Author: Valerie Parisi

Today’s Consuming Fire Meditation- – A Daily Dose of the Flame of Love Diary Served Up with Today’s Scriptures

Memorial of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini

Thy Kingdom Come

“Each night, My little one, ask yourself what you have done for the coming of My Kingdom. Never be content with yourself. There is no room on earth for self-satisfaction. (Jesus) (August 28, 1962)

Today’s Readings: Asked by the Pharisees when the Kingdom of God would come,
Jesus said in reply,
“The coming of the Kingdom of God cannot be observed,
and no one will announce, ‘Look, here it is,’ or, ‘There it is.’
For behold, the Kingdom of God is among you.” (Luke 17)

Prayer Meditation- Lord, sometimes I think, maybe because we have gotten so used to being entertained, that we expect Your Kingdom to be only big things. Thunder and lightning, fire and brimstone, some event that will come and really shake things up. And yes, someday, You will make all things new and there will be a new Heaven and a new Earth. Lord we are in the time of now but not yet. Because Your Kingdom of God is among us and has been since the Incarnation. Emmanuel- God with us! It is so easy to get discouraged in the darkness of living in the world because we are not yet seeing clearly (1 Corinthians 13). But Lord, You are among us in Your Word, in prayer, in the Sacraments, and in the “sacrament” of the present moment every moment of our lives. It is so easy to be complacent and accept mediocrity, but Lord help us to never be content but to seek You in all things so that we can then bring Your Kingdom to so many that are in desperate need of You!

Today’s Consuming Fire Meditation- – A Daily Dose of the Flame of Love Diary Served Up with Today’s Scriptures

Memorial of Saint Josaphat

Gratitude to the God Who Loves Us in Every Moment

On one occasion, when Elizabeth needed bread, Jesus did her a special favor. Jesus said, “Leave now. You must get bread for your family.” I had forgotten this completely. With deep gratitude, I thanked Him that His attention extended also to our earthly needs. (Elizabeth) (February 14, 1965)

Today’s Readings: “Ten were cleansed, were they not?

Where are the other nine? Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?” Then he said to him, “Stand up and go; your faith has saved you.” (Luke 17)

Prayer Meditation- Lord, how often are we like the lepers who just went on their merry way after being healed. Every day You shower Your Grace on us and we barely notice. Even worse, we grumble, murmur, and complain (Philippians 2) as we go about our day and our duties! We have bad attitudes. Yet You care about us and are concerned for us in every moment of our day- from the small temporal concerns to the big problems we think are so insurmountable Your Eyes never leave us. Lord, help us in each moment to be grateful and to thank You for all things great and small today!

Today’s Consuming Fire Meditation- – A Daily Dose of the Flame of Love Diary Served Up with Today’s Scriptures

Memorial of Saint Martin of Tours

Fire Tried Gold

So now, the drops of oil squeezed from your sufferings float on top of the fountain of My graces. See how your drops of oil are shining upon the mirror of silvery water! They shine like pure gold. This vision flows from My Divinity. You also find it beautiful, do you not? Immerse yourself in this beauty.” (Jesus) (November 17-18, 1964)

Today’s Readings: Chastised a little, they shall be greatly blessed,
because God tried them
and found them worthy of himself.
As gold in the furnace, he proved them,
and as sacrificial offerings he took them to himself.
In the time of their visitation they shall shine,
and shall dart about as sparks through stubble; (Wisdom 2)

Prayer Meditation- Lord, sometimes it is so difficult to see the value of our suffering, the really hard times and hard things, the “chastisements” of our lives if you will. For whom You love You chastise (Hebrews 12:6-7).  Illness, failures, loss of loved ones, children off course, and yes, even our sins. And yet Lord we know that You bring all things together for good for those who love You! And that You try us like fire tried gold and make a masterpiece of our sufferings so that they shine for all Eternity in the light of Your Grace! O Lord may we always see the beauty in Your Will for us trusting that You will take us to Yourself where we will shine for all Eternity!

Today’s Consuming Fire Meditation- – A Daily Dose of the Flame of Love Diary Served Up with Today’s Scriptures

Memorial of Saint Leo The Great

He Knows It All

As a working mother with six children, burdened with a thousand preoccupations, you needed enormous effort to study. You surprised yourself by becoming the top student. Although you did not think of Me, My hand was upon you.” (Jesus) (November 10, 1962)

Today’s Readings: O LORD, you have probed me and you know me;
you know when I sit and when I stand;
you understand my thoughts from afar.
My journeys and my rest you scrutinize,
with all my ways you are familiar. (Psalm 139)

Prayer Meditation- Lord there is not anything in our lives that you do not know. Not a moment when we have struggled in our daily lives that You have not seen and do not understand. You know everything we will do, think and say and all we have done in the past. We do not think of You, but Your Hand is always upon us. Lord, help us surrender to You- may our feet journey together today and everyday  aware of Your Presence and Your Loving Call on our lives!

Today’s Consuming Fire Meditation- – A Daily Dose of the Flame of Love Diary Served Up with Today’s Scriptures

Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica

Streams of Living Water

This stream of water is My grace which purifies, which destroys when need be, or saves and gives life. It must run because God wills it. (Jesus) (June 15, 1964)

Today’s Readings: There is a stream whose runlets gladden the city of God,
the holy dwelling of the Most -High.
God is in its midst; it shall not be disturbed;
God will help it at the break of dawn. (Psalm 46)

Prayer Meditation- Lord today we honor the Lateran Basilica, a symbol of The Church as Mother and Bride. We read in the first reading from Ezekiel today about the water flowing from every side, watering the river bank resulting in fresh fruit that serves for both food and medicine for our souls. This river, this living water is the Sacraments. The Blood and Water which flowed from Your Pierced Side, Your living water purifies, destroys when need be, and saves and gives life. Lord, keep us close to Your Bride, The Church and to fill us with Your Living Water that we may never thirst again! (John 4).

Today’s Consuming Fire Meditation- – A Daily Dose of the Flame of Love Diary Served Up with Today’s Scriptures

Saturday of the Thirty First Week of Ordinary Time

Small Matters

You are a small instrument, just like the little match that you hold in your hand. Do not be surprised by what I tell you. With one strike of the match, I will enkindle in millions of souls the Flame of Love of My Mother.” (Jesus) (January 16, 1966 )

Today’s Readings: The person who is trustworthy in very small matters is also trustworthy in great ones; (Luke 16)

Prayer Meditation- Lord, sometimes You trust us with small matters first. We ask You to use us or to be kind and loving to others and those small opportunities come to us in unexpected ways. The whining child who is on our last nerve but really needs a hug more than anything. The elderly person in front of us in the express check out with twenty items when we are running late. The coworker who needs five minutes of our time because their life is falling apart and they really need to talk but we are on a strict deadline. How many times Lord have we failed in those situations- been impatient, lost our cool, or been too busy. But Lord if we let You use us in these small matters we can be the spark that enkindles the Flame of Love in the hearts of those around us. Lord help us always be attentive to small matters so that You can then trust us with great ones for Your Glory!

Today’s Consuming Fire Meditation- – A Daily Dose of the Flame of Love Diary Served Up with Today’s Scriptures

Thursday of the Thirty First Week in Ordinary Time

We Are The Lord’s (Seeking the Lost)

All during this time, the Lord’s presence fills me to such a degree that my soul is lifted above my bodily activities, because my soul remains next to the Lord without any interruption.(Elizabeth) (July 17, 1965)

Today’s Readings: For if we live, we live for the Lord,
and if we die, we die for the Lord;
so then, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. (Romans 14)

Prayer Meditation- Today Lord, we have a treasure trove of readings. Because You remind us every day that we are Yours! In the Psalm (Psalm 27) we are reminded to wait for You with courage and be stouthearted. In the Gospel  (Luke 15) we are reminded that You seek the lost. Lord we are all lost and You never stop seeking us. Lord, St. Paul reminds us that whether we live or we die we belong to You- we are the Lord’s! Help us Lord today to hold onto that promise and may we walk in Your Presence today and help us to remember that we are never truly lost if we turn to You in total trust and surrender.

Today’s Consuming Fire Meditation- – A Daily Dose of the Flame of Love Diary Served Up with Today’s Scriptures

Wednesday of the Thirty First Week in Ordinary Time

Renounce What?

Yet Our Lord kept urging me, “Renounce yourself completely.” (Elizabeth/Jesus) (1961-1962)

In the same way,
every one of you who does not renounce all his possessions
cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14)

Prayer Meditation- Lord today we read the terms of discipleship in today’s Gospel. On the surface, especially to our modern ears, it seem rather harsh. Hate our families? Count the cost because we might not have what it takes? Renounce all possessions? Really who does this? But Lord as we meditate on Your life and Your Passion we see Your total self -emptying so that we can be free from sin and death. And we can look to the Blessed Mother and to the lives of the saints. So yes, there are people, our brothers and sisters in faith, who did live lives of renunciation. But really Lord, what does this look like- I believe the key is trust and surrender. Nothing must come before You- we are to be free from all attachments but we cannot free ourselves. Only You can set us free. So, Lord we bring ourselves to You empty handed- putting first the Kingdom of God because all the things we truly need will be given us besides (Matthew 6:24-34). So let us not worry or feel discouraged because You want us to succeed in our spiritual lives more than we do! Jesus we trust in You!

Today’s Consuming Fire Meditation- – A Daily Dose of the Flame of Love Diary Served Up with Today’s Scriptures

Memorial of Saint Charles Borromeo

Rejoicing and Weeping

“I am grateful to you because your heart suffers with Me, and beats in Me. I was alone and since you were not coming, I came to you. I rejoice to be with you. I am grateful for the number of times you think about Me.” (Jesus) (March 4-7 1962)

Today’s Readings: Rejoice with those who rejoice,
weep with those who weep. (Romans 12)

Prayer Meditation- Lord, the Christian life is one of unity. We are part of You, our Head, and part of Your Mystical Body. That includes those here in the Church Militant as well as in Purgatory in the Church Suffering and in Heaven in the Church Triumphant. At any given time, members will be rejoicing and members will be weeping. Because we are united to Your Sacred Heart, we are able to love others with Your Love. This verse has always been one of my favorite in describing Christian life- if we rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep we are truly accompanying others making it much harder to be judgmental or indifferent. Lord, help us to console Your Sacred Heart by consoling others that Your love would reach all who are dear to You.

Today’s Consuming Fire Meditation- – A Daily Dose of the Flame of Love Diary Served Up with Today’s Scriptures

Monday of the Thirty First Week of Ordinary Time

The Gift and Call of The Lord

Elizabeth accepted the call: I tried with all my strength. Afterward, everything fell into place drawing me closer to Him. He kept urging me. (Elizabeth) (1961-1962)

Today’s Readings: Brothers and sisters:
The gifts and the call of God are irrevocable.

Just as you once disobeyed God
but have now received mercy
because of their disobedience,
so they have now disobeyed in order that,
by virtue of the mercy shown to you,
they too may now receive mercy.
For God delivered all to disobedience,
that he might have mercy upon all. (Romans 11)

Prayer Meditation- Lord, we all have a call on our life- a call that is irrevocable. You do not revoke Your gifts and Your love from us ever but in Your Mercy You keep calling us to follow You. It is we who do not listen- we drown out Your gentle voice with all the noise in our lives. Yet Lord, no matter how far we have strayed from Your dream for our lives, like the prodigal son, You are always ready to welcome us home! Let us reflect today on the gift and call on each one of our lives- when have we heard or felt it, when have we run away from it, and how have You showed us mercy as we return to You with a humble and contrite heart. Lord may we all know that You have a plan for our lives and that You never give up on us while we have breath!

Today’s Consuming Fire Meditation- – A Daily Dose of the Flame of Love Diary Served Up with Today’s Scriptures

Solemnity of All Saints

Made White in the Blood of the Lamb- All Saints Day

“Then I humbly hid Myself under a common appearance so as to be more accessible to you, so that you would not fear Me. I hid Myself in the white Host like a child wrapped up in swaddling clothes. When I enter your heart, make sure that the robe of your soul is free from any stain or tear, because no father has made greater sacrifices to acquire a suit for his child.” (Jesus) (May 1962)

Today’s Readings: “Who are these wearing white robes, and where did they come from?”
I said to him, “My lord, you are the one who knows.”
He said to me,
“These are the ones who have survived the time of great distress;
they have washed their robes
and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb.” (Revelation 7)

Prayer Meditation- Lord, today we honor all the Saints, all the ones who made it- the great cloud of witnesses that cheers us on from Heaven including we pray our family members who have come before. The ordinary people saved by grace who have washed their robes and made them white in Your Precious Blood. Lord, as we think of all the great saints, including our patron saints perhaps, we see their great deeds and we may feel like we may never get there. But Lord, as St. Therese has taught us and as St Faustina and the Divine Mercy devotion has shown us it has never been easier to be a saint! Because we have been given especially in these times every spiritual blessing (Ephesians 1:3). But do we desire holiness or are we content with mediocrity? Let us examine ourselves and place ourselves in the Holy Hands of Our Mother Mary who will fashion us into saints, as St. Louis Marie de Montfort says, by placing us in Her mold as she fashions us into Your Likeness. As St. John tells us today, we shall be like You because we will finally see You as You are, so let us make ourselves pure as You are pure as we hope in You with all of our hearts!

Today’s Consuming Fire Meditation- – A Daily Dose of the Flame of Love Diary Served Up with Today’s Scriptures

Monday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time

Sons and Daughters

“My daughter, put your earthly things in order. Time passes quickly and you are flying to Me without sensing your speed. There is an immeasurable distance between your soul and the earth. Beloved, I am waiting for you with a loving heart. God is calling you with His infinite love.” (Jesus) (September 23-24 1964)

Today’s Readings: This daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound for eighteen years now, ought she not to have been set free on the sabbath day from this bondage?” (Luke 13)

Prayer Meditation- Lord we are Your Sons and Daughters, Your Beloved Children. Like the Gospel today, You do not want to see us bent over, eyes to the ground, stuck in our infirmities be they of the body, mind, or spirit. Lord You breathe restoration and healing over us if we but turn to You in prayer, Your Word, and in the Sacraments! Lord, You do not want our eyes on the ground, on the earthly things that do not matter and cannot save- our lives pass quickly as You wait for us with a loving heart as we return to You. Lord set us free so that we can keep our eyes on You, the One who was, and is, and is to come! (Revelation 1:8)

Today’s Consuming Fire Meditation- – A Daily Dose of the Flame of Love Diary Served Up with Today’s Scriptures

Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Be Merciful To Me A Sinner

“How good of You to come! Truly, You do not despise me. Because I am a sinner, You double Your strength in me. What goodness, what limitless compassion You have for a repentant sinner.” For a long time, I gave thanks for His infinite mercy. (Elizabeth) (November 22, 1962)

Today’s Readings: But the tax collector stood off at a distance
and would not even raise his eyes to heaven
but beat his breast and prayed,
‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner.’
I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former;
for whoever exalts himself will be humbled,
and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 18)

Prayer Meditation- Lord today we hear at Mass about the Pharisee and the tax collector. The Pharisee praises himself with his laundry list of spiritual practices. Those of us who strive to follow You can easily fall into the same fault if we are not careful- Rosary, check, Fasting, check, Daily Mass, check. It means nothing without love. Lord let us come to You like the tax collector, fully aware of who we are and who You are. You are God and we are not! Let us come with all our faults and failures because what limitless compassion You have for a repentant sinner. Even spiritual pride is deadly- Lord may we always bring humble and grateful hearts to You because only You can fix what is broken in us!

Today’s Consuming Fire Meditation- – A Daily Dose of the Flame of Love Diary Served Up with Today’s Scriptures

Saturday of the Twenty Ninth Week in Ordinary Time

No Condemnation in Him

‘My little one, I want that not one soul be damned. You should want this together with me. For this purpose, I place in your hands a beam of light that is the Flame of Love of my heart.”

 (Mary ) (January 14, 1964 )

Today’s Readings: Brothers and sisters:
Now there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus
has freed you from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8)

Prayer Meditation- Lord, sometimes we just don’t want to believe that there is no condemnation in You.  Because the world gives us plenty of opportunities to feel condemned and not good enough, to feel less than whatever ideal is presented to us. All we have to do is see all the self- help and diet books to understand how much we just want to feel better about ourselves. Some of us grew up with a false sense of religiosity, practical Jansenism where You are just waiting for us to mess up and are keeping a scorecard of all of our faults and sins. But that is not Your Heart for us! Lord, for us who believe in You and live in You there is no condemnation! Covered by Grace is a real thing! And we are so blessed in the Church because the Sacraments, Eucharist and Reconciliation, allow us to be touched and healed by You daily in every Catholic Church in the world! So let us be not afraid-  let us live a sacramental life and one of prayer and living in Your Word to know and understand that we are dearly beloved children of the Most- High God! There is no condemnation in those who love You Lord with trust and abandonment to Your Divine Will!

Today’s Consuming Fire Meditation- – A Daily Dose of the Flame of Love Diary Served Up with Today’s Scriptures

Friday of the Twenty Ninth Week of Ordinary Time

Miserable

You know that I am weak and sinful. Without You, I am a miserable nothing. I live by the grace of abandonment to You.” (Elizabeth) (January 4, 1963)

Today’s Readings: Miserable one that I am!
Who will deliver me from this mortal body?
Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 7)

Prayer Meditation- Lord we read in Romans today how St. Paul does not do the good that he wants but he does the evil he does not want. Many of us today may be reading it and saying to ourselves, welcome to my world. Because that is the struggle everyday- we start out each day with good intentions, hopefully prayer because if not the day is pretty much already lost, and yet the just man falls seven times each day. (Proverbs 24:16). We start out each day in battle and by the end of the day we are pretty roughed up by skirmishes of defeat- our minds, our flesh, our mouths, our failure to do what we ought to have done each day pulling us down. So, what to do- we are all, even great saints like Saint Paul, weak and sinful. We are nothing without You! The key is to live in the grace of abandonment to You! You will take our misery and make of it a victor’s crown if we but offer all of it to You! Who will deliver us- thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!

Today’s Consuming Fire Meditation- – A Daily Dose of the Flame of Love Diary Served Up with Today’s Scriptures

Thursday of the Twenty Ninth Week of Ordinary Time

Little Sparks

“You, little spark, no matter how small you are, were created by Me and from Me. Draw close to Me without fear.” Nothing was to stand between them. “Give yourself to Me with confidence and go beyond all that would keep you from coming to Me.” (Jesus) (August 21, 1962)

Today’s Readings: Jesus said to his disciples:
“I have come to set the earth on fire,
and how I wish it were already blazing! (Luke 12)

Prayer Meditation- Lord, it really seems as though the world is burning and not in a good way. All can seem chaotic if we turn on the news or spend time on social media. We are bombarded right now with what Sister Lucia called the diabolical disorientation of our times. Yet, Lord, You always have a bigger plan! You have come to set the Earth on fire with love- the Flame of Your Love! You have come to redeem everyone and in these times You call us who are consecrated to You through Mary to be the little sparks that will light the Flame of Love of Her Immaculate Heart in all Hearts bringing peace to our homes and world! Come Holy Spirit, Come by the means of the power of the Flame of Love of the Immaculate Heart of Mary!

Today’s Consuming Fire Meditation- – A Daily Dose of the Flame of Love Diary Served Up with Today’s Scriptures

Wednesday of the Twenty Ninth Week in Ordinary Time

Entrusted With Much

“According to the promptness and the degree that you share in My work of Redemption, to that same degree and promptness the Holy Cause we entrusted you will progress. (Jesus) (December 12, 1964)

Today’s Readings: Much will be required of the person entrusted with much,
and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.” (Luke 12)

Prayer Meditation- Lord, as Catholic Christians we have been entrusted with much. Your Word, the Sacraments, the Church, the Holy Spirit, and Our Blessed Mother. We have been given every spiritual blessing (Ephesians 1:3). But we have to do our part! We must cooperate with the Grace we have been given ,especially during this time of Mercy. You are expecting great things of us and many souls! Lord, help us to be faithful in these times, let us appear before You not with any great merits of our own because we have none but clothed in Your Merits with confidence and trust! Let us not waste any moment but offer all to You- all of our words, thoughts, prayers, and sufferings in union with You!

Today’s Consuming Fire Meditation- – A Daily Dose of the Flame of Love Diary Served Up with Today’s Scriptures

Monday of the Twenty Ninth Week of Ordinary Time

Rich in What Matters to God

“You see My riches. I need you and I enrich you. Therefore, may our hands gather in unity since our thoughts are one and our souls are in harmony.” (Jesus) (October 15, 1962)

Today’s Readings: But God said to him,
‘You fool, this night your life will be demanded of you;
and the things you have prepared, to whom will they belong?’
Thus will it be for the one who stores up treasure for himself
but is not rich in what matters to God.” (Luke 12)

Prayer Meditation- Lord, today we read about a man who is much like many of us. He makes plans and thinks to himself what to do with the material things and possessions he has. He is thinking ahead of a future with overflowing barns and eating and drinking and being merry. How many of us think like that- plans for retirement and some future time where we will have our paradise here. But it does not work that way really- even those who retire well for example will have to die and leave behind all earthly treasures. And how many times do we hear of those who die suddenly or become sick or disabled and none of those things that were so important really matter very much anymore. Lord, help us to see Your Riches, may we walk, no matter our state in life and how blessed we may be here, hand in hand with You because You are our only treasure! Living well also means dying well- living forever with You in Heaven.

Today’s Consuming Fire Meditation- – A Daily Dose of the Flame of Love Diary Served Up with Today’s Scriptures

Twenty Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Convenient or Inconvenient

Speech is a gift of God, and one day, we must give an account of our words. Through words, souls communicate with one another. Also through words, people get to know us.
Therefore, we have no right to wrap ourselves in silence. We also must remember that we are responsible for every spoken word. Therefore, we should walk and live in God’s presence, pondering each word that we say. Our Father gave the gift of speech and you must make use of your gift. Do not be afraid to speak!” (Jesus) (July 26, 1971)

Today’s Readings: I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus,
who will judge the living and the dead,
and by his appearing and his kingly power:
proclaim the word;
be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient;
convince, reprimand, encourage through all patience and teaching. (2 Timothy 3)

Prayer Meditation: O Lord we will give an account of our words- how have we used our gift of speech? Do we proclaim Your Word whether it is convenient or inconvenient? Are we afraid it may cost to speak about our faith? Lord we can only discern when it is right to speak by walking and living in Your presence and pondering what we say. Then in union with You we can trust that You will be with us when we speak Your Word of encouragement or even reprimand so let us not be afraid to speak the Truth in love!