Let Us Be Perfect

Posted on February 6, 2014 by Martha
Saint Paul Outside the Walls

Saint Paul Outside the Walls, Rome, Italy, 2012

“Let me obey your demands perfectly so I will not be ashamed.  I am weak from waiting for you to save me, but I hope in your word.”  Psalm 119:80-81

Sometimes we can put pressure on ourselves to be perfect.  We believe that God wants perfection and anything less than perfect is unacceptable.  In striving for perfection we think there is only one way to achieve it.  We think we have to pray a certain way, think a certain way, and act a certain way.  We refuse to change anything for fear of being imperfect in His eyes.  We put ourselves under such pressure that we can never live up to our own heavy demands.  We end up giving up and feeling worse about ourselves.

God does want perfection from us, but He he knows our imperfections and loves us anyway.  Each one of us are on a journey to God.  Mistakes will be made, and hopefully learned from.  We must give ourselves space to grow along our journey.  When we do we begin to see that we are on a journey of faith moving ever closer to Him.  As we grow and mature in our faith, our ways of praying, thinking, and acting mature also.  We find that we must make changes in our methods of doing these things that reflect our growth.

When we fully understand our journey, we see that others are on a faith journey of their own and realize they may be at different stages than we are.  We come to know that each person must pray, think, and act as led by God.  When we accept this, we can then share our ways with others, knowing that God will have them use from us what is right for them.  When we accept this, we can then pray for and celebrate growth in others.

One day our different journeys will all come together in Eternal Life.  We will see each other and ourselves perfect in the eyes of God.

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A Pope’s Humility

Posted on February 5, 2014 by Martha
View from the top of the Vatican, taken by Martha McDuff Wiggins, 2012

View from the top of the Vatican, taken by Martha McDuff Wiggins, 2012

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”  Philippians 2:3-4

     In 2010 I read a very special and beautiful book entitled, Journal Of A Soul.  It is a book based on the spiritual writings and diaries of Pope John XXIII.  When the Pope gave his spiritual diaries to his secretary, to be published upon his death, he said, “My soul is in these pages.”  His writings began at the age of fourteen and span over sixty seven years, the last being written about six months prior to his death.

I found this book to be thought provoking, spiritually moving, and very humbling.  I had already been writing in my Journey Through The Stillness for some time when I was given Pope John XXIII’s beautiful book by my priest.  I had sought his counsel about what was going on in my time spent in The Stillness and he promptly gave me his personal copy of the book saying I would find it very inspiring.  As much as it was inspiring, I found it to be comforting.  This Pope seemed to speak directly to my heart.  In his writings I found so much that stirred my own soul, most especially on the subjects of vanity and humility.

I particularly like the following quote from a letter he wrote in 1944:  If you hear anything good about me, praise the Lord as I do, for he has done all.  If you hear any criticisms, pray for me, that the Lord may forgive me if the criticism is just and, if it is unjust, forgive whoever utters it.

Another time, the Pope quotes from Book III, chapter XXIII, of The Imitation of Christ about the four things that bring much peace to the soul: 1) Seek, my son, to do another’s will, rather than your own.  2) Choose always to have less rather than more.  3) Always seek the lowest place, and to be inferior to everyone.  4) Always desire and pray that the will of God may be wholly fulfilled in you.  He then adds in his own words, It is heavenly doctrine: who can forget it?

I must not forget to pray daily for forgiveness for every unjust work I utter, and I must pray daily for one tenth the humility of this blessed man.

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Lord, You Are Merciful

Posted on February 4, 2014 by Martha
Resurrection Tapestry, Vatican Museum, taken by Martha Wiggins 2012

Resurrection Tapestry, Vatican Museum, taken by Martha Wiggins 2012

Lord, You are merciful.

Forgive me, Lord when I fail to show mercy unto others.  Forgive me when I hold others to a higher standard than myself and then judge them.

Thank you, Lord, for your gift and grace of mercy for all of my failures and shortcomings.  Have mercy on my soul.

We often expect others to behave as we would.  More often than not, we would not be able to meet those very same standards we hold others to.  We judge them for what we could not or would not do.  God is our only and final judge; may God have mercy on us all.

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Jesus, I Place My Trust In You

Posted on February 3, 2014 by Martha

Sacred Heart I have a prayer card from 1953, the year of my birth.  On the front is a picture of Jesus with wounded hands extended and sacred heart exposed.  Beneath the picture are the words “Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place my trust in You.”  On the back of the card is a beautiful prayer that I pray each morning relinquishing all to Him.

“Lord Jesus Christ.  I consecrate myself today anew and without reserve to Your divine Heart.  I consecrate to You my body with all its senses, my soul with all its faculties, my entire being.  I consecrate to You all my thoughts, words and deeds, all my sufferings and labors, all my hopes, consolations and joys.  In particular I consecrate to You this poor heart of mine so that it may love only You and may be consumed as a victim in the fire of Your love.

     I place my trust in You without reserve and I hope for the remission of my sins through Your infinite mercy.  I place within Your hands all my care and anxieties.  I promise to love You and to honor You till the last moment of my life, and to spread, as much as I can, devotion to Your most Sacred Heart.

     Do with me what you will, my Jesus.  I deserve no other reward except Your greater glory and Your holy love.

     Take this offering of myself and give me a place within Your divine Heart forever.  Amen.

How do you start your day?  Take a few minutes to consecrate yourself to Him.  It will make a difference; He promises.

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Claim Your God

Posted on January 31, 2014 by Martha
Basilica Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome, Italy, (Basilica of St. Mary over Minerva) taken by Martha Wiggins, 2011

Basilica Santa Maria sopra Minerva, Rome, Italy, (Basilica of St. Mary over Minerva) taken by Martha Wiggins, 2011. Saint Catherine of Siena is buried beneath the altar, and to the left is a statue carved by Michelangelo -Christ Bearing The Cross.

“When we cry, “Abba! Father!” it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God.”  Romans 8:15-16

The last thing I say each time immediately before entering The Stillness is, “Yes, Lord, I will be still for You are my God.”  In that response is a host of meaning.  In that moment we are Creator and created, Father and daughter, Rabboni and student, Savior and sinner.

To go before the Lord and claim Him as your God you must be willing to relinquiah all control.  You must praise Him and honor Him even when all seems lost to you.  You must wait for His guidance and His anwers in all things.  You must submit to His will for your life, and not just in the big things but also in the little things.  This takes great patience with oneself, and while it sounds like an oxymoron, one must gain control of oneself to lose control to God.

Meet Him in the silence of your heart, in The Stillness, and wait on Him to  guide you in your faith journey.  Claim the Lord as your God and seek Him above all things.  Your reward will be great.

“Visit me with Your grace, Lord.  Come spiritually into my heart.  Purify it.  Sanctify it.  Render it like unto Your own.  Amen.”  (taken from The Spiritual Communion)

 

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Part Of His Herd

Posted on January 30, 2014 by Martha

1391970_568939809822247_1815335477_n“For thus says the Lord God: I myself will look after and tend my sheep.  As a shepherd tends his flock when he finds himself among his scattered sheep, so will I tend my sheep.  I will rescue them from every place where they were scattered when it was cloudy and dark…the lost I will seek out, the strayed I will bring back, the injured I will bind up, the sick I will heal…”  Ezekiel 34:11-12,16

     No matter what your past sins are, no matter who you have hurt (including yourself),  no matter what your ‘station’ in life is (rich or poor), if you believe in Jesus Christ or at least want to believe, you are one of His sheep, part of His herd.  He will tend to you, He will guide you, He will find you and bring you home.  He forgives all.  Run to Him.  Throw yourself at His feet and let let Him make you whole.

Sometimes it is good to be just part of the herd.

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Desire To Help God

Posted on January 29, 2014 by Martha

800px-Holy_Spirit_007     Do you desire to help God bring home lost souls?  He desires that you do!  Don’t be afraid to ask Him to infuse you and then use you to do so.  And then, Satan beware!

Prayer:  My Lord, and My God, infuse me with the Life of your Son, the Love of His Mother, Mary, and the Peace of your Holy Spirit flowing within, that I might be used by each for the fight against your most powerful enemy, Satan, in order that he be cast down and made to release those souls that You, in your infinite Mercy and Love, desire to bring home to The Father, that they might gain the grace of your salvation and live in union with You in eternal life, ever offering in praise that Glory and Honor that cannot be denied You, for thou art The Way, The Truth, and The Life. Amen.  (March 19, 2010 – Journey Through The Stillness, written by Martha Wiggins)

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Lord, You Are Grace Bestowed

Posted on January 28, 2014 by Martha
St Peter's Basilica Statuary, taken by Martha Wiggins, 2011

St Peter’s Basilica Statuary, taken by Martha Wiggins, 2011

Lord, You are Grace Bestowed.

Forgive me, Lord, when I fail to recognize the graces You have so generously bestowed on me, and thereby forget to humbly thank You.

Thank you, Lord, for the graces of faith, health, love, family, and friendship.  Thank you for the everyday graces of food, shelter, and clothing.  Thank you for your protection and guidance.

Lord, You are Grace Bestowed.

     Take a moment this day and count a few of your blessings.  They exist only through the grace of our Lord.  Acknowledge this and thank Him from your heart.

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Do You Not Know?

Posted on January 27, 2014 by Martha

431px-Memling,_The_Virgin_Showing_the_Man_of_Sorrows,_melbourne“Do you not know? Have you not heard?

The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth

Does not become weary or tired.

His understanding is inscrutable.

He gives strength to the weary,

And to him who lacks might He increases power.

Though youths grow weary and tired,

And vigorous young men stumble badly,

Yet those who wait for the Lord

Will gain new strength;

They will mount up with wings like eagles,

They will run and not get tired,

They will walk and not become weary.”

Isaiah 40:28-31

Weak?  Weary?  Call upon the One who never tires.  Then wait upon Him, and while you do, imagine yourself mounting up with wings like eagles.  Imagine yourself strong and vibrant.  It will be so, for our God is good and He loves us.

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Prayer For All Souls

Posted on January 24, 2014 by Martha
Statuary on the facade of the Duomo, The Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore, Florence, Italy, 2012, taken by Martha M Wiggins

Statuary on the facade of the Duomo, The Basilica di Santa Maria del Fiore, Florence, Italy, 2012, taken by Martha M Wiggins

I wrote this prayer that I pray daily, especially when I pray the Rosary, or The Divine Mercy Chaplet.  I also often pray it after making a Spiritual Communion.  Adapt it for your own needs.

Lord, through the Immaculate Heart of your loving mother Mary, through all the angels and saints in Heaven, and through your infinitely wise Holy Spirit, I offer prayers on behalf of all souls, living and dead.  I pray for those souls who do not seek You, do not know You, cannot find You, and do not hear You knock.  I pray for the conversion and repentance of all sinners.  I pray for all souls suffering in agony in Purgatory, for those who will die this day, for those who will die during this prayer, and most especially for those souls in most need of Thy Divine Mercy.  I pray for the souls of my children, my husband, myself, and all the souls of my family and friends.  Let us love, honor, and serve you until the hour of our death, and let us never be separated from You.  Amen.

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