The Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary

The best wine in the middle of the party

Has how Jesus introduced himself beginning in public to his work?

He has not taught, but he has revived a party in the way that he knew how to do only Him.

For the adults and for the young people wine is joy: Jesus has gotten of it of the best.

«The disciples believed in Him», that is they legally were followers to his school, because they were sure that the Teacher would have communicated them only an extraordinary good.

Jesus blesses the Matrimony

Jesus has helped the husband of Cana, because he wanted to confer his divine dignity to the Marriage.

Because Jesus Christ doesn't have done almost ever offer teachings of sexual ethic?

First because his ministry, contrarily of what is thought, didn't primarily consist of teaching moral behaviors, but of being way, truth and life. Then, because it was better not to exceed in to fix rules, as has happened subsequently in every type of Church. In fact in this field everybody is naturally jealous of his own liberty, also faithfully following the law of God and the teaching of the Christ.

It didn't need because there were customs and precise laws in Israel on this matter, that held distant the men and the women from the serious deviations. As it regards the abortion, it was not even thought to admitting him: «When some men brawl and they bump a pregnant woman, so that to make to abort her, if there is no other misfortune, a fine will be demanded, according to as the husband of the woman will impose, and the guilty one will pay through an arbitration» (Ex 21,22). «There won't be in your country woman that aborts or that is sterile. I will make you reach the complete number of your days» (Ex 23,26). As it regards the conjugal fidelity, all it takes is instead thinking about John 8,1-11, that is that a woman unfaithful to her husband could be stoned.

Jesus confined himself to complete the law and to balance each other the things out, saying: «Whoever repudiates his own wife and marries another, he commits adultery; who marries a woman repudiated by her husband, he commits adultery» (Luke 16,18). But it is not enough. Here, to the wedding of Cana, he offered wine because even they were get drunk of party. The life of couple, demands therefore the Matrimony to be sure, and to be practiced abundantly.

Then we have to remember that the life of couple is made of rhythms, of a continuous to leave some and to reproach more. Jesus intervene it, to make to understand that he brings salvation really in these rhythms: «In truth I tell you that there is nobody that has left house or wife or brothers or parents or sons because of the kingdom of God, that doesn't receive very more in this moment and eternal life in the time that comes» (Luke 18,29-30). In short: when leaving some each other to reload, it is important to take energy from Jesus and he, with the wealth of his words and works, makes to find to everyone his way of "to behave well" with the person of the other sex.

Often, in our time, the "relations of couple" are difficult to begin and to continue. There are too many cases of people that for this arrive to kill. The love between man and woman is not respected and defended; it is not prepared with a true education and it is not cultivated with the fidelity.

The Heart of Jesus and the Heart of Mary offer clearness to the feelings and steadiness in to maintain them.

Let's think that Jesus Christ has shown what the destiny of the body is, when with joy he appeared risen and he still ate, he spoke as before, etc. Mary, in his apparitions has manifested the destiny of the female body: a beauty and a grace superior to every terrestrial reality.

For this it is had to have every care for the body, but also in this case it is worth what has said Jesus: «Who is not with me, it is against me; and who doesn't accumulate with me, he squanders».

Among the situations of his time, Jesus has said that the soul is worth more than the food, but also that the body is worth more than the dress.

He has made the miracles to show as he wants the body and the soul of the people: healthy, alive, serene, happy. He has not spoken about mortification, if not to say that a part of the body cannot be allowed to damage the whole body. When he has spoken about fast, he has recommended to do it in full sincerity and showing a happy face.

Therefore it is had to give value to every feeling, to every passion, to every sensation, «bringing ours "cross" every day» behind the Christ King. In fact the reality of the body and its expressions, as also the reality of the soul and its expressions, are "the cross", not always undesirable, by which not to let us crush, but "to bring" behind the Christ every day. This is the true life, of which he won't leave is lost not even a hair. Then he will resuscitate us.

Let's take care, however!

It is not possible to go behind the Christ King, if he is not known in his historical reality.

We cannot really have his grace (the advantages that he offers), without the seven Sacraments of which he has given really power to his Church.

Miracle and creation

Jesus has simply made the miracles with his word, and with little gestures, just as God has created every thing.

Jesus confirms so what says the Genesis. He can do again it for the men that has not seen the creation.

Through the «Jesus' Christ Testimony» it is as if the creation had really happened in the six last days; and it is as if we really are today in the seventh day.

At the same time, since Jesus with the miracles frees the human creatures from the evil and from the demons, it appears clear that the evil doesn't belong to the creation of God: He doesn't want the evil and the death. The evil is work of the devil and of the men.

The disciples believed in Him

«The disciples believed in Him», that is they legally adhered to his school, because they were sure that the Teacher would have communicated them only an extraordinary good.

The Savior's Heart

Whatever situation of our life was in the heart of the Savior, before he died and he risen again, so much now that He «sits to the right of his Father». We don't owe therefore to have reservedness to ask him his help in the most complicated vicissitudes of our life. He knows what to do for us and we have to know the words that he has said and to compare us with his actions, reading in the more "raw" way the Gospels.

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The Kingdom of God is nearby

«Jesus went in the Galilee preaching the Gospel of God and he told: "The time is accomplished and the Kingdom of God is nearby; convert you and believe in the Gospel"».

(John Paul II)

The Beatitudes

It also happened, in that days, that he went out for going on the mountain to pray and, passing there the night, he persevered in the prayer to God. When day came, he called nearby its disciples and, choosing twelve of them that were also apostles called:

Simon, that has also called Peter, Andrew his brother, James, John, Phillip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James of Alfee, Simon nicknamed Zealot, Jude of James and Jude Iscariot, that has been traitor.

Come down with them, he stopped him in a level place; and there was big crowd of his disciples, big crowd of people from the whole Judea and from Jerusalem and from the shore of Thyre and Sidone, that had come for listening to him and to be recovered by their illnesses. Even those that were tormented from dirty spirits were recovered and all the crowd tried to touch him, because a power went out of him and cured everybody. And he, lifted the eyes toward his disciples, said:

«Blessed you the poor,

because your is the kingdom of God.

Blessed you that now are hungry,

because you will be satiated.

Blessed you that now cry,

because you will laugh.

Are happy when the men will hate you and they will outlaw you and they will insult you and they will reject your name as villain because of the Child of the man. Cheer you in that day and exult, because, here, your reward is great in the heaven. Equally in fact they behaved their fathers with the prophets.

Instead woe to you, the rich,

because you hold far your invitation (to the Kingdom of God).

Woe to you that are satiated now,

because you will be hungry

Woe to you that now laugh,

because you will be afflicted and you will cry.

Woe, when all the men will say well of you.

Equally in fact they behaved their fathers with the false prophets.

Lc 6,12-36

This is the historical report of the "discourse of the mountain": Matthew added the other Beatitudes picking up Jesus' words pronounced in other occasions.

It is understood well here that the announcement of the Beatitudes, as it has historically happened, was a promise of life and joy for those people to which nobody would not even have dared to give a hope. Himself, with his words and works, would have brought what he promised: God's Kingdom, that «is already among you».

It can be said that the kingdom of God is where the children find full dignity.

The law of the charity

«But I tell you that listen: have dear your enemies, engage in good works those people who hate you, bless those people who curse you, pray for those people who mistreat you.

To who strikes you on the cheek, you also hand the other; to whom raises yourself the mantle not to hold back the tunic.
Hand over to whoever asks you; and to whom brings away of yours don't ask for it.

And how you want the men do to you, do them equally.

If you have dear those have you dear, which advantage is it for you? In fact also the sinners have dear those have them dear.

And if you engage in good works those people that engage you in good works, which advantage is it for you? Also the sinners do the same.

And if you lend to those people from which hope to receive, for you which advantage is it? Also some sinners grant loans to sinners to receive the same of it.

Have dear instead your enemies, engage in good works and lend without hoping for nothing from it, and your salary will be plentiful and you will be sons of the Most High; because he is benevolent toward the ungrateful persons and the bad ones.

Are compassionate, as your Father is compassionate.

Don't judge and you won't be judged; don't condemn and you won't be condemn; forgive and it will be forgiven you; give and it will be given you; a good measure, pressed, shake and overflowing will be you versed in the womb, because with the measure with which you measure, it will be measured to you in change».

Luke 6,27-38

The forgiveness, granted with intelligence to imitation of Jesus Christ, is the only mean that stops really the evil, the violence, the war...

Example: if one gives me a slap on a cheek and I offer him the other, I force him to reflect, already to decide with what hand has he gives me the other slap...; so I stop the evil.

The charity that Jesus Christ suggests and realizes is intelligence: she is to have dear our fellow men, and at the same time to have dear ourselves. She is completeness: she includes the solidarity and together the subsidiarity and the freedom, etc.; she doesn't need other ideas to run. She is «to provide to us selves some friends with the deceitful wealth so that, when it will end, they welcome us in the eternal abodes» (Luke 16,9), that is in the Kingdom of God, and, since his Kingdom is «the only thing of which there is necessity» in this world, it means to make some best business, for a long time term, lasting.

When then it speaks about Christian freedom, it speaks about real freedom, not about conditioned freedom, as "freedom to do the good", or "freedom that ends where the freedom of the other begins". It is the freedom together with Jesus Christ, that sees the full meaning of the reality and communicates it to us with its words and actions: «If you remain (guests) in my word, you are indeed my disciples; you will know the truth and the truth will free you» (John 8,31).

The good Samaritan

And here, a doctor of the law got up for trying him, saying:

«Teacher, doing what do I will inherit eternal life?».

Jesus told him:

«In the Law what is it written? How do you read it?».

He answered:

«You will love the Lord your God with ell your heart, in all your soul, with all your strength and with all your mind and your fellow creatures as yourself».

And Jesus:

«You have answered well; make this and you will live».

But that one, wanting to justify him, told Jesus:

«And who are my fellow creatures?».

Jesus took back:

«A man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho and came upon the brigands that stripped him, they struck him and then they went, leaving him half dead.

By chance, a priest went down by that same road and when he saw him he passed further on the other side.

Also a Levite, comes in that place, saw him and he passed further on the other side.

Instead a Samaritan, that was in voyage, came near of him and, and, seeing him, felt compassion.

He came near him, He bandaged him the wounds, pouring them oil and wine; then loaded him above his beast of burden, brought him an inn and taken care of him. The following day, he extracted two moneys and it gave them to the hotel keeper, saying: "Have care of him and what you will spend in more, I will refund to you when I return on".

Who of these three seems your has became fellow creature of who has came upon the brigands?».

That one answered:

«What has established the mercy in his towards».

Jesus told him:

«Go and do equally you».

Luke 10,25-37

The fellow creatures are not already manufactured for us. We become fellow creatures of whom we meet in the different moments of the day, if we allow us to take by the "compassion" (= "by the same feelings") for the one whom suffers, for the one whom rejoices, for the one who is in whatever situation.

The parables

The parables, simple examples invented by Jesus but very similar to the reality of the moment in which He spoke, let to children also understand «things hidden since the creation of the world» (Matthew 13,35).

The Kingdom of God is simplicity, charity, humanity, truth, certainty, hope... And it is very concrete!

Of an only thing there is necessity

The Kingdom of God is «the only thing of which there is necessity» (Luke 10,42). It doesn't be a question of words, but of a reality and Jesus himself has made it understand:

«Therefore, don't look for what you can eat and what you can drink, and don't put you in anxiety: it is true that all the people of the world try to handle these things, and your Father knows that you need it. But look for only his kingdom, and these things will be given accordingly you» (Luke 12,29-31).

«Therefore nobody sets his glory in the men, because everything is yours: Paul, Apollo, Kefa, the world, the life, the death, the present, the future: everything is yours! But you are of Christ and Christ it is of God» (1 Kor 3,21-23).

To educate within the Kingdom

He also told them a parable:

«Can perhaps a blind to drive another blind? Won't both fall in a hole?

There is no disciple superior to the teacher; but each duct to perfection will be as its teacher. Why, therefore, do you see the straw that is in the eye of your brother, and don't perceive the beam that is in your eye? How can you tell your brother: "Brother, leaves that I remove the straw that is in your eye", while you don't see the beam that is in your eye? Hypocrite, removes first the beam from your eye and you will distinctly see the straw that is in the eye of your brother removing her.

There is not, in fact, healthy tree that makes rotten fruit, neither however falling tree that makes healthy fruit. Every tree, in fact, recognizes him from its fruit: figs don't be picked up from the thorns, neither grape be gathered from a bramble.

The good man draws the good from the good treasure of the heart; the bad one from the bad treasure of the heart draws the evil, in fact its mouth speaks from the fullness of the heart.

Why call you me: Lord, Lord, and don't you do what I say?

Whoever comes to me and he listens to my words and he puts them into practice, I will show you to whom is similar: he is similar to a man that a house is building, that has dug and he has gone to depth and he has set the foundations above the rock. Come the flood, the river stormed against that house, but he didn't succeed in shifting her because she had been built well.

Who listens instead and he doesn't put in practice, it is similar to a man that has built a house on the earth without foundations. The river ran over her and she immediately collapsed; and the downfall of that house was great».

Lc 6,39-49

It is not the same thing to educate:

- with a lot of exhortations,

- or taking advantage of the "mechanisms of the psyche", with little consideration for the liberty of the person,

- or, instead, taking light from the events (words and works) of the life of Jesus Christ, in which people with the most different characters have found full life.

These events with the centuries have lost their concreteness because, according to a mysterious purpose of the Providence, she has remained "hidden" the historical solidity of the Gospels.

Mary, particularly to Fatima, has offered the key to rediscover such events as they were of today, so that they become a great deal effective to educate.

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Advance of the glory

«Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and got on the mountain to pray.

And, while he prayed, his face changed of appearance and his dresses became candid and flashing».

(John Paul II)

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The historical fact

Probably the place of the transfiguration was not the Tabor, because around eight days before Jesus was to Caesarea of Phillip (Matt 16,13) and after this event he reached Capharnaum (Mark 9,33). The place was therefore in the outskirts of that in which he had multiplied the breads and the fishes (twice).

Without ever reaching Gamla, Jesus, in the places between this city and Capharnaum, prepared his disciples to the first Eucharist and to his death and resurrection.

To understand in simpler and more concrete way the greatest events of the history, it needs to deepen these historical and geographical circumstances.

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The bread and the wine transformed

«While they ate taken the bread, and pronounced the prayer of blessing, he broke him and he gave him them telling:

"Take, this is my Body."

Then he took the calyx and he rendered thanks, he gave him them and they drank everybody of it. And he told:

"This is my Blood, the Blood of the Alliance, versed for many people"».

(John Paul II)

The Eucharist: crossroad of a lot of testimonies

Let's reflect on a detail of the apparitions of Fatima. The angel, appearing to the children in October 1916, supported a calyx; above the calyx there was a candid host. From the host they fell in the calyx drops of blood.
This fact, compared with the Apocalypse, us allow to understand that the "blood" is the symbol of the "testimony".
The Eucharist is the crossroad of a lot of testimonies: of that of the Tradition of the Church; of that historical of the Gospels; of that of the Christians to the world... She is the center of several certifications, of many martyrdoms, it is object of many miracles. It is the real, because certified, vertex of the testimonies.
She drip, therefore, concreteness of life.
The calyx is, besides, an image used by Jesus himself as symbol of the decisive test of its passion and death.
From Fatima a suggestion comes, that is as a solid base: the Eucharist and the testimony sustain in the tests most difficult «the souls that make their way toward God».

Why a priest can make present Christ?

It seems a meaningless question, after so many sublime reflections about this mystery.

The hymn "Adoro te devote" says that the Eucharist is believed «auditu solo tuto», that is only through the testimony transmitted by voice from the Church, but it is not out place to remember that the testimony is clearly also writing.

Jesus has really made miracles. Many have seen him and the Gospels are of it certified historical testimonies. We cannot certainly accuse Him to have said falsehood.

In the last supper he has pronounced his words that, as it had happened in the miracles, had the power to create a new reality.

He has expressly given to his Apostles the power to do the same «in his memory», or rather to repeat in the future always the consecration of the bread and the wine. With this he has given them the power to confer that power to their successors, up to today.

Thankfulness to Jesus Christ

The Eucharist means "thanksgiving" and she takes the name from the first action done by Jesus on the bread: after having taken it, he «made thanks» (Lc 22,19-20). In the first times of the Church she was called "the bread's fraction". It always concerns a concrete action.

As the Hebrews make in the holidays, Jesus made thank to God, his Father, for the good given to the men: the creation, the redemption and the election of the Jewish people...

The meaning of the Eucharist is not all in «to make thanks», because there they are also the other actions of Jesus: he has changed the bread and the wine into his Body and Blood; he has given himself as food of eternal life; he has ordered to repeat his action.

But all this is the new gift of Jesus Christ, simple and precious, together with the others his actions and words.

To Fatima the angel addressd to the three children this invitation: «Take and drink the body and the blood of Jesus Christ, horribly outraged by the ungrateful men. Make reparation for their crimes and console your God».

The men are ungrateful toward Jesus above all because they don't engage themselves to rediscover the historical concreteness of what the Gospels tell. Then Christ seems a personage of the past of which few is known of clear; accordingly it is difficult to put his words into practice and to find again the consolation given by his works. It seems that He cannot tear us from the death and give us life and immortality.

His seems really one "ungrateful work." The practical result is that there is not a strong brake for the one who commits crimes and there is not a sure support for the one that make the good.

We depart then from the prayer, from the sacrifices and from the sacraments, to then pick up the testimonies of the Martyrs.