Father Marino's Meditations

WORKOUT WEDNESDAY A Midweek Spiritual Workout with Fr. Marino H. Msigala, OFM Capuchin   IT’S YOUR CALL! The Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen famously said, “There are two ways of waking up in the morning: one is to say, ‘Good morning, God!’ the other is to say, ‘Good God, morning!’ A positive start to the day signals a positive end to the day. On this SPIRITUAL WORKOUT WEDNESDAY , let’s make our first thought each morning an expression of gratitude to God for the gift of another day to live, to love, and to serve.

  WORKOUT WEDNESDAY A Midweek Spiritual Workout with  Fr. Marino H. Msigala, OFM Capuchin GOD SENT US A SAVIOR   If our greatest need had been learning, God would have sent us an educator. If our greatest need had been food, God would have sent us a farmer. If our greatest need had been research, God would have sent us a scientist. If our greatest need had been a vacation, God would have sent us a travel agent. If our greatest need had been money, God would have sent us an economist. If our greatest need had been work, God would have sent us a recruiter. If our greatest need had been recreation, God would have sent us an entertainer. But our greatest need was forgiveness, so God sent us a Savior. God knows our real needs and satisfies them. On this SPIRITUAL WORKOUT WEDNESDAY , let’s focus on the Savior sent by God to satisfy our greatest need, ask His forgiveness, and express our gratitude.

  WORKOUT WEDNESDAY A Midweek Spiritual Workout with Fr. Marino H. Msigala, OFM Capuchin   CHOOSE YOUR CONVERSATION WORRY is a conversation you have with yourself about things you cannot change. PRAYER is a conversation you have with God about things He can change. On this SPIRITUAL WORKOUT WEDNESDAY , choose the conversation that will be the most helpful for you. Choose the conversation that will make a difference in your life. Choose prayer; choose God!  

WORKOUT WEDNESDAY A Midweek Spiritual Workout with Fr. Marino H. Msigala, OFM Capuchin   A WAY OUT OF THE DARKNESS   “I was in darkness, but I took three steps and found myself in paradise.   The first step was a good thought. The second was a good word. The third was a good deed.”   ~ Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche, German Philosopher   On this  SPIRITUAL WORKOUT WEDNESDAY , when you find yourself in darkness, sad, upset, or feeling sorry for yourself, take those three steps and find the heavenly light of Christ. 

WORKOUT WEDNESDAY A Midweek Spiritual Workout with Fr. Marino H. Msigala, OFM Capuchin   THE SERENITY PRAYER God grant me the SERENITY to accept the things I cannot change; the COURAGE to change the things I can; and the WISDOM to know the difference. Living one day at a time, Enjoying one moment at a time; Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; Taking, as He did, this sinful world As it is, not as I would have it; Trusting that He will make all things right If I surrender to His Will, So that I may be reasonably happy in this life And supremely happy with Him Forever and ever in the next. Amen. ~ attributed to Reinhold Neibuhr, 1892-1971 On this SPIRITUAL WORKOUT WEDNESDAY , practice serenity, pray for courage, and seek wisdom so that you can be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Christ in the next. Be the change you seek!

WORKOUT WEDNESDAY A Midweek Spiritual Workout with Fr. Marino H. Msigala, OFM Capuchin BE WATCHFUL! Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions; they become habits. Watch your habits; they become character. Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.                                    ~ Lao-Tze On this SPIRITUAL WORKOUT WEDNESDAY , be intentional! Ask the Holy Spirit to help you become more aware of your thoughts, words, actions, and habits. The Father who created you, the Son who redeemed you, and the Holy Spirit who continues to sanctify you live in you. Consider your destiny as a temple of the Holy Trinity.

WORKOUT WEDNESDAY A Midweek Spiritual Workout with Fr. Marino H. Msigala, OFM Capuchin PEACE PRAYER OF  ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI 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. Amen. On this SPIRITUAL WORKOUT WEDNESDAY , how will you be an instrument of peace and blessings to your family, your friends, and your neighbors?  

WORKOUT WEDNESDAY A Midweek Spiritual Workout with Fr. Marino H. Msigala, OFM Capuchin FIVE GIFTS FROM YOUR HEART TO THE HEART OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY A CLEAN HEART Go to confession regularly, especially near one of Mary’s feast days. A PRAYERFUL HEART Keep Mary in your heart as children do with their mother. A VIRTUOUS HEART Imitate Mary’s virtues of faith, hope, and charity. A SEEKING HEART Learn more about Mary by reading about her. A GENEROUS HEART Pray the rosary as an intercessory prayer for your family, friends, and the world. On this SPIRITUAL WORKOUT WEDNESDAY , spend some time in prayer with the Mother of God, the Help of Christians, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Our Lady of Lourdes, the Morning Star, Queen of Peace, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Mother of Mercy, Our Lady of Fatima, and the Immaculate Conception. Which of Mary’s more than 100 titles powers your prayer?

WORKOUT WEDNESDAY A Midweek Spiritual Workout with Fr. Marino H. Msigala, OFM Capuchin MIRACLE AT THE ALTAR HOW DO THE BREAD AND WINE TURN INTO THE BODY AND BLOOD OF CHRIST? TRANSUBSTANTIATION Through the power of the Holy Spirit and the instrumentality of the priest, the bread and wine become the body and blood of Jesus Christ. The transubstantiation happens during the consecration when the priest speaks the words uttered by Christ Himself at the Last Supper, “This is My Body…this is My Blood.” JOHN 6:55 The bread and wine are not a symbol for the body and blood of Christ because the words are very explicit, “This is My body.” Rather than, “This represents or is a symbol of My Body.”  “My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink.” EUCHARIST MEANS THANKSGIVING In Jesus taking the form of bread, we are reminded of our complete dependence upon God. We must believe with all our hearts that Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist. Only then will we find the import

  WORKOUT WEDNESDAY A Midweek Spiritual Workout with Fr. Marino H. Msigala, OFM Capuchin AS A CATHOLIC I do not believe in luck. I BELIEVE IN GOD’S BLESSINGS . I do not believe in karma. I BELIEVE IN GOD’S MERCY. I do not believe in feng shui, fortune-telling, charms, horoscopes, or astrology. I BELIEVE IN GOD’S GRACE. I, the Lord, am your God. You shall not have other Gods before Me.” Exodus 20:2-3 On this SPIRITUAL WORKOUT WEDNESDAY , ask yourself what you believe in and then live what you believe.