Father Marino's Meditations

WORKOUT WEDNESDAY A Midweek Spiritual Workout with Fr. Marino H. Msigala, OFM Capuchin I’M A CHRISTIAN, BUT… I’m a Christian, But I sometimes say things I shouldn’t. I’m a Christian, But I struggle with life’s temptations.   I’m a Christian, But I sometimes fail to trust in God’s plan for my life.   I’m a Christian, But I find it difficult to forgive those who hurt me.   I’m a Christian, But I battle with feelings of anger and resentment.   I’m a Christian, But I am sometimes dishonest with myself and others.   Being a Christian doesn’t mean I’m perfect. Being a Christian means God gives me the grace to continue despite failures.   On this  SPIRITUAL WORKOUT WEDNESDAY,  recognize your imperfections, failures, and weaknesses. Then, give them to God. Let go and let God!

WORKOUT WEDNESDAY A Midweek Spiritual Workout with Fr. Marino H. Msigala, OFM Capuchin DO GOOD WHILE YOU CAN Do all the good you can By all the means you can, In all the ways you can, In all the places you can, At all the times you can, To all the people you can, As long as ever you can.                     ~ John Wesley 1703-1791 On this  SPIRITUAL WORKOUT WEDNESDAY,  forget about yourself, your needs, and your interests. Think about others. Then do what you can for whomever you can whenever you can…at least once this week.  

WORKOUT WEDNESDAY A Midweek Spiritual Workout with Fr. Marino H. Msigala, OFM Capuchin   WHENEVER…WHEREVER In happy moments,  PRAISE  God. In sad moments,  PURSUE  God. In difficult moments,  SEEK  God. In lonely moments,  EMBRACE  God. In quiet moments,  WORSHIP  God. In confusing moments,  ASK  God. In painful moments,  TRUST  God. In every moment,  THANK  God. On this  SPIRITUAL WORKOUT WEDNESDAY,  make every moment a moment with God. Make every moment count!  

WORKOUT WEDNESDAY A Midweek Spiritual Workout with Fr. Marino H. Msigala, OFM Capuchin THE MEMORARE PRAYER Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother. To thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.   On this  SPIRITUAL WORKOUT WEDNESDAY and throughout the month of May, pray the Memorare to the Blessed Mother. Because Mary is a human mother, She can sympathize with us.  Because She is the Mother of God, She can most certainly help and assist us. Without Mary, we cannot succeed. With Mary, we cannot fail.  Because She is His mother, She cannot say that She cannot. Because She is our mother, She will not say that She will not. 

THE JOURNEY HOME Fr. Marino Shares the Story of His Long Journey Back Home to Tanzania Dear Friends, Peace and blessings from Tanzania! I thought you might like to hear about my adventurous journey back to my homeland. So here is the itinerary. As you may guess, I still suffer from jet lag, but I’m improving daily. Although my chauffeur, Fr. Jonathan Ulrick, got me to the Pittsburgh airport in plenty of time for my intended 7:00 p.m. flight to Dallas on Tuesday, May 7, American Airlines had other plans, resulting in delays. The plane evidently had mechanical difficulties, and the delays continued through the evening. We finally took off for Dallas in the middle of the night on Wednesday, May 8. When we arrived in Dallas in the early morning of Wednesday, May 8, delays continued, and eventually, my flight to Qatar was canceled. American Airlines provided a two-day stay at the Hawthorne Suites/Wyndham Hotel just outside the Dallas/Fort Worth Airport. I was grateful to be able to

WORKOUT WEDNESDAY A Midweek Spiritual Workout with Fr. Marino H. Msigala, OFM Capuchin THE LITANY OF LORETO May is the month of Mary. Our Blessed Mother is known to us under dozens of titles. Each one reflects a specific aspect of her life or gifts that make Her even more relatable to us. This is a portion of the Litany of Loreto that includes many of Mary’s titles. Holy Mother of God, Holy Virgin of Virgins,  Mother of Christ,  Mother of The Church,  Mirror of Justice,  Seat of Wisdom,  Cause of Our Joy,  Spiritual Vessel,  Vessel of Honor,  Singular Vessel Of Devotion,  Mystical Rose Gate of Heaven,  Morning Star,  Health of the Sick,  Refuge of Sinners,  Solace of Migrants, Comfort of the Afflicted,  Help of Christians,  Queen of Angels,  Queen of Apostles,  Queen of Martyrs,  Queen of Virgins,  Queen of All Saints,  Queen Conceived Without Original Sin,  Queen Assumed Into Heaven,  Queen of The Most Holy Rosary,  Queen of Families,  Queen of Peace. Ark of the Covenant, 

WORKOUT WEDNESDAY A Midweek Spiritual Workout with Fr. Marino H. Msigala, OFM Capuchin 7 RULES OF LIFE 1   M  MAKE PEACE WITH YOUR PAST. So it won’t disturb your present. 2.     WHAT OTHERS THINK OF YOU Should not concern you. 3.     TIME HEALS ALMOST EVERYTHING Take the time to heal. 4.      NO ONE IS IN CHARGE Of your happiness except you. 5.     DON’T COMPARE YOUR LIFE TO OTHERS And don’t judge them; you don’t know what their journey is all about. 6.     STOP THINKING TOO MUCH . It’s all right not to know all the answers. 7.      SMILE . You don’t own all the problems of the world. On this  SPIRITUAL WORKOUT WEDNESDAY, apply the rules of life to your own life. Which rule particularly resonates with you? How will you practice that rule this week?

WORKOUT WEDNESDAY A Midweek Spiritual Workout with Fr. Marino H. Msigala, OFM Capuchin ONE-LINERS TO CONSIDER Give God what is right, not what’s left. Our way leads to a hopeless end; God’s way leads to endless hope. A lot of kneeling will keep you in good standing. If we kneel before God, we can stand up to anyone. If you are wrinkled and burdened, go to church for a facelift. We don’t change God’s message; His message changes us. Suffering from truth decay? Brush up on your Bible. Never give the devil a ride; he will always want to drive. The person who angers you; controls you. Be a fisher of men. You catch them and He will clean them. When God ordains, He sustains. On this  SPIRITUAL WORKOUT WEDNESDAY, consider which one-liner strikes a chord with you. Think about it. What will you do to make the one-liner line one in your life?

WORKOUT WEDNESDAY A Midweek Spiritual Workout with Fr. Marino H. Msigala, OFM Capuchin THE DEVIL MADE ME DO IT! If the devil can’t make you bad, He will make you busy. No time for prayer. No time for spiritual reading. No time for Scripture. No time for others. No time for devotions. No time for the rosary. No time for evangelization. No time for Mass. No time for God. On this Spiritual Workout Wednesday , let’s make time for God. If you’re too busy for God, you are way too busy!

WORKOUT WEDNESDAY A Midweek Spiritual Workout with Fr. Marino H. Msigala, OFM Capuchin THE DIVINE MERCY MESSAGE AND DEVOTION The message of Divine Mercy is simple: God loves us—all of us. He wants us to recognize that His mercy is greater than our sins so that we will call upon Him with trust, receive His mercy, and let it flow through us to others. Thus, all will come to share His joy.  The Divine Mercy message is one we can call to mind simply by remembering ABC :  A - ASK FOR HIS MERCY . God wants us to constantly approach Him in prayer, repenting of our sins and asking Him to pour His mercy out upon us and the whole world.  B  - BE MERCIFUL. God wants us to receive His mercy and let it flow through us to others. He wants us to extend love and forgiveness to others just as He does to us.  C  - COMPLETELY TRUST IN JESUS . God wants us to know that all the graces of His mercy can only be received by our trust. The more we open the door of our hearts and lives to Him w