(GUITAR THEME MUSIC) >> I AM FATHER MITCH AND WELCOME TO SCRIPTURE AND TRADITION WHERE WE TAKE A LOOK AT SCRIPTURE AND THE CATHOLIC TRADITION THAT GOES BACK TO THE APOSTLES. IN FACT WE MOSTLY REFER TO IT AS THE APOSTOLIC TRADITION. BECAUSE IT GOES BACK TO CHRIST AND THE APOSTLES. AND WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU BE A PART OF THE SHOW. WHICH YOU CAN DO BY ADDING YOUR QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS DURING THE LIVE BROADCAST. CALL IN QUESTIONS, TU., 2 PM. IF YOU'RE IN NORTH AMERICA YOU CAN CALL 1 800 221 9460. IF YOU ARE OUTSIDE OF NORTH AMERICA YOU CAN STILL CALL BUT THAT NUMBER WILL NOT WORK SO CALL 1 205 271 2980. SEND EMAIL TO: SCRIPTUREANDTRADITION@EWTN.COM. ALSO, YOU CAN GO TO OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES ON FACEBOOK AND YOUTUBE. NOW SOME OF YOU WOULD REMEMBER FR. BENEDICT GROESCHEL A GREAT FRIEND OF MOTHER ANGELICA'S AND A FRIEND OF MINE. AND HE SAID THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WORSE THAN WASTED SUFFERING. POLITICIANS DO NOT WANT A CRISIS TO GO TO WASTE. WE DO NOT WANT OUR SUFFERING TO GO TO WASTE. SO TODAY, WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT UNDERSTANDING HOW CHRIST’S SUFFERING WAS LINKED TO HIS EARTHLY MISSION OF SALVATION, AND THROUGH THAT, MAKE SOME CONNECTIONS BETWEEN THE SUFFERINGS THAT WE FACE AND OUR GOD GIVEN MISSION HERE ON EARTH. NOW YOU CAN STILL GET MY BOOK. YOU CAN GET MY BOOK, ENTITLED, "HOW TO LISTEN WHEN GOD IS SPEAKING A GUIDE FOR MODERN DAY CATHOLICS". AVAILABLE FROM EWTN RELIGIOUS CATALOGUE WWW.EWTNRC.COM. IT IS ITEM 1833. SO LET US TAKE A LOOK AT THIS. WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THE ROLE OF CHRIST'S SUFFERINGS AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE THEN CAN START TO SEE OUR OWN SUFFERINGS IN HIS LIFE. WE TALKED ABOUT THAT A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO. IN GOING THROUGH EACH ASPECT OF HIS SUFFERING AND DEATH AND SEEING THE THINGS THAT WE GO THROUGH IN LIGHT OF WHAT HE ALREADY SUFFERED. NOW WE HAVE TO ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS SUFFERING OF CHRIST SUFFERING AND DEATH OF COMPLETELY INNOCENT MAN REMEMBER IT SAYS REPEATEDLY THAT HE WAS WITHOUT SIN. THAT HIS SUFFERING IS INHERENTLY LINKED TO THE MISSION OF SALVATION. HE WAS SENT TO SAVE US. HIS NAME MEANS SALVATION. IN HEBREW. AND WHAT WE WANT TO UNDERSTAND IS HOW OUR SUFFERINGS TODAY CAN ALSO BE LINKED TO THE MINISTRY OF SALVATION. NOT ONLY OUR OWN SALVATION BUT THE SALVATION OF OTHER PEOPLE. 1ST, OUR SUFFERING THE THINGS THAT WE ENDURE IN LIFE, THINK OF THESE FOLKS IN KENTUCKY AND ILLINOIS AND ARKANSAS WHO RECENTLY SUFFERED IN THOSE HORRIBLE TORNADOES. OBVIOUSLY HIT KENTUCKY WORSE THAN THE OTHER STATES BUT IT HIT THE OTHERS ALSO VERY BADLY AND THERE IS BEEN LOSS OF LIFE IN ALL 3 STATES. SOME OF IT VERY HIGH. AND THIS IS TREMENDOUS SUFFERING. AND WE CAN UNDERSTAND OUR SUFFERING IN THAT CASE LOSS, BY GOING THROUGH THE WHOLE EXPERIENCE OF CHRIST'S PASSION. 1 OF THE THINGS THAT WE CAN CONSIDER FOR THE FOLKS SAY IN KENTUCKY AND MANY OTHER PEOPLE IN OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES, IS THAT HIS BEING STRIPPED OF HIS GARMENTS IS SOMETHING RIGHT THERE IN PUBLIC AND HERE WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN STRIPPED OF THEIR POSSESSIONS. THAT WOULD BE ONE EXAMPLE. THAT THIS LOSS OF HOMES AND PERSONAL POSSESSIONS AND PHOTOGRAPHS AND RECORDS AND ALL OF THESE OTHER THINGS THAT ARE A PART OF LIFE, THAT THAT LOSS CAN BE CONNECTED WITH CHRIST LOSING THE LAST THINGS THAT HE STILL HAD. THE CLOTHING ON HIS BACK. AND THEN SEEING THE SOLDIERS CAST LOTS FOR THEM AND THROW DICE AND DIVIDE THEM UP. THAT WOULD JUST BE ONE EXAMPLE. AND THERE ARE MANY OTHER WAYS IN WHICH WE CAN DO THAT. BUT THERE IS SOMETHING EVEN MORE. MORE THAT WE CAN DO. AND THAT IS THAT WE CAN TAKE OUR SUFFERING AND UNITED WITH THAT OF CHRIST. NOT ONLY UNITED WITH HIM, BUT MAKE IT AN OFFERING. MAKE IT A SACRIFICE. JOINED TO HIS SACRIFICE. NOW SOMEWHAT OF A I AM GOING TO SAY TO YOU HAS BEEN NEGLECTED BY MANY TEACHERS OVER THE LAST YEARS BUT I THINK IT IS VERY IMPORTANT. THERE WAS A CERTAIN REACTION AGAINST OFFERING UP OUR SUFFERINGS AND THAT WAS A COMMON PHRASE BACK WHEN I WAS GROWING UP. JUST OFFER IT UP. THAT WAS SAID FREQUENTLY. BUT EVEN WHEN IT IS SAID FREQUENTLY SOMETIMES IT CAN BE TAKEN IN A WAY THAT SEEMS SUPERFICIAL. IF YOU JUST TOSS IDEAS AND WORDS OUT THERE IT IS SUPERFICIAL. WHEREAS THERE IS A VERY PROFOUND MEANING. TO FIND IT WE BEGIN 1ST OF ALL BY GOING TO ROMANS ST. PAUL'S LETTER TO THE ROMANS 12:1. WHERE ST. PAUL WROTE TO THE ROMAN SAYING I APPEAL TO YOU THEREFORE BROTHERS BY THE MERCIES OF GOD, TO PRESENT YOUR BODIES AS A LIVING SACRIFICE, HOLY AND ACCEPTABLE TO GOD WHICH IS YOUR SPIRITUAL WORSHIP. NOW CONSIDER THAT. THAT WE OFFER UP OUR BODIES AS A SACRIFICE AND IT IS CALLED A HOLY AND ACCEPTABLE AND IT IS CALLED SPIRITUAL WORSHIP TO OFFER UP YOUR BODY AND THAT INCLUDES OFFERING NOT ONLY THE GOOD THINGS THAT HAPPENED TO YOU AS IF THAT WOULD BE THE ONLY THING PLEASING TO GOD, IT IS NOT THE ONLY THING PLEASING TO GOD. SOMETIMES PEOPLE THINK THAT ONLY WHEN WE HAVE SUCCESS IS THAT A GOOD THING. SOMETIMES IT IS OUR FAILURES AND HURTS AND THE WRONGS DONE TO US THAT WE OFFER UP. EXACTLY AS OUR SAVIOR JESUS OFFERED HIMSELF UP AS HE WAS ON THE CROSS. THERE ARE A LOT OF VERY OLD MEDIEVAL CRUCIFIXES THAT PORTRAY CHRIST CRUCIFIED AS HE IS WEARING THE VESTMENTS OF A CATHOLIC PRIEST. WHY DO THEY DO THAT? IT IS NOT JUST TO SHOW SOME SENSE OF GLORY IN THAT. THEY ARE TRYING TO SHOW THAT CHRIST IS A PRIEST OFFERING HIMSELF AND WE CAN UNITE WHAT WE GO THROUGH AS A SACRIFICE TO GOD BY JOINING IT WITH CHRIST SUFFERING ON THE CROSS. THAT IS A BASIC PRINCIPLE. AGAIN OF COURSE WE OFFER HIM OUR TALENTS AND STRENGTHS BUT WE ALSO OFFER OUR WEAKNESSES AND SUFFERING AND FAILURES. ALL OF THAT. HOW IS IT THAT WE DO THIS? YOU KNOW, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE ESPECIALLY DO AT MASS. THIS GETS TO AND THIS IS WHY I MENTIONED THE NEGLECT. IN THE LAST 45 OR 50 YEARS, THE EMPHASIS IN THE MASS HAS BEEN ON THE EXPERIENCE OF LOVE AND COMMUNITY. WHICH ARE PART OF MASS. THERE IS NO DOUBT. AND TO EXPERIENCE THE LOVE OF THE BROTHERS AND SISTERS, FORMING COMMUNITY, THIS IS VERY GOOD. IT IS NOT THAT THAT IS AN EVIL THING. BUT, IT IS NOT ALL THAT IS AT MASS. IN FACT I WOULD SAY THAT THAT IS A RESULT OF THE MAIN GOAL OF MASS. RATHER THAN THE CENTRAL FOCUS. THAT AT MASS, WE ARE OFFERING A SACRIFICE. THE SACRIFICE OF JESUS CHRIST ON THE CROSS. WE HAVE SPOKEN ABOUT AND WE STILL SPEAK ABOUT THE HOLY MASS AS BEING THE RE PRESENTATION OF CHRIST'S DEATH ON THE CROSS BUT IN AN UNBLOODIED WAY. VERY IMPORTANT. AND THIS IS A SACRIFICE OF CHRIST THAT IS ONGOING. AND WE CAN ENTER INTO IT. NOT MERELY AS OBSERVERS. THIS IS NOT WHAT GOING TO A GAME THAT YOU PAY MONEY TO WATCH. IT IS RATHER THAT WE ARE PARTICIPANTS IN THE MASS. PARTICIPANTS IN THE SACRIFICE. AND WE DO THAT BY GOING THROUGH THE MASS. I WILL NOT GO THROUGH EVERY ASPECT OF THE MASS. WE HAVE THE LITURGY OF THE WORD. IT IS FILLED WITH REPENTANCE, PRAISE AND ADORATION OF GOD. WE PRAY THAT GLORY TO GOD IN THE HIGHEST. THAT IS FILLED WITH ADORATION. BY THE WAY SOMEBODY RECENTLY SENT ME AN EMAIL WHERE SHE CLAIMS, I DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE PRIEST SAID OR MEANT BUT SHE SAID THAT HER PRIEST SAID WE DO NOT ADORE JESUS WE ONLY ADORE THE FATHER. THAT IS NOT TRUE. WE DO ADORE JESUS IN THE MASS. AND THEN WE HAVE THE READINGS OF SCRIPTURE. BUT I AM GOING TO FOCUS ON THE NEXT PART OF THE LITURGY. BECAUSE IT IS IN THE NEXT PART THAT IT IS ABOUT LEARNING AND HEAR THE WORD OF GOD. AND BEING FORMED BY GOD'S WORD. IN THE 2ND PART OF MASS WHAT WE CALL THE LITURGY OF THE EUCHARIST RATHER THAN THE LITURGY OF THE WORD, WE SEE THAT THIS SACRIFICIAL NATURE OF MASS IS SOMETHING WE CAN ENTER INTO. NOW IF YOU NOTICE, WE STARTED OFF WITH THE OFFERTORY OF THE MASS. AND AT THE OFFERTORY, THE PRIEST TAKES THE HOST, THE BREAD, AND HE OFFERS THAT UP. THEN MIXES SOME WATER INTO THE WINE. AN ANCIENT TRADITION. THEN HE OFFERS THAT UP. THESE 2 ELEMENTS OF THE BREAD AND THE WINE ARE WONDERFUL SYMBOLS OF OUR OFFERING OF OUR SACRIFICE. WHY? TO MAKE BREAD YOU HAVE TO CRUSH THE GRAINS OF WHEAT. THEN YOU HAVE TO MIX THEM WITH WATER AND BAKE THEM. AND IN THE ROMAN RIGHT THE ONLY THING THAT YOU CAN PUT INTO THE EUCHARISTIC BREAD IS WATER AND WEEK. NOTHING ELSE. AND THEN WITH THE WINE, THE GRAPES MAKE WINE ONLY WHEN THE GRAPES ARE CRUSHED AND FERMENTED AND THEN WE OFFER AND THAT PROCESS OF CRUSHING THE WHEAT AND CRUSHING THE GRAPES, THE PROCESS OF MIXING THE WHEAT WITH WATER, BAKING IT, OR THE PROCESS OF FERMENTING THE GRAPES, THAT PROCESS IS A WONDERFUL ANOTHER SYMBOL OF OUR SUFFERING. WE FEEL CRUSHED LIKE THOSE GRAPES AND THAT THOSE GRAINS OF WHEAT. AND SOMETIMES WE FEEL LIKE WE HAVE BEEN BAKED IN LIFE OR FERMENTED WHEN THE TROUBLES THAT GO ON IN OUR LIVES. AND THIS IS HOW. AND WE EXPERIENCE LIFE AT TIMES. AND JUST AS THAT PROCESS MAKES IT POSSIBLE TO MAKE AN OFFERING TO GOD, SO ALSO DOES THE PROCESS OF GIVING OUR PAIN TO GOD. IT BECOMES OUR SACRIFICE. THAT IS WHAT WE OFFER. THE BREAD AND WINE SYMBOLIZE OUR NATURAL GIFTS THE GIVES OF THE EARTH. WE SAID THAT IN THE PRAYER. FRUIT OF THE EARTH AND THE WORK OF HUMAN HANDS. FOOD OF THE VINE IN THE WORK OF HUMAN HANDS. AND THAT SYMBOL OF THE EARTHLY GIFTS IS A SYMBOL OF WHAT WE OFFER WITH OUR SUFFERINGS. BUT THEN 1 OF THE THINGS THAT WE ALSO SEE IS THAT THOSE HOSTS THAT WHEAT THAT IS FORMED IN THE BREAD AND THAT WINE ARE THEN BROUGHT BY THE PRIEST WITH PRAYERS. 1ST BY ADDRESSING GOD THE FATHER. THAT IS HOW WE START ALL OF THE EUCHARISTIC PRAYERS. SPEAKING TO GOD THE FATHER. IN THE PREFACE AS WELL AS IN THE OPENING PRAYERS OF THE CANON OF MASS. AND THEN WE SAY, WE CALL DOWN THE HOLY SPIRIT. AND SAY LORD TO SEND FORTH YOUR SPIRIT. UPON THESE GIFTS. AND THE PRIEST STRETCHES OUT HIS HAND IN THE ROMAN RIGHT TO INDICATE THAT INVOCATION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. A LOT OF TIMES WE USE THE GREEK WORD, - - IT JUST MEANS INVOCATION. CALLING DOWN UPON. AND THEN WE SAY THE WORDS OF JESUS CHRIST. BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. THE PRIEST HAS THE AUTHORITY TO SAY THOSE WORDS OF JESUS CHRIST SO THAT THEN THE BREAD BECOMES JESUS CHRIST'S BODY AND THE WINE-NESS OF THE WINE BECOMES HIS PRECIOUS BLOOD. THIS IS A WONDERFUL PART OF MASS. THE KEY MOMENT BECAUSE WHAT WE OFFER AS GIFTS OF NATURE WHAT WE OFFER FROM OUR OWN PAIN AND SUFFERING, HE THEN TRANSFORMS BY THE INVOCATION OF THE FATHER, THE CALLING DOWN OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, AND SPEAKING THE WORDS OF CHRIST, THE CREATIVE WORD OF CHRIST THAT THIS BECOMES THE BODY OF CHRIST AND THE BLOOD OF CHRIST. AND ALSO NOTICE THIS. THAT AT THE CONSECRATION, IT IS ALWAYS THE CONSECRATION OF THE BODY OF CHRIST 1ST AND THEN OF HIS PRECIOUS BLOOD. AND THE IDEA IS THIS. THAT THE BODY AND BLOOD ARE SEPARATED. THAT IS A SYMBOL OF CHRIST'S DEATH AND IT IS ESPECIALLY THAT MOMENT OF THE CONSECRATION THAT WE HAVE THIS EXPERIENCE OF THE DEATH OF CHRIST AND THAT HIS DEATH IS BE PRESENTED ESPECIALLY IN THAT MOMENT BUT IT IS ALSO THE MOMENT OF THE OFFERING OF THIS SACRIFICE. BECAUSE THE SACRIFICE MUST DIE AND SO HE DIES. AND THAT COMES INTO OUR TIME IN THE MASS. BUT IT ALSO UNITES EVERYTHING THAT WE OFFER WITH THE BREAD AND WINE. WHATEVER FROM OUR LIFE. WE SAY LORD I PLACE MY SICKNESS, THE LOSS OF A LOVED ONE, MY CONCERNS FOR OUR POVERTY OUR LOSS OF EVERYTHING AROUND US AND MY NEIGHBORS LOSSES. ALL OF THAT I PUT ON THE BREAD AND WINE AND THEN CHRIST CHANGES IT INTO HIS BODY AND BLOOD AND AT THAT MOMENT WE ENTER INTO A MYSTICAL UNION OF CHRIST AND OUR SUFFERING JOINS HIS AT THAT MOMENT. AND THIS IS THE KEY ELEMENT. FINALLY I WOULD JUST SAY THIS, AT HOLY COMMUNION WHEN THE PRIEST BREAKS THE HOST AND BREAKS A LITTLE FRAGMENT AND PLACES IT INTO THE CUP, THAT IS AN INITIAL SYMBOL OF THE RESURRECTION WHEN THE BODY AND BLOOD ARE JOINED TOGETHER AGAIN IN THE RESURRECTION. AND ESPECIALLY WHEN THE PRIEST RECEIVES THE BODY AND BLOOD AND WHEN SOMETIMES THE PEOPLE, AT MY PARISH IN THE MARONITE CHURCH WE RECEIVE IT BY INTINCTION. TODAY WE CANNOT LET PEOPLE DRINK FROM THE CUP BECAUSE OF THE COVID VIRUS. BUT IF WE CAN STILL HAVE THAT SENSE THAT WHEN WE RECEIVE HOLY COMMUNION, THAT IS OUR CELEBRATION OF THE RESURRECTION. SO WE HAVE THE SELF GIFT AT THE OFFERTORY, THE CONSECRATION IS CHRIST TRANSFORMING OUR SUFFERING INTO HIS AND INTO HIS DEATH FOR THE SALVATION OF OUR WORLD. AND THEN RECEIVING HOLY COMMUNION IS THE SIGN OF THE RESURRECTION. THIS IS THE MEANING OF MASS. WE WILL DO NOW IS TAKE A LITTLE BREAK AND COME BACK AND REFLECT MORE ON THAT AND SEE SOME ASPECTS OF OUR PRAYER OF THE MASS. SO PLEASE STAY WITH US. (GUITAR THEME MUSIC) (GUITAR THEME MUSIC) >> WELCOME BACK. WE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSING THIS ISSUE OF HOW WE UNITE OUR SUFFERING WITH THAT OF CHRIST. WE DO SO ESPECIALLY AT THE MASS. AT THE OFFERTORY OFFERING OUR NATURAL SUFFERING, AT THE CONSECRATION AS THE BREAD AND WINE ARE CONSECRATED INTO THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST SO ALSO OUR SUFFERINGS ARE CONSECRATED AND JOINED WITH THAT OF CHRIST. AND IT HOLY COMMUNION WE CELEBRATE THE RESURRECTION. WE RECEIVE THE POWER OF THE RESURRECTION AS WE RECEIVE THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST SO THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE THEN WE CAN SEE THAT WHEN WE ARE ENTERING INTO THIS GREAT MYSTERY OF THE EUCHARIST THAT IT IS NOT ONLY THAT CHRIST'S SUFFERING OF THEIR FOR THE SALVATION OF THE WORLD, BUT THE MORE THAT WE UNITE OUR SUFFERINGS WITH HIM THEY BECOME EMPOWERED BY THE EUCHARIST TO BRING ABOUT A GREATER GOOD THEN WE CAN UNDERSTAND. WE MAY NOT KNOW WHAT THAT GOOD IS, WE MAY NOT SEE IT, MAYBE WE WILL MAYBE WILL NOT. I DO NOT KNOW. BUT IT IS NOT MY ABILITY TO SEE IT THAT MATTERS. IT IS NOT MY SENSE OF SATISFACTION DURING THIS LIFE, IT IS RATHER THAT MY UNION WITH CHRIST IS ITSELF A GREAT GOOD AND IT OPENS ME UP TO HEAVEN. NOW, LET US TAKE A LOOK THEN AT THE POWER OF OUR SUFFERING IN LIGHT OF CHRIST'S DEATH AND RESURRECTION. THERE REALLY IS A POWER. IT IS GOOD TO GO BACK TO JOHN 20:27 WHERE DOUBTING THOMAS SHOWS UP. THIS IS A WEEK AFTER EASTER. THOMAS WAS NOT THERE WHEN CHRIST 1ST APPEARED AND HE SAID I DO NOT BELIEVE IT. UNLESS I PUT MY FINGER INTO THE WOUNDS. AND WHEN JESUS ARISES AND SAYS PEACE BE WITH YOU HE SAID TO THOMAS AND JOHN 20: - 27, PUT YOUR FINGER HERE AND SEE MY HANDS AND PUT OUT YOUR HAND AND PLACE IT IN MY SIDE. DO NOT BE FAITHLESS BUT BELIEVING. AND THOMAS ANSWERED HIM MY LORD AND MY GOD. JESUS SAID TO HIM, HAVE YOU BELIEVED BECAUSE YOU HAVE SEEN ME? BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO HAVE NOT SEEN AND YET BELIEVE. NOW THIS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT. BECAUSE WHAT THAT INDICATES, AMONG MANY THINGS THERE ALL SORTS OF DEEP ELEMENTS OF THAT EXPERIENCE OF THOMAS BUT ONE ELEMENT IS IT SHOWS THAT THE WOUNDS OF JESUS CHRIST HAVE BEEN GLORIFIED. IT IS NOT AS IF HE ROSE FROM THE DEAD AND THEN THE WOUNDS JUST SORT OF DISAPPEARED. NO. THEY REMAIN WITH HIM. SO MUCH SO THAT ARCHBISHOP SHEEN USED TO PREACH ON A REGULAR BASIS, DO NOT TALK ABOUT JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR. TALK ABOUT JESUS CHRIST SUPER SCAR. THOSE WOUNDS OF CHRIST ARE GLORIFIED AND ETERNALLY PRESENT. THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. AND IT IS NOT ONLY IN THAT SEEN IN THE GOSPEL BUT TAKE A LOOK AT REVELATION CHAPTER 5:6. WHEN ST. JOHN HAS THIS VISION OF THE LAMB STANDING IN BETWEEN THE THRONE AND THE 4 LIVING CREATURES AND AMONG THE 24 ELDERS. HE SAID I QUOTE, I SAW A LAMB STANDING AS THOUGH IT HAD BEEN SLAIN WITH 7 HORNS AND 7 EYES WHICH ARE THE SPIRITS OF GOD SENT OUT INTO ALL THE WORLD. SO HERE WE HAVE OUR LORD IS, THE LAMB OF GOD, REMEMBER ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST POINTED AMOUNT AS IT BEHOLD THE LAMB OF GOD. BUT EVEN NOW IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION JOHN SEES JESUS AS A LAMB WHO WAS SLAIN. HE IS NOT JUST SORT OF FREE OF ALL PAPER NO. THAT THESE WOUNDS REMAIN WITH HIM. AND THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT ELEMENT BECAUSE IT MEANS THAT CHRIST'S WOUNDS HAVE BEEN GLORIFIED. NOW TO UNDERSTAND THE IMPORTANCE OF WHY CHRIST'S WOUNDS HAVE BEEN GLORIFIED UNDERSTAND THE SIGNIFICANCE. BY GOING BACK TO THE PASSAGE WE STARTED OFF WITH. IN ISAIAH 53:5. WHERE ISAIAH HAD PREDICTED 570 SOMETHING YEARS BEFORE CHRIST'S SAVING DEATH ISAIAH WROTE, BUT HE WAS WOUNDED FOR OUR TRANSGRESSIONS. HE WAS BRUISED FOR OUR INIQUITIES. UPON HIM WAS THE CHASTISEMENT THAT MADE US WHOLE AND WITH HIS STRIPES WE ARE HEALED. WHEN WE SEE THAT THE WOUNDS ARE STILL ABLE TO BE TOUCHED IN THE GLORIFIED BODY OF CHRIST BY ST. THOMAS THE APOSTLE AND WHEN WE SEE IN THE BOOK OF REVELATION CHAPTER 5:6 THAT CHRIST IS THE LAMB WHO WAS SLAIN AND THAT IS PORTRAYED THERE HE SEES THE EVIDENCE OF THE LAMB BEING SLAIN, THAT BRINGS OUT THAT THOSE HEALING WOUNDS, THOSE WOUNDS THAT BRING US FORGIVENESS REMAIN FOR ALL ETERNITY. THEY DID NOT JUST DISAPPEAR. AND THAT IS A VERY IMPORTANT THING FOR US TO KEEP IN MIND. AND 2ND, 2ND, THOSE WOUNDS NOT ONLY GIVE US HEALING, BUT THEY PROVIDE A MODEL FOR THE SAINTS AND ESPECIALLY FOR THE MARTYRS BUT FOR ALL OF THE SAINTS WHO SUFFER MUCH THROUGHOUT THE CENTURIES THAT THIS IS A MODEL FOR THEM. AND IT IS A MODEL FOR US. SO 1 OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO IS THAT WE STILL SEEK THE INTERCESSION OF THE SAINTS. WE WANT SAINTS AS PATRONS WHO CAN RESONATE WITH OUR EXPERIENCE. OFTEN TIMES WITH OUR PARTICULAR KINDS OF SUFFERING. AND IN THIS WAY THE STRUGGLES THAT THE DIFFERENT SAINTS HAVE RELATE TO OUR OWN STRUGGLES. I MENTIONED IN MY BOOK THERE ARE SOME SAINTS LIKE ST. RITA WHO WAS MARRIED TO A MAN, SHE THOUGHT SHE LOVED, BUT HE WAS IN A GANG SOMETHING OF A SYNDICATE GANG AND HE WAS OF ABUSIVE AND NASTY TO HER BUT THEN HE CONVERTED AND THEN AFTER HE CONVERTED AND STOPPED DOING THE BAD THINGS HE DID, JUST WANTED THE LIFE OF PEACE, HE WAS KILLED FOR IT. AND WHEN HIS SONS WANTED TO GET REVENGE FOR THEIR FATHER'S MURDER, ST. RITA PRAYED THAT THEY WOULD DIE BEFORE THEY COULD DO THAT. AND THEY DID. NOW SHE DID NOT WANT HER SONS TO DIE. SHE LOVED HER SONS AND SHE MISSED HER HUSBAND. BUT SHE DID NOT WANT SIN. AND SHE CONTINUED TO SUFFER MUCH. AND THIS IS WHERE A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE SUFFERED WITH THEIR HUSBANDS AND CHILDREN. AND THINK ABOUT THOSE WHO LIVE IN THE VIOLENT PARTS OF OUR SOCIETY. WHERE THERE ARE SO MANY MURDERS AND KILLINGS AND ROBBERIES AND THINGS THAT GO ON. WE CAN ALSO TAKE A LOOK AT ST. ELIZABETH OF PORTUGAL. WHOSE SONS WERE GOING TO WAR WITH EACH OTHER SHE KEPT WORKING TO MAKE PEACE BETWEEN THEM AND IT IS NOT THAT THEY FOUGHT AMONG THEMSELVES. A LOT OF MOBS HAVE BOYS THAT FIGHT AMONG THEMSELVES BUT THEY WERE GOING TO WAR. BUT SHE WAS ABLE TO BRING PEACE. AND WE CAN LOOK TO THAT. OR ST. MONICA. SOMEONE WHO SHED TEARS FOR MANY YEARS FOR HER SON AUGUSTINE WHO HAD JOINED A CULT INSTEAD OF BECOMING BAPTIZED AS A CATHOLIC. HE SHACKED UP WITH HIS GIRLFRIEND 14 YEARS. HAD A CHILD OUT OF WEDLOCK. GOT RID OF HER SO THAT HE COULD MARRY A RICH GIRL AND WAS FOCUSED ONLY ON HIS CAREER. SHE KEPT PRAYING UNTIL FINALLY THE LORD USED ST. AMBROSE TO CONVERT HER SON. AND WE CAN TAKE A LOOK AT OUR SUFFERINGS AND SEE THEM IN THE LIVES OF THE SAINTS AND LEARN FROM THE SAINTS AND LEARNED THAT LOVE OF CHRIST IN THE WAY THAT THEY UNITED THEIR SUFFERINGS WITH HIS AND AT THE SAME TIME WE CAN JOIN OUR SUFFERINGS WITH THE PASSION OF CHRIST. WE CAN FIND MEANING IN OUR SUFFERING. IT IS NOT THE THEY ARE WITHOUT PURPOSE. IT IS NOT THAT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS PURELY ABSURD AND THERE'S NOTHING TO IT, LIFE IS TERRIBLE. NO. NO. WE LOOK TO THIS AND WE FIND THAT OUR DIFFICULTIES BECOME A WAY OF UNDERSTANDING OUR OWN LIFE BETTER AND SEE THAT GOD BRINGS GOOD OUT OF OUR SUFFERINGS. MAYBE NOT THE GOOD I 1ST PLANNED BUT HE BRINGS GOOD OUT OF IT. AND WE PUT IT UPON HIM TO TRANSFORM IN ORDER TO BRING GOOD. ALL RIGHT. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO IS STOP THERE AND START TO GO TO SOME OF YOUR QUESTIONS. OKAY. SOME OF YOU ARE ASKING QUESTIONS ABOUT SUCH PAIN. JANE WROTE AN EMAIL. I REMEMBER THAT WELL. I WAS LIVING IN DALLAS. IT WAS A SHOCKING EVENT. A MAN SET OFF A BOMB, A FERTILIZER BOMB IN FRONT OF THE FEDERAL BUILDING. JANE, 1ST OF ALL THE LOSS OF SOMEONE WE LOVE VERY MUCH CAUSES PAIN. AND THAT PAIN DOES NOT GO AWAY. I DO NOT FIND THAT IT GOES AWAY IN MY LIFE. AND I THINK IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO SEE THAT THAT PAIN STAYS THERE. AND THIS IS AN IMAGE. BUT IT SEEMS AS IF THAT PERSON HAD MADE A PLACE IN OUR HEARTS AND WHEN THEY DIE AND IN THIS CASE YOUR BROTHER WAS MURDERED IN A TERRORIST ATTACK, A DOMESTIC TERRORIST ATTACK, AND WHEN THAT PERSON IS TAKEN AWAY, THEY LEAVE A HOLE. AND IT IS NOT JUST IN TERRORIST ATTACKS, BUT IT IS IN OTHER EVENTS OF THE LOSS OF LOVED ONES. AND THAT HOLE REMAINS. NO ONE WILL EVER QUITE FIT IT THE WAY THAT THE LOVED ONE FIT THAT PLACE. BUT AT THE SAME TIME THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS TO CONSIDER - WHILE NOBODY EXACTLY FITS THAT HOLE THAT IS IN YOUR HEART IT ALSO MEANS THAT YOUR HEART WAS ENLARGED BY HAVING LOVED YOUR BROTHER. AND EVEN THOUGH OTHER PEOPLE DO NOT FIT IT PRECISELY THEY DO FIT INTO OUR HEARTS. THEY DO BELONG THERE. AND THERE IS ROOM IN OUR HEARTS FOR OTHER PEOPLE LATER IN LIFE THAT EVEN IF THEY DO NOT FIT IT EXACTLY THE SAME WAY THE ORIGINAL LOVE YOU HAD MAKES ROOM FOR THEM. THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT. AND YOU NEED TO LET THEM IN. SECONDLY, THIS WOULD BE ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF HAVING THAT OFFERING. THINK ABOUT OUR LORD. LOOKING ON HIS MOTHER AS SHE WATCHED HIM DIE. AND THAT HIS OWN HEART WOULD BE BREAKING THAT SHE WOULD SUFFER SO MUCH. AND EVEN THOUGH HE SAID ABOUT TO HIS MOTHER BEHOLD YOUR SON AND THEN TO THE BELOVED DISCIPLE BEHOLD YOUR MOTHER JOHN THE BELOVED DISCIPLE COULD NEVER LOVE AS MUCH AS CHRIST AND YET HE GAVE JOHN TO HER. AND WE CAN LEARN FROM THIS. OKAY LORD. GIVEN MY LOSS WHOM CAN I LOVE AND GIVEN THIS RECURRENT EXPERIENCE OF THE ABSENCE OF THAT PERSON I LOVE, I OFFER THAT TO YOU AND JOIN MYSELF WITH YOUR SUFFERING AS YOU WATCHED YOUR MOTHER GRIEVE AS YOU DIED AND I LET THAT BE FOR OTHERS WHO ARE GRIEVING. TRAGICALLY THERE ARE MANY OTHER TERRORIST ATTACKS, DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN SINCE THAT TIME. WE HAVE SEEN A LOT OF THEM. MANY PEOPLE DIED IN THE WAR AGAINST TERRORISM. AND WE WANT TO HAVE A PRAYER FOR THOSE PEOPLE. AND I GIVE THAT SUFFERING FOR THEIR HEALING. IT WILL ALSO HEAL YOU. IT WILL ALSO HEAL YOU. THAT WOULD BE 1 OF THE WAYS THAT I PRAY THROUGH THESE THINGS. ALL RIGHT LET US TAKE A BREAK. WE WILL COME BACK WITH MORE OF YOUR QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS. SO PLEASE STAY WITH US. (GUITAR THEME MUSIC) (GUITAR THEME MUSIC) >> ALL RIGHT. I JUST WANTED TO GIVE YOU LITTLE PROGRAM NOTE FOR SOMETHING COMING UP TOMORROW NIGHT. JOIN ME FOR EWTN LIVE TOMORROW NIGHT AT 8PM ET WHEN I'LL HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH PRINCESS MARIA ANNA GALITZINE AND DIANE SCHWIND ABOUT THE LIFE AND BEATIFICATION CAUSE OF PRINCESS MARIA ANNA’S GRANDMOTHER, EMPRESS ZITA, THE LAST EMPRESS OF AUSTRIA AND QUEEN OF HUNGARY WHO WAS NAMED SERVANT OF GOD BY POPE BENEDICT XVI IN 2009. WE ALREADY MET WITH HER ROYAL HIGHNESS TO DISCUSS HER GRANDFATHER'S BEATIFICATION. NOW WE WILL TALK ABOUT HER GRANDMOTHER. IT IS A SPECIAL INTEREST TO ME BECAUSE MY GRANDPARENTS HAD BEEN SUBJECTS OF THE EMPRESS BEFORE THEY CAME TO AMERICA. SO IT IS SORT OF FUN FOR ME AS THE GRANDSON OF THE PEASANTS WHO LIVED IN THE EMPIRE TO DISCUSS WITH HER ROYAL HIGHNESS THE BEATIFICATION OF HER GRANDMOTHER. ALL RIGHT. NOW LET'S GO ON BACK TO THE EMAILS OR CALLS THAT YOU HAVE TO GIVE TO US. 1ST OFF AN EMAIL FROM JON IN VIRGINIA. JON, YOU ASK A VERY INTERESTING QUESTION. I THINK FROM SOME OF THE THINGS I HAVE BEEN SAYING I THINK IT IS KEY TO START OFF THAT HE HAD THOSE KINDS OF SUFFERINGS. THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE AN ABILITY TO EMPATHIZE WITH SUFFERING FOLK BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN THROUGH IT. FOR INSTANCE, A FEW WEEKS AGO I WENT TO SOUTHERN LOUISIANA TO MEET WITH SOME FOLKS WHO WERE STILL SUFFERING FROM HURRICANE IDA. 1 OF THE GROUPS THAT I SPENT A GOOD AMOUNT OF TIME SPEAKING WITH WERE SOME FLORIDIANS WHO HAD SUFFERED IN HURRICANE, VERY BADLY, AND BECAUSE THEY KNEW WHAT IT WAS LIKE, THEY DROVE FROM FLORIDA TO COME AND HELP IN THE REBUILDING PROCESS. IT WAS NOT JUST LIKE WELL I AM COMFORTABLE AND I WILL SEND THEM A CHECK. NO. THEY WERE PEOPLE WHO WENT THROUGH IT AND THEY KNOW THE DISORIENTATION AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT GOES WITH SURVIVING A HURRICANE AND THEY CAME OVER TO LOUISIANA AND HELPED OTHERS GOING THROUGH IT AND THEY FELT IT VERY DEEPLY AND SOMETIMES IT IS A RELIVING OF THE EXPERIENCE. OUR LORD HAD SUFFERED LIKE US IN ALL WAYS AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT AND HIS SUFFERING IS DESCRIBED AS BEING QUITE TERRIBLE. AND IT IS FROM THE EXPERIENCE AND FROM THE GLORIFICATION OF HIS WOUNDS. IT IS NOT AS IF HIS WOUNDS DISAPPEARED. THAT IS WHY I BROUGHT UP THAT ISSUE OF ST. THOMAS TOUCHING THE WOUNDS. AND OF ST. JOHN SEEING THAT CHRIST IS THE LAMB AS ONE WHO HAS BEEN SLAIN. AND SO CHRIST REMAINS IN CONTACT WITH THAT EXPERIENCE AND YOU KNOW I DO NOT KNOW ABOUT YOU, JOHN, BUT WHEN I HAVE BEEN WITH PEOPLE WHO GO THROUGH THINGS I HAVE GONE THROUGH IT REVIVIFY THE MEMORIES. IT MAKES ME IN SOME WAYS SUFFER THE SAME PAIN AGAIN. AND HE IS WITH US IN THAT. THAT IS 1 OF THE THINGS GOING ON. OKAY. AND THEN I HAVE AN EMAIL FROM SOMEONE WHO UNDERSTANDABLY PREFERS TO BE ANONYMOUS. THEY SAY... ANONYMOUS, A COUPLE OF THINGS. I DO NOT THINK YOUR EXPERIENCE IS FOREIGN TO THE EXPERIENCE OF MANY OF US. MANY OF US HAVE SUFFERED AT THE HANDS OF OTHERS. AND I CAN SAY THIS. AT TIMES WHEN IT COMES BACK, I WILL GET MY DANDER BACK UP AGAIN AND GET ANGRY AND SAY, I SHOULD HAVE SAID THIS. SO THAT THEY KNOW HOW MUCH IT HURT. OR I SHOULD'VE DONE THIS TO THEM RIGHT AT THE BEGINNING. AND THERE IS AN ELEMENT IN WHICH WE HAVE NOT COMPLETELY LET GO. WE HAVE LET GO BUT WE STILL SORT OF CLING TO OUR DESIRE FOR REVENGE. AND PART OF THE PROCESS OF THE SPIRITUAL LIFE IS THIS ONGOING PURIFICATION INSTEAD OF LISTENING TO THE VOICE OF THE EVIL ONE. THE EVIL ONE WOULD WANT YOU TO BE DISCOURAGED AND TO SAY, NO. I AM LOST. I HAVE JUST NOT FORGIVEN AT ALL. WHEN YOU HAVE FORGIVEN. BUT THERE ARE STILL SOME ELEMENTS THAT BRING ON THAT MAKE YOU FEEL LIKE YOU HAVE NOT LET GO OF IT YET. AND SPIRITUAL LIFE IS NOT YOU KNOW I JUST SAY I FORGIVE THEM AND IT IS DONE. NO. THERE ARE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF THE LACK OF FORGIVENESS BY OTHERS. THERE ARE DIFFERENT LEVELS OF HURT. AND IN THE SPIRITUAL LIFE IT IS A PROCESS OF UNCOVERING THOSE AND INSTEAD OF GIVING UP AND SAY I DO NOT KNOW IF I HAVE EVER FORGIVEN THEM. YOU HAVE. BUT THERE ARE STILL DEEPER LEVELS OF FORGIVENESS TO GO. AND THERE ARE A NUMBER OF THINGS YOU CAN DO. YOU CAN DEFINITELY PRAY FOR THEM. PRAYING FOR SOMEBODY THAT YOU ARE ANGRY WITH GOES A LONG WAY FOR HELPING YOU TO BE FREE OF IT. AND THIS IS VERY SPECIAL PART OF THE PROCESS OF SPIRITUAL GROWTH. DO NOT LET THAT DISCOURAGE YOU. LET IT SIMPLY SPUR YOU ON TO GREATER GROWTH. AND THE OTHER THING THAT I ALSO RECOMMEND TO PEOPLE WHEN THEY HAVE SOMETIMES RECURRING SINS OF THEIR OWN LUST OR RECURRING SINS OF THEIR OWN GREED AND IT COMES BACK, PRAY THE DIVINE MERCY CHAPLET. PRAY THAT CHAPLET AND WHAT I LOVE ABOUT IT IS IT SAYS, HAVE MERCY ON US. NOT HAVE MERCY ON THAT WOMAN. SHE IS A SINNER. NO. HAVE MERCY ON US. HAVE MERCY ON ME FOR HOLDING ONTO MY RESENTMENT. HAVE MERCY ON HER FOR WHAT SHE DID. THAT KIND OF PRAYER HELPS SORT OF LIKE WHEN YOU ARE SENDING DOWN WOULD THAT YOU GO OVER IT AGAIN AND AGAIN. AND YOU JUST SAND DOWN TILL YOU GET TO THE SMOOTHNESS. AND THAT PROCESS OF SANDING IT DOWN IS WHAT YOU ARE DOING AS YOU KEEP ON PRAYING FOR THEM. OKAY. THINK ABOUT IT THAT WAY. DO NOT LET IT DISCOURAGE YOU. THE EVIL ONE WANTS YOU TO BE DISCOURAGED. WE HAVE ANOTHER CALL. WE HAVE ZINADA, IS THAT RIGHT? WHERE ARE YOU CALLING FROM? >> HAWAII. >> WOW, YOU WIN THE LONG DISTANCE AWARD TODAY. >> I HEARD YOU MENTION ARCHBISHOP SHEEN. I HAD BEEN READING AND LISTENING TO WHATEVER I CAN LISTEN TO ABOUT HIM. AS WELL AS THE TALKS HE GIVES. BUT I'VE BEEN WONDERING WHAT HAS BEEN TAKING SO LONG TO CANONIZE HIM? THERE ARE OTHERS WHO HAVE BEEN PRESENTED FOR CANONIZATION MUCH LATER AND THEY HAVE ALREADY BEEN CANONIZED. I THOUGHT MAYBE IT IS BECAUSE OF THE MONEY. MAYBE MORE MONEY SHOULD BE RAISED FOR ARCHBISHOP SHEEN. SO I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY. >> NO, NO, I DO NOT THINK THAT IS THE REASON FRANKLY. THE ISSUE IS THAT THERE WERE SOME PRIEST ABUSE CASES IN THE DIOCESE OVER WHICH HE HAD BEEN THE BISHOP. THE DIOCESE OF ROCHESTER. AND WHAT THEY HAVE HAD TO DO IS GO BACK AND THEY ARE TRYING TO INVESTIGATE WHETHER HE KNEW ANYTHING ABOUT THESE CASES OR NOT. MY OWN SUSPICION IS THAT HE DID NOT. JUST FROM THE WAY THAT HE ACTED. I DID NOT THINK THAT WOULD BE THE CASE. HE WAS PRETTY STRICT. AND HE WAS CALLING PRIESTS TO LIVE HOLINESS VERY STRICTLY. BUT THEY HAVE TO INVESTIGATE THAT, THAT HAS TO BE DONE. SO THAT IS WHAT FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND THAT IS 1 OF THE THINGS GOING ON. THERE MAY BE OTHER QUESTIONS ALSO BUT THAT WAS THE QUESTION. SO THEY ARE TRYING TO JUST MAKE SURE THAT THERE IS NOTHING THAT WOULD COME UP LATER ON AND THAT IS ALL THAT IS GOING ON. SO HOPEFULLY THAT WILL STILL COME ALONG. ALL RIGHT. I THINK I HAVE ONE MORE EMAIL. IT IS FROM SUZANNE. NO, THEY DID NOT CLAIM SALVATION. IT WOULD TAKE UNTIL THEIR DESCENDENT, THE NEW ADAM, JESUS CHRIST DIED AND OPENED UP HEAVEN FOR THEM AND WON THEM SALVATION. SO THEY DID NOT GET TO JUST CLAIM SALVATION. IN TERMS OF CONFESSING THEIR SINS, THERE IS NOTHING THAT YOU SEE ABOUT THEM CONFESSING THEIR SINS. INSTEAD WHAT THEY DID IS BLAME EACH OTHER AND THEN BLAME THE SERPENT. AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT YOU SEE. SO THEY DID NOT SHOW A LOT OF REPENTANCE. THEN THEY GET PUNISHED AND KICKED OUT OF PARADISE. NOW, WHAT THE CHURCH HAS BELIEVED IS THAT THEY STAYED IN WHAT WE WOULD CALL PURGATORY - PURGATORY IS A LATER TERM FOR IT. IN THE OLD TESTAMENT IT IS CALLED - - THE PLACE OF THE DEAD. IN GREEK THEY CALLED IT - - OR HADES. AND OR THE PRISON THEY CALLED IT THE PRISON. AND REMAINED THERE. BUT IF YOU EVER SEE GREEK AND EASTERN ALL EASTERN CHRISTIAN ICONS OF THE RESURRECTION, YOU WILL SEE THAT CHRIST COMES OUT OF THE TOMB AND THEN YOU WILL SEE AND X MADE OUT OF BEAMS WOODEN BEAMS AND WHAT THAT SYMBOLIZES IS THAT CHRIST BROKE DOWN THE DOORS TO HADES. AND YOU SEE ADAM AND EVE COMING OUT. IT IS AFTER HIS RESURRECTION THAT HE REDEEMS THEM. AND THEY GET TO GO TO HEAVEN. SO THAT IS THAT. BUT WE ARE OUT OF TIME. MAY THE LORD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU AND CAUSE HIS FACE TO SHINE ON YOU AND LEAD YOU AND ALL OF YOUR WAYS BY HIS PEACE. MAY GOD BLESS YOU, THE FATHER, THE SON AND HOLY SPIRIT. AND REMEMBER THIS NETWORK IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY YOU. SO PLEASE REMEMBER TO KEEP US IN BETWEEN YOUR UTILITY BILLS AND WE WILL BE ABLE TO PAY OUR BILLS ALSO. THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS. (GUITAR THEME MUSIC)
