my journey

Complications Of Abortion

2011-03-30T16:48:00.000-04:00

Complications Of Abortion
there are alot more than i thought there was

pretzel bites

2011-03-03T15:42:00.000-05:00

I decided to try to make some little pretzel bites! i totally messed them up though. i was having a hard time getting them to rise and then of course i forgot to set the timer. they still taste ok but just arent soft and are a bit overdone. will have to try again soon.

This video will just knock you out. Really. | The Deacon's Bench

2011-02-26T11:25:00.000-05:00

This video will just knock you out. Really. | The Deacon's Bench

watch this~

Meditations for Lent — Catholicism.org - Saint Benedict Center, The Slaves of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

2011-02-24T19:06:00.000-05:00

Meditations for Lent — Catholicism.org - Saint Benedict Center, The Slaves of the Immaculate Heart of Mary

this looks like an assume book! i always get so disappointed after every advent and lent goes by and i have not taken advantage of these great seasons. hopefully this lent will be different. lets take advantage!

The New Theological Movement: The Purification of the Virgin Most Pure

2011-02-01T22:15:00.000-05:00

The New Theological Movement: The Purification of the Virgin Most Pure: "The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, Luke 2:22-40 When the days were completed for [her] purification according to the law of Mos..."

prayer for after communion

2011-02-01T21:44:00.002-05:00

O my beloved JESUS,
living in me sacramentally at this moment,
I adore Thee.

I beg Thee,
by means of my Guardian Angel's good offices,
to organize, order, and direct my day in every detail.

Hold me fast in the embrace of Thy Divine Friendship;
and let nothing separate my heart from Thine.

Rather, wound Thou my heart
and then apply the wound in Thy Side
to the wound in mine,
so that nothing may hinder the transmission
of Thy love, Thy life, and Thy light
into every part of my soul.
Amen.

healthy orange almond cake

2011-02-01T21:42:00.000-05:00

tonight i tried something new. a somewhat healthy dessert! i was watching chopped on the foodnetwork and really get into the cooking mood this morning. since i had to go to the store anyways i hurried up and looked up a couple of recipies online before leaving. made some quick and easy chicken tenders seasoned with paprika and chipotle spices pan seared in some evoo. along with some loaded baked potatoes and a nice light salad.
and for dessert. an orange honey almond cake paired with a couple scoops of vanilla ice cream. i swear next time im going to remember to take pictures!

blue fin pacific rim

2010-12-30T21:18:00.002-05:00

these pics are from my very first visit to a pacific restaurant. my sister had some sushi, my dad some swordfish, and i had some breading chicken in a thick peanut sauce. delicious!

and here are my baby chop sticks. note the rubber band wrapped around them on the top with a wad of paper in between to keep them open and together. perfect!

2010-12-04T10:59:00.001-05:00

Since through sin man becomes like beasts, christ lies in the trough whereanimals feed, offering them not hay but his own body as. lifegiving bread.

todays inspiration

2010-11-23T14:18:00.000-05:00

Blessed Miguel Agustin Pro was a priest in mexico in the late 1920's. during this time the catholics were extremely persecuted. Blessed Miguel often went around in disguises so that he wouldn't be captured.
eventually he was captured and shot because he was still practicing the sacraments.

Let us pray to Blessed Miguel today that we can be as brave and confident in our faith as he was.

pretzels finally

2010-11-05T09:30:00.000-04:00

for the longest time i have been wanting to try to make homemade soft pretzels but for some reason i thought it would be really difficult. anything close to bread i get scared of. well i finally tried the recipe last night and they are going fast! here is a picture...

2010-10-21T12:23:00.001-04:00

A quote by caryll houselander... There Has surely never been an age in which so many people were so particularly preoccupied with their bodies as this age, and yet to so little profit.

getting my zen on

2010-10-17T22:36:00.000-04:00

recently I have been picking up my sister from school on my days off. At her high school parish there is a beautiful 24 hour perpetual adoration chapel. I am actually lucky enough to have two 24 hour chapels within a 15 minute drive! So about twice a week or so I have been going to have some personal quiet time with Jesus.
I have noticed a real difference in me and how I have been able to handle the usual everyday stresses.
The best benefit of these little visits that I can see is that I have been able to pray the rosary more often. With this long prayer I tend to have a very hard time concentrating. I really need complete silence in order to concentrate on the mysteries and not lose track of where I am. If I am not at a chapel really the only other way that I can say this prayer without getting all stressed out is if I go for a walk. Sometimes I will take the dog for a walk just so I can pray. Sometimes prayer can be very difficult. We just need to keep trying different ways to see which is the best for you.

f | Divine Life - A Blog by Eric Sammons ★ 7

2010-09-07T10:45:00.000-04:00

Imagine a world in which Matthew was writing his Gospel as a blog:

Crazy Week!

Hey, everyone, sorry about not posting for the past week – things have been CRAZY lately! I know I promised to post some tips on how to save on your taxes, but so much has happened in the past week that I really need to tell you about!

You remember last week when I was excited about Jesus being gloriously welcomed into Jerusalem? I mentioned then that I thought for sure our leaders would back him now, and the Messianic Age would kick off. Well, things didn’t go quite as I thought they would (sometimes I guess it would be best to reflect a little more before blogging!). As you have probably all heard by now, just a few days after his entry into Jerusalem, Jesus was arrested by the Jewish guard and handed over to the Roman authorities.

I know that there have been rumors that one of us apostles turned him in, and I’m sad to confirm that Jesus was indeed betrayed by Judas Iscariot (who always seemed a bit shifty, if you ask me). After a show trial, the Romans had Jesus crucified. I was unable to be there in person for the crucifixion (I had some other things I had to do at the time), but those who were there tell me that it was very tragic. I’ll be honest, I was crushed by his death. I thought for sure that Jesus was the Christ we were all waiting for (click here for some of my proofs for his Messianic credentials).

But then we heard a strange story from Mary Magdalene. I know some of my readers in the past have questioned her association with us, but Jesus trusted her completely. Anyway, she claims that she has seen the Lord! That’s right, she claims that he is not really dead, but is risen! I don’t know what to think, but all of his closest followers are supposed to go up to Galilee, where he says he will appear to us.

Crossing my fingers….

Update: Fellow blogger John has written that he and Peter went to the tomb and it was empty! The burial clothes were there, but no body!

Comments (7):

Zedekiah: I can’t believe you actually believe Mary Magdalene. She obviously is delusional (just look at her history) and you are a sap to take her seriously.

Abinadab: Good point Zedekiah. But what I can’t believe is that anyone would take a former tax-collector seriously. What a joke.

Luke: Great post! I’m going to link to you on my own blog!

Azel: This is ridiculous – no one takes this Jesus of Nazareth seriously; I mean, really, from Nazareth? Everyone knows that the Messiah will come from Bethlehem. You guys are all tools.

Hazael: This is clearly a hoax. I notice how you were conveniently not at his crucifixion, and how the only witness you have for his “resurrection” is a woman with a questionable history. I’ll take you seriously when you show a little more proof.

Ahaziah: I don’t really care about this Jesus fellow; what really matters is that we overthrow the oppressive Roman rulers. Everyone should know better than to listen to a guy who used to work for the Romans. Shame on you.

Saul of Tarsus: Jesus is a heretic and anyone who follows him has left the true Faith of God Almighty. Mark my words, there will be consequences for these actions…

how to save your children

2010-09-07T10:29:00.000-04:00

DURING a cenacle in the United States, a Marian priest, Father Stephan Gobbi of Italy, was asked how parents could save their children who had been led astray or were in danger of being seduced by the allurements of the world and false religions, led like little lambs to the slaughter as it were.

He answered:

PRAY the Rosary
EVERY TIME you pray the Rosary say:
"I bind all my children to the Immaculate Heart of Mary."

Our Lady "will see to their souls."

explanation of the Mass

2010-08-03T21:55:00.002-04:00

Through His sacrifice on the Cross, Christ conquered sin and death once and for all. So why do Catholics seemingly sacrifice Christ over and over again at Mass?
I'm sure many of us have heard this question at one time or another. The key is to understand that the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross and the sacrifice of the Mass are the same, single sacrifice. Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross brought about “objective” redemption—in other words, the possibility of salvation for all people of all time. No other sacrifice is needed.
The sacrifice of the Eucharist, commonly called “the Mass,” does not repeat or multiply this sacrifice, then, but rather makes present this one, definitive sacrifice of Christ here and now in our local parish church. This brings about what we call “subjective” redemption—in other words, the application of the merits of Christ’s sacrifice to individual men and women.
In continually offering the sacrifice of the Mass (cf. Mal. 1:11), the Church fulfills the command of the Lord Jesus to “do this in memory of me” (Lk. 22:19). Through the sacrifice of the Mass, we are able to partake of the Body and Blood of Christ, without which we have no life in us (cf. Jn. 6:53-56).
For more information on this topic, see Catechism of the Catholic Church, nos. 1362-72. I also highly recommend my friend Thomas Nash’s book, Worthy is the Lamb, on the biblical roots of the Mass.

approved apparitions

2010-07-23T13:02:00.000-04:00

from the shepherds voice blog
We have very many approved apparitions and mystics in the Church. Though the Church does not require us to believe in private revelation. But God does intervene directly sometimes to alert mankind to come back to Him.

Mary, the Mother of God appeared in Lourdes, France to St. Bernadette in 1858 and in 1917 in Fatima, Portugal to three young children to ask everyone to turn back to God and to prayer.

The Lord Jesus appeared to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque between 1673-75 to make known His desire for the spread of the devotion to His most Sacred Heart. Then in the 1930's Jesus appeared to a Polish nun St. Maria Faustina Kowalska to make known His great Mercy for souls and to have her spread devotion to His Divine Mercy. We also had St. Pio of Pietrelcina who suffered the stigmata and who put himself completely under the authority of the Church. These are just some of the approved private revelations and mystics in the Church.

And of course with every genuine visionary there will be many false ones. St. John of the Cross wrote of the dangers of seeking to have visions or special gifts "... the devil causes many to believe in vain visions and false prophecies; and strives to make them presume that God and the saints are speaking with them; and they often trust their own fancy. And the devil is also accustomed, in this state, to fill them with presumption and pride, so that they become attracted by vanity and arrogance, and allow themselves to be seen engaging in outward acts which appear holy, such as raptures and other manifestations. Thus they become bold with God, and lose holy fear, which is the key and the custodian of all the virtues; and in some of these souls so many are the falsehoods and deceits which tend to multiply, and so inveterate do they grow, that it is very doubtful if such souls will return to the pure road of virtue and true spirituality."

Most of the above approved visionaries were poor, uneducated, and also suffered greatly because of the mission that God had given to them. They did not become Saints because they had witnessed apparitions or that they had extraordinary gifts, but because they lived lives of heroic virtue and holiness. They also submitted themselves completely to the authority of the Church and were totally obedient to their superiors. When 'visionaries' start giving out publicly about the Church authorities or are openly disobedient to the requests of the Parish Priest or local Bishop, they are not genuine. St. Pio was silenced for eleven years by the Church and he obeyed. And of course this showed that he was a man of genuine holiness.

The following is an excerpt from St. Fausintas Diary on the importance of obedience to the authorities in the Church....

'Jesus told me, Go to Mother Superior and ask her to let you wear a hair shirt for seven days, and once each night you are to get up and come to the chapel. I said yes, but I found a certain difficulty in actually going to the Superior. In the evening Jesus asked me, How long will you put it off? I made up my mind to tell Mother Superior the very next time I would see her.

The next day before noon I saw Mother Superior going to the refectory and, since the kitchen, refectory and Sister Aloysia's little room are all close to each other, I asked Mother Superior to come into Sister Aloysia's room and told her of the wish of the Lord Jesus.

At that, Mother answered, "I will not permit you to wear any hair shirt. Absolutely not! If the Lord Jesus were to give you the strength of a colossus, I would then permit those mortifications."

I apologized for taking up Mother's time and left the room. At that very moment I saw Jesus standing at the kitchen door, and I said to Him, "You commanded me to ask for these mortifications, but Mother Superior will not permit them." Jesus said, I was here during your conversation with the Superior and know everything. I don't demand mortification from you, but obedience. By obedience you give great glory to Me and gain merit for yourself.

Also St. Faustina wrote "Satan can even clothe himself in a cloak of humility, but he does not know how to wear the cloak of obedience." (Diary, par. 939).

St Margaret Mary Alacoque was told by Our Lord: "Listen, My daughter, and do not lightly believe and trust every spirit, for Satan is angry and will try to deceive you. So do nothing without the approval of those who guide you. Being thus under the authority of obedience, his efforts against you will be in vain, for he has no power over the obedient" [Autobiography].

2010-07-20T23:04:00.005-04:00

+ i would have learned that in school since the one i went to was named after the guy. He is actually there in a coffin in the chapel. Very cool. This was

2010-07-20T23:04:00.003-04:00

+ add tomorrow. The. Church is so pretty and very old. I cant. Believe i never know that father gabriel richard was the priest there. You would think that

2010-07-20T23:04:00.001-04:00

+ Just posted a picture from st. Annes church in detroit. They are having their annual novena to their patron saint. I have a few more pictures that i will

2010-07-05T22:10:00.002-04:00

uaa14210.pdf (application/pdf Object)

2010-07-02T22:36:00.000-04:00

uaa14210.pdf (application/pdf Object)

this link is for an amnesty appeal letter that is for a mexican catholic priest. read all of the background info and please write for him.

sacred heart pic

2010-06-10T23:12:00.003-04:00

two hearts tridium

2010-06-10T22:57:00.001-04:00

every year my parish (st. Albert the great) has a few devotional tridiums. this week they are putting on one for the sacred heart of Jesus and the immaculate heart of Mary. My mom has a very active part in these but for some silly reason this is the first time i have gone. I loved it. there was a mass with benediction and lecture on the two hearts during adoration. the lecture was very good, about the depth of Jesus' love for us. I actually started crying a bit. something that was very cool was that there were so many people in line for confessions that half of us had to wait till after mass. that has never happened to me before! pretty cool!
I'm really proud of our evangilization committee. they are taking all of the donations they get during these three days and giving them to our visiting priest ben luedtke. he will be going to nyc in july for surgery to take out a brain tumor. i think it is awesome that they are helping him out like that. he really is a great priest and very inspirational.

st. justin martyr

2010-06-01T23:15:00.001-04:00

Justin's conversion to Christianity is thought to have happened at the city of Ephesus, around A.D. 130, when our inquisitive young Samaritan was roughly thirty years of age. And though he was undoubtedly given a warm reception into the Christian congregation there in Asia—that venerable church founded by John, written to by Ignatius from the house of Polycarp—Justin, to tell the truth, may have raised a few eyebrows by his conduct as a new believer. For the fact is that he continued to frequent his old haunts. He kept all his old friendships and ran with the same unregenerate crowd he had associated with as a heathen. In short, Justin of Neapolis became known, much like his Lord before him, as "the friend of publicans and sinners"—only in Justin's case, the publicans and sinners were not prostitutes or winebibbers, but mystic Pythagorean mathematicians and long-faced logicians studiously following Xenophon and Parmenides. In other words, Justin became an apologist—a defender of the faith, a philosophical evangelist—and from the day of his redemption he seems to have been possessed by one burning desire: to see his own people, his brother philosophers, come to the knowledge of the truth.

The Dialogue with Trypho, which took place at Ephesus during this period, [17] gives us a window into Justin's methods. As it opens, we find him, wearing his pallium, walking among the colonnades of a great temple (possibly the same great temple of Diana where earlier Paul had raised the ire of the silversmiths [Acts 19]). Such places were where the philosophers of the day plied their trade, and little groups of them could always be found arguing, from sun up to sun down, on the steps of every pagan shrine in the Empire. On this particular day, Justin drew the attention of Trypho, the Hellenized rabbi, famous as one of the most learned Jews in the East. Yet it might just as well have been the representative of any of a hundred different world views who chose to debate him that day, for they all met here on equal terms, all contending (though they little knew it at the time) for the intellectual fate of Europe and the world.

Blogged with the Flock Browser

Praying People into the Confessional

2010-05-25T10:33:00.001-04:00

Praying People into the Confessional

Posted using ShareThis

reflections of pope john paul II

2010-03-10T08:54:00.002-05:00

as a youngin I never realized how many accomplishments he had in his time as pope.
this is an excerpt from the book im currently reading. "our lady of guadalupe mother of the civilization of love"

-canonized and beatified hundreds of people
-wrote numerous encyclicals
-commissioned the catechism of the catholic church... the first work of its kind of more than 400 yrs.

2010-02-17T19:06:00.002-05:00

today is ash Wednesday once again. i have decided to give up slurpies and to say a rosary every day. i think this will be good for me. i am way too addicted to slurpies and extra praying is always a good thing.

2010-02-15T10:26:00.002-05:00

yesterday was very nice. we went to mass in the morning. it was a very special mass for me because it was being said for my grandma. i need to start saying some novenas for her. i am so forgetful...

anyways- the mass was very nice. from the music to the readings it just felt perfect.

that evening we ended up celebrating my bday since i work on it. was really nice, had some of my favorite foods plus ice cream cake! yum!! valentines gifts as well, plenty of sweets around this place. very dangerous.

2010-02-13T18:02:00.001-05:00

states!

2010-02-13T17:55:00.001-05:00

my sister had her pom state competition today. It is always fun to watch however they didnt do very good. one of the girls took a tumble. i was able to get some really nice pictures!

pics coming soon!

2010-01-24T17:12:00.003-05:00

recently I have been trying to cook alot more. especially baking! I think this is my way of mourning the recent death in my family. something that we shared. well anyways i just made these cinnamon apple muffins. so far i havent had one yet but they look awesome! i had to hurry up and get them done before going to church. once we get back i am going to take them out of the tins and put some sugar on them.

homily from the pope on christmas eve

2009-12-25T14:16:00.001-05:00

Dear Brothers and Sisters!

“A child is born for us, a son is given to us” (Is 9:5).

What Isaiah prophesied as he gazed into the future from afar, consoling Israel amid its trials and its darkness, is now proclaimed to the shepherds as a present reality by the Angel, from whom a cloud of light streams forth: “To you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord” (Lk 2:11). The Lord is here. From this moment, God is truly “God with us”.

No longer is he the distant God who can in some way be perceived from afar, in creation and in our own consciousness. He has entered the world. He is close to us.

The words of the risen Christ to his followers are addressed also to us: “Lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age” (Mt 28:20). For you the Saviour is born: through the Gospel and those who proclaim it, God now reminds us of the message that the Angel announced to the shepherds. It is a message that cannot leave us indifferent.

If it is true, it changes everything. If it is true, it also affects me. Like the shepherds, then, I too must say: Come on, I want to go to Bethlehem to see the Word that has occurred there. The story of the shepherds is included in the Gospel for a reason. They show us the right way to respond to the message that we too have received. What is it that these first witnesses of God’s incarnation have to tell us?

The first thing we are told about the shepherds is that they were on the watch they could hear the message precisely because they were awake. We must be awake, so that we can hear the message. We must become truly vigilant people. What does this mean?

The principal difference between someone dreaming and someone awake is that the dreamer is in a world of his own. His “self” is locked into this dreamworld that is his alone and does not connect him with others. To wake up means to leave that private world of one’s own and to enter the common reality, the truth that alone can unite all people.

Conflict and lack of reconciliation in the world stem from the fact that we are locked into our own interests and opinions, into our own little private world. Selfishness, both individual and collective, makes us prisoners of our interests and our desires that stand against the truth and separate us from one another. Awake, the Gospel tells us. Step outside, so as to enter the great communal truth, the communion of the one God. To awake, then, means to develop a receptivity for God: for the silent promptings with which he chooses to guide us; for the many indications of his presence.

There are people who describe themselves as “religiously tone deaf.” The gift of a capacity to perceive God seems as if it is withheld from some. And indeed our way of thinking and acting, the mentality of today’s world, the whole range of our experience is inclined to deaden our receptivity for God, to make us “tone deaf” towards him. And yet in every soul, the desire for God, the capacity to encounter him, is present, whether in a hidden way or overtly. In order to arrive at this vigilance, this awakening to what is essential, we should pray for ourselves and for others, for those who appear “tone deaf” and yet in whom there is a keen desire for God to manifest himself.

The great theologian Origen said this: if I had the grace to see as Paul saw, I could even now (during the Liturgy) contemplate a great host of angels (cf. in Lk 23 :9). And indeed, in the sacred liturgy, we are surrounded by the angels of God and the saints. The Lord himself is present in our midst. Lord, open the eyes of our hearts, so that we may become vigilant and clear-sighted, in this way bringing you close to others as well!

Let us return to the Christmas Gospel. It tells us that after listening to the Angel’s message, the shepherds said one to another: “‘Let us go over to Bethlehem’ they went at once” (Lk 2:15f.). “They made haste” is literally what the Greek text says. What had been announced to them was so important that they had to go immediately?

In fact, what had been said to them was utterly out of the ordinary. It changed the world.

The Saviour is born. The long-awaited Son of David has come into the world in his own city. What could be more important?

No doubt they were partly driven by curiosity, but first and foremost it was their excitement at the wonderful news that had been conveyed to them, of all people, to the little ones, to the seemingly unimportant. They made haste they went at once.

In our daily life, it is not like that.

For most people, the things of God are not given priority, they do not impose themselves on us directly And so the great majority of us tend to postpone them.

First we do what seems urgent here and now. In the list of priorities God is often more or less at the end. We can always deal with that later, we tend to think. The Gospel tells us: God is the highest priority. If anything in our life deserves haste without delay, then, it is God’s work alone. The Rule of Saint Benedict contains this teaching: “Place nothing at all before the work of God (i.e., the divine office)”.

For monks, the Liturgy is the first priority. Everything else comes later. In its essence, though, this saying applies to everyone. God is important, by far the most important thing in our lives. The shepherds teach us this priority. From them we should learn not to be crushed by all the pressing matters in our daily lives. From them we should learn the inner freedom to put other tasks in second place however important they may be so as to make our way towards God, to allow him into our lives and into our time. Time given to God and, in his name, to our neighbour is never time lost. It is the time when we are most tr uly alive, when we live our humanity to the full.

Some commentators point out that the shepherds, the simple souls, were the first to come to Jesus in the manger and to encounter the Redeemer of the world. The wise men from the East, representing those with social standing and fame, arrived much later. The commentators go on to say: this is quite natural. The shepherds lived nearby. They only needed to “come over” (cf. Lk 2:15), as we do when we go to visit our neighbours.

The wise men, however, lived far away. They had to undertake a long and arduous journey in order to arrive in Bethlehem. And they needed guidance and direction. Today too there are simple and lowly souls who live very close to the Lord. They are, so to speak, his neighbours and they can easily go to see him.

But most of us in the world today live far from Jesus Christ, the incarnate God who came to dwell amongst us.

We live our lives by philosophies, amid worldly affairs and occupations that totally absorb us and are a great distance from the manger. In all kinds of ways, God has to prod us and reach out to us again and again, so that we can manage to escape from the muddle of our thoughts and activities and discover the way that leads to him.

But a path exists for all of us.

The Lord provides everyone with tailor-made signals. He calls each one of us, so that we too can say: “Come on, ‘let us go over’ to Bethlehem to the God who has come to meet us.”

Yes indeed, God has set out towards us. Left to ourselves we could not reach him. The path is too much for our strength. But God has come down. He comes towards us. He has travelled the longer part of the journey. Now he invites us: come and see how much I love you. Come and see that I am here.

Transeamus usque Bethlehem, the Latin Bible says.

Let us go there! Let us surpass ourselves! Let us journey towards God in all sorts of ways: along our interior path towards him, but also along very concrete paths the Liturgy of the Church, the service of our neighbour, in whom Christ awaits us.

Let us once again listen directly to the Gospel. The shepherds tell one another the reason why they are setting off: “Let us see this thing that has happened.” Literally the Greek text says: “Let us see this Word that has occurred there.” Yes indeed, such is the radical newness of this night: the Word can be seen. For it has become flesh. The God of whom no image may be made because any image would only diminish, or rather distort him this God has himself become visible in the One who is his true image, as Saint Paul puts it (cf. 2 Cor 4:4; Col 1:15).

In the figure of Jesus Christ, in the whole of his life and ministry, in his dying and rising, we can see the Word of God and hence the mystery of the living God himself. This is what God is like. The Angel had said to the shepherds: “This will be a sign for you: you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger” (Lk 2:12; cf. 2:16). God’s sign, the sign given to the shepherds and to us, is not an astonishing miracle.

God’s sign is his humility.

God’s sign is that he makes himself small; he becomes a child; he lets us touch him and he asks for our love.

How we would prefer a different sign, an imposing, irresistible sign of God’s power and greatness! But his sign summons us to faith and love, and thus it gives us hope: this is what God is like.

He has power, he is Goodness itself. He invites us to become like him.

Yes indeed, we become like God if we allow ourselves to be shaped by this sign; if we ourselves learn humility and hence true greatness; if we renounce violence and use only the weapons of truth and love.

Origen, taking up one of John the Baptist’s sayings, saw the essence of paganism expressed in the symbol of stones: paganism is a lack of feeling, it means a heart of stone that is incapable of loving and perceiving God’s love. Origen says of the pagans: “Lacking feeling and reason, they are transformed into stones and wood” (in Lk 22:9).

Christ, though, wishes to give us a heart of flesh. When we see him, the God who became a child, our hearts are opened. In the Liturgy of the holy night, God comes to us as man, so that we might become truly human. Let us listen once again to Origen: “Indeed, what use would it be to you that Christ once came in the flesh if he did not enter your soul? Let us pray that he may come to us each day, that we may be able to say: I live, yet it is no longer I that live, but Christ lives in me (Gal 2:20)” (in Lk 22:3).

Yes indeed, that is what we should pray for on this Holy Night. Lord Jesus Christ, born in Bethlehem, come to us! Enter within me, within my soul. Transform me. Renew me. Change me, change us all from stone and wood into living people, in whom your love is made present and the world is transformed. Amen.

The Four Last Things: Heaven

2009-11-25T09:06:00.001-05:00

The Four Last Things: Heaven

Posted using ShareThis

Muppets Take On Bohemian Rhapsody at 1080p [VIDEO]

2009-11-24T16:15:00.000-05:00

Muppets Take On Bohemian Rhapsody at 1080p [VIDEO]

very awesome!

Mich. Priest Battling H1N1 Virus - Detroit Local News Story - WDIV Detroit

2009-11-24T16:10:00.000-05:00

Mich. Priest Battling H1N1 Virus - Detroit Local News Story - WDIV Detroit

we should all pray for him

my prayer for today

2009-11-14T11:42:00.001-05:00

Image via Wikipedia

from: eucharistic adoration for priests
PANGE LINGUA
(by St. Thomas Aquinas)

Of the glorious Body telling,
O my tongue, its mysteries sing,
And the Blood, all price excelling,
Which the world's eternal King,
In a noble womb once dwelling
Shed for the world's ransoming.

Given for us, descending,
Of a Virgin to proceed,
Man with man in converse blending,
Scattered he the Gospel seed,
Till his sojourn drew to ending,
Which he closed in wondrous deed.

At the last great Supper lying
Circled by his brethren's band,
Meekly with the law complying,
First he finished its command
Then, immortal Food supplying,
Gave himself with his own hand.

Word made Flesh, by word he maketh
Very bread his Flesh to be;
Man in wine Christ's Blood partaketh:
And if senses fail to see,
Faith alone the true heart waketh
To behold the mystery.

Therefore we, before him bending,
This great Sacrament revere;
Types and shadows have their ending,
For the newer rite is here;
Faith, our outward sense befriending,
Makes the inward vision clear.

Glory let us give, and blessing
To the Father and the Son;
Honour, might, and praise addressing,
While eternal ages run;
Ever too his love confessing,
Who, from both, with both is one.
Amen.

R. Thou hast given them bread from heaven.
V. Having within it all sweetness.

Let us pray:

O God, who in this wonderful Sacrament left us a memorial of Thy Passion:

grant, we implore Thee,

that we may so venerate the sacred mysteries of Thy Body and Blood,

as always to be conscious of the fruit of Thy Redemption.

Thou who livest and reignest forever and ever.
R. Amen.

from | Vultus Christi

2009-11-06T09:44:00.000-05:00

Lord Jesus Christ, Priest and Victim,
behold, I kneel before Thy Eucharistic Face
on behalf of all Thy priests:
(Fathers N. and N.)
and especially those priests of Thine,
who at this moment are most in need
of Thy grace.
For them and in their place,
allow me to remain,
adoring and full of confidence,
close to Thy Open Heart,
hidden in this, the Sacrament of Thy Love.

Through the Sorrowful and Immaculate
Heart of Mary,
our Advocate and the Mediatrix of All Graces,
pour forth upon all the priests of Thy Church
that torrent of mercy that ever flows
from Thy pierced side:
to purify and heal them,
to refresh and sanctify them,
and, at the hour of their death,
to make them worthy of joining Thee
before the Father in the heavenly sanctuary
beyond the veil (Hb 6:19)
where Thou art always living
to make intercession
for us (Hb 7:25). Amen.

An adorer of the Eucharistic Face of Jesus is happy to take his place before the altar. He makes his own the psalmist's inspired words:

My heart hath said to thee: My face hath sought thee:
thy face, O Lord, will I still seek.
Turn not away thy face from me.
(Psalm 26: 8-9)

Behold, O God our protector: and look on the face of thy Christ.
For better is one day in thy courts above thousands.
(Psalm 83:9-10)

I am always with thee.
Thou hast held me by my right hand;
and by thy will thou hast conducted me, and with thy glory thou hast received me.
For what have I in heaven? and besides thee what do I desire upon earth?
For thee my flesh and my heart hath fainted away:
thou art the God of my heart, and the God that is my portion for ever.
For behold they that go far from thee shall perish:
thou hast destroyed all them that are disloyal to thee.
But it is good for me to adhere to my God, to put my hope in the Lord God:
That I may declare all thy praises, in the gates of the daughter of Sion.
(Psalm 72: 24-28)

An adorer of the Eucharistic Face of Jesus opens his inmost soul to the radiance of Our Lord's sacramental countenance. He exposes himself to the One who is exposed before his eyes, and asks to be wounded with the love of His Eucharistic Heart. Enboldened by the words of the Bridegroom in the Canticle, he dares to pray:

"Wound my heart with the love of the Eucharistic Heart.
Make me completely Thine.
Unite me to Thyself in the indestructible bond of Thy Divine Friendship.
Do for me, and in me, and through me,
all that Thou desirest to do for, and in, and through each one of Thy priests.
Let me offer myself to the Mercy which others refuse;
let me believe in the Love that others doubt;
let me accept the Friendship that others ignore
because I am a poor sinner amidst poor sinners,
and because I, even more than others,
have betrayed Thy Mercy, spurned Thy Love, and abused Thy Friendship.

My confidence is immense
because Thou art Love
and because Thou offerest the Friendship of Thy Heart
even to those sinners who have offended Thee most grievously.
Remove then from my soul every obstacle to Thy grace
and every resistance to Thy loving friendship,
until I am completely and forever Thine,
for Thy glory
and for the sake of Thy beloved priests.
Amen."

An adorer of the Eucharistic Face of Jesus prays as the Holy Spirit inspires him to pray: at times in an adoring silence, at times groaning and in tears, and at times in words as they are given him to utter.

Beloved Jesus,
Thou knowest all things and Thou searchest the hearts of men,
despising iniquity, and ready, at every moment,
to purify and heal tem
by a powerful and gentle infusion of Thy Mercy.

To all that Thou art and to all that Thou wouldst do in me,
I say "Yes."
I surrender entirely to the operations of Thy merciful Love
and to the action of the Holy Spirit.
I am all Thine,
and I abandon myself to Thy own burning desire to become my All.
Thou, O Jesus, art enough for me
for in Thee alone lies the happiness
for which Thou didst create me
and which Thou desirest to give me in this life
and in eternity. Amen."

getting your views out

2009-11-06T09:32:00.001-05:00

if you click on this link you will find a pro life banner on the recources page.

clipped from www.feedly.com

"Health Care Reform should be about saving lives NOT destroying them" is the slogan of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops ‘ campaign to oppose vigorously the current health care legislation before the US Congress. Abortion providers stand to receive millions of our taxpayer dollars for their deadly work if the bills are not properly amended. The right of medical practitioners to decline to perform immoral procedures because of conscientious objection is not protected in the current drafts. Bureaucrats will be giving the gravely ill and elderly voluntary "end of life counseling" and others will decide who gets life-saving treatments and who won’t, as we see already in Britain.

handcandle

2009-11-05T15:30:00.001-05:00

handcandle, originally uploaded by kmoranty.

from catholic exchange

2009-10-20T13:58:00.001-04:00

In recent years it has become commonplace to turn funerals into casual canonizations. “Bob is in a better place,” we’re told, which, if taken literally, can only mean Heaven, as neither Hell nor Purgatory are better places than earth. Never mind the fact that Bob wasn‘t very generous with his time or money, drank too much, rarely read Catholic books or listened to Catholic radio, and in his retirement, watched baseball and football games most of the day, to the detriment of his marriage. He did, however, get to Mass every Sunday, prayed a few times during the week, and managed to make a good confession before dying.

Hardly the stuff you’d find in Butler’s Lives of the Saints , yet we’re told that Bob is now in Heaven, which is another way of saying he’s a saint. After all, there are no other kinds of people in Heaven–either we’re perfected here below, or we have the job finished in Purgatory. You will not find in Heaven a bunch of saints on one side and a bunch of imperfect sinners on the other. No, in Heaven all are perfected , because God is Pure Holiness, and in His Presence nothing unholy can exist. “And there shall not enter into [Heaven] anything defiled,” we read in Revelation 21:27.

So those of us who die in a state of grace but are still in need of perfecting, will go through the pains of Purgatory before entering Heaven. St. Catherine of Genoa (1447-1510) bluntly stated after a vision that “The souls [in Purgatory] endure a torment so extreme that no tongue can describe it, nor could the understanding conceive the least notion of it, if God did not make it known by a particular grace.” She even went so far as to say that the sufferings of Purgatory are “equal to those of Hell” (as far as intensity, not duration).

Because it is certain that the imperfect (which, in the absence of gaining a plenary indulgence, would include Bob) go through Purgatory before getting to Heaven, and because Purgatory is unimaginably painful, it is easy to see that casual canonizations are not at all compassionate, but are in fact very cruel. They deprive the faithful departed of many prayers and good works that could have helped them get through Purgatory sooner, and they encourage spiritual sloth in those present at the funeral. “If Bob is in Heaven, I don’t have to make too much of an effort to get there either,” one would logically think, if he believes the casual canonization to be true. “Pour me another beer…”

“But Bob was nice to me,” you say.

Bob may have been “nice” to you–that is, he may not have hurt your feelings, but your feelings are not the measure of someone else’s sanctity (or your own). We read from the Prophet Isaiah, “ For my thoughts are not your thoughts: nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. As high as the heavens are above the earth, so high are my ways above your ways, and my thoughts above your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9). Our human standards fall infinitely short of Our Lord’s standards.

In fact, being “nice” was not endorsed by Our Lord, but He did declare charity to be an absolute requirement. (Cf. Matthew 22:37-39). St. Paul says that “if I have prophecy and know all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so as to remove mountains, yet do not have charity, I am nothing.” (1 Corinthians 13:2). Without charity, we are nothing. Could it be stated more plainly?

With such an exacting requirement, we should know exactly what charity is: the theological virtue by which we love God above all else and our neighbor as ourselves for the love of God. Therefore, telling someone that his recent divorce and remarriage are okay may be “nice,” but it is most certainly not charitable. In other words, you may avoid hurting his feelings, but you encourage him to remain in grave sin, which, if done with deliberation and not repented of, will lead to everlasting misery in Hell. Not charitable at all.

The source and destination of charity is God. We get all our ability to be charitable from God, and all our charity is then directed back to God, either directly (in worship) or indirectly through others (in good works). Thus, someone who wants what is best for his neighbor will not lie to him, but will tell him the truth, which can help lead him to Heaven. In light of this, we see that Bob being “nice” to you may even have been a vice, not a virtue.

“But Bob was baptized,” you object.

The answer to that objection is found from the Fathers of the Council of Trent, who declared unequivocally that

If anyone says that after the reception of the grace of justification…guilt is so remitted and the debt of eternal punishment so blotted out to every repentant sinner, that no debt of temporal punishment remains to be discharged, either in this world or in Purgatory, before the gates of Heaven can be opened, let him be anathema. (Session 6, Chapter 16, Canon 30)

In other words, just because you’ve been baptized, doesn’t mean you go straight to Heaven when you die. (Baptized children who have not yet reached the age of reason and die, do go straight to Heaven, as they are not capable of committing personal sin.) A man who was baptized as an infant, but who goes on to live for many decades, will likely have much sin to deal with. Our friend Bob choose to live out his Catholicism halfheartedly, which is another way of saying that he sinned a lot. Deliberately contradicting God’s Will is by definition, sinning. While not an apostate, Bob was not a saint, either.

“But it must say in the liturgical books that you’re supposed to say something good about the deceased,” you suggest.

Actually, there is no such instruction in the liturgical books, and in fact, there is an explicit directive to refrain from eulogies. The priest is clearly told in Number 382 of the General Instruction of the Roman Missal (GIRM) that “At the Funeral Mass there should, as a rule, be a short homily, but never a eulogy of any kind.” In other words, no casual canonizations.

Funerals are not a time to celebrate how wonderful we are, but a time to ponder how wonderful God is. St. Louis de Montfort (1673-1716) observed that

We are naturally prouder than peacocks, more groveling than toads…more envious than serpents, more gluttonous than hogs, more furious than tigers, lazier than tortoises, weaker than reeds, and more capricious than weathervanes. We have within ourselves nothing but nothingness and sin, and we deserve nothing but the anger of God and everlasting Hell.

When was the last time you heard that in a homily?

The fact that we’re sinners may not be pleasant, but once acknowledged, we can get on with living a truly holy life. How so? When we know our own weakness, we can then ask God for help. We can live in Him, rather than hopelessly trying to do it on our own. As St. Therese of Lisieux (1873-1897) asked, “If you are nothing, do you forget that Jesus is everything?” Then she added, “You have only to lose your nothingness in His infinity and think only of loving Him.”

Funerals, like the rest of life, are about God first, us second–and the second part only has meaning insofar as we live in God. So we pray for the deceased and remember that one day we will die as well–a thought which leads us to prepare properly by doing penance, all the while trusting in the boundless Mercy of God.

“But God is merciful–you just said so. Then why can’t we go straight to Heaven?” you ask.

We can go straight to Heaven. The problem is, most of us do not will to do so. God’s grace is never lacking, but our interest in His grace often is. Those who are not at all interested, do not pray at all; those who are somewhat interested, pray sometimes; those who are very interested pray regularly. Humble and persistent prayer for the light to know and the strength to do God’s Will is essential for someone who wants to go straight to Heaven after death. St. Teresa of Avila (1515-1582) says that

Those who give themselves to prayer should concentrate solely on this: the conformity of their wills with the Divine Will. They should be convinced that this constitutes their highest perfection. The more fully they practice this, the greater the gifts they will receive from God, and the greater the progress they will make in the interior life.

St. Alphonsus Liguori (1696-1787) explains further that

…to save one’s soul without prayer is most difficult and even…impossible, according to the ordinary course of God’s providence. But by praying our salvation is made secure…What does it cost us to say, ‘My God, help me! Lord, assist me! have mercy on me!’ Is there anything easier than this? And this little will suffice to save us, if we will be diligent in doing it…

…let us understand, that if we do not pray, we have no excuse, because the grace of prayer is given to everyone. It is in our power to pray whenever we will…God gives to all the grace of prayer, in order that thereby they may obtain every help, and even more than they need, for keeping the divine law, and for persevering until death. If we are not saved, the whole fault will be ours; and we shall have our own failure to answer for, because we did not pray.

What is true with salvation in general is true with going straight to Heaven in particular. God is always willing to provide us with all we need, so if we do not go straight to Heaven, we can blame no one but ourselves, because we did not pray as well or as often as we should have. Let us remedy this problem by giving more attention to prayer, or, if necessary, start praying again. Then after a life of virtue, a real canonization may be in order for us. In the absence of such virtue, we can conclude that casual canonizations are cruel, not compassionate.

(Adapted from the article that originally appeared in Catholic Men’s Quarterly )

school news

2009-08-18T09:58:00.002-04:00

I am very excited and pretty nervous about starting school. today I will be going in to sign for my loan. I really do hope that everything will work out. I was actually suprised that my manager at work was willing to help me with changing my schedule since it was all of a sudden. I thought for sure that I was going to have to wait till the winter to take this class. I mean it wouldnt be the worse thing but its like since I'm starting the process of finding a school I really didnt want to stop. When it comes to things like school if I stop I wont be going back anytime soon. I have to keep going.

2009-07-10T12:05:00.002-04:00

ive been noticing the more i pay attention and try to put myself in God's point of view the more appalled I am at the world and the way I used to live. just watching tv there are lots of shows I would think nothing about. I might have even found them hilarious. now I look at it and all I see is the damage it did to me. for the longest time I tried to kid myself that I could live one foot in this world and one out. after a few tries i finally said ok thats enough. I'm not being fair to me or to God.

I am much happier now. I am a bit lonely. It's hard when you have friends that are still in the world. I feel like im living in gomorrah.

2009-07-05T20:05:00.002-04:00

a few days ago a lady i know from church lost her husband. he was sick for several years and finally lost his battle. i have been paying attention since then. it has been amazing to me how much the church has been very supportive for her. in the past i have always felt that the church i go to lacked that type of closeness. i know alot of people there but it always seemed like it was more of just being cordial. i guess it just depends on the circles you run in.

here is a pic going around of some of our new bishops!

2009-06-29T20:04:00.002-04:00

God is Faithful!

2009-06-28T08:21:00.002-04:00

this link is for a post by mark shea off of the catholic exchange website.
I highly suggest reading some of his work. he really knows his stuff and is very down to earth about it all. I read alot of catholic blogs and sometimes I get more confused afterwards than I was to begin with lol!

anyways this post is so very crucial right now. it stops me in my tracks to read this. this advice from God was revelvant way back then when this was first being written and it is still extremely relevant now. it is amazing and just a little bit scary how history repeats itself.

the verse is short but its something that needs to stick with you with all of the noise that is going around us nowadays.

God is Faithful!

Posted using ShareThis

saint of the day by cathlolic exchange

2009-06-15T09:08:00.000-04:00

From the time of her birth in 1579 until her death at the age of 22 in 1601, Germaine Cousin’s life was filled with sickness and suffering. She was born with a deformed hand and later suffered from scrofula, a disease similar to tuberculosis that causes swelling of the lymph glands in the neck as well as inflammation of the joints. Her mother died when she was still an infant, and her father’s second wife constantly mistreated her while her father did nothing to protect her. She was forced to sleep in the stable, supposedly in order to shield her stepbrothers and sisters from her various illnesses, and her siblings soon learned to follow their mother’s example in mistreating her. From the age of nine, she was relegated to tending sheep in the area of Toulouse, France, and was practically forbidden to come into contact with the rest of the family.

Germaine, however, was extremely devout and became advanced in the virtues of humility and patience, as well as love of neighbor. She refused to miss daily Mass and would set her crook in the ground and leave her sheep in the care of her guardian angel while she attended Mass. Not once were any of her sheep lost, even though the meadow where they grazed was bordered by a forest full of ravenous wolves. The story is also told that one day she actually walked over flood waters in order to reach the church in time for Mass.

Even though her stepmother only gave her crusts of bread, Germaine would share what little she had with the village children whom she would gather around herself to teach what she knew of the catechism. The neighbors often treated her with derision, but eventually they and her parents came to realize that God was indeed favoring her, and she became an object of reverence and awe. One of the incidents that awoke them to her holiness took place on a winter’s day when her stepmother angrily accused Germaine of stealing bread and hiding it in her apron: when she forced Germaine to open her apron, out fell a bunch of beautiful summer flowers.

Her parents finally invited Germaine back into the house, but she begged to be allowed to continue living as before. At the age of 22, she was found dead on her straw pallet, worn out by a life of illness and suffering. About half a century after her death, her body was found to be still incorrupt and was exposed for a year, becoming an object of great veneration and the source of countless miracles.

Lessons

1. St. Germaine is considered by many to be the patron of abused children. May those of us who have suffered any kind of abuse look to St. Germaine for strength and charity towards our abusers, praying for healing and the grace to forgive.

2. In the same way, may we who find ourselves in the role of step-parent find it in ourselves to treat all the children in our care with love and tenderness, taking as our model St. Joseph, the foster father of Jesus.

3. Germaine’s neighbors thought she was a hypocrite and called her "the little bigot." Very often those who do not practice their faith are made uncomfortable by those who do and so feel they must deride any signs of devotion or piety. If we find ourselves being scorned for the practice of our faith, let us pray to St. Germaine for the courage and true humility to love God and practice our faith without fear of how we look to others.

Other Saints We Remember Today

Saints Vitus, Modestus, and Crescentia , (300) Martyrs, S. Vitus is the Patron against nervous diseases and epilepsy (St. Vitus’ dance)

Blessed Jolenta (Helena) (1299), Widow, Religious, Foundress

Focus on the Real Presence

2009-06-13T11:34:00.001-04:00

Focus on the Real Presence

Posted using ShareThis

by mark shea from catholic exchange

2009-06-01T10:54:00.000-04:00

Psalm 91:1-2

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High,
who abides in the shadow of the Almighty,
will say to the LORD, “My refuge and my fortress;
my God, in whom I trust.”

The Sabbath is a day for rest because it is a day for trust. We do not rest easily when we live in fear. If we do rest easily, it is because we know we are safe. Every Sunday is a reminder that the Lord has won us safety from the ultimate fear: death. And if he has done that, then all our other fears are small potatos. This Sunday, thank God for the rest he has won for you by sleeping of death and by rising again on the third day.

pope's africa trip

2009-03-22T18:42:00.002-04:00

I have been thinking about the outrage over the comments the pope made about the use of condoms and aids. I think perhaps he could have worded his comments in a better way to be more clear however I think he was completely right. The people that use condoms use them as an insurance to do pretty much whatever they want. they see sex as recreation instead of tool to better the themselves and their family. we were made in a way that made sex enjoyable but that isn't the sole purpose of it. instead of putting some serious thought into their decision of who to have sex with they are using the condoms as a reason to have sex with whoever they want. they are minimizing the affect of sex.

St. Patrick

2009-03-17T21:09:00.002-04:00

I went to church this evening. I have been thinking of my priests homily about St. Patrick.
He was saying that St. Patrick didn't want to be there in Ireland. He hated the place but he kept coming back because he knew that God wanted him there. He knew that every country needed to be taught. So even though the people weren't very open to what he had to say he knew he had to keep trying. I think we have alot we can learn from him. It is very easy to become discouraged because whatever we are doing isn't easy. we can all learn from St. Patrick's patience and dedication.

pope benedict on eucharistic adoration

2009-03-14T18:37:00.002-04:00

This Lent I have really tried to make the most of it. Before this year I would just kind of go through Lent without really doing much. I might not eat any meat on fridays but other than that I would doing anything else. This year I have been going to mass more. not just on the weekends but sometimes during the week as well. I have also been doing some reading. I thought reading about the Eucharist would be very fitting.

Over the last few days, the first Plenary Session of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments under its new Prefect, His Eminence Antonio Cardinal Cañizares Llovera, took place. The focus theme of its work was Eucharistic Adoration. On Friday, the members were received in audience by His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI. Here is an NLM translation of the allocution the Holy Father gave on that occasion with some particularly relevant sections highlighted:

My Lord Cardinals,

Venerable Brothers in the Episcopate and the Priesthood,

Dear brothers!

With great joy and deep gratitude I receive you, on the occasion of the Plenary Session of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. On this important occasion I am pleased, first, to extend my cordial greetings to the Prefect, the Lord Cardinal Antonio Cañizares Llovera, whom I thank for the words with which he illustrated the work done in these days and gave expression to the feelings of those who are present here today. [NLM note: Cardinal Cañizares in his addres to the Holy Father specifically mentioned the recent letter of the Pope regarding the lifting of the excommunication of the bishops consecrated by Archbishop Lefebvre in 1988 and assured the Holy Father of the unanimous adhesion of the members of the Congregation to the content of the letter, and of their filial collaboration, most sincere and profound closeness and loving solidarity.] I extend my affectionate greeting and my heartfelt thanks to all the Members and Officials of the Dicastery, starting with the Secretary, Archbishop Malcolm Ranjith, and the Under Secretary, through to all the others who, in different tasks, provide with expertise and dedication their service for "the regulation and promotion of the sacred liturgy" (Pastor Bonus, no. 62). In the Plenary Session you have reflected on the Mystery of the Eucharist and, in particular, on the theme of Eucharistic adoration. I know well that, following the publication of the Instruction "Eucharisticum mysterium" of 25 May 1967 and the promulgation, on 21 June 1973, of the Document "De sacra communione et cultu mysterii eucharistici extra Missam", the insistence on the theme of the Eucharist as the inexhaustible source of holiness has been a concern of the first priority for the dicastery.

I have therefore willingly accepted the proposal that the Plenary Session occupy itself with the subject of Eucharistic adoration, in the confidence that a renewed collegial reflection on this practice could contribute to make clear, within the limits of competence of the Congregation, the liturgical and pastoral means with which the Church of our times can promote the faith in the Real Presence of the Lord in the Holy Eucharist and ensure to the celebration of Mass throughout the dimension of adoration. I stressed this aspect in the Apostolic Exhortation Sacramentum Caritatis, in which I gathered the fruits of the XI Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod, held in October 2005. In it, highlighting the importance of the intrinsic relationship between celebration and adoration of the Eucharist (cf. no. 66), I quoted the teaching of Saint Augustine: "Nemo autem illam carnem manducat, nisi prius adoraverit; peccemus non adorando" [NLM translation: "No one eat this flesh, if he has not adored it before; for we sin if we do not adore."] (Enarrationes in Psalmos, 98, 9: CCL 39, 1385). The Synod Fathers have not failed to express concern about a certain confusion generated, after the II Vatican Council, about the relationship between Mass and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament (cf. Sacramentum Caritatis, n. 66). In this was echoed what my Predecessor, Pope John Paul II, had already expressed about the deviations that have sometimes contaminated the post-conciliar liturgical renewal, revealing "a very reductive understanding of the Eucharistic Mystery" (Ecclesia de Eucharistia, no. 10 ).

The Second Vatican Council emphasized the unique role that the Eucharistic Mystery has in the life of the faithful (Sacrosanctum Concilium, nos. 48-54, 56). As Pope Paul VI has repeatedly affirmed: "the Eucharist is a very great mystery, even properly, as the Sacred Liturgy says, the mystery of faith" (Mysterium fidei, no. 15). The Eucharist is indeed at the very origins of the Church (cf. John Paul II, Ecclesia de Eucharistia, no. 21) and is the source of grace, constituting an incomparable opportunity for both the sanctification of humanity in Christ and for the glorification of God. In this sense, on the one hand , all the Church's activities are ordered towards the mystery of the Eucharist (cf. Sacrosanctum Concilium, no. 10; Lumen gentium, no. 11; Presbyterorum ordinis, no. 5; Sacramentum caritatis, no. 17), and, on the other hand, it is in virtue of the Eucharist that "the Church continually lives and grows" (Lumen gentium, no. 26). Our task is to appreciate the invaluable treasure of this ineffable mystery of faith "both in the celebration of the Mass itself and in the worship of the sacred species, which are preserved after Mass to extend the grace of the Sacrifice" (Instruction Eucharisticum mysterium, no. 3, lit. g). The doctrine of the transsubstantiation of bread and wine and of the Real Presence are truths of the Faith already evident in Scripture itself, and then confirmed by the Fathers of the Church. Pope Paul VI, in this regard, recalled that "not only has the Catholic Church always taught, but also lived the faith in the presence of the body and blood of Christ in the Eucharist, always adoring with latreutic worship, which is only due to God, so great a Sacrament" (Mysterium Fidei, no. 56; cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 1378).

It is worth recalling in this regard, the various meanings which the word "adoration" has in Greek and in Latin. The Greek word proskýnesis indicates the gesture of submission, the acknowledgment of God as our true measure, the norm of which we accept to follow. The Latin word ad-oratio, however, denotes the physical contact, the kiss, the embrace, which is implicit in the idea of love [NLM note: the root here is "os", mouth; the ancient oriental gesture of greeting a ruler, translated into Latin as "adoratio", involved touching the right hand to the mouth]. The aspect of submission foresees a relationship of union, because he to whom we submit is Love. Indeed, in the Eucharist adoration must become union: union with the living Lord and then with his Mystical Body. As I told the young people on the plain of Marienfeld, in Cologne, during the Holy Mass on the occasion of the XX World Youth Day, on August 2005: " God no longer simply stands before us as the One who is totally Other. He is within us, and we are in him. His dynamic enters into us and then seeks to spread outwards to others until it fills the world, so that his love can truly become the dominant measure of the world."(Insegnamenti, vol. I, 2005, pp. 457 f.). In this perspective, I reminded the young people that in the Eucharist one lives the "first fundamental transformation of violence into love, of death into life; this brings other transformations in its wake. Bread and wine become his Body and Blood. But the transformation must not stop there; on the contrary, the process of transformation must hee fully begin. The Body and Blood of Christ are given to us so that we ourselves will be transformed in our turn."(ibid., p. 457).

My predecessor, Pope John Paul II, in his Apostolic Letter "Spiritus et Sponsa", on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Constitution Sacrosanctum Concilium on the Sacred Liturgy, urged to take the necessary steps to deepen the experience of renewal. This is important also with respect to the subject of Eucharistic adoration. Such a deepening will be possible only through an increased knowledge of the mystery in full fidelity to sacred Tradition and increasing the liturgical life within our communities (cf. Spiritus et Sponsa, nos. 6-7). In this regard, I appreciate in particular that the Plenary Session has occupied itself with the subject of educating the entire People of God in the Faith, with special attention to the seminarians, to promote the growth in a spirit of true Eucharistic adoration. St. Thomas, in fact, explains: "That in this sacrament is present the true Body and the true Blood of Christ cannot be learned with the senses, but by faith alone, which is based on the authority of God" (Summa theologiæ, III, 75, 1; cf. Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 1381).

We are living the days of Holy Lent, which is not only a journey of more intense spiritual apprenticeship, but also an effective preparation to better celebrate Holy Easter. Recalling three penitential practices very dear to biblical and Christian tradition - prayer, almsgiving, fasting -, let us encourage each other to rediscover and live with renewed fervor fasting not only as an ascetic practice, but also as preparation for the Eucharist and as a spiritual weapon to fight against any eventual inordinate attachment to ourselves. May this intense period of liturgical life help us to remove everything which distracts the mind and to intensify what nourishes the soul, opening it to the love of God and neighbor. With these sentiments, I express already now to all of you my best wishes for the coming Feast of Easter, and while I thank you for the work you have done in this Plenary Session, as well as for all the work of the Congregation, I impart to each of you with affection my Blessing.

lenten thoughts

2009-03-01T16:21:00.002-05:00

This weekend I felt very grateful for the gospel readings. sometimes during lent it can be very hard to keep out resolutions. this year i choose to give up pop. my mother and sister also gave it up so while it is still difficult to give something up that has become a part of our everyday lives i think it is easier than it would be sense I have this support.

I find it very comforting when we are reminding that even Jesus was tempted. Sometimes I feel so weak because I am constantly having to remind myself of my resolutions. I think sometimes its easy to think of Jesus as the God but we forget that he was also human. Because he was human he can completely understand our weaknesses.

march prayer intentions

2009-03-01T15:46:00.000-05:00

General Intention

Dignity of Women. That all nations of our world may grow in appreciation of the dignity and value of women and their roles in society.

Pope Benedict XVI asks us to pray that the world may grow in its appreciation of the dignity of women. The Church has much to say on this topic — some question whether the Church has practiced what it has preached.

The Scriptures say: “God created man in his image; in the divine image he created him; male and female he created them” (Gen.1:27). The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that men and women are equal in dignity, both expressing the goodness of God (369). Sadly, in this world both are often subjected t humiliation. Women receive a disproportionate share of humiliation. If we ourselves haven’t experienced it, we have all observed the humiliation of women in some form. Women are abused physically, economically, educationally, psychologically, and socially. Misogyny (disrespect for women) runs deep and long through many cultures all over the world, including our own. Just as the Church opposes racism, it opposes sexism. It wants us all to be aware of the prevailing disrespect for women and to pray, speak, and act to end it.

Many criticize the Church for not going far enough, seeing, for example, its refusal to consider women’s ordination as evidence of hypocrisy. Without time to review specific arguments, we need only to understand that “equal in dignity” does not mean men and women are the same. Each gender expresses the goodness of God in different ways, and each occupies different roles in society. Exactly what those roles are and can be, we are still discovering. For indeed there was a time not long ago that well-meaning Christians believed that a lay woman’s only role is that of homemaker. We are learning that women have gifts for many things.

But it’s a mistake to think that women achieve equality when they do exactly what men do. Women and men complement each other in expressing different aspects of the image of God, equally valuable; so also men and women complement each other in their roles in society. Pope Benedict and Pope John Paul II both spoke of the genius of women, recognizing in women, among other admirable traits, a tendency towards holiness, cultural sensitivity, and caring hearts and hands.

Reflection – How may you show respect for a woman today?

Scripture — Matthew 27:55 There were many women there, looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him.

Mission Intention

Church Unity in China. That all the bishops, priests, consecrated persons, and laity of the Catholic Church in China may strive to be instruments of unity, communion, and peace, as enjoined by the letter sent to them by Pope Benedict XVI.

Pope Benedict wrote a long letter to Chinese Catholics in the summer of 2007, and unity was its theme. He expressed happiness that the Church is emerging in China and, along with the nation itself, entering into a new relationship with the rest of the world.

The Pope asks us to pray for the unity of the Chinese Church because it is now divided. The official Church has its bishops appointed by the state. Meanwhile, an underground Church exists, with bishops appointed by the Vatican. The Pope understands that without unity between these two it will be difficult for the faith to grow in China.

Pope Benedict asked Chinese political leaders to recognize the “unrenounceable principles” of separation between Church and state, at the same time urging Chinese Church leaders to seek unity with the universal Church. Political and spiritual leaders both must act because the Chinese Church cannot achieve full unity with the Holy See as long as the state continues to appoint bishops. The Pope asked Chinese political leaders to recognize that a Church anchored in Rome poses no threat to the state. Although he addressed political problems, the Pope does not see the challenge of China so much as a political struggle as a spiritual duty.

The Chinese Church must introduce people to Jesus Christ, who died to take away the sins of the whole world and to restore all humanity to friendship with God. This relationship with God transcends politics and culture.

In his letter, our Holy Father expressed great respect and admiration for Chinese people, culture, and leaders. He said he hopes China will become a truly modern state, responsive to international agreements that ensure the rights of people and protect the environment.

We pray that the Chinese Church will unite with the whole Church to preach Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. Jesus is the same, yesterday, today, and forever. He is with the Church always, already establishing the Kingdom of God among all peoples, making us one.

Reflection – Why is unity so important for missionary work?

Scripture — Acts 1:8-9 “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Daily Offering Prayer

O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer You my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings of this day in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world. I offer them for all the intentions of Your Sacred Heart: the salvation of souls, reparation for sin, and the reunion of all Christians. I offer
them for the intentions of our bishops and of all Apostles of Prayer, and in particular for those recommended by our Holy Father this month.

Prayer of the Month

Father, I pray that Catholics in China may renew their communion in our Lord Jesus Christ in faithfulness to the Pope. May they receive Your grace to love their enemies and rejoice that, though they may suffer trials, their faith, like gold tested by fire, may redound to praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. May Catholics throughout the world show solidarity with the Chinese Church through their prayers and works.

-Adapted from Pope Benedict XVI’s Letter to the Church in China

St. Pauls name

2009-03-01T10:13:00.003-05:00

I always thought St. Paul was given the name Paul when he converted however after some reading I have found out that this is most likely not so. I n this time lots of families would give their boys two first names. One would be a Hebrew name and the other Latin or Greek. By doing this they were showing their pride in their religion and in their country.

by the way the name Paul means asked of God!

new quote

2009-03-01T10:12:00.001-05:00

"Conversion is nothing more than deeper discovery of what we truly desire"
-Venerable John Henry Newman

hungry

2009-03-01T10:00:00.001-05:00

It is when we are hungry that we most need the bread of life and not the banquet spread by temptation. It is when we are thirsty that we most need the cup of salvation and not the wine held out by sin. Salvation and not the wine held out by sin. It is when we are weak that we most need the strength of Christ and not our own.

evangelism

2009-02-27T13:54:00.002-05:00

Do you know where this word comes from? what it means? In Jesus' time if Caesar would have some important news it would be called evangelization. The apostles who were firs spreading Jesus' message adopted this word and became known as evangelists. This name is very fitting since the news they were spreading is very important and life changing.

power of love

2009-01-31T21:31:00.000-05:00

from the deacons bench...

What can love do?

This astonishing story out of London offers one answer:

A woman who doctors believed could remain comatose indefinitely recently revived after her husband asked her for a kiss.

Just ten days after giving birth to her son, Telford, Shropshire resident Emma Ray suffered a heart attack and collapsed while shopping with her husband, Andrew. Andrew performed mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on her, after which she was taken to a hospital where doctors were able to restart her heart.

“She could wake up the following day, she could wake up in a month, or you may be left with a sleeping beauty,” Andrew Ray said a doctor told him, according to the Daily Mail.

Andrew went to great lengths to try and rouse his 34 year-old wife from her comatose state, playing recordings of their baby son Alexander and of their daughter Ella and songs from their wedding reception.

“I would speak softly to her, clasp her hand, pinch her fingers, all the time telling her I loved her or begging her to wake up. By the time I asked her to kiss me I was approaching my wits' end,” he told the Daily Mail.

He bent over his wife’s hospital bed and said “Emma, if you can hear me, please just give me a kiss.”

“'What happened next was beyond my wildest dreams,” he told the Daily Mail. “She turned her head towards mine, puckered up her lips and gave me a little kiss.”

“I couldn't believe it. My heart felt like it was going to leap from my chest –it suddenly felt like a huge weight had been lifted.”

Doctors who witnessed the kiss were astonished by her response.

Emma ray continued to drift in an out of consciousness. Her brain had been oxygen-starved after her heart attack, resulting in short-term memory loss.

She was eventually allowed home but requires ongoing rehabilitation for the brain damage.

“The recovery is awful because I have so little memory,” Emma told the Daily Mail.

Her husband said he was grateful his wife had survived.

“She can walk quite well holding hands now, and at least our kids still have a mother and I still have a wife,” he said, according to the Daily Mail.

Photo: Andrew and Emma, from the Daily Mail.

st. john bosco

2009-01-31T21:11:00.002-05:00

I have heard the story about this saint so many times but I never felt anything for him really. There was never anything that really drew me to him. However today when I was reading about him I started thinking about how great it is that here we have another saint who completly dedicated his whole life to bettering education. most people dont appreciate how important good education is for society. Here is his bio...

From Holy Spirit Interactive:

John Bosco was born in Turin, Italy, on August 16, 1815. His parents were poor farmers. When John was two, his father died. John's mother struggled to keep the family together. As soon as he was old enough, John, too, worked as hard as he could to help his mother. He was intelligent and full of life. John started to think about becoming a priest. He didn't say anything to his mother because he knew they couldn't afford the seminary education. Besides, his mother needed help at home. So John waited and prayed and hoped. Finally, a holy priest, St. Joseph Cafasso, became aware of John's desire to be a priest. Father Cafasso helped him enter the seminary. John had to work his way through school. He learned to do all kinds of trades. He was a carpenter, a shoemaker, a cook, a pastry maker and a farmer. He did many other jobs as well. He could never have guessed how much this practical experience would help others later. John became a priest in 1841. As a priest, Don Bosco, which means Father Bosco, began his great ministry. He gathered together homeless boys and taught them trades. This way they would not have to steal or get into trouble. By 1850, there were 150 boys living at his home for boys. Don Bosco's mother was the housekeeper. At first, people did not understand what Don Bosco was trying to do. They were afraid that the boys would never really turn out well. But Don Bosco proved that they would.

"Do you want to be Don Bosco's friend?" he would ask each new boy who came to him. "You do?" he would ask happily. "Then, you must help me save your soul," he would conclude. Every night he wanted his boys to say three Hail Mary's, so that the Blessed Mother would help them keep away from sin. He also recommended that they receive the sacraments of Reconciliation and Holy Communion often and with love. One of Don Bosco's boys became a saint, St. Dominic Savio.

Don Bosco started his own religious order of priests and brothers. They were called the Salesians, after St. Francis de Sales. An order of Salesian sisters was started, too, with the help of St. Mary Mazzarello. Don Bosco died on January 31, 1888. The entire city of Turin lined the streets to pay him tribute. His funeral became a joyous proclamation of thanksgiving to God for the life of this wonderful man. A young parish priest who had once met Don Bosco later became Pope Pius XI. He had the joy of declaring Don Bosco a saint in 1934.

Reflection: "Education is something from the heart, and God alone is its master; we cannot succeed in anything unless God gives us the key to the hearts of these children."—St. John Bosco

new rnc chair

2009-01-31T21:06:00.000-05:00

just read this over at american papist. so cool! finally some good news

I'm hearing that it happened just minutes ago: Former Maryland Lt. Gov. (and former state party chairman) Michael Steele has been elected as the new chair of the Republican National Committee.

So who is he?!

CollegeNews tells us:

"Steele is a staunch social conservative: devoutly Catholic, pro-life, anti-embryonic stem cell research, etc."

Sounds like my kind of guy!

And no Kmiec-style justifications needed to support him.

update: WaPo blog:

The Republican National Committee elected Michael Steele as its first African American chairman today in Washington, a decision that came after an excruciating series of ballots that displayed a level of drama rarely seen in national politics.
On the sixth and final ballot Steele bested South Carolina Republican party Chairman Katon Dawson 91 to 77.
"It's time for something completely different and we are going to bring it to them," Steele said after his victory. "This is our opportunity. I cannot do this by myself."

update 2: I love seeing outcomes so surprising that the media doesn't quite know how to handle it. Associated Press finally has a short breaking news update out the door.

Remember - you read it on AmP first!

update 3: FoxNews has his biography:

"He spent three years as a seminarian in the Order of St. Augustine in preparation for the priesthood, but ultimately chose a career in law instead."

I'm impressed.

One Quarter of UK Secondary Teachers Have Been Asked about Abortion by Students

2009-01-31T10:30:00.000-05:00

found this on catholic exchange

A quarter of UK secondary school teachers have been asked for advice by students on how to obtain an abortion, a recent study has found. 24 percent of secondary school teachers said they had been asked for advice on abortion. 67 percent of those polled said they think information about abortion should be included in the national curriculum on sex education.

The Teachers TV poll of more than 800 teachers and others working in education found that although there was general support for providing students with abortion information, 82 percent believe that discussing the topic could offend parents, and 42 percent think it could offend students.

The legal age of sexual consent in Britain is set at 16. In the US, abortion-providing groups such as Planned Parenthood are facing multiple lawsuits and possible criminal charges after being caught regularly covering up felony rape cases and providing abortions to girls under the legal age of consent without informing authorities.

Britain has the highest rate of teenage pregnancy in Western Europe. The government has responded to every increase in that rate by increasing “sex education” in schools and the availability of contraceptives to young people.

But the failure of these methods is starting to be understood by the public outside Westminster. In data published by the Office for National Statistics last week, 42 percent of those who were asked why Britain has a catastrophic rate of underage pregnancy blamed the breakdown of values in society. 19 percent said it was because of the sexualisation of young people and children and 16 percent blamed sex education.

Nonetheless, earlier this year, the UK’s Family Planning Association and Brook, both registered charities that are involved in contraceptive and abortion promotion, called for sex education to be extended to children as young as four in primary schools.

The Teachers TV poll supports a survey, taken in 2005, of 700 secondary school teachers in England and Wales, 69 percent of whom supported the idea of making abortion advice available in schools. On that same survey, more than 75 percent said that parents should be told if their child wanted an abortion and 98 percent favoured teaching about contraception in class.

At the same time, a bill has been introduced into Parliament that proposes to lower the age of consent for oral sex and other sexual practices from 16 to 13. A committee that has been scrutinizing the Scottish Sexual Offences (Scotland) Bill has asked the government to review its plans for a ‘proximity of age’ defense which would effectively legalize a wide range of sexual activity between young adults and older children.

The Christian Institute’s Mike Judge said of the proposal, “Legalising oral sex for teens sends out completely the wrong message to a generation of young people crying out for some moral guidance, not more sexual licence.

“How can the Scottish Government give hard-hitting warnings to teenagers about smoking and drinking, but at the same time give the green light to oral sex?”

reflections

2009-01-25T21:15:00.002-05:00

I was very happy to hear the readings today. I feel like I have a lot to learn from St. Paul because I am currently converting. I have great confidence that if someone who was persecuting the early Christians like that can be forgiven than so can I.

conversion of St. Paul

2009-01-25T21:13:00.001-05:00

From Holy Spirit Interactive:

Paul lived at the time of Jesus but as far as we know they never met. Paul was first called Saul. As a young man, he was a very bright student of the Hebrew religion. When he grew older, he persecuted the followers of Jesus.

In the Bible's Acts of the Apostles, we read about Saul's amazing conversion (chapters 9, 22, 26). What happened? One day, Paul was on his way to the city of Damascus to hunt down more Christians. Suddenly, a great light shone all around him. As he fell to the ground blind, he heard a voice say, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" Saul answered, "Who are you, Sir?" And the voice said, "I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting." Saul was shocked and confused. After a few seconds, he asked, "What do you want me to do?" Jesus told him to continue on to Damascus and there he would be told what to do.

At that moment, through the power of God, Saul received the gift to believe in Jesus. Weak and trembling, he reached out for help. His companions led him into Damascus. The light had blinded him temporarily. Now that he was blind he could really "see" the truth. And Jesus had come personally to meet him, to invite him to conversion. Saul became a great lover of Jesus. After his baptism, he thought only of helping everyone know and love Jesus, the Savior.

We know Saul by his Roman name of Paul. He is called "the apostle." He traveled all over the world, preaching the Good News. He led countless people to Jesus. He worked and suffered. His enemies tried to kill him several times. Yet nothing could stop him. When he was old and tired, he was once again put in prison and sentenced to die. Still St. Paul was happy to suffer and even die for Christ.

This great apostle wrote marvelous letters to the Christians. They are in the Bible. These letters, called epistles, are read frequently during the Liturgy of the Word at Mass.

Reflection: "I know whom I have believed." ( 2 Tm 1:12)

lay sisters?

2009-01-21T14:30:00.001-05:00

Question from Nicole …

Sister - Could you please explain to me what it means to be a lay nun? I’m not quite sure exactly what lay nuns do.

In the past (as far back as the middle ages), some religious communities had a kind of hierarchy of membership.

Choir sisters were women who typically came from an educated, wealthy family. These sisters were able to read Latin and thus able to chant and recite the prayers that were central to the Divine Office. Their ministry was typically teaching.

Lay sisters, or lay nuns, were young women, mostly from country areas, who did not have the advantage of education or wealth. They did not say the Divine Office in Latin, but generally said a certain number of Pater Nosters instead. They did the heavy domestic work of the Monastery – which was heavy in those days because of the lack of running water and electricity, and all the modern conveniences we have today. Lay sisters were not allowed to vote or have a voice in the affairs of the community.

This “two-class” system is no longer practiced in religious communities. Today, all members are equal members of the community with no “classes” or privileges based on education or wealth.

For more information, check out the article Overcoming two-class systems from the website of the sisters of Saint Benedict’s Monastery in Saint Joseph and the monks of Saint John’s Abbey in Collegeville. Also, my thanks to Sister Mariam, ocd, of Saint Thomas Carmelite Monastery in Auckland, New Zealand, for her advice in writing this post.

from catechism on call

2009-01-17T19:46:00.000-05:00

do catholics believe in purgatory?

Yes. Catholics still believe and teach that purgatory is real. And they believe it and the Catholic Church continues to teach it, because it is part of the revelation of God. And neither the Pope nor any Bishop is at liberty to modify or change what God has revealed.

Protestant Christians insist that purgatory is simply made-up Catholic stuff, and not real. They are wrong.

So what is purgatory?

In a few words purgatory is that place of purification where souls go prior to heaven. We all know that we have done things that are sinful and shameful. When Jesus Christ forgives us, He removes the judgement, but not the punishment.

By way of analogy: if you were suddenly summoned to meet the President of the U.S., you’d quickly do a once over of your hair and clothes. If you found a mustard stain on your shirt, you’d change your shirt before meeting the President. So what makes us think we can die, and then immediately spend eternity with our Lord before a bit of ‘cleaning up?’

Jesus Christ is both merciful and just. He displays his mercy by forgiving us, and his justice by sending us to purgatory.

Those who make it to purgatory have ‘made it’ - they will not be damned to hell. The Catechism of the Catholic Church affirms the following regarding purgatory:

1031 “The Church gives the name Purgatory to this final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned. The Church formulated her doctrine of faith on Purgatory especially at the Councils of Florence and Trent. The tradition of the Church, by reference to certain texts of Scripture, speaks of a cleansing fire:

As for certain lesser faults, we must believe that, before the Final Judgment, there is a purifying fire. He who is truth says that whoever utters blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will be pardoned neither in this age nor in the age to come. From this sentence we understand that certain offenses can be forgiven in this age, but certain others in the age to come.”

2009-01-12T19:38:00.001-05:00

From a sermon by St. Gregory Nazianzus, bishop:

"Christ is bathed in light; let us also be bathed in light. Christ is baptized; let us also go down with him, and rise with him.

Today let us do honor to Christ's baptism and celebrate this feast in holiness. Be cleansed entirely and continue to be cleansed. Nothing gives such pleasure to God as the conversion and salvation of men, for whom his every word and every revelation exist. He wants you to become a living force for all mankind, lights shining in the world. You are to be radiant lights as you stand beside Christ, the great light, bathed in the glory of him who is the light of heaven. You are to enjoy more and more the pure and dazzling light of the Trinity, as now you have received - though not in its fullness - a ray of its splendor, proceeding from the one God, in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be glory and power for ever and ever. Amen."

2009-01-12T19:24:00.000-05:00

Sarah McLaughlin Please Shut Up!

People are killing their babies and all you can do is sing for pets!?

Explain to me please how people can get so drawn into the "help the poor animal" thing when we are killing so many babies every day. Look at the information below:

45 states have felony provisions for animal cruelty
40 of those states are first offense provisions
Animal abuse is one of the earliest indicators for anti-social behavior and an indicator for a diagnosis of "conduct disorder" (American Psychiatric Association, 1994)

Consider that in the same 45 states the killing of a unborn child is NOT a felony. Also in the 40 first offense states you can have as many abortions as you want, the more the merrier. Lastly, the American Psychiatric Association says this about abortion and metal health, "As we have known, there is no convincing evidence that abortion is a significant cause of psychiatric illness." (check out the link to their report on this here). Later in the report they even go on to say that (and this is verbatim) "Women have abortions because they understand the importance of good mothering;"! Damn, why am I here? Didn't my mommy love me enough......Good Grief!

I guess us humans are just going to have to find a way to get cuter so that people will love us enough to end the cruelty to the unborn.

what is wrong with contraception?

2009-01-10T16:31:00.001-05:00

Q. I just don’t get what is wrong with Contraception. What if parents can’t afford 10 children?

A. Yes, parents must be responsible. If they cannot afford more children or want to space their children, they must abstain from sex during the fertile time. Natural Family Planning is 95% effective. It has no side effects and does not put harmful drugs in the body of the woman. And this form of birth control is perfectly moral. Because there is no rule that says that one must have sex everytime one is fertile if married. That would be ridiculous. What if the woman is sick, or just had a baby, or just had surgery, or her husband is sick, etc.

I am sure it is hard to accept the Catholic view of these passages but did you know that all Christians condemned all contraception until 1930 when the Anglican Church approved it ONLY in the case of a threat to the mother’s life? Even secular people condemned it as immoral and leading to disorder and degradation of women. See my post Here and HERE

But God created us and sex. He has decreed that it be used only in marriage and it is meant to be a concrete and beautiful image of the love and total selfgiving of the Holy Trinity–Man, woman, child. Contraception is not total self-giving and accepting of the other. The use of contraception entails REJECTION. One or both of the partners are rejecting the fertility of the beloved. Therefore, their loving union is not TOTAL SELF GIVING. It is partial and actively rejects something that is intrinsic to the other.

As in the case of Onan, sexual pleasure/union and openness to procreation are not to be stripped away from each other in order to just have pleasure without procreation or procreation without sexual union of husband and wife. (In Vitro, etc)

Contraception in order to obtain pleasure without babies is intrusive and disfigures the meaning of sexual union. Homosexual sex, masturbation, pedophilia, beastiality, adultery, pre-marital sex prostitution, etc all seek only pleasure and so does contracepted sex. All of these sexual acts are aimed only at obtaining sexual pleasure stripped of any openess to or possibility of, procreation. None of these image the Holy Trinity.

This is disordered. The natural purpose and end of sex is UNION and Procreation– or Babies and Bonding. Anytime you actively exclude one or the other it is sinful.

This is very brief. I would recommend that you read a post here called Contraception: Why Not by Dr. Janet Smith –Click Here

safe haven

2009-01-10T09:11:00.000-05:00

It is typical of newborn goat kids to wander off from their mother and find a safe place to take a nap. This used to worry me because often the mother wouldn’t have a clue how to find them! Mayhem would send me running as mama’s frantic bellowing echoed through the woods. Believe me, goats say much more than baa to communicate! I spent a lot of time hunting the babies down, always to find them snuggled under a briar patch or a log. They hadn’t a worry in the world! They were smart enough to find a safe haven in which to rest.It was keeping this in mind that I began to get the idea that I could create safe havens for myself. To be specific, safe havens from committing sin. Sounds a bit odd, I know, but it occurred to me one day that prayer and liturgy were the vehicles for that safe haven.

The rosary is a particular example of a safe haven. If I am praying it and concentrating on the mystery or my petitions I am virtually sin free. I enter the safe haven of God’s grace not by fighting my inclinations or failures or selfishness but by replacing them with prayer. Of course the rosary is the master of safe havens. It transformed my driving mania into something as peaceful as a nook in the woods. It has made my daily chore of cleaning fields a haven of prayer that I eagerly seek. Besides being one of the most effective weapons in the spiritual kingdom, I have found great comfort in knowing that while praying it, I don’t sin. It is wonderfully reassuring to find I just spent a half an hour not sinning!

In my years as a mother - thirty four and counting - there have been many times I was the safe haven for my frightened or tired child. The Blessed Virgin has extended her loving arms to me in that same way by giving me not only the rosary, but the Hail Mary. It has formed the scaffold of my thought life and a prayer my soul flies to in dire need. In times of fear this has always been true. Whether in an MRI tube, fighting claustrophobia, or simply feeding the animals, the rosary transforms my thoughts.

I realized this years ago when I was walking my aged dog in the park. She was so decrepit I quit using a leash on her and just let her sniff around in places where no one walked. I wasn’t paying much attention the day a lady came up to me and castigated me in no uncertain terms. I was an irresponsible person for letting my dog off the leash and threatening the life of people in the park. Now, she was right about the leash, however it hasn’t anything to do with the story. I collected my dangerous beast and as I walked to the car I burst into the Hail Mary - in Latin! I didn’t realize it until much later, as I was comforted by the prayer. I hadn’t studied the prayer in Latin since my days as a young child. Since then I have used it very effectively in creating safe havens not only of refuge but a successful weapon against retaliation. Again, the rosary saving me from sin!

As I prepared for and entered into the Mass I realized that it, too, was a safe haven from sin. When I participate for that hour as “heaven meets earth” and concentrate on it, truly submit my heart and mind, I am without sin. I cannot sin or, better put, I will not sin. This isn’t to mean I am not capable of it - but the “safe haven” gets stronger and stronger as I use the Mass or the rosary for this purpose.

The goal, of course, is to extend these safe havens and it would be lovely to report that I go for days without offending God. But that just isn’t so. I know that until I draw my last breath, I will still depend upon mercy, grace, forgiveness, patience as well as the wonderful sacrament of Reconciliation! But it has empowered me and comforted me vastly to look back on any given day and know that I have at least spent part of a day in that “safe haven” found in rosary and Mass.

Harriet Kety Sabatini is a lifelong Catholic and mother of five grown children. Her home is in Alabama where she lives at Marygate Farm with her husband Leo. As a consecrated member of the Missionary Cenacle Apostolate, her mission is to urge all Catholics to live as apostles. She has written two children’s books. The first, Joseph’s Hands helps children understand vocations and the second, Isabel’s Sister, is a pro-life book for all ages. Harriet’s books have been featured on Catholic radio and are endorsed by such Catholic authors and clergy as Archbishop Foley of Alambama and Bert Ghezzi. You can visit her at her blog, Marygatefarm.blogspot.com, or email her at Marygate.books@gmail.com . Her next book, Lessons from the Round Pen relates the story of God working with her through her relationships with horses.

Dr. Ray Guarendi Sends New Year’s Greetings

2009-01-10T08:22:00.003-05:00

Dear Family, Friends, and Law Enforcement Contacts:

Randi strongly advised, “No Christmas letter this year.” She said by now people have had enough of our fluffed up family preening. But as Liz (age 9) says, “Daddy, it’s a win-win affirmation of our ever-evolving self-esteem.” Well, OK, she didn’t exactly say it that way, but she did comment that she liked seeing her name in print, in places other than the Court Report.

So, in keeping with Randi’s request, here’s a New Years Update on the family.

All of the kids are older now than they’ve ever been. Andrew, age 21, is still in Engineering, and this year he gets his lantern along with his conductor’s hat. I advised him, “Don’t wear it in a thunderstorm.”

Hannah, age 20, is set to graduate college and head into the military — Signal Corps branch. That’s communications, and given her many years as a teen-aged girl, she’s well suited for it. She will need to learn to add “Sir” after her “whatever” and “yeah, right.” And I’m not exactly sure how a Commanding Officer will react to eye rolling, no matter how much it’s hidden by her Dior ballistic eye pro.

Jon, age 18, started working at Target. His initial adjustment was a real struggle. The first several nights he tried to walk into the store, and he missed.

Joanna, age 18, is working in a preschool. Randi told her, “See, being a big sister helped you learn all about little kids and their childish behavior.” To which Jo replied, “Living with Dad has helped me a lot more.” To which I responded, “I’m rubber; you’re glue. Whatever you say bounces off me and sticks on you. No reversies.” I finished her off with, “How many of those kids have ever asked you to, ‘Pull my finger,’ huh?”

Sarah, 18, is in nursing. She loves it, except for a few minor things — blood, syringes, dirty bed sheets, people coughing, hospitals, and doctors. She also has this obsessive fear of germs. But I told her, “Hey, lots of us have to ease into their profession. I didn’t like listening to people tell me about their problems the first ten or fifteen years as a psychologist.

Sammy, 16, is learning to drive. He’s our sixth driver under twenty-five. Through some creative insurance financing, we’ve got our bill down to about $217.00….a day. To further ease the burden we are considering informing all the children, “Due to unforeseen economic pressures, we are downsizing. We may have to let two or three of you go.”

Sammy is very thrilled that after a lot of hard work he finally got a part in a local Christmas play. He told me he plays a man who’s been married 25 years. I encouraged him, “Sammy, that’s wonderful. You keep persevering, and maybe next year, you’ll get a speaking part.”

Randi continues to home school, and she’s started a new course for the younger ones: Real Life Deductive Reasoning. We’re noticing the results already. Some weeks back, she purchased a cake for her mother’s birthday. After the cake had been on the table for a couple of days prior to the party, James (age 13) asked, “Is that an ice cream cake?” Mary (12) was quick to mock and correct. “James, how could it be an ice cream cake? The candles would melt it!” Peter chirped in, at full belly laugh, “You guys are clueless. Grandma doesn’t even like ice cream.”

Next year, Randi will initiate a more basic course: Thinking 101.

My relationship with my adolescent daughter, Mary, continues to be strained. When our family therapist asked me why I hadn’t talked to her for a month, I defended myself, “I didn’t want to interrupt her.”

Elizabeth (age 9) is becoming the young lady we always thought she could be. In her fourth grade class she graduated “Magna cum Loudest.” And we finally found the solution to her speech articulation problems. After several years of little progress, of all people, Pete suggested, “What if she took the cigarette out of her mouth?” That’s been a mixed blessing. Liz now speaks more clearly, but she’s been a lot crankier.

Randi and I continue to work on our marriage. After attending one of those marriage enrichment classes (Randi went. I had three softball games that day), Randi asked that I show her more affection. So, now whenever we go to the Mall, I hold her hand the whole time. If I let go, she shops.

About three weeks ago, Randi’s purse was stolen along with all of her credit cards. I haven’t reported it yet. The thieves spend less than Randi.

As for me, I continue to cope with unending work-related stress. I average close to seven hours a week on the radio. Minus breaks, it still totals nearly 18-minutes. On top of that I have a pending workman’s comp claim against the network. My orthopedist says I have a work-related repetition injury — elbow inflammation from reaching over the microphone to grab my hot coffee. I spilled some on my finger once, but my lawyer informed I wouldn’t get more than a couple of hundred grand for it. Hardly worth the legal effort.

And so summarizes another action-packed year in the Guarendi household. My analyst says I have grown admirably in my ability to hold it all together, as I juggle my working out, softball games, buffet breakfasts, massages, relaxation training, tanning sessions and naps. Randi still refuses to work for a living, so once again, the effort falls totally on me. Last month I took it upon myself to fill out applications for her at Mason’s Concrete Packing, Joe’s Transmissions, and Harley’s All Night Diner– all midnight shifts, as she does teach some during the day. If she continues to drag her feet, I will be forced to see a client on either Wednesdays, Thursdays or Fridays, right now my much needed days off.

Blessed Christmas, er….New Years, to you all. Hope your family life is as fulfilling as ours has come to be.

The Guarendis

Dr. Ray’s Family Resources are available in Special Television Packages (they actually look like books, DVDs, and CDS, not TV sets) at http://www.DrRayDVD.com

saints of the day

2009-01-09T21:14:00.000-05:00

Image via Wikipedia

There is very little information handed down to us about Saint Adrian, but this much is certain: He was born in Africa in the seventh century and while still a very young man became abbot of a Benedictine monastery near Naples. He had turned down an appointment as archbishop of Canterbury, persuading the pope to name a Greek monk by the name of Theodore instead.

When Saint Theodore was appointed archbishop, the pope sent Adrian to accompany him to England as an adviser. Theodore then appointed Adrian as abbot of Saints Peter and Paul monastery (which later changed its name to St. Augustine’s because it had been founded by St. Augustine) in Canterbury.

Adrian spent 39 years as an abbot in the monastery during which time it became well known as a center for learning. Adrian died there in Canterbury on January 9 in the year 710.

Lessons

Saint Adrian established numerous other schools in various parts of England. Many saints, scholars, and missionaries were educated in these schools and went on to do great works for the faith. St. Adrian’s feast day is celebrated on the ninth of January, the day of his death.

Prayer

We are thankful, Father, for saints like Adrian who were not only devout and pious disciples of Your Son, Jesus, but great intellects as well. Through their teachings, others learned and continued to enkindle and inflame the hearts of many through their teachings of the faith. We pray that many more will answer the call to teach, instruct, and lead so that your Gospel will be carried to the ends of the earth as Jesus commanded. In His name we pray. Amen.

Other Saints We Remember Today

Saints Julian and Basilissa (304), husband and wife, martyrs

praying

2009-01-09T18:29:00.003-05:00

It is amazing if you sit back and notice the difference in your life between the times that you do pray and those times when you don't. Lately I have been trying to say the rosary daily while still praying at other times of the day to. Really just talking to God. There have been only a couple days in the past couple of months where I didn't pray and I really could tell a big difference. The power of prayer is becoming more and more clear to me.

archbishop vigneron

2009-01-09T15:32:00.001-05:00

I am very happy to see him becoming our archbishop. I am looking forward to see how things will go for us now.

Archbishop Vigneron and the Propers

Published by jeffrey.a.tucker@gmail.com (Jeffrey Tucker) 1 hour ago

We have to be extremely pleased by the testimony of Fr. Rob Johansen:

I am very excited and happy that Bishop Allen Vigneron, late of Oakland, California, has been named as the next Archbishop of Detroit.

I know Bishop Vigneron from his days as rector of Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit, where I had the good fortune to complete my studies for the priesthood from 1998-2001. He is an outstanding teacher and pastor. He is loyal to the Church and her Magisterium, and patient and generous as well.

Bishop Vigneron is deeply concerned with the state of the liturgical life in the church in the country, and as rector of the seminary tried to inculcate in us seminarians a sense of reverence and a respect for the liturgy as something given. toward that end he implemented significant reforms of the seminary's liturgical practice, most notably introducing and establishing as normative the use of the Proper antiphons at seminary Masses, and moving away from the use of hymnody. He brought the late Calvert Shenk to Sacred Heart, and one of his specific charges to Cal was to restore the Propers to their rightful place in the liturgy. This move was not at popular in some quarters of the seminary faculty (though it was quite well received by the overwhelming majority of seminarians), and provoked a storm of criticism and outright attack from certain elements of the Archdiocesan establishment. But Bishop Vigneron persevered and continued these reforms in spite of the opposition.

I am confident that we will see good things happen in the Archdiocese of Detroit, and eventually beyond, as a result of Bishop Vigneron's accession to this see. This is good news for all who want to see the liturgy celebrated according to the authentic vision and mind of the Church, and good news for all who value fidelity to the Church's teaching and discipline.

the mystery of faith

2009-01-09T15:06:00.004-05:00

I found this post very helpful. I will highlight the parts that I found the most interesting.

The Mystery of Faith

January 2009

The text of the Roman Missal at the consecration of the wine refers to it as “the Mystery of Faith” (Myssterium Fidei). It is a mystery of faith because wonderful, miraculous things take place during the celebration that have eternal effects and because, during the Mass, ultimate worship of God is given and grace is poured out on those present and on those for whom the Mass is offered.

The celebration of the Mass is the most important thing that the Church does each day. It is the most important daily activity of priests. St. John Vianney said that, if we really understood what is happening at Mass, we would die. I assume that he was referring here to the statement in the Old Testament that no one can see God and live—and God becomes present on the altar during the Mass.

The Mass is a mystery of faith because there is an essential connection between it and the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ on Calvary two thousand years ago. The Mass is not a new sacrifice of Christ because Jesus is now glorified at the right hand of the Father in heaven. Death no longer has power over him so he cannot suffer. The Christ present at Mass is the glorified Christ, as he now is in heaven.

Because of the words of Jesus directing his apostles to repeat what he did at the Last Supper when he said, “Do this in memory of me,” we know from divine revelation what happens at Mass, but we do not know how it takes place. So when the ordained priest says the words of consecration over the bread and wine, by the almighty power of God the bread is changed into the Body of Christ and the wine is changed into his Blood.

In his book on the Mass, Cardinal Charles Journet, a Swiss theologian, defined the Mass as “the unbloody presence of the unique bloody sacrifice of the cross.” The Mass and Calvary are the same sacrifice, only the mode of offering is different. On the cross it was bloody and brutal, while in the Mass it is unbloody and peaceful.

The Mass, therefore, is not a different sacrifice from that of Calvary—it is the same offering, only the presence is different. Journet says that “presence” here must be understood as analogous. So the glorified Christ is substantially present under the appearances of bread and wine. That is why the marvelous change effected at Mass is called “transubstantiation” by the Catholic Church. When the grace of Calvary is applied to those who partake of the Mass, this is his “operative presence.” Christ is present in various ways—in Scripture, in the Church, in the other sacraments, in the Eucharist, in grace in the soul.

A sacrifice requires the offering of something; if it is living, it is called a victim. In the Mass Christ is both the victim and the priest, the same as on Calvary, but now Christ operates through the priest and offers himself to the Father in reparation for our sins.

The heart of the Mass, the most important part, is the consecration, when the priest, acting in persona Christi, says in the first person, “This is my Body” and “this is my Blood.”

Cardinal Journet stresses that the Mass today is not a repetition of Calvary; it is rather making the unique sacrifice of Calvary present now on the altar in an unbloody manner.

The importance of the Mass in the life of a Catholic is obvious from the fact that all are required, under pain of mortal sin, to attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days. Receiving Communion is required only once a year.

The miraculous change into the Body and Blood of Christ is called “transubstantiation.” This means that the substance of bread and wine is changed by the power of God into the substance of the Body and Blood of Christ. The Church rejects the view of Luther who said that Christ is present along with the bread—a theory that is called “impanation.”

In the Mass Christ offers himself to the Father. To gain spiritual fruit from the Mass we should interiorly offer ourselves with Christ to the Father. This is truly the “active participation” recommended by Vatican II.

Kenneth Baker, S.J., Editor

¶¶¶¶¶¶

Rationabile Obsequium

2009-01-08T14:47:00.000-05:00

Our Holy Father gave an extraordinary catechesis yesterday on Romans 12:1. A certain Irish priest friend of mine should be very pleased! The titles are my own. Here is the text of His Holiness:

Your Bodies: A Living Sacrifice

2. The second passage about which I would like to speak today is found in the first verse of Chapter 12 of the Letter to the Romans. We have heard it and I repeat it once again: "I urge you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship."

The Oblation of Our Selves

In these words, an apparent paradox is verified: While sacrifice demands as a norm the death of the victim, Paul makes reference to the life of the Christian. The expression "offer your bodies," united to the successive concept of sacrifice, takes on the worship nuance of "give in oblation, offer." The exhortation to "offer your bodies" refers to the whole person; in fact, in Romans 6:13, [Paul] makes the invitation to "present yourselves to God." For the rest, the explicit reference to the physical dimension of the Christian coincides with the invitation to "glorify God in your bodies" (1 Corinthians 6:20): It's a matter of honoring God in the most concrete daily existence, made of relational and perceptible visibility.

Living, Holy, Pleasing to God

Conduct of this type is classified by Paul as "living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God." It is here where we find precisely the term "sacrifice." In prevalent use, this term forms part of a sacred context and serves to designate the throat-splitting of an animal, of which one part can be burned in honor of the gods and another part consumed by the offerers in a banquet. Paul instead applied it to the life of the Christian. In fact he classifies such a sacrifice by using three adjectives. The first -- "living" -- expresses a vitality. The second -- "holy" -- recalls the Pauline concept of a sanctity that is not linked to places or objects, but to the very person of the Christian. The third -- "pleasing to God" -- perhaps recalls the common biblical expression of a sweet-smelling sacrifice (cf. Leviticus 1:13, 17; 23:18; 26:31, etc.).

Man Adores and Glorifies the Living God

Immediately afterward, Paul thus defines this new way of living: this is "your spiritual worship." Commentators of the text know well that the Greek expression (tçn logikçn latreían) is not easy to translate. The Latin Bible renders it: "rationabile obsequium." The same word "rationabile" appears in the first Eucharistic prayer, the Roman Canon: In it, we pray so that God accepts this offering as "rationabile." The traditional Italian translation, "spiritual worship," [an offering in spirit], does not reflect all the details of the Greek text, nor even of the Latin. In any case, it is not a matter of a less real worship or even a merely metaphorical one, but of a more concrete and realistic worship, a worship in which man himself in his totality, as a being gifted with reason, transforms into adoration and glorification of the living God.

In the Roman Canon

This Pauline formula, which appears again in the Roman Eucharistic prayer, is fruit of a long development of the religious experience in the centuries preceding Christ. In this experience are found theological developments of the Old Testament and currents of Greek thought. I would like to show at least certain elements of this development. The prophets and many psalms strongly criticize the bloody sacrifices of the temple. For example, Psalm 50 (49), in which it is God who speaks, says, "Were I hungry, I would not tell you, for mine is the world and all that fills it. Do I eat the flesh of bulls or drink the blood of goats? Offer praise as your sacrifice to God" (verses 12-14).

And in the Miserere

In the same sense, the following Psalm 51 (50), says, " for you do not desire sacrifice; a burnt offering you would not accept. My sacrifice, God, is a broken spirit; God, do not spurn a broken, humbled heart" (verse 18 and following).

With Contrite Heart and Humble Spirit

In the Book of Daniel, in the times of the new destruction of the temple at the hands of the Hellenistic regime (2nd century B.C.), we find a new step in the same direction. In midst of the fire -- that is, persecution and suffering -- Azariah prays thus: "We have in our day no prince, prophet, or leader, no holocaust, sacrifice, oblation, or incense, no place to offer first fruits, to find favor with you. But with contrite heart and humble spirit let us be received; As though it were holocausts of rams and bullocks So let our sacrifice be in your presence today as we follow you unreservedly" (Daniel 3:38ff).

The Acceptable Holocaust

In the destruction of the sanctuary and of worship, in this situation of being deprived of every sign of the presence of God, the believer offers as a true holocaust a contrite heart, his desire of God.

Disincarnate Worship: A Danger

We see an important development, beautiful, but with a danger. There exists a spiritualization, a moralization of worship: Worship becomes only something of the heart, of the spirit. But the body is lacking; the community is lacking. Thus is understood that Psalm 51, for example, and also the Book of Daniel, despite criticizing worship, desire the return of the time of sacrifices. But it is a matter of a renewed time, in a synthesis that still was unforeseeable, that could not yet be thought of.

The Offering of the Body

Let us return to St. Paul. He is heir to these developments, of the desire for true worship, in which man himself becomes glory of God, living adoration with all his being. In this sense, he says to the Romans: "Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice your spiritual worship" (Romans 12:1).

Paul thus repeats what he had already indicated in Chapter 3: The time of the sacrifice of animals, sacrifices of substitution, has ended. The time of true worship has arrived. But here too arises the danger of a misunderstanding: This new worship can easily be interpreted in a moralist sense -- offering our lives we make true worship. In this way, worship with animals would be substituted by moralism: Man would do everything for himself with his moral strength. And this certainly was not the intention of St. Paul.

True Worship in Christ

But the question persists: Then how should we interpret this "reasonable spiritual worship"? Paul always supposes that we have come to be "one in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:28), that we have died in baptism (Romans 1) and we live now with Christ, through Christ and in Christ. In this union -- and only in this way -- we can be in him and with him a "living sacrifice," to offer the "true worship." The sacrificed animals should have substituted man, the gift of self of man, and they could not. Jesus Christ, in his surrender to the Father and to us, is not a substitution, but rather really entails in himself the human being, our faults and our desire; he truly represents us, he assumes us in himself. In communion with Christ, accomplished in the faith and in the sacraments, we transform, despite our deficiencies, into living sacrifice: "True worship" is fulfilled.

Christ's True Sacrifice Made Present

This synthesis is the backdrop of the Roman Canon in which we pray that this offering be "rationabile," so that spiritual worship is accomplished. The Church knows that in the holy Eucharist, the self-gift of Christ, his true sacrifice, is made present. But the Church prays so that the celebrating community is really united to Christ, is transformed; it prays so that we ourselves come to be that which we cannot be with our efforts: offering "rationabile" that is pleasing to God. In this way the Eucharistic prayer interprets in an adequate way the words of St. Paul.

Christ: the High Priest Who Has Given Himself Up

St. Augustine clarified all of this in a marvelous way in the 10th book of his City of God. I cite only two phrase: "This is the sacrifice of the Christians: though being many we are only one body in Christ" "All of the redeemed community (civitas), that is, the congregation and the society of the saints, is offered to God through the High Priest who has given himself up" (10,6: CCL 47,27ff).

The Priestly Service of the Gospel

3. Finally, I want to leave a brief reflection on the third passage of the Letter to the Romans referring to the new worship. St. Paul says thus in Chapter 15: "the grace given me by God to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles in performing the priestly service (hierourgein) of the gospel of God, so that the offering up of the Gentiles may be acceptable, sanctified by the holy Spirit" (15:15ff).

At the Center of the Priesthood

I would like to emphasize only two aspects of this marvelous text and one aspect of the unique terminology of the Pauline letters. Before all else, St. Paul interprets his missionary action among the peoples of the world to construct the universal Church as a priestly action. To announce the Gospel to unify the peoples in communion with the Risen Christ is a "priestly" action. The apostle of the Gospel is a true priest; he does what is at the center of the priesthood: prepares the true sacrifice.

Christ, Priest and Victim, Draws All Things to Himself

And then the second aspect: the goal of missionary action is -- we could say in this way -- the cosmic liturgy: that the peoples united in Christ, the world, becomes as such the glory of God "pleasing oblation, sanctified in the Holy Spirit." Here appears a dynamic aspect, the aspect of hope in the Pauline concept of worship: the self-gift of Christ implies the tendency to attract everyone to communion in his body, to unite the world. Only in communion with Christ, the model man, one with God, the world comes to be just as we all want it to be: a mirror of divine love. This dynamism is always present in Scripture; this dynamism should inspire and form our life.

insight on st. Paul

2009-01-07T16:23:00.000-05:00

From Vatican Information Service:

ST. PAUL: THE CROSS TRANSFORMS THE REALITY OF WORSHIP

VATICAN CITY, 7 JAN 2009 (VIS) - In his first general audience of 2009, celebrated in the Paul VI Hall, the Holy Father turned his attention to the worship Christians must pay to God, according to the teaching of St. Paul.

"In the past", he said, "people used to talk of an 'anti-worship' tendency in the Apostle, of his 'spiritualisation' of the idea of worship. Today we are better able to understand how Paul saw in the Cross a historical watershed that radically transformed and renewed the reality of worship".

Commenting on three texts from the Letter to the Romans, in which St. Paul refers to this "new vision of worship", Benedict XVI explained how in chapter three the Apostle affirms that God put Christ forward "as a sacrifice of atonement by His blood, effective through faith". This, said the Holy Father, indicates that "ancient worship with the sacrifice of animals in the Temple of Jerusalem is finished, ... it has been replaced by real worship: the love of God incarnated in Christ and brought to fulfilment in His death on the Cross. This is not the spiritualisation of real worship, but real worship substituting symbolic and provisional worship".

In chapter twelve, the Pope went on, the Apostle exhorts Christians "to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship".

The Holy Father highlighted a "danger of misunderstanding. This new worship could easily be interpreted in a moralistic sense: by offering our lives we ourselves make the new worship. In this way, worship with animals is substituted by moralism in which man does everything himself with his own moral force. And this was certainly not St. Paul's intention".

Only through union with Christ "can we become 'living sacrifice' in Him and with Him, and offer 'true worship'. ... Jesus Christ, in His donation to the Father and to us, does not replace us with Himself, but carries our being in Himself, our sins and our desire. He represents us and assumes us to Himself. In communion with Christ, achieved in faith and in the Sacraments, we become a living sacrifice, despite all our shortcomings, and 'true worship' is achieved".

The Church, said the Pope, "prays that communities gathered in celebration truly are united with Christ, ... that we might become ... an offer that is pleasing to God and that is glory of God".

Finally, in chapter five of the Letter to the Romans, "St. Paul describes his missionary work among the peoples of the world to construct the universal Church as a priestly activity"; and "the goal of missionary activity is, we could say, cosmic liturgy: that all people united in Christ - the world - may become glory of God".

"The self-giving of Christ", Pope Benedict concluded, "implies the tendency to attract everyone to the communion of His Body, to unite the world. Only in communion with Christ - the model Man, one with God - can the world become as all of us would desire it: a mirror of divine love. This dynamism is ever present in the Eucharist, this dynamism must inspire and shape our lives".

Related Resources from Ignatius Press:

• Jesus, The Apostles, and the Early Church | Pope Benedict XVI
• Church Fathers: From Clement of Rome to Augustine | Pope Benedict XVI
• The Year of Saint Paul

tolerance

2009-01-06T17:53:00.002-05:00

yesturday there was a discussion last night here. we were all watching a documentary about india. It was talking mostly about the religions there. After it was over my moms friend was saying that it made her uncomfortable. She said that she feels uncomfortable watching others in faith practices. Pretty much she was saying that unless a program goes with her views it will make her feel uncomfortable. I was like are you kidding? I very strongly believe that the second you cant watch a program or listen to someone that differs from your views that is when hatred begins. I believe that we must be curious about other peoples cultures. I just dont understand how someone can feel the way that she does. There are lots of things out there that I do not believe in or agree with however I enjoy learning about other peoples. Their religion is very much apart of them just like my religion is a big part of my life. Life cant be lived with blindfolds on. Tolerance is absolutely necessary in order to get to that perfect love that Jesus teaches.

2009-01-05T22:21:00.001-05:00

Out of respect Catholics bow their heads when the name of Jesus is mentioned. This pious custom can be traced to the 1200's.

epiphany

2009-01-05T22:02:00.002-05:00

I have been doing some reading on the Epiphany . I know it was a few days ago, I'm slow lol!
I always thought that this feast day was just about the wise men coming to see Jesus.
The articles I have read are saying that the feast is more about the manifestation of God.
Here is a post about this from bless thy holy name.

So, I know that I am a day late, but Epiphany was yesterday. When I was younger, I use to think that Epiphany was when the wise guys came...now I know it is really more that that.

From ChurchYear.Net:
Officially called "The Epiphany of the Lord," this feast celebrates the epiphany (manifestation) of Christ to the Gentiles, symbolized by Christ's manifestation to the Magi (Wise Men). The feast originally was more closely connected to Jesus' baptism, the primary theme of the feast in Eastern Churches to this day. In addition, other manifestations of Christ were often commemorated during Epiphany, including the miracle at Cana. In fact, it has been asserted that the Baptism of the Lord, the adoration of the infant Jesus by the Magi, and the miracle at Cana all historically occurred on January 6 (see Abbot Gueranger's works). Whether this is true is contested, but either way, the Epiphany solemnity is celebrated on January 6, which falls within Christmastide. In some Catholic regions, the feast is translated to a Sunday. The Eastern Churches often call the holiday Theophany, which means "manifestation of God." Eastern Christians also refer to the Epiphany as "Holy Lights" because they baptize on this day, and baptism brings about illumination. Traditionally, Epiphany marked the end of the Twelve Days of Christmas.

Sources:
ChurhcYear.Net
New Advent
Catholic Online

pro-life

2009-01-05T20:25:00.002-05:00

I wanted to put this into my blog. I am not currently active in the war against abortion however it is something that I am getting more and more interested in. This is an essay from the ignatius press website.

Valerie Schmalz writes in Our Sunday Visitor about how the pro-life movement is using grassroots efforts to change attitudes and beliefs about abortion and related life issues:

Transforming the culture and changing hearts and minds are buzzwords of the pro-life movement that can be likened to the foreign policy approach of "soft power," a term coined in the 1990s by Harvard professor Joseph Nye, and most recently endorsed by the Bush administration's secretary of homeland security, Michael Chertoff, in the war on terrorism. As promulgated by Nye, a liberal foreign-policy thinker, "soft power" is the ability to attract others by the legitimacy of policies and the values that underlie them. The concept of persuasion has always been at the heart of the pro-life movement, but with the legislative and judicial fronts focused on defending incremental legislation such as state informed consent and parental notification laws, many Catholic and pro-life activists and pundits have renewed emphasis on outreach.

"Our work can go on no matter who is in the Oval Office," said Care Net spokeswoman Kristin Hansen. There are approximately 2,300 crisis pregnancy centers in North America, including the 1,100 pregnancy centers in the Care Net network. Heartbeat International and Care Net jointly own and operate Optionline.org, which has 800,000 contact per year, Hansen said. Optionline.org has a ZIP code locater for pregnancy centers. The Virtue Media website also directs women to the Optionline.org directory.

"While legislative efforts to protect the unborn and women from abortion may be limited in future years, the work of pregnancy centers is advancing stronger than ever before, and in places where our help is needed most -- our nation's inner cities," Care Net president Melinda Delahoyde said in a statement. She cited the work of former Philadelphia Eagles tailback, the Rev. Herbert H. Lusk II. On Nov. 7, Rev. Lusk and his People for People community organization opened a new pregnancy center, The Hope Center, in inner-city Philadelphia.

Read the entire article.

Meanwhile, Anne Hendershott, professor of urban studies at The King's College in New York and the author of The Politics of Abortion (Encounter Books, 2007), describes in the Wall Street Journal how the Kennedy family—the most high profile "Catholic" clan in the U.S.—went from being pro-life to pro-abortion:

Even Ted Kennedy, who gets a 100% pro-choice rating from the abortion-rights group Naral, was at one time pro-life. In fact, in 1971, a full year after New York had legalized abortion, the Massachusetts senator was still championing the rights of the unborn. In a letter to a constituent dated Aug. 3, 1971, he wrote: "When history looks back to this era it should recognize this generation as one which cared about human beings enough to halt the practice of war, to provide a decent living for every family, and to fulfill its responsibility to its children from the very moment of conception."

But that all changed in the early '70s, when Democratic politicians first figured out that the powerful abortion lobby could fill their campaign coffers (and attract new liberal voters). Politicians also began to realize that, despite the Catholic Church's teachings to the contrary, its bishops and priests had ended their public role of responding negatively to those who promoted a pro-choice agenda.

In some cases, church leaders actually started providing "cover" for Catholic pro-choice politicians who wanted to vote in favor of abortion rights. At a meeting at the Kennedy compound in Hyannisport, Mass., on a hot summer day in 1964, the Kennedy family and its advisers and allies were coached by leading theologians and Catholic college professors on how to accept and promote abortion with a "clear conscience."

The former Jesuit priest Albert Jonsen, emeritus professor of ethics at the University of Washington, recalls the meeting in his book "The Birth of Bioethics" (Oxford, 2003). He writes about how he joined with the Rev. Joseph Fuchs, a Catholic moral theologian; the Rev. Robert Drinan, then dean of Boston College Law School; and three academic theologians, the Revs. Giles Milhaven, Richard McCormick and Charles Curran, to enable the Kennedy family to redefine support for abortion.

On a related note, David Mills, a former Episcopalian, writes for InsideCatholic.com of how Catholic teaching about contraceptives played a role in his decision to become Catholic:

The Church's teaching on contraception was not the only thing that drew us to the Church, of course, but it ranked high, not least because the teaching so thoroughly contradicted everything we had been taught that it had to be either the truth held with supernatural aid or a delusion held for any number of foolish or corrupt reasons.

Everyone I knew, well into my early thirties, assumed that sexual activity without the "risk" of children was perfectly natural and that the number and spacing of your children was something for you to decide. Even among Christians, no one would have blinked at a married couple who said that they were not going to have children, as long as they in some way (perfunctorily was okay) invoked God's will.

When my fiancé and I went to our Episcopal church for the required premarital counseling, one of the first questions we were asked is what method of birth control we would be using. We didn't know well anyone with more than two children, and I strain to remember anyone we knew at all with four. I remember meeting, when I was about 30, a minister with five children and feeling, even then, that I had met a mythical animal.

Read his entire essay.

Related IgnatiusInsight.com Articles and Book Excerpts:

• The Case Against Abortion | An Interview with Dr. Francis Beckwith, author of Defending Life
• What Is "Legal"? On Abortion, Democracy, and Catholic Politicians | Fr. James V. Schall, S.J.
• The Illusion of Freedom Separated from Moral Virtue | Raymond L. Dennehy
• What Is Catholic Social Teaching? | Mark Brumley
• Introduction to Three Approaches to Abortion | Peter Kreeft
• Some Atrocities are Worse than Others | Mary Beth Bonacci

feast day of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

2009-01-04T09:20:00.000-05:00

From Holy Spirit Interactive:

"Mother Seton" was the name everyone knew her by when she died on January 4, 1821, in Emmitsburg, Maryland. A life full of surprises had led to that name.

Elizabeth was born in New York City on August 28, 1774. Her father, Richard Bayley, was a well-known doctor. Her mother, Catherine, died when Elizabeth was very young. Elizabeth was Episcopalian. As a teenager, she did many things to help poor people.

In 1794, Elizabeth married William Seton. He was a rich merchant who owned a fleet of ships. Elizabeth, William and their five children had a happy life together. But suddenly William lost his fortune and his good health within a short time. His wife heard that the weather in Italy might help him get better. Elizabeth, William and their oldest daughter, Anna, journeyed there by ship. But William died shortly after. Elizabeth and Anna remained in Italy as guests of the Filicchi family. The Filicchis were very kind. They tried to make Elizabeth and Anna's sorrow easier by sharing their own deep love for the Catholic faith. Elizabeth returned home to New York convinced she would become a Catholic. Her family and friends did not understand. They were very upset, but she went ahead with courage. Elizabeth joined the Church on March 4, 1805.

A few years later, Elizabeth was asked to come and open a girls' school in Baltimore. It was there that Elizabeth decided to live as a sister. Many women came to join her, including her sister and sister-in-law. Her own daughters, Anna and Catherine, also joined the group. They became the American Sisters of Charity and Elizabeth was given the title "Mother Seton." Elizabeth became well-known. She started many Catholic schools and a few orphanages. She made plans for a hospital which was opened after her death. Elizabeth loved to write, and she also translated some textbooks from French to English. But she was most famous for the way she visited the poor and the sick.

Elizabeth was declared a saint by Pope Paul VI on September 14, 1975.

If something should happen that changes our lives from happy to difficult, let us turn to God as Mother Seton did and ask for help. God can help us see how hard things can bring out our hidden talents. Then we will accomplish what we never dreamed of Elizabeth was declared a saint by Pope Paul VI on September 14, 1975.

Reflection: We might want to reflect today on how we can learn to express our love for Jesus in the way we treat others.

consecration to mary prayer

2009-01-01T17:02:00.001-05:00

Prayer of Saint Ildephonsus of Toledo, Bishop

The Abundance of the Sweetness of Thy Son

I come to thee, only Virgin Mother of God,
and fall prostrate before thee,
who alone didst cooperate in the Incarnation of God.
I humble myself before thee,
who alone wert found to be the Mother of my Lord.
I pray thee, who alone wert found to be the handmaid of thy Son:
obtain that my sins be wiped away;
command that I be cleansed of the wickedness of my deeds,
and, that I may love the glory of thy virtue,
reveal to me the abundance of the sweetness of thy Son.

Thou Art His Co-Worker in My Redemption

Bestow upon me the gift of proclaiming the true faith of thy Son,
and of defending it.
Grant that I may cleave to God and to thee,
that I may serve thy Son and thee,
that I may be His bondsman and thine;
His, because He is my Creator,
and thine, because thou art the Mother of my Creator;
His, because He is Lord of the angelic powers,
and thine, because thou art the handmaid of the Lord of All;
His, because He is God,
and thine because thou art the Mother of God;
His, because He is my Redeemer,
and thine because thou art His co-worker in my redemption.

The Body by Which He Healed My Wounds

That which He wrought for my redemption,
verily He formed in thine own person.
That He might be my Redeemer,
He became thy Son.
That He might be the price of my ransom,
He became incarnate of thy flesh.
The Body by which He healed my wounds,
He took from thee so that He, in it, might be wounded.
The mortal Body by which He took away my death,
He took from thy mortality.
The Body by which He brought my sins to nought,
He received sinless from thee.
This nature of mine that ahead of time, in Himself,
He placed above the angels in the glory of His Father's right hand,
He assumed -- humbling Himself -- out of thine own true body.

I Am Thy Slave

Therefore, I am thy slave,
because Thy Son is my Master.
Therefore thou art my Lady,
because thou art the handmaid of my Lord.
Therefore I am the slave of the handmaid of my Lord,
because thou, my Lady, didst become the Mother of my Lord.
Therefore I have become thy slave,
because thou didst become the Mother of my Maker.

By the Holy Spirit

I pray thee, I pray thee, holy Virgin,
may I, by the Spirit through Whom thou didst give birth to Jesus,
have Jesus and hold Him.
By that Spirit through whom
thou didst conceive this same Jesus in thy flesh,
may my soul receive Jesus.

Let the Spirit gift me with the knowledge of Jesus,
this Spirit by Whom it was given Thee to bear Jesus and to give Him birth.
Let the Spirit in Whom thou didst declare thyself the handmaid of the Lord,
choosing that it should be done unto thee according to the Angel's word,
grant me to proclaim the heights of Jesus with lowliness.

To Love Jesus and to Fear Him

In the Spirit thou didst adore Jesus as thy Lord
and gaze upon Him as thy Son;
in that same Spirit may I love Him.
And may I fear this same Jesus,
with that reverence by which He, truly being God,
became subject to His parents.

st. John the apostle continued...

2008-12-27T14:20:00.000-05:00

St. John was probably the youngest of the Apostles of Jesus Christ and the one who is referred to as “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” He was the only Apostle who was at the foot of the Cross, along with the Blessed Mother, Mary, the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. The others had abandoned Jesus after His arrest because they were afraid.

While hanging on the Cross, Jesus, seeing His beloved disciple John standing there, said to His mother, “woman, here is your son.” Then to John He said, “Here is your mother.” The Scriptures say from that day forward John took the Blessed Mother into his home (Jn 19:25).

When Mary Magdalene reported to the disciples that she had seen the risen Christ, John and Peter ran to the tomb. Although John outran Peter and arrived there first, he waited for Peter to go in out of respect for Peter’s primacy. After all, the Lord had appointed Peter the head of His Church (Mt 16:18). When John did enter the empty tomb and saw that Jesus was not there, he believed that He had risen from the dead.

Tradition tells us that John outlived all the other Apostles and was the bishop of Ephesus. While we cannot be absolutely certain that he wrote the Epistles of John and the Book of Revelation, this is the tradition that has been handed down to us and most certainly seems likely.

Lessons

In the Scriptures, Jesus once referred to John and his brother, James, who was also an Apostle, as the Sons of Thunder. Most likely Jesus said this in reference to their rash statements or quick tempers. After spending three years with the Lord, however, John seemed to have lost most of that rashness and pridefulness, and had become quite humble. One example of his humility is when he waited for Peter to enter the tomb before him.

Prayer

St. John, beloved disciple of Jesus, pray for us to be docile to those whom the Lord has put in authority over us, yet zealous in our love and service to God. In Jesus Christ’s name, we pray. Amen.

st. John the apostle

2008-12-27T13:33:00.002-05:00

Piero della Francesca. St. John the Evangelist. c. 1465.

In his extreme old age he continued to visit the churches of Asia. St. Jerome relates that when age and weakness grew upon him so that he was no longer able to preach to the people, he would be carried to the assembly of the faithful by his disciples, with great difficulty; and every time said to his flock only these words: "My dear children, love one another."This makes me think of John Paul II in his last years. Read more about St. John here.
from the happy catholic blog.

st. stephen

2008-12-26T19:40:00.004-05:00

We have only just celebrated the birth of our Lord and already the liturgy presents us with the feast of the first person to give his life for this Baby who has been born. Yesterday we wrapped Christ in swaddling clothes; today, he clothes Stephen with the garment of immortality. Yesterday, a narrow manger cradled the baby Christ; today, the infinite heaven has received Stephen in triumph. (St. Fulgentius, Sermon 3)

If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you ... Remember the word that I said to you; a servant is not greater than his master: If they persecuted me they will persecute you. (John 15:18-20)

Every age is an age of martyrdom, St. Augustine tells us. Don't say that Christians are not suffering persecution; the Apostle's words are always true ...: All who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. (2 Tim 3:12) All, he says, with no one being excluded or exempted. If you want to test the truth of this saying, you have only to begin to lead a pious life and you will see what good reason he had for saying this. (St. Augustine, Sermon 6, 2)

from catholic online:

Stephen's name means "crown," and he was the first disciple of Jesus to receive the martyr's crown. Stephen was a deacon in the early Christian Church. The apostles had found that they needed helpers to look after the care of the widows and the poor. So they ordained seven deacons, and Stephen is the most famous of these.

God worked many miracles through St. Stephen and he spoke with such wisdom and grace that many of his hearers became followers of Jesus. The enemies of the Church of Jesus were furious to see how successful Stephen's preaching was. At last, they laid a plot for him. They could not answer his wise argument, so they got men to lie about him, saying that he had spoken sinfully against God. St. Stephen faced that great assembly of enemies without fear. In fact, the Holy Bible says that his face looked like the face of an angel.

The saint spoke about Jesus, showing that He is the Savior, God had promised to send. He scolded his enemies for not having believed in Jesus. At that, they rose up in great anger and shouted at him. But Stephen looked up to Heaven and said that he saw the heavens opening and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.

His hearers plugged their ears and refused to listen to another word. They dragged St. Stephen outside the city of Jerusalem and stoned him to death. The saint prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!" Then he fell to his knees and begged God not to punish his enemies for killing him.

a great paragraph from the theology of the body

2008-12-25T13:01:00.002-05:00

Christ's life proclaims:" You don't believe God loves you? Let me show you how much God loves you. You don't believe that God is a gift? This is my body given for you. You think God wants to keep you from life? I will bleed myself dry so that my life's blood can give you life to the full. You thought God was a tyrant, a slave-driver? I will take the form of a slave; I will let you 'Lord over' me to demonstrate that God has no desire to 'lord it over' you. You thought god would whip your back if you gave him the chance? I will let you whip my back to demonstrate that God has no desire to whip yours. I have not come to condemn you, but to set you free Stop persisting in your unbelief. Repent and believe in the good news."

christmas eve in St. Peter's square

2008-12-24T15:08:00.000-05:00

st. jerome

2008-12-24T12:23:00.003-05:00

I just read this quote from St. Jerome from the singing in the reign blog.
Recently I have been battling with trying to change some of my bad habits that are leading me into sin. some times we try to justify ours sins saying they arent all that bad. Yes we might not be murdering anyone or stealing anything but our sins can still do terrible damage. Especially at this time of year we need to clean ourselves and give Jesus that gift that he would most want. The gift of us doing everything within our power to perfect ourselves for him. To become more like him.

"Christ found no room in the Holy of Holies that shone with gold, precious stones, pure silk and silver. He is not born in the midst of gold and riches, but in the midst of dung, in a stable where our sins were filthier than the dung. He is born on a dunghill in order to lift up those who come from it: 'From the dunghill he lifts up the poor' (Ps 113:7)" (Jerome, On the Nativity of the Lord, ACCSNT 3:39).

christmas eve

2008-12-24T12:01:00.001-05:00

I have just experienced my very own Christmas miracle! Yesterday I prayed that I would learn the true meaning of Christmas. I kept thinking of all that I had read in the theology of the body the last couple of days. The meaning of life is to learn how to love like Jesus loves. That should be our purpose. All yesterday I was crying alot. It was like all at once God was showing me all of the things I have done wrong. Actually I don't think it is so much that God all of a sudden is showing me I think it is more that I am now open and willing to see things things and to try to learn from them.
For the longest time I have just been trying to hide from my wrongs. To just live with only my needs in mind. I should be talking to God every time that I need to make a decision. I should talk to him like he is one of my parents.

Also another one of my prayers has been answered. I was praying that I would get to know that Jesus is in the Eucharist. For awhile I was having a hard time feeling that the bread and wine does turn into the body and blood of Christ. Now I know this. Yesterday and Today at mass I just felt so much love during the mass. Especially during the blessing of the gifts.

I am just so happy. I was really getting upset thinking that this Christmas was just going to be a terrible one. It has turned out to be the best one so far!

first two chapters

2008-12-23T15:56:00.001-05:00

I just finished reading the first two chapters of the book. There were some things in it that really struck me. Although I am pretty baffled on why they did so. One of the statements was that the meaning of life is to learn to love as Christ loves. Just that one statement made me have to really sit back and think. that life is all about love.

Also that everything has been distorted by sin. Adam and Eve were not ashamed by their bodies.
It wasn't until after sin that sex and the body became a "bad" thing.
There is a very clear connection between our sexual choices and culture. Take the pro choice question. According to this book the pro choice advocates don't really want the right to kill their offspring but to be able to have sex whenever and however they want without consequence. This took me a minute to think about. That is a rather big bold statement however I think it's absolutely right.

this quote from the book really meant something to me so I am going to share it.
" Christ is the one who left his Father in heaven. He also left the home of his mother on earth. Why? To give up his body for his Bride (the Church) so that we might become one flesh with him. Where do we unite bodily with Christ? Most profoundly, in the Eucharist."

male and females were created to mirror the communion we receive at mass. the man communes with with female just like the church and god in the Eucharist.

I believe that God created us to live for each other. We are to give all of us to each other. Just like Jesus gave all of himself to all of us. We are to live without holding anything back. When we learn how to love like that we will have succeeded in living like Christ.
For some this will be a very simple idea to wrap your head around. For me it hit me like a bag full of bricks.

Yesterday I prayed that Christ would help me know him. I was thinking in the morning that it is a couple days before Christmas and I was more excited about the presents than his birth. I was shocked and angry at myself. I was feeling so empty. I knew that this was going to be a very hard Christmas for me. I am recently separated from my husband. Someone who I never should have married. Instead of following Christs model of love I was just looking for something else completely different. I did not choose wisely. I barely even choose. I didn't think anything through before making life changing decisions. I wasn't even considering that the choices I would make would not only change my life but others around me. So back to the point...
after being away from home for too many years and making about a million terrible choices I am back home. I am trying to find myself. find where I belong and how I can possibly make things better for both myself and everyone else around me. I am also trying to find God again. I took him for granted for a very long time.

The reason why this book is both shocking and helping me so much is that this example of love is so very far from the type of love I have experienced in my life. Well I guess that it wasn't really love in the first place. I have had good people in my life. I am not saying that everyone is just evil. I just think that we center our lives too much on what can we get out of it.
This doesn't just have to do with sex either. My mother has a friend who is just extremely selfish. My mother will help her with everything. It's like this friend of hers cant do anything without her. It annoys me how she take my mother for granted. she will take and take all this help from her but then when my mother asks her for a small favor there is always a whole bunch of excuses. My mother will get frustrated with her which is just normal but she will rarely say anything to her about it. She just continues to help her. I am amazed at how selfless my mother is. She gives and gives to her knowing very well that she won't get anything in return. She has vowed that she will try to help this friend learn how to love and I think she just might be able to.

sex questions

2008-12-22T19:46:00.001-05:00

I have started reading pope John Paul's theology of the body. For a few years now I have been very much into the alternative lifestyle. Mostly bdsm.
For awhile now I have just been talking to people online about it and not actually physically doing it. I really don't see whats wrong with it but i can see how some people would since it doesn't really keep sex very sacred or private.

I think it has really become an addiction for me. something unhealthy.
I will spend hours talking online and yeah its fun but it doesn't fulfill me. it doesn't make me feel satisfied at all. Actually when I am done I usually feel ashamed. I think that deep down I know that it is wrong and that I shouldn't be doing it. I am having a very hard time keeping away from doing it though.

I would like to ask for your prayers to help me through this time.