"He must know that he who causeth a sinner to be converted from the error of his way will save his own soul from death and shall cover a multitude of sins" 
James 5: 19-20 (Douay Reims Version)

I encourage you to share my blog with your friends, to spread the good news that Jesus Christ is Lord. Saving the soul of another stores up much treasure for you in heaven.

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"Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor the arrow that flies in the day." Psalm 91:5 (NLT)

Meditation: "Near your divine Heart, I am oblivious to everything that happens. I no longer fear the terrors of the night."^†

Meditation: "In the shade of the palm trees, when Mary rocks you to sleep in the evening, I will be there, watching over you, protecting you from danger and the terrors of the night."^†

"For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go. They will hold you up with their hands so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone." Psalm 91:11-12 (NLT)

Meditation: "Jesus placed near you an angel from heaven who always protects you. He carries you between his hands for fear that you might stub your toe on a rock. You do not see him, yet it is he who has saved your soul for 25 years. (...) It is he who drives away occasions of sin. (...) Your angel covers you with his wings."^†

"It is good to give thanks to the LORD, to sing praises to the Most High. It is good to proclaim your unfailing love in the morning, your faithfulness in the evening," Psalm 92:1-2 (NLT)

Meditation: In the morning it is good to thank God for the gift of the day and to dedicate the day to him; in the evening it is good to apologize for the times we offended him during the day and to commend our souls to him should we die in our sleep.

"But you have made me as strong as a wild ox."
Psalm 92:10 (NLT)

Meditation: I survive and thrive because I dwell in the presence of the Most High God.

^†de Lisieux, St. Thérèse. La Bible avec Thérèse de Lisieux. Paris, France: Les Éditions du Cerf et Desclée De Brouwer, 1979. 81-82. Print. Trans. John P. Gross.

Copyright © 2010 by John P. Gross. All rights reserved. Reproduction of this material must be done in its entirety with the copyright notice intact. This book is not for sale, but is offered to the public free of charge in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary and for the glory of God.

"Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty." Psalm 91:1 (NLT)

Meditation: Sticks and stones may break my bones, but death will never hurt me. For my soul is eternal and will rest secure in my new address where God, family and friends are waiting with open arms to welcome me home.

"If you make the LORD your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter, no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home." Psalm 91:9-10 (NLT)

Meditation: An Irish friend of mine used to say, "They can kill you, but they can't eat you." Spiritually, speaking, they can kill my body, but my soul is forever protected from harm because I dwell in the presence of the Most High God.

"For he will order his angels to protect you wherever you go."  Psalm 91:11 (NLT)

Prayer to Saint Michael the Archangel:

Saint Michael, the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray; and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prow about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

Don't believe in angels? See:

Psalm 34:7
Psalm 35:6
Psalm 91:11
Psalm 103:20-21
Psalm 148:2
Luke 2:13-14
Acts 12:6-10; Acts: 12:23
2 Kings 6:15-17; 2 Kings 19:35
Hebrews 1:13-14

Copyright © 2010 by John P. Gross. All rights reserved. Reproduction of this material must be done in its entirety with the copyright notice intact. This book is not for sale, but is offered to the public free of charge in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary and for the glory of God.

"For you, a thousand years are as a passing day, as brief as a few night hours. You sweep people away like dreams that disappear. They are like grass that springs up in the morning. In the morning it blooms and flourishes, but by evening it is dry and withered."
Psalm 90:4-6 (NLT)

Meditation: Life is so fragile and short. To whom do you look for security? When I leave this world, I am going home. The Lord is my home. My security lies in him. 

Meditations of Thérèse de Lisieux: 

"What speed, Oh! I better get to work while the light of my life still shines."^†

"One day is an instant between two eternities."^†

"A thousand years are like one day on the Celestial Plain, but that day must be eternal."^† 

^{"In your eyes times is nothing, only one day is like a thousand years, you can therefore in an instant prepare me to appear before you.}"^†

^†de Lisieux, St. Thérèse. La Bible avec Thérèse de Lisieux. Paris, France: Les Éditions du Cerf et Desclée De Brouwer, 1979. 80-81. Print. Trans. John P. Gross.

Copyright © 2010 by John P. Gross. All rights reserved. Reproduction of this material must be done in its entirety with the copyright notice intact. This book is not for sale, but is offered to the public free of charge in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary and for the glory of God.

"And he will call out to me, ‘You are my Father, my God, and the Rock of my salvation.’ I will make him my firstborn son, the mightiest king on earth. I will love him and be kind to him forever; my covenant with him will never end." Psalm 89:26-28 (NLT)

Meditation: This sacred bond applies to David, is fulfilled in Jesus, and extends to us, Jesus' brothers and sisters.

"But I will never stop loving him nor fail to keep my promise to him. No, I will not break my covenant; I will not take back a single word I said." Psalm 89:33-34 (NLT)

Meditation: All praise, glory and honor to you, Father, who have loved me before I was even formed in my mother's womb. 

"But now you have rejected him and cast him off. You are angry with your anointed king." Psalm 89:38 (NLT)

Meditation: Israel turned away from God and as a result of their sin, the splendor of the Jewish nation came to an end. Yet sin, which devastated Israel, was defeated on Calvary and at the empty tomb. Alleluia!

"Remember how short my life is, how empty and futile this human existence!" Psalm 89:47 (NLT)

Meditation: No matter how black life becomes, whenever God closes a door, he opens a window! He will not leave us without support. His love for us is unfailing, unlimited and everlasting. 

Copyright © 2010 by John P. Gross. All rights reserved. Reproduction of this material must be done in its entirety with the copyright notice intact. This book is not for sale, but is offered to the public free of charge in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary and for the glory of God.

"I will sing of the tender mercies of the Lord forever!"
Psalm 89:1 (NLT)

Meditations: Because of the Lord's mercy, I have been healed and made whole.

Meditations of Thérèse de Lisieux:

"I am only going to do one thing: begin to sing what I must repeat eternally: 'The Mercies of the Lord'"

"May our parents deign to bless the smallest of their children and help her sing the divine mercies!"

"If my heart had not been elevated to God since its first beat, what would I have become? With what gratitude I sing the mercies of the Lord!"

"Jesus, my beloved, I don't know when my exile will end...until then I will continue singing in exile your mercies."^† (Thérèse de Lisieux)

"O LORD God of Heaven’s Armies! Where is there anyone as mighty as you, O LORD ? You are entirely faithful." 
Psalm 89:8 (NLT)

Meditation: I know I can count on you, Father, even when everything else in my life seems to be falling apart.

"Happy are those who hear the joyful call to worship, for they will walk in the light of your presence, LORD."

Psalm 89:15 (NLT)

Meditation: We don't go to Church because it is interesting or entertaining - although it may be both - but to worship God our Father.

^†de Lisieux, St. Thérèse. La Bible avec Thérèse de Lisieux. Paris, France: Les Éditions du Cerf et Desclée De Brouwer, 1979. 79-80. Print. Trans. John P. Gross.

Copyright © 2010 by John P. Gross. All rights reserved. Reproduction of this material must be done in its entirety with the copyright notice intact. This book is not for sale, but is offered to the public free of charge in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary and for the glory of God.

"O city of God, what glorious things are said of you!" Psalm 87:3 (NLT)

Meditation: We are all ambassadors of the city of God. Let us live a life that draws as many visitors as possible to our Father's home.

"Are your wonderful deeds of any use to the dead? Do the dead rise up and praise you?" Psalm 88:10 (NLT)

Meditation: Yes, they do! Just as God raised Jesus from the dead, he will raise us up in the next life and restore our life in this one. 

"I have been sick and close to death since my youth." Psalm 88:15 (NLT)

Meditation: It's easy to get depressed when we feel cut off from life. But the darker things become, the more we need to talk to God, for he is our rock and our salvation, our light at the end of the tunnel. 

Copyright © 2010 by John P. Gross. All rights reserved. Reproduction of this material must be done in its entirety with the copyright notice intact. This book is not for sale, but is offered to the public free of charge in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary and for the glory of God.

"Protect me, for I am devoted to you. Save me, for I serve you and trust you. You are my God." Psalm 86:2 (RSVCE)

Meditation: God will protect us, save us, give us happiness, and forgive us because of his unfailing love for all who ask for his aid. Thank you, Father, for being so patient with me and for the countless times you have forgiven my sins.

"Teach me your ways, O LORD, that I may live according to your truth! Grant me purity of heart, so that I may honor you." 
Psalm 86:11 (NLT)

Meditation: 

"Teach me thy way, O Lord, teach me they way!
They guiding grace afford - teach me thy way!
Help me to walk aright, more by faith, less by sight;
Lead me with heavenly light, teach me thy way!
(B. Mansell Ramsey, hymnist)

"Look down and have mercy on me. Give your strength to your servant; save me, the son of your servant." Psalm 86:16 (NLT)

Meditation: Lord, set this prisoner free.

Copyright © 2010 by John P. Gross. All rights reserved. Reproduction of this material must be done in its entirety with the copyright notice intact. This book is not for sale, but is offered to the public free of charge in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary and for the glory of God.

"Won’t you revive us again, so your people can rejoice in you?" Psalm 85:6 (RSVCE)

Meditation: Lord, you have delivered me from evil, forgiven my iniquities, and healed my diseases. I rejoice in you. 

"I listen carefully to what God the LORD is saying, for he speaks peace to his faithful people. But let them not return to their foolish ways." Psalm 85:6 (RSVCE)

Meditation: God is truth, but he realizes that we are not always truthful. He is righteous or just, but he knows we are not always just. It is because of his unfailing love for us, and his divine mercy that tempers his justice, that we experience his peace, a peace that comes from knowing that God understands our weaknesses and loves us anyway.

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This thought came to me months ago when I was writing my comments about suffering that I posted in my blog of July 12. I just found it on my laptop:

God says: “I have my reasons; you cannot understand them now, but you will one day when you’re with me. Then all will be made clear. For the time being, know that I love you more than you love yourself, I feel your pain more than you feel it yourself, and that I will always want what is best for you - even if it hurts.” 

Copyright © 2010 by John P. Gross. All rights reserved. Reproduction of this material must be done in its entirety with the copyright notice intact. This book is not for sale, but is offered to the public free of charge in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary and for the glory of God.

"What joy for those whose strength comes from the LORD." Psalm 84:5 (NLT)

Meditation: "Happy is the one who leans on me. She has in her heart a ladder by which she can climb to heaven... I am not saying that you have to separate yourself completely from creatures... but regard them as rungs on a ladder. To climb spiritually, you have to depend on them somewhat for support and only cling to me."^†

"When they walk through the Valley of Weeping, it will become a place of refreshing springs. The autumn rains will clothe it with blessings." Psalm 84:6 (NLT)

Meditation: "Jesus wanted me to taste joy as perfect as it is possible in this valley of tears... but perfect happiness is not found in the valley of tears."

"It is you (Jesus) who remains in the valley of tears, hidden under the appearance of a white host." (In the Eucharist)

"To the contrary, suffering is the only thing that appears to me to be desirable in the valley of tears...  I often wonder how it will ever be possible for me to be happy without suffering. Jesus without a doubt will reward me in heaven, otherwise I would regret suffering and the valley of tears." (Jesus preached the redemptive value of suffering. Gold and silver are purified in the fire.)

"In order to endure the exile of the valley of tears, I need to see my Savior's face." (Thérèse had a picture of the face of the suffering Lord in her room)

"Ah! if the God of love in the valley of tears

Had not come looking for betrayal, death

Suffering for us would have had no appeal

Now we love it, it is our treasure."^†

"A single day in your courts is better than a thousand anywhere else!" Psalm 84:10 (NLT)

Meditation: "When my incomparable father proposed to take me to Jerusalem if I would delay my entry (into the Carmelite order)  by two or three months, I did not hesitate. I understood that truly one day spent in the house of the Lord is worth more than a thousand anywhere else."^†

A note from John:

1 day in our time = 1,000 years in God's time. That means that the average person is here on earth about 2 1/2 hours in God's time. And I'm sure at the end of my life God will say that I whined almost the entire 2 1/2 hours! :)

^†de Lisieux, St. Thérèse. La Bible avec Thérèse de Lisieux. Paris, France: Les Éditions du Cerf et Desclée De Brouwer, 1979. 78-79. Print. Trans. John P. Gross.

Copyright © 2010 by John P. Gross. All rights reserved. Reproduction of this material must be done in its entirety with the copyright notice intact. This book is not for sale, but is offered to the public free of charge in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary and for the glory of God.

"When they walk through the Valley of Weeping, it will become a place of refreshing springs. The autumn rains will clothe it with blessings." Psalm 84:6 (NLT)

Meditation: Why must we walk through a valley of tears? Why is suffering necessary? Why do the innocent suffer?

Sometimes suffering is our own doing. We overeat, drink too much, smoke, etc., and then we wonder why we have diabetes or cancer. But what about the loss of a child? The child did nothing to deserve death. Perhaps God knew that he would lose that soul if she lived longer. Perhaps the family would move closer to God in their grief. These answers may be true, but they are unsatisfying. 

Why do people die so young or so old? Why do some people suffer so much and others live a happy and blessed life? St. Joseph, Jesus' stepfather, died before Jesus began his public ministry. Herod had innocent babies killed to eliminate the Christ child. Many martyrs died young. 

Father Ron Roth, a former Catholic priest and founder of Celebrating Life Ministries, had a series of strokes, but he recovered. He said that God revealed to him that he was supposed to die, but was given a few more years to complete his work. If that is true, we must assume that each of us has a job to do, a task to perform for the Lord, whether we are someone of great importance like the President of the United States or the Pope, or just an average person trying to get by. We really do not realize the impact our life may have on others. Perhaps it was something we said or did, or something we caused to happen or not to happen. We may never know.

Why are we born? I've come to believe that God has a plan and all of us have a part to play in that plan. The problem is we don't understand the plan. And since we are not God, we are not meant to. 

In the Lord's prayer we pray the words that Jesus taught us: "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven." In other words, let us trust that God knows what he is doing, even when events do not always make sense to us. That is easy to say, but hard to do. As I used to tell visitors at the Seton Basilica in Emmitsburg, "Just do your best and let God do the rest." Or as Mother Seton said, "There can be no disappointment if the soul's unique desire is to meet God's will and do it."

I have discovered that there are three rules to follow if you want peace in this life: love God with all your mind, soul and heart; love others as he loves us; trust in God for he always has our best interests at heart. 

Let us take to heart the promise of this psalm: our Valley of Weeping will become a place of refreshing springs, if not in this world, then in the next. Amen.

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Here is the 44th prayer from my book, 100 Prayers of Purity for the Mission of Our Lady of America. Enjoy!

Prayer 44

Madonna in Glory¹

No new heart ever throbbed with its pulsations of Divine life in one whose lips have never sought in prayer with contrite spirit, that precious boon of a perfect heart of love and cleanness. God never has put His Spirit into the realm of a human heart which had never invoked by ardent praying the coming and indwelling of the Holy Spirit. A prayerless spirit has no affinity for a clean heart. Prayer and a pure heart go hand in hand. Purity of heart follows praying, while prayer is the natural, spontaneous outflowing of a heart made clean by the blood of Jesus. Amen.<sup>88

1</sup>"Madonna in Glory." Web. 18 May 2016.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ File:Dolci_ Madonna_ p1070185.jpg>
⁸⁸"The Possibilities of Prayer." Web. 7 July 2016. 
<http://www.whatsaiththescripture.com/Voice/Possibilities.of.Prayer.html>.

Copyright © 2010 by John P. Gross. All rights reserved. Reproduction of this material must be done in its entirety with the copyright notice intact. This book is not for sale, but is offered to the public free of charge in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary and for the glory of God.