Tuesday, December 07, 2010
Father John Corapi - Examination of Conscience: A Daily Duty
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| Venerable Pope John Paul II hearing confessions |
Picture source
Shared by Sue Cifelli
Most Catholics understand that it is necessary to make a good examination of conscience before they receive the sacrament of Penance. If you don’t examine your conscience properly you obviously can’t make a good confession. Today in the world of noise, both interior as well as exterior, this needs to be stressed very emphatically. Often the voice of conscience, which is very akin to the very voice of God, comes as a still tiny whisper, not a loud and obvious sound. In order to hear such a whisper we need to preserve a certain holy silence at times...
Father's article and guide for examining our conscience can be found here.
St. Ambrose
Prayer that we May Seek God and Find Him
Lord, teach me to seek you,
and reveal yourself to me when I seek you.
For I cannot seek you
unless you first teach me,
nor find you
unless you first reveal yourself to me.
Let me seek you in longing,
and long for you in seeking.
Let me find you in love,
and love you in finding.
- St. Ambrose of Milan (340-397)
Bishop, Writer and Doctor
Prayers before Holy Communion - Prayer of St. Ambrose
Lord Jesus Christ, I approach your banquet table in fear and trembling, for I am a sinner, and dare not rely on my own worth but only on your goodness and mercy. I am defiled by many sins in body and soul, and by my unguarded thoughts and words.
Gracious God of majesty and awe, I seek your protection, I look for your healing. Poor troubled sinner that I am, I appeal to You, the fountain of all mercy. I cannot bear your judgment, but I trust in your salvation.
Lord, I show my wounds to You and uncover my shame before You. I know my sins are many and great, and they will fill me with fear, but I hope in Your Mercies, for they cannot be numbered.
Lord Jesus Christ, eternal king, God and man, crucified for mankind, look
upon me with mercy and hear my prayer, for I trust in You. Have mercy on me, full of sorrow and sin, for the depth of your compassion never ends.
Praise to You, saving sacrifice, offered on the wood of the cross for me and for all mankind. Praise to the noble and precious blood, flowing from the wounds of my crucified Lord Jesus Christ and washing away the sins of the whole world. Remember, Lord, your creature, whom You have redeemed with Your Blood. I repent my sins, and I long to put right what I have done.
Merciful Father, take away all my offenses and sins; purify me in body and soul, and make me worthy to taste the holy of holies.
May Your Body and Blood, which I intend to receive, although I am unworthy, be for me the remission of my sins, the washing away of my guilt, the end of my evil thoughts, and the rebirth of my better instincts. May it incite me to do the works pleasing to You and profitable to my health in body and soul, and be a firm defense against the wiles of my enemies.
Amen.
- New Saint Joseph People's Prayer Book
Text source
ACN News - Iraq – ACN gives help as Christians flee persecution
ACN-USA News
12/7/10
Iraq – ACN gives help as Christians flee persecution
Families fleeing persecution in Mosul and Baghdad are to receive emergency aid from leading Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN).
The charity for oppressed and other suffering Christians has agreed to give grants of $20,000 for victims of the October 31st, massacre at Baghdad’s Our Lady of Salvation Syrian Catholic Church which left up to 58 dead and more than 70 injured.
A further $13,300 will be sent to poverty-stricken Christians from Baghdad who have fled to the Iraqi cities of Kirkuk and Sulaymaniyah.
In Zakho Diocese, in the far north of the country, ACN is also giving $33,300 to provide food packages for hundreds of Christian families.
The aid will be distributed by Chaldean Sisters of the Daughters of Mary Immaculate.
ACN’s announcement comes amid reports that 500 Christian families – more than 2,000 people – have fled Baghdad and Mosul in the past few weeks amid continuing violence and intimidation.
On Monday reports emerged that Hekmet Jaboure Samak and his wife, Samira, an elderly Christian couple from Baghdad’s Bealdeyat district, had been killed in their home.
Church sources in Baghdad told ACN that the attackers broke into the home where the couple had been living for many years.
After killing the two Christians, the attackers comprehensively looted their home.
“Everything was taken,” the Church source said.
Speaking from northern Iraq, Archbishop Bashar Warda of Erbil thanked ACN for its continuing help, saying that Christians were now very afraid.
He said, “The Christians in Baghdad and Mosul do not have a dignified life. They feel afraid even in their own home. They cannot move freely.”
“They have to think twice about going to church on Sundays.”
Archbishop Warda added, “People would leave immediately if they could. The only thing that is stopping them is that in many cases they are poor and if they left they would struggle to find a job, schools for their children and a home to live in.”
The archbishop claimed that estate agents in Baghdad had reduced the value of properties owned by Christians, which would mean that if they tried to sell their homes they would struggle to find decent alternative housing.
Helping Christians in the Middle East is a priority for Aid to the Church in Need.
Pope Benedict XVI recently told the charity to focus on supporting the region’s faithful, where he said “the local Church is threatened in its very existence.”
With picture of Sister Merna with emergency food for Christians in northern Iraq
Editor’s Notes:
Directly under the Holy Father, Aid to the Church in Need supports the faithful wherever they are persecuted, oppressed or in pastoral need. ACN is a Catholic charity - helping to bring Christ to the world through prayer, information and action.
Founded in 1947 by Father Werenfried van Straaten, whom Pope John Paul II named “An Outstanding Apostle of Charity,” the organization is now at work in over 145 countries throughout the world.
The charity undertakes thousands of projects every year including providing transport for clergy and lay Church workers, construction of church buildings, funding for priests and nuns and help to train seminarians. Since the initiative’s launch in 1979, 43 million Aid to the Church in Need Child’s Bibles have been distributed worldwide.
For more information contact Michael Varenne at michael@churchinneed.org or call 718-609-0939 or fax718-609-0938. Aid to the Church in Need, 725 Leonard Street, PO Box 220384, Brooklyn, NY 11222-0384. www.churchinneed.org
Handel's Messiah - 'Ev'ry Valley Shall Be Exalted'
Isaiah 40: 1 - 11
1 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.
2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the LORD's hand double for all her sins.
3 A voice cries: "In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
4 Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain.
5 And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken."
6 A voice says, "Cry!" And I said, "What shall I cry?" All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field.
7 The grass withers, the flower fades, when the breath of the LORD blows upon it; surely the people is grass.
8 The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God will stand for ever.
9 Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good tidings; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings, lift it up, fear not; say to the cities of Judah, "Behold your God!"
10 Behold, the Lord GOD comes with might, and his arm rules for him; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him.
11 He will feed his flock like a shepherd, he will gather the lambs in his arms, he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.
Thanks EWTN!
Monday, December 06, 2010
Saintly Quotes - Foregiveness
"May we never risk the life of our souls by being resentful or by bearing grudges." - St. Gregory of Nyssa
"Confession heals, confession justifies, confession grants pardon of sin. All hope consists in confession. In confession there is a chance for mercy. Believe it firmly. Do not doubt, do not hesitate, never despair of the mercy of God. Hope and have confidence in confession." - St. Isidore of Seville
Quote source
"In whatever state a soul may be, it ought to pray. A soul which is pure and beautiful must pray, or else it will lose its beauty; a soul which is striving after this purity must pray, or else it will never attain it; a soul which is newly converted must pray, or else it will fall again; a sinful soul, plunged in sins, must pray so that it might rise again. There is no soul which is not bound to pray, for every single grace comes to the soul through prayer." - St. Faustina
Quote source
"Strange that so much suffering is caused because of the misunderstandings of God's true nature. God's heart is more gentle than the Virgin's first kiss upon the Christ. And God's forgiveness to all, to any thought or act, is more certain than our own being." - St. Catherine of Siena
"I once picked up a woman from a garbage dump and she was burning with fever; she was in her last days and her only lament was: ‘My son did this to me.’ I begged her: You must forgive your son. In a moment of madness, when he was not himself, he did a thing he regrets. Be a mother to him, forgive him. It took me a long time to make her say: ‘I forgive my son.’ Just before she died in my arms, she was able to say that with a real forgiveness. She was not concerned that she was dying. The breaking of the heart was that her son did not want her. This is something you and I can understand." - Blessed Mother TeresaQuote source
"If we really want to love we must learn how to forgive." - Blessed Mother Teresa
"This Blood that but one drop of has the power to win. All the world forgiveness of its world of sin." - St. Thomas Aquinas
"Forgiveness is the remission of sins. For it is by this that what has been lost, and was found, is saved from being lost again." - Saint Augustine
"The heart of a mother is a deep abyss at the bottom of which you will always find forgiveness." - Honore de Balzac
Quote source
”If a man finds it very hard to forgive injuries, let him look at a Crucifix, and think that Christ shed all His Blood for him, and not only forgave His enemies, but even prayed His Heavenly Father to forgive them also. Let him remember that when he says the Pater Noster, every day, instead of asking pardon for his sins, he is calling down vengeance on himself.” -Saint Philip Neri
"To the extent that you pray with all your soul for the person who slanders you, God will make the truth known to those who have been scandalized by the slander." -St. Maximos the Confessor
"Avoid slander because it is difficult to retract. Avoid offending anyone for to ask forgiveness is not delightful." -Saint John Cantius
"Let no one mourn that he has fallen again and again; for forgiveness has risen from the grave." -St. John Chrysostom
"The patient man goes through a great and salutary purgatory when he grieves more over the malice of one who harms him than for his own injury; when he prays readily for his enemies and forgives offenses from his heart; when he does not hesitate to ask pardon of others; when he is more easily moved to pity than to anger; when he does frequent violence to himself and tries to bring the body into complete subjection to the spirit." -Imitation of Christ
"If a man does what he can and is truly penitent, however often he comes to Me for grace and pardon, "As I live, saith the Lord God, I desire not the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live"; I will no longer remember his sins, but all will be forgiven him." -Imitation of Christ
Quote source
Forgiving from One's Heart
Picture source
Why is it sometimes hard to forgive?
We are blessed to have God forgive our most egregious offenses, no matter how many times we commit the same sins. Yet, even the tiniest slight by someone offends us to a point where we cannot overlook it. Then we are left with a hurt that cannot be comforted or forgotten. The saddest reality is that the inflicter of the pain may not even realize she or he has offended us.
The sin of pride is the culprit here. If we were truly humble, we could welcome slights, offensives, and hurts, because we would be empathizing with all the humiliations our innocent Lord had to endure, especially during His passion during His short time on Earth.
We need to really let the words of the Our Father touch us to the core when we pray "...forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us."
We not only have to forgive but also forget any intentional or unintentional wrongs done to us.
There are many good quotes by the saints on forgiveness. But something that helps me to forgive is something I read in an advice column once: "Holding a grudge is letting someone live rent free in your head."
This Advent season, let us love the person who offended us, and also thank him or her for giving us the opportunity to make this small sacrifice for Jesus.
An Examination of Conscience for Families
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| G. Molteni, La confessione, 1838 |
The following is a part of Father Robert Fox's examination of conscience from his Prayer Book for Catholics.
1. Have I contributed to happiness and harmony in my family by patience, kindness, forgiveness and understanding?
2. Have I obeyed my parents?
3. Have I taken a united front with my spouse in disciplining children in justice and love?
4. Have I participated in daily family prayer?
5. Have I helped instruct children in the faith or delegated it entirely to others, forgetting that parents are the primary educators of their children?
6. Did I give good example to my children by participating in Holy Mass and frequently the sacraments?
7. Do I take an active interest in whether each of my children is growing in knowledge and love of his faith and identifying with Christ's Church?
8. Do I observe whether my teenagers go to confession frequently.
9. Do I really know each one of my children?
10. Have I been a good example in manifesting positive Catholic thinking and conversations and by exercising living authority as a parent?
11. Have I been sensitive to the needs of my spouse?
12. Have I caused hurt to self and family members by the use of drugs or drink?
14. Have I prudently guided my older children into Catholic marriages or advised them kindly to select a spouse who will help lead them to salvation?
16. Have I been faithful to my (husband/wife) in my heart and in relations with others?
17. Do I visit and keep in frequent touch with elderly parents?
18. Have I given sufficient time to each of my children or am I more married to my work?
19. Do I provide good Catholic reading in my home and watch what literature comes into the home?
20. As a parent do I have good moral standards as to which television programs are harmful and which can assist to develop wholesome Christian principles in family members?
21. Do I understand love for family members means sacrificing self?
22. Have I tried to uplift my spouse in moments of suffering, discouragement?
23. Do I show appreciation for my spouse's (parent's) good points or only criticize negatively?
24. Have I caused pain and sorrow to my parents?
Feast of St. Nicholas
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| St. Nicholas - Patron of Greece |
Wonder-working follower of Christ,
from your early years you practiced fasting
and were outstanding in generosity.
You quickly distributed to the poor
what you had inherited from your parents.
Traveling to Palestine, you became a bishop
and dared to preach the Gospel
for which you were thrown into prison.
As "Santa Claus" you are still loved today.
Teach us to be generous like you!
- New Saint Joseph People's Prayer Book, Catholic Book Publishing
Saturday, December 04, 2010
Help from Our Blessed Mother Mary
Who can we turn to for help when we are burdened down with problems?
When I have problems, I go to my mother. I feel much better listening to her words of advice. My problems may not go away immediately yet I feel comforted by her motherly love.
My mother trusts that our lady will come to her aid. Simple as that. She has always had a deep love of our Blessed Mother and she has entrusted all her children to Mary's motherly protection. When one of her children goes to her with a problem, she immediately ask the Mother of Jesus, to help.
Of course, our Lady answers my mother's call for help.
Our Lady is the most loving of mothers. She is truly our mother. She loves us so much and she wants to intercede for us. We know that from Jesus' very first public miracle at Cana, He cannot deny His sweet mother's request.
Therefore, when we are troubled, let us remember to pray with confidence "Jesus, I trust in You." And also remember to ask our Lady for specific help. She will make sure Jesus answers your prayers.
Cardinal Bertone: 'Christians the Most Persecuted Religious Group in the World'
Note: While searching for an appropriate picture to go along with this post, I found very graphic photos of murdered and tortured Christians. One that impacted me was the decapitated head of a young girl, laying along side her body. Pray, pray and continue to pray for the persecuted Christians all over the world.
"It was a Sunday and evening mass had just begun. Shortly after the Gospel reading, about 17.15, we heard the sound of gunfire outside the church. Father Tha'er, who was celebrating the liturgy, tried to calm everyone down, telling us to pray together. The noise became louder, then we heard a loud explosion and the terrorists entered the Church - five or six in all - and started shooting everywhere.."
"I saw the injured girl. I decided to go and get her to try and bring her to safety. I took her on my shoulders, but one of the terrorists saw me and threw a grenade at us: the girl died and I was on the ground wounded. I pretended to be dead.
Deacon Keith Fournier - Cardinal Bertone: 'Christians the Most Persecuted Religious Group in the World'
Thanks to Sue Cifelli for sharing.
How We Can Give the Most Pleasure to Our Blessed MOther
If we...wish to give the most pleasure possible to Mary in every action, in every sacrifice, we must intend to give the most pleasure possible to Jesus in the name of Mary. Jesus will be happier because we do this in the name of His Mother; Mary will be happier because she will have succeeded in making her Son better loved by us and by others, through us.
From Devotion to Mary by Father Emile Neubert, S.M., published by the Academy of the Immaculate
Friday, December 03, 2010
A Catholic Blogger's Shares Her Intimate Struggles and Help from the Passionists
I realize that many of my regular readers have a hard time believing that I have some serious emotional problems at times. My current diagnosis is Bipolar Disorder. I also deal with what I believe are moderate (not profound) Asperger Syndrome symptoms. It is quite difficult for me to socialize and to communicate in two-way conversation, especially on the phone or face-to-face, and I obsess quite a bit about one topic — Catholicism...
You can read Lisa Graas' entire post here at her blog.
A Blogger's Beautiful Tribute to His Sister
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| Painting by William-Adolphe Bouguereau |
Marcel LeJeune's Where Are You God?
Devotion to Mary by Father Emile Neubert, SM
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| Father Emile Neubert, S.M. |
"Mary is not only an incomparably beautiful Mother, she is also an incomparably loving Mother."
DEVOTION TO MARY by Father Emile Neubert, S.M., has just been published by Academy of the Immaculate. This is the English translation by Father Charles Miller, S.M., of the original French book, which is a classic in Europe.
Throughout this work, Mary is presented especially as Mother: the Mother of God,
our Mother,
the Mother of all the members of the Mystical Body of Christ.
Mary's Motherhood is an image of the maternal character of the Church. For Fr. Neubert, Marian devotion consists not so much in specific practices but, rather in offering one's life to the Virgin Mary, an offering which has an ecclesial dimension. For St. Luis Grignion de Montfort, Marian consecration is a solemn renewal of one's baptismal commitment confided to the Virgin Mother. For Blessed William Joseph Chaminade, Marian consecration is to assist Mary in her apostolic mission: as she gave birth to Christ, "the First-born among many brethren, she cooperates, with a mother's love, in the generation and formation of the faithful." (Lumen Gentium 63).
Devotion to Mary can be obtained from Academy of the Immaculate, PO Box 3003 New Bedford, MA 02741. Phone and Fax (888) 90.Maria. Email Academy@marymediatrix.com
Our Lady of Guadalupe novena Starts Today
This reminder comes from Evann. I am happy to see Father Lovasik wrote the novena. I highly recommend reading everything he has written:
The December 12 Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe is fast approaching. Begin your novena on Friday, December 3 to end on the eve of her Feast Day. Here is the novena in its entirety, written by Rev. Lawrence G. Lovasik, S.V.D., and approved by Bishop Burke, now Cardinal Burke, for use preceding Consecration/Renewal. I will also repost the prayers for each day as we move through the novena.
The novena can be found on Evann's blog here.
Sacred Heart & Happy feast of St. Francis Xavier SJ
The following was shared by Mary Jane D. via email.
Today is not only the feast of St. Francis Xavier, SJ - incorrupt body in India
but the names day of our dear Father Francis Xavier Seelos who was named after this great saint!
O great Saint Francis, well beloved and full of charity, with thee I reverently adore the Divine Majesty; and since I especially rejoice in the singular gifts of grace bestowed on thee in life, and of glory after death, I give thanks to God, and beg of thee, with all the affection of my heart that by thy powerful intercession thou mayest obtain for me above all things the grace to live a holy life and die a holy death. Moreover, I beg of thee to obtain for me (here insert some special spiritual or temporal favor); but if what I ask does not tend to the glory of God and the greater good of my soul, do thou, I beseech thee, obtain for me what will more certainly attain these ends. Amen
Look how happy he is on his names day!! Your prayers will truly be answered today!!
Bountiful God,
in Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos, You have given Your people
a model for those who labor joyfully in Your earthly kingdom.
May his smile dwell on those who find life burdensome.
In him, our eyes continually behold the gentleness of Jesus Christ, our Redeemer.
Amen. (mention your intentions)
Most of all, we remember the Sacred Heart of Jesus on this First Friday in Advent.
Prayer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, pour down Your blessings abundantly on Your holy Church, on the Supreme Pointiff, and on all the clergy. Grant perseverance to the just, convert sinners, enlighten infidels, bless our parents, friends, and benefactors, assist the dying, free the souls in purgatory, and extend over all hearts the sweet empire of Your love. (mention your intentions) AMEN
My Advent Reflection - Choosing Devotions
The First Friday announcement triggered a family discussion on devotions. My son shared with us his favorite and not so favorite devotions and my husband shared that he often prays during the day in a personal way without formal prayers. I acknowledged that I would prefer to pray with my own words instead of all the devotional prayers that I pray daily.
However, we sometimes need to pray formally or to perform certain devotions because we have responsibilities to our spiritual life like any other aspect of our lives. The devotions that make up part of my daily life are important. I cannot give them up merely because I find myself praying by rote. I just need to focus more on these prayers. We need to pray for those in need, conversion, the dying, for reparation, in thanksgiving, in adoration and so many other reasons. Many times formal prayers like the Holy Rosary and the Divine Mercy Chaplet are the best ways of doing this.
Our devotions are a personal thing that depend on our state of life. Someone who is ill may not be able to attend daily Mass but can receive spiritual communion and can pray the Holy Rosary for so many intentions.
This Advent season I suggest that you take inventory of your devotions and see whether you need to make some changes.
Thursday, December 02, 2010
Prayer to be said Every Day, to Obtain the Graces Necessary for Salvation
Prayer source via Sue Cifelli
by St. Alphonsus Liguori
Eternal Father, Thy Son has promised that Thou wilt grant us all the graces which we ask Thee for in His name. In the name, therefore, and by the merits of Jesus Christ, I ask the following graces for myself and for all mankind:
And first, I pray Thee to give me a lively faith in all that the holy Roman Church teaches me. Enlighten me also, that I may know the vanity of the goods of this world, and the immensity of the Infinite Good that Thou art; make me also see the deformity of the sins I have committed, that I may humble myself and detest them as I ought; and, on the other hand, show me how worthy Thou art, by reason of Thy goodness, that I should love Thee with all my heart. Make me know also the love Thou has borne me, that from this day forward I may try to be grateful for so much goodness.
Secondly, give me a firm confidence in Thy mercy of receiving the pardon of my sins, holy perseverance, and, finally, the glory of paradise, through the merits of Jesus Christ and the intercession of Mary.
Thirdly, give me a great love toward Thee, which shall detach me from the love of this world and of myself, so that I may love none other but Thee, and that I may neither do nor desire anything else but what is for Thy glory.
Fourthly, I beg of Thee a perfect resignation to Thy will, in accepting with tranquility sorrows, infirmities, contempt, persecutions, aridity of spirit, loss of property, of esteem, of relations, and every other cross which shall come to me from Thy hands.
I offer myself entirely to Thee, that thou mayest do with me, and all that belongs to me, what thou pleasest; do Thou only give me light and strength to do Thy will, and, especially at the hour of death, help me to sacrifice my life to Thee with all the affection I am capable of, in union with the sacrifice which Thy Son Jesus Christ made of His life on the cross of Calvary.
Fifthly, I beg of Thee a great sorrow for my sins, which may make me grieve over them as long as I live, and weep for the insults I have offered Thee, the Sovereign Good, who art worthy of infinite love, and who hast loved me so much.
Sixthly, I pray Thee to give me the spirit of true humility and meekness, that I may accept with peace, and even with joy, all the contempt, ingratitude and ill-treatment that I may receive. At the same time I also pray Thee to give me perfect charity, which shall make me wish well to those who have done evil to me, and to do what good I can, at least by praying, for those who have in any way injured me.
Seventhly, I beg of Thee to give me a love for the virtue of holy mortification, by which I may chastise my rebellious senses, and cross my self-love; at the same time I beg Thee to give me holy purity of body, and the grace to resist all bad temptations, by ever having recourse to Thee and Thy most Holy Mother.
Give me the grace faithfully to obey my spiritual father and all my superiors in all things. Give me an upright intention, that in all I desire and do I may seek only Thy glory, and to please Thee alone. Give me a great confidence in the Passion of Jesus Christ, and in the intercession of Mary Immaculate. Give me a great love toward the most Adorable Sacrament of the Altar, and a tender devotion and love to Thy Holy Mother. Give me, I pray Thee, above all, holy perseverance, and the grace always to pray for it, especially in time of temptation and at the hour of death.
Lastly, I recommend to Thee the holy souls in Purgatory, my relations and benefactors; and in an especial manner I recommend to Thee all those who hate me, or who have in any way offended me; I beg of Thee to render them good for the evil they have done, or may wish to do me. I also recommend to Thee all infidels, heretics, and all poor sinners; give them light and strength to deliver themselves from sin. O, most loving God, make Thyself known and loved by all, but especially by those who have been more ungrateful to Thee than others, so that by Thy goodness I may come one day to sing Thy mercies in paradise; for my hope is in the merits of Thy Blood, and in the patronage of Mary. O Mary, Mother of God, pray to Jesus for me! So I hope; so may it be!
Hell
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| Michelangel's Final Judgment - Sistine Chapel |
Welcome to Hell: Torment, Pain and Eternal Suffering
Hell Exists and We Might Go There
My Advent Reflection - Stillness and Silence
Not long ago I read an article in a National Geographic magazine about how darkness seems to have all but disappeared from the night sky. It is through so much light pollution that a dark night is becoming a rarity. We may not realize it but darkness is vital to the well being of the Earth's creatures. Remember that it was on the very first day of creation, God separated the day from night. He did not eliminate the darkness but only separated it from the light.
This man-made darkness elimination is causing an adverse effect on the world's animals. Just to give you one example, most of the birds who sleep during the night are now often disoriented by the light. They become confused and fly to their deaths. This will surely negatively impact their survival.
For human beings, it is easier to find stillness in the dark if we want to do so. A quiet room lit only by a candle or a single light bulb can really help us spiritually to hear Our Lord speaking to us, as long as we do not permit too much lights and sounds to distract our attention. Yet, more often than not, we allow our attention to be diverted from listening to God by the flashing lights and continuous loud noises coming from the television, computer, cell phone, MP3 players, and even talking to much. How can we possibly expect to know what God wants from us when we cannot hear him? Or how can we expect God to answer us if we are talking. As Judge Judy likes to remind us "God gave us two ears and one mouth for a reason."
If we are unwilling to give up the "night life" in order to find God, than we have to find Him at another time, if we are serious about developing a personal relationship with our Lord.
Did you ever notice that when your eyes open very early in the morning, you can find solutions to a problem or an answer to a question, lying in bed? This is true for me. I find it much easier to think during this short time because my mind is clear. I also think this is true because there is silence and darkness surrounding me. Just for a short time, there are no distractions. God is there to help me with my problems or the answers I am seeking. I listen to Him and He speaks to my heart.
Another place one can listen to God without distractions, is before the Blessed Sacrament found in every Catholic Church or chapel.
... I have stilled my soul, hushed it like a weaned child. Like a weaned child on its mother's lap, so is my soul within me... Psalm 131:2
Jesus is truly present in the Blessed Sacrament in the Tabernacle before us! We can go to Him because He will understand our needs, pains, sufferings like no one else can. We in turn must listen to what He has to say to us. He is there for us, if we can only quiet ourselves and listen. We may not be able to control the noise around us, but we can focus on Him and not let distractions such as talking or cell phones ringing, make us lose our peace within us.
There is still time this Advent to find Our Lord in silence.
New Blog Added to the Sidebar
This is a very fine blog which I found thanks to Twitter.
Linen on the Hedgerow
Wednesday, December 01, 2010
Christmas Food Court Flash Mob, Hallelujah Chorus - Must See!
I am posting this for that one reader who still has not seen this uplifting video!
"Where's the Line to See Jesus?"
Where's the Line to See Jesus?
A big mahalo to Cami for sharing this beautiful video and story with me.
And Death’s Dark Shadow Put to Flight: Advent Hope for the Fall of Man
Please read Father Gordon's newest post for Advent. It is very moving.
Avoiding the Super Catholic Syndrome this Christmas
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| First Week of Advent, Sacred Heart Church, Honolulu |
The following article by was written by Teresa Tomeo.
Those of us who are doing our best to try and follow the teachings of the Church know enough to not take our cues from secular society, especially in regards to what the world says is important at Christmas. We try not to get sucked into the culture of consumerism and commercialism and what has become society’s idea of the reason for the season; the emphasis on the material instead of the spiritual. Many of us have been there and done that in our former lives and had our own “V 8” moments so to speak.Avoiding the Super Catholic Syndrome this Christmas
My Advent Reflection - Advent and Faith
Faith is believing without seeing. Isn't that what we have been taught about the first of the three Theological Virtues?
We are still in the first week of Advent and the frenzy of preparation for Christmas is not dying down. If anything, the mad rush to get everything ready and perfect is getting worse. If you happened to go to a mall near you, you know what I mean.
What we should be focusing on instead is on the liturgical season of Advent. I never really understood Advent when I was younger. Back then, my family went from celebrating Thanksgiving on Thursday to Christmas preparation the next day. I was the oldest and my loving mother let me be in charge of Christmas preparation. We would put up the Christmas lights, decorate the tree, play Christmas music of course the nativity would be set up, including the Baby Jesus! We knew because of our faith that Jesus would be born. We just never took the time to prepare for His birth!
My younger brothers and sisters, as well as my parents, really got into the proverbial "Christmas spirit". We did not realize how much we missed out as a family by not preparing for our Lord's coming. We would have had a more peaceful and spiritual experience had we listened to Isaiah and John the Baptist foretellings instead of the commercials on television.
Now Advent has become a very important time in our respective families. Personally, it is a time I look forward to very much.
We entered the Season of Advent with faith.
My family and I attended the Vigil Mass for the First Week of Advent followed by the Nascent Vigil for Life. That really put everything in perspective for us. We left the Church filled with peace, joy and love for each other.
On Sunday evening we had the traditional family blessing of the wreath, and the lighting of the first candle. We then read from the Magnificat Advent Companion, courtesy of our parish and reading from the day's Advent Calender. This year the little drawers in our wooden Advent Calender box are filled with teachings from St. Francis de Sales.
So, why do we do all this? It is because we have been blessed with faith like so many other families. We truly believe that God sent His only begotten Son as a baby, in the most humblest of surroundings, in order to save us. But first we must prepare ourselves spiritually for His birth. Ultimately, He took upon our sins so that we can live forever with Him in Heaven. We in return must have true contrition and make reparation because we love Him. This is faith. It is a gift from God and never do I realize it more clearly than when I see some who just do not believe. It is very sad to see the rejection of God and His love for us.
I remember reading in A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, that the protagonist asked her mother why the Jewish mamas have so many babies. Her mother explained to "Francie" that it was because each one believes that the baby they are carrying would be the long awaited for Messiah. In a way, they had faith. But not enough for them to accept that their Messiah had already been born a long time ago.
Advent is the joyful waiting period for the Messiah. We know this because of the gift of faith.
Reminder - Hour of Grace on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception
Just a quick reminder that we are called to participate in an Hour of Grace next week on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.
REQUEST OF BLESSED MOTHER FOR THE HOUR OF GRACE
1. Day and time of Hour of Grace - December 8th Feast of the Immaculate Conception - to be started at 12 noon and will continue until 1 PM (one full hour of prayer)
2. During this hour the person making the 'Hour of Grace' either at home or in the Church must put away all distractions (do not answer the telephone or answer any doors or do anything but totally concentrate on your union with God during this Special Hour of Grace)
3. Begin the Hour of Grace by praying three times the 51st Psalm with outstretched arms. Psalm 51 can be found below.
4. The rest of the Hour of Grace may be spent in silent communication with God meditating upon the Passion of Jesus saying the Holy Rosary, praising God in your own way or by using favorite prayers, singing hymns, meditating upon other Psalms, etc.
Please distribute this message to as many people as you can. Remember to pray for your country during this hour. The Blessed Mother has requested that Her message be sent throughout the entire world. Please help the Blessed Virgin Mary to fulfill Her Mission well ... that all souls be drawn to God and that Jesus will be loved in every heart. This is the Perpetual song of her Heart. Let it also be ours.
To learn more about this beautiful Marian devotion please check out my previous post on it which can be found here.
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