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

No Looking Back

“Oh, how many, many souls receive My abundant

graces, but they are not prepared, and the purifying water of My love drains out. Their souls

lose this grace. (Jesus) (November 17-18 1964)

Today’s Readings: Remember the wife of Lot.

Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it,

but whoever loses it will save it. (Luke 17)

Prayer Meditation- Lord, we seek to hold onto so many things as we journey through life- it could be things, unforgiveness, need for control, wounds that won’t heal, seasons in life which are for a time but are not for eternity. It can be hard to let go and move forward, and yet, You cannot fill us with new wine if we are still holding onto old wine skins. We are all journeying to You and yet like Lot’s wife so often we look back even as it is time for doors to close. Lord, help us to keep moving forward, letting go of attachments that are holding us back from You!

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

The Kingdom of God is Among Us

“Each night, My little one, ask yourself what you

have done for the coming of My Kingdom (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, Your Kingdom is here and now and not yet because You will return! And yet it is inside each one of us who is a baptized believer in a state of Grace. We have to look no further than our own hearts. Let us ask ourselves each night if what we have said and done has brought us closer or further away from Your Kingdom. Let us resolve to live in You, through You and for You each day! Fiat, Thy Will be Done!

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 in Rome

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

Monday of the Thirty Second Week of Ordinary Time

Who Can Ascend The Mountain Of The Lord?

I felt as if my soul was climbing a mast so high that I was getting dizzy, and I only had to climb to the top or to throw myself into the abyss. But I could no longer fight this long battle… In the midst of my sufferings, I felt that immersing myself in the Most Holy Trinity was the only way to avoid giving up forever the exhausting struggle, which despite everything I did, refused to leave my soul. (Elizabeth) (October 23-24 1963)

Today’s Readings: Who can ascend the mountain of the LORD?
or who may stand in his holy place?
He whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean,
who desires not what is vain. (Psalm 24)

Prayer Meditation: Lord today we read in the First Reading in St. Paul’s letter to St. Titus that the condition for being chosen as a bishop was to be blameless. And in the Gospel of today from St. Luke how we are to be on guard not to lead others to sin and how we must always forgive. And we can just feel like Elizabeth in the diary reading- Lord we keep climbing but the way is long and hard and we just feel dizzy and like giving up because who really can ascend this mountain Lord and stand in Your Holy Place. Again, sinless, blameless- Lord this trying to be perfect as You are perfect is beyond exhausting! But then there we go again, trying to do it all in our own will, in our own steam, and really not even thinking to ask You for a hand up this holy mountain of sanctity. Your ways are not our ways and You cannot wait to show us the elevator, just like You did for St. Therese if we would just remember we are little children totally dependent on You for without You we can do nothing! (John 15). Lord, we cannot fight this battle of life alone and the battle belongs to You (2 Chronicles 20:15) so let us fight on our knees and immerse ourselves in Your Holy Trinity and Your Holy Will and we will be standing on that mountain in no time holding the Hand of Our Loving Father and Friend who carried us there in  His Loving Arms!

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

Thirty Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

For Him All Are Alive

Let the words you say about me be alive, so the mystery of heaven has an impact on souls. (Mary) (July 26, 1971)

Today’s Readings: That the dead will rise
even Moses made known in the passage about the bush,
when he called out ‘Lord, ‘
the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob;
and he is not God of the dead, but of the living,
for to him all are alive.”  (Luke 20)

Prayer Meditation- Lord, today we read how You were challenged by the scholars of the time about the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. You make it very clear that You are the God of the living and not the dead! That as Your children, we will always be alive to You! Lord, Heaven is real, more real than the little worlds we may be living in right now- here it is so easy to be deceived. We see through a glass darkly (1 Corinthians 13) but soon face to face! Lord, we can hold on to this promise, that to You all are alive, and that You came that we would share in Eternal Life forever with You and the angels and saints and the Blessed Mother. Today, many also doubt the existence of Eternal Life- let our words about Your Kingdom be alive so that we would have an impact on souls, always ready to give an explanation for the reason for our hope in You! (1 Peter 3:15).

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

I Can Do All Things Through Christ Who Gives Me Strength

“Now, you will understand even better why I stripped you of your bodily strength. You see,

while you were weak, you served Me with all your strength. Now that I have increased your

strength, you do not serve Me as before (Jesus) (August 27-28 1965 )

Today’s Readings: I know also how to live with abundance.

In every circumstance and in all things

I have learned the secret of being well fed and of going hungry,

of living in abundance and of being in need.

I have the strength for everything through him who empowers me. (Philippians 4)

Prayer Meditation- Lord, we can do all things through You but sometimes that translates in our weak minds to running around over committed and stressed out and asking You to bless it. That is not what You mean- that is us relying on our own strength and our own wills. Lord, sometimes You allow us to be weak and to be in circumstances out of our control precisely because You need us to see it is Your strength and not ours that allows us the grace to do Your Will. Fiat, Lord, in the ups and the downs You are still on the throne and You guide our steps if we would be willing to allow our feet to journey together with 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

Citizens of Heaven

“You are too immersed in earthly things, My little one. 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.” (Jesus) (February 7, 1963)

Today’s Readings:

Their end is destruction.
Their God is their stomach; 
their glory is in their “shame.”
Their minds are occupied with earthly things.
But our citizenship is in heaven, 
and from it we also await a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. (Philippians 3)

Prayer Meditation- O Lord You know how we are drawn to the Earth! Our little gods and appetites rule and occupy us even as we strive to seek You in our everyday life. We immerse ourselves in so many things and seek relief in so many outlets! Life on Earth is a battle 
but we can only be victorious with You, Our Savior- the only One who can break the chains that weigh us down and keep us from claiming our rights as sons and daughters of Heaven! Lord break every chain today by the power of Your Precious Blood!

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 of Ordinary Time

Joy in Heaven

Our Lady allowed me to feel in my soul the

wonderful union of the saints. I was filled with an indescribable joy. (Elizabeth) (November 4, 1962)

Today’s Readings: ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’

I tell you, in just the same way

there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents

than over ninety-nine righteous people

who have no need of repentance.(Luke 15)

Prayer Meditation- O Lord, how much joy there is in Heaven when a sinner repents, when we repent and we seek the lost! Lord help us to practice the spiritual works of mercy daily- and if all we can do is pray, help us to remember that to pray is to do something! Praying for the living and the dead is a spiritual work of mercy anyone can do no matter the circumstances in our lives! Lord, help us to know Your reckless love for us and help us show it to others ,especially those You have given us to bring to Heaven!

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

The Commemoration of All The Faithful Departed

Grace and Mercy Are With His Holy Ones

“Let all your actions be done with the purpose of helping them in union with Me, desire that these souls contemplate My face as early as possible. Offer for them the strict fast as well as prayer during a part of the night.” (Jesus) (April 10, 1962)

Today’s Readings: Those who trust in him shall understand truth,
and the faithful shall abide with him in love:
because grace and mercy are with his holy ones,
and his care is with his elect. (Wisdom 3)

Prayer Meditation- Lord today we remember all the faithful departed including those who are part of the Church Suffering. Because we cannot yet enter Heaven with “baggage” on our souls. The baggage as the Church teaches is the effect of forgiven sins and remaining venial sins and faults. Do we hold onto anger, unforgiveness, negativity, over attachment to the goods of this world, selfishness? If we can’t leave it behind, it will have to be burned away in that place of Your Mercy so that we are perfected in love. Perfect love drives out fear (1 John 4:18). Lord, Your will is that we become Your kind of perfect- not what the world calls perfect. And as St. Therese has taught us You can purify us in an instant- but we have to be open to grace. How many of us just get stuck and lack the love and trust to turn to You in total childlike dependence? Lord today, let us especially examine ourselves to see where we can be perfected in love and let us pray and sacrifice for the faithful departed including our deceased family members and friends offering them the charity we lacked when they were among us. Because we are all one Church and we will abide with You in love because grace and mercy are with Your holy ones and Jesus we trust in You!