Bring on the Sacrifices
Our Lady of Fatima said that more sinners are going to hell than ever because they have no one to pray and make sacrifices on their behalf.
We need to be making sacrifices today on behalf of the sinners in the world and the poor souls in Purgatory - but what can we do?
We may agree that, yes, sacrifices need to be made ... but what sacrifices? Concrete ideas can be hard to come by sometimes, and if our vague ideas don't become concrete, then they will never be acted out.
To that end, here are some ideas for extra sacrifices you can make ... but first, a brief word. A sacrifice is, by definition, something you offer to God. That doesn't necessarily mean it has be something that is painful for you to do.
We pray in the Morning offering that Jesus would accept our sufferings and our joys that we experience during the day.
The Old Testament reflects this as well; some sacrifices were bloody, and that would correspond to our painful sacrifices of suffering; but some sacrifices were simple bread offerings or drink offerings, not bloody in any way.
St. Paul tells us to offer God the sacrifice of praise - how painful is that going to be?
So here are some things you can be doing to make sacrifices, both painful and joyful - the key in both cases is to simply unite these sacrifices with Our Lord's sacrifice, and to offer them for the love of God. A simple prayer ("Jesus, I offer you this pain/pleasure in union with your sacrifice, for these intentions...") will suffice.
Joyful Sacrifices
A cold glass of water
A relaxing soak in the hot tub
A brief nap
Tonight's dinner
A back-scratch
A good book
A game with the family
Neutral Sacrifices
A shower
A short drive in the car on the way to some destination
Brushing your teeth
Making dinner
Doing the dishes
Painful Sacrifices
Getting up in the middle of the night to say some prayers
Walking for 5-6 miles
Putting several small rocks in your shoes at the beginning of the day
Going to bed wearing a wool sweater
Skipping lunch
Purposefully eating a meal you don't like (bowl of lima beans, anyone?)
Tightening your belt an extra notch
Forgoing asprin when you have a headache
Just remember, whatever you do, in pain, in pleasure, or in everyday tasks, stop for a moment to consciously unite your work with Christ's sacrifice for the salvation of souls.
You will do untold good in this way.
We need to be making sacrifices today on behalf of the sinners in the world and the poor souls in Purgatory - but what can we do?
We may agree that, yes, sacrifices need to be made ... but what sacrifices? Concrete ideas can be hard to come by sometimes, and if our vague ideas don't become concrete, then they will never be acted out.
To that end, here are some ideas for extra sacrifices you can make ... but first, a brief word. A sacrifice is, by definition, something you offer to God. That doesn't necessarily mean it has be something that is painful for you to do.
We pray in the Morning offering that Jesus would accept our sufferings and our joys that we experience during the day.
The Old Testament reflects this as well; some sacrifices were bloody, and that would correspond to our painful sacrifices of suffering; but some sacrifices were simple bread offerings or drink offerings, not bloody in any way.
St. Paul tells us to offer God the sacrifice of praise - how painful is that going to be?
So here are some things you can be doing to make sacrifices, both painful and joyful - the key in both cases is to simply unite these sacrifices with Our Lord's sacrifice, and to offer them for the love of God. A simple prayer ("Jesus, I offer you this pain/pleasure in union with your sacrifice, for these intentions...") will suffice.
Joyful Sacrifices
A cold glass of water
A relaxing soak in the hot tub
A brief nap
Tonight's dinner
A back-scratch
A good book
A game with the family
Neutral Sacrifices
A shower
A short drive in the car on the way to some destination
Brushing your teeth
Making dinner
Doing the dishes
Painful Sacrifices
Getting up in the middle of the night to say some prayers
Walking for 5-6 miles
Putting several small rocks in your shoes at the beginning of the day
Going to bed wearing a wool sweater
Skipping lunch
Purposefully eating a meal you don't like (bowl of lima beans, anyone?)
Tightening your belt an extra notch
Forgoing asprin when you have a headache
Just remember, whatever you do, in pain, in pleasure, or in everyday tasks, stop for a moment to consciously unite your work with Christ's sacrifice for the salvation of souls.
You will do untold good in this way.
<< Home