Information On Pain
Many pain
victims haven't done anything, they believe, that really deserve or
warrant this ordeal. It is life-mysterious, often raw, painfully
oppressive, tremendously afflicting and often
unpredictable.
Albert Schweiter lived from 1875-1965. He was
a physician, a Protestant clergyman, philosopher and music scholar.
Albert went on a mission to equatorial Africa and his observations
were that pain is more of a terrible lord of mankind than death
itself. He fought to alleviate that pain which plagued the
poor.
Today, doctors prescribe pills by the billions. They
alleviate unbearable pain. Most love their doctors. They should!
Most are gifted and talented. There are real psychological pains and
afflictions along with physical pain that doctors assuage by being
kind and caring.
Anesthesiologist, neurosurgeons and
psychiatrist focus as pain specialists. One renowned and remarkable
psychiatrist, turned best selling author, is M. Scott Peck. His
books include "The Road Less Traveled" and has recently written on
many other subjects. Doctor Peck's writings includes the spirituality
of community and human development and enrichment areas. Other
writings include a fascinating book on stones and monoliths that he
wrote during a vacation in Scotland with his wife.
We look up
to our medical profession with great respect. The whole medical
science and profession of treating people is an art and a science.
In addition to endless preparation, studies and licensing, doctors
have to be patient, listening to complaints and pain stories daily.
Then they prescribe proper diagnoses and recommendation for
solutions. It is an arduous profession and most demanding. It has
always been a most honorable profession and one that any parent
would want their children to aspire. Some of the saints in the
Catholic Church were medical doctors.
A doctor in the medical
field is not only a scientist but also prescribes a prescription.
They are looked upon to find answers to some, if not all, patient
problems, causes or illnesses that may not be what the patient
considers the problem. Often, the patients may not know the cause of
the pain or the problem.
Some who suffer from physical,
mental or emotional illness do not have the slightest idea what is
their real problem let alone the cure or solutions for the remedy.
They want to know what is causing the pain in certain parts of the
body. However, it often eludes them. Sometimes, wisdom, many years
of experience and medical knowledge is necessary to ascertain
complex causes that are not obvious.
There is new evidence
that suggest that a person's spiritual consciousness on his health
is benefical. Many medical doctors say: why not use it?
Doctors and patients (reported in Reader's Digest, May
2001) are making gains in keeping faith. In 1996, the Association
of American Medical Colleges began interviewing patient advocates,
doctors, insurance executives, medical students and community
members to report on objectives for medical schools. Cultural,
spiritual and end-of-life issues emerged as significant themes. And
schools are responding to the demand: In 1992 only a few taught
spirituality; now some 50 of 125 medical schools in the US have
dedicated curricula.
This article was written by Lydia
Strohl from the Washingtonian. Medical Doctors are telling us that
they do not believe in faith healing but faith in healing has
tremendous benefits.
Although most scarce in
numbers, doctors of the Church are profoundly wise when it comes to
the treatment of spiritual pain, healing and enlightenment. They are
proclaimed doctors because they not only have the right diagnoses
for the spiritual growth and development but also the precise cure.
The solution they offer is often not thought to be the cure.
However, those who want to be physically, mentally and spiritually
healed might want to explore the doctors of the Church for insight
and discernment.
To seek reparation, forgiveness or
contrition, the doctors of the Church are eminently qualified to
help all. They are not medical experts or physicians. Today, all
professions have their own specialists. As we go to medical doctors
for health of our bodies, we too might go to the doctors of the
Church for exploring spiritual wholeness. We should trust them even
as much as our medical doctors in specific areas.
The doctors
urged "confession" regularly for healing and forgiveness of sins.
The Church encourages and entreats us to the sacrament of
reconciliation frequently. Although this holy sacrament is not used
as in times past it is far superior to all other approaches. Total
remission of sins makes us innocent and virtuous.
The daily
practice of virtue enables us to become richly innocent. However, it
is not easy to arrive at innocence of mind, heart, soul and body
because of past human weaknesses and habits. The practice of virtue
makes it easier. A perfect act of contrition isn't that easy. Virtue
and grace makes contrition possible.
Sacraments increases
our faith, hope and charity. With humility and surrender, they can
be the right means of grace. Fruits, favors and gifts are profoundly
poured out and beatitudes abound each and every time we frequent the
sacraments. We shun and avoid the sacraments sometimes because we
feel that they aren't necessary or we don't need them. This is
unfortunate and understandable.
We need the seven gifts of
the Spirit, especially the gift of understanding, to fathom and
grasp God's operations within us. God bestows graces that allow us
to judge, understand, know, enjoy, think and see as the Deity. God
is incredibly generous to us-too much to think or dare to image. A
unique result of God's generosity is that it allows us to cope with
difficulty, hardship and even extreme pain.
Most of us have
pain. Many have bodily, mentally or unknown pain. Some of us have
spiritual pain. Sometimes it is difficult to know the difference.
The doctors are rich resources who help us tremendously if we have
confidence in them and implore their intercession.
In the
spiritual domain, the heart is not purified completely except by
pain, suffering and sacrifice. Spiritual consolation, which comes
from God, is a happiness that carries pain with it. The doctors are
masters of the spiritual life and inform us that Jesus did not
suppress pain. He did something greater and finer. He enclosed it in
joy and arranged it so that perfect joy would blossom from its
depths.
Happiness enfolding pain-happiness that is born of
pain-is the consolation that the Holy Spirit gives to us. Pain can
be the most perfect giving of ourselves if we accept it from God. We
should first do everything to alleviate it. Pain is the final word
of love on earth as unfailing joy is the final love in heaven. Pain
is the holiest of things of earth, if we have faith. Love is the
most divine of heavenly things.
The ideas in this section
originate from the deceased Archbishop of Mexico, Luis M. Martinez.
His book entitled, "The Sanctifier" is a study on the gifts, fruits
and beatitudes of the Holy Spirit.
Not all have the courage
to be happy, because many of us look for love and happiness in "all
the wrong places or in too many faces." Saints down through the ages
have endured pain as our Divine Man-God. These attest to the "right
places" to find God.
Michael Freze's book: "They bore the
wounds of Christ" published by Our Sunday Visitor,
http://www.catholic.net/linksframe.phtml?link=http://www.osvbooks.com
testifies to pain
endured in redemptive roles. Many Christians today imitate Jesus who
is our Redeemer and Savior, by accepting pain and trials and
offering them up in union with Jesus’ sacrifice daily. The doctors
were courageous warriors who won many spiritual victories and
frequently were inundated with pain and challenges. They have spent
their substance for God's glory and the Church in the hope that we
too may seek God imitating them. When we want to treat ourselves
spiritually, explore the doctors of the Church. The treatment they
prescribe will help.
There is growing unity among medical and
church doctors. Each is a specialist and each can compliment the
other benefically for the peace and happiness of the patients they
treat.
On the physical death of Jesus Christ:
http://the-crucifixion.org
To begin reading and praying with the doctors, click
on http://www.doctorsofthecatholicchurch.com/.
You have 33 marvelous healers of the spirit and
more.
One source for coping with terrorism is the American Psychological
Association. Their website is http://www.apa.org
IN THE USA,
NEARLY A MILLION MEDICAL DOCTORS WRITE PRESCRIPTIONS BY THE
BILLIONS. 33 CHURCH DOCTORS OFFER ALL HUMANITY SPIRITUAL
PRESCRIPTIONS FOR THE HEALTH AND VITALITY OF THE SOUL. LISTEN
AND PRACTICE THEIR PRESCRIPTIONS FOR PEACE AND
JOY.
THE DOCTORS OF THE CHURCH OFFER ADVICE IN A
SUPERB MANNER AND ISSUE WRITTEN PRESCRIPTIONS FOR THE
SPIRITUAL HEALTH AND PEACE OF THE INDIVIDUAL. THESE MEN
AND WOMEN OFFERED THEIR LIVES AS A LIVING TESTAMENT BY
THEIR HEROIC VIRTUE AND LOVE FOR GOD AND HUMANITY. THEIR
INSIGHTS, WISDOM AND ADVICE HAVE BEEN TESTED AND PROVED
INVALUABLE FOR ANY AFFLICTION, HARM OR INJURY. THEIR
FORMULA BRINGS SOLACE TO THE SOUL AND HEART IN A TOTAL
AND HOLISTIC MANNER. THEIR PRESCRIPTIONS ALWAYS POINT TO
THE GOSPELS. CHRIST IS THEIR CHAMPION OVER SIN AND EVIL
AND HE HAS DESTROYED DEATH. JESUS IS THE RESURRECTION
AND THE LIFE. HIS ENNOBLING SPIRIT GRACES US WITH HIS
VICTORY OVER ALL OF OUR WEAKNESSES AND ENEMIES.
THE DOCTORS ARE CHRISTOCENTRIC IN THEIR MESSAGE,
SUPPORT AND COUNSEL FOR US. THEY HAVE PRESCRIBED FOR US
HOW TO FIND, DEVELOP AND USE THAT FAITH WHICH EMPOWERED
AND GRACED THEM TO BE BELIEVERS AND LOVERS OF THE
FATHER'S SON. HE WAS BORN OF THE VIRGIN MARY OF NAZARETH
2000 YEARS AGO FOR EVERYONE'S REDEMPTION, SALVATION AND
GLORY WITH GOD. JESUS IS THE GLORY OF GOD. IT IS IN US
THAT CHRIST DESIRES TO BE GLORIFIED. JESUS IS THE GLORY
OF GOD FOR US. The Prescription of the
Doctors
The prescriptions of the medical doctor
are issued to patients to help restore health. Hopefully
it will bring about a cure or remedy. The patient draws
upon the wisdom and experience of the medical doctor to
get well. He hopes and trusts that the doctor will
provide the very best advice and service to regain
health. After all, the doctor is licensed to practice
and has studied medicine for a long time. Most of us
prefer a doctor who is recommended, professional and
wise. We want a competent individual who is proven in
the field of medicine that we can trust. We expect the
doctor to be intelligent, understanding and sensitive to
our needs and pains. If the individual has a sense of
humor, and is kind, that makes the doctor that much more
attractive, in demand and wanted. A charming personality
gives us a lift. When we are ill, everything helps to
better us.
Doctor’s services aren’t inexpensive
and we anticipate the best assistance we can find. After
all, without our health we are often in a very sad
situation. Most of us secretly hope that we do not have
to take medicine because that is often distasteful.
However, we expect that the prescriptions issued, if
needed, will be the very best remedy and antidote to
alleviate the illness. We want to get well again as soon
as possible. Thus, we will accept the pain for the gain
and hope that the prescription offered will solve the
problem or at least help us. Generally, the prescription
is to restore us to optimal functioning and alleviate or
eliminate our pain.
The Church has many saints
who were medical doctors and She greatly honors St
Joseph Moscati, the first modern doctor to be canonized.
The doctors of the Church offer advice, and
issue prescription for the health of the soul, in a
superb manner. We might say that they are the best
spiritual physicians the world has ever had. Their
credentials are impeccable, proven and tested. They are
incomparable! They are wise and intelligent saints
proclaimed by the Church so rarely that for 2000 years
the Church has proclaimed only thirty-three doctors.
They offered admirable solutions for our weaknesses and
lack of virtues. They are most influential, warm and
masters of the spiritual life. The doctors will help us
immensely if we seek their gifts and wisdom and implore
God that the Almighty's will be done in us.
The
spiritual prescription of the doctors of the Church
generally aims to help the spiritual aspect of the
person. Although it can help the body too, the main
focus is on the soul or the spiritual betterment of the
person. Similarly, the medical doctors aim is the
betterment of the body's needs but we know it
tremendously aids the soul. Human beings are one-body
and soul. The doctors of the Church were spiritual
masters and knew that God alone is the absolute, perfect
Healer. They have shared their memories and antidotes
with us in their writings and lives. Others have written
about them in great detail. They were human and limited
like us. All were sinners who aimed to become saints and
do the right thing to please God and the Church.
We are dependent on the perfect and complete
Supreme Being for our true peace and happiness. Merely
to think about the perfection of God can be consoling,
thrilling and healing. God heals us, boost our spirit
and refreshes us when we offer Him our thoughts, hopes
and desires. God unites Himself with our feeble efforts
when we become, as it were, joined together by God’s
power, experiencing all the grandeur and majesty that
God possesses.
THE THREE THEOLOGICAL VIRTUES OF FAITH, HOPE AND CHARITY
The prescription that the doctors
offer is not perfect itself but it is perfect in its
source. The spiritual medicine that the doctor’s
advocated, for the most part, pertains to the three
theological virtues of faith, hope and charity. These
virtues are the quintessence of God. We might say that
the doctors prescribe God as the panacea. They offered
and attempted to model these three virtues continually.
All the virtues, especially the cardinal virtues of
prudence, justice, fortitude and temperance perfect us
with God’s infinite beauty, gifts and beatitudes. We
clothe ourselves with God’s kaleidoscopic, sparkling
beauty the more we exercise and are steeped in holy
graces from God. Taken together, God’s graces move us to
want to practice these sublime theological virtues with
continual frequency.
Faith makes us pleasing to
God. Hope captures the Almighty. Charity binds us to the
loving One and makes us Love’s prisoners. Through graces
we become impounded and immersed in God’s very life. The
Infinite One impresses, imprints and impregnates us with
the three divine Persons.
These supernatural
attributes are what the doctors wrote, expounded on and
lived out when they were on earth. These sublime
characteristics of God heal all injury, hurt and wounds.
When we allow them to absorb us and take over our
thinking and acting, these God-like virtues transform
us. Heaven becomes ours through spiritual
union.
These three virtues are glorious and the
doctors prescribe them for us to become holy and to
reach sanctity. The three Persons of the Trinity have
much to do with the issuing of faith, hope and love. The
Spirit is reflective of God’s intense and burning love.
Our Word and Redeemer has given fallen creatures hope
and inspiration for supernatural life beyond our wildest
imagination or dreams through the participation and
partaking of His life, death and resurrection. The
eternal Father’s creation and the manifestations of that
creativeness are reasons enough for us to submit our
intelligence in faith believing in divine omnipotence
and infinite intelligence.
It has been said that true faith, hope and charity are tested more in sorrow than
in joy… It is easy to believe and be good when life is a
placid succession of days all alike, even if not a
pleasant one. But he who is able to persist in faith,
hope and charity also when diseases, poverty, death,
misfortunes causes him to be left alone, forlorn,
avoided by everybody, and he does nothing but say: “Let
that be done, which the Most High deems is useful to
me”, he truly not only deserves help from God, but, I
tell you, his seat is ready in the Kingdom of Heaven and
he will suffer no delay in expectation, because His
justice has canceled all the debts of his past
life.
Soren Kierkegaard, a Danish philosopher and
theologian, who lived in the previous century, said that
life has to be lived by looking forward (hope) but can
only be understood by looking backward (reflecting
prayerfully.) This might be referred to as remembering
lovingly and lovingly remembering. Thus, hope and love
are involved in living and understanding life. The
person who is faithful in practicing this way of life
(hope and love) will also be exercising one’s faith.
Becoming imbued with these three theological virtues
makes one truly God-like to an extraordinary degree.
When this happens, God will be seen in us. Then, we will
find ourselves immersed in joy and peace. Others will
see this life in our talk and behavior because we will
be sharing in the attributes of divine life. Naturally,
we will be eager to learn more, but more importantly, we
will become greatly willing to love more. The
supernatural will enhance our natural motivation and
interest.
Soren had some fascinating comments on
his observations and experiences. Watching birds and
noticing their behavior and patterns, and afterward
reflecting on the subject, he said that you can make
wild birds tame but you can not make tame birds wild.
Once again, this can be interpreted that when love is
operative, one can learn and “soar upward and lovingly”
in faith, hope and charity. However, if love is missing
or absent, the motivation, interest or learning is most
likely not going to “soar” upward. The nature of genuine
love is not only to enjoy but also to share.
It
is vital that we stay “young” at heart and remember to
exercise those virtues that motivate us to new heights
with faith, hope and charity. Staying young at heart
means faithfully and lovingly exercising our faith, hope
and love in God Who repeatedly claims us for His own.
God’s convenant with us from the Old and New Testaments
assures us of this confidence from the prophets,
tradition and Church. The prescription from the doctors,
and their examples of holy, living, reveal faith, hope
and charity in all their brilliance and beauty.
The prescription of the doctors is the
prescription the Church offers. As the prophets, they
are the mouthpieces of the Holy Spirit. Their wisdom,
advice, remedies, solutions, methods and directions are
marvelous for spiritual growth and perfection. They
offer us checks and balances that bring us to God and
drench us in divine kindness and generosity to share
with others.
PEACE PRAYERS |
The below beautiful collection of prayers and meditations from the world's 12 great religious traditions will reminds us that we can all pray, read and learn for a common goal: unity among all people. By scrolling down near the end of this page, you will find these prayers.
The below beautiful collection of prayers and meditations from the world's great religious traditions reminds us that we can all unite for a common goal-and that is possible.
I am indebted to Lewis Randa of the Peace Abbey for providing the text for this series of prayers. These are 12 prayers for peace offered in Assisi, Italy on the Day of Prayer for World Peace in 1986.
THESE PRAYERS WERE FOUND IN A PAMPHLET ENTITLED PRAYERS OF PEACE BY JOANNE ASALA AND PUBLISHED BY AMERICAN MEDIA MINI MAGS, INC. BOCA RATON, FL. 33487.
DAY ONE-THE HINDU PRAYER FOR PEACE
OH GOD, LEAD US FROM THE UNREAL TO THE REAL. OH GOD, LEAD US FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT. OH GOD, LEAD US FROM DEATH TO IMMORTALITY. SHANTI, SHANTI, SHANTI UNTO ALL. OH LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, MAY THERE BE PEACE ON EARTH. MAY THE WATERS BE APPEASING. MAY HERBS BE WHOLESOME, AND MAY TREES AND PLANTS BRING PEACE TO ALL. MAY ALL BENEFICENT BEINGS BRING PEACE TO US. MAY THY VEDIC LAW PROPAGATE PEACE ALL THROUGH THE WORLD. MAY ALL THINGS BE A SOURCE OF PEACE TO US. AND MAY THY PEACE ITSELF, BESTOW PEACE ON ALL, AND MAY THAT PEACE COME TO ME ALSO.
DAY TWO-THE BUDDHIST PRAYER FOR PEACE
MAY ALL BEINGS EVERYWHERE PLAGUED WITH SUFFERINGS OF BODY AND MIND QUICKLY BE FREED FROM THEIR ILLNESSES. MAY THOSE FRIGHTENED CEASED TO BE AFRAID, AND MAY THOSE BOUND BE FREE. MAY THE POWERLESS FIND POWER, AND MAY PEOPLE THINK OF BEFRIENDING ONE ANOTHER. MAY THOSE WHO FIND THEMSELVES IN TRACKLESS, FEARFUL WILDERNESSES-THE CHILDREN, THE AGED, THE UNPROTECTED-BE GUARDED BY BENEFICENT CELESTIALS, AND MAY THEY SWIFTLY ATTAIN BUDDHAHOOD.
DAY THREE-THE JAINIST PRAYER FOR PEACE
PEACE AND UNIVERSAL LOVE IS THE ESSENCE OF THE GOSPEL PREACHED BY ALL THE ENLIGHTENED ONES. THE LORD HAS PREACHED THAT EQUANIMITY IN THE DHARMA. FORGIVE DO I CREATURES ALL, AND LET ALL CREATURES FORGIVE ME. UNTO ALL HAVE I AMITY, AND UNTO NONE ENMITY. KNOW THAT VIOLENCE IS THE ROOT CAUSE OF ALL MISERIES IN THE WORD. VIOLENCE, IN FACT, IS THE KNOT OF BONDAGE. DO NOT INJURE ANY LIVING BEING. THIS IS THE ETERNAL, PERENNIAL, AND UNALTERABLE WAY OF SPIRITUAL LIFE. A WEAPON HOWSOEVER POWERFUL IT MAY BE, CAN ALWAYS BE SUPERSEDED BY A SUPERIOR ONE; BUT NO WEAPON CAN, HOWEVER, BE SUPERIOR TO NONVIOLENCE AND LOVE.
DAY FOUR-THE MUSLIM PRAYER FOR PEACE
IN THE NAME OF ALLAH, THE BENEFICENT, THE MERCIFUL. PRAISE BE TO THE LORD OF THE UNIVERSE WHO HAS CREATED US AND MADE US INTO TRIBES AND NATIONS, THAT WE MAY KNOW EACH OTHER, NOT THAT WE MAY DESPISE EACH OTHER. IF THE ENEMY INCLINE IS THE ONE THAT HEARETH AND KNOWETH ALL THINGS. AND THE SERVANTS OF GOD, MOST GRACIOUS ARE THOSE WHO WALK ON THE EARTH IN HUMILITY, AND WHEN WE ADDRESS THEM, WE SAY "PEACE."
DAY FIVE-THE SIKH PRAYER FOR PEACE
GOD ADJUDGES US ACCORDING TO OUR DEEDS, NOT THE COAT THAT WE WEAR: THAT TRUTH IS ABOVE EVERYTHING, BUT HIGHER STILL IS TRUTHFUL LIVING. KNOW THAT WE ATTAINETH GOD WHEN WE LOVETH, AND ONLY THAT VICTORY ENDURES IN CONSEQUENCE OF WHICH NO ONE IS DEFEATED.
DAY SIX-THE BAHA'I PRAYER FOR PEACE
BE GENEROUS IN PROSPERITY, AND THANKFUL IN ADVERSITY. BE FAIR IN THY JUDGMENT, AND GUARDED IN THEY SPEECH. BE A LAMP INTO THOSE WHO WALK IN DARKNESS, AND A HOME TO THE STRANGER. BE EYES TO THE BLIND, AND A GUIDING LIGHT INTO THE FEET OF THE ERRING. BE A BREATH OF LIFE TO THE BODY OF HUMANKIND, A DEW TO THE SOIL OF THE HUMAN HEART, AND A FRUIT UPON THE TREE OF HUMILITY.
DAY SEVEN-THE SHINTO PRAYER FOR PEACE
ALTHOUGH THE PEOPLE LIVING ACROSS THE OCEAN SURROUNDING US I BELIEVE, ARE ALL OUR BROTHERS AND SISTER, WHY ARE THERE CONSTANT TROUBLE IN THIS WORLD? WHY DO WINDS AND WAVES RISE IN THE OCEAN SURROUNDING US? I ONLY EARNESTLY WISH THAT THE WIND WILL SOON PUFF AWAY ALL THE CLOUDS WHICH ARE HANGING OVER THE TOPS OF THE MOUNTAINS.
DAY EIGHT-THE NATIVE AFRICAN PRAYER FOR PEACE
ALMIGHTY GOD, THE GREAT THUMB WE CAN NOT EVADE TO TIE ANY KNOT; THE ROARING THUNDER THAT SPLITS MIGHTY TREES:THE ALL SEEING LORD UP ON HIGH WHO SEES EVEN THE FOOTPRINTS OF AN ANTELOPE ON A ROCK MASS HERE ON EARTH. YOU ARE THE ONE WHO DOES NOT HESITATE TO RESPOND TO OUR CALL. YOU ARE THE CORNERSTONE OF PEACE.
DAY NINE-THE ZOROASTRIAN PRAYER FOR PEACE
WE PRAY TO GOD TO ERADICATE ALL THE MISERY IN THE WORLD: THAT UNDERSTANDING TRIUMPH OVER IGNORANCE, THAT GENEROSITY TRIUMPH OVER INDIFFERENCE, THAT TRUST TRIUMPH OVER CONTEMPT, AND THAT TRUTH TRIUMPH OVER THE FALSEHOOD.
DAY TEN-THE NATIVE AMERICAN PRAYER FOR PEACE
OH GREAT SPIRIT OF OUR ANCESTORS, I RAISE MY PIPE TO YOU. TO YOUR MESSENGERS THE FOUR WINDS, AND TO MOTHER EARTH WHO PROVIDES FOR YOUR CHILDREN. GIVE US WISDOM TO TEACH OUR CHILDREN TO LOVE, TO RESPECT, AND TO BE KIND TO EACH OTHER SO THAT THEY MAY GROW WITH PEACE OF MIND. LET US LEARN TO SHARE ALL GOOD THINGS THAT YOU PROVIDE FOR US ON THIS EARTH.
DAY ELEVEN-THE JEWISH PRAYER FOR PEACE
COME LET US GO UP TO THE MOUNTAIN OF THE LORD, THAT WE MAY WALK THE PATHS OF THE MOST HIGH. AND WE SHALL BEAT OUR SWORDS INTO PLOUGHSHARES, AND SPEARS INTO PRUNING HOOKS. NATIONS SHALL NOT LIFT UP SWORD AGAINST NATION-NEITHER SHALL THEY LEARN WAR ANY MORE. AND NONE SHALL BE AFRAID, FOR THE MOUTH OF THE LORD OF HOSTS HAS SPOKEN.
DAY TWELVE-THE CHRISTIAN PRAYER FOR PEACE
BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS, FOR THEY SHALL BE KNOWN AS THE CHILDREN OF GOD. BUT I SAY TO YOU THAT HEAR, LOVE YOUR ENEMIES, DO GOOD TO THOSE WHO HATE YOU, BLESS THOSE WHO CURSE YOU, PRAY FOR THOSE WHO ABUSE YOU. TO THOSE WHO STRIKE YOU ON THE CHEEK, OFFER THE OTHER ALSO, AND FROM THOSE WHO TAKE AWAY YOUR CLOAK, DO NOT WITHHOLD YOUR COAT AS WELL. GIVE TO EVERYONE WHO BEGS FROM YOU, AND OF THOSE WHO TAKE AWAY YOUR GOODS, DO NOT ASK THEM AGAIN. AND AS YOU WISH THAT OTHERS WOULD DO TO YOU, DO SO TO THEM.
RELATED LINKS:http://www.pledgepeace.org/
World Prayernet was created to be an ecumenical church campaign at the beginning of the Third Millennium to provide practical encouragement to Christian people in the area of their personal prayer life. The focus of World Prayernet is to help people to deepen their personal relationship with God through prayer:
RELATED LINK:HTTP://WORLDPRAYERNET.ORG
The Imitation of Mary
Thomas a Kempis
Information of this book is found in the doctoral sources.
Chapter 1: How to Greet the Glorious Virgin Mary
Although I am without merit and am, indeed, conscious of my many sins, I have the utmost trust in Your Passion, Lord Jesus, and in the merits of Your Mother, the glorious and holy Virgin Mary. It is upon her that I wish to dwell for a moment; I pray, therefore, that I may be made worthy of doing so, since I dare not approach her without first being given permission.
I am well aware that due to my unworthiness I ought not present myself before this supremely worthy woman whom even the Angels admire and venerate, while exclaiming: “Who is this that arises from the desert of the world and overflows with the delights of paradise?”
2. Therefore, dearest Mary, it is unseemly that I should dare to dwell on the thought of your beauty and your greatness, for I am dust and ashes and am even the vilest creature on earth since I am a sinner and inclined to every kind of perverse act.
You, however, have been made higher than the heavens; you have the world beneath your feet and are worthy of honor and reverence because of the exalted state of your Son. Your ineffable kindness, which transcends every imagination, enchants me and draws my affections to you, for you are the comfort of the afflicted and always ready to help wretched sinners.
3. I am very much in need of great consolation and especially of your Son’s grace, because I am utterly unable to help myself. But if you, most merciful Mother, condescend to look upon my littleness, you can in many ways help and strengthen me with abundant consolations. Therefore, as soon as I feel burdened with difficulties and temptations, I shall have immediate recourse to you, for where grace abounds, mercy is more at hand.
4. If, then, I would attempt to grasp your exceptional glory and greet you in a worthy way from the depths of my heart, I must advance with a very pure spirit, for those who presume to approach your door without due reverence obtain not glory but a justified disgrace. Anyone approaching you must proceed with the greatest reverence and humility, but also with hope of being admitted in virtue of your mercy and clemency.
5. I come to you, therefore, with humility and reverence, with devotion and confidence, and with the greeting of Gabriel on my lips – a greeting that I joyously repeat with head bowed in respect and with hands open in deep devotion. I pray that this greeting may be repeated a hundred, a thousand, and even more times on my behalf by all the heavenly spirits. Indeed, I do not know anything dearer and more worthy I can offer you than this greeting.
6. Listen now to one most enamored of your name: “Heaven rejoices and earth is amazed when I say: Hail, Mary! Satan flees, hell trembles when I say: Hail Mary! The world becomes contemptible, the flesh foul, when I say: Hail, Mary! Sadness disappears and joy returns when I say: Hail, Mary!
“Tepidity vanishes and the heart is inflamed with love when I say: Hail, Mary! Devotion grows, compunction is born, hope intensifies, and consolation is increased when I say: Hail, Mary! The soul is renewed and the inclination to good is strengthened when I say: Hail, Mary!”
7. So intense is the sweetness of this blessed greeting that it cannot be expressed in human words. It remains forever loftier and more profound than any creature can grasp. Therefore, I kneel again before you, Most Holy Virgin Mary, and say: “Hail, Mary! Full of grace."
My most merciful Lady, Holy Mary, accept this very devout greeting and, with it , me as well, so that there may be something in me that pleases you, strengthens my trust in you, enkindles in me an ever increasing love, and keeps me forever devoted to your holy name.
8. Heaven grant that in order to satisfy my desire to honor you and greet you eternally from the depths of my heart, all my members may be transformed into tongues and the tongues into fiery voices. Mother of God, I want to be able to utter this greeting as a pure and holy sacrifice of prayer that will atone for all the sins by which I have merited God’s wrath, greatly saddened your Son, and very often dishonored and offended you and the entire heavenly court.
9. Since my life is a frail thing and transient due to all my excesses, my negligences, and my vain, unclean, and preserve thoughts, may heaven grant that all the blessed spirits and the souls of the just may turn to you, Most Blessed Virgin Mary, with pure devotion and ardent prayer.
May they repeat over and over in your honor that loftiest of greetings which the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit were the first to use to you through the mouth of the Angel. Thus, I would in a way find an incense worthy of being a sweet odor for in me there is nothing good and nothing deserving of reward.
10. But now, impelled by heartfelt devotion, I prostrate myself before you. Wholly on fire with reverence for your holy name, I repeat that joyful new greeting, never heard until the Archangel Gabriel, sent by God, entered your room and there on bent knee honored you by saying: “Hail, full of grace: the Lord is with you.”
In keeping with the precious custom of the faithful, I desire to address you and to do so with pure lips as far as is possible for me. How I desire with all my heart that all creatures would address you in the same way: “Hail, Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus Christ. Amen.”
11. Such is the Angelic greeting, composed under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and wholly befitting your dignity and your holiness. It is a prayer poor in words but rich in mysteries. As an utterance it is short, but its content is profound.
This prayer is sweeter than honey and more precious than gold. It is to be repeated over and over with all one’s heart, devoutly, and with pure lips, so that from these very few words may flow a board river of heavenly sweetness.
12. But woe to those who become annoyed with it, who pray without devotion, who do not reflect on its words that are more precious than gold, who do not taste its cups of honey, and who so often recite the Hail Mary without attention and reverence.
Sweetest Virgin Mary, preserve me from such serious neglect and lack of attention; forgive me my past indifference. I will be more devout, more fervent and attentive in saying the Hail Mary, wherever I may be.
13. After these reflections, what shall I now ask of you, my dearest Lady? What is greater, more useful, more necessary for me, an unworthy sinner, than to find favor with you and your beloved Son?
Through your intercession, then, I ask for the grace of God, since as the Angel said, you received the fullness of grace from God.
14. No favor is more precious to me and nothing else more needed by me, than the grace and mercy of God. His grace is enough for me, and I need nothing else, for without grace of what value would all my efforts be?
But what will be impossible for me if grace attends and aids me? I have many different spiritual defects, but the graces of God is a medicine effective against all the passions. If he deigns to come to my aid, all these defects will be lessened.
15. I am also poor in wisdom and spiritual knowledge, but God’s grace is a supreme teacher and dispenser of heavenly learning. It is able, therefore, to instruct me in everything necessary; it also dissuades me from seeking anything beyond what is necessary and from wanting to know what it is not permissible to know.
On the other hand, it advises and teaches me to humble myself and be content with it alone.
16. Merciful Virgin Mary, ask this noble and precious grace for me, that I may not desire or seek anything but grace upon grace.
Chapter 2: The Consolation of the Virgin Mary
Child: Now, my Lady, I ask you to speak with me a while. Speak in the Name of your Son, Who filled you with every spiritual grace.
2. Mother: I am the Mother of Mercy, full of sweet love; I am the ladder of sinners, the hope of forgiveness for the guilty, the strength of the afflicted, and the special delight of the Saints. Come to me, all you who love me, and you will be satisfied from the treasure of my consolations, for I am good and merciful to all who call upon me.
3. Come, all of you, just and sinners alike, and I will pray to the Father for you, I will pray also to the Son, that He may be reconciled with you in the Holy Spirit.
I invite all, I await all, I desire all to come to me. I do not despise any sinner; indeed, over a converted sinner I rejoice with immense love, as do the Angels of God in heaven. The precious Blood of my Son has not been shed in vain for the world.
4. Draw near to me, then, children of men; see how zealous I am for you before God and before my son, Jesus Christ, See, I will take His anger upon myself and with my fervent prayers I will placate Him Whom you know you have offended.
5. Be converted and come; do penance, and I will plead for your forgiveness. See, I stand between heaven and earth, between God and sinners; and by my prayers I ensure that this world will not perish. Do not, however, abuse God’s mercy and my clemency, but remain far from any sin, lest God’s anger and fearful vengeance come upon you.
6. I urge my children, I implore my loved ones: be imitators of my Son and you Mother. Bear in mind that I can never forget you, for I have compassion on all who are wretched and I am the most merciful Advocate of all the faithful.
7. Child: What splendid words, so full of heavenly delight! A sublime voice from on high that comes down like heavenly dew, bringing strength to sinners and glory to the just! A heavenly melody that pervades the consciousness of the despairing!
But who am I that the Mother of my Lord should speak to me? Blessed are you, Mother most holy, and blessed your words. They are milk and honey on your tongue, and their fragrance surpasses all other fragrances.
8. Mary, your words move my soul to its depths. See, hardly had your consoling voice reached my ears when my soul was uplifted, my spirit was reenergized, and my entire heart was flooded with joy, because today you brought me good and joyful news.
I was sad, but now your words have made me happy. Your voice is sweet in my ears: I was weighed down and discouraged, but now I am glad and truly strengthened.
9. You have extended your hand to me from on high and have touched me, and so I am healed of my distress. I was hardly able to speak, but now I want to sing of you and thank you.
My life had become wearisome; now, however, I do not fear even death. For I know that you are my intercessor with your Son, to Whose mercy I entrust myself from this moment on and at every moment of my years to come.
As soon as you spoke to the heart of your grieving orphaned child, I was immediately changed for the better and felt myself to be profoundly changed within. I lay there as one despairing, but you comforted me and raised my up by speaking words of great love to me.
10. Mother: But, child, what is the matter? Who wants to do you evil? They are not to be feared. I am here , as is my Son, your Brother, Who stands at the Father’s right hand and is the faithful Mediator and Intercessor for your sins. You must have complete trust in Him, for it is He Who gives life, He Who conquers death.
He was begotten by the Father from eternity; He took flesh from me in time; He was sent for the salvation of the entire world. He is the source of hope and strength, faith and victory. Therefore, be always mindful of Jesus and Mary and do not fear any enemy.
11. Child: Merciful Virgin Mary, blessed was the moment when you deigned to draw near to my heart that was prey to discouragement. If only I were able longer to hear your strengthening words that so intensely inflamed me and purified me, even as they touched me interiorly and renewed my very depths.
Blessed by your bosom, Mary, that continues to provide the sweet milk of consolation! Due to the abundant grace of the Child Jesus, Whom you nursed, you cannot deny your innate mercy to anyone who asks it of you. As a result, you often grant grace even to great sinners.
12. You are the Mother of boundless compassion, of immense mercy and love; the incomparable Virgin, to be loved and venerated by all; the extraordinary Mother of the Son of God, Who was born of you, as well as the universal Mother of all Christians and Mothers in a special way according to the degree of devotion we have toward you!
O Virgin, Queen of the world and Mistress of the Angels, draw me to you so that I may not remain burdened by my sins. Bestow the grace, the saving dew from heaven, of which you are the Mediatrix, so that I may merit to experience you a Mother of grace and fountain of mercy.
13. Mother: I am the Mother of noble love, of chaste and holy fear, of compassionate strength, and of sweet consolation. Therefore, when you hear my name, exult with all your heart. Bow down in reverence and greet me with joy, for in honoring the Mother you also honor the Son, Whose Father is God.
I am Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and that will always be my name. And who is Jesus? He is the Christ, the Son of the living God, the Savior of the world, the King of heaven and earth, the Lord of the Angels, the redeemer of the faithful, the Judge of the living and the dead.
14. He is the hope of souls that are good, the consolation of the devout, the peace of the meek, the riches of the poor, the glory of the humble, the strength of the weak , the way for those astray, the light of the blind, the staff of the crippled, the relief of the oppressed, the help of those being tried, and the special refuge of all the good. Bless the Son, together with the Mother, and the Father will love you.
Whenever you serve me in any way, you give Him honor and glory, because His glory is my glory, and homage given to Him is praise of me. Place me and Jesus as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm. Whether you are standing or sitting, praying, reading, writing, or working, let Jesus and Mary be always on your lips and always in your heart.
15. Child: May all peoples, all nations, all tongues serve you! May all creatures kneel before you! Let the heavens say: “Rejoice, O Mary!” and let the earth give answer: “Hail! through eternity and beyond!”
May all the Saints glorify your name and all the devout exult before you and the Lamb, Jesus Christ, your Son and our Lord. Amen.
Chapter 3 Remember and Invocation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
It is right that you be always mindful of the glorious Virgin Mary, the blessed Mother of Jesus. You should daily commend yourself to her merits and prayers and should turn to her in all your needs, just as a child that falls and hurts itself runs to its dear mother.
Mary’s name is sweet: it gives confidence to anyone who calls on her and invokes her. For her part, she is always ready to put in a good word to her Son Jesus on behalf of any troubled soul in need. If Mary, along with all the Angels of heaven, did not pray daily for thy world, how could the world continue to exist when it offends God so seriously and shows so little improvement?
Mary should , therefore, be invoked by everyone: the just and the sinful, but especially religious and those devout individuals who have vowed chastity and yearn with holy desires for the things of heaven, while wanting nothing to do with this world.
2. What should you ask of her? First of all, forgiveness of your sins; then the virtue of chastity and the gift of humility, which is pleasing to God. This in order that you may be always humble in His presence and desirous of being regarded as base and worthless. Finally, you should ask never to boast of anything, lest you lose everything you seem to possess.
3. You must also grieve that you are so far removed from true virtues: profound humility, holy poverty, perfect obedience, pure chastity, devout prayer, and burning love.
All these are the virtues that dwell in Mary, the Mother of Jesus. Therefore, be a poor beggar and prostrate yourself at her feet that you may obtain at least the smallest degree of these virtues, since you are unable to reach a higher degree due to your laziness.
4. Whatever you desire, pray humbly to obtain it through the hands of Mary. It is due to her glorious merits that those in purgatory and on earth receive help. Great is her grace and great her glory in Jesus, her Savior, beyond all the Saints in heaven. But all this she has for the sake of us who are still on earth.
Trust without reservation in her faithfulness. Her prayers are pleasing to God, and she neither asks nor desires anything not pleasing to Him and to His beloved Son, but only what helps your salvation according to the plans of the Divine Will.
5. God and the Blessed Virgin are greatly pleased when you pray to avoid sin and keep your heart humble. She, for her part, was satisfied before God only with her humility, and said nothing of the rest; despite the inexhaustible wealth of grace that was hers she never stirred from humility.
May the Virgin Mary pray for us in words that seek mercy, so that we may be made worthy of God’s grace.
The Imitation of Mary
Taken form Book 2: Knowing Mary:
Chapter 1: Mary and the Mystery of the Incarnation:
10. I bless and thank You, Lord Jesus, only-begotten Son of the Father, begotten before the world existed, for having deigned, in an indescribable way and out of utter humility, to be born in a filthy stable and placed in a poor manger because You loved holy poverty.
I praise You, beloved Jesus, for Your light-crowned coming, Your glorious birth from the blameless Virgin Mary, Your poverty, and Your lowly lodging in such a small and mean manger. Who could imagine the Most High God being made so little for the sake of humanity? How thankful the entire human race ought to be that You chose a narrow manger for its redemption!
What a tender, sweet, and lovable sight to see God having become a Child and being wrapped in poor rages and lying in a narrow manger in the presence of the animals! What incomprehensible humility that the Lord of all lords should become the servant of His servants!
Yet even this, Lord God, seemed but little, for You, my Creator, wanted to become my Father. You deigned even to be my Brother and take my flesh in the reality of Your human nature, although without contracting any of the ancient corruption.
12. Your birth transcends the laws of nature. Since it must repair nature itself, this birth, through a great miracle, differs from the manner in which human beings are born, and with Divine power consoles us in our laborious births.
How fortunate and lovable Your birth, sweet Jesus, Son of an exalted Virgin, that is, of the extraordinary Virgin Mary, for Your birth renew the births of all, improves their condition, shakes off prejudices against them, and rends the decree that condemned nature. And a result, those who are ashamed to be part of the sinful race of Adam can rejoice at Your unblemished birth and be sure of being happily reborn through Your grace.
13. I thank you, Jesus, only-begotten Son of God, for Your miraculous and glorious birth in virtue of which we have access to the grace by which we live, and we are confident in our hope of the glory of the children of God, which heaven has promised us.
You are the pledge of our redemption; You are the everlasting hope of all us faithful. To You we humble sinners have recourse. You Who first sought us out when we did not yet know You.
O holy and sweet infancy, which instills true innocence into human hearts; because of it, every period of life returns to You, is blessed, and becomes like You, not in the weakness of human limbs but in the humility of the senses and good morals.
Grant that I may follow in Your footsteps, most merciful Jesus, for in order to give humanity the example of virtue and eternal salvation, You willed to be born at midnight of the Virgin Mary. Enable me, then, to thank You and to sing Your praises with the Angels and the whole heavenly host, whom You appointed the happy messengers of Your holy birth.
Chapter 6: Prayers to Mary as She Weeps by the Cross
O Devout, holy, and sorrowful tears that the blessed , spotless, and ever Virgin Mary shed on Good Friday due to her heartfelt compassion for Christ and to His beloved Passion and Death on the Cross! They flowed abundantly down her cheeks and her bosom until they reached the lowermost hem of her garment. They soaked the veil over her sacred head and, falling on her holy feet, they soaked the dust of the ground.
2. If only I had been able at that time to follow in my Lady’s footsteps! If only I had been able secretly to gather her warm tears in a vessel, not in order to wash my feet, which have so often stained with evil thoughts and impure affections, but in order to wash my hands and head, that is, my evil words and actions, and so win forgiveness for all the sins I commit every day!
3. O faithful Mother of God, Virgin Mary, take pity on me. Wipe away all my vices by the power of your sufferings and your devoted intercession. Beloved Mary, aid my soul in the final hour of my life, and come with the multitude of the Angels and Saints to defend me against the terrors of the enemy and the pains of hell.
Be mindful of the precious, innocent Blood that your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, shed when dying for me, a sinner. Be mindful of His pierced side and all the tears you yourself shed throughout your life, and take pity on me. For you I long, in your merits I trust, O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary. Amen.
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