Mary, May, and Mother's Day

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A few years ago I wrote some rosary meditations for Mother's Day for my mom and my wife. Many have enjoyed them so I wanted to share them with you all. The meditations are in a three-fold PDF flyer format for downloading. The Joyful Mysteries of the Rosary for Mother's Day * please disregard the website and phone number on the front of the flyer * feel free to copy and distribute Did you enjoy this post? Never miss a blog post from James M. Hahn by following now.   My new book of cryptogram puzzles " Secret Messages from the Saints " is available now.    Click here to read more from James M. Hahn - Blog - Books  - Fiction Check out his ongoing memoir about life with his special-needs daughter. Our Giant Wall Rosaries are a perfect addition to your prayer corner, chapel, or classroom. * Contains affiliate links. No, that doesn't mean that the kids should leave the room. Rather, it means that if you click on a link, and if you purchase something, I may get
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Knowing Jesus

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Saint Peter Julian Eymard, Priest

How to get more out of Holy Communion by Saint Peter Julian Eymard

First Friday

Matthew 13:53-58

It often seems that the more we get to know a person the better able we are to predict their next move. I know my sons very well. I know how they react in certain situations. Anthony is very outgoing and usually doesn't know a stranger. He'll get up and dance with the other kids or be the first in line to try something new. Christopher, on the other hand, is shy and reserved. I know that the little arm of steel clinging to my leg is Christopher. It takes him a long time, sometimes days, to warm up to an unfamiliar setting or unfamiliar people. William is a combination of the two. Depending on his mood and what he sees his brothers doing he may imitate either one. Samuel is like Anthony as far as I can tell with him only being one. I know them all so well but they often surprise me with their words or actions. They are not robots and they have a life that is all their own. I look forward to getting to know them throughout this life.

I often fall into a type of spiritual apathy in thinking that I really know Jesus. I go to Mass. I read scripture. I pray (not as often as I should). I go to confession fairly regularly. I do all the things that I am supposed to do as a Catholic Christian. In doing all this, and I must admit doing some of it without heart or thought, I can often be "bored" with the Scriptures or Mass or prayer. "Been there, done that," I say in my heart and mind. "Yeah, I know, loaves and fishes = Eucharistic miracle, blah, blah, blah. Yeah, I know, this is Jesus in the Eucharist I'm receiving at Mass. Yeah, I know if I do this I need to go to Confession," and on and on. This is one of the most dangerous tricks of the devil. He makes me believe that I have reached a certain level of holiness (how can I fall for that lie?!). He tempts me into thinking that I really know Jesus, know His teachings, know what He is going to say in this next passage, and worst of all, know what this passage or word in prayer is trying to say to me.

With this sort of spiritual malady I become almost impenetrable by grace. I am no longer open to the full graces of the sacraments. I am no longer open to the life changing power of the Scriptures. I am no longer open to listening to Him in my prayer life.

Like those men and women in the Gospel, I too can start to believe that I really "know" Jesus when in fact I only know "about" Jesus. Lord, help me to start anew. Help me to be open to the love that you have for me and the desire that You have to come to me every moment of everyday. Give me the grace to be open to knowing you once more. Help me to fall in love with you once again. The honeymoon of my reconversion is now over, let us work on the true and lasting love of our relationship.

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