This Jesus who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw Him go into heaven. (Acts 1:11)

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The Ascension of Jesus gives rise to manifold sentiments in the faithful soul that contemplates it. If Christ no longer merits, His Ascension has, however, the virtue of efficaciously producing the graces that it signifies or symbolizes.

It strengthens our faith in the Divinity of Jesus; it increases our hope by the vision of the glory of our Head by stirring us up to the observance of His commandments on which our merits rest, and that are themselves the principle of our future beatitude, it still further enkindles our love.  It engenders in us wonder at so marvelous a triumph, and gratitude for the share in it that Christ gives to us. Lifting up our souls towards heavenly realities, it quickens in us detachment from passing things: Seek the things that are above; where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God, not the things upon the earth. (Col.3:.1-2) It gives us patience in adversity for, says St. Paul, if we suffer with Christ, we shall also share in His glory: so if we suffer with Him, we may be also be glorified with Him. (Rom.8:17)

There are two dispositions upon which I would dwell with you a few instants because, springing with special abundance from the contemplation of this mystery, they are singularly profitable for our souls: they are joy and confidence.

And first of all why should we rejoice?

Our Lord Himself said to His Apostles before leaving them: if you loved Me, you would indeed be glad because I go to the Father. (Jn.14:28) To us, too, Christ repeats those words. If we love Him, we shall rejoice in His glorification; we shall rejoice in that having finished His course, He ascends to His Father’s right hand, to be there exalted to the highest heaven; there to taste, after His labors, sufferings, and death, eternal repose in incommensurable glory. Bliss, such as is incomprehensible to us, envelops and penetrates Him forever in the bosom of the Divinity. Supreme power is given Him over every creature.

How can we fail to rejoice in that justice is rendered in all fullness to Jesus, by His Father. See how the Church invites us, in her liturgy, to celebrate with gladness this elevation of her Bridegroom, our God and our Redeemer.

With this deep joy we ought to combine unwavering confidence. This confidence especially rests on the almighty power of mediation that Christ has with His Father, not only as an invincible King entering into His triumph, but as a supreme High Priest interceding for us, after having offered to His Father an oblation of infinite worth. Now, it is on the day of His Ascension that Jesus, in a special manner, began this unique mediation. We have here a very interior aspect of the mystery on which it is highly useful to dwell for some instants. May the Holy Spirit grant us to understand how marvelous are the divine works.

Blessed Columba Marmion: Christ in His Mysteries

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Mother of the Redeemer Events #7 – Fr. Bill Casey ( 18min) >>> Play

Ave Maria!

In June, 2010, Fr. Bill Casey of the Fathers of Mercy preached a retreat at the Mother of the Redeemer Retreat Center on “Confidence in God”. There are 3 homilies and 5 conferences in this retreat.  In this first homily, Fr. Casey introduces the retreat.

Ave Maria!

Audio (MP3)

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Mother of the Redeemer Events #8 – Fr. Bill Casey ( 21min) >>> Play

Ave Maria!

In June, 2010, Fr. Bill Casey of the Fathers of Mercy preached a retreat at the Mother of the Redeemer Retreat Center on “Confidence in God”. This is the second homily of three in this retreat. In this talk, Fr. Casey discusses the Priesthood.

Ave Maria!

Audio (MP3)

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( 23min) >>> Play

Ave Maria!

In June, 2010, Fr. Bill Casey of the Fathers of Mercy preached a retreat at the Mother of the Redeemer Retreat Center on “Confidence in God”. This is the third and last homily of this retreat. In this talk, Father Casey discusses the topic of fatherhood.

Ave Maria!

Audio (MP3)

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Mother of the Redeemer Events #10 – Fr. Bill Casey ( 38min) >>> Play

Ave Maria!

In June, 2010, Fr. Bill Casey of the Fathers of Mercy preached a retreat at the Mother of the Redeemer Retreat Center on “Confidence in God”. This is the first of the five conferences in this retreat.  In this talk, Fr. Casey discusses the importance and power of prayer.

Ave Maria!

Audio (MP3)

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Mother of the Redeemer Events #12 – Fr. Bill Casey ( 44min) >>> Play

Ave Maria!

In June, 2010, Fr. Bill Casey of the Fathers of Mercy preached a retreat at the Mother of the Redeemer Retreat Center on “Confidence in God”. This is the third conference in this retreat.  In this talk, Fr. Casey discusses the importance of the virtue of humility in the spiritual life.

Ave Maria!

Audio (MP3)

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PRESENCE OF GOD – O Lord, increase my confidence in Your help and grant that in this confidence, I may always find courage to begin again.

MEDITATION

What most distresses souls of good will who are seriously trying to live a spiritual life, is to find themselves falling so many times, despite their continual and sincere resolutions. When they begin a program of asceticism, they are usually very brave and have no doubts concerning their success; but being still inexperienced, and not having yet faced the demands of more advanced virtue, they know nothing of the struggles that await them on this way. And herein lies the danger: meeting with new difficulties, they fall; they rise and fall again; again they rise, and shortly after, find themselves prostrate once more until they are at a certain point, attacked by that most dangerous temptation:  to give up the undertaking which henceforth seems impossible. How many souls have fervently begun the ascent of the mount of perfection, but discouraged by their continual falls,  have stopped halfway up or even turned back, because they lacked the courage to begin anew every day and every moment.

Humility is needed for the exercise of courage; we must be convinced that in spite of our lofty aspirations, we are fallible men like all the rest. Sacred Scripture affirms that the “just man shall fall seven times and shall rise again” how, then, can we, who are not just, pretend never to fall?

The real evil is not so much in falling as in failing to rise. The distinguishing mark of fervent souls, and all of saints, is less their lack of faults, than their prompt rising after each fall. The annoyance felt by so many souls when they see themselves continually falling, is not the fruit of humility but of pride. They are not yet convinced of their own misery and are astonished to experience it so constantly. They rely too much on themselves, and God, who wishes to lead them to the full realization of their nothingness, permits them to fall again and again.

In the plan of divine Providence these falls are for the definite purpose of convincing us that we are miserable creatures. If we wish to adhere to the divine plan, we have but one thing to do: to humble ourselves. But if, on the contrary, we become discouraged, and give up what we have begun, we shall be going farther away from our goal, to our very great loss.

Some souls justify their discouragement saying that they cannot bear to offend God. That is well, for the first condition required for sanctity is a hatred for sin and a firm determination to avoid even the slightest sin, at the cost of any sacrifice. However, we must make a distinction: if we cultivate the sincere disposition not to tolerate in ourselves the slightest offense against God, it signifies our intention to make no truce with the faults and failings which, in spite of our good will, escape us.

However, if do fall, notwithstanding all our efforts, this disposition does not authorize us to become so discouraged that we are unable to rise. It is just because we do not wish to tolerate in ours anything displeasing to God that we should never surrender in the struggle, but begin again vigorously, in order to avoid future falls. On this field, he who surrenders is already conquered. In fact, if even when we are fighting without respite, we are liable to fall, what will happen if we surrender our arms? It will always be better to fight maimed and wounded, than not to fight at all.

But to have the courage to persevere in the struggle especially when we fall repeatedly-either as a result of our imperfection and frailty, or because God permits it in to humble us more-we must join to humility an immense confidence in the divine help. Having experienced our misery we know….that we cannot rise relying on our own ­strength, but there still remains to us a much more powerful resource: trust in the help of God; We shall find the strength to keep beginning again, precisely in trust. God alone can give us this strength, and He will give it in the measure are insufficient for attaining so much the more should we be convinced that God will furnish us with the help needed to answer His call. There is nothing illogical in God. He asks something from us; He cannot refuse us the help needed to give it to Him. Not finding this strength in ourselves, we shall surely find it in Him, in His omnipotent help.

He that shall persevere unto the end shall be saved.(Mt. 10:22) said Jesus.  He who shall persevere to the end is not he who will never fall, but he who after every fall will  humble  himself and rise again, relying on the infinite strength of God. 

Fr. Gabriel of St. Mary Magdalene (Divine Intimacy)

PRAYER:  O Jesus, You see that I am a very little soul and can offer only very little things. I frequently miss the opportunity of welcoming these small sacrifices which bring so much peace but I am not discouraged and bear the loss of a little peace and to be more watchful in the future. You are so good to me; it is impossible for me to fear You. 

If it is Your will that at throughout my whole life, I would feel a repugnance to suffering an humiliation, or permit all the flowers of my desires and good will to fall to the ground without producing any fruit, I shall not be disturbed. In the twinkling of an eye, at the moment of death, You will cause rich fruits to ripen on the tree of my soul. 

 (St. Therese of the Child Jesus)

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