ... « “ Children, you have no fish, have you? “ They answered him, “ No. “ » (John 21, 5) And after a miraculous fishing, He tells them ... “ Come and have breakfast. “ (John 21, 12) This Word makes think a lot ... Without Jesus we too can say that we have no food. With Jesus, there is overabundance, much more than for this fishing, where the nets were more than full! Ô Jesus, give us the grace of always accept to be nourished by You ... of Your Presence and of your Eucharistic Bread. (L.C.)
461- EASTER OCTAVE SATURDAY « Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation. » (Mark 16, 15) Mary Magdalene saw Christ, she who was delivered from seven demons. By wanting to announce the Good News of the Resurrection of the Redeemer, she realizes that nobody believes her. We too are faced with to unbelieving people who refuse to believe for various reasons. To believe that Jesus exists, we need to meet people who speak of His Message of love. To believe that Jesus is Alive, we need to meet people who live His Message of love. To believe that Jesus loves us, we need to meet people who share His love. Touched by the Word, we begin to talk about Jesus. Touched by the Faith, we timidly witness to Jesus. Touched by the love of Jesus, we can no longer be silent and in turn, we share it. (L.C.)
...Touched by the Word, we begin to talk about Jesus. Touched by the Faith, we timidly witness to Jesus. Touched by the love of Jesus, we can no longer be silent and in turn, we share it. (L.C.)
455- Divine Mercy Sunday + + + Things Jesus revealed to St.Faustina about Divine Mercy Let's remind ourselves right now. Or learn the highlights for the firs time. Divine Mercy Sunday is the perfect day to start listening to what Jesus himself tells us: " I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and shelter for all souls, and especially for poor sinners. On that day, the very depths of My tender Mercy are open. I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who approach the Fount of My Mercy. The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment. On that day all the divine Floodgates through which grace flow are opened. Let no soul fear to draw near to Me, Even though its sins be as scarlet." (St.Faustina's Diary 699) Note: Confession does not have to be done on the Sunday itself. Beforehand is fine)
462- « Thomas answered Him: " My Lord and my God! “ Jesus said to him: '' Have you believed because you have seen Me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” » (John 20, 28-29) Believe that Jesus came out victorious over suffering, Cross and death, through the love of God, for Thomas, it is too hard to understand. Thomas looks so much like us! Believe that we will come out victorious over suffering, crosses and death, through the love of God, for us, too, it is too hard to understand. God continually invites us to place all our trust in Him, the Victorious and the Master of all. (L.C.)
463- « The wind blows where it chooses and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit. » (John 3, 8) To be born of the Spirit is to accept to live every present moment with Triune God, according to the realities of Heaven while leaving God direct our life, our projects, our future according to His Faithful Love Plan. It is also to remind us than our true home, this is where God awaits us ... In His Kingdom of Love which settles in our heart and which begins here below … (L.C.)
464- « Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. » (John 13, 17) The Highway Code... It's good to read it, to learn it by heart ... Without putting it into practice, we are very likely to have accidents that damage our car and that of others. The Bible makes you think of the highway code ... It's all well and good to read it, to learn it by heart ... Without putting it into practice, we are very likely to have accidents that damage our lives and the lives of others. (L.C.)
468- « Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men... » (Matthew 4, 19) When a selFISH man becomes a FISHer of men... (L.C.)
