sábado, 21 de enero de 2012

I found my soul loveth ... I hugged him and release him



January 21
My soul melts with sorrow and love, bitterness and sweetness at the same time. What shall I do to support such an immense act of the Almighty? What I have in me, and is of such joy that brings me, without being able to avoid, to say to Our Lady: "My spirit rejoices in God my Savior."
What I have in me, and I feel the urge to say with the bride in the Song of Songs: "I found my soul loveth ... I hugged him and release him. "But when I am unable to support the weight of this infinite love, to keep entirely on the smallness of my existence, and terror invades me, because you may have to leave by the inability to contain it within the narrow confines of my heart .
This thought, which, on the other hand, is not unfounded (I measure my strength, which are very limited, unable and powerless to have always strongly embraced this divine love), torture me, grieves me, and I feel the heart leaps in my chest.
(January 12, 1919, Fr Benedict of San Marco in Lamis - Letter's. I, p. 1111)

viernes, 13 de enero de 2012

Be careful not to lose sight of the divine presence


January 13

 Be careful not to lose sight of the divine presence because of the activities you do. No task ever undertaken any action somehow or other, without having raised before the mind to God, addressing him with holy intent, the actions you perform. Will do the same with thanksgiving at the end of all your activities, if all you examinándote made ​​following the line desired at first intended, and if you are stained humbly asks forgiveness from the Lord, with the firm resolution to correct the errors.
You must not grieve nor be discouraged if your actions do not go looking for perfection that your intention, what you want! We are fragile, we land, and not road produces the same fruits as the intention of the sower. But, to our miseries, always humble ourselves, recognizing that we are nothing without God's help.
(December 17, 1914, at Raffaelina Cerase - Ep. II, p. 273)

miércoles, 11 de enero de 2012

To walk with caution in the pursuit of eternal salvation.




January 11

Knowledge of the potential indignity, which consists in knowing what would be or what we could do without the assistance of grace, and we have discussed so far, not to be confused with the actual unworthiness. The first makes the creature acceptable and pleasing to the eyes of the Almighty, the second makes it detestable, because it is a reflection of the evil present in the soul, in consciousness.

You, in the darkness in which you find most of the time, confound one another, and knowledge of what you may be, and are afraid that what is only possible for you.

Ignoring whether to God are worthy of love or hate, is suffering and not a punishment, because no one is afraid of being unworthy when you really want it to be or is. Such uncertainty is allowed by God to all human beings, so they do not puffed up and to walk with caution in the pursuit of eternal salvation.
(December 7, 1916, the sisters Ventrella - Letter. III, p. 541)

lunes, 9 de enero de 2012

BAPTISM OF THE LORD



BAPTISM OF THE LORDTo end the cycle of the Nativity of the Lord, today the Church celebrates, commemorates the baptism of Jesus in the JordanAt that time John preached, saying, 'After me comes he who is mightier than I, and I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the thong of his sandals. I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize with the Holy Spirit. "And it came to pass in those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in Jordan. In out of the water he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit like a dove, descending upon him. And a voice came from heaven: "Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." (Mark 1.7 to 11)
Many times in our logic and our experience of faith seem to have great contradictions because sometimes we do not understand what God means when he speaks or acts. And not because God does not really have an incomprehensible language or alien, but simply because we are often not in tune with him. We do not connect.
Our "web" of relationships with God suffers interference because we often want to be connected with Him and with other relationships or conversations in which we can not focus and concentrate all our attention and wonder of our meeting and dialogue with God.Today they happily celebrate the "Baptism of the Lord" While we can ask: Jesus, He also had perhaps need to be baptized like me? This is one of the apparent contradictions to which I referred in the first lines of this reflection. The blunt answer is: Of course not! Jesus had no need to be baptized. Wanted to be baptized to show love that had become "one" like us in all. But mostly I wanted to end the baptism "of water." John the Baptist says this: "I baptize you with water, but He will baptize with the Holy Spirit." (Mark 1.8) ἐγὼ ἐβάπτισα ὑμᾶς ὕδατι, αὐτὸς δὲ βαπτίσει ὑμᾶς πνεύματι ἁγίῳ. Jesus wanted from this moment to inaugurate the baptism "of the Spirit." In the Jordan River was not the purified water that Jesus, but it was Jesus who purified the water. It was the water that Jesus sanctified, but the water was sanctified by Jesus, not only the water of Jordan, but the water of all the baptistery of the world and all time. Jesus through baptism and wanted to devote himself to do so throughout the "Will of God." It is a sign of faithfulness to God and the full commitment and belonging to HimAnd we how we live our own baptism? Where is our own baptism? My own baptism What does it mean for me? Celebrating the day I was born to God? Do I know the exact date? How do I live my own baptism? Celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord is an excellent opportunity to reflect on our own baptism.Like all the sacraments, baptism consists of two parts, or is composed of two things: gestures and words. Worth visiting very briefly the components of the rite of baptism. 1 °. The imposition of the name: after the minister asked what name you want to give the child / a, pronounced for the first time in public, which is the name for eternity. This is important: is the name for eternity: But now thus saith the Lord your Creator, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: Fear not, for I have redeemed you I have called you by name, my you. (Is 43.1). The name is intended to accompany the child throughout life, so it is important to know how to choose properly the name of the child.2 °. Renounce Satan and profession of faith. This means being very aware of how alive and how I'm willing to live since I've been a child or sponsor a child to be baptized. Banish evil from our lives, selfishness, everything that separates us, not divide and makes us unworthy of the name of Christian. While it is true that we speak on behalf of the child, also renew our baptismal commitment each time we partake of the liturgy of baptism. The profession of faith must believe, accept and embrace God as the only important, indispensable and essential in my life.Let us now turn to the true and proper time of baptism. At the center of the other signs and elements, the water becomes fully apparent. Is the element that Jesus wanted to use the water of Jordan, the water that flowed from Christ's side. Because water baptism a child becomes dear to the early Christians who called her "our water". St. Francis of Assisi called: "Sister humble water is precious and chaste." Water is therefore a sign of life, regeneration, cleaning and destruction. Also this last feature is important. Water destroys death and leads to true life.The celebrant asks the parents and godparents who comes to the baptismal font, and pouring it would be better by dipping three times a child in the water, solemnly pronounces the words taught by the Master, Jesus Christ our Lord. "John, I baptize you in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit." Spilled or immersed in water three times a child, means that for three days Jesus was buried under the earth and the third day rose again.The words "in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit." They submit to the Holy Trinity. This means that in baptism we profess the two greatest mysteries of our faith, with the gestures we remember the incarnation, death and resurrection of Christ. With the words, we recognize and remember the unity and Trinity of God.God is wonderfully unique, the acting is always vastly superior to the means employed and the results obtained. The medium is extremely simple: a little water and the word. The results, great: once baptized person becomes a child of God and the temple of the Trinity. The baptized person is a new creature has been reborn of water and the Spirit, has become a child of God, a member of the body of Christ, which is the Church and living temple of the Holy Spirit. Heavenly Father decides on each child or adult, emerging from the baptismal font, the words that first told about Jesus after he was baptized by John in and out of Jordan, "Thou art my beloved Son, my beloved: in you I am well pleased. This is only God's work.The white garment: A sign of innocence, purity, beauty that parents and godparents should help to keep for a lifetime.The rite of light: the priest lights the paschal candle and gives it to Dad, is a symbol of faith, that parents and godparents are to convey to the child.He is obviously pre-baptismal anointing and post-baptismal anointing sign of belonging to God in the full sense of the word.I wish that all who read these simple words help us to appreciate and understand more of our own baptism.January 9, 2012Baptism of the Lord.Capuchin Missionary Paul Fray.

Run, therefore, and not get tired



January 9
The knowledge of the divine on you must serve the one hand, to exercise your soul in gratitude to such a good father, lavishing your soul in thanksgiving to continuous heavenly benefactor, uniting for this purpose your blessings to the Blessed Virgin Mary Immaculate, the angels and all the blessed inhabitants of the heavenly Jerusalem. On the other hand, it should serve as a push, not to scare you and not stop half-way, for the sorrows and pains that need support to reach the goal of this long road.
The Lord has allowed me to show yourself all these things, especially you are not insecure in your career. Run, therefore, and not get tired, the Lord will guide and direct your steps to not fall in this way. Run, I say, because the road is long and time is quite short. Run, run all, so that at the end of our trip, we can say with the holy apostle: "For I am about to be slain, and the time of my departure is imminent. I have fought my fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. "
(January 9, 1915, at Raffaelina Cerase - Ep. II, p. 291)

viernes, 6 de enero de 2012

We have seen his star go out and have come to worship him




We have seen his star go out and have come to worship him

Peace and Good


Dear reader, today I get to you, being now in the final stretch of the Nativity of God, the feast of tenderness and humility in the extreme, but also the feast of light. In many places today and next Sunday we will celebrate the feast of the Epiphany, the manifestation of God to all mankind, to celebrate it with dignity and thank God for the gift received both
Christmas glows with the light emanating from the newly born child. He is the Light! The sun is born from above! So on this glorious night turns dark as a full day and the entire world is manifested through the brilliance of the "Star of Bethlehem" seen from all corners of the universe and that as we read in the Gospel of Matthew 2 1-9, led the Wise Men (Magi) to seek Jesus who was just born and worship him. These wise men repeatedly asked: "Where is the King of the Jews that is born?
We saw his star in the east and are come to worship him. "
We have seen and come: here is the free and great teaching these "missionary disciples" biblical. If we refer to the Wise Men tell us that the tradition is called Melchor, Gaspar and Balthazar. They have acted accordingly, have not brought any delay. They have not put any pretext and nothing above the call that God gives them to know you. If they had put to calculate miles away, problems, challenges, danger, uncertainty, insecurity, if they wanted to have control of everything, certainly not been put into road. Everything had come down and have attempted in vain and sterile intentions. They have acted immediately, so they become a perfect disciple, attend the call that God is doing to go to worship and acknowledge the fact Man in a portal. Act immediately and that is the secret when it receives a signal or inspiration of God. The true disciples discover the will of God and carried out. They had no certainty of what they were doing, but had faith. They thus become the first "children of Abraham according to faith" Abraham also, in effect, set off, "not knowing whither he went" (Hebrews 11.8), trusting only in the Word of God that
invited to leave their land.
"The star they had seen in East preceded them until it stopped
the place where the child was. "

The light guide star is announcing the biggest revelation of the mystery of God who makes his dwelling among us. Without faith and without the guiding star, hardly the Wise Men who came from the East had reached the destination, without that guidance could hardly have found the right direction, without that star their lives would have been different. In the Magi are represented all mankind of all times and all places, races, languages, social, cultural, all peoples of the earth are represented in the Wise Men who were eager to set off not knowing
or when or where your trip would be over.
Each and every one of us is called to a journey: the path leading from a dark and meaningless life to a life filled with the love and hope brought by Jesus who has saved us from our sins. To reach him you do not need a large luggage is more, the baggage in the way. You need to leave everything, dispossessed of everything, including ourselves to go to meet him. The important thing is trust, trust the heavenly sign that precedes us and know that the arrival will be rich in mercy. The significance of our road is the road itself. It's the way we can learn to trust the Lord.
It is on the way we prove that our faith is stronger than our weariness and the temptation to surrender and stand before you arrive.
It is therefore a point of arrival, a fixed point: the star, after having led, from which it arises, the Magi from the east, from the far reaches of the earth, "stood." And the moment you stop giving an indication of the direction of the pedestrian path in search of God ends.
It has been the goal.
However, the implementation of the journey not the end of human action pilgrim on earth, but his journey is a new direction. When it comes to discovering the truth, when the light is noticed, a new task has to be done: You need to become witnesses to the light! It is essential to be spokesmen for the truth to those who still do not know!
"Abandon own works at night and put on the armor of light" (Rom 13:12).
"Going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother and fell down and worshiped."
The Wise Men knew very well what "worship" proskynesis do, because the practice was born precisely with them in the courts of the East. It meant taxing the maximum possible honor, recognize an absolute sovereignty. The gesture was reserved for it only and exclusively to the sovereign.
It is the first time that this verb is used in relation to Christ in the New Testament is the first implicit recognition of his divinity.
Wizards do not seek God out of curiosity, or to understand, or find an answer to your questions, or to relieve them in their sorrows and labors, much less to increase their knowledge. They set off in order to express their devotion and submission to God. Today, today, is also unique worship to God, worship, praise and bless the Virgin, but not worship. This is an honor that only you can render to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Worship is the most genuine and reverent gesture of the creature to his Creator.
We run the danger of using the word "worship" or "worship" with a lot of lightness, ie, the prostitute, for example: "I love to dance," "I love my dog", "I love my car, my house .... " Human creature say, "My adorable well."
Of course, this is not a sin, but it does indicate much what place God in our lives and at the same time, the quality of our religious sensibilities.
The Wise Men worshiped the Child "at home" on the knees of the Mother and the care and contemplation of the father. Today we can worship him,-and never better, today we can also worship Him in the Eucharist, worship "in spirit and in truth," deep in the heart ... We are missing opportunities to do so, but brings us opportunities to live consistently
under the gaze of God, worshiping Him in His presence forever.
Once you have found, that we have loved can not be the same again. We can not backtrack. We can not walk or walking the path taken. When he finds Christ is the Way, the Truth and the Life, and you can not go back down the same road. When we met with God, life changing, and changing the way life changes, management. The encounter with Christ is crucial and requires a change of life leave the old man and put the new man. It requires a change of habit.
If this Christmas and the Feast of the Epiphany we have found Emmanuel-God-among-us, we can not return to the way we were before we met with him
May God grant us this grace and be brave enough and our faith and hope are so great that we can change the route every day to return to our world and daily lives.
"We saw his star and are come to worship the Lord."
Peace and Good
Happy and Holy Feast of the Manifestation of God to all mankind!
FW.
TX, January 6, 2012.
With my prayers:
Capuchin Missionary Paul Fray.

I have eyes always fixed on the east



January 6
I have eyes always fixed on the east, in the middle of the night around him, to distinguish miraculous star that he led them to the cave of Bethlehem. But in vain do I fix my eyes to see this star appear brighter. The more I look, the less fail to see, the more effort and more earnestly I seek you, the more I am involved in more darkness. Day I am alone, I'm alone at night, and no ray of light comes to light, never a drop of refreshing comes to fan a flame that consumes me continually, never consume me.
Only once have felt, in the most intimate and secret of my mind, something very delicate that I can not explain. The soul began to feel his presence, unable to see her, and then, I'll say so, he approached so closely to my soul that it clearly warned his touch, exactly - to give a pale face - as often happens when our body touches closely another body.
I can not say anything about it, only I confess that at first, I fell into a great panic, but that this panic, gradually was transformed into a heavenly euphoria. I found that I no longer was in a state of passer, and I could not tell if, when this happened, I realized it or not that was still in my own body. Only God knows, and I would not know anything else to give a better understanding of this event.
(March 8, 1916, Fr Benedict of San Marco in Lamis - Letter's. I, p. 756)

jueves, 5 de enero de 2012

The fourth highest is that of eternity



January 5
The fourth highest is that of eternity. Shortly should matter to the children of God to live this very brief moments that pass, provided they live in eternal glory with God. Daughter, believes that it directed you to eternity, you've put there foot. As long as she is happy because of you, what does it matter that these are transient moments of suffering for you?
The fifth maximum I beseech you have always fixed in the mind, is that the apostle S. Paul: "Look, I do not glory in anything save in the cross of my Jesus."
Keep in your heart, my child, Jesus Christ crucified, and all the crosses in the world will look like roses. Those who have felt the pangs of the crown of thorns of the Saviour, who is our head, in no way feel the other injuries.
(November 15, 1917, to Antoinette Vona - Ep. III, p. 822)

miércoles, 4 de enero de 2012

"O ye of little faith, why did you doubt?"



January 4

The third maxim is that you watch what the Divine Master taught his disciples: "What has been missing? '.

Consider carefully, my dear daughter, this passage. Jesus commanded the apostles to the world, no money, no staff, no sandals, no saddle, dressed only in a robe, and then said, "When I sent in this way, did you lack anything?" And they said that nothing was missed.

Now, I tell you, little girl, when you were troubled, even at the time when, unfortunately, did not feel much confidence in God, tell me, you found some time oppressed by the suffering? I will answer no. Why, then, - I will add - not to trust all others overcome adversity? If God has not abandoned in the past, how can he leave you in the future, when now, more than in the past, you want to be yours from now on? Fear not that you can think of something bad in this world, because you might not ever happen. But in any case, if you ensue, God will give you the strength to cope. The divine Master commanded S. Peter walked on water. S. Peter, blowing wind and the danger of the storm, he was afraid and this was almost submerged, requested help from the teacher and he rebuked him, saying: "O ye of little faith, why did you doubt?" And, reaching down, caught him. If God makes you walk on the stormy waters of adversity, no doubt, my little one, do not be afraid, God is with thee: be brave and be released.
(November 15, 1917, to Antoinette Vona - Ep. III, p. 822)

sábado, 31 de diciembre de 2011

Entre tus manos está mi vida Señor

Paz y Bien.


Entre tus manos está mi vida Señor

Señor Dios nuestro, dueño de todo: del tiempo y de la eternidad, tuyo es el hoy y el mañana, el pasado y el futuro. Porque Tú eres el mismo ayer, hoy y siempre. Vives desde siempre y para siempre. ¡Gracias Dios mío por existir! Gracias por compartir conmigo y con las personas que amo tu existencia.

Al terminar este año quiero darte gracias por todo aquello que recibí de TI. ¡Cuánta gracia has derramado en mí y has permitido que la haga llegar a mis hermanos! ¡Cuánta gracia Dios mío!

También gracias por la vida y el amor. Por la vida personal, pero también por la vida de las personas que me rodean. De las personas maduras, jóvenes y sobre todo por las nuevas vidas que has hecho posible en este año y que he conocido de cerca. Por las flores, que nos hablan de tu belleza y nos haces entender que ningún hombre se viste con tanta belleza y simplicidad porque ellas te alaban y te alegran con su bellos coloridos y aromas que son como las plegarias y acciones de gracias de tantos que no lo hacen. Gracias  el aire a través del cual no llega el aliento de tu Vida, nos acaricias y nos recuerdas tu presencia siempre fiel en cualquier circunstancia. Gracias por el sol que es bello fuerte y es fino reflejo de tu amor, ilumina nuestro sendero y nos habla de tu presencia para no vivir entregado a las tinieblas ni a las sombras de muerte, el sol que de Ti Divino Señor lleva significación. Gracias por la alegría, sobre todo por esa alegría que no es pasajera, que no es efímera y que consiste en conocerte a Ti Eterno Dios Vivo y Verdadero. Gracias por ayudarme a descubrir que la alegría no es ausencia de problemas, retos, dificultades, sino la conciencia de vivir siempre en tu presencia. Gracias por el dolor. ¡Sí gracias por el dolor aunque muchas veces no lo entienda y me cueste aceptarlo. Gracias porque el dolor me ha recordado siempre que soy limitado y que a cada respiro que doy necesito de Ti. Gracias porque el dolor me ha enseñado que no soy autosuficiente, que no soy intocable y que gracias al dolor me doy cuenta de que puedo amar. Gracias por enseñarme a sufrir y sumar mis pequeños sufrimientos y los sufrimientos de las personas que amo a los sufrimientos de la Dolorosa pero Redentora Pasión de Tu Hijo. Gracias  por cuanto fue posible, por las metas alcanzadas, por lo buenos deseos cumplidos, por ser sensible a tu gracia infinita y por darme el do de los hermanos, por ser instrumento de tu paz, de tu reconciliación y de tu amor. Y también gracias  por lo que no pudo ser. Por lo que yo no quise que fuera, por lo que anhelé y no se llevó a cabo. Gracias en fin por todo lo que hay en este pobre corazón. Tómalo Buen Dios, llénalo de tu Amor y después pídeme lo que quieras que te lo daré.

Te ofrezco cuanto hice en este año, el trabajo que pude realizar y las cosas que pasaron por mis manos y lo que con ellas pude construir. La vida te tantas y tantas almas que gracias a tu Gracia he podido reconciliar Contigo. Las personas a las cuales una palabra, un gesto, un abrazo que Tú les has dicho, realizado, dado a través de mí, les ha cambiado abismalmente la vida y se las has llenado de sentido. Por todas la veces que celebrando la Eucaristía y prestándote mis pobres manos, mi pobre corazón te has hecho presente y las personas te han descubierto ahí Vivo, Total y Completo.

Te presento a las personas que a lo largo de estos meses amé, te pido por ellas, y por todos los suyos. También te presento y te pido por las amistades nuevas y los antiguos amores, los más cercanos a mi y los que están más lejos, los que me dieron su mano y aquellos a los que pude ayudar, con los que compartí la vida, el trabajo, el dolor y la alegría. Bendícelos y santifícalos buen Dios y haz por tu inmenso amor que siempre estén cerca de Ti. Que Tú seas el centro de su vida y que caminen de la mano Contigo. Que confíen en Ti, como confían las ovejas en su Pastor.

Pero también Señor, hoy quiero pedirte perdón, perdón por el tiempo perdido, por el dinero mal gastado, por la palabra inútil y el amor desperdiciado. Perdón por las obras vacías y por el trabajo mal hecho, y perdón por vivir sin entusiasmo. En una palabra: ¡Perdón por no haber sabido amar como Tú! Es doloroso reconocerlo, pero es verdad. ¡No he sabido amar! Eso me duele, me duele hasta lo más profundo del corazón. Me duele hasta la médula de los huesos, pero confío, confío, confío en tu infinita misericordia y sé que me ayudarás cada día más a amar a aquellas personas que me cuesta más amarlas, a las que están cerca y a las que están menos cerca. Perdón por mi falta de caridad en mi ministerio, en mi vocación, en mi empeño por trabajar en bien de tu Reino. Perdón por mi falta de generosidad y por mi falta de solidaridad con mis hermanos que sufren. ¡Perdón por no amar! ¡Perdón por no amarte sobre todas las cosas! ¡Perdón por no amar a mis hermanos como a mí mismo!

También por la oración que poco a poco fui aplazando y que hasta ahora vengo a presentarte. Por todas las veces que he antepuesto “otra cosas” antes que mi oración y mi encuentro Contigo. Perdón por no hacer de mi vida una oración a través de la cual pueda difundir tu perfume amoroso. Perdón  Por todos mis olvidos, sobre todo por aquellos que me alejan de Ti y de mis hermanos. Perdón por mis descuidos, por mi falta de delicadeza, por la falta de detalles para las personas que amo y con las cuales comparto mi vida y mi vocación. Perdón por los silencios cobardes y por las críticas en mi corazón. Perdón por alejarme de Ti. Por todo ello te pido nuevamente te pido perdón.

Hoy te pido para mí solamente que aumentes mi fe y mis deseos de santidad. Te pido para  las personas que amo la paz y la alegría, la fuerza y la prudencia, la claridad y la sabiduría. Sobre todo que se acerquen a Ti, que puedan amarte sobre todas las cosas y que siempre se den cuenta que sin Ti no son nada. Que su vida entera y total dependa de Ti. Que les concedas un trabajo digno y estable para que teniendo asegurado el sustento diario puedan buscarte a Ti con mayor libertad.

Quiero vivir cada día como si fuera el último de mi vida y deseando siempre ése momento culminante del encuentro Contigo con optimismo y bondad llevando a todas partes un corazón lleno de comprensión de paz y bien.

Cierra Té mis oídos a toda falsedad. No permitas que me preste a la destrucción e injusticia de los demás. Tampoco permitas que yo piense que siempre tengo la razón, sino que sea verdaderamente humilde. Cierra Tú mis labios a palabras mentirosas, egoístas, mordaces o hirientes. A palabras que sólo causen daño y alejen de Ti. Que sepa entender a los demás y orientarles con palabras salidas de tu boca, de tu corazón a través de la inspiración de tu Santo Espíritu.

Abre, en cambio, mi ser a todo lo que es bueno, que mi espíritu se llene solo de bendiciones, y las derrame a mi paso. Que todas las personas que me conozcan te vean a Ti, no por mis propios méritos, sino por tu infinita misericordia. Que tu gracia se derrame siempre, y que humildemente por mi medio te encuentren todos los que te buscan, para que así puedan darte la gloria y la alabanza únicamente a Ti Eterno Dios Vivo y Verdadero

Cólmame de bondad y de alegría para que cuantos conviven conmigo o se acerquen a mi encuentren en mi vida un poquito de TI. Que mi único proyecto sea el difundir el hermoso perfume del olor de Cristo para todos cuantos se acerquen a Mi.

Gloria al Padre y al Hijo y al Espíritu Santo

Amén

¡Feliz Año 2012!                                   Fray Pablo Capuchino Misionero.

lunes, 19 de diciembre de 2011

OH RENUEVO

DÍA 19 DE DICIEMBRE


OH RENUEVO
del tronco de Jesé,
que te alzas como un signo por los pueblos,
ante quien los reyes enmudecen
y cuyo auxilio imploran las naciones,
vena librarnos, no tardes más



Renuevo.jpg (71196 bytes)Qué milagro ver las flores y las espigas en cada primavera! ¡Qué milagro que los árboles se carguen de fruto cada año! ¡Qué milagro cada renuevo y cada retoño, cada niño y cada cría! ¡Qué milagro la vida!

Pero si nace un retoño de un tronco viejo ¿qué podemos decir? Eso ya supera las fuerzas de la naturaleza, hay que admirar y alabar. Como lo hizo Abraham, cuando en su ancianidad engendró al hijo de las promesas. Como David, a quien se le prometió una descendencia gloriosa interminable.
Del viejo tronco de Isaí, padre del rey David, brota un Renuevo lleno de gracia y de espíritu. «Reposará sobre él el espíritu de Yahveh, espíritu de sabiduría e inteligencia, espíritu de consejo y fortaleza, espíritu de ciencia y temor de Yahveh» (Is 11, 2).
Será un líder maravilloso, revestido de justicia y misericordia. Será como un signo favorable para los pueblos, como un arco iris, como un buen horóscopo, anuncio cierto de salvación. Tiene en sus manos el secreto de la ciencia y de la paz. Todos los príncipes y sus consejeros, todos los sabios e investigadores, quedarán pasmados ante él.
Todas «las gentes lo buscarán» (Is 11,10) y todas las naciones solicitarán su visita. Será la admiración del mundo y tendrá millones de "fans" por todas partes.

Y es verdad. Todo el mundo está como esperando un gran Salvador, un líder ideal, que llene de ánimo y de esperanzas. La gente está necesitada de ilusión y de esperanzas. Sufrimos desencanto tras desencanto, decepción tras decepción. Se prometen cosas, y todo queda en palabras y buenas voluntades. Se habla de cambio, para que todo siga igual. Lo que hoy más necesitamos es una esperanza nueva. Necesitamos organizaciones nuevas y políticos nuevos. Necesitamos un hombre divino, pero que sea de nuestra raíz y nuestra raza, que brote de nuestro árbol.
Por eso,
ven, Renuevo maravilloso del tronco de Jesé,
ven enseguida a librarnos de esta tristeza,
ven, Príncipe ideal.
Ven, Renuevo,
a renovarlo todo,
a hacer un mundo nuevo,
«una tierra nueva, en la que habite la justicia».

OH ADONAI

DÍA 18 DE DICIEMBRE


OH ADONAI
Pastor de la casa de Israel,
que te apareciste a Moisés en la zarza ardiente
y en el Sinaí le diste tu ley,
vena librarnos con el poder de tu brazo



Adonai.jpg (72294 bytes)Admiramos esa espléndida manifestación de Dios como fuego y como amor, como pastor y como ley, como fuerza liberadora. Ese Señor-Pastor, que ama a su pueblo, a su rebaño, y que no permitirá que nadie lo someta o lo disperse, que nadie le arrebate una oveja de su mano. Por eso, se manifestará con brazo poderoso para liberar y dirigir a su pueblo.

Se manifiesta a Moisés como llama que enciende y no consume, que purifica y no mata, que ilumina y no ciega, que conduce y no esclaviza. Esa llama se comunicará al profeta para que pueda romper las ataduras que atan a su pueblo y para que pueda conducirlo sabiamente.

Se manifiesta a Moisés como Pastor y Legislador, como norma y camino, como meta y horizonte de vida. Una ley que se inscribe en piedra, pero que terminará escribiéndose en el corazón. Una ley que se irá concretando y reduciendo en palabras tan sencillas y tan vivas como el amor.

Pues ven, Pastor, a conducirnos.
Tú eres nuestro buen Pastor.
Ven, Adonai-Señor, a liberarnos.
Tú eres nuestra Pascua.
Lo pedimos con toda nuestra fuerza,
porque, a pesar de tanta Declaración de Derechos,
de tantas constituciones,
de tanto código y de tanta democracia,
no nos sentimos libres ni seguros;
porque, a pesar de tantos pastores,
líderes y gobernantes,
no nos sentimos bien dirigidos y orientados.

El rebaño anda disperso
y el pueblo no sabe lo que quiere.
Nos dejan pequeñas parcelas de libertad,
para que nos lo creamos,
pero las cosas realmente importantes
no sabemos quién las decide.
Nos entretienen con espectáculos variados
y nos proporcionan la ración diaria de «pescado y de cebollas»,
para que nos conformemos,
pero el alimento que nutre de veras
no está a nuestro alcance. Somos esclavos de la peor condición,
porque no conocemos sus cadenas.
Por eso, Señor,
ven a liberarnos con el poder de tu brazo.

viernes, 16 de diciembre de 2011

L A S A N T Í F O N A S «O»




L A S A N T Í F O N A S «O»

Las antífonas de la O son siete, y la Iglesia las canta con el Magnificat del Oficio de Vísperas desde el día 17 hasta el día 23 de diciembre. Son un llamamiento al Mesías recordando las ansias con que era esperado por todos los pueblos antes de su venida, y, también son, una manifestación del sentimiento con que todos los años, de nuevo, le espera la Iglesia en los días que preceden a la gran solemnidad del Nacimiento del Salvador.

Se llaman así porque todas empiezan en latín con la exclamación «O», en castellano «Oh». También se llaman «antífonas mayores».

Fueron compuestas hacia los siglos VII-VIII, y se puede decir que son un magnífico compendio de la cristología más antigua de la Iglesia, y a la vez, un resumen expresivo de los deseos de salvación de toda la humanidad, tanto del Israel del A.T. como de la Iglesia del N.T.

Son breves oraciones dirigidas a Cristo Jesús, que condensan el espíritu del Adviento y la Navidad. La admiración de la Iglesia ante el misterio de un Dios hecho hombre: «Oh». La comprensión cada vez más profunda de su misterio. Y la súplica urgente: «ven»
Cada antífona empieza por una exclamación, «Oh», seguida de un título mesiánico tomado del A.T., pero entendido con la plenitud del N.T. Es una aclamación a Jesús el Mesías, reconociendo todo lo que representa para nosotros. Y termina siempre con una súplica: «ven» y no tardes más.

You must cultivate this well formed heart




December 16
You must cultivate this well formed heart, carefully, and spare nothing which could be useful to its happiness. Even though in every season – that is, at every age – you can and must do this, your present age is the most suitable. (Letters III, pp. 421-422).

miércoles, 14 de diciembre de 2011

Let us always think of Heaven



December 14

He who attaches himself to the earth remains attached to it. It is better to detach oneself little by little instead of all at once. Let us always think of Heaven (CE, 64)

viernes, 2 de diciembre de 2011

But even goes in search of obstinate ones




December 2.

Divine Goodness not only does not reject  repentant souls, but  even goes in search of obstinate ones (CE, 11)