Who Is That Magnificent Spirit Next To You?

 Who Is That Magnificent Spirit Next To You?

We’ve all heard of, and many have participated in special days such as ‘Take your child to work day’, or perhaps ‘Take Grandma to bible camp Saturday’; but have you heard of this special day for all Catholics; ‘Take your Guardian Angel to Chapel Day?’

The Catechism states that “From its beginning until death, human life is surrounded by the watchful care and intercession of angels.  Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life.  Already here on earth the Christian life shares by faith in the blessed company of angels and men united in God.”  (CCC336)

An angel is a created spiritual person without a body.  The Church teaches there’s nine choirs of angels; most commentators believe we get our Guardian Angel from the ninth choir simply called ‘Angels’.  The importance of the Guardian Angel is that God has seen fit, in his generosity and mercy, to assign each of us a being that is far more intelligent and higher on the created order than we are.  Their essential task is to see us home, so to speak, to get us home to heaven.

To take full advantage of this gift it’s important to establish a relationship with your angel.  To do so begins by acknowledging their existence, to pray to them regularly, and to become more habitually use to calling upon them in all needs, even very small needs, because angels are there for those as well.

Seeking guidance from our angel can only help and will never hurt.  Our angel knows more about us than we know about ourselves.  This understanding is what God has given the angel to properly support us in things of morality and vocation, even in areas of suffering.

So next time you have a feeling that there’s something watching you, you’re right.  Say a prayer of thanksgiving.  And consider showing your appreciation to your angel for all it does for you by taking your angel to the Adoration Chapel and know that that act has filled your angel with JOY!

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Your Spiritual Life Need Help?

 How To Grow Your Spiritual Life

Cultivating a Eucharistic life of Adoration bears tremendous fruit in our own hearts and lives.  One cannot spend time in the rays of His Eucharistic Presence without receiving His grace, His love, His mercy, His peace.  As we gaze upon Him face to face, we are transformed little by little into a closer reflection of His divine image.  When we deepen our personal relationship with Jesus by spending time with Him in this way, we become more aware of the obstacles of sin in our life that stands between us and Our Lord.  We develop a stronger desire to make habits of virtue and self-sacrifice in imitation of Him.

Spending time with Jesus in His Sacrament of love will also fill our hearts with abiding joy and bless our days, our jobs, our families, our lives with His protection and grace.  Each hour that we give to Our Lord bears fruit a hundredfold in this life and in the next.

Don’t limit your opportunities - Visit him in the chapel this week!

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Is Jesus Disappointed In The Way You Live Your Catholic Religion?

 Do You Disappoint Jesus?

When Jesus walked the earth and shared his message for/of salvation, there were many things he experienced that disappointed him.  He was disappointed by the large number of people who didn’t understand or believe what he was teaching and how by following him would lead to salvation. He was disappointed with the  political leaders who accused him of blasphemy.  He was disappointed by the twelve men he personally chose who failed him when he needed their support the most.

We believe He died for our salvation and in todays’ world too many of us continue to disappoint him.  Consider for a moment the large number of lukewarm catholics.  People who don’t believe in the Real Presence; people who don’t attend mass because they leave before the final blessing; people who commit to spend time in his presence then don’t.

No matter where you end up after death, I can guarantee: You will be disappointed and unhappy you didn’t do more to prepare yourself for eternity while you had the chance.  I believe what will separate us in heaven will be our capacity for happiness.  Your glass might be filled to the brim, but the soul next to you might have a bigger glass.

Jesus Offers You Comfort and Peace

 You’re Invited!   “Come to me all you who are …”  Is Not An Empty Promise

“It’s true that the voice of God is a still, small voice.  His is one that comes in the silence, the silence we sometimes fear because it is in that quiet that our heart is laid bare, not only for us to see but for God as well.  We forget that he already knows us better than we know ourselves.”  (Merridith Frediani) 

“Eucharistic Adoration is an invitation from the Almighty, the One who created everything out of nothing.  It’s an invitation to be in the very presence of a king, our King.  Imagine, we sinful, fallen, messy humans are invited, welcomed, and encouraged to be with our Lord and God.  It is this silence that we discover who we truly are.  Yes, we are sinners who stumble and lurch through this life, but we are also the beloved children of God.  We are desired.  We are wanted. We are espoused to him.  He wants us to bring him this mess because he can heal us.” (Merridith Frediani)

When the pressures and disappointments of life seem to weigh heavy and you would like the opportunity to find peace, it’s time to think ‘Eucharistic Adoration’.  It is here you are able to hear Jesus’ gentle comfort and encouragement.  And we know the more we trust and lean on him, the more helpful his actions become.

www.adorationpro.org/ihmmi

click on “Weekly Commitment”

The Beauty Of Silence

 If You Haven’t Listened To Silence, You’ve Missed A Beautiful Experience

Silence is an indispensable part of the spiritual life.  In fact, often we can gauge our spiritual health on how much we can tolerate and enter into silence.  If we cannot sit in silent prayer for even a few short moments, then this should be a red flag to us.  Our union with Christ is dependent on some level of silence.  Now, depending upon our state in life, this is easier said than done, but even the busiest of moms and dads must find a few moments a day to enter into silent prayer.

It’s easy to turn Mass and prayer time into one more thing to do on our to-do list.  Because most of society is part of a 24/7 consumer culture keeping us in a state hurried and distracted so that proper attention to ‘prayer time’ is impossible to maintain.  To correct this we start by taking back control of our ‘time’.  Control comes in small measure.  Start by asking the Holy Spirit for help; followed by identifying your ‘time wasters’ and cancelling the activity or redirecting the ‘time’ for better use.  This is one way to capture small amounts of time that can be used for silent prayer.  (Inspired by an article “The Lack of Silence” by Constance T. Hull)

www.adorationpro.org/ihmmi

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Your Spiritual Journey Should Lead To Spiritual Growth

Spiritual Growth

In order to increase our understanding of God’s great mysteries we have to be able to leave the place we are at on our Spiritual Journey and enter into a new phase of understanding.  This leaving is the first step of spiritual growth allowing us to open ourselves to the deeper mystery of the Real Presence.  This openning gives us the opportunity to increase our hope, compassion and mercy.  It is the promise delivered and the potential realized of unity between Creator, created and creation.  It is Love!  And it is given to us freely asking only that we open oursevles to it.

Stop by the Adoration Chapel often to ask God for his help to increase your understanding and growth in knowledge of the Real Presence.  Remember Jesus said “seek and you will find”.

www.adorationpro.org/ihmmi

click on “Weekly Commitment”

Find A Way To Calm Your Heart and Discover Peace Of Mind

How To Find A Calm Heart And Peace Of Mind

Whenever Jesus wanted to recenter and reconnect with God, he went to the wilderness - to the mountains, to the desert, to the sea, to the garden.  What did he find there? …  God’s creation has a patient way of silently receiving our thoughts, ponderings, complaints, objections, hopes, dreams, all of everything stirring around our heads … Bringing calm to our hearts and peace to our minds … find your wilderness, mountains, desert, sea or garden in our Adoration Chapel, simply by sitting silently in his presence and learning.

Once we open ourselves to the deeper mystery of real presence, we are able to glimpse the magnificence of the gift.  The Body and Blood of Christ is so much more than a physical specimen.  It is the soothing balm, a healing salve.  It is hope, compassion, and mercy.  It is the promise delivered and the potential realized of unity between Creator, creating, and creation.  It is love.  And it is given to us freely, asking only that we open ourselves to it.  So don’t remain ‘closed’ but ‘open’ yourself to finding a calm heart and peace of mind.  Start by spending time in the Adoration Chapel on a regular basis.

www.adorationpro.org/ihmmi

click on “Weekly Commitment”