On Martyrdom

Blessed K. Kózkówna, the martyr of purity

Have you ever noticed that  a martyrdom, no matter what this may mean for a particular martyr, cannot be forced upon * or accepted with complaints?  If you suffer, please do not ask why? but rather why not?, knowing that God's Love, Sacrifice & Mercy are stronger that all your difficulties combined.
--
Tomasz, Racibórz +




* giving birth to a disabled child must not be, regardless of what we are told, called a martyrdom. 

We are not gods that may decide over everything, still we are able to offer everything up to the One true God.

Fear, Love and His Will

How to replace fear with love during the Sacrament of Penance? In my opinion - being well aware of our sinfulness - we all shall remember that Jesus died not only because of each and every transgression of human beings (yes, He really did this), but - first and foremost - for their souls & bodies*.    
--
Tomasz, Racibórz +

*Filled with love and gratitude that will come as the consequence of just-mentioned truth, be merciful to yourself; perhaps someday you will be chosen as a tool/proof of Jesus' Mercy. 

PS Please pray for a dying friend of my mother and for my grandmother who passed away almost nine years ago. Thank you all.

The Three Days

There IS a reward for each and every teardrop

Sometimes we all are tempted against our faith. No matter if it is so due to the influence of an atheistic culture, dryness of our hearts, or personal tragedies -- each and every Catholic is in danger of the said temptation.
 
Fortunately, but not only for these periods of time, Jesus gave us Mary - the living  proof that some moments "without" God the Son (e.g. three days spent by Him at the temple, three others -- at Golgotha), can be bearable if only filled with Marian hope:

The one that teaches us that Christ is with us always, but not necessary at our beck and call.
--
Tomasz, Racibórz +

The Brand New Clothes

No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse.

Matthew 9:16

Many people want to live their lives to the fullest. Their potential to achieve just-mentioned goal can be measured, of course, by the amount of love they are able to offer to God & men.

The said love, however, manifests itself in many different and concrete ways. Now question may arise: How can a man distinguish his/her own dreams from the genuine Will of God?

In my opinion it can only be achieved through the ongoing process of an individual discernment in the real closeness to Jesus. Ask His Heart, not yours. All of that so He may grant you with the brand new clothes of grace; it is extremely important since many of us try to ask Christ for some new patches(graces), forgetting that they may not be suitable for the old clothes of soul that were made of man's dreams alone.

--
Tomasz, Racibórz +

Mary, Show Us the Way

--
Tomasz, Racibórz +

The Two Crowns

That night, I asked the Mother of God what was to become of me, a Child of Faith. Then she came to me holding two crowns, one white, the other red. She asked me if I was willing to accept either of these crowns. The white one meant that I should persevere in purity, and the red that I should become a martyr. I said that I would accept them both.

St M.M. Kolbe


Thinking over just-quoted words of St.M.M.Kolbe brings me to the following -- obvious, but at the same time forgotten -- conclusion: 
No matter whether you, my dear reader, are called to preserve purity of your mind (in the marriage) or mind & body(as a priest, religious sister, brother etc),  suffering may(and probably will) be the significant part of your way to the heavenly glory.

--
Tomasz, Racibórz +

The Language of Love

The apparition at Knock, Ireland, seems to be -- at least at the first glance -- the extremely unusual one:
The Lamb of God, His Mother, St Joseph, and St John seen there on the evening of August 21st, 1879, remained still and silent.

Because of that some Irishmen, especially these granted with the famous gift of gab, are disappointed or confused about the true meaning of the said apparition.

In my opinion they may be proud instead. It is so for the heavenly Guests to the Emerald Island in fact spoke (nothing but) the language -- so needed in our noisy yet void culture -- that conveys more than mere words:

Its name is love.

Our Lady of Knock, pray for us to your Son!
--
Tomasz, Racibórz +

In Need of Miracles

Miracles may be at hand

"For a believer, no miracle is needed and for an unbeliever, no miracle will be enough."

Generally speaking, above-quoted phrase conveys the truth; still, there are many cases when both believers and unbelievers need and witness to miracles. Moreover, anybody can be granted with them if ask for the graces sincerely and out of hunger, not for fun.

Our faith is similar to a daily bread. Sometimes - for many different reasons - even the Catholics experience shortage of this basic food. If you are troubled and in need of something factual, so you trust may be reinforced, share a bit of your faith that's left with Jesus and Mary.

Our Lord will bless and multiply it, enabling obedient Mary to protect and pass it to you and your neighbours; all of that so that many poor and starving people* may be happy with the faith that is nourished by the greatest concrete miracle -- eternal Bread of Life.

 --
Tomasz, Racibórz +

*Atheists, communists, free-masons, oculists, lukewarm and addicted people - they all, regardless of their sins, are your neighbours, for they, just like you, are human beings hungry for miraculous yet true faith.
--
PS Please pray for Magda (my friend).

Do not admire - give your love instead

Many parents are extremely discouraged as they are informed about the health problem of their little child. Confronted with such a paralysing piece of news some of them cry because, as they think,  their beloved child would be deprived of  many opportunities, successes, achievements...

That, however, need not to be true: in fact, many people with special needs are happy and, despite of some difficulties experienced during their lives, contribute greatly to the local communities they live in.

Even if your child will miss many joyful moments, please do not mourn for him/her; instead look at Mary:
The  Blessed Virgin probably knew that Jesus would not be a leader of the Jewish nation and did not expect such a "career-path'" for her Son; she was just happy because of giving birth to Christ, leaving the rest to God the Father.

Be proud of all the children, regardless of their particular skills, for they - just like the Baby Jesus - want to be loved because they are, and not admired for what we think they should do*.


-- Tomasz, Racibórz +

*Here, in my opinion, lies the main difference between pro-lifers and their opposition.

The Hope Is Not Only For You

All we have is given to us by Jesus; still there are many divine gifts that may be experienced, understood, and accepted better through the gentlest hands of Mary. One of them, not surprisingly, is our ability to stand at the given crosses. 

Whenever you are in pain, tell Mary about your experience, share it with her:

By doing so, not only would you be protected from any form of despair; in addition–being first perfectly consoled by Jesus–

you may be able to co-spread the world-changing hope of His Mother.    
--
 Tomasz, Racibórz +

The Crown of Stars

The Blessed Virgin with the Child is chosen, as we all know, as the main source of inspiration by many fine artists.

Sometimes Mary depicted by them wears some metal crown, seldom her head is surrounded by twelve stars.

The second example of Immaculata's depiction, in spite of many opinions, seems to be more appropriate if painter's intention is to truly honour both Mary and her divine Son: A traditional crown is nothing more than a piece of precious metal, whereas crown of stars -- even if not so valued in our eyes -- is actually put on Mary's head by Jesus himself*.

--
Tomasz, Racibórz +

* Your disability has the potential to become just-mentioned crown of stars: where some sinners are proud of their great-looking, yet finite bodies, you – as the man faith – may be proud of your greater share in the undervalued, nevertheless real and eternal beauty that is appreciated by Our Lord.