I heard a Radio interview with a wise Psychiatrist a few years back and the subject of Politicians came up and what makes them tick. The Doctor asked what we would think of someone who went round telling everyone he/she had the solutions to the problems of the world and that he/she was the very person to do so..and stood on a soap box to do so. When you think about it of course the answer is pretty obvious, we would think them a horse's ass. That is what the good Doctor thought of Politicians. Many years ago , in the Monastery I came across an old book by an old book by an English monk called Fr Albert Baker, the first edition being in the 16th century. Fr Baker had a theory that in the Church generally and in monasteries in particular bad people always rose to the top. The reason for this, he claimed was that holy people interested in prayer had no wise for power and money. Bad people always has such an interest at the very ,very front of their mind and would always seek for the top. I always thought there was great truth in this theory. Generally speaking when we read the lives of the saints in Religious Houses we find them cleaning the toilets (or something similiar) for the course of their vocations, whilst their religious superiors rain as much trouble on them from a great height . The life of Jesus seems to be have been cut in the same mould. For me Jesus being Crowned with thorns points to the same old way of things. Jesus being reminded He was at the bottom of the heap and to keep His place. But when we turn the picture round we find the guy who was crowned with thorns was actually the Son of God, the Third Person of the Blessed Trinity , The Saviour of the World and Alpha and Omega. When we go into the toilets of our Religious Houses we find the guy or lady cleaning the toilets is actually a saint and a light to the entire Church. Lucifer lost his crown and as, 'Son of the Morning', first born of all God's Creation. In some sense he is always seeking to claim it again, just as all those who follow him seek a crown. Those who follow Jesus on the other hand find comfort in the Crown of Thorns. Two different Crowns. Two different kinds of people.
Few saints have reached the same heights of prayer as Saint Mary Magdalen, who was lifted up to heaven by angels each day, and who had the privilege of learning at the feet of Jesus and his holy Mother. Yet one day, when she asked God to show her a sure way of advancing in his love and arriving at the heights of perfect, he sent the archangel St. Michael to tell her, on his behalf, that there was no other way to reach perfection than to meditate on our Lord's passion. So he placed a cross in the front of her cave and told her to pray before it, contemplating the sorrowful mysteries which she had seen take place with her own eyes.
Both Saint Bernard and Saint Bonaventure say that the Queen of Heaven is certainly no less grateful and conscientious than gracious and well-mannered people of this world. Just as she excels in all other perfections, she surpasses us all in the virtue of gratitude; so she would never let us honor her with love and respect without repaying us one hundredfold. Saint Bonaventure says that Mary will greet us with grace if we greet her with the Hail Mary.
Rosary Padre Pio with his rosary Padre Pio used to carry permanently a Rosary in his hands and would pray it many times a day. To father Onorato Marcucci, grabbing the Rosary that he had put few seconds on the nightstand: "With this, one wins the battles." Father Marcellino testified that he had to help Padre Pio wash his hands one at a time "because he didn't want to leave the rosary beads, and passed the Rosary from one hand to the other." To Lucia Merlinda: "After the Glory, say: Jesus, I love you, and I repent for offending You." About the repetitiveness of the Rosary: "Pay attention to the mysteries. They change at every decade." To Enedina Mori: "When you get tired reciting the Rosary, rest a bit, and then restart again." February 6, 1954 9:00 PM, to father Carmelo:"I still have 2 rosaries to pray today. I said only 34 so far. Then I will go to bed." Answering to father Michelangelo: "Today I said 32 or 33 rosaries. Maybe 1 or 2 more." Answering to father Mariano: "About 30. Maybe some more, but not less." 'How do you do it? "What is the night for?" Answering a question:"Some days I say 40 Rosaries, some other days 50." How do I do it? "How do you manage not so say any?" To Lucia Pennelli one morning around 7:00 AM after Mass: "How many rosaries did you say so far today?" 'Two". "I already said seven." To Lucietta Pennelli, one day at about noon: "Today I have already said 16 complete Rosaries."
Wonderful. So many pictures of him holding the beads, it is as though they were welded to his hand. I was reading something insightful by Blessed Catherine Emmerich that made me think of Padre Pio. She said that the 'Secret' of miraculous healing is through the Wounds of Christ. Through His wounds we are healed. In as much as an individual partakes of the suffering, the wounds of Christ so far does he/she share in the healing power of the Cross. So true of Padre Pio. We all of us surely share in this healing as we enter into the Sorrowful Mysteries. Isaiah 53:5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. View attachment 2243
When Padre Pio says he said 50 Rosarys -- is that 50 mysteries? or 50 full Rosaries (x3 mysteries Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious)? I notice in some places they consider a mystery to be a Rosary if you know what I mean.
Well. If he says he took at least 30 minutes to say each rosary and said 50 each day ..that would be 25 hours?..and since he also spent 8 or nine hours in the confession ....However if it was a Mystery , that would be 5 hours.
Padraig, is it better to say a full Rosary per day or better to say one Mystery per day and really meditate on it? There might be a right or wrong answer, but wondering what you think?
I suppose, like the rest of us it must have varied. For many years he was not allowed to say public mass or hear confessions and was , basically imprisoned in the Monastery. He must have done nothing but pray at that time. I was surprised at him taking 30 minutes per rosary, Very impressive; wonderfully slow. A great lesson.
I would say it is better , even to say one Hail Mary well than to say an entire rosary badly. Matthew 15:8 "'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Saint Teresa of Avila once said that it was possible for a soul to become a saint in the space of one Our Father if it was well enough said. Amazing. But I believe this to be true. Better a little done well , than a lot done badly. However I dare say the greatest saint who ever lived could not have have said even her best rosary , but it could have been done a whole lot better. Perfection is for heaven.
At 3: 00 am on January 15 Bundy entered the Chi Omega sorority house at Florida State University and murdered two girls before heading off to search for more victims. When he entered a third girl’s room with a bat for a weapon, he saw a rosary clutched in her hand, dropped the bat and fled. Later the girl told authorities that before she left for college she had promised her grandmother that she would pray the rosary every night for protection, even if she fell asleep in the process. This is what she had done that night, and she was still holding the rosary when the murderer entered her room. Bundy later confessed to over thirty murders. Father Joseph M. Esper says in his book With Mary to Jesus, “Ironically, when Ted Bundy was on death row, awaiting execution for his crimes, he asked Monsignor Kerr to serve as a spiritual counselor, and the priest took the opportunity to ask about that terrible night. Bundy explained that when he entered the girl’s room, he had fully intended on murdering her; some mysterious power was preventing him.” Father Esper adds, “And not only does it (the rosary) aid our own spiritual growth — it also undermines the kingdom of Satan. The famous Vatican exorcist Father Gabriele Amorth testified, ‘One day a colleague of mine heard the devil say during an exorcism, “Every Hail Mary is like a blow on my head. If Christians knew how powerful the Rosary was, it would be my end.”‘ Pray the rosary daily for protection and to defeat the forces of Satan!
4th Sorrowful Mystery Jesus Carries His Cross to Calvary. John 19:17 Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha).
Sigh. How heart breaking. Mine were the sins He bore. Mine the iniquities He carried. I , His Cross. Dear Lord may my tears serve to wash away my sins. Jesus Christ Son of God, be merciful to me a sinner.
Padre Pio one time was asked which of Our Lords Wounds was the most grevious and he repliedat once that it was the wound in his shoulder. I have noticed in my readings of the mystics that several of God's Chosen (who temselves bore Chirst's Wounds have replied also that it was the wound to the shoulder that was the most difficult. I was praying over this and asking myself why this should be so? I think for myself the most moving picture I have ever seen of the Passion is that of the Passover Lamb, The Lamb of God.
The whole of the Passion then is a Passover in action . Jesus, the Lamb of God is in the course of being consumated for our sins. It sems to me as the Passion Story moves on Jesus is moving onwards and upwards in the degree of sufferings He bore. Now in taking up the Cross He takes upon His shoulder the wieght of our sins. The weight of the sins of the entire world from the first sin Of Eve and Adam to the last sin of the last human on Earth. What a weight!! What a huge , huge weight!! In lifting the Cross He lifts the entire world from condemantion to life.
What a reief then, what a joy that in the midst of this long and endless journey bearing this heavist of burdens there were those who stepped forward and helped Him on His way. ..and there were so many of them. The Holy Women of jerusalem who walked every step alongside Him. shedding bitter tears of consolation. Reprenting all the women saints of history who consoled Him in Prayer.
St Simon of Cyrene who stood for every man in history wo had the courage to step forth for Jesus and bear His Cross.
St Mary Magdalene who stands for all great sinners, for those who have fallen greatly , have by God's mercy ,greatly been raised up. She who stood faithful and hving seem Christ's eyes closed in Death saw them once again , the first, to see them opened at the Ressurection.
St John the Evangelist who stands for every Faithful priest who would riase the host and commemorate His Passion. Who as first given Son of Mary leads us all in Her Devotion.
In the writings of Luisa Piccarreta (I think in the Hours of the Passion), she records that the reason the shoulder wound was most painful is that it represents the hidden sins that go un-confessed because of pride, especially among the consecrated.
