112.1 SEEL imaginations into the birth of Jesus. . . ❤️💞😇👍

I pray with You Jesus for me to Be All you have prepared me for. 

• Jesus has taken care of me since
  
  
  Covid. He has really ALWAYS protected me. But after Covid it has really been incredible, as I got a job, just when I needed a new bike or to hire an attorney…but then set free!
• Today I learned I’ve buried something you know about:
• https://www.focusonthefamily.com/episodes/broadcast/improve-yourself-improve-your-relationships/
• I’m not yet sure what it includes. But I know I need to Forgive my family!?!?
• https://www.intouch.org/listen/radio/forgiving-one-another-part-3
• Yes these two podcasts . are on every morning 5-6am on TheJoyFM.com … it is always on point .for everything in my life. These verses and lessons are always so strong for me. And I step into this, knowing how God has been leading me into more and more every day into something more.
• I’m doing the Prayerline again 4-5am Wds, Fr & Sn

And of course, I keep reading into my prayer books this morning. I always start with these Podcasts, and then open my daily readings, which include the Consecration to St Joesph book and this, that I get every month now. 

Of course, this is where I got the Hebrew verse, posted above. But again stepping into God’s Wisdom and Glory to recognize that there is something about my past that I buried. And instead of finding and forgiving some karma, I’ve been caught into these obstacles of Doubt and Fear. 

This is really so powerful for me, as I realize now how my dad will be here .. tomorrow and my son has lost it yesterday. And now again in my space and time the random experience of sharing God’s Beauty and Love, in His Son dying to share and teach whatever could be next for me. And suddenly, I have this typo “Ely,” and see my mother name? Of course, I couldn’t erase or correct this. . . 

Why is my mom showing up for me now? Could it be to understand why I feel lost in doubt and fear about some karma I have hidden deep down inside about my mom.  Yes, “About my  Mom?”

And yes I can write and share more carefully and more focused than ever. Of course, this does not have the beauty and pizzazz that can be found in my handwritten text, but this is autocorrected, typed perfectly and spelled correctly which allows easier reading and understanding. Even when my words are really scribbled here very sloppy most all the time.

I confess, I struggle to stay slow and focused all the time. It's really a challenge for me. And I do realize that “slow and steady” really works better for math and spelling and all sorts of things that I do, and like to do. Like making this blog sing with clarity and focus, comes better with slow steady writing, especially with my pen. I often wonder how can I possibly continue to move forward when there seems to be an onslaught of chaos before me each day.

This is where I need to start in the next section of my SEEL work. Making the transition to express the deeper imagination experiences that I have . . . It’s really where I always am, seeing and feeling things sorta beyond everything around me. It’s really like I’m  never alone, always feeling, hearing, and imagining some collective of angels around me. It’s really neat as any name that comes up, I’ll see their face, and get comforted. Just like a second ago when I typed my mom’s name “Ely,” and instantly I felt her along with other mother figures, Joyce, Dawn, Joni, Jesus, and even St. Mary all here flashing looks and images before me as if they all came to visit.

Just typing “saint” brought the feeling and imagery of Saint Michael, where I’d see his sword of protection around us all. I guess it’s really cool for me, as I visualize it all at once, together. Very different images and people flashing in concert as each name comes and goes in my minds eye.

Then the assignment in Ignatian Imaginative Prayers is to imagine the Birth of Jesus and the trip of Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem, which is now in synchronous to the Exodus Readings, which included this prayer so intimate and clear for me in this moment: 

Let us remember that we are in the loving presence of God. Trust in his mercy as you come close to him today. Take one minute of silence now, praying for God’s blessing on you, your family, fraternity, and all Exodus Men.

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.

Great is your mercy, O Lord; give me life according to your justice. 

What we have here now is you stepping more strongly into this spiritual experience, more and more each day. You were able to exercise today and yesterday, but not yet bike, swim or Sun today. The exercises were all at least 20 reps each, and it was one of your best times to stay in silence. You are always discounting these completely unique experiences that you are able to complete. Like moments ago, you received a Kim note from the Apple Pic App, and you sent the newly found “WHAT IF” letter that you wrote last year. This was from an exercise with your Welcome Team. Then you also shared this note with your son and daughter. These events are very significant and truly remarkable. 

I was so surprised to see something so strong and specific for Kimberly with her Birthday Notes still warm, 5/30. And I immediately FLASHED to her being here with me again, restored to her position and I was very quick and direct doing everything she suggested. We were in the Prayer and Light with Jesus moving forward together in Spirit. We accepted all the gifts and blessings before us, ready to step more fully into training and supporting everyone we met. Just as God directed us from the very beginning. You see, everything I “Flash” into is like seeing the Mozart Picture on the wall, and each second I imagine and look at it, it becomes a live video bringing more and more details in the first little picture I see. Of course, as I write again now, the FLASH of Kim has grown to include the grant job at SPC that I interviewed for last week. We were training teachers, healing professionals, bringing more focus and direction to the city youth. It was an incredible moment of synchronicity where the moment of creation was real and apparent for all of us.

We always love when you FLASH into a new more powerful vision of creation as it evolves before your eyes. And again you need to add these experiences into your story and make it full and complete. Having the pretty and important words is perfect, but the links are missing and are needed. The Examples and dynamics that you experienced, and know, and understand also need to be present and clear throughout your presentation.

I was so delighted to fall into this experience as I consider the SEEL Day 1 Lessons Luke 2:1-7 about the Love and Glory of Joseph and Mary traveling through the dessert and mountains to Bethlehem for the birth of our Savior. The challenges through the terrain are incredible compared to the pushing of this keyboard that I am complaining about now. And now I see a crack completely accross this screen before me. No excuse to feel sorry for myself, as the extreme bizarre experience I feel is how much Jesus Leads me to now, testing and training me to be slow and patient. And how Joseph and Mary felt, as if anything could be expressed or shared beyond our understanding. There is no comparison here. Nothing I have been challenged with this week or month or year could compare.

My first feeling and insight with Joseph and Mary, was how God explained Creation to me with e=mc2, where at any moment their next steps taken forward could be onto clouds, that carried them miles in a moment. Then I know they stopped to rest. And I could feel the wild animals bringing them food and comfort on their trip. Suddenly water bubbling up before them, where the hot spring bubbles up into a perfect rounded foot pool next to a stone smoothed out as a seat. How Blessed the whole experience would be to share in these moments with God, sharing the love and divine life passing through this very moment with us. Trusting and loving God this moment as we move forward, how wondrous must it have been for Joseph and Mary to travel so far with God.

Take your time with this. You have the ability to see and understand so much more. The concept of energy and matter being in a state of flux, where one moment they are struggling with steps on hard stone, and the very next moment they step onto a puffy white cloud that carries them away. These conceptions and imagination is simply beyond anything on Earth. Your direct personal experience with these things provide you a very unique and powerful experience. Like you have frequently had experiences where time stands still, and many more that you still refuse to discuss.

Yes, I was stunned to read this passage from Luke now as it ends with the facts of their experience that there was no guest room available to them. And this mirrors my immediate experience completing my website describing the gifts of God (actual guest rooms that I offer here) that I am able to share in my home.  I am making every effort to define each shared space and how much I can provide with it. And now again I am challenged to include all the experiences of my Journey to share Christ, where this whole life and all these gifts are part of His plan.

What is more powerful than anything is how strong you are moving forward to share these gifts anyway you can possibly do it. Now again accepting that the hand motions of your pen are as fundamental to this experience as each new revelations coming to you.

I now return to SEEL Day Two to repeat the exercise of “imagining into” the birth and light of Christ Jesus in the manger. And I'm an ANT, with front row seats. Watching the love of angels and royalty sharing the blessing of the awesome light.

We delight in sharing this light with you as you step more strongly forward. Son remain fearless, you are always in the right place at the right time, you have been perplexed by the graces received over and over again. And now more than ever you are suspended by love and Grace, be at peace and keep moving forward.

I started today with my cracked and damaged iPad Pro and now again I'm on my iPad. I reread and revised and repaired my written work here to get clarity and focus. And I have revised and fixed my story and website that I've been working on simultaneously. So now I'm able to review and continue with my SEEL work, where the next verses from the Bible are about how beautiful and awesome God is. How the lowly poor shepherds are given the greatest blessing and benefit to have this experience with the angels.

I find it interesting how the book says he is surrounding himself with people. I would say more that Jesus seeks the poor and even avoids people. He is always trying to share with the sick and destitute, which is more beyond and away from the people. Yes, in fact I would say that Jesus seeks more the outcasts and those pushed away from the people.

I guess what was interesting to me again here when I considered the Lectio Divina for DAY 3 Luke:2 8-20 and really consider the words and phrases that struck strongly with me. . . I notice that I first highlighted them singing “Glory to God in the Highest.”

And I feel that this is my perfect phrase for today. As it’s all exactly as the Lord has told me about . . . Which I continue to ponder in my heart: I knew I had to get back into my Exodus Habits, and started the Day with Exodus App, then heard FamilyFocus and Charles Stanley as I did my 20 reps with the weights and all. I knew I had to ride my bike to catch the Sunrise at 6:34 today and started out as Stanley was finishing. I knew I had to swim too, and when I got to Coffeepot with the Mangrove’s and it was only 10 after six. So I parked and walked in the water thinking I might swim before, instead of after the Sunrise.

I Picked up some trash and then back on my bike down to the volleyball courts where I could sit out on the pier there. Watching the busy birds chirping at me from all directions. Course, it was a cloudy morning and I thought maybe I would go back and swim instead. So I stretched and got myself doing circles and feeling deep into the Earth. Until I saw the first little break of Sunshine over the clouds and got into my prayers. About halfway through the Sun was out strong, so I did my first cycle all the way through. When I was done the Sun was full and clear above the clouds so I did The Lords Prayer again allowing the Sun deep into my eyes having this wonderful light and beauty filling my heart again now!

Now again in this next Bible Verse for DAY  4 Matthew 2:1-12 I was caught by the direct experiences with God, and the beauty and blessing of being filled with His Light. I really felt that this morning out with the Sun myself. But reading this now, I could imagine how the Star they followed would seemingly be sitting on the stable He was in. Like as if it were this giant street light right above the door in the eyes of the Magi. 

Of course, king harod likely couldn’t see the star at all, or certainly not distinguish one from another. While the Magi were blessed with dreams of God visiting them in additional to the wonders of the fruit of the spirit in this moment filled with joy and peace. As I imagine the moment of divinity they shared seeing the body Jesus, it must have been like staring deep into the center of the star... Recognizing that they are marveling at a child, but the radiance and beauty of the All Mighty is so much more.

I am reminded of my own experience saying the Lords Prayer this morning as the sun shown deep into my soul. I love doing my Yoga with the sunrise and the beauty of God all around me. I always want to jump right in the water next! Now DAY  5 with Isaiah 52:7-10

To consider this verse with the nativity scene is like really amplifying my last few words. To see the beauty and majesty of God, who reigns overall in this incredible moment of light and salvation. Where all this majesty comes together in the star of the birth of Christ. . . . like the Earth and the sunrise in my one moment with Christ this morning. . . Wow all the ends of creation coming back in on top of itself in my wonder of this moment!

I always have the sense that His second coming was at Pentecost and that he sent his Holy Spirit to live with us now. So there’s not anything else coming, but it all is about us following through with here and now, being real about Christ living here with us now. I always feel like the revelation in the end of times is more of a story about everybody else who doesn’t choose to live with Jesus now! It’s all God wrath on those foolish enough to miss the boat!

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!

---

Leave a comment about this video and join the discussion in the Science of Sainthood Community!

Return to My Library to view other courses.

_{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.}

DON'T FORGET THE MOBILE APP

You can access the entire Academy on your phone. And once you download the app and login, you never have to login again.

Here's how to get it:

1. Go to the App Store on your iPhone or Google Play Store on your Android phone. Search for the app named Kajabi. (That's the software platform upon which the Science of Sainthood is built, get Apple version: https://apps.apple.com/app/id1485646310.)

2. Download the Kajabi app and open it.

3. Enter your email address when prompted. (IMPORTANT - Make sure to use the same email you're currently using to login to the Science of Sainthood.)

4. You will receive an email from Kajabi asking you to confirm your email. Click the button in the email and it will take you to the App! That's it!

Now that you have the app, you can simply open it on your phone and you're in

SIGN UP FOR THESE COURSES, to see and comment about this video and join the discussion in the Science of Sainthood Community!