Spiritual Reflections at, TX US - SERMON on LOVE by SAINT BERNARD

St. Bernard, Abbot & Doctor, 1090-1153 Sermon on LOVE: "Love is sufficient of itself, it gives pleasure by itself and because of itself. It is its own merit, its own reward. Love looks for no cause outside itself, no effect beyond itself. Its profit lies in its practice. I love because I love, I love that I may love. Love is a great thing as long as it continually returns to its fountainhead, flows back to its source, always drawing from there the water which constantly replenishes it. Of all the movements, sensations and feelings of the soul, love is the only one in which the creature can respond to the Creator and make some sort of similar return however unequal it be. For when God loves, all he desires is to be loved in return; the sole purpose of his love is to be loved, in the knowledge that those who love him are made happy by their love of him. The Bridegroom's love, or rather the love which is the Bridegroom, asks in return nothing but faithful love. Let the beloved, then, love in return. Should not a bride love and above all, Love's bride? Could it be that Love not be loved? Rightly then does she give up all other feelings and give herself wholly to love alone; in giving love back, all she can do is to respond to love. And when she has poured out her whole being in love, what is that in comparison with the unceasing torrent of that original source? Clearly, lover and Love, soul and Word, bride and Bridegroom, creature and Creator do not flow with the same vollume; one might as well equate a thirsty man with the fountain. What then of the bride's hope, her aching desire, her passionate love, her confident assurance? Is all this to wilt just because she cannot match stride for stride with her giant, any more than she can vie with honey for sweetness, rival the lamb for gentleness, show herself as white as the lily, burn as bright as the sun, be equal in love with him who is Love? No. It is true that the creature loves less because she is less. But if she loves with her whole being, nothing is lacking where everything is given. To love so ardently then is to share the marriage bond; she cannot love so much and not be totally loved, and it is in the perfect union of two hearts that complete and perfected marriage consists. Or are we to doubt that the soul is loved by the Word first and with a greater love?"---- (Sermo 83, 4-6: Opera omnia, Edit. Cisterc. 2[1958],300-302) "Love Me As you Are" At every moment and in whatever situation you find yourself, in fervor or in dryness, fidelity or infidelity, love me as you are. I wish to have the love of your heart. If you wait until you are perfect, you will never love me. I know your misery, the struggles and tribulations of your spirit, and the weaknesses of your body. I know your sins and I tell you just the same, give me your heart; love me as you are! I want only the song of your heart. I need neither your knowledge nor your talent. One thing only is important for me, to see you acting with love, I created you only for love. Today I stand at the door of your heart like a beggar, I who am the King of Kings! I knock and I wait. Hurry and open to me. I want you to do even the most insignificant actions out of love. I am counting on you to give me joy. When you have to suffer, I will give you strength. You have given me love, I will give you the capacity to love more than you can imagine. Remember, love me as you are. I have given you my Mother. Let everything pass through her heart so pure. Source: Words of Jesus spoken to an Italian Franciscan Priest before his death. Shulam, Upper Castle Road Bandon, Co. Cork, Ireland Ecumenical Lay Apostolate, under the spiritual direction of Rev. Frank Kenney, S.M.,STD, presents: The two great commandments--love of God and love of neighbor as given by Jesus in: A Message to All Nations--4/26/02 Our Lord introduces himself as "Jesus, born Incarnate", exposing His Heart he says: "My brothers and sisters, My greatest desire for each soul is that their hearts be centered on love of Me. For when this is so, I am able to lead the soul deep into the Chambers of Divine Love. This is the solution to all of earth's woes. This is the way to peace amongst all nations. Tonight I impart to you My Blessing of Divine Love." 5/31/02 "My brothers and sisters, tonight I beseech you to pray for My Church upon earth, the Church Militant who are suffering the throes of the purification God has sent them. Pray that their illumination of conscience will be swift and complete, and we will rebuild upon the structure of Our United Hearts." "I'm blessing you with My Blessing of Divine Love." 6/3/02 "I am your Jesus, born Incarnate. Today the battlecry of all mankind needs to be 'God's Will be done'. This is the way to surrender every event-every aspect of life. Holy Love does not insist on its own way (1 Corinthians Chap. 13), but asks for God's Divine Will to triumph in every situation. When you pray this small prayer, 'God's Will be done', the good angels align themselves against any evil that is affecting the present moment." "These few words alone call the grace of My Mother's Heart into your petition. My Heart cannot resist such a cry of complete surrender to the Will of My Father. It tells Me you offer no resistance to God's Eternal Plan." 6/3,02 Jesus and Mary present their open hearts. Blessed Mother says: "Praise be to Jesus." Jesus: "I am your Jesus, born Incarnate. My dear brothers and sisters, I have called you from the moment of your conception to be My apostles of Holy Love. Through this apostleship, you will embrace the cross of oppression, persecution and disbelief. You will need to be My Hands and My Feet, and you will need to speak for Me. But it is in this way, My brothers and sisters, that the Kingdom of God will come to fruition in your hearts and in your lives." "We're blessing you with the Blessing of Our United Hearts." 5/25,02 "Today, there is every reason to hope-every reason to despair. There is every reason to trust and every reason to doubt. You live in the midst of plenty and in the midst of want. But I have come to help you see that it is grace that tips the scale towards the positive. If you count on your own efforts alone, you can easily give in to despair, doubt, and feel overwhelmed by all your needs." "But as true apostles of Holy Love, you must surrender everything to the Heart of My Mother. In Her heart every need comes to fruition, every hope is fulfilled, and trustful surrender bears the fruit of patient perseverance in faith." "Pray for your persecutors and forgive your enemies. For these are the ones who have made themselves My enemies. These are the ones who will be stripped. Their illumination of conscience will be in the public eye." "I have come to help you see that victory is at hand and indeed within your own heart. I am blessing you." "My brothers and sisters, every present moment is the Will of the Eternal Father, but you can only discover His Will through simple surrender. When you have a humble heart, this simple surrender comes quite easily, for you are willing to accept whatever the present moment holds for you. This is the way to true sanctity." "Tonight I'm blessing you with My Blessing of Divine Love." 5/26/02--Jesus says:" My brothers and sisters, it is PRIDE which always takes the form of inordinate self-love that keeps the soul from conversion. This message of the revelation of the United Hearts is an interior formation and the soul must surrender completely all forms of inordinate self-love." "Therefore, when you pray for people to believe and for people to be converted to this message, pray that they recognize and overcome their disordered self-love." "Today we are blessing you with the Blessing of Our United Hearts." 5/23,02 "Sisters & brothers, forgiveness is the fruit of a loving heart. It is the soul's cooperation with My grace and mercy. The soul who cannot forgive is failing in Holy Love. When resentment and bitterness consume your heart, there is no space in your heart for love." "Some people passionately bear grudges instead of passionately loving Me. It is such a heart that brings destruction upon him/herself and others. Each one must let Me be the Just Judge. Never presume you know more than Me." "An unforgiving heart is at war within. A forgiving heart is at peace. An unforgiving heart constantly renews old wounds. A forgiving heart is healed. An unforgiving heart does not seek holiness, but its own imagined justice." "Do not waste the present moment on unforgiveness, but spend it on Holy Love. Ask and I will help you." 5/24/02 Friday Rosary Service... "My brothers and sisters, tonight I have come to speak to you about grace-filled opportunities. Each present moment is such an opportunity, offering each soul a unique blend of graces to lead him deeper into My Divine Heart." "But you do not look for these graces so often, My brothers and sisters, and you do not ask for specific graces that My Mother stands ready to give you. Ask for the grace always to come deeper into My Heart where I love you and where I desire to hold you." 4/25/02: Conversation with Divine Love "I tell you–the fulfillment of My words to you lies in your trust. When your trust is deepest, your love of Me is deepest. Deep in your trust of Me is your surrender. It is only in surrender that every part of My mission is fulfilled in you." "I am awakening a new era in this mission. Even now it is burgeoning forth-awakening life around it, and blooming with unseasonable love." "You ponder the atmosphere of the Fifth Chamber-union with the Will of God. Every moment is like the first step into paradise. Every moment is like being reunited with loving memories-loving souls who await on the other side of the veil between life and death. Every moment in the Fifth Chamber radiates love, joy and peace to the souls who enter herein. These souls know no fear, anger or unforgiveness. They have no enemy. They only have knowledge of souls who oppose God's Will and need prayer." "If you can imagine the joy with which I mounted My Throne when I ascended into Heaven, you can taste then the flavor of the Fifth Chamber." 4/28/02 "My brothers and sisters, today I invite each soul with simplicity and docility to follow these messages of Holy and Divine Love into the Chambers of Our United Hearts. Thus I will lead you into the depths of perfection. This is the way to world peace." 4/29/02: "My brothers and sisters, once again I invite you to surrender everything to Me, remembering that the depth of your surrender reflects the depth of your love for Me. If you surrender everything, I will be free to act in your lives with much power and grace, and God's Will will be accomplished in your hearts and in your lives." "I have come once again to tell the world that it is error in hearts which causes every kind of problem you face today. All of these errors proceed from lack of Holy Love." "These days the future of the world teeters on the brink of disaster. Yet, mankind arrogantly ignores My call to conversion through these messages of Holy Love. Apathy and compromise have consumed the hearts of important government leaders and a majority of the world's population." "And so, I am calling the remnant faithful whom I have formed in the Heart of My Mother, to arms. There is in the world a grim anti-culture of selfish love that we must combat by prayer and sacrifice. Pick up your rosaries and pray for Holy Love to be victorious in hearts and in the world. Holy Love is the victory and the defeat of Satan." "You must realize, disordered self-love is a spiritual disease which is eating away at the heart of the world and has riddled the heart of My Church upon earth. My Mother, who so grieves the loss of souls and the destruction man calls upon himself, has taken this petition-the victory of Holy Love in hearts-to the Holy Souls in purgatory. They are praying with you, along with the Church Triumphant in Heaven." "I tell you solemnly, the will of man and the will of the world will never be fixed on the Divine Will of God until the disease of selfish love is eradicated from their midst. The cure-the medicine-for this disease is Holy Love. The cost of this inoculation is surrender of self-love. It is only in complete surrender that the world will be drawn back into harmony with the Divine Will of My Father." "My brothers and sisters, do not be surprised when I tell you that the solution to all of mankind's problems-the problems in the Church and in the world at large-rests in conversion through Holy Love. For what ails the world is a spiritual blight, and the only solution is a spiritual renewal and conversion through Holy Love." "Today We extend to you the Blessing of Our United Hearts." 4/5/02: Jesus and Mary present their open hearts. Blessed Mother says: “Praise be to Jesus.” Jesus and Our Lady greet Father Kenney, S.M.,STD(Maureen’s spiritual director)by nodding Their Heads toward him, and a light came from Blessed Mother’s Heart onto Father Kenney. "My brothers and sisters, do not languish longer in disbelief, for this is the compromise Satan presents to you, to keep you from living the message of Holy and Divine Love. Nor should you allow your hearts to give in to the temptation of discouragement and fear. Trust in Me—trust in My Mercy. Await with joyful hope the coming victory of Our United Hearts.” “I have come to bring peace to hearts—hearts that will trust in My Mercy. My Divine Mercy is from age to age and from horizon to horizon upon the repentant heart. My Mercy falls upon all mankind, not out of deservedness, but out of each one’s need.” “Once again I remind you that those who love Me—trust in Me. To trust in Me is to trust in the attribute of My Mercy. It is the unrepentant whose hearts I have come to change. These are the ones who do not look into their own hearts. They do not try to earn their salvation through love. This is why the world is torn asunder with every kind of sin. The fruit of these sins is war. Because so little value is placed upon human life, the sins today far outweigh the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah.” “This is why the message and the mission here of Holy and Divine Love far exceed any in attempting to form hearts in love. This is why the messages lay bare Satan—his snares and his tactics. Do not be surprised at the inroads Satan has made where he is exposed, or the types of sins which are now coming to light. This could not remain under the cover of darkness longer. While it is bringing down those in high places, even within the Church, it is necessary in order that the festering sore be healed. Many consciences now will be stripped of their compromise. Just as the mission here is the salvation of souls, it must be so in My Church, as well. Reputation and money cannot be first. All must be surrendered to Me.” “I tell you the greatest threat to mankind today is not terrorism, certain infamous and elusive leaders or even nuclear weapons. The greatest threat is the evil hidden in hearts that would exceed any lengths to obtain its end. I tell you there is an evil alliance forming in certain hearts which will come to light soon. This is not a war over territories or boundaries, but a war between good and evil.” “The mission here—though ecumenical—will continue as a strong link to orthodoxy and tradition. It will become even stronger and sought out as a spiritual refuge amidst blight. The boundaries of this mission will expand, both in hearts and in the world. The enemy’s tongue will be tied. He will be seen to trip over his own tail. He will be seen to be like a lion without teeth or claws—harmless in the face of the good My mission will accomplish.” “The Rosary of the Unborn will become the weapon of choice, both in Heaven and on earth in the war against abortion—so prepare for this. Take up your arms, children of God. Prepare! Stalemates which have affected My mission until now will be resolved. Projects will continue and begin anew. Those who defend and assist this mission, I will defend and assist. Those who make themselves your adversaries are My adversaries, as well.” “Today We are blessing you with the Blessing of Our United Hearts.” 5/12/02: Sunday Service to Pray against Abortion--Mother's Day Jesus and Blessed Mother are here. Jesus is in white, and Blessed Mother is here as Mary Refuge of Holy Love. She wears a similar crown to that of the May crowned statue in the apparition room. She says: "Praise be to Jesus." Jesus says: "I am your Jesus, born Incarnate. Today, My brothers and sisters, I invite you to patient trust. Patience is the fruit of trust. When you can patiently trust Me, then you are able to surrender more completely, more perfectly. When you can surrender the present moment and all future moments to Me, then I am able to lead you deeper into the refuge of Our United Hearts." "Today We are blessing you with the Blessing of Our United Hearts. 4/13/02: Jesus is speaaking: "My brothers and sisters, I have come to call you into the truth of HOLY and DIVINE LOVE. Do not put up a pretense of holiness, but pursue with a sincere and simple heart Holy Love in the present moment, and I will carry you into the depths of sanctity." "Today I am blessing you with My Blessing of Divine Love." 4/15/02: "My dear brothers and sisters, it is good we are all here together. This is the hour of new beginnings-a time of taking off the old and putting on the new-a time of deep love, deep trust and deeper surrender. And so tonight, My brothers and sisters, I come to you with an open Heart and an open invitation to enter herein." "We are blessing you with Our Blessing of the United Hearts." 4/19/02: Friday Rosary Service ... "My brothers and sisters, with certainty I stand ready to pour every beneficial grace into your hearts during these last days-graces which will help you succeed in My behalf in every endeavor. Open your hearts then by living the message of Holy Love, and you will receive all you need." "Tonight I am blessing you with My Blessing of Divine Love." 5/6/02 Public "I am your Jesus, born Incarnate. I have come to help you realize that pride-which is disordered self-love-keeps you from cooperating with your own salvation." "Pride is the enemy of the soul-distorting objectives and compromising goals. It is through pride every sin is committed." "These same precepts can be applied to the problems within the Church today. Sin and compromise are swept under the carpet, so to speak. Human judgments are placed ahead of the divine. Many thousands of sacrileges against My Real Presence in the Blessed Sacrament occur daily. This is so, for people desire a good reputation with men and place this desire ahead of good standing with their God." "My people will never maintain their faith by appearances alone. The remnant will be upheld and maintained by true holiness of heart." "While Church officials scramble to save their reputations and their pocket books, I will raise up the true remnant who maintain a strong tradition of faith in their hearts. Our United Hearts will be victorious through this remnant faithful-through the hearts in which the battle is already won." "You will please make this known." May 13, 2002: Feast of Our Lady of Fatima --Jesus and Blessed Mother present themselves with open hearts: Blessed Mother says: "Praise be to Jesus." Jesus: "I am your Jesus, born Incarnate. My brothers and sisters, show Me how deep your surrender is to God's Divine Will by being patient with your crosses, for trustful surrender bears the fruit of patience. The more patient you are, the more you have surrendered to Me-everything." "Tonight We're extending to you the Blessing of Our United Hearts." “I am your Jesus, born Incarnate. My brothers and sisters, My victory is composed of the Holy Love that is within each human heart. Therefore, anything that stands in the way of your complete surrender to Holy Love in each present moment opposes My victory. Perhaps it is unforgiveness or perhaps you have a doubting heart and, therefore, you cannot accept the truths I come to tell you. Perhaps you have some sinful habit you are unwilling to say ‘no’ to. Even idle gossip or impatience oppose your complete surrender and, therefore, My victory. You must love Me more to surrender more completely.” “Every heart holds sway over nations and the world. For what opposes complete surrender to Holy Love comes between the soul and Me—your country and Me—the world and Me. Understand then your surrender in the present moment has a universal effect.” “Do not be surprised, little lambs, when I tell you that your response to Heaven’s call towards personal holiness carries with it universal impact. For it is each soul’s response to love God above all else, and his neighbor as himself that determines the course of human history. Lack of Holy Love pulls the soul off course and creates an abyss between Heaven and earth. Then nature and the course of human events are changed forever.” “It is discord between the Divine Will of My Father in Heaven and free will which causes wars, cataclysmic events in nature, and moral apathy. Only through harmony between the Divine Will and free will can the decadent society become whole and prosper in the eyes of God and man.” “Then understand, if you do not choose personal holiness in the present moment, you are choosing not to be holy—not to love. It is always imperfections in Holy Love that pull you away from Me. Therefore, choose to be perfect—not for yourself alone, but for love of Me.” “I am extending to each one present today My Blessing of Divine Love.” --Message of Jesus 1/5/02. “I am your Jesus, born Incarnate. My sister, I have come to speak to you about criticism of others. Criticism can be good or evil. Few take this to heart. t is good if it is spoken within the context of finding a solution to an ongoing problem. Then, the constructive criticism must be kept within the confines of the circle of people who can effect the change.” “Too often, however, criticism has its roots in evil. This type of criticism may speak of the sins and imperfections of others. This is a form of self-righteousness, for little effort is given to discovering faults within self, but much effort is spent on scrutinizing the imperfections of others.” “Pride takes yet another form in this type of criticism. Inability to bear with the imperfections of others reveals a flaw in Holy Love and Holy Humility. The one who picks and chooses whom he will tolerate and be gracious towards is prideful. Further, if you see an imperfection in Holy Love in another – or think you do - do not speak of it to him, but pray for him. To presume the role of spiritual advisor when you are not is arrogance.” “Yet another pitfall in criticism is judging motives of others’ behavior. You do not know what is in another’s heart – whether it be innocence, ignorance or malice. Once again, avoid presumption.” “Good constructive criticism builds up and unites. Evil criticism tears down and divides. Each one would do well to take to heart these points I have given you today.” 1/12,02 “I am your Jesus, born Incarnate. I have come to explain to you the difference between holiness and sanctity. The holy one is righteous in many ways. He tries to lead a virtuous life most of the time. When he remembers to keep Me in the center of his heart he practices Holy Love. But there are, nevertheless, small areas of his heart he does not surrender to Me. Perhaps he does not consider the source of inspirations that come to him and, therefore, speaks or acts uncharitably. Perhaps through inordinate self-love, he is attached to the world in some way—be it his reputation, his opinion or his appearance.” “Now the soul who reaches sanctity leaves everything behind except his love for Me and for his neighbor. The difference between the one who is holy and the one who is saintly is that the saint practices heroic virtue. Heroic virtue is virtue that the soul perseveres in despite personal cost. Therefore, when he is patient he has no thought towards ‘poor me – I must be patient in the face of this annoyance’. He does not consider himself humble or holy, but regards all others as more virtuous than himself and constantly pursues a deeper perfection in virtue. He is always ready to ‘go the extra mile’ for Me.” “You will please make this known.” Source: Missionary Servants of Holy Love, an ecumenical lay apostolate committed to living and propagating the Holy Love messages. These messages, which support the two great commandments--love God above all else and love your neighbor as yourself--are given by means of private revelation to Our Lady's messenger. Missionary Servants of Holy Love gather to pray the rosary for world peace, for an end to abortion, and that hearts open to Blessed Mother's message of Divine Love. Missionary Servants of Holy Love, 37137 Butternut Ridge Rd., Elyria, OH 44035 http://www.holylove.org Used with permission "GOD IS LOVE, and whoever abides in love, abides in God, and God in her/him." (1 John 4:16) "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."--John 3:16 "Let us love, not in word or speech, but in deed and truth."(1 John 3:18) "And over all these put on love, that is, the bond of perfection."(Col.3:14) "Above all, let your love for one another be intense, because love covers a multitude of sins." (1 Peter 4:8) "For I have experienced much joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the holy ones have been refreshed by you." (Philemon 1:7) "Because God loves you, you never stand alone. Because God loves you, you can go beyond yourself and forgive those who have hurt you, however deeply. Because God loves you, you can ask forgiveness of those you have hurt. Because God loves you, you can care for the weak, remove injustices, alleviate poverty, annihilate oppression, and restore righteousness in the world. Because God loves you, you have the power to touch hearts with compassion, heal wounds in those around you, and act selflessly." --U.S. Catholic Bishops GOD'S WILL... Jesus reveals God's will in our lives... "My Divine Will for you is like a great tapestry that I, the Weaver, begin to weave at your conception. All through your life, I design to put each thread in its place to create the masterpiece of your salvation. When you refuse to surrender to Me, you inasmuch as pull a thread out of place. Then I, the Artist, must re-design the entire tapestry so that it all comes together harmoniously. But when you surrender to Me, the final outcome is much more easily attainable. You see My grace and you cooperate with My provision, my plan. The design is more beautiful because it is My Best Design." --Lessons on the Virtues, Archangel Gabriel Enterprises, Inc. 37137 Butternut Ridge Rd. Elyria, OH 44305; p.37 Act of Consecration to God... “Heavenly Father, I consecrate my heart in this present moment to Holy Love. Keep me mindful of this throughout the day so that all my thoughts and actions will proceed from Holy Love.” “I cover this petition with the Most Precious Blood of Jesus, your Son, and surround it with the Tears of His Most Sorrowful Mother. Amen.” Source: Ecumenical Missionaries of Holy Love

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