Mother: Well, here we are. Mother: Well, here we are.
We just have a wonderful We just have a wonderful
group of our family here group of our family here
tonight and I enjoy each one tonight and I enjoy each one
of them. of them.
Only God made me with Only God made me with
short arms so I can’t go short arms so I can’t go
way in the back, but they way in the back, but they
all know I love them, all know I love them,
and so we just have our and so we just have our
handicaps, don’t we? handicaps, don’t we?
Do you know what I got, Do you know what I got,
what I found? what I found?
Lookie here, the Catechism Lookie here, the Catechism
of the Catholic Church in of the Catholic Church in
this size, and it’s all this size, and it’s all
there, English and Spanish. there, English and Spanish.
How do you like that, huh? How do you like that, huh?
All of you that read and All of you that read and
understand and speak Spanish understand and speak Spanish
now can have it and it’s a now can have it and it’s a
wonderful size. wonderful size.
You can put it in your You can put it in your
purse, you can take it on a purse, you can take it on a
trip and the print is great. trip and the print is great.
I read it very often because I read it very often because
every time I read it, it’s every time I read it, it’s
something more beautiful and something more beautiful and
more wonderful in it. more wonderful in it.
This is how we keep close to This is how we keep close to
Jesus and Mary because we Jesus and Mary because we
know what the Church know what the Church
teaches. teaches.
If someone doesn’t teach the If someone doesn’t teach the
truth, you can go there truth, you can go there
and look at this and say, and look at this and say,
"Uh-uh," then go and bring "Uh-uh," then go and bring
your little Catechism your little Catechism
and show them. and show them.
It’s written in the book and It’s written in the book and
that’s what’s important now that’s what’s important now
and see, you can have your and see, you can have your
own Catechism and I think own Catechism and I think
everybody. everybody.
Do you know what’s so Do you know what’s so
sad about this? sad about this?
Let me show you here. Let me show you here.
Okay, there are 60, almost Okay, there are 60, almost
70 million Catholics in 70 million Catholics in
America. America.
That’s a lot, isn’t it? That’s a lot, isn’t it?
That’s 25%, more or less? That’s 25%, more or less?
It says, "8 million copies It says, "8 million copies
in print world-wide." in print world-wide."
There are almost 900 There are almost 900
million Catholics in the million Catholics in the
world, only 8 million have world, only 8 million have
the Catechism. the Catechism.
Now, this is supposed to Now, this is supposed to
be good news for the be good news for the
publishers. publishers.
I think it’s sad news. I think it’s sad news.
I really do. I really do.
Everybody’s, "Oh, 8 million Everybody’s, "Oh, 8 million
copies!" copies!"
At least the 900 million At least the 900 million
Catholics ought to have one! Catholics ought to have one!
I’m not talking about all I’m not talking about all
the rest. the rest.
So evangelization-wise, So evangelization-wise,
we haven’t done too well. we haven’t done too well.
So although I’m happy they So although I’m happy they
sold 8 million worldwide, I sold 8 million worldwide, I
think you ought to help to think you ought to help to
raise it, raise that number. raise it, raise that number.
Because if you don’t know Because if you don’t know
the truth, you can’t live the truth, you can’t live
the truth and if you don’t the truth and if you don’t
live the truth, then what live the truth, then what
will happen to you, will happen to you,
do you see? do you see?
You have to know the truth. You have to know the truth.
It’s so wonderful. It’s so wonderful.
Our Dear Lord said one day, Our Dear Lord said one day,
"I AM the Way, the Truth and "I AM the Way, the Truth and
the Light." the Light."
So He does not possess So He does not possess
truth like we do; He<i> is</i> truth like we do; He<i> is</i>
the Truth. the Truth.
That’s a big difference. That’s a big difference.
Like love - I possess love, Like love - I possess love,
you possess love in you possess love in
different degrees but God different degrees but God<i>
is</i> Love. <i>is</i> Love.
We possess mercy in We possess mercy in
different degrees but God different degrees but God<i>
is</i> Mercy. <i>is</i> Mercy.
It’s kind of hard for us It’s kind of hard for us
to understand. to understand.
Somebody else offered me Somebody else offered me
$200 for this thing. $200 for this thing.
(group chuckles) (group chuckles)
Last week was $100, Last week was $100,
this week it’s $200. this week it’s $200.
If it keeps going up, If it keeps going up,
I might be tempted. I might be tempted.
(all chuckle) (all chuckle)
But anyway, we need to, But anyway, we need to,
to look at the truth and to look at the truth and
know that our Jesus is know that our Jesus is
Son of God and He is God. Son of God and He is God.
"In the beginning was the "In the beginning was the
Word and the Word was God, Word and the Word was God,
was with God and the Word was with God and the Word
was God." was God."
There’s never a moment There’s never a moment
there was not God. there was not God.
I told you a couple of times I told you a couple of times
about my poor mother. about my poor mother.
She’d always say, She’d always say,
"Who made God." "Who made God."
I thought, "Ah! I thought, "Ah!
"Nobody made God. "Nobody made God.
He always was and always He always was and always
will be." will be."
"Yeah, I know but who "Yeah, I know but who
made Him?" made Him?"
"Mother, nobody made Him." "Mother, nobody made Him."
"Well, somebody had to." "Well, somebody had to."
I said, "No, no, I said, "No, no,
nobody had to. nobody had to.
He always was," and we He always was," and we
don’t understand that. don’t understand that.
If we understood that and If we understood that and
we understood that that we understood that that
God loves me. God loves me.
I think that’s one of I think that’s one of
the hardest things to the hardest things to
understand. understand.
Don’t you find that hard? Don’t you find that hard?
You always think, "Oh, come You always think, "Oh, come
on, I’m just a grain of sand on, I’m just a grain of sand
on the seashore." on the seashore."
Oh no, no, no, no. Oh no, no, no, no.
He knows you so well, you’re He knows you so well, you’re
born alone and you die born alone and you die
alone. alone.
That ought to tell you That ought to tell you
something. something.
It’s not like a crowd, you It’s not like a crowd, you
can hide behind somebody. can hide behind somebody.
You don’t have to hide You don’t have to hide
because He’s going to look because He’s going to look
at you straight in the eye, at you straight in the eye,
all by yourself. all by yourself.
That’s such a consolation. That’s such a consolation.
There’s one poem I read There’s one poem I read
years and years and years years and years and years
ago. ago.
I think I was in I think I was in
grade school. grade school.
There’s only one sentence There’s only one sentence
I remember and we all I remember and we all
feel that way. feel that way.
I said, "Lord, in all the I said, "Lord, in all the
realms of Your creation, no realms of Your creation, no
one needs Thee more than I." one needs Thee more than I."
And I think we can all And I think we can all
say that. say that.
But if we realized how much But if we realized how much
He loves us. He loves us.
If you could imagine If you could imagine
a time when there was no a time when there was no
time and God was alone; time and God was alone;
Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Well, at that moment, at Well, at that moment, at
some point in that moment, some point in that moment,
I, I was in His mind. I, I was in His mind.
Can you beat that? Can you beat that?
You were in the mind of God You were in the mind of God
before He created anything before He created anything
or anyone. or anyone.
Does it make you feel Does it make you feel
kind of old? kind of old?
(all chuckle) (all chuckle)
But see, if we knew But see, if we knew
that one truth; you don’t that one truth; you don’t
have to know a lot if have to know a lot if
you knew one truth. you knew one truth.
I like to imagine that time I like to imagine that time
when God knew me and He when God knew me and He
decided that on April 20, decided that on April 20,
1923 I would be born. 1923 I would be born.
He knew that and He knew He knew that and He knew
whatever it was He wanted me whatever it was He wanted me
to do, He knew the whole to do, He knew the whole
thing. thing.
Now, I have free will and I Now, I have free will and I
can say "no" and you can say can say "no" and you can say
"no" and that’s why our "no" and that’s why our
aches and pains should be at aches and pains should be at
least a comfort because He least a comfort because He
knows, He knows! knows, He knows!
He knows everything He knows everything
about you. about you.
Believe me, there’s some Believe me, there’s some
things you wish He’d forget, things you wish He’d forget,
don’t you? don’t you?
(all chuckle) (all chuckle)
There are a lot of things There are a lot of things
you wish He’d forget but you wish He’d forget but
He doesn’t remember them He doesn’t remember them
like you do. like you do.
He’s very Loving, He’s very Loving,
Forgiving and Gentle. Forgiving and Gentle.
He’s Just. He’s Just.
Oh yeah, He’s Just. Oh yeah, He’s Just.
So Our Jesus was among us, So Our Jesus was among us,
lived among us to show us lived among us to show us
the way. the way.
I would like to go to I would like to go to
St. Paul, to the 2 Corinthians. St. Paul, to the 2 Corinthians.
I love Corinthians because I love Corinthians because
there’s a special part of there’s a special part of
Corinthians. Corinthians.
One day we were saying what One day we were saying what
each sister would like to each sister would like to
put on their gravestone. put on their gravestone.
I said to them, "I want I said to them, "I want
2 Corinthians 3:18." 2 Corinthians 3:18."
They said, "Why?" They said, "Why?"
I said, "Well, here’s I said, "Well, here’s
what it says. what it says.
’And we with our unveiled ’And we with our unveiled
faces.’" When Moses came faces.’" When Moses came
down the mountain, his down the mountain, his
face was veiled. face was veiled.
Why? Why?
It was so shiny, they It was so shiny, they
couldn’t look at it. couldn’t look at it.
Well, he said, "We with the Well, he said, "We with the
unveiled face reflect like unveiled face reflect like
a mirror the brightness a mirror the brightness
of the Lord." of the Lord."
If we knew one truth and If we knew one truth and
lived by it, the truth that lived by it, the truth that
God loves you, you’d never God loves you, you’d never
be lonely. be lonely.
Who would you miss? Who would you miss?
He’s right there. He’s right there.
He doesn’t cause you He doesn’t cause you
any trouble. any trouble.
He’s easy to live with He’s easy to live with
and always ready to love and always ready to love
and forgive. and forgive.
Well, it goes on and says, Well, it goes on and says,
"We reflect like a mirror "We reflect like a mirror
the brightness of the Lord," the brightness of the Lord,"
and we all grow brighter and and we all grow brighter and
brighter, "as we are turned brighter, "as we are turned
into the image we reflect." into the image we reflect."
Now, how do you like that? Now, how do you like that?
You have been called by God You have been called by God
to reflect Jesus. to reflect Jesus.
You’re not going to all You’re not going to all
do it in the same way. do it in the same way.
But our love, our kindness, But our love, our kindness,
our patience and it said, our patience and it said,
"We reflect this. "We reflect this.
It’s the work of the It’s the work of the
Holy Spirit." Holy Spirit."
This is the year of the This is the year of the
Spirit. Spirit.
And by the way, I want you And by the way, I want you
to pray for our Holy Father. to pray for our Holy Father.
I saw his picture the I saw his picture the
other day. other day.
He looks so tired. He looks so tired.
This is a man of great This is a man of great
courage, great love, courage, great love,
great stamina. great stamina.
You feel kind of tired You feel kind of tired
sometimes. sometimes.
You look at him, you want You look at him, you want
to go on. to go on.
He’s so prayerful but I He’s so prayerful but I
think he needs prayers think he needs prayers
like you and I do. like you and I do.
I would pray for him. I would pray for him.
Today was his birthday. Today was his birthday.
He’s 78. He’s 78.
He’s only 3 years older He’s only 3 years older
than I am and we need than I am and we need
to pray for him. to pray for him.
This is the month of Our This is the month of Our
Lady, May, and he loves Lady, May, and he loves
Our Lady. Our Lady.
So let’s say a prayer, So let’s say a prayer,
maybe say your next rosary maybe say your next rosary
for him. for him.
He’s our father, he’s the He’s our father, he’s the
Vicar of Jesus, he’s the Vicar of Jesus, he’s the
Vicar of Christ and he needs Vicar of Christ and he needs
our prayers. our prayers.
Anyway, see, that’s your Anyway, see, that’s your
vocation. vocation.
You say, "Well, I’m married." You say, "Well, I’m married."
Well, three cheers. Well, three cheers.
(group chuckles) (group chuckles)
I’m glad of that but I’m glad of that but
your mission, you primary your mission, you primary
mission is to become holy. mission is to become holy.
All of you have to be holy, All of you have to be holy,
not just me, everybody. not just me, everybody.
You say, priests and nuns You say, priests and nuns
have to be holy. have to be holy.
We hope. We hope.
That’s our mission. That’s our mission.
That’s our vocation is to That’s our vocation is to
be holy so we can give you be holy so we can give you
courage to strive for courage to strive for
holiness but we’re all holiness but we’re all
in the same boat, in the same boat,
aren’t we, huh? aren’t we, huh?
We all get old, We all get old,
we all get gray. we all get gray.
It always amazes me, I It always amazes me, I
always tell you about the always tell you about the
people who are gray and they people who are gray and they
turn it, dye it, ’cause people turn it, dye it, ’cause people
have good black hair blonde. have good black hair blonde.
I never understood that I never understood that
because you already got because you already got
good looking hair. good looking hair.
Why do you want to Why do you want to
change the color? change the color?
But you know what happens? But you know what happens?
Right here at the roots it Right here at the roots it
starts coming out black. starts coming out black.
Did you ever notice that, Did you ever notice that,
huh? huh?
So everybody knows you So everybody knows you
don’t have blonde hair. don’t have blonde hair.
It’s black, then you’ve It’s black, then you’ve
got to keep going there. got to keep going there.
How much does it cost, How much does it cost,
$10 or $15? $10 or $15?
Is it more than that, huh? Is it more than that, huh?
How much? How much?
How much more? How much more?
You know what you could use? You know what you could use?
Use Peroxide and send Use Peroxide and send
me the rest. me the rest.
(laughs) (laughs)
(coughs) (coughs)
It’s amazing how I think It’s amazing how I think
of ways to make money. of ways to make money.
(laughs) (laughs)
But you know we’re always But you know we’re always
kind of upset about our kind of upset about our
aches and pains and I aches and pains and I
told you when I was healed told you when I was healed
how worried I was about not how worried I was about not
having braces and not having braces and not
having pain. having pain.
Well the Lord took care Well the Lord took care
of me, He did. of me, He did.
(applause) (applause)
I got other kinds of pains. I got other kinds of pains.
My asthma’s bad yet and I My asthma’s bad yet and I
had so many steroids, I got had so many steroids, I got
diabetes and it’s just all diabetes and it’s just all
kind of little things, not kind of little things, not
big things just little big things just little
things and I said, things and I said,
"Angelica, why didn’t you "Angelica, why didn’t you
keep your mouth shut?" keep your mouth shut?"
(audience laughs) (audience laughs)
But I really don’t care But I really don’t care
because it keeps me close because it keeps me close
to the Lord. to the Lord.
I feel rather content you I feel rather content you
know that I don’t have to know that I don’t have to
worry now but here’s what worry now but here’s what
St. Paul says. St. Paul says.
He said, "In view of the He said, "In view of the
extraordinary nature of His extraordinary nature of His
revelations and to stop me revelations and to stop me
from getting too proud I was from getting too proud I was
given a thorn in the flesh." given a thorn in the flesh."
Now, there’s so many Now, there’s so many
arguments and debates about arguments and debates about
what it was, a thorn, what it was, a thorn,
everybody said, oh boy, everybody said, oh boy,
he had sex problems. he had sex problems.
That’s stupid. That’s stupid.
In think he had dysentery. In think he had dysentery.
(audience laughs) (audience laughs)
I’m serious because the I’m serious because the
water was so bad. water was so bad.
Didn’t he tell Timothy, Didn’t he tell Timothy,
"Look, forget that water, "Look, forget that water,
drink wine." drink wine."
(audience laughs) (audience laughs)
Well reason was, you got so Well reason was, you got so
sick when you drank the water. sick when you drank the water.
You see, the wine at least You see, the wine at least
was alcohol. was alcohol.
All my Baptist friends just All my Baptist friends just
turned me off. turned me off.
(audience laughs) (audience laughs)
But you’ve got to But you’ve got to
face reality. face reality.
They couldn’t drink They couldn’t drink
anything else. anything else.
Even today in Italy, you Even today in Italy, you
can’t drink the water. can’t drink the water.
You can drink battled water. You can drink battled water.
But you go down the Via But you go down the Via
della Conciliazione and della Conciliazione and
everybody’s drinking water everybody’s drinking water
from the fountain and I look from the fountain and I look
at them and I say, "Oh, are at them and I say, "Oh, are
you going to be sorry by you going to be sorry by
midnight!" midnight!"
(group chuckles) (group chuckles)
Because you just can’t Because you just can’t
drink the water. drink the water.
So that’s my humble opinion So that’s my humble opinion
of His wounded flesh. of His wounded flesh.
"An angel of satan beat me "An angel of satan beat me
and stopped me from getting and stopped me from getting
too proud." too proud."
Now, isn’t that something? Now, isn’t that something?
If we would realize what a If we would realize what a
gift, what a gift our pains gift, what a gift our pains
and aches and problems are and aches and problems are
to us, why? to us, why?
They keep us close to Jesus. They keep us close to Jesus.
You have to admit, when You have to admit, when
everything goes well, you’re everything goes well, you’re
feeling good, you cooked a feeling good, you cooked a
good meal, your family’s good meal, your family’s
happy with it, you don’t happy with it, you don’t
have an ache or a pain, have an ache or a pain,
everything went right today, everything went right today,
you went down the street and you went down the street and
you looked down, there was you looked down, there was
a $5 bill and you said, a $5 bill and you said,
"Whoa boy!" "Whoa boy!"
I mean, everything I mean, everything
went right. went right.
It’s absolutely boring! It’s absolutely boring!
(group chuckles) (group chuckles)
It’s boring. It’s boring.
Why? Why?
Because I’ll bet you Jesus Because I’ll bet you Jesus
just wasn’t there. just wasn’t there.
Oh, we’ll thank Him for Oh, we’ll thank Him for
something but it’s not the something but it’s not the
same as when you have a same as when you have a
worry, a frustration, worry, a frustration,
a concern, a headache. a concern, a headache.
You say, "Well, are you You say, "Well, are you
saying you can’t be happy saying you can’t be happy
in good times?" in good times?"
Oh, no but I don’t think Oh, no but I don’t think
you can always have you can always have
good times. good times.
Pain and suffering is a part Pain and suffering is a part
of, was a part of Jesus’ of, was a part of Jesus’
life. life.
It’s a part of your life. It’s a part of your life.
There’s nobody here that’s There’s nobody here that’s
not worried about somebody. not worried about somebody.
That’s why some of you came. That’s why some of you came.
You’re worried about You’re worried about
somebody. somebody.
You want to put them before You want to put them before
the Blessed Sacrament the Blessed Sacrament
because it doesn’t seem like because it doesn’t seem like
you’re getting anywhere. you’re getting anywhere.
But I’ll tell you a little But I’ll tell you a little
secret. secret.
If you pray, tell Jesus the If you pray, tell Jesus the
whole story, once a day, whole story, once a day,
not over and over. not over and over.
Nobody likes a nag. Nobody likes a nag.
(audience laughs) (audience laughs)
Not even God. Not even God.
He heard you the first time. He heard you the first time.
He knows your son or He knows your son or
your daughter. your daughter.
He knows! He knows!
There’s where trust There’s where trust
comes in. comes in.
I’ve been thinking a lot I’ve been thinking a lot
about Our Lady’s trust about Our Lady’s trust
level. level.
What a Woman! What a Woman!
She trusted from the She trusted from the
very beginning. very beginning.
When She was 3 She had to When She was 3 She had to
go to the temple. go to the temple.
Her Mother and Father Her Mother and Father
left and that was it. left and that was it.
She had to trust so young. She had to trust so young.
She trusted all Her life. She trusted all Her life.
What amazed me about Our What amazed me about Our
Lady is that even when our Lady is that even when our
Dear Lord was on the cross Dear Lord was on the cross
and died, She did not have and died, She did not have
a grave or a tomb to put a grave or a tomb to put
Him in. Him in.
Isn’t that amazing? Isn’t that amazing?
Didn’t have anything. Didn’t have anything.
She trusted. She trusted.
Then here comes a man and Then here comes a man and
says, "He can have my tomb. says, "He can have my tomb.
It’s brand new. It’s brand new.
Nobody’s been in it." Nobody’s been in it."
What trust. What trust.
When all the apostles left When all the apostles left
Her Son and there was only Her Son and there was only
John who stayed, and John who stayed, and
who else? who else?
Mary Magdalene, the sinner. Mary Magdalene, the sinner.
She had courage and She had courage and
strength. strength.
She had no human respect. She had no human respect.
She didn’t care what they She didn’t care what they
thought about her. thought about her.
But there were two people-- But there were two people--
the Most Pure Immaculate One the Most Pure Immaculate One
and Mary Magdalene. and Mary Magdalene.
That’s it. That’s it.
If Our Lord looked down-- If Our Lord looked down--
and He had to look down and He had to look down
often ’cause in an effort often ’cause in an effort
of pushing Himself up to of pushing Himself up to
breath, He had to look down breath, He had to look down
--and what did He do? --and what did He do?
After three years, all the After three years, all the
miracles and all the feeding miracles and all the feeding
of the crowds and the of the crowds and the
talking and the preaching talking and the preaching
and raising the dead, there and raising the dead, there
were only three people there. were only three people there.
Oh, there were other women Oh, there were other women
further on. further on.
You’ve got to give credit You’ve got to give credit
to the women. to the women.
They were there! They were there!
(audience chuckles) (audience chuckles)
But Our Lady must have thought, But Our Lady must have thought,
"Three years, there are "Three years, there are
only three of us." only three of us."
What a heartache, huh, What a heartache, huh,
that She stood. that She stood.
There’s a very important There’s a very important
word in the Scriptures, word in the Scriptures,
"She stood there." "She stood there."
She didn’t faint. She didn’t faint.
She didn’t yell and scream. She didn’t yell and scream.
Why? Why?
Because She was totally Because She was totally
united to the Father’s Will. united to the Father’s Will.
And then Our Lord gives And then Our Lord gives
Her to John. Her to John.
Oh, I mean, I think John Oh, I mean, I think John
must have been wonderful must have been wonderful
but he is no substitute but he is no substitute
for Jesus! for Jesus!
But all of a sudden She’s But all of a sudden She’s
given by Her Son to John, given by Her Son to John,
"Mother, behold Thy son." "Mother, behold Thy son."
Ah, no matter how you Ah, no matter how you
think of Our Lady, She’s think of Our Lady, She’s
Awesome, Awesome. Awesome, Awesome.
But here’s Paul now. But here’s Paul now.
He said, "I pleaded with the He said, "I pleaded with the
Lord three times for this to Lord three times for this to
leave me." leave me."
Have you ever pleaded with Have you ever pleaded with
the Lord? the Lord?
"Lord, can’t you take this "Lord, can’t you take this
away from me? away from me?
"It’s a big pain. "It’s a big pain.
I’m tired of it." I’m tired of it."
I don’t think there’s a I don’t think there’s a
person in this room or a person in this room or a
person in the whole wide person in the whole wide
world hasn’t prayed that world hasn’t prayed that
this cross, this pain, this this cross, this pain, this
ache goes away. ache goes away.
Paul counted the times. Paul counted the times.
I don’t think any of you I don’t think any of you
know how many times you know how many times you
asked the Lord to get rid asked the Lord to get rid
of something or somebody. of something or somebody.
(group chuckles) (group chuckles)
Something is easier than Something is easier than
somebody. somebody.
And poor Paul and what did And poor Paul and what did
the Lord answer him? the Lord answer him?
"My grace is enough for you. "My grace is enough for you.
My power is at it’s best My power is at it’s best
in weakness." in weakness."
Would you have expected Would you have expected
that? that?
Now, here’s where we see Now, here’s where we see
St. Paul full of trust. St. Paul full of trust.
It says in the life of It says in the life of
St. Teresa of Avila that she St. Teresa of Avila that she
was so disheartened one time was so disheartened one time
that she sat in the that she sat in the
refectory with her food in refectory with her food in
front of her and wasn’t front of her and wasn’t
eating. eating.
It said Our Lord appeared to It said Our Lord appeared to
her and cut up her food for her and cut up her food for
her and said, "Eat, her and said, "Eat,
daughter. daughter.
Worse things are coming." Worse things are coming."
(group chuckles) (group chuckles)
I bet that gave her I bet that gave her
an appetite. an appetite.
(audience laughs) (audience laughs)
(Mother laughs) (Mother laughs)
Our Dear Lord doesn’t do Our Dear Lord doesn’t do
what we expect. what we expect.
We think on such a human, We think on such a human,
human level. human level.
It’s like the resurrection. It’s like the resurrection.
By golly, there’s Mary By golly, there’s Mary
Magdalene crying her eyes Magdalene crying her eyes
out because she went and out because she went and
He wasn’t there. He wasn’t there.
It never dawned on her. It never dawned on her.
She was there when He said She was there when He said
He would rise! He would rise!
And she hears this voice, And she hears this voice,
doesn’t recognize Him. doesn’t recognize Him.
Why? Why?
She’s so full of tears and She’s so full of tears and
so convinced that He’s gone. so convinced that He’s gone.
Somebody took Him away. Somebody took Him away.
He says, "Why are you He says, "Why are you
crying?" crying?"
She says, "Because they’ve She says, "Because they’ve
taken my Master away. taken my Master away.
If you tell me where He is, If you tell me where He is,
I’ll go get Him." I’ll go get Him."
Dead weight. Dead weight.
Are you saying that you’re Are you saying that you’re
going to carry a dead body, going to carry a dead body,
dead weight and you’re going dead weight and you’re going
to go and pick Him up? to go and pick Him up?
See, love doesn’t, See, love doesn’t,
doesn’t think. doesn’t think.
I bet She would have I bet She would have
done it! done it!
Our Lord said, "Mary." Our Lord said, "Mary."
Now, she recognized Now, she recognized
Him, see. Him, see.
Wow, what a Woman. Wow, what a Woman.
We say, "Well, that was We say, "Well, that was
kind of dumb." kind of dumb."
Love does dumb things. Love does dumb things.
You’ve all been in love. You’ve all been in love.
You’re married, you did You’re married, you did
dumb things. dumb things.
Maybe the was the dumbest Maybe the was the dumbest
thing you did. thing you did.
(audience laughs) (audience laughs)
(Mother laughs) (Mother laughs)
But we all do things that But we all do things that
just don’t make sense just don’t make sense
sometimes. sometimes.
Our Lord seems to go along Our Lord seems to go along
with us though and He brings with us though and He brings
what? what?
Good out of the dumb things Good out of the dumb things
we do. we do.
Our Lord was so good to Our Lord was so good to
these Apostles. these Apostles.
They were so doubtful. They were so doubtful.
Oh, poor Thomas--aren’t we Oh, poor Thomas--aren’t we
grateful to Thomas? grateful to Thomas?
He’s not going to He’s not going to
believe it. believe it.
"No, unless I put my hand in "No, unless I put my hand in
His wounds, I’m not going to His wounds, I’m not going to
believe it." believe it."
Oh, you all know somebody Oh, you all know somebody
like that gripes you to like that gripes you to
death. death.
You’ll tell them about You’ll tell them about
some miracle. some miracle.
"Oh, Mother Angelica "Oh, Mother Angelica
was healed." was healed."
"Yeah? How do you know? "Yeah? How do you know?
"How do you know she had "How do you know she had
braces? braces?
"I’ve been watching her. "I’ve been watching her.
"She’s been sitting in a "She’s been sitting in a
chair all the time. chair all the time.
"I don’t see any braces. "I don’t see any braces.
How do you know?" How do you know?"
Some people don’t want to Some people don’t want to
believe in miracles, even believe in miracles, even
the Lord’s miracles. the Lord’s miracles.
Some of the new Some of the new
translations, they kind translations, they kind
of water down miracles. of water down miracles.
Why? Why?
He’s the Lord God. He’s the Lord God.
He’s Infinite and Holy He’s Infinite and Holy
and Powerful. and Powerful.
He can do anything. He can do anything.
Remember the time He cursed Remember the time He cursed
the fig tree? the fig tree?
Ohh, that scared them. Ohh, that scared them.
The figs were not in season, The figs were not in season,
that’s what got me. that’s what got me.
I mean, that little old I mean, that little old
tree was just blooming tree was just blooming
but no figs. but no figs.
It wasn’t time for figs. It wasn’t time for figs.
The Apostles were shocked. The Apostles were shocked.
They said, "Lord, the fig They said, "Lord, the fig
tree You cursed is tree You cursed is
shriveled." shriveled."
What was the Lord saying What was the Lord saying
to us? to us?
He was saying, "I have to He was saying, "I have to
bear fruit in season and out bear fruit in season and out
of season, whether I feel of season, whether I feel
like it or not." like it or not."
We blame things around us. We blame things around us.
We blame our past; we blame We blame our past; we blame
our childhood for the things our childhood for the things
I have to do now. I have to do now.
I must love Jesus now. I must love Jesus now.
I may not feel it. I may not feel it.
I may be dry as a bone. I may be dry as a bone.
I have to love Him now. I have to love Him now.
I don’t know if I have I don’t know if I have
tomorrow. tomorrow.
I have to love Him now. I have to love Him now.
St. Paul realized that St. Paul realized that
when the Lord said, "My when the Lord said, "My
grace is enough for you. grace is enough for you.
My power’s at its best My power’s at its best
in weakness." in weakness."
That’s what happened to That’s what happened to
the woman who crawled behind the woman who crawled behind
Him in all that crowd and Him in all that crowd and
touched the hem of His touched the hem of His
garment. garment.
Wow! Wow!
I like to imagine sometime I like to imagine sometime
Our Dear Lord getting up Our Dear Lord getting up
early. early.
The Apostles sometime woke The Apostles sometime woke
up, He was gone. up, He was gone.
They had to hunt for Him. They had to hunt for Him.
Even God had to be alone Even God had to be alone
sometimes. sometimes.
He’s go out, up a mountain, He’s go out, up a mountain,
in a garden and He’d pray, in a garden and He’d pray,
talk to His Father. talk to His Father.
Well, some of us don’t pray Well, some of us don’t pray
at all. at all.
If Jesus felt the need to If Jesus felt the need to
pray, how come some of you pray, how come some of you
don’t? don’t?
We need to pray, just talk We need to pray, just talk
to God. to God.
I think we need to revive, I think we need to revive,
some of us, the rosary. some of us, the rosary.
The rosary is, without The rosary is, without
question, the most powerful question, the most powerful
prayer, the most powerful prayer, the most powerful
because it’s a because it’s a
mini-Scripture. mini-Scripture.
Just as St. Paul here had Just as St. Paul here had
to really think now that to really think now that
his illness was a grace his illness was a grace
from God--because Our from God--because Our
Lord called it, "My grace Lord called it, "My grace
is enough for you" is enough for you"
--he had the power to --he had the power to
overcome, maybe never overcome, maybe never
get healed. get healed.
So he said, "I shall be So he said, "I shall be
very happy to make my very happy to make my
weakness my special boast." weakness my special boast."
Paul was one of these Paul was one of these
people who had to boast people who had to boast
about something. about something.
Do you know somebody Do you know somebody
like that? like that?
They have to tell you They have to tell you
something wonderful something wonderful
about themselves. about themselves.
Well, he was one of these Well, he was one of these
people. people.
Now, he said, "I want the Now, he said, "I want the
power of Christ to stay power of Christ to stay
over me. over me.
"That’s why I’m very content "That’s why I’m very content
with my weaknesses and with my weaknesses and
insults and hardships and insults and hardships and
persecutions and agonies persecutions and agonies
that I go through for that I go through for
Jesus’ sake." Jesus’ sake."
Oh, you see, he got a Oh, you see, he got a
little disgusted with this little disgusted with this
constant striving, everybody constant striving, everybody
hating him. hating him.
The worst thing he tried was The worst thing he tried was
to give a talk in Greek. to give a talk in Greek.
(laughs) They laughed at (laughs) They laughed at
him, said, "Who is he?" him, said, "Who is he?"
and they all walked away. and they all walked away.
He had his problem, He had his problem,
really did. really did.
What does he say? What does he say?
".for it is when I am weak ".for it is when I am weak
that I am strong." that I am strong."
Then when you feel like Then when you feel like
everything’s lost, that’s everything’s lost, that’s
when you’re at your best when you’re at your best
because you can give it because you can give it
to Jesus. to Jesus.
Give it to Jesus, just put Give it to Jesus, just put
it in His Heart and try to it in His Heart and try to
forget it. forget it.
I have seen miracles happen I have seen miracles happen
over and over when we do over and over when we do
that. that.
He’s so happy, so happy. He’s so happy, so happy.
Sometimes we get so down in Sometimes we get so down in
the dumps, so depressed. the dumps, so depressed.
Do you know what I do? Do you know what I do?
I go to the Infant Jesus-- I go to the Infant Jesus--
not the Baby Jesus but the not the Baby Jesus but the
Divino Nino. Divino Nino.
Now, don’t equate this Now, don’t equate this
so-called storm. so-called storm.
(group chuckles) (group chuckles)
I get so mad. I get so mad.
Everything--every rain drop Everything--every rain drop
that falls, it’s extra, that falls, it’s extra,
every cloud--"Oh here comes every cloud--"Oh here comes
Nino." Nino."
(group chuckles) (group chuckles)
Now, they invented El Nina. Now, they invented El Nina.
(group chuckles) (group chuckles)
The west coast has Nino and The west coast has Nino and
the east coast now has Nina. the east coast now has Nina.
I wonder if the middle’s I wonder if the middle’s
going to have Ninis. going to have Ninis.
(audience laughs) (audience laughs)
I mean, they’ve got to blame I mean, they’ve got to blame
God for something or God for something or
they call it... they call it...
Why don’t we call it Why don’t we call it
Cudigoodness or something? Cudigoodness or something?
But why El Nino? But why El Nino?
They say, "Oh, well, a storm They say, "Oh, well, a storm
used to come every used to come every
Christmas." Christmas."
If I hear about El Nino If I hear about El Nino
once more... once more...
All the stuff in the air is All the stuff in the air is
El Nino and all the asthma El Nino and all the asthma
stuff, we had it for years. stuff, we had it for years.
Now, the shore line’s Now, the shore line’s
getting shorter--it’s been getting shorter--it’s been
getting shorter for years. getting shorter for years.
Now, we’ve got big tornadoes Now, we’ve got big tornadoes
--we’ve had them. --we’ve had them.
This is tornado alley. This is tornado alley.
Do you expect it to change? Do you expect it to change?
Why blame El Nino, this Why blame El Nino, this
Little Sweet Child Jesus? Little Sweet Child Jesus?
I just look at Him and I I just look at Him and I
say, "Sweet Jesus, don’t say, "Sweet Jesus, don’t
pay any attention to pay any attention to
these people. these people.
"They’re all nuts. "They’re all nuts.
(audience chuckles) (audience chuckles)
"They don’t have anything else "They don’t have anything else
to do but to blame everything to do but to blame everything
on You." on You."
So, don’t write me a So, don’t write me a
letter about El Nino. letter about El Nino.
He’s the Jesus you and I He’s the Jesus you and I
know--when He was about 8, know--when He was about 8,
9 years old, maybe 7-- 9 years old, maybe 7--
running around, looking at running around, looking at
Joseph and Mary and trying Joseph and Mary and trying
to figure out what is to figure out what is
Joseph doing. Joseph doing.
You say, "Well, He was God. You say, "Well, He was God.
He knew." He knew."
I know He knew but, I know He knew but,
"He grew in wisdom and age." "He grew in wisdom and age."
When you don’t feel like When you don’t feel like
you’re being answered, you’re being answered,
why don’t you go to Him? why don’t you go to Him?
He’s so Small and Loving and He’s so Small and Loving and
Understanding and Good. Understanding and Good.
He’s so Little that He He’s so Little that He
understands. understands.
One time, the great Teresa One time, the great Teresa
of Avila saw this Child of Avila saw this Child
coming down the stairway. coming down the stairway.
When I went there, it has a When I went there, it has a
room where the stairway and room where the stairway and
here’s the Child Jesus and here’s the Child Jesus and
there’s Teresa of Avila. there’s Teresa of Avila.
She said, "And Who are You?" She said, "And Who are You?"
He said, "I AM Jesus of He said, "I AM Jesus of
Teresa. Teresa.
And who are you?" And who are you?"
And she said, "I am Teresa And she said, "I am Teresa
of Jesus." of Jesus."
He disappeared. He disappeared.
I think if we all went to I think if we all went to
Him, the Divino Nino, the Him, the Divino Nino, the
Divine Child, I think maybe Divine Child, I think maybe
our lives would change and our lives would change and
we would feel the warmth of we would feel the warmth of
God’s love for us. God’s love for us.
That’s why He became That’s why He became
so small. so small.
That’s why He grew in wisdom That’s why He grew in wisdom
and age, so that somehow and age, so that somehow
when we’re at our worst, when we’re at our worst,
we would feel comfortable we would feel comfortable
talking to God, so small. talking to God, so small.
I would do that. I would do that.
I must have a dozen or two of I must have a dozen or two of
Divino Ninos and they come Divino Ninos and they come
to me from all over the to me from all over the
world because they know I world because they know I
have devotion to Him. have devotion to Him.
There’s one from Spain, I There’s one from Spain, I
can’t find a statue of Him. can’t find a statue of Him.
Anybody have one? Anybody have one?
I’ll give you my cup for it. I’ll give you my cup for it.
(audience laughs) (audience laughs)
It has to be the right It has to be the right
one, though. one, though.
This Child is leaning. This Child is leaning.
He’s got some kind of nice He’s got some kind of nice
coat on and a little coat coat on and a little coat
and dress and stockings and and dress and stockings and
He’s, has a hat on and He’s He’s, has a hat on and He’s
leaning on a post, oh, leaning on a post, oh,
maybe that big. maybe that big.
He’s crying. He’s crying.
He’s crying. He’s crying.
He has in His hand a little He has in His hand a little
rope and there’s a black rope and there’s a black
sheep there but the black sheep there but the black
sheep won’t look at Him. sheep won’t look at Him.
He keeps looking another He keeps looking another
direction. direction.
It’s awesome. It’s awesome.
It’s a picture, but I can’t It’s a picture, but I can’t
find the statue. find the statue.
What I’d like to do is What I’d like to do is
to have all kind of to have all kind of
Divino Ninos. Divino Ninos.
Why? Why?
Because we’ve lost the Because we’ve lost the
beauty of childhood, beauty of childhood,
haven’t we? haven’t we?
Children are abused. Children are abused.
Children are tortured. Children are tortured.
Children are thrown out. Children are thrown out.
Babies are aborted. Babies are aborted.
Why? Why?
We don’t have time. We don’t have time.
We don’t understand and we We don’t understand and we
don’t want children. don’t want children.
I have decided that the Lord I have decided that the Lord
wants me to spread devotion wants me to spread devotion
to the Child cause until we to the Child cause until we
become as little children, become as little children,
we shall not enter the we shall not enter the
Kingdom--not childish but Kingdom--not childish but
trusting and loving and trusting and loving and
giving ourself, abandoning giving ourself, abandoning
our self to the Lord, our self to the Lord,
knowing He is the only One knowing He is the only One
that can help us. that can help us.
St. Paul knew that. St. Paul knew that.
That’s why. That’s why.
Well, when I’m weak, Well, when I’m weak,
now I’m strong. now I’m strong.
We need to know that. We need to know that.
Go to the Divine Child. Go to the Divine Child.
I think you’ll find many I think you’ll find many
wonderful things you’ll wonderful things you’ll
learn and you’ll never be learn and you’ll never be
afraid to go to Him, never afraid to go to Him, never
because somehow you’ll feel because somehow you’ll feel
at home. at home.
And while you’re there, tell And while you’re there, tell
Him to give more people a Him to give more people a
love for children--not only love for children--not only
to have children--but to to have children--but to
love them and draw them love them and draw them
close to your heart, close to your heart,
in your mind. in your mind.
Ask Him to give them the Ask Him to give them the
reality of His presence reality of His presence
in their life. in their life.
So, if we looked at So, if we looked at
St. Paul, he says in here in St. Paul, he says in here in
the next chapter, "Examine the next chapter, "Examine
yourself to make sure that yourself to make sure that
you’re in the faith." you’re in the faith."
Test yourself. Test yourself.
How are you going to How are you going to
do that? do that?
"Do you acknowledge that "Do you acknowledge that
Jesus Christ lives in you?" Jesus Christ lives in you?"
Oh. Oh.
"If not, you have failed "If not, you have failed
the test." the test."
This is 2 Corinthians 13:5. This is 2 Corinthians 13:5.
He said, "I hope you haven’t He said, "I hope you haven’t
failed it." failed it."
I hope you haven’t I hope you haven’t
failed it. failed it.
Do you acknowledge that Do you acknowledge that
Jesus lives in you? Jesus lives in you?
And if you’re afraid because And if you’re afraid because
of all your sins and your of all your sins and your
sinner condition, if you sinner condition, if you
feel you’ve slipped down feel you’ve slipped down
quite a bit, what I would do quite a bit, what I would do
is go to the Child Jesus. is go to the Child Jesus.
You don’t have to be afraid You don’t have to be afraid
because He understands. because He understands.
He became very small for He became very small for
your sake. your sake.
He wants us to be very He wants us to be very
loving and very trusting and loving and very trusting and
filled with trust for God. filled with trust for God.
So one day we’ll come out So one day we’ll come out
with all kinds of nice with all kinds of nice
little statues and prayers little statues and prayers
because I am convinced, because I am convinced,
until we have the heart of until we have the heart of
a child and until we love a child and until we love
children again from our children again from our
hearts, we’ll never be what hearts, we’ll never be what
God wants us to be. God wants us to be.
We’ll never understand the We’ll never understand the
beauty of God because He beauty of God because He
became a Child for you. became a Child for you.
We have to become children We have to become children
for Him in our hearts with for Him in our hearts with
that innocence, that love, that innocence, that love,
that joy, that goodness, that joy, that goodness,
that trust. that trust.
Children trust but if Children trust but if
they’re beaten, even when they’re beaten, even when
they; abused children will they; abused children will
never accuse their parents. never accuse their parents.
Abused children excused who Abused children excused who
abuse them. abuse them.
It’s an amazing phenomenon. It’s an amazing phenomenon.
So, let us ask ourselves, So, let us ask ourselves,
"Do I love children and do I "Do I love children and do I
want to be like one-- want to be like one--
trusting, innocent, trusting, innocent,
cheerful, easy to forgive cheerful, easy to forgive
and easy to love? and easy to love?
That’s a child. That’s a child.
Well, we don’t have much Well, we don’t have much
time. time.
We have a call. We have a call.
Hello. Hello.
Female Caller #1: Hi, Female Caller #1: Hi,
Mother. Mother.
Mother: Hey, where Mother: Hey, where
are you from? are you from?
Caller: Frankfort, New York Caller: Frankfort, New York
and I want you to know and I want you to know
that I love you very much. that I love you very much.
Mother: Thank you. Mother: Thank you.
Caller: And you’re my best Caller: And you’re my best
friend. friend.
Mother: Thank you, thank you. Mother: Thank you, thank you.
What is your question? What is your question?
Caller: My question is, Caller: My question is,
I talked to my priest I talked to my priest
today. today.
He’s new, sort of, and he He’s new, sort of, and he
doesn’t know me very well doesn’t know me very well
but I talked to him about but I talked to him about
my sisters, how they my sisters, how they
weren’t speaking. weren’t speaking.
I said, "But they made up I said, "But they made up
because I talked to Mother because I talked to Mother
Angelica and shortly after Angelica and shortly after
that they made up." that they made up."
I said, "But now my sister I said, "But now my sister
moved out of the house and moved out of the house and
she’s on her own and she’s she’s on her own and she’s
in a bad section." in a bad section."
So I was kind of worried So I was kind of worried
about her. about her.
So I talk to him about it So I talk to him about it
and I said, "I’ve been and I said, "I’ve been
praying a lot. praying a lot.
"I say the rosary. "I say the rosary.
"I turn EWTN on and I can’t "I turn EWTN on and I can’t
shut it off." shut it off."
I said, "I wanted to go to I said, "I wanted to go to
church twice," and I said, church twice," and I said,
"Is there anything wrong "Is there anything wrong
with that?" with that?"
And I said, "What should And I said, "What should
I do?" I do?"
And he said, "Well, you And he said, "Well, you
can’t really preach to her can’t really preach to her
because when someone because when someone
preaches to you, they preaches to you, they
don’t listen. don’t listen.
So the best bet is either So the best bet is either
to buy flowers or send a to buy flowers or send a
card." card."
And he says, "Do you have And he says, "Do you have
a boyfriend?" a boyfriend?"
I said, "Yes." I said, "Yes."
He said, "Did you have He said, "Did you have
friends or somewhat friends friends or somewhat friends
that were your friends and that were your friends and
now they’re not because now they’re not because
you’re very holy?" you’re very holy?"
I said, "I don’t know if I said, "I don’t know if
that’s the reason." that’s the reason."
He says, "Well, you’ve got He says, "Well, you’ve got
to be careful of being to be careful of being
too holy." too holy."
He says, "Look, when we He says, "Look, when we
have Mass, the people in have Mass, the people in
the summertime don’t want the summertime don’t want
singing and they don’t want singing and they don’t want
homilies ’cause they want homilies ’cause they want
to go home." to go home."
I said, "Yeah, you do that I said, "Yeah, you do that
and you might as well say and you might as well say
there’s not Mass because how there’s not Mass because how
are you going to understand are you going to understand
the Mass if you don’t hear the Mass if you don’t hear
a homily?" a homily?"
So, what do you think? So, what do you think?
(audience laughs) (audience laughs)
Mother: You really want Mother: You really want
to know? to know?
(group chuckles) (group chuckles)
I bet even God is laughing I bet even God is laughing
at that "can be too holy." at that "can be too holy."
There’s no one ever There’s no one ever
too holy. too holy.
That doesn’t make any sense. That doesn’t make any sense.
It looks like what he’s It looks like what he’s
saying is ["if you] would be saying is ["if you] would be
more part of the world and more part of the world and
you’ll be okay." you’ll be okay."
Our Lord said a couple of Our Lord said a couple of
things about the world. things about the world.
He said, "Be careful when He said, "Be careful when
the world thinks well the world thinks well
of you." of you."
And He said, "The Father And He said, "The Father
and the world have nothing and the world have nothing
in common, nothing." in common, nothing."
You can’t be too holy, You can’t be too holy,
honey. honey.
I wouldn’t pay any attention I wouldn’t pay any attention
to that. to that.
You have a right as a You have a right as a
Catholic, not only to have Catholic, not only to have
a real Mass, but to have a real Mass, but to have
a good sermon. a good sermon.
Sermons can’t be judged Sermons can’t be judged
by length. by length.
They can be judged by They can be judged by
content and what does it do content and what does it do
for you, what does it do for you, what does it do
for you? for you?
You say, "Well, it doesn’t You say, "Well, it doesn’t
do anything." do anything."
Well, maybe there wasn’t Well, maybe there wasn’t
anything there but most of anything there but most of
the time there’s something the time there’s something
there. there.
Going to Mass is a Going to Mass is a
privilege. privilege.
That’s how I get my That’s how I get my
strength. strength.
And Communion, "Unless you And Communion, "Unless you
eat My Flesh and drink My eat My Flesh and drink My
Blood," what’s it going to Blood," what’s it going to
say, you’re going to be say, you’re going to be
too holy? too holy?
No. No.
"You shall not have life "You shall not have life
in you," see. in you," see.
I would pray for you sister, I would pray for you sister,
not frantically. not frantically.
If you talked to Jesus If you talked to Jesus
about it, He heard you. about it, He heard you.
He doesn’t mind being He doesn’t mind being
reminded once a day. reminded once a day.
(group chuckles) (group chuckles)
I wouldn’t gripe and nag. I wouldn’t gripe and nag.
He heard you. He heard you.
He knows. He knows.
But I would certainly go to But I would certainly go to
Mass and ask Our Lord to Mass and ask Our Lord to
have mercy on you. have mercy on you.
I wouldn’t you can’t make it I wouldn’t you can’t make it
a one individual apostolate. a one individual apostolate.
But you cannot be too holy But you cannot be too holy
because holiness means because holiness means
there’s more and more of there’s more and more of
Jesus. Jesus.
That’s what I read this, That’s what I read this,
this evening. this evening.
You reflect. You reflect.
The more grace you obtain The more grace you obtain
from the Lord by doing from the Lord by doing
loving things, by doing loving things, by doing
virtuous things, by going virtuous things, by going
to Mass, by going to the to Mass, by going to the
sacraments, by confession, sacraments, by confession,
by Communion--you cannot by Communion--you cannot
get too holy. get too holy.
We will never reach that We will never reach that
degree. degree.
We wish we do. We wish we do.
We would wish that degree of We would wish that degree of
holiness God wants from us. holiness God wants from us.
But holiness is no degree of But holiness is no degree of
holiness too much. holiness too much.
So I wouldn’t pay any So I wouldn’t pay any
attention to anybody who attention to anybody who
says you’re too pious, you says you’re too pious, you
go to Mass too much, you go go to Mass too much, you go
to Communion too often-- to Communion too often--
very bad. very bad.
You continue offering your You continue offering your
rosary, your Masses for rosary, your Masses for
that purpose. that purpose.
But offer it not only for But offer it not only for
that but the sinners of the that but the sinners of the
whole world, all sinners, whole world, all sinners,
those who die not prepared, those who die not prepared,
those who die a sudden those who die a sudden
death. death.
So you go ahead and pray. So you go ahead and pray.
I wish we were all fanatics. I wish we were all fanatics.
Maybe the world would change Maybe the world would change
if we all knew Jesus; we all if we all knew Jesus; we all
tried to act like Jesus and tried to act like Jesus and
we were loving and kind like we were loving and kind like
Jesus. Jesus.
So I wouldn’t take that So I wouldn’t take that
little advice too serious. little advice too serious.
We have another call. We have another call.
Hello. Hello.
Female Caller #2: Hello. Female Caller #2: Hello.
Mother: Where are Mother: Where are
you from? you from?
Caller: I’m from New York. Caller: I’m from New York.
Mother: And what is your Mother: And what is your
question? question?
Caller: I love you, Mother. Caller: I love you, Mother.
Mother: I love you too. Mother: I love you too.
Caller: And I heard you Caller: And I heard you
say once, "Live in say once, "Live in
the present moment." the present moment."
Mother: Yeah, yeah. Mother: Yeah, yeah.
Caller: And I wondered Caller: And I wondered
what you meant by that. what you meant by that.
Mother: Oh, I do that Mother: Oh, I do that
all the time. all the time.
I try. I try.
I can’t say I do it but I can’t say I do it but
I do try to live in the I do try to live in the
present moment. present moment.
What I meant by that is-- What I meant by that is--
and I think it’s a great and I think it’s a great
idea--because Our Lord said idea--because Our Lord said
to Angela Foligno, "The past to Angela Foligno, "The past
is dead, the future, unborn." is dead, the future, unborn."
Ah, that leaves me the Ah, that leaves me the
present moment, a brand present moment, a brand
new sheet. new sheet.
Every moment I get a Every moment I get a
brand new sheet. brand new sheet.
Now, I don’t mean that if Now, I don’t mean that if
you slipped on a piece of you slipped on a piece of
ice and there’s another one ice and there’s another one
in front of you, your memory in front of you, your memory
shouldn’t tell you, "Hey, shouldn’t tell you, "Hey,
two years ago you fell on a two years ago you fell on a
piece of ice and broke piece of ice and broke
your leg. your leg.
Now, dummy, get away." Now, dummy, get away."
That’s a good memory and That’s a good memory and
you’re listening to it. you’re listening to it.
Now, I’m not talking Now, I’m not talking
about that. about that.
I’m not talking about I’m not talking about
putting some money in the putting some money in the
bank for the future. bank for the future.
I’m not talking about that I’m not talking about that
or buying insurance. or buying insurance.
I mean, it’s practical I mean, it’s practical
and sensible. and sensible.
Ah, but must of us go Ah, but must of us go
beyond that. beyond that.
Most of us live in the worst Most of us live in the worst
moment of our lives--over moment of our lives--over
and over and over. and over and over.
And then you live again, And then you live again,
your sins and you cannot your sins and you cannot
forgive yourself. forgive yourself.
You’ve gone to Confession. You’ve gone to Confession.
You have been forgiven, You have been forgiven,
God has forgiven you. God has forgiven you.
You can’t forgive yourself. You can’t forgive yourself.
You go over and over and You go over and over and
over this thing. over this thing.
That’s what’s so bad. That’s what’s so bad.
It’s dead. It’s dead.
There was a man in Alaska, There was a man in Alaska,
lived with another man lived with another man
up there. up there.
They did research. They did research.
So the one man died--and So the one man died--and
this is a true story--and this is a true story--and
every morning when the other every morning when the other
guy got out of bed, his dead guy got out of bed, his dead
friend was sitting in a friend was sitting in a
chair. chair.
He’d bury him again. He’d bury him again.
By golly, the next morning By golly, the next morning
he’s there sitting in that he’s there sitting in that
chair. chair.
That went on for weeks! That went on for weeks!
Finally, the man went mental Finally, the man went mental
and he killed himself but and he killed himself but
before he killed himself, before he killed himself,
he wrote a note and he said, he wrote a note and he said,
"Last night I walked "Last night I walked
in my sleep." in my sleep."
He was digging him up. He was digging him up.
He was and walking in his He was and walking in his
sleep, he dug up his friend, sleep, he dug up his friend,
put him in a chair and put him in a chair and
didn’t have any recollection didn’t have any recollection
of it. of it.
Isn’t that what we do? Isn’t that what we do?
Something happened to you Something happened to you
10 years ago, 15 years ago, 10 years ago, 15 years ago,
20 years ago, you’re living 20 years ago, you’re living
it over and over. it over and over.
Hey, it stinks, leave it go! Hey, it stinks, leave it go!
Leave it go! Leave it go!
Or you’re worried about Or you’re worried about
the future. the future.
Yeah, you’ve got a lot Yeah, you’ve got a lot
of worry. of worry.
If you’re reading the If you’re reading the
newspaper, I’d worry, too. newspaper, I’d worry, too.
(audience laughs) (audience laughs)
You look anywhere; it’s You look anywhere; it’s
the most discouraging thing. the most discouraging thing.
You watch the news and You watch the news and
magazines, it’s terrible, magazines, it’s terrible,
terrible. terrible.
You say, "Well, I have to You say, "Well, I have to
worry about the future." worry about the future."
Why? Why?
Does it put more money Does it put more money
in the bank? in the bank?
No. No.
Does it give you more? Does it give you more?
No, it just makes you No, it just makes you
scared, that’s all. scared, that’s all.
You wake up in the morning You wake up in the morning
scared, you go to bed scared, you go to bed
scared. scared.
Why? Why?
That’s where we have to That’s where we have to
trust in the Lord. trust in the Lord.
This moment, here I am This moment, here I am
talking to you, huh? talking to you, huh?
I love you. I love you.
I love everybody here with I love everybody here with
my heart but in a few my heart but in a few
minutes--four to be exact-- minutes--four to be exact--
I’ll be gone and they’ll I’ll be gone and they’ll
be gone. be gone.
I’ll still love them I’ll still love them
but now I have what? but now I have what?
A new moment. A new moment.
I’m going to go upstairs to I’m going to go upstairs to
a whole different life a whole different life
than this one. than this one.
So down here I’m CEO; So down here I’m CEO;
up there I’m Abbess. up there I’m Abbess.
That’s two different lives. That’s two different lives.
I can’t take this life up I can’t take this life up
there and I can’t take that there and I can’t take that
life down here and neither life down here and neither
can you. can you.
You can’t be what you You can’t be what you
used to be. used to be.
You’re getting old! You’re getting old!
You’ve got to be happy You’ve got to be happy
that you’re old. that you’re old.
You can’t walk up steps You can’t walk up steps
like you would before. like you would before.
So, what do you do? So, what do you do?
You cry, oh, "I can’t walk You cry, oh, "I can’t walk
up the steps. up the steps.
I used to run up the steps." I used to run up the steps."
So you can’t! So you can’t!
Enjoy every miserable Enjoy every miserable
moment. moment.
(audience laughs) (audience laughs)
I had a woman call I had a woman call
the other day. the other day.
She said, "I can’t fry my She said, "I can’t fry my
eggs the way I used to." eggs the way I used to."
I said, "How can you I said, "How can you
possibly not fry an egg the possibly not fry an egg the
way you used to?" way you used to?"
"It doesn’t break that way. "It doesn’t break that way.
I’ve got arthritis." I’ve got arthritis."
I said, "Well dump it and I said, "Well dump it and
take out the shell." take out the shell."
What’s the difference What’s the difference
how it looks? how it looks?
It’s the same egg! It’s the same egg!
See, I’ve got to live in the See, I’ve got to live in the
present moment. present moment.
I can’t live in yesterday. I can’t live in yesterday.
My hair is getting grayer My hair is getting grayer
and thinner. and thinner.
It used to be so thick you It used to be so thick you
couldn’t put scissors in it, couldn’t put scissors in it,
you couldn’t cut it. you couldn’t cut it.
Now, you’ve got to look Now, you’ve got to look
for what to cut. for what to cut.
(group chuckles) (group chuckles)
Well, am I going to lament Well, am I going to lament
and look at the hair I and look at the hair I
used to have? used to have?
No. No.
Hey, I’ve got this. Hey, I’ve got this.
At least it’s something on At least it’s something on
my head and it’s covered, my head and it’s covered,
nobody sees it, thank God. nobody sees it, thank God.
Nobody cares. Nobody cares.
Nobody cares. Nobody cares.
We worry about silly things, We worry about silly things,
the way they used to be. the way they used to be.
No, I’ve got to take this No, I’ve got to take this
moment. moment.
Here’s St. Paul, he was Here’s St. Paul, he was
miserable before he found miserable before he found
out God was not going to out God was not going to
answer his prayer. answer his prayer.
"Yeah, I boast now, fine. "Yeah, I boast now, fine.
I’m miserable. I’m miserable.
God makes me strong." God makes me strong."
That’s what I meant That’s what I meant
by living. by living.
Don’t weigh yourself down Don’t weigh yourself down
with yesterday or tomorrow. with yesterday or tomorrow.
Love today. Love today.
Be good today. Be good today.
Be like Jesus today. Be like Jesus today.
There’s a freedom in that. There’s a freedom in that.
The hardships you have, The hardships you have,
well, they’re just for well, they’re just for
today. today.
(coughs) The asthma I have, (coughs) The asthma I have,
it’s just for now. it’s just for now.
So, ready or not, So, ready or not,
I’ve got to go. I’ve got to go.
I’ll see you tomorrow. I’ll see you tomorrow.
’Bye now. (applause) ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪
