Workout Wednesday with Fr. Marino

WORKOUT WEDNESDAY   A Midweek Spiritual Workout with Fr. Marino H. Msigala, O.F.M. Capuchin   THE KISS OF CHRIST   Lo, there He hangs – Ashen figure pinioned against the wood.  God grant that I might love Him As I really know I should.   I draw a little closer To feel His love divine, And hear Him gently whisper “Ah, precious child of mine –   If now I would embrace you, My hands would stain you red. And if I leaned to whisper, My thorns would pierce your head.”   ‘Twas then I learned in sorrow That love demands a price; ‘Twas then I learned that suffering Is but the kiss of Christ.                  ~  This is variously attributed to Fr. John H. Hampsch, C.M.F. or Caryll Houselander and maybe others. On this  SPIRITUAL WORKOUT WEDNESDAY , allow yourself to be kissed by Christ.  

WORKOUT WEDNESDAY   A Midweek Spiritual Workout with Fr. Marino H. Msigala, O.F.M. Capuchin   CHRIST CRUCIFIED                   His brow is rent. He thinks of you. His eyes are glazed. He looks for you. His face is drawn. He yearns for you. His voice is weak. He calls for you. His hands are pierced. He beckons you. His feet are torn. He seeks you. His heart is open wide for you. His blood is shed for love of you. For all of this, what will YOU do?                                    ~ Fr. Leonard Edward Feeney, S.J. (1897 – 1978) On this  SPIRITUAL WORKOUT WEDNESDAY , ask yourself what you will do to demonstrate your love of Christ.  

WORKOUT WEDNESDAY A Midweek Spiritual Workout with Fr. Marino H. Msigala, O.F.M. Capuchin   THE CRUCIFIX: THE BOOK OF LIFE   If you would like to know God, look at the Crucifix!   If you hope for eternal happiness, look at the Crucifix!   If you wonder how much God loves you, look at the Crucifix!   If you wonder how much God wants you in heaven, look at the Crucifix!   If you wonder how God tries to prevent you from the yawning jaws of hell, look at the Crucifix!   If you wonder how much God will help you to save your immortal soul, look at the Crucifix!   If you wonder how much you should forgive others, look at the Crucifix!   If you wonder how much your faith demands of you, in humility, poverty, charity, meekness, and every other virtue, look at the Crucifix!   If you want to know what unselfishness and generosity are, look at the Crucifix!   If you wonder how far your own unselfishness should go to bring others to ...

WEDNESDAY WORKOUT A Midweek Spiritual Workout with Fr. Marino H. Msigala, O.F.M. Capuchin   UNFOLDING OF THE ANNUNCIATION   THE GREETING:   Gabriel’s  words affirm Mary’s unique role in salvation history: “Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you.” This was not a casual greeting, but an affirmation from heaven of her worthiness to follow God’s will. Mary stands before us as the new Eve, the one who is entirely receptive to grace. This greeting invites us to reflect on our own openness to grace. Do we recognize that God is with us, even in the ordinary moments of life? Do we allow His grace to fill our hearts, shaping us into vessels of His love? THE MYSTERY REVEALED: Gabriel then unveils the heart of the mystery: “You will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus.” The child to be born is not an ordinary child; He is the Son of the Most High, conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit. This revelation reminds us of the wonder ...

WORKOUT WEDNESDAY A Midweek Spiritual Workout with Fr. Marino H. Msigala, O.F.M. Capuchin   SEVEN SORROWS AND SEVEN JOYS OF ST. JOSEPH   The Seven Sorrows of St. Joseph The doubt of St. Joseph (Matthew 1:19) The poverty of Jesus’ birth (Luke 2:7) The Circumcision (Luke 2:21)   The prophecy of Simeon (Luke 2:34)  The flight into Egypt (Matthew 2:14)   The perilous return from Egypt (Matthew 2:22)  The loss of the Child Jesus (Luke 2:45)    The Seven Joys of St. Joseph The message of the Angel (Matthew 1:20) The birth of the Savior (Luke 2:10-11) The Holy Name of Jesus (Matthew 1:25) The effects of the Redemption (Luke 2:38) The overthrow of the idols of Egypt (Isaiah 19:1) Life with Jesus and Mary at Nazareth (Luke 2:39) The finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple (Luke 2:46)   On this  SPIRITUAL WORKOUT WEDNESDAY , selec...

WORKOUT WEDNESDAY A Midweek Spiritual Workout with  Fr. Marino H. Msigala, O.F.M. Capuchin   T.H.I.N.K. BEFORE YOU SPEAK T – Will your words be truthful? H – Will your words be helpful? I   –  Will your words be insightful? N – Will your words be necessary? K – Will your words be kind? On this  SPIRITUAL WORKOUT WEDNESDAY , and on every day T.H.I.N.K. before you speak. Take a moment to evaluate your words before you say them out loud. A brief moment of pause can make a big difference in your conversation.      

WORKOUT WEDNESDAY Fr. Marino H. Msigala, O.F.M. Capuchin A Midweek Spiritual Workout with PEACE PRAYER OF ST. FRANCIS Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace: where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. On this  SPIRITUAL WORKOUT WEDNESDAY, pray the peace prayer and plan to bring consolation, understanding, love, and pardon to someone who needs it. To the world, you may be one person, but to one person, you may be the world.    

W ORKOUT  W EDNESDAY A Midweek Spiritual Workout with Fr. Marino H. Msigala,  O.F.M. Capuchin   FLUTE VS STICK The student asked, “Teacher, what’s the difference between a flute and a stick in the mud?” The teacher answered, “The stick in the mud is full of itself. The flute has been emptied of itself so it can make music.” On this Spiritual Workout Wednesday, ask yourself how you might empty yourself during this Lenten Season so that you will be able to sing Alleluia at Easter.

WORKOUT WEDNESDAY A Midweek Spiritual Workout with  Fr. Marino H. Msigala,  O.F.M. Capuchin   ACTION PLAN FOR LENT   "Fasting is the soul of prayer, Mercy is the lifeblood of fasting. So, if you pray, fast. If you fast, show mercy, If you want your petitions to be heard, Hear the petitions of others. If you open your ear to others, You open God's ear to yourself." ~ St. Peter Chrysologus   c. 380/406–450 , known as the " Doctor of Homilies " for his eloquent preaching, was an Italian bishop and Doctor of the Church. Born in Imola, he was consecrated Bishop of Ravenna in 433 and died around 450, with his feast day celebrated on July 30 On this  SPIRITUAL WORKOUT WEDNESDAY , "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return."  Genesis 3:19.” R epent and believe in the Gospel.” Mark 1:15.  

WORKOUT WEDNESDAY A Midweek Spiritual Workout with  Fr. Marino H. Msigala, OFM Capuchin THE MESSAGE OF OUR LADY OF LOURDES   Today’s memorial of Our Lady of Lourdes is also World Day of the Sick. The Blessed Mother’s message at  Lourdes , delivered to St. Bernadette in 1858, is  a call to personal conversion, praying the Rosary, and offering sacrifices and penance for the salvation of sinners . It emphasizes God's love for the poor and humble, highlights Mary as the Immaculate Conception, and offers hope, healing, and compassion to the sick and suffering. Our Lady does not promise true happiness in this life but assures us that eternal happiness awaits those who love God and serve His people. She emphasizes that true fulfillment is found in God’s Kingdom and not in this earthly life. On this  SPIRITUAL WORKOUT WEDNESDAY , consider the message of Our Lady of Lourdes, pray the Rosary for the sick and suffering, and offer a personal sacrifice for sinners who h...