May the coming light of Christ dawn in your hearts!
Many people are living lives that are full but not fulfilling. Some may be overwhelmed with obligations and responsibilities that bring tension and worries, others may be consumed by busyness, clutter and the complexity of demands that they’ve taken upon themselves. It’s easy to get trapped in an endless cycle of hyperactivity and consumerism. But what everyone really wants, what we all really yearn for is peace, wholeness, and feeling loved.
What is it that can lead us to a new level of freedom? Spirituality.
Many are seeking an inner balance, peace and happiness through consumerist channels. But there is a better way to spend time! Spirituality requires and returns the gift of time. Spending time in prayer with the Lord restores our sense of freedom and well-being. Prayer brings us to inner peace and helps us discover the best way to use our time of life. We understand that life doesn’t have to be frenetic with activity and we don’t have to be stressed because God will take care of the things we can’t.
John the Baptist calls us to prepare the way of the Lord by making a straight path for God to enter our hearts and minds so that we can experience his saving love at every moment of our lives! That’s what spirituality is all about. It’s about lifting our hearts and minds to God who is coming to fill us with his love, presence and blessings!
On the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception we will make an act of faith in which we spiritually entrust/dedicate/consecrate ourselves, our families, our homes, our possessions, our towns, our state and our nation to the care of the Immaculate Heart of Mary. As we do so, we are embraced by Mary in a special way. She will intercede for each of us in the same way as she did for the people at Cana asking God to fill us with his blessings. She also asks us to embrace her and trust her as a special mother, a teacher and a guide in discipleship. She instructs us just as she did the servants ant Cana: “do as my Son tells you.” For our part, we will pray the Rosary and meditate on her life with Jesus and the disciples. Following the inspirations and inner light we receive in Mass, confession and prayer, we will strive to live holier lives through daily conversion. We will place our prayers and sacrifices in her hands for sinners and the world so that she receives from us the honor and dignity that God wishes her to have: a Mother, Intercessor for the human race. The Five First Saturday Devotion to the Immaculate Hearts of Mary and Jesus will begin at St. Edward on the first Saturday in January: 8:30 Rosary, Mass at 9:00. I am looking forward to this devotion that promises so much grace and heavenly aid to our families and our world. I hope that you are too! God bless you always! +++ Fr. Peter