Posted byValerie Parisi January 23, 2024  EditChoked By Worldly Anxiety

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

Memorial of Saint Francis de Sales

Choked by Worldly Anxiety

While attending morning Holy Mass, a great anxiety took possession of my soul. An infuriating battle arose within: these arguments are nothing but counter-arguments invented by my lies with which I blind myself. (Elizabeth) (June 18, 1965)

Today’s Readings: Those sown among thorns are another sort.
They are the people who hear the word,
but worldly anxiety, the lure of riches,
and the craving for other things intrude and choke the word,
and it bears no fruit.
But those sown on rich soil are the ones who hear the word and accept it
and bear fruit thirty and sixty and a hundredfold.” (Mark 4)

Prayer Meditation- Lord, I have read the parable of the sowers many times and I always get stuck on the third type of soil because quite honestly that is exactly where I am stuck. So many of us are- we receive the Word and we so want to bear fruit that lasts and serve You but then it seems so much gets in the way. In particular so many of us can get literally choked by stress and anxiety- making us turn inward and keeping us in chains. We may even say we can’t help it but giving into stress is really just another word for lack of trust. And You told Saint Faustina that our lack of trust hurts Your Sacred Heart more than our sins do. Lord, when we allow worldly cares to take over than You are no longer in the center of our hearts! Lord, help us to fix our eyes that we may see what Your Mercy sees when You look at us! Let our hearts become unstuck and ready to hear Your Word and accept it! In the words of St. Francis de Sales, Anxiety is the greatest evil that can befall a soul, except sin. God commands you to pray, but He forbids you to worry.”  St. Francis de Sales, pray for us!

oy Before The Ark Of The Lord

Posted byValerie Parisi January 22, 2024  EditJoy Before The Ark Of The Lord

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

Tuesday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time

Joy Before The Ark of The Lord

Because the Flame of Love of the heart of My Mother is Noah’s Ark.” (Jesus) (Spring 1981)

Today’s Readings: Then David, girt with a linen apron,
came dancing before the LORD with abandon,
as he and all the house of Israel were bringing up the ark of the LORD
with shouts of joy and to the sound of the horn. (2 Samuel 6)

Prayer Meditation- Lord today in the readings we have a lovely juxtaposition. We have David dancing before the Lord with abandon because the ark of the covenant was set in its proper place in the tent in the City of David. In the Gospel, we have the new ark of the covenant, Mary, before whom John the Baptist leaped in his mother’s womb just as David danced. Lord, thank You for giving us Your Mother as the Ark of safety for our times- may we come to You through Her with joy and hope!  And may we always like Her do Your Will!

Blinding The Strong Man

Posted byValerie Parisi January 21, 2024  EditBlinding The Strong Man

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

Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children

Blinding The Strong Man

“With this Flame full of graces that I give you from my heart, ignite all the hearts in the entire country. Let this Flame go from heart to heart. This is the miracle becoming the blaze whose dazzling light will blind Satan. This is the fire of love of union which I obtained from the heavenly Father through the merits of the wounds of my Divine Son.”  (Mary) (April 13, 1962)

Today’s Readings: If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.
And if a house is divided against itself,
that house will not be able to stand.
And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided,
he cannot stand;
that is the end of him.
But no one can enter a strong man’s house to plunder his property
unless he first ties up the strong man.
Then he can plunder his house. (Mark 3)

Prayer Meditation- Lord, who is the strong man? The strong man in this parable is the enemy of our souls who does not want to let go and give back any territory he may have conquered whether invited or uninvited. And who is stronger, the one who ties us the strong man- Lord that is You, the Name above all Names. At Your Name the strong man must leave. Yet Lord, sometimes we so easily forget who is the Stronger One in this spiritual battle we face every day of our lives. And today, there is so much sin that we can’t even see Your Grace which abounds all the more (Romans 5:20). Lord, through Your Precious Blood You have set us free, You the Flame of Love who blinds Satan! Lord help us to call Your Name today and may we pray the Unity Prayer to blind Satan and set our families free because You are the Divine Antidote to the “strong man” sickness in the world.

May our feet journey together. May our hands gather in unity. May our hearts beat in unison. May our souls be in harmony. May our thoughts be as one. May our ears listen to the silence together. May our glances profoundly penetrate each other. May our lips pray together to gain mercy from the Eternal Father. Amen.

Following Him

Posted byValerie Parisi January 20, 2024  EditFollowing Him

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

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Following Him

“You must be selfless, for we will entrust you with a great mission and you will be up to the task. However, this is only possible if you remain totally selfless, abjuring yourself. That mission can be bestowed upon you only if you also want it out of your free will.” (Jesus) (Biography 1962)

Today’s Readings: As he passed by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea; they were fishermen. Jesus said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Then they abandoned their nets and followed him. (Mark 1)

Prayer Meditation- Lord You ask us to follow You and You ask us to come after You but do You really mean leave it all behind? Do you really just want us to throw whatever it is we are doing down and walk with You? Well for most of us, the lay faithful, the call is not leaving the world behind but we are called to be in it but not of it (John 17:6). Lord, You know well what attachments still tether us to the Earth- it does not matter if it is a chain or a little string, (St. John of the Cross), we are still not totally free. Lord help us as we enter Lent in a few short weeks to examine what it is that needs to be abandoned out of love for You. Let us desire to walk ever closer to You every day holding nothing back!

Out Of Our Minds

Posted byValerie Parisi January 19, 2024  EditOut Of Our Minds

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

Saturday of the Second Week of Ordinary Time

Out Of Our Minds

After this, I placed my daughter C in charge of the house: “From now on, you will be the little owner of this house and I will not cook anymore.” She was surprised and asked what I would do. “Whatever you ask, I will do and I will eat whatever you give to me.” – “Mother,” she said, “you are acting like a hermit.” (Elizabeth 1961-1962)

Today’s Readings: Jesus came with his disciples into the house.
Again the crowd gathered,
making it impossible for them even to eat.
When his relatives heard of this they set out to seize him,
for they said, “He is out of his mind.” (Mark 3)

Prayer Meditation- Sometimes Lord we can be surprised when serving You conflicts with others’ ideas of who we ought to be and what we ought to be doing, even those closest to us. To our family they just do not understand- Church every day, really? Zoom Rosary over whatever we used to idolize and watch on TV? And mom, what’s with that Mary statue in the garden and Divine Mercy picture on the door? Have you gone crazy they say? Since when did you become a holy roller! Even Your relatives thought You were out of Your Mind Lord! And yet You have asked us to be in the world and not of the world (John 17) and to put on the Mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16). And as long as it is not just exterior but interior change as well You call us to keep changing and giving up our attachments as You change us from glory to glory! (2 Corinthians 3:18). Even if we may seem a bit weird these days in this increasingly secular world our families can be assured that they have our prayers and sacrifices and our love as we lay ourselves down so that Your Flame would ignite in all hearts!

Free From Harm

Posted byValerie Parisi January 18, 2024  EditFree From Harm

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

Friday of the Second Week of Ordinary Time

Free From Harm

My adorable Jesus.” He said, “I am that one. Do you see? The time you spend with Me should not harm your family.” We walked home together in silence. I speak thus because He filled me with His presence. Immersed in Him, I kept adoring Him. (Elizabeth/Jesus) (February 14, 1965)

Today’s Readings: Have mercy on me, O God; have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge. In the shadow of your wings I take refuge, till harm pass by. (Psalm 57)

Prayer Meditation- Lord how many times do we find ourselves in situations that we wonder, how did I get here? Arguments, dilemmas, work problems, habits we can’t break. Lord, when we are in these sticky situations it is pretty much guaranteed that we have not prayed first and asked for Your Saving Help. Because without prayer cover, we can be picked off by the enemy like low hanging fruit. Thank You Lord Jesus that even in the midst of our busy duties we can stay in constant conversation with You and remain in the shadow of Your Wings. And when we have wandered off the narrow path, thank You Jesus, for Your Mercy for every fall and stumble along the way. Lord as You told St. Faustina, the cause of our falls is that we rely too much on ourselves and too little on You. But let that not sadden us so much, You told us, because we are dealing with the God of mercy which our misery cannot exhaust! (Divine Mercy in My Soul) Let us throw ourselves on the Throne of Grace with hearts full of sorrow (St. Therese) ready to begin again!

Tears In A Flask

Posted byValerie Parisi January 17, 2024  EditTears In A Flask

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

Thursday of the Second Week of Ordinary Time

Tears in a Flask

I broke forth in tears. This increased my sorrow for sins. Who would not cry in the presence of such goodness and kindness? (Elizabeth) (September 1, 1963)

Today’s Readings: My wanderings you have counted;
my tears are stored in your flask;
are they not recorded in your book?
Then do my enemies turn back,
when I call upon you. (Psalm 56)

Prayer Meditation- Lord, so many tears we shed! Sorrow for sin, sadness over circumstances, worries and fears, we can hold it in so long that sometimes it can feel like such a relief when the tears come. We can wander so far but we can hold on to hope because every tear is stored in a flask! You have never left our sides- Lord help us praise You in whatever storms we are in because Your goodness and kindness are endless and Your mercy reaches to the skies. (Psalm 36).

Bringing Stones To A Sword Fight

Posted byValerie Parisi January 16, 2024  EditBringing Stones To A Sword Fight

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

Memorial of Saint Anthony, Abbott

Bringing Stones To a Sword Fight

“If there were no battle, what would then give value to things? Always try to go higher.” (Jesus) (June 29, 1964)

Today’s Readings: All this multitude, too, shall learn that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves. For the battle is the LORD’s and he shall deliver you into our hands.” (1 Samuel 17)

Prayer Meditation- Lord, we face many battles every day, we can have many giants in the way, obstacles and problems that seem insurmountable. Every day is a fight but how easily we forget that if we are in You, the battle is not ours but Yours and You will deliver us as You train our hands for war (Psalm 144). Lord each us of can pick up five smooth stones, we have been given every spiritual blessing under heaven (Ephesians 1:3). These stones are prayer, Mass, confession, fasting, and reading The Bible, because, Lord our battles are Yours and You will fight for us if only we be still (Exodus 14:14)

Heart To Heart

Posted byValerie Parisi January 15, 2024  EditHeart To Heart

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

Tuesday of the Second Week of Ordinary Time

Heart to Heart

“What I am saying now is for you and all mothers who work according to My Heart. Your work is not of less value than that of persons raised to the highest priestly dignity. (Jesus) (February 29, 1964)

Today’s Readings: Not as man sees does God see, because he sees the appearance but the LORD looks into the heart.”(1 Samuel 16)

Prayer Meditation- O Lord I thank You that You do not see how we see but You see our hearts. How quick are we to judge by appearance- but You see deep down into the core of who we are! You know our thoughts, when we sit and when we rise (Psalm 139). Lord You see us even though we may not seem important in the eyes of the world- we are mothers, fathers, grandparents, volunteers, the disabled and the elderly, people just trying to make ends meet. In all of it if we are faithful we can rest assured that we work according to Your Heart (Colossians 3) and that it is in our littleness that we will inherit the Kingdom of God (Luke 18:16).

Fresh Wineskins

Posted byValerie Parisi January 14, 2024  EditFresh Wineskins

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

Monday of the Second Week of Ordinary Time

Fresh Wineskins

Your living faith in Me keeps your soul in a continual freshness and makes you ready to receive abundant graces. Hence, My little one, do not serve anyone but Me.” (Jesus) (August 1, 1963)

Today’s Readings: Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the skins are ruined. Rather, new wine is poured into fresh wineskins.” (Mark 2)

Prayer Meditation- Lord, we thank You today that You long to pour the new wine of Your Spirit into our hearts and souls! But Lord, are we presenting to you fresh wineskins or the stinky old ones that really just need to go? Do we have the old wineskin of legalism that makes us worry about following devotional practices to a T but our heart is not in them, we are far away, just phoning it in as we check the box on our list for the day? Do we have the old wineskin of judging others instead of praying for them, of unforgiveness, of a complaining spirit that is never satisfied when things don’t go our way? Of despair and discouragement and fear instead of continual trust in Your Mercy? Lord help us examine ourselves today and help us take out the trash- create in us a clean heart (Psalm 51) that we are ready to receive the new wine of Your Spirit living in us in a fresh new way! Mother Mary, You who were first to see when the wine ran out for the young couple at the wedding, intercede for us that we would truly do whatever Your Son tells us today (John 2).