Given to Father Carter
on the Feast of St. Ignatius

~ July 31, 1994 ~

Words of Jesus to Members of
Shepherds of Christ Associates:

"My beloved priest-companion, I intend to use the priestly newsletter, Shepherds of Christ, and the movement, Shepherds of Christ Associates, in a powerful way for the renewal of My Church and the world.

"I will use the newsletter and the chapters of Shepherds of Christ Associates as a powerful instrument for spreading devotion to My Heart and My Mother's Heart.

"I am calling many to become members of Shepherds of Christ Associates. To all of them I will give great blessings. I will use them as instruments to help bring about the triumph of the Immaculate Heart and the reign of My Sacred Heart. I will give great graces to the members of Shepherds of Christ Associates. I will call them to be deeply united to My Heart and to Mary's Heart as I lead them ever closer to My Father in the Holy Spirit."

- Message from Jesus to Father Edward J. Carter, S.J., Founder, as given on July 31, 1994,
feast of Saint Ignatius Loyola, Founder of the Society of Jesus (The Jesuits)

end of July 31, 1994 message given to Fr. Carter

    Baptism of Our Lord

        (1)    Jesus was baptized in the Jordan.

        (2)    And when Jesus had been baptised he at once came up from the 
                water, and suddenly the heavens opened and he saw the Spirit of 
                God descending like a dove and coming down on him. And 
                suddenly there was a voice from heaven, ‘This is my Son, 
                the Beloved; my favour rests on him.’ Matthew 3: 16-17

        (3)    In baptism we receive a sharing in His life.

        (4)    God gives us so many gifts through baptism.

        (5)    We are commissioned to spread 
                    the good news.

        (6)    Look at the light of the beautiful 
                    sunlit sky.

        (7)    Jesus is the Light of the world.

        (8)    God gives us the sacraments.

        (9)    God gives us the priest.

        (10)   ...‘This is my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on him.’ 
                Matthew 3:17

    The Wedding at Cana

        (1)    There was not any more wine.

        (2)    Mary told Jesus the problem.

        (3)    Jesus turned water into wine.

        (4)    Jesus gives the power to the priest 
                    to turn bread and wine into
                    the Body and Blood of Jesus.

        (5)    What a gift God gives to us
                    through the priest.

        (6)    Jesus is the Light of the world.

        (7)    Jesus wants us to focus on Him.

        (8)    Jesus is the bridegroom of our soul.

        (9)    Mary is there at every Mass interceding.
  

        (10)   Mary's intercession is so powerful.

    The Kingdom of God

        (1)    The Sacred Heart of Jesus will Reign 
                    in the hearts of men.

        (2)    Jesus wants us to give Him our heart.

        (3)    We are commissioned in baptism 
                    to spread the good news.

        (4)    Jesus loves His souls so much 
                    He gave His life for them.

        (5)    Jesus wants all souls of the earth to 
                    honor Him as the Son of God.

        (6)    Listen to the words of the Father 
                ...‘This is my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on him.’ 
                Matthew 3:17

        (7)    

Revelation 19: 1-10

Songs of victory in heaven

After this I heard what seemed to be the great sound of a huge crowd in heaven, singing, ‘Alleluia! Salvation and glory and power to our God! He judges fairly, he punishes justly, and he has condemned the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her prostitution; he has avenged the blood of his servants which she shed.’ And again they sang, ‘Alleluia! The smoke of her will rise for ever and ever.’ Then the twenty–four elders and the four living creatures threw themselves down and worshipped God seated on his throne, and they cried, ‘Amen, Alleluia.’ 

    Then a voice came from the throne; it said, ‘Praise our God, you servants of his and those who fear him, small and great alike.’ And I heard what seemed to be the voices of a huge crowd, like the sound of the ocean or the great roar of thunder, answering, ‘Alleluia! The reign of the Lord our God Almighty has begun; let us be glad and joyful and give glory to God, because this is the time for the marriage of the Lamb. His bride is ready, and she has been able to dress herself in dazzling white linen, because her linen is made of the good deeds of the saints.’ The angel said, ‘Write this, "Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb," ’ and he added, ‘These words of God are true.’ Then I knelt at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, ‘Never do that: I am your fellow–servant and the fellow–servant of all your brothers who have in themselves the witness of Jesus. God alone you must worship.’ The witness of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
  

        (8)    God calls us to conversion.

        (9)    Mary has appeared at Fatima —
                    she told us until a sufficient 
                    amount of people give their 
                    hearts to Jesus and Mary 
                    we won't have peace in the world.

        (10)

Excerpt from The Spirituality of Fatima

    ...Tell everybody that God gives graces through the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Tell them to ask grace from her, and that the Heart of Jesus wishes to be venerated together with the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Ask them to plead for peace from the Immaculate Heart of Mary, for the Lord has confided the peace of the world to her. ⁽¹⁹⁾

---

NOTES:

19. For background material on Fatima, I am particularly indebted to
        Our Lady of Fatima’s Peace Plan from Heaven (Rockford:
        TAN Books and Publishers, Inc., 1983). p.9.

    Transfiguration

        (1)    

The Transfiguration

Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and John and led them up a high mountain on their own by themselves. There in their presence he was transfigured: his clothes became brilliantly white, whiter than any earthly bleacher could make them. Elijah appeared to them with Moses; and they were talking to Jesus. Then Peter spoke to Jesus, ‘Rabbi,’ he said, ‘it is wonderful for us to be here; so let us make three shelters, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.’ He did not know what to say; they were so frightened. And a cloud came, covering them in shadow; and from the cloud there came a voice, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved. Listen to him.’ Then suddenly, when they looked round, they saw no one with them any more but only Jesus.

  

        (2)    God gives us His Love, His Sacred Heart 
                    is burning and on fire for love of men.

        (3)    Do you realize how bright the sun is.

        (4)    Can you envision Jesus
                    appearing so bright 
                    before you, you could 
                    hardly see — and yet you 
                    see Him and when you 
                    look away your eyes are 
                    blinded from the vision.

        (5)        Hear the voice of the Father speak —
                     ...‘This is my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on him.’ 
                    Matthew 3:17

        (6)        We cannot even imagine the 
                        beauty of our own graced soul.

        (7)        God is Light.

        (8)        God gives us Himself in the Eucharist.

        (9)        We are able to go to the Church 
                        sometimes and worship 
                        before the exposed Eucharist.

        (10)      God's love fills my heart —
                        He is the Light

                    We must carry this love
                        to others so they can see
                        His life alive in us.

    The Last Supper

        (1)    Jesus was gathered with His Apostles
                    at the Last Supper.

        (2)    Jesus remains with us today.

        (3)    Our priests have the power to change
                    bread and wine into the
                    Body and Blood of Jesus.

        (4)    Our priests are so important to us.

        (5)    This Movement Shepherds of Christ
                    is to pray for the priests,
                    the Church and the world.

        (6)    The Mass is so powerful.

        (7)    

A Prayer before the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass

    Let me be a holy sacrifice and unite with God in the sacrament of His greatest love.

    I want to be one in Him in this act of love, where He gives Himself to me and I give myself as a sacrifice to Him. Let me be a holy sacrifice as I become one with Him in this my act of greatest love to Him.

    Let me unite with Him more, that I may more deeply love Him. May I help make reparation to His adorable Heart and the heart of His Mother, Mary. With greatest love, I offer myself to You and pray that You will accept my sacrifice of greatest love. I give myself to You and unite in Your gift of Yourself to me. Come and possess my soul.

    Cleanse me, strengthen me, heal me. Dear Holy Spirit act in the heart of Mary to make me more and more like Jesus.

    Father, I offer this my sacrifice, myself united to Jesus in the Holy Spirit to You. Help me to love God more deeply in this act of my greatest love.

    Give me the grace to grow in my knowledge, love and service of You and for this to be my greatest participation in the Mass. Give me the greatest graces to love You so deeply in this Mass, You who are so worthy of my love.

                                                                           -God's Blue Book, December 27, 1995

        (8)    Jesus died and Jesus rose on the third day.

        (9)        "      "     "      "       "     "   "     "      "  
                This is the paschal mystery.

        (10)  God is with us today.
                He is no less present in the
                Eucharist than He was
                when He walked the earth.

    Baptism of Jesus

        (1)    God is all Powerful.

        (2)    We are aware of all 3 Persons at the baptism of Jesus

                God the Father speaks  
                ...‘This is my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on him.’ 
                Matthew 3:17

                Jesus is baptized,
                The Holy Spirit is seen above Jesus.
           

        (3)    These mysteries focus on Jesus.

        (4)    Jesus, the Divine God, came to this earth.

        (5)    Jesus is the Son of God.

        (6)    God the Father speaks and He says
                ...‘This is my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on him.’ 
                Matthew 3:17

        (7)    

Mark 1: 9-11

Jesus is baptised

It was at this time that Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptised in the Jordan by John. And at once, as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit, like a dove, descending on him. And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on you.’

        (8)    Jesus is the Light of the World.

        (9)    Jesus is the Son of Mary.

        (10)   We are commissioned in Baptism to
                 spread the Good News.

    Marriage at Cana

        (1)    Jesus performed miracles on the earth.

        (2)    Jesus performed this miracle at Cana after
                Mary spoke to Him.

        (3)    Mary has powerful intercession.

        (4)    Jesus changed water into wine at the
                wedding.

        (5)   The priest at Mass has the power to
               turn the wine into the Blood of Jesus.

        (6)   We are the spouse of Jesus.

        (7)   He is the Bridegroom of our soul.

        (8)   He gives us His precious Blood to drink.

        (9)   The Church is the bride of Christ.

        (10) God has all the Power.

    Kingdom of God

        (1)   Jesus is the Lamb of God.
               Jesus calls us to conversion.

        (2)    Jesus came and gave Himself as a
                sacrifice for our sins.

        (3)    They crowned Jesus with a crown of
                thorns.

        (4)   

Excerpt from The Spirituality of Fatima and Medjugorje

July 13, 1917

    But in the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph, the Holy Father will consecrate Russia to me, Russia will be converted, and a certain period of peace will be granted to the world. ⁽¹³⁾
   

---

NOTES:

13. For background material on Fatima, I am particularly indebted to
        Our Lady of Fatima's Peace Plan from Heaven 
        (Rockford: TAN Books and Publishers, Inc., 1983).

end of excerpt from The Spirituality of Fatima

        (5)    Jesus is the King of the world.

        (6)   

Excerpt of The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius, by Louis J. Puhl, S.J.
 

136. THE FOURTH DAY

        A MEDITATION ON TWO STANDARDS

The one of Christ, our supreme leader and lord,
the other of Lucifer, the deadly enemy of our
human nature

PRAYER.   The usual preparatory prayer.

window at a former Jesuit Seminary

137. FIRST PRELUDE.   This is the history. Here it will be that Christ calls and wants all beneath His standard, and Lucifer, on the other hand, wants all under his.

138. SECOND PRELUDE.   This is a mental representation of the place. It will be here to see a great plain, comprising the whole region about Jerusalem, where the sovereign Commander-in-Chief of all the good is Christ our Lord; and another plain about the region of Babylon, where the chief of the enemy is Lucifer.

139. THIRD PRELUDE.   This is to ask for what I desire. Here it will be to ask for a knowledge of the deceits of the rebel chief and help to guard myself against them; and also to ask for a knowledge of the true life exemplified in the sovereign and true Commander, and the grace to imitate Him.
   

FIRST PART

THE STANDARD OF SATAN

140. FIRST POINT.   Imagine you see the chief of all the enemy in the vast plain about Babylon, seated on a great throne of fire and smoke, his appearance inspiring horror and terror.

141. SECOND POINT.   Consider how he summons innumerable demons, and scatters them, some to one city and some to another, throughout the whole world, so that no province, no place, no state of life, no individual is overlooked.

142. THIRD POINT.   Consider the address he makes to them, how he goads them on to lay snares for men and bind them with chains. First they are to tempt them to covet riches (as Satan himself is accustomed to do in most cases) that they may the more easily attain the empty honors of this world, and then come to overweening pride.

   The first step, then, will be riches, the second honor, the third pride. From these three steps the evil one leads to all other vices.
   

SECOND PART

THE STANDARD OF CHRIST

143.   In a similar way, we are to picture to ourselves the sovereign and true Commander, Christ our Lord.

144. FIRST POINT.   Consider Christ our Lord, standing in a lowly place in a great plain about the region of Jerusalem, His appearance beautiful and attractive.

145. SECOND POINT.   Consider how the Lord of all the world chooses so many persons, apostles, disciples, etc., and sends them throughout the whole world to spread His sacred doctrine among all men, no matter what their state or condition.

146. THIRD POINT.   . . .

end of excerpt of The Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius
  

        (7)    Say the Our Father.

The Our Father

    Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

        (8)    May the Sacred Heart of Jesus Reign
                in all the hearts of the earth.

        (9)    May the Sacred Heart of Jesus Reign
                in all places.

        (10)   

Revelation 19: 1-10

Songs of victory in heaven

After this I heard what seemed to be the great sound of a huge crowd in heaven, singing, ‘Alleluia! Salvation and glory and power to our God! He judges fairly, he punishes justly, and he has condemned the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her prostitution; he has avenged the blood of his servants which she shed.’ And again they sang, ‘Alleluia! The smoke of her will rise for ever and ever.’ Then the twenty–four elders and the four living creatures threw themselves down and worshipped God seated on his throne, and they cried, ‘Amen, Alleluia.’ 

    Then a voice came from the throne; it said, ‘Praise our God, you servants of his and those who fear him, small and great alike.’ And I heard what seemed to be the voices of a huge crowd, like the sound of the ocean or the great roar of thunder, answering, ‘Alleluia! The reign of the Lord our God Almighty has begun; let us be glad and joyful and give glory to God, because this is the time for the marriage of the Lamb. His bride is ready, and she has been able to dress herself in dazzling white linen, because her linen is made of the good deeds of the saints.’ The angel said, ‘Write this, "Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb," ’ and he added, ‘These words of God are true.’ Then I knelt at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, ‘Never do that: I am your fellow–servant and the fellow–servant of all your brothers who have in themselves the witness of Jesus. God alone you must worship.’ The witness of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

Transfiguration

        (1)    God has all the power.

        (2)    Jesus is the Light of the world.

        (3)    

Matthew 17: 1-8

The transfiguration

Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There in their presence he was transfigured: his face shone like the sun and his clothes became as dazzling as light. And suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared to them; they were talking with him. Then Peter spoke to Jesus. ‘Lord,’ he said, ‘it is wonderful for us to be here; if you want me to, I will make three shelters here, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.’ He was still speaking when suddenly a bright cloud covered them with shadow, and suddenly from the cloud there came a voice which said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; he enjoys my favour. Listen to him.’ When they heard this, the disciples fell on their faces, overcome with fear. But Jesus came up and touched them, saying, ‘Stand up, do not be afraid.’ And when they raised their eyes they saw no one but Jesus.

        (4)    I saw Him transfigured.

Excerpt from December 22, 1998

Messenger:    On January 9, 1996, I went to pray. The snow was so bad the street was blocked to Holy Cross-Immaculata. I finally managed to find a place to park and trudged through the snow, panting with joy to be with Our Lord in the tabernacle there. When I arrived all I could do was kneel before the Sacred Heart statue and pour out myself to Him.

Please show a picture of the tabernacle and the Sacred Heart statue.

From my writings of January 9, 1996, I write:

"I was engulfed again in my love of God and cried so hard because I love Him so much. In this intimate act of giving myself totally to Him, my whole act was in emptying myself, wanting only to be lost in Him and united forever to Him in this most blissful moment. I turned myself over and was lost in Him, knowing His presence with me and knowing His deep love. The world stopped and I existed in Him, longing to forever stay there, so this moment would never end."

"I touched you, God and in this embrace I knew your unending love. I saw Your Body as if it was transfigured and glowing in light and I was lost in Thee."

This is how it began. I would see a great reflective light, as if from a mirror, on the eaves of the church in the front of Holy Cross-Immaculata and His Body was changed in the most brilliant light before my eyes. I cannot describe what I saw, nor have I ever seen it except in this vision and two that would follow the next two days. Jesus was transfigured before my eyes.

The date of January 9, 1996, when it first happened, was the same date January 9, 1994, when I genuflected before the crucifix and the altar at St. Gertrude's and the Father spoke; Blue Book II-page 18, January 9, 1994: "This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased."

On January 9, 1996, I would see Jesus transfigured before me in the statue.

At the end of December, on the 5th of the month, 1996, I would see Him in the back of the church on the crucifix at the point of death.

On August 20, 1997, I would see the glorified Lord as He appeared in magnificent light transfigured on the crucifix at St. Gertrude's church in Maderia, Cincinnati, Ohio.

end of excerpt from December 22, 1998

       (5)   

Excerpt from February 28, 1999

Messenger: I was in St. Gertrude's Church and I was in the front of the church. I was looking at the crucifix, and I heard the Father speak: "My gift to you is My Son. This is My beloved Son in Whom I am well pleased."

    On the 20th of August, 1997, I was at St. Gertrude's and the Lord appeared transfigured on the cross. I heard the voice of the Father speak, "This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased, listen to Him."

end of excerpt from February 28, 1999

        (6)   

Excerpt from February 24, 2002

Messenger:     When we opened the Rosary Factory February 5, 2000
                            Jesus appeared transfigured in the Sacred Heart
                            Statue beneath Mary's image.

                                end of excerpt

        (7)    ...‘This is my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on him.’ 
                Matthew 3:17

        (8)    Jesus is the Son of God.

        (9)    The Father wants us to recognize
                    Jesus is the Son of God.

        (10)   

                God is. There are 3 person in one God.

    Last Supper
    

        (1)    

The institution of the Eucharist

Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had said the blessing he broke it and gave it to the disciples. ‘Take it and eat,’ he said, ‘this is my body.’ Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he handed it to them saying, ‘Drink from this, all of you, for this is my blood, the blood of the covenant, poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. From now on, I tell you, I shall never again drink wine until the day I drink the new wine with you in the kingdom of my Father.’
  

        (2)     

Mark 14: 22-24

And as they were eating he took bread, and when he had said the blessing he broke it and gave it to them. ‘Take it,’ he said, ‘this is my body.’ Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he handed it to them, and all drank from it, and he said to them, ‘This is my blood, the blood of the covenant, poured out for many. 

        (3)    Jesus is the Son of God.

        (4)    Jesus gives us Himself in the Eucharist.

        (5)    God gives us the Mass and the priest to preside.

        (6)    There is so much grace that can
                    be released when we unite to the Mass.

        (7)    Jesus is truly present in the Blessed Sacrament.

        (8)    Jesus is the Light of the World.

        (9)    We can receive so much grace
                    when we pray fervently
                    before the Blessed Sacrament.

        (10) 

    Baptism of John

        (1)    God gives us the sun.

        (2)    God is 3 Persons in one God.

This is the opposite end of the building
where Mary appears in Clearwater, Florida.
  

        (3)    

Mark 1: 9-11

Jesus is baptised

It was at this time that Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptised in the Jordan by John. And at once, as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit, like a dove, descending on him. And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on you.’

    

        (4)    God gives us light.

        (5)    God gives us the star studded night.

        (6)     

November 5, 2000

                  
                God gives us the image of Mary on the building

Mary by day July 5, 2000

by night July 5, 2000

  
        (7)    

Mark 1: 9-11

Jesus is baptised

It was at this time that Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptised in the Jordan by John. And at once, as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit, like a dove, descending on him. And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on you.’

    

        (8)    Jesus is the Son of the Father.

        (9)    Jesus is the Savior of the World.

        (10)   

    Marriage at Cana

        (1)    There were water jars there.

        (2)    They were soon filled with the finest wine.

        (3)    God's grace inside of us can help us
                    be more beautiful.

        (4)    Mary said  ...‘Do whatever he tells you.’ John 2:5

(5)   Mary has powerful intercession.           (6)   I intercede through Mary at Mass.

        (7)   I am always aware of Mary my spiritual Mother.

        (8)   She is with me.

        (9)   She loves me more than any mother could.

        (10) 

John 19: 25-27

Jesus and his mother

Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. Seeing his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing near her, Jesus said to his mother, ‘Woman, this is your son.’ Then to the disciple he said, ‘This is your mother.’ And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.

    Kingdom of God

        (1)   For the power and the glory are Yours
                    Our Divine God.

        (2)   We love Thee so much.

        (3)    

        (4)   

John 18: 36

Jesus replied, ‘Mine is not a kingdom of this world; if my kingdom were of this world, my men would have fought to prevent my being surrendered to the Jews. As it is, my kingdom does not belong here.’

        (5)    

Ephesians 3: 14-21

Paul’s prayer

This, then, is what I pray, kneeling before the Father, from whom every fatherhood, in heaven or on earth, takes its name. In the abundance of his glory may he, through his Spirit, enable you to grow firm in power with regard to your inner self, so that Christ may live in your hearts through faith, and then, planted in love and built on love, with all God’s holy people you will have the strength to grasp the breadth and the length, the height and the depth; so that, knowing the love of Christ, which is beyond knowledge, you may be filled with the utter fullness of God. 

    Glory be to him whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine; glory be to him from generation to generation in the Church and in Christ Jesus for ever and ever. Amen.
  

        (6)   

                Jesus is the King of the Kingdom.

        (7)            

                The Sacred Heart of Jesus will Reign 
                    in the Hearts of the men of the earth.
  

        (8)    The Immaculate Heart of Mary will triumph.

        (9)    

The Our Father

    Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

        (10)   Say Glory Be very slow with much emotion.

Glory Be

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Transfiguration

        (1)    Christ is the Light of the World.

        (2)    Jesus goes to the mountain with the apostles.

        (3)    I saw Him transfigured. I heard the Father speak

                "This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased."

                The sound of this makes me cry, 
                I can hear the Father say this.

        (4)    The Father is speaking to us.

       (5)    Jesus in the Blue Books said over and over
                    "I am the Son of God"

        (6)   

  
        (7)    God could lift the veil and we would see so much.

        (8)    We cannot even imagine God's power.

        (9)    God gives us the gift of the Eucharist.

        (10)   God is with us.
                God is 3 Persons in one God.
                God wants us to deeply love all 3 Persons:
                    Father, Son and Holy Spirit. 
                God wants us to know Him most intimately.

    Last Supper
    

        (1)    Jesus instituted the Eucharist.

        (2)     Jesus wants to remain with us in the Eucharist.

        (3)    Jesus wants us to receive Him in the Eucharist.

        (4)    Jesus wants this intimate love.

        (5)    Jesus gives us His Body and His Blood.

        (6)    Jesus is the Light of the world.

        (7)    We can be filled with His life
                    when we go to the Eucharist.

        (8)    Jesus fills us with special grace when
                    we go before the tabernacle.

        (9)    Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist.

        (10) 

For this is how God loved the world: 
he gave his only Son, 
so that everyone who believes in him 
    may not perish 
but may have eternal life.  John 3:16

  

Baptism of Jesus
   

        (1)    John the Baptist was chosen by God.

        (2)    God created us in His own image and likeness.  

        (3)    God wants us to act according to His will.

        (4)    John the Baptist lived to promote the Kingdom of God.    

        (5)   Matthew 3: 3   This was the man spoken of by the prophet Isaiah 
                                        when he said:

                     A voice of one that cries in the desert,
                    ‘Prepare a way for the Lord,
                    make his paths straight.’    
                                 

        (6)    God calls many of us to make
                    tremendous sacrifices to 
                    help promote His Kingdom.

  
        (7)     Every moment we are here we 
                    should live to do God's will.

        (8)     Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist.
  

        (9)                     John 3: 27, 30

                 John replied:

                   ‘No one can have anything
                   except what is given him from heaven.

                He must grow greater,
                I must grow less.
  

        (10)                    Jeremiah 1: 4-10   

The call of Jeremiah

The word of Yahweh came to me, saying:

 ‘Before I formed you in the womb
     I knew you;
  before you came to birth 
     I consecrated you; 
  I appointed you as prophet to the nations.’

  I then said, ‘Ah, ah, ah, Lord Yahweh;
you see, I do not know how to speak: I am only a child!’

  But Yahweh replied,
‘Do not say, "I am only a child,"
 for you must go to all to whom I send you
 and say whatever I command you.
 Do not be afraid of confronting them,
 for I am with you to rescue you,
 Yahweh declares.’

  Then Yahweh stretched out his hand and touched my mouth,
and Yahweh said to me:

  ‘There! I have put my words
      into your mouth.
    Look, today I have set you 
   over the nations and kingdoms,
   to uproot and to knock down,
   to destroy and to overthrow,
   to build and to plant.’

   

Luke 1: 5-17

The birth of John the Baptist foretold

In the days of King Herod of Judaea there lived a priest called Zechariah who belonged to the Abijah section of the priesthood, and he had a wife, Elizabeth by name, who was a descendant of Aaron. Both were upright in the sight of God and impeccably carried out all the commandments and observances of the Lord. But they were childless: Elizabeth was barren and they were both advanced in years.
    Now it happened that it was the turn of his section to serve, and he was exercising his priestly office before God when it fell to him by lot, as the priestly custom was, to enter the Lord’s sanctuary and burn incense there. And at the hour of incense all the people were outside, praying.  
     Then there appeared to him the angel of the Lord, standing on the right of the altar of incense. The sight disturbed Zechariah and he was overcome with fear. But the angel said to him, ‘Zechariah, do not be afraid, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth is to bear you a son and you shall name him John. He will be your joy and delight and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord; he must drink no wine, no strong drink; even from his mother’s womb he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, and he will bring back many of the Israelites to the Lord their God. With the spirit and power of Elijah, he will go before him to reconcile fathers to their children and the disobedient to the good sense of the upright, preparing for the Lord a people fit for him.’

   

Marriage at Cana
  

(1)                                                        John 2: 1-11

The wedding at Cana

On the third day there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee. The mother of Jesus was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited. And they ran out of wine, since the wine provided for the feast had all been used, and the mother of Jesus said to him, ‘They have no wine.’ Jesus said, ‘Woman, what do you want from me? My hour has not come yet.’ His mother said to the servants, ‘Do whatever he tells you.’ There were six stone water jars standing there, meant for the ablutions that are customary among the Jews: each could hold twenty or thirty gallons. Jesus said to the servants, ‘Fill the jars with water,’ and they filled them to the brim. Then he said to them, ‘Draw some out now and take it to the president of the feast.’ They did this; the president tasted the water, and it had turned into wine. Having no idea where it came from—though the servants who had drawn the water knew—the president of the feast called the bridegroom and said, ‘Everyone serves good wine first and the worse wine when the guests are well wined; but you have kept the best wine till now.’ This was the first of Jesus’ signs: it was at Cana in Galilee. He revealed his glory, and his disciples believed in him.

(2)    Jesus changed water to wine.

(3)    Ponder the Power of God in these mysteries.

(4)    Think of this miracle.

(5)    Think of the miracles of Jesus.

(6)   ‘This is my Son, the Beloved. Listen to him.’ Mark 9: 7

(7)    Hear the voice of the Father speak

(8)    Jesus is the Son of God.

(9)    God has all the power.

(10)   We can go to Mary and ask
            her to intercede for us 
            to God.
          She has powerful intercession.

   

The Kingdom of God
  

(1)    Jesus is the Lamb of God.

(2)    I heard the Father speak 
        on January 9, 1994

        "My gift to you is My Son. This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased."
  

(3)    On January 9, 1996, I saw
            Jesus transfigured.

Excerpt from December 22, 1998

Messenger:  On January 9, 1996, I went to pray. The snow was so bad the street was blocked to Holy Cross-Immaculata. I finally managed to find a place to park and trudged through the snow, panting with joy to be with Our Lord in the tabernacle there. When I arrived all I could do was kneel before the Sacred Heart statue and pour out myself to Him.

On January 9, 1996, I would see Jesus transfigured before me in the statue.

(4)    Jesus is the King.

(5)    Jesus wants the picture of 
            the Sacred Heart in all
            homes.

(6)                                    Deuteronomy 7: 6-11       

For you are a people consecrated to Yahweh your God; of all the peoples on earth, you have been chosen by Yahweh your God to be his own people.

God’s election and his favour

‘Yahweh set his heart on you and chose you not because you were the most numerous of all peoples—for indeed you were the smallest of all—but because he loved you and meant to keep the oath which he swore to your ancestors: that was why Yahweh brought you out with his mighty hand and redeemed you from the place of slave–labour, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt. From this you can see that Yahweh your God is the true God, the faithful God who, though he is true to his covenant and his faithful love for a thousand generations as regards those who love him and keep his commandments, punishes in their own persons those that hate him. He destroys anyone who hates him, without delay; and it is in their own persons that he punishes them.Hence, you must keep and observe the commandments, laws and customs which I am laying down for you today.
  

(7)                                        John 19: 31-37

The pierced Christ

It was the Day of Preparation, and to avoid the bodies’ remaining on the cross during the Sabbath—since that Sabbath was a day of special solemnity—the Jews asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken away. Consequently the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with him and then of the other. When they came to Jesus, they saw he was already dead, and so instead of breaking his legs one of the soldiers pierced his side with a lance; and immediately there came out blood and water. This is the evidence of one who saw it—true evidence, and he knows that what he says is true—and he gives it so that you may believe as well. Because all this happened to fulfil the words of scripture: 

   Not one bone of his will be broken; 

and again, in another place scripture says:

   They will look to the one
      whom they have pierced.

(8)                                        Luke 15: 3-7

So he told them this parable:

The lost sheep

‘Which one of you with a hundred sheep, if he lost one, would fail to leave the ninety–nine in the desert and go after the missing one till he found it? And when he found it, would he not joyfully take it on his shoulders and then, when he got home, call together his friends and neighbours, saying to them, "Rejoice with me, I have found my sheep that was lost." In the same way, I tell you, there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner repenting than over ninety–nine upright people who have no need of repentance.

   

(9)    God calls us to conversion.

(10)   God gives us the sacraments.
         Some of these sacraments are
           Baptism, Communion, and Penance

 

Transfiguration

(1)    I saw Jesus transfigured here
            several times January 1996.
 

Excerpt from December 22, 1998

Messenger:    On January 9, 1996, I went to pray. The snow was so bad the street was blocked to Holy Cross-Immaculata. I finally managed to find a place to park and trudged through the snow, panting with joy to be with Our Lord in the tabernacle there. When I arrived all I could do was kneel before the Sacred Heart statue and pour out myself to Him.

Please show a picture of the tabernacle and the Sacred Heart statue.

From my writings of January 9, 1996, I write:

"I was engulfed again in my love of God and cried so hard because I love Him so much. In this intimate act of giving myself totally to Him, my whole act was in emptying myself, wanting only to be lost in Him and united forever to Him in this most blissful moment. I turned myself over and was lost in Him, knowing His presence with me and knowing His deep love. The world stopped and I existed in Him, longing to forever stay there, so this moment would never end."

"I touched you, God and in this embrace I knew your unending love. I saw Your Body as if it was transfigured and glowing in light and I was lost in Thee."

This is how it began. I would see a great reflective light, as if from a mirror, on the eaves of the church in the front of Holy Cross-Immaculata and His Body was changed in the most brilliant light before my eyes. I cannot describe what I saw, nor have I ever seen it except in this vision and two that would follow the next two days. Jesus was transfigured before my eyes.

The date of January 9, 1996, when it first happened, was the same date January 9, 1994, when I genuflected before the crucifix and the altar at St. Gertrude's and the Father spoke; Blue Book II-page 18, January 9, 1994: "This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased."

On January 9, 1996, I would see Jesus transfigured before me in the statue.

end of excerpt from December 22, 1998

(2)     

Excerpt from February 24, 2002

Messenger:     When we opened the Rosary Factory February 5, 2000
                            Jesus appeared transfigured in the Sacred Heart
                            Statue beneath Mary's image.

                                end of excerpt
  

(3)    

Excerpt from February 28, 1999

Messenger: I was in St. Gertrude's Church and I was in the front of the church. I was looking at the crucifix, and I heard the Father speak: "My gift to you is My Son. This is My beloved Son in Whom I am well pleased."

    On the 20th of August, 1997, I was at St. Gertrude's and the Lord appeared transfigured on the cross. I heard the voice of the Father speak, "This is My beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased, listen to Him."

end of excerpt from February 28, 1999

   

(4)     Fr. Carter used this writing I wrote
            in his Newsletter.

Excerpt from Newsletter 1998 Issue 1

    Here are certain reflections from a spiritual journal. Notice how Father, Son, Holy Spirit, and Mary enter into the person’s experience:

    "Well, the night was black, as black as black could be and the cold pierced my bones. I felt its chill go through my entire body and I wanted to scream and it happened—He gave me an outpouring of His life in my soul and my darkness was truly turned to light, another light, not the light of the eyes, a light of knowing God, the joy of beholding His heavenly embrace, the great illumination of another mystery. Oh such sweet gifts He gives when, in an instant, I pray my rosary and the Holy Spirit fills my heart with lights and the mystery lights up and I know, I just know, and I experience a great insight into God.

    "This is the reason for this letter, for I laid on my bed and I wanted to cry and I was deeply afraid for the demons pressed in as rocks poking at me and hurting my precious skin. I laid in bed and I went into the womb of my Mother Mary and I asked for the Holy Spirit to flood me with His light and it came: death-resurrection, darkness-light, sorrow-joy, suffering and pain, but oh, the joy of His light, the joy of His glory. It is in the death there is the resurrection.

    "So, I walk the road to Calvary. I mount the cross and I die. I offer sacrifice and in the morning when the night is done I see the glory of the resurrection. I experience His joy in my heart.

    "So I went to bed and went into the womb of my Mother Mary and the Holy Spirit flooded me with light and I united deeply to my precious Jesus on the cross. I know Him and His love. I reminisced on all the places of deepest intimacy I had shared with Him and my heart burned. I wanted Him to be so close to me, and I loved Him so much. I cried out, ‘I love you, I love you, I love you.’ In that moment I knew Him. He had removed my bonds and set me free. I then knew Jesus as never before.

    "I felt my great love for God the Father. I have been experiencing my littleness as a child and knowing my Father, seeing myself very little and knowing my Father and wanting as a little child to please Him. Then tonight I realized more His Fatherly love. I saw myself depending on Him, needing Him, crying to Him, loving Him and then I realized His might and love coming to me.

    "So I knew in an instant. He gives you a light and you know. I experienced the Trinity. My heart was consumed. I was engulfed in the love of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. I stopped to be in the embrace, wanting it to never end, for in this embrace I felt peace, a peace I had not felt before, so different from the days that had proceeded this moment, the days of suffering and trial.

    "I mounted the cross. I felt the nails press deeply into my hands and feet. I felt the crown of thorns on my head. I said to Him, "Oh, why, my God, if you love me, do you make it so hard?

    "And then I pictured Jesus on the cross. I saw His mouth with blood running from the corner of it. I saw the body of one close to death. I saw His wounds, blistery and red, pouring out His precious blood. I saw the hollowness of His cheeks and the exhaustion of one ready to expire in death. I saw the anguishing Lord Who came to show us His way. His way is death and resurrection. His way is pain and glory. His way is the way to eternal life!"

end of excerpt from Newsletter 1998 Issue 1

    

(5)      

Matthew 17: 1-8

The transfiguration

Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain by themselves. There in their presence he was transfigured: his face shone like the sun and his clothes became as dazzling as light. And suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared to them; they were talking with him. Then Peter spoke to Jesus. ‘Lord,’ he said, ‘it is wonderful for us to be here; if you want me to, I will make three shelters here, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.’ He was still speaking when suddenly a bright cloud covered them with shadow, and suddenly from the cloud there came a voice which said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; he enjoys my favour. Listen to him.’ When they heard this, the disciples fell on their faces, overcome with fear. But Jesus came up and touched them, saying, ‘Stand up, do not be afraid.’ And when they raised their eyes they saw no one but Jesus.

   

(6)    Jesus is the Son of God.

(7)    Jesus is the Light of the World

(8)    

  

(9)    ‘This is my Son, the Beloved. Listen to him.’ Mark 9: 7

(10)   Jesus calls out
        "I am alive, I am alive, 
          I am alive. I love you.
          I love you. I love you."

Last Supper

(1)    Excerpt from Newsletter March/April 1997

         Thoughts on the Mass

Vatican II tells us: "At the Last Supper, on the night when He was betrayed, our Savior instituted the Eucharistic Sacrifice of His Body and Blood. He did this in order to perpetuate the sacrifice of the Cross throughout the centuries until He should come again, and so to entrust to His beloved spouse, the Church, a memorial of His death and resurrection: a sacrament of love, a sign of unity, a bond of charity, a Paschal banquet in which Christ is consumed, the mind is filled with grace, and a pledge of future glory is given to us.

    "The church, therefore, earnestly desires that Christ's faithful, when present at the mystery of faith, should not be there as strangers or silent spectators. On the contrary, through a proper appreciation of the rites and prayers they should participate knowingly, devoutly, and actively. They should be instructed by God's word and be refreshed at the table of the Lord's body; they should give thanks to God; by offering the Immaculate Victim, not only through the hands of the priest, but also with him, they should learn to offer themselves too. Through Christ the Mediator, they should be drawn day by day into ever closer union with each other, so that finally God may be all in all."⁴

Note:
4. Documents of Vatican II, Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, Nos. 47-48, America Press edition.

(2)    Excerpt from Newsletter March/April 1997

Here are thoughts from one woman's spiritual journal on the Mass:

    "The priest needs to feed the people with the love of God. When people come to the Mass and the sacraments, they are spiritually fed.

    "The world cries out to be fed. The Church is the body of Christ. Jesus has chosen each priest and anointed him as Christ alive in this world today. The greatest calling is to be called to be a holy priest by our Lord Himself. How dearly He loves His beloved priests and longs for their love. As He suffered so during His bitter Passion for the lack of love of some of His chosen priests betrothed to Him, He was comforted by His holy priests. Jesus truly loves His sacred priests.

    "Jesus must live in the priest. The priest's every action must be one with Jesus. He is a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

    "When a priest is filled with the love of Jesus, He will unite more deeply with Christ in the great sacrifice being offered to the Father. In the holy sacrifice of the Mass, the faithful will see Jesus through the priest offering sacrifice to the Father. We will lift our eyes and we will feel, at this great sacrifice, the presence of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We unite in offering sacrifice to the Father. We all unite as one and give ourselves in such oneness with Jesus, in such love to the Father, in the Holy Spirit. We die to all those things that are not of Him and join in this great miracle taking place. The Father looks down and He sees the sacrifice of His beautiful Son through the consecrated hands of His holy priests. Heaven unites to earth. Earth cries out in such jubilation at the great gift given from the Almighty God, and we unite as creatures giving ourselves as a sacrifice to our beloved Creator. Do we experience the presence of God as His power flows through the hands of a man, the priest who takes ordinary bread and wine and changes them into the Body and Blood of our Lord? Do we hear Jesus cry out, as He did at the last supper, with the intensity in His voice reflecting all knowledge of the upcoming events of His passion and death?

    "Do we hear the priest say the words of consecration with the emotion of Jesus, about to give His life for His beloved souls? And the earth stands still. There is, at that moment, the sacrifice of Calvary sacramentally made present through the hands of the priest. Oh, that God so loved this world to give His only Son as a sacrifice and that God wants us in this deep oneness with Him. I give You myself, my beautiful God, as You so willingly gave Yourself to me on Calvary. I want to die with You.

    "Love between two persons is mutual giving. It is interaction between two people. It is intimacy. It is dependent on how much we give. We receive intimacy, interaction, according to how much we put into it. God gives His all. We see Him hanging, covered with blood, crowned with thorns, hands and feet pierced. We see His precious heart, font of life and love and mercy, pierced. This is freedom. He shows us the way. We give ourselves. We sacrifice and beg to be made holy, beg to be like Him in this holy sacrifice. The most important aspect of our offering sacrifice is how we are in our heart. Are we one with Jesus, giving ourselves to our beloved Father Who is all worthy of our love? Who are we that God loves us creatures so much that He, Almighty God, becomes present, no less present than the day He walked this earth, through the hands of a man, and we take it so lightly. Think of Jesus calling out. Raise the Host high, beloved priests. This is the Son of God and you have been given the greatest honor on this earth.

    "God comes to us. He gives Himself to us. Let us see ourselves as one in Him. Let us unite. Let us look at ourselves, all creatures of our beloved God, God, all Holy, all Magnificent, Almighty, all Powerful, and see what He gives us. Let us see ourselves as His creatures and Him as the Creator, and look at ourselves and see how we, and all men, are offending our precious God. As we unite, we beg, beg, with this holy sacrifice of His Son, for mercy. We watch it flow from the Father, in the Holy Spirit, through the font of grace and mercy, the pierced Heart of Jesus, through the heart of Mary, by the hands of the priest, who is one with Jesus, to us. We are so joined in such oneness with the Hearts of Jesus and Mary. We have given ourselves to Them. It is here, united to Christ in such oneness, that my sacrifice is received by the loving hands of the Father. It is in this oneness that He pours out His grace. We unite through Him, with Him, and in Him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, and we beg for mercy as His creatures who have offended our beloved God. This is our gift to You, our beloved Father. As Vatican II says, in union with the priest, we offer the Son to the Father. We give Him the greatest thanks for this holy and living sacrifice. We unite with the whole Church. We ask to be nourished by His Body and Blood, to be filled with the Holy Spirit, and increasingly become one body in Him. We join with Mary and all the saints and constantly plead for help through this sacrifice. Through this sacrifice may we make peace with You and peace for the salvation of the whole world. We pray in love and faith for your pilgrim Church, for the Pope, our bishop and all bishops, all clergy and all people. We ask the Father to hear the prayers of His family and ask Him in mercy and love to unite all children the world over. We ask the Father to take all our brothers and sisters that have died, that were good, into heaven. And we pray that we will have the vision of Your glory, through Christ, Our Lord, and we pray through Him, with Him and in Him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit. All glory and honor is Yours, Almighty Father, forever and ever.

    "We pray to the Father, with all our hearts and all our love, the 'Our Father.' We say every word. We say with such love, 'Our Father,' we pray that Thy kingdom comes on earth as it is in heaven. We want this kingdom here, we are all brothers and sisters and God is our Father and we want all men doing His will. We ask to be fed both spiritually and physically every day. We beg to be free from evil and have peace. We ask Him to keep us free from sin and anxiety and hope for His coming. We pray that the kingdom and power and the glory are God's now and forever. We give to each other peace and we beg for forgiveness and mercy. We are sinful, but we want mercy. We stand. We should shout out to the Father, "Look how sinful we are!" We beg for mercy for our sins and those of all men.

    "I experience the action of the Holy Spirit in a special way from the Consecration of the Mass. It fills me with such anticipation to receive Jesus, and I want to be holy. From the Consecration, I give myself to the Father, united in the Holy Spirit, in a special way. Consecrated to the Hearts of Jesus and Mary, I experience God. I love the Mass so much. The rest of this book that follows are my experiences during Mass, after Communion, and other times. Many are experiences at Holy Cross-Immaculata Catholic Church in Cincinnati, Ohio. For four months straight I experienced special moments with my beloved Jesus there daily."⁵

Note:
5. Rita Ring, The Mass: A Journey Into His Heart, to be published by Shepherds of Christ Publications.

(3)   

A Prayer before the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass

    Let me be a holy sacrifice and unite with God in the sacrament of His greatest love.

    I want to be one in Him in this act of love, where He gives Himself to me and I give myself as a sacrifice to Him. Let me be a holy sacrifice as I become one with Him in this my act of greatest love to Him.

    Let me unite with Him more, that I may more deeply love Him. May I help make reparation to His adorable Heart and the heart of His Mother, Mary. With greatest love, I offer myself to You and pray that You will accept my sacrifice of greatest love. I give myself to You and unite in Your gift of Yourself to me. Come and possess my soul.

    Cleanse me, strengthen me, heal me. Dear Holy Spirit act in the heart of Mary to make me more and more like Jesus.

    Father, I offer this my sacrifice, myself united to Jesus in the Holy Spirit to You. Help me to love God more deeply in this act of my greatest love.

    Give me the grace to grow in my knowledge, love and service of You and for this to be my greatest participation in the Mass. Give me the greatest graces to love You so deeply in this Mass, You who are so worthy of my love.

                                                                           -God's Blue Book, December 27, 1995

(4)    

(5)     Excerpt from Newsletter November/December 1996

    Pope John-Paul II gives us these inspiring words: "Be blessed above all things, Handmaid of the Lord, who obeyed the Divine Call in the fullest way! Be greeted, you who united yourself entirely with your Son's redemptive consecration! Mother of the Church! Enlighten the People of God on the way of faith, hope and charity! Help us to live with all the truth of the consecration of Christ for the entire human family in the contemporary world. By entrusting, O Mother, the world, all individuals and all peoples to you, we also entrust to you the very consecration of the world, putting it in your Maternal Heart.

    "O, Immaculate Heart! Help us to overcome the threat of evil, which so easily takes root in the hearts of men today and, with the incommensurable effects, already weighs upon our contemporary existence and seems to close the way toward the future.

    "Free us from hunger and war! From nuclear war, from incalculable self-destruction, from every kind of war, free us! From the sin against the life of man at its dawning, free us! From the hatred and debasement of the children of God, free us! From every kind of injustice, national and international, free us! From the ease treading down God's commandments, free us! From sins against the Holy Spirit, free us! Free us!

    Receive, O Mother of Christ, this cry charged with the sufferings of all mankind! Charged with the suffering of entire societies. Reveal yourself once again, in the story of the world, to be merciful! May this cry halt evil! May it transform consciences!
May the light of hope, reveal itself to all in your Immaculate Heart! Amen".¹⁴

Note:
14. Pope John-Paul II, Prayers and Devotions, edited by Bishop Peter Canisuis Johannes van Lierde, O.S.A., Viking, pp. 357-358.

(6)    Jesus called 12 Apostles            look how the Church grew.

(7)    Jesus gives us the Eucharist.

(8)    We can attend Mass together.

(9)    We can unite to the Mass
            celebrated around the
            world all day.

(10)   

"In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen."

"The grace of Our Lord, Jesus Christ, and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all."

God pours out His grace in this Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. It is the greatest gift when God gives Himself to us.

We share with God His life, given to us abundantly in the Mass.

He gives Himself to us and we give ourselves to Him. The great love affair between God and man: His Holy Mass.

The priest is another Christ to us. It is Christ present, through the priest, celebrating the Mass. We must see Christ in the priest, see Him celebrate the Mass, see His beautiful brown hair, His gentle face, see Him, our Savior. This Jesus Christ that came was born an infant and gave Himself to His death on the cross that we would share His life. See Him now in the Mass, giving Himself in the greatest gift of all. He gives us His divine love and His divine life.

Oh, we thank You for Your life. We know Jesus died and rose and gave

us a sharing in His holy life. His life is now abundantly poured, as a fountain to us, especially in the Mass.

Then we hear His word. Let the word of God penetrate our being. Let us feel this Living Word of God. As a two-edged sword, it comes forth with such conviction and lo