“See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.”
– 1 John 3:1

Meditation
Do you believe you are a joy for God the Father? Though we may “know” the Father delights in us, we can have trouble truly believing it. Yet, we can consider our own situation. Do you delight in your children? They can drive us crazy, but at our core we know the answer – yes! Then how could God the Father not delight in us? He is THE Father!

So often we examine our spiritual lives based on only our faults and mistakes – only looking at ourselves.  We can leave out the most important aspect: we are in an intimate relationship, a relationship with a God who delights in us and loves us! When we are able to look up and focus on who God is, we are able to truly believe He looks upon us with delight and love. Then, we can discover our delight in Him, and our sinfulness and imperfections will begin to be purified in and through His love.

Live It! Tip of the Week: Do I believe I am a joy for God the Father? Take some time to really ponder this question and rediscover intimacy with your heavenly Father who delights in you. Allow your life to be transformed from the inside out.

Prayer
“We give you praise, Father most holy, for you are great, and you have fashioned all your works in wisdom and in love. You formed man in your own image and entrusted the whole world to his care, so that in serving you alone, the Creator, he might have dominion over all creatures.

And when through disobedience he had lost your friendship, you did not abandon him to the domain of death. For you came in mercy to the aid of all, so that those who seek might find you. Time and again you offered them covenants and through the prophets taught them to look forward to salvation.

And you so loved the world, Father most holy, that in the fullness of time you sent your Only Begotten Son to be our Savior. Made incarnate by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary, he shared our human nature in all things but sin. To the poor he proclaimed the good news of salvation, to prisoners, freedom, and to the sorrowful of heart, joy.

To accomplish your plan, he gave himself up to death, and, rising from the dead, he destroyed death and restored life. And that we might live no longer for ourselves but for him who died and rose again for us, he sent the Holy Spirit from you, Father, as the first fruits for those who believe, so that, bringing to perfection his work in the world, he might sanctify creation to the full.”

–Eucharistic Prayer IV from The Roman Missal.

“He said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And [Peter] said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.”…And after this [Jesus] said to him, “Follow me.”
– John 21:17-19

Meditation
When Jesus entrusted His mission to Peter, he did not give him a long contract to sign or a list of roles and responsibilities. No, he simply asked one question three times: Peter, do you love me? The saints did all the wonderful things they did first and foremost because they were lovers. St. John of the Cross states, “The smallest movement of pure love is worth more to the Church than all works put together.” Even if we accomplish everything on our personal and professional lists for this year, God will continue to ask each one of us this one personal question with much deeper implications: do you love me? Let us rediscover God’s love for us and our love for God, which is not a feeling, but a choice.

Live It! Tip of the Week: When you examine your conscious tonight, remain on the first part of the greatest commandment: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.” Remember St. Therese’s words: “It is love alone that counts.” Be encouraged that God loves you and will give you the grace to love Him back. Just ask!

Prayer
Lord, open my heart to receive the love in this moment between us. Give me the faith to hear you say, “Do you love me?” and the grace to respond like Peter: “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.”

“As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.”
– Psalm 103:12

Meditation
In our daily quest to receive God’s love and return it back to Him, our past sins may come to mind and seem like a brick wall between us and God. This is a trick of Satan, but we can fight back through three radical dispositions of the heart, all of which make us look up to God rather than turning inward towards ourselves:

1. Choose gratitude rather than shame. Thank God for his mercy and forgiveness!  He has wiped your sins away, completely forgotten them, and never grows tired of forgiving! Give him the joy of being your Savior.
2. Choose humility rather than discouragement. Our sins can serve to remind us of our own weakness. It is not God who grows weary of us, but we who sometimes grow weary of ourselves.  If your past sins keep you humbled, thanks be to God, for “God opposes the proud, even when they are right.”
3. Choose to receive the gift of faith rather than to despair. St. Paul says where sin increased, grace abounded all the more.  When we recall our past sins and ponder God’s mercy, surely our faith can increase like St. Paul’s.

Rather than become a brick wall, our sin can stir us towards greater communion with God! St. Therese defines sanctity as “a disposition of the heart which makes us humble and small in the arms of God, conscious of our weakness, and confident to the point of audacity in the goodness of our Father.” Just like last week, we are called to rediscover the goodness and love of God.

Live It! Tip of the Week: Make a plan for when you will next go to Confession. Before you go, examine your conscience in a spirit of humble confidence in God’s loving mercy and give God the joy of being your Savior.

Prayer
“Lord, increase our faith in You! Give us the holy audacity to trust in “the immensity of that infinite mercy which casts all [sins] into the depths of the sea of oblivion when we repent of them with love.”
–St. Francis de Sales

“For God is love.”
– 1 John 4:8

Meditation
The most simple, the most foundational, and most elementary point in the Christian life also carries the potential to transform you entirely, day after day and forever. So what is it? Quite simply, God loves you. EVERYTHING God has done is out of this love. He created the Universe out of love. He created you personally out of love. He left his throne in the Heavens and broke into human history out of love. He poured Himself out and bled His last drop of blood out of love…for you! What more could He have done to make you believe in His love?

This is the very heart of the gospel. Sometimes we need to stay grounded in this simplicity because at times we forget and at times we make it complicated. God loves you. When you really believe in his love and live in his love, everything changes. In rediscovering God’s love for you, you can begin to rediscover your love for God. Return love for love.

Live It! Tip of the Week: Take a few minutes today and ponder the ways
God has sustained you in His love. Consider specific moments, events, and people through whom God has loved you, similar to the Blessed Virgin Mary’s Magnificat in Luke 1:46-55.

Prayer
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden.
For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed;
for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
And his mercy is on those who fear him
from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm,
he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts,
he has put down the mighty from their thrones,
and exalted those of low degree;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent empty away.
He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
as he spoke to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his posterity for ever.”

“Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?”
– Luke 1:42-43

Meditation
Happy New Year! The Church begins every year with the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. Though we may say this title of Our Lady in the Hail Mary prayer without a second thought, it is incredibly important. The Council of Ephesus affirmed this title of Mary not first and foremost for the sake of Mary, but actually to preserve the truth about Jesus Christ Himself – that He is fully God! And, amazingly enough, He chose to dwell in all of His divinity within Mary. Truly, Mary can show us what it means to “Find God in Yourself,” the fifth step to Superabundance. If we learned to set aside some time every day to find God dwelling within, the Lord will claim His Kingship in our hearts, and our lives will be radically transformed.

Live It! Tip of the Week: Ask Mary to be your mother and assist you in finding God in yourself in daily, silent prayer. If possible, make this prayer after receiving the Eucharist at Mass this week. Don’t let a day go by without calling to mind the reality that Christ dwells within you.

Prayer
Hail Mary,
Full of Grace,
The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women,
and blessed is the fruit
of thy womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary,
Mother of God,
pray for us sinners now
and at the hour of our death.
Amen.

“On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of fat things, a feast of wine on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wine on the lees well refined. And he will destroy on this mountain the covering that is cast over all peoples, the veil that is spread over all nations. He will swallow up death for ever, and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth; for the Lord has spoken. It will be said on that day, ‘Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, that he might save us. This is the Lord; we have waited for him; let us be glad and rejoice in his salvation.’” – Isaiah 25:6-9

Meditation
Merry Christmas! Though only described briefly in Scripture, the home at Nazareth was our Lord’s preferred dwelling place from His birth to the time of His public ministry – a full 30 years! Truly, the Lord has a heart for the home. During the wedding feast of Cana, Christ transforms over a hundred gallons of water to choice wine – a truly superabundant gift! The spiritual significance is profound; the Lord has restored joy to mankind, to the heart of man and woman. In fact, marriage continues to be a place of joy – married couples are happier, healthier, and wealthier than other individuals in society according to current sociological data. The family is an incredible component of the super abundant life that Jesus Christ came to give us. Do we taste this joy in our own families?

Live It! Tip of the Week: The Lord has come! Rejoice and be glad! Surprise your family this octave of Christmas with something superabundant – a special meal or dessert, a family outing to a favorite park or event, or a special activity together.

Prayer
“I wish to invoke the protection of the Holy Family of Nazareth.. it is therefore the prototype and example for all Christian families..St. Joseph was a just man..may he always guard, protect and enlighten families. May the Virgin Mary, who is the Mother of the Church, also be the Mother of the Church of the home…May Christ the Lord, the Universal King, the King of families, be present in every Christian home as He was at Cana, bestowing light, joy, serenity, and strength.” -St. Pope John Paul II

The Christmas Connection to Family, Your Family

Here at Paradisus Dei, we are grateful for you and your family. There are many reasons for that. One of them is the incredible connection your family, indeed all families, have to the Christmas story. This short video helps to explain that connection in a simple way. Think of it as our gift to you this Christmas.

Wishing you a Blessed and Merry Christmas,

Your Paradisus Dei Family

 

“And he went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these things in her heart.”
– Luke 2:51

Meditation
The Paradisus Dei altar tells a beautiful story of the mystery of Christ’s life, death, and resurrection. The providential addition of Mary and Joseph to each side of the altar goes further to communicate a particular and important truth of this plan of salvation – God chose to bring about His plan through a family. In fact, the family is still God’s preferential plan. Life and love still begin for the human person within a family. “The future of the world, and of the Church, pass by way of the family” according to Pope St. John Paul II. As we contemplate the mystery of Christ’s birth within a family and the Father’s entrustment of Christ to a couple, to Mary and Joseph, let us seek to bring life and love into our own family, those particular souls who the Lord has entrusted to us.

Live It! Tip of the Week: Write down the following question and leave it on your bedside table: “Lord, how can I better love my family today?” Ask yourself this question in the morning, think and pray with the question during the day, and the Lord will surely begin to show you where He is inviting you to deeper love! At the end of each day, you can then recall those opportunities with gratitude and prepare to love your family even more the next day.

Prayer
Lord, may we see your hidden face in our family as we celebrate your birth.
“For Christ is born of Mary
And gathered all above,
While mortals sleep the angels keep
Their watch of wondering love.
How silently, how silently,
The wondrous gift is given;
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His Heaven.
No ear may hear His coming,
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive Him still,
The dear Christ enters in.” (O Little Town of Bethlehem)

“Now Peter and John were going up to the temple
at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.”
-Acts 3:1

Meditation
“Give God some of your time” is the 3rd of the 7 Steps to Holiness found in both the TMIY and the Choice Wine programs. The use of our time reveals what we truly care about in our lives – what we truly love. This Advent is a great opportunity to create a daily habit of silent prayer with Scripture in preparation for the coming of Christ, our Love! If you are wondering where to start, consider spending 15-20 minutes each day with the daily readings for Mass. The Church in her wisdom gives us incredible readings to prepare the way of the Lord! The Magnificat book is a great resource with Mass readings for the day and corresponding meditations, artwork, lives of the saints, and more! View a sample issue here: http://bookstore.magnificat.net/paradisusdei

Live It! Tip of the Week: Read and pray with the daily Mass readings for this week of Advent in order to “prepare the way of the Lord” in your heart and in your family.

Prayer
“O God, send forth your Holy Spirit into my heart that I may perceive, into my mind that I may remember, and into my soul that I may meditate. Inspire me to speak with piety, holiness, tenderness and mercy. Teach, guide and direct my thoughts and senses from beginning to end. May your grace ever help and correct me, and may I be strengthened now with wisdom from on high, for the sake of your infinite mercy. Amen.” -Saint Anthony of Padua

“Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.”
–Ephesian 5:25-27

Meditation

Today we are celebrating Mary’s Immaculate Conception. This feast is incredibly important to the Church because it helps us dive into the Mystery of the nature of God. You see, we are celebrating the fact that God’s mercy over Our Lady was so great, that the redemption of Jesus Christ touched her from the instant of her conception so that Satan, sin, and even death could not harm her; she was conceived without Original Sin. To put it another way, God applied the grace of the crucifixion to Mary before the crucifixion had occurred in linear time. How amazing is that?!

Prayer

O most Holy Virgin, immaculate in body and spirit, look kindly on me as I implore your powerful intercession. O most Holy Mother, receive my prayers as I present them to God. (state your intentions here)

O Mary, Mother of Jesus and our Mother, you intercede for us with your Son. O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.

Amen.