Reflection: Be still and know that I am God.

But the Lord is in His holy temple; silence before Him, all the earth. Habakkuk 2:20

The coronavirus pandemic has spread around the world. We must remember that Lord has the world in His hands.

Yes, My hand laid the foundations of the earth; My right hand spread out the heavens. Isaiah 48:13 

The public Mass has stopped all around the world, however, priests offer their private Masses each day. We can unite our intentions with their Masses. There is great suffering but the Lord is in the midst of it all. This illness has changed everyone's lives and opened up silence in the world.

Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10

At the mountain of God, Horeb, Elijah came to a cave where he took shelter. But the Word of the Lord came to him, "Go outside and stand on the mountain before the Lord; the Lord will be passing by." A strong and heavy wind was rending the mountains and crushing rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind, there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake, there was fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. After the fire, there was a tiny whispering sound. When he heard this, Elijah hid his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. A voice aid to him, "Why are you here, Elijah?" 1 Kings 19:11-13

God speaks to us in silence. Elijah recognized the Lord's voice in "a tiny whispering sound." We have to be silent in order to hear the Lord.

How can you be still and place yourself in the Presence of God?

Find a quiet place at home or spend time in a chapel or church near the tabernacle or Eucharistic adoration. Set a regular time period of the day and allot 10-15 minutes. You can increase the time period as you grow more comfortable with the silence.

During Eucharistic adoration, you are in the Presence of Jesus Christ, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. As you sit with Jesus, remember that He is your closest friend. You don't have to do anything, just be with Him, as you would be with a friend. If you want, you can pour out your heart to Him. Tell him your fears, sufferings and miseries and ask Him to be with you. Thank Jesus for all the blessings in your life.

It is helpful to bring a notebook to Eucharistic adoration. Often Jesus will speak to you in the silence and you can write down thoughts that may come to you. Saint Pope John Paul II and Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen did this. During Eucharistic adoration, you have an intimate encounter with God, face to face.

"I encourage Christians regularly to visit Christ present in the Blessed Sacrament, for we are all called to abide in the Presence of God."  Saint Pope John Paul II

"The greatest love story of all time is contained in a tiny white Host." Venerable Archbishop Fulton Sheen

Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10

In the Scriptures, Jesus went away to a quiet place and made time to pray to the Father. This is your invitation to do the same. Jesus is waiting for you. He wants to whisper a word of love into your heart. Come away and listen to the tiny whispering sound. It is the Lord. As you gaze at Jesus, He is gazing at you with great love.

My soul rests in God alone. Psalm 62:2

Reflection: The Annunciation of the Lord

Today we celebrate the Annunciation of the Lord. The angel Gabriel appeared to Mary to tell her that she had been chosen by God to be the Mother of the Son of God, the Mother of the Savior of the world.

Then the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end."  Luke 1:30-33

And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God.  Luke 1:36-37

The angel Gabriel gave Mary two personal messages to encourage and strengthen her.

"Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God." Luke 1:30

"For nothing will be impossible for God." Luke 1:37

This was a blessing to Mary that would strengthen her for the rest of her life, especially during times of great trial. Then the angel Gabriel revealed to Mary the pregnancy of Elizabeth. Both woman would bear a child through Divine Intervention. These two moments represent two of the Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary, the Annunciation and the Visitation.

Mary responded with her FIAT, her Yes to God:

Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word." Luke 1:38

How can you give your fiat, your yes, to God the way Mary did?
  
Ask Mary to come to you and help you to trust God the way she did. During the Mass, at the moment of the Consecration, ask Mary to give you a heart like hers. Remember that the Angel Gabriel told Mary to be unafraid. Bring your fears to God and say yes to Him, knowing that all things are possible for Him. Every time you pray the Hail Mary, you call upon her to come to your assistance. This is a powerful prayer through which you greet Mary the way the Angel Gabriel greeted her. Then you call upon her prayers and her assistance, "now and at the hour of our death."

God loves you so much and He wants to overwhelm you with His love. Enter into His Presence and allow Him to touch you with His healing grace. God created you and He wants you to live with Him eternally. God places the highest value on human life. He loves you so much that He sent His Son to become one of us, took on our human nature and became an innocent, completely dependent infant.

When we repeat the words of the angel by praying the Hail Mary, the Word of God dwells among us. Through Mary's humble, obedient Fiat, heaven and earth meet.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee...

Reflection: Psalm 23...I need You, Jesus!

The troubles of this world, especially the uncertainty of the worldwide pandemic, can cause distress in the soul. Trusting in God is the key. When your heart and soul ache. turn to the Lord. Only God can restore you. God is always there, in times of trouble, anxiety and distress. Ask God to give you courage in the midst of the trials and tribulations. Pray, pray, pray. He is there when we fall and when we are hurt. God is always there waiting for us. Turn to Him.

TRUST ME Author Unknown
Do you believe that I am the Son of God? And do you believe that I died for all men and women and that I rose from the dead? Then why do you continue to be distracted and anxious about your loved ones? Do they not also belong to Me? Would I refuse to work in their lives just as I work in yours? I have not put you in charge of redeeming them. I have already done that. Nor do you have the power to change their hearts; Only my Holy Spirit searches and knows the deepest hearts of men and women and only He can heal their deepest wounds. Your task is to love, to forgive, to pray for them and to turn them over to Me. Come closer to Me yourself and I will do the rest.

Simply cry out: "I need You, Jesus, and I trust in You." Draw close to Jesus, open up your heart and your mind to receive His love and peace.

The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. In verdant pasture, He makes me lie down; to still waters, He leads me; He restores my soul. He guides me along right paths for the sake of His Name. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me, Your rod and Your staff comfort me. Psalm 23:1-4

Jesus, Comforter and Counselor, come in times of trouble with Your peace in the midst of the storms. Jesus I trust in You and I need You.

Reflection: The Lord is my Shepherd + You are not alone + The world is suffering + Cultivate the qualities of heroic virtue to help suffering souls

The world is suffering from the coronavirus pandemic. Be not afraid.

Be strong and courageous; do not be discouraged; do not be afraid for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9

Jesus is the Good Shepherd. He is our Shepherd, our Protector and our Refuge. When we turn away or wander away, we are lost, He never stops looking for us. He knows us "by name" and we are His own; we belong to Him. The Good Shepherd watches over us, His flock, and protects us from danger and from enemies. When we are in trouble, isolated, sick or afraid, He lifts us up on His shoulder or under the safety of His arm and He carries us home.

I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. I am the Good Shepherd. A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. John 10:10-11

Meditation:  Imagine it is night time and you are lost, wandering, feeling afraid and alone. You do not know where to go for shelter. The sounds of the night frighten you. Suddenly, you hear someone calling your name. It is Jesus, the Good Shepherd. He gathers you into His arms and tells you He has been searching for you. He holds you close, as a loving Father does. Look into His eyes and tell him everything you have been through. Let Him hold you so close you can hear the beating of His Sacred Heart. Let Jesus console you, heal your broken heart and carry you home to the safety of His fold. You are not alone. Rest with Jesus.

The Lord is my Shepherd. There is nothing I shall want. Psalm 23:1

Prayer brings down a flood of grace.
You can make a difference for people who are suffering, people who have lost loved ones, people who are sick or isolated and afraid, our beloved priests who offer hope and healing through the Sacraments, courageous medical workers and first responders, neighbor helping neighbor. In the midst of the catastrophe of the worldwide pandemic, people come forward in heroic ways.

We can look to the saints as living lives of heroic virtue. God gives us their lives as examples to follow. Heroic virtue is the performance of extraordinary virtuous actions with readiness and over a period of time. The moral virtues are exercised with ease, while faith, hope and charity are practiced to an eminent degree. The presence of such virtues is required by the Church as the first step toward canonization.

What are some of the qualities of a hero? 

Courage, Faith, Hope, Love, Fortitude, Compassion, 
Wisdom, Perseverance, Honor, Service, Patience in Suffering

Ask Jesus to help you cultivate qualities of heroic virtue.

How can you help all those who are suffering?

Pray, fast, offer sacrifices.

"You Yourself command me to exercise the three degrees of mercy. The first: the act of mercy, of whatever kind. The second: the word of mercy - if I cannot carry out a work of mercy, I will assist by my words. The third: prayer - if I cannot how mercy by deeds or words, I can always do so by prayer. My prayer reaches out even there where I cannot reach out physically. O my Jesus, transform me into Yourself, for You can do all things."  Diary of Saint Faustina 163

Now the Word of the Lord came to me saying: Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born, I consecrated you; a prophet to the nations I appointed you. Jeremiah 1:5

God has given each one of us a mission. Ask Him what He has appointed you to do and listen and, as in the words of Mary, "Do whatever He tells you." John 2:5

Heavenly Father, we ask You to bless all the families for whom we pray. We thank You for the gifts of Your Son Jesus, for the Holy Spirit and for Our Blessed Mother Mary.

Psalm 23

Kiss of Mercy Prayer Apostolate + 4th Anniversary

The Kiss of Mercy Prayer Apostolate for Healing from Abortion began on March 19, 2016, on the Feast Day of the Solemnity of Saint Joseph, during the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy.

The Apostolate was inspired by a talk titled, Confession, by Venerable Fulton Sheen. During the talk, he prophetically said:

"Just think how many mentally disturbed women we are going to have in the United States...when the guilt of abortion begins to attack the mind and soul...Years from now, the guilt will come out in a peculiar way, though at present there may not be any."

We were so struck by his words and we thought about how abortion effects so many, not only the women. Today the problem of abortion seems insurmountable. As we prayed about this, we thought of Saint Therese of Lisieux and the simplicity and power of her "Little Way" which is the Love and Mercy of God.

We sought spiritual guidance and wrote a simple prayer which is the essence of the Apostolate. An imprimatur was received on the Kiss of Mercy Prayer on January 25, 2017.

Kiss of Mercy Prayer

To be recited while kissing an image of Jesus

Jesus I trust in You.

May my kiss, 

and Your grace,

convert, heal and 

reconcile to the Father 

one soul wounded by abortion.

Recite one Hail Mary

Nihil Obstat +Arthur L. Kennedy S.T.L., Ph.D.
                        Auxiliiary Bishop of Boston

Permission +Sean P. Cardinal O'Malley, O.F.M., Cap.
                       Archbishop of Boston

Date January 25, 2017

Through the Kiss of Mercy Prayer Apostolate, we pray for conversion, healing and reconciliation to the Father for all souls wounded by abortion, one soul at a time.

Saint Therese of Lisieux, Venerable Fulton Sheen and Saint Joseph, pray for us!

Kiss of Mercy Apostolate for healing from abortion

Reflection...Rejoice because your names are written in heaven. Luke 10:20

"So humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time. Cast all your worries upon Him because He cares for you. Be sober and vigilant. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, steadfast in faith, knowing that your fellow believers throughout the world undergo the same sufferings. The God of all grace who called you to His eternal glory through Christ Jesus Himself restore, confirm, strengthen and establish you after you have suffered a little. To Him be dominion forever." 1 Peter 5:6-11

The world is suffering great trials as a result of the Coronavirus pandemic. Be not afraid. 

Today we celebrate the Memorial of Saint Patrick.  He was a humble, pious, gentle man, who had great love and total devotion to and trust in God. He knew God's mission for him was for the conversion of the people of Ireland. He was a bishop and missionary who was once a slave. He wrote of his love for God in Confessions of Saint Patrick. Through his teachings and travels throughout Ireland, he endured poverty and great suffering. Many miracles were attributed to him. He often used shamrocks to explain the Holy Trinity  He became known for his life of sacrifice, prayer and fasting.

As we continue our journey through Lent, there is so much suffering in our nation and our world. God is calling upon us to pray more, fast, make sacrifices and offer our sufferings for the whole world.

For the sake of His Sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.  From the Chaplet of Divine Mercy

Let us pray to Saint Patrick for Ireland and for the conversion of the people of Ireland that they will turn back to the Lord and end abortion. 

Let us pray for those who are enslaved, persecuted and marginalized in our world today and for all those who are most vulnerable, especially the unborn. 

Let us pray for the conversion of the United States of America and all countries from a culture of death to a culture of life. Let us ask Saint Patrick to give us his missionary spirit to speak the truth, in love, to those we encounter and bring them the Love of Jesus.

The Breastplate of Saint Patrick 
Christ be with me, Christ within me, Christ behind me, Christ before me, Christ beside me, Christ to win me, Christ to comfort and restore me. Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ in quiet, Christ in danger, Christ in hearts of all that love me, Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

"May the strength of God pilot us, may the wisdom of God instruct us, may the hand of God protect us, may the Word of God direct us. Be always ours this day and forever more." Saint Patrick

The seventy two returned rejoicing, and said, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us because of your name.” Jesus said, “I have observed Satan fall like lightning from the sky. Behold, I have given you the power ‘to tread upon serpents’ and scorpions and upon the full force of the enemy and nothing will harm you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” Luke 10:17-20

Christians attribute Saint Patrick for the expulsion of "spiritual" serpents from Ireland and for waging war against the demonic presence on the island. The Breastplate of Saint Patrick is a powerful prayer against the powers of darkness.

Saint Patrick, courageous missionary, teach us to speak the truth, in love, as you did and pray for us and all families and all who are suffering that they may draw close to the Lord and Our Lady in the midst of their trials and rejoice that their names are written in heaven.

Reflection: Pray the Rosary daily for Peace

Our Lady of Fatima appeared to the shepherd children telling them to pray the rosary daily for peace. She speaks these words to us too.

In this world, there is so much that can cause distress in the soul. Trusting in God is the key. When your heart and your soul ache, turn to Him. Only God can restore your soul. God is always there, in times of trouble, anxiety and distress. He is there when you fall and when you are hurt. God is always with you. He will never leave you alone. He will come to help you. He will send people to help you. Like a little child, reach out and hold His hand.

Peace I leave you, My peace I give to you, not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled or afraid. John 14:27

Pray the rosary daily for peace in the world and for families. Meditating on the mysteries of the rosary, you enter into the lives of Jesus and Mary. Let there be peace in our hearts, our families, our country and our world.

Saint John Paul II wrote about the power of the rosary and encouraged families to pray the rosary every day to grow in holiness and to become more like Jesus. The rosary has great power to heal the world from the breakdown of the family, abortion, violence and illnesses such as the coronavirus pandemic. The rosary focuses on Jesus through the eyes of His Mother Mary, our Mother.

Be not afraid. Open wide the doors for Christ. Saint John Paul II

Saint John Paul II Apostolic Letter on the Rosary:
Contemplating the Mysteries of Christ and the Mysteries of His Mother

Rosarium Virginis Mariae Apostolic Letter on the Rosary Saint John Paul II

Reflection: Holy Mary, Mother of God, teach us how to pray...

The Blessed Virgin Mary teaches us how to pray as she taught the Child Jesus how to pray. As a little boy, she held His hand and guided Him. Mary wants to take you by the hand and guide you. Be still and reach out to her.

Mary will take you into her heart, When you receive the Eucharist, ask Mary to be with you, She will wrap her mantle around you and she will hold you close to her Immaculate Heart.

Go to Mary and ask her to take you by the hand and teach you how to pray...

Mary will teach you how to pray by pondering and keeping all things in your heart as she did. She will teach you how to listen in prayer and how to keep your eyes fixed on Jesus. She will teach you how to contemplate the mysteries of the Rosary. She will teach you how to reflect on the hidden life of Jesus, the sufferings of His Passion, the Triumph of His Resurrection and the Institution of the Eucharist. She will teach you how to listen and quiet your heart so you can hear God's Will for your life and how to do whatever He tells you to do. Above all, she will teach you how to love Jesus with all your heart, mind and soul. Draw close to Mary and she will draw you close to Jesus, her Beloved Son.

Ponder. Listen. Contemplate. Reflect.

Saint Louis Marie de Montfort, True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin:
After Holy Communion, close your eyes and recollect yourself. Then usher Jesus into the heart of Mary: you are giving Him to His Mother who will receive Him with great love and give Him the place of honor, adore Him profoundly, show Him perfect love, embrace Him intimately in spirit and in truth, and perform many offices for Him of which we, in our ignorance, would know nothing.  Or, maintain a profoundly humble heart in the presence of Jesus dwelling in Mary. Or be in attendance like a slave at the gate of the royal palace, where the King is speaking with the Queen. While they are talking to each other, with no need of you, go in spirit to heaven and to the whole world, and call upon all creatures to thank, adore and love Jesus and Mary for you. "Come, let us adore."

The 10 Virtues of Mary according to Saint Louis de Montfort:
Her Angelic Sweetness, Ardent Charity, Blind Obedience, Constant Mental Prayer, Divine Purity, Divine Wisdom, Heroic Patience, Lively Faith, Profound Humility and Universal Mortification

Let us ask Mary to help us to grow in her 10 virtues as she teaches us to pray.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, teach us how to pray...

Reflection: Do not worry

In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus speaks to the disciples and to us: "Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?" Mark 6:25

There are so many things in this world that can cause fear and worry. So many people around the world are worried about the spread of the coronavirus. Be not afraid. Listen to the experts and take the precautions they recommend. 

Place yourself in the hands of God and trust that everything is under His Providence. Close your eyes and think about the things that you worry about. Imagine you are sitting with Jesus. Open your heart and tell Him your worries, fears and anxieties.

"Can any of you by worrying, add a single moment of your life-span? Why are you anxious about clothes? Learn from the way the wildflowers grow. They do not work or spin." Mark 6:27-28

Find a quiet place and ponder these words about Jesus by Saint Therese, the Little Flower:
"He set the book of nature before me and I saw all the flowers He has created are lovely. The splendour of the rose and the whiteness of the lily do not rob the violet of its scent nor the daisy of its simple charm. I realized that if every tiny flower wanted to be a rose, spring would lose its loveliness and there would be no wild flowers to make the meadows gay. It is just the same in the world of souls which is the garden of Jesus. He has created great saints who are like lilies and roses, but He has also created much lesser saints and they must be content to be the daisies or the violets which rejoice His eyes whenever He glances down. Perfection consists in doing His Will, in being that which He wants us to be."

Ponder the book of nature as you sit with Jesus in a field of wildflowers. Place your worries, fears and anxieties in His hands and gaze at the beauty of each little flower knowing that God created YOU, just as He created each little seed and flower petal. God wants to shower you with His grace so you can go and bear fruit.

"You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father, in My Name, He may give to you." John 15:16

Pray, hope and don't worry.  Saint Padre Pio

Reflection: Fr. Greg Staab, OMV "Well done, good and faithful servant."

Shepherd Your people with Your staff, the flock of Your heritage that lives apart in a woodland in the midst of an orchard. Micah 7:14

Today we remember, with great fondness, Fr. Greg on the 2nd anniversary of his passing to his eternal home on March 1, 2018.

I have been blessed to know so many beautiful priests, good shepherds. Today I want to remember Father Greg Staab, OMV (Oblates of the Virgin Mary). Fr. Greg was a dear friend and prayer partner of the John 10:10 Prayer Ministry and the first spiritual director of the Kiss of Mercy Prayer Apostolate for Healing from Abortion which began on the Feast Day of Saint Joseph, March 19, 2016.

A faithful friend is a sturdy shelter; he who finds one finds a treasure. A faithful friend is beyond price, no sum can balance his worth. Sirach 6:14-15

Fr. Greg was a saintly priest who lived his life "all for Jesus through Mary". He was ordained in Rome by Saint John Paul II in 1984. When he was a 19 year old seminarian, he was with his fellow seminarians one day and they were all discussing where their priestly ministries would bring them. Fr. Greg said, "I want to be a saint." His desire to be a saint shaped his priesthood and his ministry. He had a deeply rich priestly ministry which took him from Rome to Boston, Massachusetts, then to California, Argentina, the Philippines and back to Boston. His humility had a profound effect on countless souls.

Fr. Greg had a very rare disease and spent over three years in the hospital and he continued his priestly ministry from his hospital bed. Being in the presence of Fr. Greg, you were not aware of his suffering for he said he had offered it to God. He had the same twinkle in his eye and love for others that he had before his illness began.

There was a constant flow of visitors to see Fr. Greg: priests, seminarians, sisters, friends, hospital patients and hospital workers. As long as he was able, he celebrated Mass followed by a Holy Hour of Eucharistic Adoration every day. He continued to offer spiritual direction and the Sacraments from his hospital bed. He inspired me and so many others with his deep love for the Eucharist and for Mary, our Immaculate Mother, his love for prayer and for the Rosary and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, his devotion to his Guardian Angel and all the Holy Angels, to Saint Joseph, Saint Therese of Lisieux, Saint Faustina, Saint Francisco and Saint Maximilian Kolbe. He had a burning love for The Divine Mercy of Jesus and continually spread the message of The Divine Mercy of God in Jesus Christ who bestows upon us unimaginable graces when we approach the Fount of His Mercy. Fr. Greg worked tirelessly for the salvation of souls. He offered spiritual direction, based on the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius and taught others to make and renew their consecration to Jesus through Mary through Saint Louis de Montfort.

It was a great grace for me to be at Masses Fr. Greg celebrated from his hospital bed. At one Mass, during his homily on the Gospel of Luke 7, Fr. Greg spoke about the widow whose only son had died and how Jesus raised the young boy from the dead. He said Jesus performed the miracle of raising someone from the dead only three times in the Gospels.

The only son of the widow had died and his body was being carried out. A large crowd was with the widow.  Jesus saw her and was moved with pity and said, "Do not weep."  Then Jesus moved forward and touched the coffin and said,

"Young man, I tell you, arise!" Luke 7:14

Immediately, the dead man got up and spoke. Then Jesus gave him to his mother. Fear seized the crowd and they glorified God.

During the homily, Fr. Greg said the greatest miracle occurs when a person goes to confession. 

Fr. Greg said, "Never stay away from confession.  Go often and go immediately, if you have mortal sin.  If your house is on fire, do you wait six months before you call the fire department?  Of course not.  What would happen if you didn't clean your kitchen for a month?  You can't wait if your house is on fire or if your kitchen has not been cleaned for a month.  And so it is with your soul.  Confession is the place where a soul is resurrected from the death of sin to new life through the Sacrament of Reconciliation."

On my way to Mass the next morning, I was pondering Fr. Greg's homily and I noticed clumps of little yellow flowers which seemed to be sprouting out of the cement at the foot of my church stairs. Drawing closer, I saw beautiful little yellow pansies coming out of a crack between the sidewalk and the granite foundation of the church. I was struck by the beauty of God's creation and how God brings new life in unexpected ways.

The story of the widow whose only son had died is a story of how Jesus brings new life out of death. He wants us to know that all things are possible with Him. He wants us to come to Him, as we are, and He will make new life in us. Jesus will bring new life to you, in unexpected ways.

God brings new life in our spiritual lives too, sometimes in unexpected ways. 

Have you experienced a loss or gone through a period of sadness, when someone speaks a word of comfort that lifts your spirits? 

Have you read a verse of Scripture which touched your heart deeply? 

Have you listened to the music during Mass and felt a surge of love come upon you? 

Have you received the Sacraments and experienced God's love in a new and profound way? 

Have you prayed for something or for someone and your prayers were answered? 

Have you prayed, in confident trust, that your prayers will be answered, in God's perfect timing?

Our hearts are made for love. Fr. Greg led a life of love, love for God and for others. God is always near and He waits for the perfect moment to come inside, to bring us new life. There may be times that we are not open to receive His grace. God will come, even through the tiniest crack or opening in our hearts, like the crack between the sidewalk and the granite foundation of my church, where new life burst forth in tiny yellow pansies.

God delights in you and He wants to do something new and unexpected in your life. Open your heart and invite Him in. Ask Him to help you let go of the things that keep you away from His Presence. He will come to you.  He will help you and He will bring new life in you. Go to confession and go often. Like the little yellow pansies coming out of the crack, Jesus will come into your heart and He will say to you, "Arise!"

Immaculate Mary, Mother of God and Mother of Priests, pray for the repose of the soul of our beloved Fr. Greg Staab, OMV.  May he rest in eternal peace. 

His master said to him, "Well done, my good and faithful servant." Matthew 25:21