111.1 SEEL He has not created me for naught

Finishing week of Prayer #11. . . Page 132: The Ignatian Adventure 

DAY 5: Read Luke 1:39-56 (Mary visits Elizabeth). Again, use your imagination to pray with this scene. Notice how God saves within a particular family. Marvel at how God needs the help of these gracious women to "work the redemption of the human race" (SE 107) Pray Mary's Magnificat with her, in a spirit of joy.

Wow, this really hit home for me now. I’ve been leaning on several “gracious women” more than ever this week. Even now as I’m challenged by my son again, my daughter is sharing some common sense. I’ve always been so blessed with my children.  And I know they have a powerful place with Jesus because I went through so much to get them here, working with them. . . . Wow, half my life was all for them. I mean, Maryanne had an abortion while I was in High School. She was in college to become a nurse, so when she got a positive pregnancy test, her and a girlfriend went and “took care of it” before she ever told me anything. 

That has since freaked me out more than ever. But she would get pregnant every month and was anxious to keep our child. But raising a child was not something I could do so causally . . . . And it was very clear to me there was a child ready to come to me. So when my dad said college in Florida, it was an unexpected solution. So 4-5 years of college and it was time for babies. . . 

What a crazy story to get into now. I’m sure I’ve shared it hundreds of times. Each time it seems to get shorter and more focused. 

So now what does this really mean. I certainly was singing the Magnificat when Colleen got pregnant. Lol, I remember now that for years I spelled the names wrong so no one would really know who I was talking about so Neelloc was a young healthy mother . . . . Just what I needed after losing babies before. Course I played with Emily too much before she was born, and got her all wrapped up in the umbilical cord. . . Yes, and almost lost her, where she had it twice around her neck, turning her blue when the doctors pulled her out. 

DAY 6: Read Matthew 1:18-25 (Joseph's dream). God again relies on human freedom and cooperation to save us in our need. Be with Joseph as he generously and courageously responds to God's calling him to become a husband and father. Hear how the angel comforts Joseph, telling him not to be afraid, just as the angel Gabriel urged Mary. Love dispels all fear.

Wow, how are we stepping into the next level of our Spiritual Life. . . What does this next step look like.  Like praying with my tiny baby in the NICU. I guess I was listening to her Angels telling me how to pray and sing to the little baby.  So to read these bible versus and consider the experiences of Joseph as another called into action by God.  I’m sure we all get calls. Not always so clear and powerful. And Such Love always dispels all fears. 

DAY 7: Savor the graces of the week, or make a repetition of one of the previous Scripture passages. Undertake nothing without consulting God.
Considering the Angel Gabriel Bringing it back in my life and experience is where I’ve always been. Heal and freedom, will release, and forgive.

Touch opens the windows to the heart... so this is what I missed Christopher, you never learned the Christian morals: 

https://www.focusonthefamily.com/episodes/broadcast/more-effective-habits-to-embrace-in-parenting-part-1-of-2/

Please forgive me...  I chose

https://www.intouch.org/listen/radio/a-matter-of-life-and-death

I am Sorry Chris, you were born as a man, and you came for a reason. Please don't give up on it, please keep looking and find this reason!

I am created to do something or to be something for which no one else is created; I have a place in God’s counsels, in God’s world, which no one else has; whether I be rich or poor, despised or esteemed by man, God knows me and calls me by my name. I have my mission. Somehow, I am necessary for his purposes. I have a part in this great work; I am a link in a chain, a bond of connection between persons. He has not created me for naught. I shall do good, I shall do his work. O Lord, I give myself to Thee. I trust Thee wholly. Deign to fulfill Thy high purposes in me whatever they be—work in and through me. I am born to serve Thee, to be Thine, to be Thy instrument. Amen.

This prayer above is the ending for the current Exodus 50 of Easter that our Fraternity of 50 or 60 respite every day. . . While there are nearly a hundred thousand men, worldwide who say this in support of each other . . . stranger still; many of these men are doing this for their family, children and sons in mind. . .  Exactly like I do.

Know Jesus will catch you if you fall... I came here to Tampa with the radio singing "God's Will" for me... I met Chuck from NJ, and we started stars...!

This morning joyFM said how he solved his headache, a large coke and fries from McDonalds.!?!??

Something about the strong salt and sugar clears the head, science messages of TikTok!

Holy shit, that's SATAN! Clear as day, oops wrong radio!?!?

https://apps.apple.com/app/id1218318380

Yes I am more than just sad, I'm worried. . . Terrified, freaking, struggling . . 

Yes I am more than just sad, I'm worried...

Yes Chris this is all about loving freely, exactly what I’m doing now in loving you and all God has Given to me... 

I LOVE ALL YOU four, just exactly the way you ARE🤣 which we can share and experience together. . . 

Like many of my posting here, Love and beauty will always BE true harmonic relationship together. . .  https://youtu.be/gbfWTlPt8mU

And these Challenges will come to us all, like when you were dropping out of USF to write music . . . No Arch Program means you never would have even met Claudia, but instead you got your only “D” and stayed in to the end

I’m trilled YOUR FAMILY helped you then. . . Like we are here again now trying to help you.

As weird as it might be, I’ve said this to my children hundreds of times. The wonder of meeting Chris for Pizza in the Andros Confeteria and his first random comment is “ I’m dropping out to write music” . . . And after not a single word for ten years, all I could do was say “WOW, that’s cool,” tell me about this. . . And we got into the deep discussion and experience of his trip to Europe with the Architecture Program. It was certainly a wonder to hear about this experience with Matthew and Linaea. Especially as it started in Ireland with Linaea driving a stick-shift out to a historic brewery to deliver an unknown package to a stranger; which resulted in an incredible meal and gift bags filled with liquors and chocolates.

There is a time and place for everything... and I love you and know where you are now, as you know I HAVE BEEN THERE, too!

Having the divine experience and responsibility to father, shepherd and guide anyway that I can. I’ve shared countless prayers, lessons, preachers, and podcasts from the great variety of places sharing the same fundamental truths of love and salvation. This has inspired loving responses from Half my children, while my son, the intended recipient, has since twisted and perverted my meaning into something else. I was thrilled with his first reply as posted here, asking where the “LOVE” is? As crazy as it seems, I even sent him a link I found on my server of my similar experiences I mentioned above. . . . Though like my comments below, he obviously doesn’t read of understand anything from me. . .  Of purse, now again I recall the Andros Cafeteria where he claimed he had read “ALL MY BLOGS” and wanted to know more about e=mc2. . . Affirming the reality of the presence of Jesus in US!

Making the Truth and Love in Christ Jesus is critical!  Like have you listened to any of these lessons, or witnessed how it changed my life?

Please, continue your search for Christ, instead of giving up on “who you already are.” You are Perfect now! 

Like your Challenge on Interstate 4 in Tampa. You slammed the steering wheel demanding your Purpose. 

And then another short phrase considered common-knowledge now. Where he was Baker-Acted to a hospital, while a drug induced accident would have been jail time instead. And the violent replies with all sorts of new perspectives on what these events were?  My own memory be dammed, as he’s never tried to correct me before, but suddenly I’m an old-senile fool and harassing him, instead of the loving father trying to review the experiences I’ve witnessed. So suddenly now he’s in complete control of his childish fantasies while these other times completely shifted the progress of his life. . . . And somehow my memory and description of what I heard and saw has been twisted to be events that I caused or influenced to bring changes in his life. Wow, retelling his experiences are now my fault? Or my works? Has the truth and love I see and share become so terrifying now that it needs to be twisted and perverted to mean something else.   

Immediately you found it, as seconds later you saved a girls life!!!!

Oh and adding this new insight, that came to me when I shared my challenges with my peers in the Exodus Fraternity. How it was clear to me Chris got what he wanted immediately, not only God’s protection through a crazy accident, but the humble and holy I’ve of the neighbor, or stranger in distress. . . Once again the immediate experiences being the holy communion and duties of Christ to “Love thy neighbor, as thyself” And I guess such a new realization that he actually got exactly what he was demanding might conflict with his personal fantasies that he is all alone and never benefitted from Christ, the Holy Ghost or God in anyway….Oh and he defines this as a “impulsive mistake made under-the-influence”  or a drug-induced blunder of no meaning or bearing. . . Again discounting one of many traumatic experiences of divine guidance which saved his ass to bring him forward for the Service and Glory of God in his destiny. . .  

Now: 

Living in fear & guilt creates your bondage, is never knowing real forgiveness and confession to heal

Walk in light of God, confess sins and accept blood of Christ  to release, remit, cancel debt of Sin to Share in God's Holy Pure Light...

Even Moses took off his shoes, releasing sin to accept the pure holy light you seek

John 1:9

110.1 SEEL WEEK OF PRAYER #10: God's MERCIFUL Love FOR ME

DISCERNMENT: really feels like actively seeking the deeper meanings and holistic understandings for everything combined in our interior AND exterior LIFE EXPERIENCE . . . INCLUDING the deeper interior "experiences" of understanding, insight, imagination, visualization, seeing, (( I SEE YOU )) hearing, feeling, knowing, guessing, accepting, perceiving and imagining . . . Like the full human experience. NOW I SUDDENLY flash back to the concept of the Unity Method Patent, (( which I cut and pasted into here in seconds )) it is defined by the “Perceptive View of God.” Yes, God’s Perspective, or God's Perceptions with the basic understanding that all is love; as energy and matter are always in flux with unity (( IN LOVE )) as a primary focus . . . All life benefits from increased cohesion, cooperation, and compatibility . . . In Love, As Love and For Love . . . Where the action of Loving, produces the noun of Love through the verb Love experienced!

And suddenly, I have a new insight into the experience of Evolution . . . Every moment I grow and learn more . . . It is simply part of my experience . . . Except that everybody has their own limited perception. Then tonight I recognized that my own perceptions have been enhanced by requesting “His Perception.” Yes, or I really demanded it, as a condition for me to return to Earth. Stepping beyond the material and physical experience with a lot of people to the simple realization and understanding that UNITY inevitably will result in better experience for all.  Better understanding leads to Better Immediate experiences . . . It’s really about recognizing that the fruit of the spirit is love. The Spirit of the Love brings the Fruit of Love!!! Love brings us a fuller experience. Love brings a fuller understanding. Love brings coherency and evolution. I can step beyond the physical limitations of a social structure that are completely irrelevant. Choosing to step into the deeper meaning of power founded in love to Bring greater personal intimacy and joy.

Yes, as above so it is below. 1:45 4/25/2025 and I'm pulled to write again, still . . . Like when I see the beauty of my granddaughter and children with pretty numbers I always snap a screenshot to write another Love note. It's always such a joy to share the love of the moment. Yes, it's a challenge to keep up with it all, but I'm always in Joy.

DAY 1: Read 2 Corinthians 12:5-10 So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Can you recall times when you have felt such power, such indwelling of Christ in your life?

Yes, I have found clear comfort and blessings knowing that Christ protects me and carries me forward to do and achieve as only God could imagine. I've never boasted about my challenges and weakness, even avoided discussing and exploring these issues. I have discovered and understood more and more over time. When I read this bible verse and contemplate, I remember all the trauma and chaos I witnessed even when I was not in trouble. The insight was that I had come full circle again, where my trauma and experiences were all to the Glory of GOD, where this weakness becomes strong in His love and support.

DAY 2: Read Luke 18:9-14 Can you relate to the Pharisee? The tax collector? Who would you rather be? And again I relate more to the tax collector, the outcast, the spectator, looking or watching from the back of the room. And now as I wrote this feeling more connected and guided to join in the experiences first hand. Shifting to where I belong instead of always being the outsider who is not good enough to join in and “CHOOSING” to participate with all the others. As again last night with the LifeTeen group at church, I realize how I “could really” greet and chat with everyone there, as I’ve met and known most for a while already. Hiding is no longer necessary.

DAY 3: Read John 8:2-11 Speak to Jesus or the woman as in a colloquy. col•lo•quy | noun (plural colloquies)

1. formal a conversation: they broke off their colloquy at once | an evening of sophisticated colloquy. 
2. a gathering for discussion of theological questions: students attend colloquies and seminars in their chosen fields of study.

Being able to forget and release my trauma of youth, is certainly a challenge. I always feel like I still have something to learn from it all. But never seem to be clear about what that means or how to step into this more. I guess like everything else, I feel like I will step into whatever I need when I am ready for it. And again the clarity and focus that comes to me in prayer and serious contemplation is realizing how I am released from all sins with daily Mass. And since there is “no one to condemn” me, it’s not necessary for me to hide anymore. Just like I realize I’ve learned to “interrupt” everyone in conversations since I was never listened to and never respected enough or “allowed to” add to conversations with my primary family . . . Wow, sounds like some more serious details I am learning that I need to add to my Welcome Witnessing. 

DAY 4: Repetition of any day. DAY 5: Read Luke 15:1-7, with a colloquy. Do you know what it's like to be lost and then found? Have you acted as a good shepherd" to another person? I guess I’ve always felt lost, or like an outcast by my primary family, OH EXCEPT my Mom of course. Which is really a wonderful realization now, as my dad raised us in a Methodist Church, but clearly my Mom made sure I learned or experienced the (Catholic) Truth. She always made me feel really special, and considering how I’ve treated my peers, I recognize that I’ve always been the shepherd. I guess the first thing that comes to mind was sitting at the Gasparilla Art Festival watching my kids playing in the grass before the orchestra stage sipping a beer. And chuck called me. He was in NJ again since we graduated from engineering at USF. Yes, he was still single, living in his parents basement. While I had wife, kids, house and all. Then he asked me about moving back to Tampa and wanted me to copy pages from my Journal.

Course I told him that he belonged here, and there was nothing better. But I understood what he wanted. Yes, I thought it was odd. But all he wanted were the pages that ended with my pretty sketched out “Thank you Jesus" prayers at the end. I Guess he had seen hundreds of pages like that when we developed STARS together, as he would always want to read my latest insights. Course, I remember sending him a hundred pages and then he returned them all when he moved back to Tampa again… yes another good shepherd, as he married here, two kids and countless successes.  Now, I laugh again as I remember his big folder of copies I took to NC to give to Neal Donald Walsh after his first Conversations with God book… lol, shepherding thousands now, as I couldn't write as well as a professional journalist!

DAY 6: Read Ezekiel 36:25-28, with a colloquy ("A new heart I give you, and a new spirit I will put within you"). Have you felt what this new heart is for you? Do you see the remains of your "heart of stone"? What new spirit is stirring within you? I love this scenario referring me back to "my waters. . ." as I'm now getting into a new model. Yes, another engineer called me to help him out. So sure a new model is always cool. And I've dragged my feet with it, but realized how God wants me to get back into my habits and routines that I've created for my life and health. My life with my children was my best experience ever. So returning to the private practice I created seems kinda obvious and common sense. I worked when I wanted, but would get really serious at it and burn through as much so I could, so I could play with my kids more. Lol, course I remember Busch Gardens, the Lowry Park Zoo and Florida Aquarium passes as we had them all for different years. Then the annual trips to Asheville NC, which morphed into Bread & Breakfast retreats, or Disney World with my divorce. . . 

Yes, I snapped pictures of my breakfast this morning. I was singing when I chopped the little coconut cubes to put on top of the yummy berries and fruit. Yes, I’ve always loved coconut, since my mom’s coconut candy as a little child. But then found the glass dish full of chocolate cake in my fridge. Oh Yum, more little chocolate cubes as I was inspired. Then the nine seed mix, organic yogurt, and almond butter mix . . . wow, it was so beautiful to see it made before my eyes. . . and I could feel the love and grace of sharing in the beauty and divinity that only God could Create for me. . . 

Ok, I confess, I was more than inspired. I've been getting my Thank You Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I Love You Dear Lord Jesus Christ, Thank You Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I Love You Dear Lord Jesus Christ, transferred to Saint Mary and Saint Joseph, so now the direction and inspirations I get are ASKED FOR. PLEASE Love Lord Jesus Christ Saint Mary and Saint Joseph GUIDE ME, LEAD ME. . . SHOW ME!  And Mary Loves FOOD, just like my Mom Ely Maria. . . oh and Jesus and Joseph are definitely FOODIES like me!

DAY 7: Review your journal from the past few weeks. Savor and distill the graces. Yes, I noticed this morning a big pot of veggies and another pot of chopped fruit in my fridge. Wow, that is all I would eat when alone, eating real food really feels like one of those awesome habits I created in school. Now with Exodus 90, I have been making my bed, praying more regularly, and doing exercise. YES TODAY, I even added another move. . . 20 situps, 20 pushups, 20 squats, 20 arm flex, 20 inner curls, 20 out curls over the head. . . oh and after the pushups I did 20 lunges. . . I think that's what it's called. . . so I know the arm flexes need to shift into two or three more moves too. . . Uhg, more weights. OH AND I've brought the one pound weights on my bike a few times, it works easy, I just need to remember them . . . . Oh and I’m back on my Bike from my PhD too, no e-bikes, but my regular old Schwinn . . . LOVE, JOY, PEACE!!!! Thanks to YOU DEAR GOD!

Wow, some great lessons to catch . . .

:

Section One:

Though there’s no denying the centrality of the sacraments in the spiritual life, we can’t speak of the life of grace without talking about the integral role of Mary. She is, after all, the Mediatrix of all graces.

Let us get into her role in the life of grace and address one of the main arguments against this teaching that I used to hurl against Catholics. Namely, that Scripture declares in 1 Timothy 2:5 “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”

I used to think that was a pretty effective argument. I was wrong.

Then we'll discuss why Mary's identity as the Mother of God (Theotokos) puts her in a very unique position.

And by way of note, you'll hear Matthew mention the title of "co-redemptrix" on a few occasions with regard to Mary in these next few videos. Though used by Pope Benedict XV, this title has caused some confusion due to the English translation. "Co" is the English translation of "cum" in Latin, which means "with". So when we say "co-redemptrix" we don't mean Mary is a necessary part of the equation. Our salvation comes through Christ, period. Mary participates with Christ, but is not intrinsic to our salvation. 

WHAT THE SAINTS SAY: “And so you say, O heretic, whoever you may be, who deny that God was born of the Virgin, that Mary the Mother of our Lord Jesus Christ ought not to be called Theotókos, i.e., Mother of God, but Christotókos, i.e., only the Mother of Christ, not of God. For no one, you say, brings forth what is anterior in time. And of this utterly foolish argument whereby you think that the birth of God can be understood by carnal minds, and fancy that the mystery of His Majesty can be accounted for by human reasoning, we will, if God permits, say something later on. In the meanwhile we will now prove by Divine testimonies that Christ is God, and that Mary is the Mother of God." St. John Cassian

_{Willis, J. R. (Ed.). (2002). The Teachings of the Church Fathers (pp. 325–326). San Francisco: Ignatius Press.}

LECTIO DIVINA

39"In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a city of Judah, 40 and she entered the house of Zechari′ah and greeted Elizabeth. 

41And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit 42 and she exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!

43 And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? 44 For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the babe in my womb leaped for joy.

45 And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.”

Luke 1:39-45

MEDITATION

At the sight of Mary, Elizabeth "exclaimed with a loud cry, 'Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!'"

In Greek, the word for "exclaim" is anaphōneō. Interestingly, this is the only time in the New Testament this term is used.

But it appears five times in the Old Testament.

And every time it occurs, it has to do with the joy of the Israelites and the music played by the Levites in the presence of the Ark of the Covenant, the throne of God.

In other words, Luke is directly drawing a parallel between Mary and the Ark of the Covenant. Why?

He wants us to be moved at the presence of Mary. He want us to "exclaim with a loud cry" in the presence of our Mother.

Like Elizabeth, we need to recognize the incredible dignity of the Theotokos and rejoice in the fact that her life is dedicated to bringing us to her beloved Son.

You can't climb the spiritual mountain without her.

"Before, by yourself, you couldn't," says St. Josemaria Escriva. "Now, you've turned to our Lady, and with her, how easy!"

---

Section Two: 

We said previously that because of her role as the Mother of God, Mary is the Mediatrix of all grace. In other words, she distributes to us the grace that comes from God.

She’s the conduit or pipeline through which they all flow.

Now let’s go a little next level and not only discuss more deeply why we can say all of this, but discover why it's vital we do so.

WHAT THE SAINTS SAY:

“Every grace that is communicated to this world has a threefold course. For by excellent order, it is dispensed from God to Christ, from Christ to the Virgin, from the Virgin to us.”

St. Bernadine of Siena

LECTIO DIVINA

"Listen to me, O coastlands,
and hearken, you peoples from afar.
The Lord called me from the womb,
from the body of my mother he named my name."

Isaiah 49:1

MEDITATION
Mary's entire life is ordered to helping every one of us become a child of God. It's the purpose for which she was created.

And this is even more true now that she is in heaven.

Lumen Gentium, one of the pillar documents from Vatican II, declares that after her Assumption "she did not lay aside this saving office but by her manifold intercession continues to bring us the gifts of eternal salvation" (LG 62).

And the graces she bestows upon us aren't intended solely for our personal use.

We are to be reservoirs of grace for others. We are to follow her example and be instruments of salvation, too.

As St. John Paul II said, "Mary in fact constantly points to her Divine Son and she is proposed to all believers as the model of faith which is put into practice" (Tertio Millennio Adveniente).

This is a great reminder that our growth in the Science of Sainthood isn't just about us. It's about the whole world.

We participate in Mary's role as Mediatrix by allowing the light and love of Christ shine through our lives to the rest of the world.

Don't ever stop seeking Our Lady's help in the spiritual life.

Pray your rosary. Recite your Memorare's. Always call on your Mother's assistance.

"Only after the Last Judgment will Mary get any rest," says St. John Vianney. "From now until then, she is much too busy with her children."

---

Section Three: 

Does Christ actually need us to participate in the redemption of the world? Of course not.

Does Christ want us to participate in the redemption of the world? You better believe it. And Mary is the key.

WHAT THE SAINTS SAY:

“Mary is, after Jesus, the mediator par excellence, the mediatrix of the entire world, and that it is through her that we obtain all spiritual goods.” St. Ephrem

LECTIO DIVINA

"When the soldiers had crucified Jesus they took his garments and made four parts, one for each soldier; also his tunic. But the tunic was without seam, woven from top to bottom; 24 so they said to one another, 'Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see whose it shall be.' This was to fulfil the scripture,
'They parted my garments among them,
and for my clothing they cast lots.'
25 So the soldiers did this. But standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Mag′dalene.
26 When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother, 'Woman, behold, your son!'
27 Then he said to the disciple, 'Behold, your mother!' And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home."
John 19:23-27

MEDITATION

According to Roman law, anything declared by a victim of crucifixion while hanging on the cross was considered legally binding. It was seen as a kind of last will and testament.
And what did Jesus think was important enough to painfully press against the nail that had pierced his feet and raise himself up enough to speak?

"Behold, your mother!"

But notice that even before that, he says to Mary, "Woman, behold, your son!"
Of course, St. John, the only Disciple left at the foot of the Cross, isn't her real son any more than you and I are. 

There's a deeper meaning.
John is an icon of us all. The Cross is all about re-opening the path to divine life in the Divine Family.
John takes Mary into his house, and that's exactly what we're called to, as well.
But bringing Mary into our the home of our hearts means that, like any good child, we're supposed to help our Mother.

WHAT THE SAINTS SAY: “[The spiritual journey is] totally sustained by grace, which nonetheless demands an intense spiritual commitment and is no stranger to painful purifications (the 'dark night'). . . 

And our Mother's job is to help save souls. That's our responsibility, too. That's what saints do.
And while it's a daunting task, it's exactly why our Brother gave us His Mother.
"O Mediatrix of all Graces, pray for us!"

---

Intro to the Three stages:

The backbone of the Science of Sainthood is what many spiritual writers call the Three Stages or Ages of the spiritual life.

All the different facets and parts of Catholic spiritual life fit into these three stages: the Sacraments, Prayer, Sanctifying and Actual Grace, Grace, Virtues, Gifts of the Holy Spirit, etc… They all exist in the framework of these stages laid out for us by the the spiritual masters of the Church.

They are:

1. The Purgative
2. The Illuminative
3. And the Unitive ways

In this video we'll begin to unpack what they are and their absolute importance to progressing in the spiritual life.
(NOTE: This is an edited down version of a video you may have received in an email from Matthew previously, but it certainly doesn't hurt to review since these concepts are vital.) And don't hesitate to leave a comment on this video in the Community! But it leads, in various possible ways, to the ineffable joy experienced by the mystics as 'nuptial union.'”Pope St. John Paul II (Novo Millenio Inuente)

LECTIO DIVINA

9 But you are not in the flesh, you are in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Any one who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.
10 But if Christ is in you, although your bodies are dead because of sin, your spirits are alive because of righteousness.
11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through his Spirit who dwells in you.
Romans 8:9-11

MEDITATION

Our movement through the spiritual life can be boiled down to this: it is the movement from death to life...period.

And when St. Paul talks about our "bodies" being dead, he doesn't mean our physical bodies, so to speak. Remember, we are embodied persons. We are a union of body and soul.

Christ brings life because we become one with him.

And the more unified with him we are, the more we're alive. As St. Irenaeus declared way back in the second century, "the glory of God is man fully alive."

To grow in the spiritual life - to progress through the stages - is to grow in Christ. And just like Christ, we'll receive new, glorified bodies at the end of time.

The process of deification through which we're now going will be complete. We will be children of God.

As Christ himself said, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven" (Mt 18:3).

---

Three stages:

While they weren't called the "Three Stages of the Spiritual Life" until later in history, we can certainly find the seeds of the stages in the words of Christ, as well as St. Paul.

Drawing upon Scripture, the Early Church Fathers begin to more precisely identify and describe the stages. In particular, men like Origen, Evagrius, St. Gregory of Nyssa, and Dionysius all helped codify the stages.

They set the stage for giants of the faith like Sts. Thomas Aquinas, John of the Cross, Teresa of Avila, and Francis de Sales.

WHAT THE SAINTS SAY:

"The first duty which is incumbent on man is to give up sin and resist concupiscence, which are opposed to charity; this belongs to beginners, in whose hearts charity is to be nursed and cherished lest it be corrupted.

The second duty of man is to apply his energies chiefly to advance in virtue; this belongs to those who are making progress and who are principally concerned that charity may be increased and strengthened in them.

The third endeavor and pursuit of man should be to rest in God and enjoy Him; and this belongs to the perfect who desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ."

St. Thomas Aquinas

LECTIO DIVINA

“Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.
13 Brethren, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but one thing I do, forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
15 Let those of us who are mature be thus minded; and if in anything you are otherwise minded, God will reveal that also to you. 16 Only let us hold true to what we have attained.
17 Brethren, join in imitating me, and mark those who so live as you have an example in us. 18 For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, live as enemies of the cross of Christ.
19 Their end is destruction, their god is the belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.
20 But our commonwealth is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will change our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power which enables him even to subject all things to himself."
Philippians 3:12-21

MEDITATION

Notice that Paul keeps using the phrase "press on." He knows the spiritual life is a journey.

In fact, he compares it more to a race.

In 1 Corinthians 9 he uses similar language and encourages us to run so as to attain the prize of heaven (v 24)...which isn't always easy.

We have to forget "what is behind" and "hold true to what we have attained."

Don't dwell on past failures. Strive for virtue. Continue to press forward so as to finish well. The difficulties of life are hard, but the prize is beyond our wildest dreams!

---

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_{The Revised Standard Version of the Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1965, 1966 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.}

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 Lisette, thank you gift with MaryBeth, where we each commit 15 minutes per day.  .

Matthew Leonard Lesson: Overcoming distraction the power of prayer. Contemplation as infused prayer, where God makes it happen. See the Catechism of the Catholic Church ccc2729 about distractions: involuntary and voluntary. . . Let the silly wondering come and go, offer it up to God. Distraction reveal what we are attracted to. . . Offer it up to God to bring clarity. . . Self-examination is safe…


Voluntary distraction are created and engaged in. . . Which are venial-sins that need to be addressed.
Silence on the outside, leads to silence on the inside. We are Made for the silence of GOD see ccc 2717
Silence in prayer leads to just the BEingness. . . 1 Thessalonians 5:17 pray continually,
Are we just hanging out with God. . . Just Be is perfect as is. The quiet gaze of faith and the silent exchange of love is where we all belong.

Wow, the PRAYER Section in the Welcome Team Book is really incredible too . . . Wow!

This prayer is a game changer for you spiritually, and a game changer for every aspect of your life. If every Catholic in America prayed in this way for a few minutes each day the Church would be on the fast track to renewal. If everyone in your parish began to pray using this process your parish would explode with enthusiasm and engagement.

The Prayer Process

1. Gratitude: Begin by thanking God in a personal dialogue for whatever you are most grateful for today.
2. Awareness: Revisit the times in the past twenty-four hours when you were and were not the-best-version-of-yourself. Talk to God about these situations and what you learned from them.
3. Significant Moments: Identify something you experienced today and explore what God might be trying to say to you through that event (or person).
4. Peace: Ask God to forgive you for any wrong you have committed (against yourself, another person, or him) and to fill you with a deep and abiding peace.
5. Freedom: Speak with God about how he is inviting you to change your life so that you can experience the freedom to be the-best-version-of-yourself.
6. Others: Lift up to God anyone you feel called to pray for today, asking God to bless and guide them.
7. Finish by praying the "Our Father."

Each of the first six steps in the process should stimulate a conversation with God. It is easy to fall into the trap of merely thinking about these things. When you find yourself doing that, return to actually speaking with God about whatever it is you are thinking. The goal is to develop the ability to have intimate conversations with God during this time set aside for prayer. The more deeply rooted we become in this daily habit of prayer, the more those conversations with God will spill over into the moments of our daily lives.

If you are just beginning, you may want to start with just one minute of conversation with God each day, adding a minute each week until you reach ten. If that is the case, don't try to race through all seven aspects of the prayer process. Just use the first step. Gratitude. Spend your minute speaking to God about everyone and everything youare grateful for, and then close with an Our Father. As you expand your time of prayer over the coming weeks, adding minutes, I suggest you add one step at a time of the process to your daily prayer. The key is to get the conversation started!  But whether you start with one minute a day or ten minutes a day, I hope this section has left you thinking, "I can do that!" Nothing will change your life more meaningfully than developing a vibrant and sustainable prayer life.

The Prayer Process is infinitely expandable and contractible. If you went away on retreat you could spend hours praying your way through the process, looking not just at the past twenty-four hours, but at the past year-or even your whole lifetime. For example, the first step in the process surrounds gratitude. Imagine how long you could speak to God about everything that has ever happened in your life that you are grateful for. On the other hand, perhaps on a particular day you don't get to pray at your regular time and then the day gets away from you. Rather than going to bed withoutdoing the Prayer Process because you don't have the will or the energy to pray for ten minutes, shorten the experience. Take just a minute, still go through each of the seven steps, but just speak to God briefly about one thing in each step.

The goal of the Prayer Process is to trigger a regular and meaningful conversation with God. Prayerlessness is one of the great torments of modern times. For decades the time we spend in focused prayer has been diminishing as our lives have become busier and busier. We have fallen into the tyranny of the urgent, which demands that we rush from one urgent thing to the next. The problem with this is that the most important things are hardly ever urgent. This can leave us always doing urgent things but never doing important things. It is these most important things that we are never gettingaround to in this cycle. Prayer is one of those important things, and among the highest priority. Prayer helps us to identify what matters most and strengthens our hearts and minds to give priority to those things in our daily lives. What could be more important than prayer?

Prayerlessness also distorts the human person. Without prayer, over time we forget the attitudes and qualities that make us uniquely human (compassion, generosity, humility, fortitude) and we become more and more like mere animals.Prayer leads us to catch a glimpse of the-best-version-of-ourselves, and helps us to develop the virtue necessaryto celebrate our best selves. If you watch your evening news tonight you will discover that the world desperately needs men and women of prayer and virtue. People in your neighborhood need your prayers, your parish needs your prayers, and your colleagues at work need your prayers. And it is painfully obvious at times that the Catholic Church is in desperate need of prayer.

Over the years I have encountered many great families in my travels. A number of years ago I started trying to work out what made these families so steadfast and full of life. Tolstoy begins the epic novel Anna Karenina with these lines: "Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way." What I have discovered is thatall the great families I have encountered have a giant of prayer, a person who covers his or her family with prayer, anchoring the family in God's grace . 

These prayerful giants pray constantly for their families, surrounding them with God's protection. Somewhere in these families' not-too-distant past is a person who was a prayerful giant. Sometimes it is the grandmother or grandfather,the mother or father, an uncle or aunt, and from time to time you have to go back two or three generations, sometimes more. But you always find a prayerful giant in their family tree. Every family needs a cornerstone of prayer to pray for the family, now and in ne future. I suppose if a family gets far enough down the road from that prayerful giant without raising up another, its members begin to lose their way. Does it take a generation or two, or three or four?!?!?

They know they need God and his grace, and they need community. They come to Mass seeking this grace and community. For this reason and others, the Mass is central to their lives. Many of them identifyit as the crown jewel of the spiritual life. Personal prayer is a deepening of your relationship with God, discovering who God is calling you to be for him and for others. The liturgical prayer of Sunday Mass is the prayer of the whole Church gathered for a public proclamation of who we are as Catholics. What you bring to Mass on Sunday is your prayer life, and the deeper it is, the more deeply you can enter into the public expression of the faith of the Church. The Mass is not simply about you; it is the whole Church gathered as a sign of hope to the world. A community at prayer is a beautiful thing. The first sign of a Dynamic Catholic is prayer. Dynamic Catholics are first and foremost men and women of prayer, just as the saints were. Is it enough for us just to pray? No. We have been given the mission to transform the world. But the best action springs forth from a vibrant prayer life. Our efforts to transform society into a more loving and just experience for all must be deeply rooted in our Christianity, and thus deeply rooted in prayer. Otherwise our Christian social efforts can become disconnected from our Christianity, and this quickly diminishes into just another form of social work. Don't get me wrong-social.

It is all about a real relationship with God . . . Maturing spirituality means a shift in the conversation. It always is so powerful. To stop and pray in silence always makes it clearer.  Stepping out to get refocused is so important. . . Silence is fundamental and critical to make life beautiful.  Trying to be silent when there is noise everywhere!  It is so important to “humanize” our relationship with God!  Trying to be the better version of myself. . . 

9:12:22 3/27/2025

Wow, what a busy crazy experience to be in this time and place. Three basics for sound prayer:

1. PRAYER In perseverance; Is a battle, as a child to their father, Luke 11:9-10. . . Progress only comes with efforts: “And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” https://bible.com/bible/1/luk.11.9.KJV
2. HUMILITY: works like a magnet, “humus” (Latin) earth, soil, ground that beats pride the deadly sin. Humility is foundation of Prayer. Luke 18:13 “God Be merciful to me a sinner.”
3. CONFIDENCE: confidence is always in Christ, Matt 7:8-11 to move into a real relationship of loving communion. “for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” https://bible.com/bible/1/mat.7.8.KJV “Lord I believe, Help with my unbelief”. . . 

Now, again I’ve been overwhelmed with so much information and insight into the experiences and challenges before us. It’s incredible how I’ve been blessed over and over again while I hear and see so many people around me falling apart.

It's important to examine yourself to determine if you're living a life that God will praise. Consider these areas:

1. Your mind: When you wake up, is your mind bent toward the Lord or toward all you must do over the next few hours?
2. Your desires: Do you want to listen to God, walk in His ways, and let Him accomplish His will for your life?
3. Your deeds: Is obeying God your top priority? He desires for you to be a faithful steward. (See 1 John 2:5-6 . . . “But who so keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.” https://bible.com/bible/1/1jn.2.5.KJV)
4. Your pure heartedness: Do you tolerate sin in your life? A godly person readily confesses wrongdoing before the Lord.
5. Your time: Are you spending your time on worthless things or investing it in the kingdom of God?

Wow. . . So much, so quickly. . . I posted this to my children, the Men’s Group and a few others: 

God makes a promise, Faith believes it, hope anticipates it, and patience waits quietly for it...  https://www.intouch.org/listen/radio/shortcutting-the-will-of-god-pt-2

It's all about Glory for God ... where all the best comes through Him.  The Lord said unto him, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy Lord.”

Matthew 25:21 KJV https://bible.com/bible/1/mat.25.21.KJV

And from the Ladies group: https://youtu.be/HueOaeoTfIE

109.1 SEEL the causes and consequences of Sin

I need to do my SEEL WEEK 109.1, Week 9 the causes and consequences of Sin . . . Beginning with a Colloquy of Mercy - Theological conversations of Mercy . . . Each day has another Colloquy

DAY 1: Luke 7:36-50 Woman with the Alabaster Jar, Colloquy of Mercy 
DAY 2: Psalm 51 Contrition of sin with Bathsheba, Colloquy triple think feel act sincere sorrow
DAY 3: Mark 2:13 - 17  Call forth the sinners, Colloquy for Jesus sacrifice on the cross. 
DAY 4: Matthew 25:31 - 46 Separate the sheep from the goats, in a final Colloquy

I find this an interesting progression and after I spent the last few weeks defining and digging deeper in SIN. I realized more than ever how blessed I am and how much Mercy and Grace I’ve been given having this time and experience with Jesus. My Colloquy with Spirit has been much the same for a very long time. I’ve always had the sense of this party in my head. Not just spirits and angels but also relatives and daemons all vying for my attention and focus. I’ve realized how much this has changed and shifted in my life over time. Like when doing the 33 Days of Glory for the Consecration to Mary, I was filled with the deep realization that my growing up in the woods, was really about sharing and loving Mary. I had deep spiritual moments relived and refreshed inside of me, feeling how Mary had guided me in my childhood as she does again now.

I guess the conception of the “Colloquy” is much the same as Saint Theresa of Avila described as “Contemplative Prayer,” where it is more of a conversation and open discussion with Spirit. What’s stronger and clearer to me now is how my BEING is more focused on the True Deep Perception of Jesus EVERYWHERE, and in EVERYTHING!

What you are learning again, is how to take the next steps from here.These perceptions you have come to understand are something very specific, that you demanded with your death.  If you recall you were not interested in coming back after the motorcycle accident. You understood how you had followed guidance all your life, and knew each challenge and lesson was necessary for the moments you were in. However, to continue, you required more details on the Goals and Results of these random tasks you were given.  You very specifically demanded to see God’ Perspective in the events of your life. You were given the equation that connected everything and then you were able to see how this was enacted in your life day to do. Yes, this request for God’s Perspective on your events and circumstances brought you into a sixth sense. . . . 

Oh, I figured it was a lot more than this, as the concepts of SIN were repeated over and over again in podcasts, prayers, readings, liturgy, radio and all this week. Placing these ideas before me again and again, and then asking that I discuss them with You more than ever. And I know and recognize that it’s always been three or more in conversation. I also get the sense and feeling how bringing Saint Mary and Saint Joseph into the fold is expanding or strengthening this conversation. It’s always been clear and strong, but acknowledging these new players seems to have ‘upped the anty’ a bit. 

Yes to he who is given much, much is expected.  So now again, these deeper perceptions and understandings, bring you closer to what you need to know now. Everything is shifting on Earth, and you are able to hold Jesus in your Daily activities. Now again, in such a clear state of peace and joy, you are writing and sharing deeper than ever before. Yes, even with an Apple reply today  asking about your editing, and challenges in their apps.

Consider your day, or week. Each time you awake and look at the iPhone you have a new start seeing the “00” for the next hour. . . Ready to start your Prayerline, or Exodus 90, then your exercises successfully pushing to twenty on each assignment. You have NEVER done this before, keep it up. Then you showered and dressed for church, adding the Exodus 90 Shrit for the Welcome Meeting tonight as well. You “Slowly Listened and Loved” taking your study guides as you walked next door to Saint Paul’s.

Then you greeted Joseph and Thanked him for the lessons on wearing hats in church. . . You prayfully read your guides and accepted the Clear Focus on Saint Joseph, even recognizing the statue of him as you were walking home. The deeper perspective and insight is clear. You arrived home, watered the gardens made coffee and started here to read and write.

Now this deeper discussion leads you into the next days of Contemplative Prayers or Colloquy. For how much stronger is the calling to those who are lost before the final judgement and the issuing separation of the wheat from the chaff. 

I get how much I’ve shared with my children on this subject of sin in this last week. I mean several Exodus Men commented about what I’ve shared, as I’ve copied my kids posts to them several times. It really felt wonderful to see how clear and focused my words became in these moments that I shared with my children. Often it was really key phrases that I copied directly from the preacher to share. And I admit, Family Focus, Bishop Baron, Charles Stanley and Pastor John have significant disparity between them. Not that one is significantly better or different than the others, but I just don’t see that many people, or ANY people on the Planet could ever string together such lessons like I have, let alone use them all in the explorations of sin as I shared with my children.

We have done a lot more with you than those explorations. You were very clear with your spiritual director about the timing and guidance you received. Expressing the details of this was important, as you step into more each day. Each moment you write and bring deeper clarity to your own growth. Trusting how it is, will make it better and easier for all. What was this big lesson you came to these last weeks.

Ok, I guess that the main point here is that sin is not following the smallest detail, that you share with me. I know I’ve been getting very clear strong guidance for a very long time. And I know I’ve laughed and teased you about doing some task tomorrow, or skipping the assignment for a few hours, or days.  And I recognized how it was Charles Stanley who was so explicit about this as I heard again this morning. Yes, after my morning prayers and podcasts, I went to mass and came home to make some breakfast. As usual I turned on the iPad and opened my blog to click a link to watch while I ate my breakfast. 

Course it was Charles Stanley again…

We were particularly clear to you about BEING, and allowing the Love and Peace to flow through you. You are always trying to plan and understand. It’s more important to trust your experience as you are able to see what Jesus Sees in the works and tasks before you. Allowing this FLOW and experience to envelope you is where we are heading. You have wondered about miracles and witness many. You recognize that the Power of Jesus can flow easily when you are free in joy and love, beyond the questioning and understanding. 

Oh, now I see through your focus on my trust in the truth of my own being. DAY 5 is about seeing all that is NOT the Beingness of God. And I guess I’ve been there before too.  I’ve struggled alone, and wondered where I was going and why. It’s something that we all have seen and experienced before. I recognize how my son has been in this challenge for a while now too. 

I’m not sure why, since he certainly has seen and witnessed how his sister and I have been in Christ Jesus.  You think being so close to us, would reflect and inspire the same. And I know I’ve made the mistake thinking that it has, while apparently he still is choosing something leading to the opposite results. Where does this put me in my Contemplative Prayers and Colloquy with Jesus. DAY 6 is about repeating day 5 where we are instructed to pray and envision hell and how the deceptions and greed speak to me today. 

I’ve often said I was untouchable and fearless about evil. Though the challenges I’ve witnessed in my home and life in Saint Pete has been powerful. DAY 7 Romans 7:14-25 sounds familiar in my life before Saint Pete . . . Now in Saint Pete, alone in my home of love and peace, I really have none of these concerns, but only gratitude for all the blessings that I see and experience each day. I know I’m blessed here, that is why the challenges I’ve witnessed,were only stepping stones to greater peace in my solitude. 

We are clear with you about your experience, and how important it has been for you to stay alone and create real habits that are safe and strong for bringing you into this next phase of life. You are safe and comfortable beyond reason. You are able to share and experience Joy as needed with anyone that crosses your path. This is a great blessing. You easily accept what we send to you and realize it’s all Spirit and nothing else.

I’m very grateful for this. I know you have been preparing me for the next 50 years I have before me. I understand this might be a lot more than I can understand now. And I realize it might bring considerable changes that I’ve not anticipated. I also realize that planning and pressing forward is something that I can release at this time. But now in each step I take and each word I write, I know it’s about preparation. Still as a student, means I’m open for teaching and creating something very much beyond my current experiences. I know this. I’m grateful for this. . . Thank You Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I Love You Dear Lord Jesus Christ!