"In prayer you shall perceive ... the way out of every situation that has no exit." 
                                                                                                           - Medjugorje March 28, 1985

"Do novenas of fasting and renunciation so that satan be far from you and grace be around you"                                                                                                             -  Medjugorje July 25, 2005

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Evil seems to be in such an intense fury stirring division, discouragement and animosity since June 24^th and the supreme court announcement.  The very next day in Medjugorje, heaven reportedly made a dramatic statement about evil’s activity in: the world:

satan is fighting for war and hatred. Division is strong and evil is at work in man as never before.

That is a big statement.

In light of this we are highlighting for you an article recently written by Rev. Joseph Esper of Michigan. His reflection, Choose Joy, cites some titans from Christianity within scripture, moves to writings dating to the 4^th century and spanning the spectrum of time up until the present moment. Here are a few quotes from his piece:

St. Bonaventure adds, “A spiritual joy is the greatest sign of divine grace dwelling in a soul.”

There’s a famous quote attributed to St. Teresa of Avila:  “From silly devotions and sour-faced saints, good Lord deliver us!”

Augustin Pro – “Gloom should be banished from the Christian soul.”

This sentiment is echoed by the virgin and foundress St. Mary Euphrasia Pelletier, who asserted, “Virtue that is gloomy, morose, sour, or hard is virtue only in name.  It is not inspired by God’s Spirit and it does not become a Christian soul.”  St. Pio of Pietrelcina (Padre Pio) was one who learned this lesson well.  He once wrote, in the midst of many sufferings, “I thank the Lord that despite the fact that . . . I suffer moments of real anguish, I am invariably cheerful. . . . I cast myself trustfully into the arms of Jesus, then let whatever He has decreed take place, and He must certainly come to my aid.”

“What soul, to whom Jesus has given Himself as its inheritance, can be unhappy?  Is He not the same Jesus Who is the delight of the angels?”

Rev. Esper adds these important words that you may wish to share with those you know who may be in a deeply saddened state:

Christ’s Name is powerful and life-giving; St. Bernard of Clairvaux advises us, “Do you feel sad?  Let the name of Jesus come into your heart.  From there let it spring to your mouth, so that shining like the dawn it may dispel all darkness and make a cloudless sky.  Does someone fall into sin?  Does his despair even urge him to suicide?  Let him but cry out this life-giving Name and his will to live will at once be renewed.”

And lastly here is a brief story you will surely wish to share with young members of your family:

Blessed Jordan of Saxony served as the second master general of the Dominican Order in the 13th century, succeeding St. Dominic himself.  Once during Compline (Night Prayer for monastic communities), a young novice experienced a giggling fit.  As one might expect, this quickly proved contagious, and soon all the novices were giggling or laughing.  A scandalized brother tried to threaten them into silence, but Jordan rebuked him, saying, “Who made you the novice master?,” and then told the young men, “Laugh on!  You may well laugh, for you have escaped from the devil who formerly held you in bondage.  Laugh away, dear sons!”

The full article can be found at the link below at sign.org, a site that we recommend to anyone looking to be aware of the many signs and wonders the Lord is performing in the world today:

Choose Joy

Lastly, on a related note here are two songs that bring joy, the first called Joy and sung by Johnny Diaz: 

Joy - Sung by Johnny Diaz

And the second, Holy Water sung by We The Kingdom. As you watch this, how can one not be proud of our young adults and inspired by the great work they are doing evangelizing …

Holy Water

We hope you enjoy these.  Thank you for fasting with us tomorrow. You will be glad you made the effort for all of eternity.

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