Tag Archives: John Flader

Rechristianising society

City street image

Christian influence in today’s society is challenged in many ways.

Two thousand years ago, Jesus Christ sent twelve men out to change the world. They succeeded. Within some 350 years, under the Emperor Theodosius the Roman Empire, that had persecuted the Church for 250 years, declared Christianity its official religion, giving rise to the Holy Roman Empire. Now the Christian influence in society is waning and is under attack. All the baptised are called to bring Christ and his teaching back into society.

In this meditation we consider how:

  • Christ sent the apostles out to teach all nations and they were very successful
  • The Christian influence on society is now challenged in many ways
  • The Second Vatican Council called all the baptised to help rechristianise society
  • We should not be daunted by the immensity of the task
  • St John Paul II called upon the youth to improve their world
  • We begin by growing in holiness ourselves
  • There are many things each of us can do to make a difference
  • Our Lady, Help of Christians, is our advocate in this task

As a new year begins

new-calendar-year

The beginning of a new year is a good time to take stock and make plans and reslutions for the rest of the year.

 

As a new year begins it is good to stop and reflect on the past year and make resolutions for the one just beginning. In this meditation, following a custom of Blessed Alvaro del Portillo, we:

  • Give thanks for the blessings of the past year, including the crosses God has sent us
  • Ask pardon for our many failings
  • Ask God to help us carry out our new year’s resolutions to grow in holiness

Mary, teacher of faith

nativity-scene showing Jesus with Mary and Joseph

Mary and Joseph with the newly born infant, our Lord Jesus Christ.

Faith is one of the most important virtues and is always a gift from God. In this meditation we consider that:

  • Our Lady throughout her life teaches us how to live this virtue
  • We need faith both to believe in the truths revealed by God and also to believe that nothing is impossible with God
  • Faith helps us to know that God is with us in the trials of life
  • Faith gives meaning to life

Mary, Comforter of the Afflicted

mary-at-the-cross

Our holy mother, Mary, comforted our Lord at the foot of the cross.

In the Litany of Loreto we call Our Lady “Comforter of the afflicted”. With unspeakable love she comforted Jesus on the Cross at Calvary and she accompanies us in our afflictions. In this meditation we consider how:

  • Because of her freedom from sin Mary was able to love like no other
  • As prophesied by Simeon, Mary was destined to suffer much because she loved much
  • Mary suffered in her heart when Jesus was lost in the temple, at the wedding feast of Cana and especially at Calvary
  • Mary suffered intensely at Calvary, to the point where St Bernard calls her truly a martyr
  • The Sequence of the Mass of Our Lady of Sorrrows records this suffering in a moving way
  • As our mother, Mary loves us and comforts us in our afflictions

 

Martha and Mary

Martha and Mary (Johannes_(Jan)_Vermeer)

Here we see Mary and Martha serving Jesus. We note Martha holding a basket with bread and Mary sitting at His feet listening.

We are all familiar with the account of Mary and Martha, with Mary sitting at Our Lord’s feet while her sister Martha prepares the meal. We too would love to sit and listen to Jesus but we are busy about many things like Martha. In this meditation we see how our life is essentially like that of Martha, but in order to be a good Martha we must also be Mary. Using many texts of St Josemaria Escriva‘s book Furrow, we consider:

  • The Second Vatican Council’s teaching that the role of the Christian lay person is to engage in the affairs of the world and order them according to the law of God.
  • We cannot waste our time but should be busy like Martha.
  • We should do what God is asking of us, not what we feel like.
  • We should work well, like Martha.
  • We should do everything for Jesus, like Martha.
  • In order to do this we must spend some time each day in prayer like Mary.

Witnesses for Christ

Christ sends the apostles

We are called to be witnesses to Christ. Here we see our Lorde sending out his disciples.

 

Christ has called all the baptised and sent us out to be his witnesses in the world, to bear fruit that will abide. If we are to fulfill this mission we must be branches very much united to the vine. We do this through our life of prayer, following a daily plan. In this meditation we will consider:

  • Our calling to be witnesses for Christ
  • How we must be branches united to the vine
  • The need for a daily plan of spiritual activities, just as we have a daily plan of meals, work, relaxation and sleep
  • The principal activities of this plan

The Good Samaritan

 

The good Samaritan is a great example of how we should treat our neighbour.

The parable of the Good Samaritan is a good example to follow in this Jubilee Year of Mercy

 

In this Jubilee Year of Mercy the parable of the Good Samaritan has much to tell us. It offers food for thought on how we can be a Good Samaritan to those around us. In this meditation we will consider:

  • The question of the lawyer to Jesus on what he must do to inherit eternal life and the importance of the question for everyone
  • How love for God and love for our neighbour are related
  • How our neighbour is everyone around us, no matter what their religion, race or nationality
  • The example of saints like Josemaria Escriva and Mother Teresa of Calcutta
  • How we can be the Good Samaritan in our family and with strangers

The heart of Mary

Icon of the heart of Mary

The Immaculate Heart of Mary

When the soldier pierced the heart of Christ as he hung on the cross, the spear pierced the heart of Mary too. Her heart and his were one. In this meditation we consider how:

  • Mary pondered the mysteries of Christ in her heart
  • Her heart and his were united throughout their lives
  • Mary suffered intensely with Jesus at Calvary
  • St Bernard considered Mary to be truly a martyr
  • Mary loves us as she loves Jesus

Called to holiness

Christ calling the apostles

We are all called to sanctity

Many  think only a few extraordinary people are called to sanctity and that it is sufficient for the rest to limit themselves to being good. But God has loved everyone and he wants all to love him with their whole heart, soul, mind and strength. All are called to sanctity and sanctity is within the reach of all. In this meditation we will consider how:

  • God has called each and everyone from all eternity to fulfill a mission
  • Christ loves everyone and he wants all to love him in return
  • To bear fruit we must be branches very united to the vine who is Christ
  • We are united to Christ through prayer, penance, the sacraments and fulfilling his will

Life of Prayer

vocal prayer and mental prayer

 

 

 

In our hectic life it is essential to find the time each day to stop and converse with God in prayer. In this meditation we consider:

  • Why we should pray
  • The different forms of prayer
  • The qualities our prayer should have
  • How to deal with distractions in prayer