of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
Author: <span>Flame of Love</span>

Author: Flame of Love

MONDAY, MARCH 18, 2024 WEEK FIVE OF LENT

THE WOMAN CAUGHT IN ADULTERY (Jn 8:1-11)

Prayer:

O Jesus, forgive me and set me free from all my accusers.

Imagination:

Picture Jesus in the temple with the accused woman before him.

Context:

This story fulfills Jesus’ statement “You judge by appearances, but I do not judge anyone.” (Jn 8:15) Jesus teaching in the temple and people getting up early to hear him is attested by Luke (21:38). This story follows the usual pattern of Jesus’ enemies trying to entrap him. Jesus extends God’s mercy so the woman can turn away from evil.

Gospel text: (Read slowly, possibly aloud)

Thoughts (Read all. Ponder the ones that attract you.)

  1. The people were so anxious to hear Jesus that they rose early in the morning.
  2. The Jewish leaders had no interest in Jesus’ teaching. They wanted only to entrap him.
  3. For these leaders, the adulterous woman is only an instrument they can use. For Jesus, she is a person whom he can forgive.
  4. As Jesus writes on the ground, the accusers recognize their sins.
  5. His challenge to be without sin is too great for them and they leave.
  6. The woman is relieved that these sinful accusers are gone.
  7. Jesus, the sinless one, refuses to condemn her. He invites her to become sinless, also.

Affections: (When one touches your heart, use your own words.)

  • O Jesus, make me anxious to learn your word.
  • O Jesus, to you I am a person, the most important person in your Kingdom.
  • I have many sins but you are my Saviour.
  • When I am in your presence, I am filled with peace.
  • You never condemn me Jesus, unless I refuse to repent.
  • Help me to sin no more.

Resolutions: (Possibly you might want to make your own.)

+ I will examine my own conscience and ask Jesus’ forgiveness.

+ I will treat every person as Jesus treated this woman.

Thought for the day: (To recall your meditation.)

SUNDAY, MARCH 17, 2024 FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT

THEIR MESSAGE ABOUT LAZARUS (Jn 11:1-16)

Prayer: 

O Jesus, fill me with faith in your love for me.

Imagination:

Picture Jesus with his apostles.

Context:

            In Luke’s gospel, Jesus visits Martha and Mary to have a meal.  In this text of John’s gospel, we discover that they have a sick brother.  After he is raised from the dead, they will serve Jesus a dinner. And Mary will anoint Jesus for his burial.  Their home in Bethany is about 90 miles south of Galilee.  To arrive in time, Jesus would have had to leave immediately.

Gospel Text: (Read slowly, possibly aloud.)

Thoughts: (Read all.  Ponder the ones that attract you.)

  1. Mary and Martha have no doubt that Jesus loves Lazarus.
  2. They make no specific request.  They trust that Jesus will know what to do.
  3. By supernatural knowledge, Jesus knows that Lazarus will die and that he will raise Lazarus from the dead.
  4. Jesus deliberately delays, so that his disciples will see him raise Lazarus.  Then, they will believe in him.
  5. In both delaying and in going, Jesus loves Martha, Mary, Lazarus, the apostles and the many friends who will witness the miracle.

Affections: (When one touches your heart, use your own words.)

  • O Lord, you love me just as you loved Mary and Martha.
  • O Jesus, give me the confidence that Mary and Martha had in you.
  • Give me stillness amid all my anxieties.
  • I know you will never forget me.
  • Jesus, you know exactly what to do.
  • When you help me, I come to believe even more.
  • O God, you hide so much from me. 
  • Jesus, I place my life in your hands.

Resolution: (Possibly you might want to make your own)

+ Today, I will trust God’s ways and God’s purposes.

+ I will try to experience Christ’s overwhelming love for me.

Thought for the day: (To recall your meditation.)

SATURDAY, MARCH 16, 2024 WEEK FOUR OF LENT

THE GROWING OPPOSITION (Jn 7:40-53)

Prayer:

O Jesus, never let me oppose you.

Imagination:  

Picture Jesus preaching in the Temple.

Context:

            Jesus has divided the crowd. Some think he is the Messiah and others say the Messiah must come from Bethlehem, the City of David. (John’s community knew that Jesus was born in Bethlehem). The question is about Jesus’ divine origin and this text unfolds the great debate.

Gospel text: (Read slowly, possibly aloud)

Resolutions:  (Possibly you might want to make your own.)

  1. Some grasp the truth. Jesus is the prophet and the Messiah.
  2. Others find difficulties, as if Jesus does not fulfill the prophecies.
  3. Still others plot to kill Jesus.
  4. The guards are honest.  Jesus’ words touched their hearts and they would not arrest him.
  5. Their refusal stiffens the resistance of the temple leadership.
  6. Nicodemus also speaks up but cannot pierce their darkness.
  7. Because their hearts are divided, they separate and go home.

Affections: (When one touches your heart, use your own words.)

  • O Jesus, you are the prophet, the messiah, all that I could ever hope for.
  • Without you, my whole life is divided.
  • O Jesus, give me an honest heart to make the right decisions.
  • Break down all my walls of resistance so I can follow you.
  • Send your messengers to instruct me and to show me the true path. 
  • Pierce my heart, Jesus.  Plant your word.
  • I do not want to walk away and return to a life without any purpose.

Resolutions:  (Possibly you might want to make your own.)

+ Today, in the quiet of my heart, I will proclaim Jesus as my Messiah.

+ I will be aware of any hardness of my heart.

Thought for the day: (To recall your meditation.)

Meet the NEW INTERNATIONAL COORDINATOR

Yvonne Duffy writes about John Sullivan, our new International Coordinator…

In early December 2024, the West Region of the United States was blessed to receive a visit from Mr. John Sullivan, who is was the Asst. International Coordinator for the Flame of Love Movement at the time.  During his four day Tour of Southern California, Mr. Sullivan worked tirelessly, earnestly spreading Our Blessed Mother’s Flame of Love in three different dioceses.  Within a short period of time, he offered a total of 10 presentations in 8 parishes, meeting with several priests as well as with numerous parish leaders and cenacle members.

During his many talks, Mr. Sullivan expressed Our Blessed Mother’s great desire to place her burning Flame of Love of her Immaculate Heart into everyone’s heart, until every person, not just those belonging to the Catholic Church, receives this love. Our Lady desires that her Flame of Love will become a wildfire that consumes all of humanity and that “the satanic hatred that contaminates the world will be extinguished so that the greatest number of souls will be saved.”

Mr. Sullivan also reminded us that the Flame of Love is much more than a prayer devotion, it is instead the Love that burns in the Blessed Mother’s heart, Jesus Himself.  When the Flame of Love is received, people’s minds and hearts are illuminated so that “all can see the road that leads to the Kingdom of her Divine Son.” This outpouring of graces has never been seen “since the Word became Flesh.”  We can bring this powerful rush of graces home to our families so they will also experience the miraculous, transforming effect of the Flame of Love in their lives and our homes can once again become sanctuaries of faith, hope, and joy, united in the Love of God.

   Mr. Sullivan emphasized that for the Flame of Love to be effective, we must respond to the Movement of Grace by leading a life of Prayer, Sacrifice, Desire and Labor, by which we participate in Our Lady’s work of blinding Satan for the salvation of souls. “Satan’s blindness means the universal triumph of My Divine Heart, the liberation of souls, and the opening of the way to salvation to its fullest extent.” The act of blinding Satan occurs when we cooperate with the Movement of Grace by committing acts of love through sacrifice in our every day lives.  “Sacrifice and Prayer!  These are your instruments.  The goal is to bring about the powerful work of salvation.”  “Live in accordance with my graces so that Satan will be blinded even more and in an increasingly large range of action.  Take advantage of the abundant graces to make a multitude of souls live a holier life.”  When we do our part, living the life of Grace in our everyday lives, then Our Lady does her part and spreads her Flame of Love to others.  As she told Elizabeth Kindlemann, “Endure suffering and bring constant sacrifices! Your sufferings are not in vain, but who is to understand my Flame of Love and how is not your business…..I’m the one who acts, and I’m the one who lights the Flame of my love in the depth of hearts.”

So, once having received and responded to the Flame of Love through Sacrifice and Prayer, we can incorporate the devotional elements by Meditating on the Five Wounds of Jesus, integrate the Flame of Love Hail Mary in the Rosary and include the Unity Prayer throughout the day.  We can bring this message home to our families so that they may also become active participants in grace and help to drive out evil.  If so inspired, people can bring the Flame of Love to their parishes through the formation of a cenacle, or even join the Flame of Love Apostolate.  The Flame of Love Movement is available to assist you if you sense that the Blessed Mother is calling you to help spread her Flame.

The West Region extends their greatest gratitude to Mr. Sullivan for his generous donation of time and energy to bring the Flame of Love to the Southern California area.   Also, many thanks to the coordinators, supporters and attendees at San Secondo D’ Asti in Ontario, Saint Hedwig’s in Los Alamitos, Saint John the Baptist in Baldwin Park, Immaculate Conception in Monrovia, Saint Joan of Arc in Victorville, Saint Joseph’s in Pomona and Saint Therese in Alhambra, California, for hosting Mr. Sullivan and extending their warm hospitality.

Yvonne Duffy

United States West Regional Director

FRIDAY, MARCH 15, 2024 WEEK FOUR OF LENT

IGNORANT OF JESUS’ ORIGINS (Jn 7:1, 25-30)

Prayer: 

O Jesus, I believe that you come from the Father.

Imagination:

Picture Jesus teaching in the Temple.

Context:

            When Jesus is in Galilee, he works miracles and receives acclaim.  When he goes to Jerusalem, he finds persecution because the leaders want to kill him.  The controversy centers around his origins.  Since Jesus comes from Galilee, the people of Jerusalem do not accept his Messiahship.  Jesus says that they do not know his real origin – which is from God.

Gospel text: (Read slowly, possibly aloud.)

Thoughts:  (Read all.  Ponder the ones that attract you.)

  1. Jerusalem leaders opposed Jesus because they would lose their power.
  2. Blinded by their greed and social status, they reject Jesus as the Messiah.
  3. Even the people remain in darkness concerning Jesus’ divine nature.
  4. Jesus presses this important question of his divine origin.
  5. He is from God, the son of the Eternal Father.
  6. The Father has sent Jesus and he knows the Father perfectly.
  7. They fail to kill Jesus.   God alone determines that hour.

Affections: (When one touches your heart, use your own words.)

  • O Jesus, do not let me oppose your plans for my life.
  • Remove my blindness and I will embrace you as my Messiah.
  • Where do you come from, Jesus?  Did not the Father send you?
  • Jesus, you know the Father and you reveal him to me.
  • Heavenly Father, only you will determine my hour of death.  I will be ready.

Resolutions:  (Possibly you might want to make your own.)

     + I will thank God that I know Jesus of Nazareth is my Saviour.

     + In what parts of my life do I oppose God?  I will answer that question.

Thought for the day: (To recall your meditation.)

THE FLAME OF LOVE BUILDS INTIMACY WITH JESUS, MARY, AND OTHERS

When we look into the eyes of another, we see a reflection of ourselves. In you, I see me. If we look at one another with the love and mercy of Jesus, we can develop a divine presence with family, friends, and strangers. Bishop Fulton J. Sheen talked about the “expulsive power” of Christ. “When you place Him in the center of your soul, the Holy Spirit will expel all those things that do not belong in that center and make them find their proper place. Jesus the nonviolent warrior, Jesus the judge, God’s own mind, now comes into our hearts when we invite him through conversion. We will have this cleansing authority and cleansing power.”

We can learn true intimacy with God and others from the widow Elizabeth Kindelmann. She raised children and grandchildren under Nazi and Communist rule in Hungary. Jesus invited her to a journey of faith with the Blessed Mother to discover herself as a precious child of God. Jesus spoke openly to Elizabeth about what she did for Him. “I delight to be with you because every beating of your heart is Mine.” Jesus looked into her eyes to strengthen Elizabeth’s faith and help her win a great victory over terrible temptations from the Evil one. This glance became somewhat permanent in her soul. Jesus said, “My little one, take courage and gaze at Me. May our eyes look at each other and our glances melt in one another.” At times, Jesus spoke to her and kept her soul in a state of ‘continual freshness’ to ready her to receive abundant graces.

Her diary begins on July 13, 1960, when she wrote about the beginning of her religious experience that introduced her to God’s presence. It also reveals her three years of spiritual darkness, which prepared her for the locutions. “Hence, My little one, do not serve anyone but Me.” Jesus promised, “I will accomplish a masterpiece if you agree to submit to My Divine Hand. Simply surrender to Me like the grapes that are pressed and transformed into wine, which will become My Precious Blood.”

Jesus humbled Saint Paul and revealed to him that the way we treat others is the way we treat God. All life is sacred and must extend our faith and love to believers and nonbelievers. Jesus prayed for unity among all humans because we are created in the image and likeness of the Trinitarian Family who is Love. By receiving the Eucharist, we receive the Body of Christ and increase the Body of Christ, the Church.

Make time to read the Gospel of Mark and Elizabeth’s Flame of Love Diary to help you develop your personal relationship with Jesus through our Blessed Mother. You can experience many blessings for your family and friends by praying, worshipping at Mass, and sharing scripture with small faith-sharing groups or Flame of Love Cenacles. The light of Christ will give you the confidence and courage to stir into flame the effects of the grace of God in many confused hearts seeking meaning and purpose. Go on the offensive and blind Satan by inviting others to the mercy of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Only when we trust and praise Jesus Christ for paying the price for our sins on the Cross, can we forgive ourselves and others.

As we pass the Flame of Love heart-to-heart to those you love, I challenge you to look into the eyes of a restless soul who you alone can stir the Flame of Love in their heart.

A Blessed New Year full of miracles of love and mercy,

Monsignor Ralph J. Chieffo

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 31, 2024 WEEK FOUR IN ORDINARY TIME

REJECTED BY HIS OWN PEOPLE (MK 6:1-6) Prayer: O Jesus, I honor you as the true prophet who has come into the world. Imagination: Picture Jesus in the synagogue at Nazareth. Context:             Jesus returns to Nazareth, accompanied by his disciples.  After his teaching, the crowd asks itself three questions …

SUNDAY, JANUARY 28, 2024 FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

AN EXORCISM IN THE SYNAGOGUE (MK 1:21-28) Prayer:  Come Holy Spirit. Set me free from the Kingdom of Darkness. Imagination:  Picture Jesus in a synagogue setting the man free from the unclean spirit. Context:             Mark groups his stories by geography. The next few stories take place at Capernaum, and …

FRIDAY – JANUARY 26, 2024 WEEK THREE IN ORDINARY TIME

SEEDS OF THE KINGDOM (MK 4:26-34) Prayer: O Jesus, plant your Kingdom on my heart. Imagination: Picture Jesus teaching the crowds. Context:             Jesus uses two parables concerning seeds to show the power of the Kingdom.  In the first parable, the farmer does nothing but “go to bed.”  In the …

THURSDAY– JANUARY 25, 2024 WEEK THREE IN ORDINARY TIME (The Conversion of St. Paul the Apostle)

REBUKING THE DISCIPLES (Mk 16:9-15) Prayer:  O Jesus, heal my lack of faith. Imagination: Picture Jesus gathered with his disciples at table. Context:             Mark summarizes the Easter visions.  Jesus rose and appeared to Mary Magdalen. She told the disciples.  He appeared to the two disciples on the road to …

WEDNESDAY – JANUARY 24, 2024 WEEK THREE – (Memorial St. Francis de Sales, Bishop & Doctor of the Church)

THE DIFFERENT RESPONSES (MK 4:1-20) Prayer: O Jesus, let my heart receive your word. Imagination: Picture Jesus teaching the crowds. Context:             In this part, Jesus explains the parable and a shift takes place.  The original parable highlighted the great power of the seed.  This explanation highlights the way each …

SUNDAY, JANUARY 21, 2021 THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

THE FIRST TO BE CALLED (MK 1:14-20) Prayer: Call me, Jesus, into your Kingdom.  Help me to follow you, and leave everything behind. Imagination:  Picture Jesus inviting the fishermen, Peter, Andrew, James and John to follow him. Context:             Mark’s gospel moves very quickly.  In this first chapter, Jesus has …

SATURDAY , JANUARY 20, 2021 WEEK TWO – ORDINARY TIME

A STARTLED FAMILY (MK 3-20-21) Prayer: O Jesus, help me to stand firm. Imagination: Picture Jesus surrounded by the crowd and his family. Context:             This text contrasts the crowds, and the relatives.  The crowds hardly know Jesus, and yet they acclaim him.  His relatives, who think they know him, …