Some material to help guide you to the Way of Sacrificial Love, the path lined with Christ's Precious Blood that leads to God, our salvation, and our sanctification.
The following profoundly Catholic suggestions were taken from Joseph Karl Publishing's newest page, "Getting Started," which was created to help you accomplish this most wonderful and meaningful of goals.
Click on the links included in the text under each subheading, and learn even more!
More material will be added to JKP's newest page as the Lord inspires it. If you find any of the material worthwhile, please share it with others. Joseph Karl Publishing's copyrighted material may be used without formal written permission from the publisher only if it is used for the greater honor and glory of God; sources must be stated correctly, and the material may not be altered in any way.
Go, Team!!
LIVE IN IMITATION OF CHRIST AND BLESSED MOTHER
Jesus
offers Himself to us completely in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass,
Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. He holds nothing back. Nothing. He
remains with us throughout all our days and nights and is constantly
loving us. Constantly.Christ comes to us gently and always so humbly,
showing us how to live, love, serve, and suffer in imitation of Him. He
is our ultimate role model when it comes to exercising fraternal
charity and forgiving others.
We become Christ-like by offering ourselves to God the Father
completely as Jesus and Blessed Mother did, by always seeking to
accomplish God's will, by being kind, by forgiving everyone of everything, by loving much, by not possessing more than is needed, and by trusting God to provide.
STEP INTO HIS LIGHT
STEP INTO HIS LIGHT
MEDITATE ON CHRIST'S PASSION EVERY DAY
Another
very powerful way we can become like Christ is to spend time meditating
on His Passion and Crucifixion.Every time we meditate on Jesus' Sacred
Passion, we join Him and Blessed Mother, the martyrs, the saints,
angels, and all the faithful and together, travel along the Way of the
Cross. Jesus does not travel alone and we don't, either. Take that
journey with our Lord here and imagine the realities.
Begin
by joining Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane that first Holy Thursday.
Share in His abandonment and profound sorrow. So much happened for
humanity that night; experience it as it happens while praying the
Sorrowful Mysteries of the Holy Rosary or while assisting during the
Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Unify yourself with the sacrifice of Jesus
and Blessed Mother that night; mystically sweat blood and cry tears of
blood right along with them as you thank them for their generosity.
Experience our Lord's mental anguish and internal suffering at the
moment He took upon Himself the sins of every person ever created. With
Jesus on your right and Blessed Mother on your left, pray as one for all
mankind. Make sure you never limit your prayers for others to time and
space.
Pray
for all souls through all time, including all those who have already
passed into eternity, those still living, and those who are yet to be
created. Jesus and Blessed Mother may also inspire you to pray for
specific people or groups of people existing at any time in human
history, in the present time, or in the future.Perhaps you will be
Divinely inspired to pray for all those who will receive the Sacrament
of Christ's Peace (Reconciliation) that day, along with their
confessors. The possibilities are endless, and the need for prayer is
great.
Be there as Innocence is taken into custody, bound, struck, and thrown in prison. Offer to have your hands bound in imitation of Christ, and request to be bound to Him forever. Gratitude, Union, Sacrifice, and Service Wear a chain or a rope around your wrist as a symbol of your union with Christ.Remain with Jesus during His imprisonment overnight.Offer homage to the Innocent One who is indicted, imprisoned, and mistreated throughout the night in your place. Offer Him gestures of love and consolation as He awaits the completion of His mission to redeem the entire human race.
Be there as Innocence is taken into custody, bound, struck, and thrown in prison. Offer to have your hands bound in imitation of Christ, and request to be bound to Him forever. Gratitude, Union, Sacrifice, and Service Wear a chain or a rope around your wrist as a symbol of your union with Christ.Remain with Jesus during His imprisonment overnight.Offer homage to the Innocent One who is indicted, imprisoned, and mistreated throughout the night in your place. Offer Him gestures of love and consolation as He awaits the completion of His mission to redeem the entire human race.
Remain
by His side during the sorrowful journey from the prison the next
morning. Shower His Precious and beaten Face with many, many kisses (Kissing the Sacred Face of Jesus)
as you accompany Him on the way to His condemnation.Be there as He is
struck in the mouth, as His Precious Lips are torn open by the blows.
Wipe His Sacred Blood as it runs down the Mouth that speaks such words
of eternal love, kindness, forgiveness, and compassion. Will you show
Him some compassion?
SEE THINGS DIFFERENTLY
Discover
and then keep discovering the One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic, and
Pro-Life Church, where the invisible becomes visible and all things are
possible: Spiritual Vision.
THINK OF OUR LORD OFTEN BECAUSE HE IS ALWAYS WITH YOU
Be
there as He faces the Scourging at the Pillar in our place, as the most
pure and modest of men is cruelly stripped of His garments in front of
everyone that cold morning. Feel the cold air against your skin as you
await with Him the moment when He is struck for the first time.
Experience the indescribable embarrassment and shame that gave way in an
act of the Divine Will to the ultimate expression of love, that of
giving His body to us to be used for our salvation.Imagine that with
every blow, as His Sacred Blood and pieces of His Sacred Body projected
in every direction, that His thoughts were not on Himself during and in
between each agonizing strike. His thoughts were always on you and on
me. How often are your thoughts on Him?
The
Most Loving of Men is now unrecognizable. Can you recognize Him still?
Can you recognize Him in the Eucharist, in circumstances, in people, in
creation, in new life? No matter how disfigured we are because of our
sins, He always recognizes us, and He never flees from us. Pay Him
homage as the King of kings as He is mocked and the top half of His
Sacred Head is crowned with a cap of thorns.
Share
the moment when Jesus embraced the Cross with joy, knowing that
carrying it, falling underneath it, being nailed to it, suffering on it,
and dying on it would satisfy Divine Justice and allow for our
Redemption.
Include God in everything that you do (it helps to talk to Him a lot), because He remains with us always. Ask the Lord to help you embrace your crosses willingly, joyfully, patiently, and courageously, just like He did for us.
"Heaven is rich enough to reward you." ~ Saint John Vianney
Include God in everything that you do (it helps to talk to Him a lot), because He remains with us always. Ask the Lord to help you embrace your crosses willingly, joyfully, patiently, and courageously, just like He did for us.
"Heaven is rich enough to reward you." ~ Saint John Vianney
UNDERSTAND THE VALUE OF HIS CROWN OF THORNS
As
our Lord traveled along the Way of the Cross, the Crown of Thorns
sometimes moved on His Sacred Head, and the sharp points that impaled
His Scalp moved back and forth, widening the wounds as His Sacred Blood
flowed down in crimson streams from each point of entry.When considering
this particular agony of our Lord's, we must also consider that the
individual thorns pierced the entire top of his Head, and when He moved
or was struck specifically on the Crown, the combined action of movement
and sharp ends cut up the entire top of His scalp.
How the sharp points
of the very plant He created to delight us pierce the very Eyes that
look with pleasure upon His creation, and scrape against the Skull
holding such incredible genius and goodness.Be there as He falls,
injuring His Sacred Body further, and as He forces Himself up with all
His might for your sake, thank Him for His courage, compassion,
sacrifice, honor, heroism, and for showing you how to accept suffering
and failure patiently and how to rise again after failing.How many blows
He suffers, how many insults He is forced to endure! How many times we
fall, Lord, and you are always ready and willing to pick us back up.
This time, Jesus, I am here for you: 'Jesus' Crown of Thorns and Living in Imitation of Christ and Blessed Mother.'
MAKE SACRAMENTAL CONFESSIONS, OFTEN; ACCEPT GOD'S FORGIVENESS AND ALSO FORGIVE YOURSELF AND OTHERS CONSTANTLY
Thank
Jesus for His mercy, for the Sacrament of Divine Intimacy (Confession),
and for the ocean of His mercy present in every single drop of His
Sacred Blood.Be there the moment someone who has the privilege of
standing so close to God spits directly in His Sacred Face! Sweet Jesus,
what an inconceivable insult! What horror in that very moment!! Oh how
many times I still do this to You! I am sorry, sweet Jesus, for the
times I spit in Your face. Please forgive me, help me to do better, and
allow me to wipe Your Sacred and Beautiful Face clean from such
wickedness.Share the moment when Jesus meets His Most Holy Mother. Look
through your suffering eyes into Their suffering eyes and offer
yourself once again to God the Father as a willing victim for mankind.
Console them, love them in return, and thank them for Their
indescribable generosity and immeasurable love.
CULTIVATE A DEEP DEVOTION TO THE HOLY FACE OF JESUS
Rush
through the crowd and bring Jesus a cloth He can use to wipe His
assaulted and disfigured Countenance, and be there at the moment when
the Devotion to the Holy Face of Jesus began: .Veronica's Compassion and the Beginning of the Devotion to the Holy Face of Jesus.
BE KIND AND MERCIFUL
Experience
His difficulty breathing on the Cross, the indescribable pain, all
patiently suffered as He forgives everyone of everything and instead of
malice, offers more love and Redemption.Stand close by the Cross with
Blessed Mother during Jesus' three hour agony, and remain with them
until the very end of His suffering. Consider the moment when Jesus'
Sacred Heart was struck by the lance: Longinus, Our Lady, Her Love, and the Lance
Are you familiar with the details of the story? They are worth
knowing, and keeping in your heart forever. Use this moment to make
wise decisions and forgive yourself, forgive others, and take your heart
for healing to Him in the loving, caring hands of His loving Mother: The Doctor, the Divine Physician, the Pardon, and the Peace
Remember His final words and adopt them as your own until the moment when He calls you into His loving arms for all eternity: The Crucifixion, the Cross, the Disciples, and the Person Closest To Our Lord With His Arms in the Air.
Be there just before His Sacred Body is removed from the Cross, when the Crown of Thorns are removed from His Sacred Head: Meditating on the Moment the Crown of Thorns was Removed from Jesus' Sacred Head.
Have you ever spent time sharing these moments with our Lord? Be sure
you do, and integrate these meaningful moments into your days and your
nights.
ASSIST DAILY AT THE HOLY SACRIFICE OF THE MASS
Don't
ever take the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, and all it means to your soul
in particular and the eternal welfare of humanity in general, for
granted.
Christ's
message to us now is the same as it has always been: He came on
Christmas Day to save us, and He keeps coming and coming and coming to
save us. Jesus comes to us in the confessional, in the Living Word, in
the Eucharist, all throughout the the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, and
also in prayer, through the gift of life, in suffering, in joy, through
all the people and circumstances in our lives...He has come again to
save us and intends to keep coming, for He has promised to remain with
us always. "...lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.
Amen." ~ Matthew 28:20
All
throughout your day, and especially just before receiving Jesus in the
Blessed Sacrament, offer yourself to God the Father in return for Jesus
and Blessed Mother having offered themselves to God the Father for
you.When you assist at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, remember the
moments you shared with Jesus and Blessed Mother as you traveled with
them along the Way of Man's Redemption.Love Jesus in return during the
Last Supper/Consecration, and receive Jesus in the Eucharist as
reverently as possible, on your tongue while on your knees. Receive Him
gently, for He presents Himself to you personally, and very
gently.Leave your heart at the altar with His: The Two Hearts, the Sword, the Altar, and the Divine Exchange
Kneel
when you return to your place in church as the Creator of the Universe,
the Author of Love, reposes on your tongue. During these very intimate,
personal, and meaningful moments of Divine union, give yourself to
Jesus completely and without holding anything back, just like He does
each time with you! Together, conceive the most beautiful things: Divine Union and Creation
Never,
ever take the meaning of the word Sacrament for granted.SACRAMENT: A
sensible sign, instituted by Jesus Christ, by which invisible grace and
inward sanctification are communicated to the soul. 1 Still not feeling
it? Read this: The Foxhole, the Battle, the Souls, and the Devotion
UNDERSTAND WHAT TAKES PLACE DURING HOLY MASS
Understand
what takes place during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass; bow
reverently, hold your hands properly in prayer, participate lovingly, be
there to worship our Lord, receive Him as reverently as possible,
kneeling (if physically able to) and on your tongue from the hands of a
priest or deacon (if possible), and remain with our Lord in church even
after the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass has ended: 'With How Much Love Can You Do It?'
DEVELOP A STRONG PRAYER LIFE; DISCOVER OR REDISCOVER THE POWER OF HOLY HOUR
Remember to pray, every day, for the conversion of sinners, the dying, and the holy souls in purgatory. Pray that God's will is accomplished through you and through your family. Pray for your needs and also pray for all of humanity's needs. Pray for every single soul through all time.
Be sure to also spend time listening to our Lord. He has your best interests in mind, always. And He is so in love with you!
Learn about the importance of spending time with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament during a Holy Hour; The Eucharist as Presence and Sacrament: Worship of the Eucharist Outside of Mass by Servant of God, Father John A. Hardon, S.J.
READ!
Read the Bible every day, read profoundly Catholic books by profoundly Catholic authors, and read biographies and autobiographies of the saints. Read to yourself, read to children, and share what you learn with others.
LIVE A SACRAMENTAL LIFE AND FOLLOW GOD'S RULES
Your
unconditional "Yes!" is necessary for humanity. Here's a wonderful
story to get you started, or to encourage you while on your way: An Incredibly Beautiful Story from 'The Life of Leo Dupont,' Apostle of the Holy Face.
This amazing story from the life of St. John Bosco tells you the remedies you must use throughout your life: These are the Remedies You Must Use
Jesus wants to do for all mankind, including for you, what He did for this young man in the confessional: The Penitent, the Courage, the Mercy, the Instruments, and the Golden Arrows
Do not ever underestimate the power of prayer, for as St. John Vianney assures us, "No prayer is ever lost."The Jeopardized Soul and the Sacred Heart
Still not sure how God can use you? He works very well with broken vessels! Obedience, God's Love, and the Usefulness of Broken Vessels
God
will help you every single step of the way, even when you fall, even
when you aren't sure what He has in mind. Trust Him. That delights
Him.Discover or rediscover the unfathomable love God expresses to us in
many different ways throughout the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, each and
every time it is celebrated: With How Much Love Can You Do It?
BE COUNTER CULTURAL
Do not focus on money, and that includes having it, acquiring it, or raising it. It does not take money to be nice to people. God's love is absolutely free, and He has an unlimited supply. Treat people with great dignity, and never view them as a means to an end. Serve people instead (without asking others to give you money first). Never, ever use people. Keep your focus on eternity and on God's Economy of Salvation: "How Taking a Vow of Poverty Has Been a Greater Blessing than Winning the Lottery."
Promise to love and honor God, all the days of your life. Renew that promise every single day as you wed your life to His while receiving Jesus' Real Presence in the Eucharist during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
True followers of Christ face rejection, persecution, fierce resistance from the enemies of God, fierce resistance from those they love, even fierce resistance from those they trust, and suffer in imitation of the Holy Family. Following Christ means giving everything we have been given by Him back to the Lord in His service, to accomplish His will and not our own.
"Heaven is rich enough to reward you." ~ Saint John Vianney
The forces of good and evil oppose one another. Be sure you know whose side you are fighting on. To fight for God we must first surrender to Him; to advance we must first retreat to Him. A quick way to test whose side you fight on is to ask yourself: Do I follow God's Commandments? Am I obedient to Church teaching? Am I pro-life? Do I care about acquiring money more than about the people I should be serving? Do I dress with dignity? Whose company am I keeping? Am I willing to listen, and learn? Am I humble.
KNOW YOUR FAITH!
Do not focus on money, and that includes having it, acquiring it, or raising it. It does not take money to be nice to people. God's love is absolutely free, and He has an unlimited supply. Treat people with great dignity, and never view them as a means to an end. Serve people instead (without asking others to give you money first). Never, ever use people. Keep your focus on eternity and on God's Economy of Salvation: "How Taking a Vow of Poverty Has Been a Greater Blessing than Winning the Lottery."
Promise to love and honor God, all the days of your life. Renew that promise every single day as you wed your life to His while receiving Jesus' Real Presence in the Eucharist during the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
True followers of Christ face rejection, persecution, fierce resistance from the enemies of God, fierce resistance from those they love, even fierce resistance from those they trust, and suffer in imitation of the Holy Family. Following Christ means giving everything we have been given by Him back to the Lord in His service, to accomplish His will and not our own.
"Heaven is rich enough to reward you." ~ Saint John Vianney
The forces of good and evil oppose one another. Be sure you know whose side you are fighting on. To fight for God we must first surrender to Him; to advance we must first retreat to Him. A quick way to test whose side you fight on is to ask yourself: Do I follow God's Commandments? Am I obedient to Church teaching? Am I pro-life? Do I care about acquiring money more than about the people I should be serving? Do I dress with dignity? Whose company am I keeping? Am I willing to listen, and learn? Am I humble.
KNOW YOUR FAITH!
Continue your faith
formation throughout your life. There is so much more of God's love to
discover and then keep rediscovering! Absolutely phenomenal, PROFOUNDLY
Catholic material of inestimable and eternal value can be found in the Servant of God, Father John A. Hardon, S.J. Archives
including material in print, audio, and video. Visit the index, select
a topic, and grow closer to God by leaps and bounds. Learn more, and
teach others. God is so in love with us all.
St.
Pio of Pietrelcina provides us with an invaluable first-hand account of
the soul's journey with our suffering Lord to Calvary in the book
Secrets of a Soul: "When Jesus
wants me to understand that He loves me, He allows me to savor the
wounds, the thorns, the agonies of His passion...When He wants to
delight me, He fills my heart with that spirit which is all fire; He
speaks to me of His delights. But when He wants to be delighted, He
speaks to me of His sorrows, He invites me -- with a voice full of both
supplication and authority -- to affix my body [to the cross] in order
to alleviate His suffering. Who can resist Him? I realize how much my
miseries have caused Him to suffer, how much I have offended Him. I
desire no other than Jesus alone, I want nothing more than His pains
(because this is what Jesus wishes). Let me say--since no one can hear
me--I am disposed to remain forever deprived of the sweetness Jesus
allows me to feel. I am ready to suffer Jesus hiding His beautiful eyes
from me, so long as He does not hide His love from me, because then I
would die. But I do not feel I can be deprived of suffering--for this I
lack strength. [...] Perhaps I have not yet expressed myself clearly
with regards to the secret of this suffering. Jesus, the Man of Sorrows,
wants all Christians to imitate Him; He has offered this chalice to me
yet again, and I have accepted it. That is why He does not spare me. My
humble sufferings are worth nothing, but Jesus delights in them because
He loved [suffering] on earth...Now shouldn't this alone be enough to
humiliate me, to make me seek to be hidden from the eyes of men, since I
was made worthy of suffering with Jesus and as Jesus? Ah, my father! I
feel too keenly my ingratitude toward God's majesty."
© Joseph Karl Publishing/Michele Bondi Bottesi
Images taken at Ss. Cyril and Methodius Slovak Catholic Church,
Sterling Heights, Michigan, U.S.A.
Parish Website
Sterling Heights, Michigan, U.S.A.
Parish Website
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THE POWERFUL DEVOTION TO THE HOLY FACE OF JESUS
To learn more about the Work of Reparation through the Devotion to the Holy Face,
which our Lord, Jesus Christ called "the most beautiful work under the sun,"
Please share the information with others.
God is at work in you!!
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