March 2016 E-pistle

March 2016 E-pistle

Thoughts

Guilt and Shame. Most of us carry a lot – some of which we are conscious and more buried deep within our hearts. We have hurt those we love; failed to keep God’s commandments; fallen short of our own expectations. At least on some level, we feel broken and unworthy. And yet it is precisely our imperfect broken, wounded, sinful selves that God sees as beautiful and worthy of His perfect, unlimited, unreserved love. We do not need to “fix” ourselves to receive His love.  We cannot merit His love.  God’s love is already given. We need merely accept it.

The grace and healing available during the next several weeks are unfathomable – Holy Week, Easter and Divine Mercy Sunday … all wrapped up in the Jubilee Year of Mercy.  Now is the time for Mercy! Now is the time for miraculous healing of mind, body and soul!

Challenge

Take time during this incredible moment of Mercy to identify those burdens you are carrying that need to be laid at the foot of the cross – old wounds, embarrassments, resentments, failures, grudges, envies, physical sufferings, etc. Ask for Mercy. Then confidently allow God’s Mercy to heal your thoughts, emotions, memories, body and soul.

Go Deeper

+ Enter deeply into the passion of Christ during Holy Week, not in a depressing, mournful way, but allowing yourself to be drawn up to the heights of heaven in the ecstasy of the of God’s triumphant, merciful love.

+ Give yourself completely to God at Easter Mass, meditating on the glory of the resurrection and your resulting eternal salvation (if possible, attend the Easter Vigil).

+  Participate in Divine Mercy Sunday devotions at your church (Feast of Divine Mercy explained)

+ Learn how to heal painful memories

+ Video: The Stations of the Cross by St. Francis

+ Holy Week Meditations by: St. John Paul II   +   Pope Benedict   +   Pope Francis

+  Explanation of the Message of Divine Mercy

+ Year of Mercy Blog

+ Scriptural Stations of the Cross

+  Video on the Meaning of Easter by Bishop Barron

+ Purchase a Divine Mercy picture for your home or work – (our Lord promised great graces to those who would look upon/venerate the image).

+ Books, CDs and Videos regarding Divine Mercy: Saint Joseph Communications    +   Lighthouse Catholic Media

+ Great new book by Fr. Michael Gaitley: 33 Days to Merciful Lov