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Bible verses:  Continuation of the holy Gospel according to St Luke, XVIII ((18) 31 - 43 In this episode in our meditation we converse with His majesty as He and His disciples discuss His coming Passion and death.. They are blind to the concept of such a terrible atrocity.  We continue our meditation as Jesus explains to us how the healing of the blind man of Jericho impacts our journey to holiness.  I then tell a true story about a large rock outside an old Schoolhouse in Co Kerry. This story is a metaphor for the Catholic Church today. For a free Lenten Journal eBook go to meditationjournals.com  and download.   

In this episode we feel the joy and anticipation of the numerous people who awaited the coming of the Savior.  To better prepare ourselves we use an old Irish prayer to St Joseph helping us to become perfect as our Heavenly Father through the piety of the duties of our station in life.  We end with a meditation where we connect with the tiny town of Bethlehem and its great impact on the world through the centuries to our own 'today' .    

For those of you who know about Fatima:- I had the opportunity to meet Fr. Gruner on the Hill of Slane when he visited Ireland  and I asked him: "Father when will the chastisement begin, 2025 or 2029 when will the "100 years be up?" He considered for a moment then answered "2025."The Hill of Slane is  the location where St Patrick lit the first Pascal Fire in 433 AD in defiance of pagan King Laoighre, the King of Tara. The site later became an important monastery, similar to that at Monasterboice, which was founded by St Erc, and had its own high crosses and round tower. 

This is the result of Meditation moving into mental prayer and listening to the heart of God.

This is a 6 minute guided meditation,  It is deliberately short as this is Holy Week and there are many ceremonies and private prayers to be said. Hoping that it can be fitted into your busy schedule.  

   In this second part in our series Co-Redemptrix -Mary’s part in our redemption we learn the dynamics of the title and how to,  explain it to other people.Understanding that Jesus could not be born of a woman who would pass on to Him the stain of original sin we examine the logic of the Immaculate Conception.The titles “The New Eve” and “The True Arc of The Covenant” further help us to understand the logic of the title of the Blessed Virgin being “Co-Redemptrix”Our Meditation after the sound of the bells considers the graces of redemption that freed the souls of the ancient Israelites  and is available to us today.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

A short description of the term co-redemptrix with a meditation on offering ourselves as co-operators in the plan of salvation.  

Using St Teresa of Avila's method of Mental Prayer we use the Crowning of Thorns for our meditation.  Our Lady of Fatima requested that we attend Five First Saturdays of Confession, Mass and spend 15 minutes meditating on the Rosary.  Obviously one could not say five decades of the Rosary in that short time so we realize that She must have meant us to Meditate upon the Mysteries.  These Meditation and Mental Prayer podcasts will help with an understanding of how that can be done.  

Using St Teresa of Avila's seven step meditation process we enter into mental prayer.  This episode focuses on the scourging at the pillar and the great suffering Jesus suffered of our sins. 

In this episode we will first list the 7 steps of the   Carmelite method of mental prayer without any preamble. Then as the bell tolls We will  enter into an example meditation. Our meditation today will centre on the 1st sorrowful mystery of the Rosary. The Agony in the Garden.

In this episode:1.We will examine the Catholic understanding of martyrdom. The  definition has not changed in 2000 years.2.My personal experience of what constitutes being a martyr3.The first preparation for martyrdom.4. Understanding the sin of omission.5. A short exercise in meditation and mental prayer.

Mental Prayer in Preparation for Martyrdom MEDITATION & MENTAL PRAYER is a traditional Catholic podcast produced by MeditationJournals.com  This podcast introduces mystic prayer as practiced by the great saints, priests and people for over two thousand years.More recent holy men and women have refined the proceedure of Mental Prayer making it easier for us to understand, follow and perform.  This podcast will examine and expalin different methods of Catholic meditation and mental prayer leading to Contemplation. Ultimately we will consider the prayer of quiet.The “prayer of quiet” describes how the soul experiences and extraordinary peace and rest accompanied by delight or pleasure in contemplating God as present.  In this episode we take the Gospel warning of Jesus to His disciples:"Behold we go up to Jerusalem, and the Son of man shall be betrayed to the chief priests and the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death.And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to be mocked, and scourged, and crucified" Matt 20 18,19Considering the martyrdom looming we consider necessary mental prayer is to give us the strength to stay faithful in the years ahead.  

In this episode we meditate on the Calming of the Storm.  We look at how we might meditate on the Gospel history and how our meditation would carry us into a deeper relationship with Jesus.

For Meditation & Mental Prayer Journals go to: https://meditationjournals.com/There is an offer of a free meditation journal to download.The Gospel of John chapter II 1-11And the third day, there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee: and the mother of Jesus was there. And Jesus also was invited, and his disciples, to the marriage.And the wine failing, the mother of Jesus saith to him: They have no wine.And Jesus saith to her: Woman, what is that to me and to thee? my hour is not yet come. His mother saith to the waiters: Whatsoever he shall say to you, do ye.Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three measures apiece. Jesus saith to them: Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. And Jesus saith to them: Draw out now, and carry to the chief steward of the feast. And they carried it. And when the chief steward had tasted the water made wine, and knew not whence it was, but the waiters knew who had drawn the water; the chief steward calleth the bridegroom, And saith to him: Every man at first setteth forth good wine, and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse. But thou hast kept the good wine until now.This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee; and manifested his glory, and his disciples believed in him. After this he went down to Capharnaum, he and his mother, and his brethren, and his disciples: and they remained there not many days …The Ignatian seven steps in doing mental prayer1.  PREPARATIONThe preparation is simply the intention and action of putting ourselves in the Presence of God.Using thoughts of Him and about Him.2.  READING In order to convince ourselves that God loves us it is best to choose a piece of scripture.The saints advise us that It is best to begin with the Passion and Death of Christ. 3.  REFLECTING ON WHAT WE READNow reflect deeply what you are reading.  4 COLLOQUY : It is a descendant of Latin loqui, meaning "to speak."  a high-level serious discussion : conferenceThe colloquy is the part of Mental Prayer where we tell God how much we love Him.  It is important to be spontaneous.  Important to allow your emotions to flow toward God.  You can after finishing this conversation of love finish here and carrying on seamlessly into your everyday life.That is if you have taken some time aside in your busy schedule to be with God awhile.On the other hand if this is your important morning meditation it is best to follow Three more steps.5.  THANKSGIVING RESOLUTIONBecause God love you so much and you love Him you want to show your thanks by pleasing Him.  What better way to please Him than following His Will. Carrying out His instructions in the gospel.We do our best to become perfect,  promising Him to work with His grace eradicating sin from our lives.6. OFFERINGMaking a good resolution to amend our lives. 7. PETITIONWE IMPLORE GOD’S HELPwe ask for God to give us grace to necessary to do His will. 

At first thought meditating on your inevitable death might seem morbid, negative or unnecessary but all the saints did it.  Thomas a Kempis in the Imitation of Christ has a chapter on meditating on our death.  The aim of this mediation is to cut us free from earthly cares that inhibit our loving God and God alone.We consider how our bodily cares are transient.  St Teresa of Avila says:"Remember that you have only one soul, that you have only one death to die, that you have only one life,  If you do this, there will be many things about which you care nothing."And this is the goal of St Ignatius Loyola in this  meditation and mental prayer, that is to separate us from our attachment to family and friends and worldly paraphernalia.   This is in order to give us total freedom to know, love and serve God freely.