Ralph Martin signs a book for an attendee at the Charismatic Day of Renewal on Saturday, Oct. 5, at the Schoenstatt Retreat Center in Waukesha. (Photos by Karen Mahoney)
Ralph Martin told a large audience during the Charismatic Day of Renewal at Schoenstatt Retreat Center that he noticed a lot of Catholics picking and choosing what they like in Scripture.
“Do you realize who you are disagreeing with and who is right?” asked Martin, President of Renewal Ministries. “Your life depends on Jesus, and he is your only reality.”
Martin outlined steps to change one’s life through hearing the Word of God during the Oct. 5 event. The first step, he explained, is accepting ourselves.
“Take time to hear what is being revealed to us. We are privileged to have the Word of God as many are searching and wondering about the afterlife,” Martin said. “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. God spoke through the prophets, but now he speaks through his son, who is the perfect image of the Father. Pay attention to God. I made a personal decision in my life and surrendered it. He is the most important person in my life.”
Martin said taking time each day to pray is imperative to growing closer to God, and while praying in a prayer group or at Mass is important, one-on-one time is as important. He suggested taking quiet time alone in a room with the door closed, and if you become distracted or sleepy, don’t be discouraged.
“Next time you doze off in prayer, be at peace. Let yourself be loved. St. Theresa of Avila couldn’t have prayer time without spiritual reading because her mind raced off like a wild horse,” he said. “If you are sleepy or distracted during prayer times, you qualify for being a saint. Theresa kept showing up for Mass, prayer and pointing her life to God.”
Martin added that it is imperative to live in dependence on the Lord: “Unless you become like little children, you shall not inherit the Kingdom of God.”
“God is more merciful than you realize, but unless you respond and surrender to mercy, ask for forgiveness, and mercy is given, you won’t be saved,” Martin said. “Today is the feast day of St. Faustina, who is responsible for the Divine Mercy image. Mercy is the main message, and even the greatest of sinners is entitled to God’s mercy. We are all encouraged to come to God. When people only hear part of the message, they drift into the presumption of God’s mercy and people think all will be saved, but that’s not true. In Section 965 of her diary she wrote, ‘Jesus looked at the souls perishing despite his bitter passion. If they don’t respond to my mercy, they will perish for all eternity. The awful day of my justice is near.’”
Encouraging fasting, prayer and confession, Martin reminded the audience that the door to heaven will close at a certain point and that will be the end of human history as we know it.
“Strive to enter through the narrow door — many will try to enter but won’t be able to,” he said. “Strive, put yourself into it. Agonize, and run to win the race. Make sure you are inside when the door closes with as many people as possible when it does close.”
Singing along to the praise music, performed by Nick Scanlon, a smiling Sue Swieciak said the day of renewal was a fulfilling experience and wonderfully put together.
“I felt like I was receiving what I needed when I came in,” she said. “I’ve been involved in the renewal for decades, and while some things were familiar, I learned a lot of new things. It was done so well, and the music was perfect.”
In one of his two talks, Peter Herbeck, Vice President and Director of Missions for Renewal Ministries, spoke about the anointing of God and reminded everyone that we live in the wealthiest and safest country in the history of the world.
“We live on easy street compared to most nations,” he said. “We experience a little testing, and people get discouraged and panic. The devil can fool you, seize you and distract you from thinking about who God knows you are and what he has done for you. You are the light of the world and the salt of the earth. You are the salt of the earth because the life of God is in you. You are the future of the human race and the new heavens, and the new earth began in us.”
Herbeck suggested looking to the Apostles at the beginning of their letters to see what God has done for us.
“Speak his word, because when you speak his word, it is anointed by God, and you will speak into a new way of thinking. Speak into agreement with God,” Herbeck said. “If you look at the beginning, we had a small band of Christians; they were believers but in a big pagan empire. If they didn’t burn incense to a king or emperor, they would die. However, they came alive in the Lord and Paul said, ‘You are beloved. You are saved.’ As a Catholic, I have been saved. I am being saved and I will be saved. I have great confidence in that because God has told me what he has done. If I lean into him, it will be done. I will be safe and sanctified as I was cleansed and sanctified at baptism. The old you was crucified with Jesus. His precious blood washed our sins away. The Holy One, the Holy Spirit, God, was sanctified in you and I am thanking God for his new creation, beloved, chosen, saved, and sanctified through the Gospel.”
