Author: Valerie Parisi

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

Wednesday of the First Week of Ordinary Time

Early to Rise

At the dawn prayer, while I was meditating, I saw again the penetrating glance of the Lord’s eyes. (Elizabeth) (January 14, 1963)

Today’s Readings: Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed. Simon and those who were with him pursued him and on finding him said, “Everyone is looking for you.” He told them, “Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also.(Mark 1)

Prayer Meditation- Lord, You spent Yourself every day doing good during Your Public Ministry but You never failed to rest and to take time for prayer even if it meant getting up before everybody else. Lord, we all need our deserted places where we can pray each day- it can be just a small corner of a room but we need to go there each day and meditate on Your Word and pray, even for five minutes. Lord help us to imitate You each day and take time to pray and charge our batteries in the Silence of Your Sacred Heart so that when it is time to work, we can say with You let us go on to the nearby villages!

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

Monday of the First Week in Ordinary Time

Following Jesus

The souls that make reparation and faithfully follow My desires are so few. (Jesus) (October 18, 1962)

Today’s Readings:

Jesus said to them,
“Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
Then they left their nets and followed him. (Mark 1)

Prayer Meditation- O Lord, we have decided to follow You- help us to leave the world behind and walk with You!  May our feet journey together, may our hands gather in  unity! May our lips pray together to gain mercy from the Eternal Father. Lord help us to follow Your desires, Your most Holy Will which is love and mercy itself! Help us to increase the number of souls that will make reparation and follow You through the Flame of Love Devotion!

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

The Baptism of The Lord

Put On Christ

“In Baptism, My heavenly Father gave all of you the most beautiful robe of sanctifying grace. In spite of this, you do not take care of it. Is there any father who has suffered more than I, so that this robe of sanctifying grace can regain its whiteness? I instituted the Sacrament of Penance, yet you make no use of it. For this, I have sweated blood. For this, I was crowned with thorns. I let Myself be nailed to the wood of the Cross. I endured unspeakable suffering.” (Jesus) (May 1962)

Today’s Readings: After all the people had been baptized 
and Jesus also had been baptized and was praying, 
heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended upon him
in bodily form like a dove. 
And a voice came from heaven, 
“You are my beloved Son;
with you I am well pleased.” (Luke 3)

Prayer Meditation- O Lord You have given us the most beautiful baptismal gown- Your sanctifying grace! O Lord how we have let this white garment become stained yet in Your Mercy You let us come again and again to the Throne of Grace through the Sacrament of Confession. Let us never take Your Mercy for granted- we can never know the number of our days. Let us put on Christ each day through prayer, reading of Your Word, and the Sacraments!

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Creator: Fr Lawrence Lew, OP 

Copyright: Lawrence Lew, OP

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

Saturday After Epiphany

Getting Out of the Way

Sacrifice and prayer! These are your instruments. The goal is to bring about the powerful work of salvation! (Jesus) (July 22-23, 1963)

Today’s Readings:

He must increase; I must decrease. (John 3)

Prayer Meditation- O Lord, so many times I am in the way of Your Work. That I cannot surrender the little pebble of my will so that I would be filled with Your Divine Will.  I forget the basics- prayer and sacrifice all for love of You because It is Your Work- I am but an unprofitable servant! Not what I want but what You want!  Show me how to decrease so that You can increase in me.

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

Friday After Epiphany

Grace Poured Out

Jesus: “You see, such is the soul that recollects before My altar but which, for years, has not kept itself clean. It does not look within, it comes into My presence out of habit. It also comes before Me with a layer of dust as thick as a finger on its soul.” (Jesus) (December 22,  1963)

Today’s Readings: “Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.” Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him, and said, “I do will it. Be made clean.” (Luke 5)

Prayer Meditation- O Lord, only You can wash away our sins and make us clean- You pour out Your Grace every day in the sacraments and heal us from all of our ills. Lord, how sad it is that so many come out of habit and not love. Who do not even see the dust that has accumulated on their souls. Lord, how many times is that us? If we are honest, more times than we would like to admit. But Lord, if You wish, You can make us clean if we but bring ourselves to the throne of Grace in humility and poverty of spirit, recognizing that we are nothing and You are all!

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

Thursday After Epiphany

Set Me Free

You know how my Heart is immensely in pain. Satan is sweeping souls away in a terrifying way.(Mary ) (May 14, 1962)

Today’s Readings:

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.(Luke 4)

Prayer Meditation- O Lord, You and only You can set the captives free from sin and death. Only You can open the eyes of our hearts! Only You can set us free from all that weighs us down and oppresses us! Lord Jesus set me free!

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

Wednesday After Epiphany

His Kind of Perfect

Many souls receive abundant graces but they are not prepared for them and the graces drain out. (Jesus) (Diary Page 88)

Today’s Readings: There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment, and so one who fears is not yet perfect in love (1 John 4)

Prayer Meditation- O Lord this year help us not to allow fear to get in the way of Your Perfect Love. Many things can get in the way of Your Grace- fear, distrust, anxiety, worry, and the distractions of this world yet You are always passing by our boats that toss about in the wind and waves. Make us perfect in Your Love!

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

Tuesday After Epiphany

He Loved Us First

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: In this way the love of God was revealed to us: God sent his only-begotten Son into the world so that we might have life through him. In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as expiation for our sins. (1 John)

Prayer Meditation: Lord, sometimes it is so hard for us to believe and take in that indeed, You have loved us first. That You love us with an infinite love! Lord You came so that we may have life and life abundant! (John 10). Let nothing hold us back from Your Loving Embrace today!

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

Monday After Epiphany

He Remains In Us

Jesus: “The water of My graces, like a stream, flows continually into your soul. Now is the moment to tell you why these abundant graces remain in your soul. By your sacrifices, you have dug a deep channel and the water of My Divine Graces, with its purifying power, has found a place in your soul. (Jesus) (November 17-18, 1964)

Today’s Readings: Beloved:
We receive from him whatever we ask,
because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.
And his commandment is this:
we should believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ,
and love one another just as he commanded us.
Those who keep his commandments remain in him, and he in them,
and the way we know that he remains in us
is from the Spirit whom he gave us. (1 John 3)

Prayer Meditation: Lord You have promised us that You will remain in us, that without You we can do nothing(John 15). But with You nothing is impossible. You have given us Your Spirit and even though we may not always feel it, You are there united with us in everything we do if we keep Your commandments. If we believe and hope in You and love one another as You have loved us. Lord may the living water of Your graces flow in our souls today and may we continue to dig a deep channel for those graces to purify our souls by our prayer and sacrifices as we remain in Your Love!

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

The Epiphany Of The Lord

We Three Kings

“Reach beyond your limits. Look at the Three Wise Men, who made superhuman sacrifice. They left behind their limitations. First and foremost, this is what is expected of the clergy and others consecrated to God and all the believers. (Jesus) (January 1, 1981)

Today’s Readings: They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. (Matthew 2)

Prayer Meditation- O Lord are we ready to be like the Three Wise Men? Are we ready to leave behind our limitations and follow Your Star even though the journey be long and we may not know the way? Lord may we be overjoyed at finding You in Your House today and with the Blessed Mother may we open up the treasures of our hearts to You! Our talents and treasure, our prayer and worship, our sorrows and sacrifices- Lord we lay them down!

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

Memorial of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton

What Are You Looking For?

Jesus: “I did not say that to discourage you. I want to encourage you so that you do not seek relief by looking to the earth in your battles. Look only at Me. I want that, while snuggling yourself right against Me and surrendering to Me in your arduous struggles, you never stop looking only upwards.” (Jesus) (February 7, 1963)

Today’s Readings: Jesus turned and saw them following him and said to them,
“What are you looking for?”
They said to him, “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher),
“where are you staying?”
He said to them, “Come, and you will see.”
So they went and saw where he was staying,
and they stayed with him that day. (John 1)

Prayer Meditation: O Lord, Your earliest disciples followed You, not even knowing where they were going. What are you looking for, You ask and You tell them to come and see. But to see what? To see and to look only at You and to surrender to You in our struggles. To not over think it. To keep ourselves from being bound to the things of this world because they are passing and only You are eternal! To never stop looking upwards because to look anywhere else only leads to confusion. So what are we looking for, we may not always know it is really You in the storms of our lives, but it is because our hearts are restless until they rest in You! (St. Augustine). St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, great American saint and convert who sought You in all things pray for us!

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

Christmas Weekday

We Are God’s Children Now

Jesus: “My daughter, what I am about to say to you is not just for you. Share it with all My beloved children. Assimilate the essence of My words with the thoughts from your heart. You must shake lukewarm souls out of the indifference which drowns them. (Jesus) (April 17, 1962)

Today’s Readings: See what love the Father has bestowed on us
that we may be called the children of God.
Yet so we are.
The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
Beloved, we are God’s children now;
what we shall be has not yet been revealed.
We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him,
for we shall see him as he is. (1 John 2)

Prayer Meditation: Lord, what love You have bestowed on us, Your Children,-yes we are Your Children now and what we shall be has not yet been revealed, but we know we shall be like You and we shall see You in Your Glory! This is a promise we can stand on and rest in- Your Goodness Lord and Your Grace! And yet how many souls, even those who call themselves Your Children, even us sadly, can be so indifferent and lukewarm when it comes to returning love for Your Love which is infinite and which never lets us go! It can be hard to stay “fired up” in the mundane details of life and in the disappointments, worries, and even sins that keep cropping up and getting in the way! And yet we know You are always knocking at the door of our hearts (Revelation 3) and even if we open it a crack, the infinite ocean of Your Mercy will come rushing in ready to absorb us like little drops of water. So let us make time for You today- in prayer, in Bible reading and meditating on Your Word. and when we can attend at Mass and Adoration. Now that is a New Years’ resolution worth keeping!

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

Memorial of Saints Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, Bishops and Doctors of the Church

Who Are You?

Do you wonder how you can see and comprehend the Divine Mysteries with so much clarity? Only the one whose sight is one with My Divine Gaze, and whose thought is one with My thoughts can see them. (Jesus) (April 19, 1963)

Today’s Readings: This is the testimony of John. When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to him to ask him, “Who are you?” (John 1)

Prayer Meditation- Lord, today John the Baptist is asked a question, who are you? John is clear about who he is and who he is not because he knows who he is in You! But who are we- those who say that we are followers and disciples of Yours? So often all we focus on is who we are not in this world and how we don’t measure up- our faults, our insecurities, and our weaknesses. Lord, let us instead answer who we are in You-Your dearly beloved sons and daughters who can do nothing without You but with Your eyes let us see and comprehend as we “put on Christ” (Galatians 3:27) that with You all things are possible!

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

Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God

Heart Pondering Prayer

He knows very well that I listen to each of his words as a prayer. I constantly reflect on His teaching. Today, it happened the same way. (Elizabeth) (March 4, 1966)

Today’s Readings:

All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds. And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.(Luke 2)

Prayer Meditation- Lord, as we enter the New Year, we enter into it in through a world that often greets it with noisy celebration! Yet in all the noise, how often do we take time to reflect in our hearts about all the graces and blessings You have given us in the past year, No matter the year we have just lived through, we can still meditate on how You held us in the palm of Your Hand and never let us go! Today Lord, we honor Mary, the Mother of God- Our Mother! May we take time today to imitate Her and reflect and ponder in our hearts- may we constantly meditate on Your Word spoken to us and for us this Year! Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us!

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

Seventh Day in the Octave of Christmas

Abandoned to Amazing Grace

I will give you the grace of full abandonment to me. This grace will totally control your being, and grace will go out to others. (Jesus) (October 2, 1962)

Today’s Readings:

From his fullness we have all received,
grace in place of grace,
because while the law was given through Moses, 
grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. (John 1) Prayer Meditation: O Lord make us instruments of Your Grace- little pencils in Your Hands so that Your Grace and Peace will go out to others. May we be so full of Your Grace that it truly goes out to others for Your Glory and the good of all!  As we enter the New Year, let peace in the world begin with us as we remain in Your love and we abandon ourselves to Your Holy Will which is Love and Mercy itself

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

Feast of the Holy Family

Family Ties

There are many cold families like yours in my country. I want the Flame of Love of my heart to warm them up and others just as well. I can see that you understand this well since you are living the same reality. This is why you have compassion for me. (Mary) (November 19, 1962)

Today’s Readings: Brothers and sisters: Put on, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if one has a grievance against another; as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do. (Colossians 3)

Prayer Meditation- O Lord so many families torn apart by so many things today in our culture. The family is under attack in a big way- it is hard to find anyone not going through a hard time these days. But Lord You came to be born and raised in a family- with a mother and a father and by Your Presence, the family which You created is sanctified. You have come to rescue broken families and set them free! Lord You have given us the Model and You have given us the Grace- may the family be healed through the Flame of Love of the Immaculate Heart of Mary! May every child be wanted and may every home turn to Jesus!

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

Feast of The Holy Innocents

Deceiving Ourselves

The Evil One will disturb your thoughts, he will make you unsure of your actions. By his words, he will suggest every kind of foul deeds and he will flood you with terrible torments. He wants to deceive you so you abandon your humble devotion. (Jesus) (January 13, 1964)

Today’s Readings: If we say, “We are without sin,” we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we acknowledge our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from every wrongdoing. If we say, “We have not sinned,” we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (1 John 1)

Prayer Meditation- At first Lord the juxtaposition of the first reading, about walking in the light and forgiveness, seems to contrast with the violence of the Gospel- the loss of the Holy Innocents. But Lord, how we deceive ourselves! We say in our world today that we have no sin- that a baby is a choice, that life has meaning only when it is of value and can be productive for society, that fulfillment of our selves is the highest good no matter the cost. Lord, we have been deceived and have abandoned You in today’s culture, yet if we acknowledge our sins, even if we were personally deceived to sin against life at some time in our lives, You will forgive us anything and cleanse us from all wrongdoing. Lord Jesus heal our land!

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

Feast of Saint John The Apostle

Words of Love

“My little one, write down what I now dictate: …You are mine and this is your guarantee. After your death, there will abound in the treasures of your heart those who will know, bless and glorify God. Those who will live after you on earth can draw abundantly from these treasures. (Jesus) (November 17-18, 1964)

Today’s Readings: So that you too may have fellowship with us; for our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We are writing this so that our joy may be complete. (1 John 1)

Prayer Meditation: O Lord, today we celebrate the Feast Day of the Beloved Disciple who never left You- the one who laid his head on Your Sacred Heart and who took Mary into his home. St. John wrote five books of the New Testament including the beautiful Gospel of John. Today’s readings tell us that he wanted our joy to be complete in You! Lord let us receive Your Word and the words of the saints so that we may draw abundantly from these treasures!

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

Feast of Saint Stephen

It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Martyrdom?

“Do not tear yourselves from My arms which embrace you. Be sacrificed on the sacred altar of inner recollection and martyrdom.” (Jesus) (August 7, 1962)

Today’s Readings: Into your hands I commend my spirit; you will redeem me, O LORD, O faithful God. I will rejoice and be glad because of your mercy. (Psalm 31)

Prayer Meditation- Lord it seems like we are just waking up from our Christmas celebrations when Holy Mother Church cuts to the chase- to love and follow Jesus is to die! Most of us will not face the type of martyrdom Saint Stephen suffered- hopefully though we will have his courage and forgiving spirit. But what we have been promised is that we will be hated for the Name (Matthew 10) and that may very well be by those we love the most. But Lord it is not in defending ourselves but in how we live that we are truly witnessing. Cheerfulness, smiles, silence, prayer and sacrifice for those we love and for those who are coming against us- loving and forgiving with Your Heart when it can seem impossible, that is the little way of martyrdom that You have called each of us to so that none may be lost. Lord, we are not doing this alone, give us the words when we need them and the fortitude and courage to never tear ourselves from Your Loving Arms as You break our hearts for what breaks Yours!

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

Christmas

The Word Became Flesh

Jesus said to me, “And the Word became Flesh”. Penetrate and live in this sublime mystery, which signifies the Redemption of the world.” (Jesus/Elizabeth) (October 15, 1962)

Today’s Readings; And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth. (John 1)

Prayer Meditation- O Lord Jesus thank You for coming to us- The Word Made Flesh for our salvation! Thank You for being Our Savior and Our Emmanuel- God with us! Lord You came full of Grace and Truth so that we would be set free! As we meditate on The Nativity Scene and see You in a humble stable little and helpless let us ponder how deep Your Love is for us that You would become a poor baby to save us and so that we can live with You forever in Eternity! Unfathomable Divine Mercy! Lord let us just love and adore You today in Mary’s arms with all the angels and saints!