If I Had My Child to Raise Again

My son asked me to watch him play a game and I told him I was too busy doing something else. So what do I read over at Marie from View From the Pews?

If I had my child to raise all over again,

I'd build self-esteem first, and the house later.

I'd finger paint more, and point the finger less.

I'd would do less correcting and more connecting.

I'd take my eyes off my watch, and watch with my eyes.

I would care to know less and know to care more.

I'd take more hikes and fly more kites.

I'd stop playing serious, and seriously play.

I would run through more fields and gaze at more stars,

I'd do more hugging and less tugging.

I'd see the oak tree in the acorn more often,

I would be firm less often, and affirm much more.

I'd model less about the love of power,

And more about the power of love.

Diane Loomans

Well, see you later. I'm off to see my son play Portal and the cute Companion Cube.

The Secret of Sanctity

I found this on Sue's blog

I am gong to reveal to you a secret of sanctity and happiness. If every day during five minutes you will keep your imagination quiet, shut your eyes to all the things of sense, and close your ears to all the sounds of earth, so as to be able to withdraw into the sanctuary of your baptized souls, which is the temple of the Holy Spirit, speaking there to that Holy spirit saying:

O Holy Spirit, soul of my soul, I adore You. Enlighten, guide, strengthen and console me. Tell me what I ought to do and command me to do it. I promise to be submissive in everything that You permit to happen to me, only show me what is Your Will.

If you do this, your life will pass happily and serenely. Consolation will abound even in the midst of troubles. Grace will be given in proportion to the trial as well as strength to bear it, bringing you to the gates of Paradise full of merit.

This submission to the Holy Spirit is the Secret of Sanctity.


Cardinal Mercier

Feast Day - St. Thomas Aquinas

St Thomas Aquinas, by P.D. Francesca, Milano

Picture source: This Site

Mary, the Mother of God

Source: Catholic Tube

After viewing this video, one has to wonder how anyone could have a problem honoring Mary, the Mother of God.

Our Lady of Saturday

Our Lady of the Rosary

Forgiving Yourself

Picture source: Messenger of Joy
The following is from Father John Catoir's January 2008 Newsletter and is being used with permission.

Joy is in the eye of the beholder. To get past the pain of needless guilt, its helps to change your perspective, and avoid all forms of self-sabotage.

Millions of brokenhearted people live their lives in quiet desperation feeling guilty over one thing or another. One elderly woman had an abortion in her youth, and she never got over it. She was still punishing herself, years later, believing that God was surely going to punish her if she didn't beat up on herself here and now.

That is a faulty theology, and a poor understanding of God's infinite love.
She had confessed her sin many years before, but still acted as though God never heard her confession, and worse, never forgave her.

People forget that the greatest sin ever committed on earth will never be big enough to limit God’s infinite mercy. The greater the mercy, the greater the glory given to God. There is no need to perpetuate feelings of guilt, and no need to keep on punishing oneself. The best thing is thank God for his mercy, and move on with one's life, in a spirit of gratitude. It is a matter of controlling your thoughts.

Feelings follow thoughts. If you fail to accept God’s love and forgiveness, you are refusing to honor God’s love. We cannot allow ourselves to be too proud to accept God’s mercy. Mercy is love as it confronts misery. Guilt feelings can only dissolve when we trust God enough to show his power; namely to bring good out of evil. God always forgives. Jesus set the tone: “Forgive them Father for they know not what they do.” The message of God’s mercy may seem too good to be true, but if you accept his forgiveness, the gift of peace will come.

Acceptance purifies the soul, and brings relief to the wounded spirit. “The forgiven penitent is reconciled with himself in his inmost being, where he regains his own true identity…he is reconciled with the Church, with himself, and with all creation,” (Pope John Paul II).

Very often those, who cling to guilt feelings, are putting themselves above God’s mercy. They do not believe that they are worthy of forgiveness, so they punish themselves endlessly. “Do not be afraid… your sins are forgiven,” says the Lord. Take him at his word

The penitent needs to bow in gratitude, not fear. Thank Jesus for his forgiveness. Peaceful feelings will follow eventually. Forgive yourself, or at least ask for the grace to forgive yourself, and learn to be patient.

Forgiveness is in the will, and the will has only one function. The will says yes or no. Say yes to God and accept his forgiveness. Do it because you know God loves you. He wants you to share in his peace and joy. He wants to bring you peace and pardon through his beloved Son, Jesus Christ.God will do for you, what you cannot do for yourself, bring you peace of soul.

Dear Jesus, teach me be still; teach me to accept your love and forgiveness. I know you are blessing me every moment of my life, and I thank you with all my heart.

To obtain a copy of the above book: Encounters With Holiness, or any of Father Catoir's other books like:
Joy The Gigantic Secret of the Church's Survival,
Enjoy the Lord,
God Delights in You, or
Enjoy Your Precious Life

Call the publisher: Alba House 1-800- 343-2522 or visit their website HERE

Please consider a tax-deductable donation to help support Fr. Catoir's radio ministry. Make your check payable to St. Jude Media, and forward it to Father Catoir at Box 745, Chester, N.J. 07930

Thank you, and God bless you.

Visit our website: Messenger of Joy

Fr. John Catoir is the former director of the Christophers. He was also the executive director of Eva's Village, formerly Eva's Kitchen. He is a syndicated columnist in Diocese newspapers around the country including the Hawaii Catholic Herald. He is a noted author of many books as mentioned above especially the ones on the topic of Joy. And, lastly, he used to be our parish priest Our Lady of Victories in the Paterson Diocese. That is the church my family attended when I was growing up.

Fine Art Friday

Today's featured artist is Gianlorenzo Bernini. (1598 - 1680)

Apollo and Daphne
The Martyrdom of St. Lawrence
David - This happens to be my favorite sculpture.

The Ecstasy of St. Teresa

Feast Day - Conversion of St. Paul

by Caravaggio

Humor Break

Picture: Titian, Adam and Eve, c. 1550. Madrid, Prado

The following was shared by Danielle via email.

GOD CREATED CHILDREN (AND IN THE PROCESS GRANDCHILDREN)

To those of us who have children in our lives,
whether they are our own,
grandchildren,
nieces,
nephews,
or students...
here is something to make you chuckle.

Whenever your children are out of control,
you can take comfort from the thought that
even God's omnipotence did not extend
to His own children.

After creating heaven and earth,
God created Adam and Eve.

And the first thing he said was
" DON'T !"

"Don 't what ? "
Adam replied.

"Don't eat the forbidden fruit."
God said.

"Forbidden fruit ?
We have forbidden fruit ?
Hey Eve..we have forbidden fruit ! "

" No Way ! "
"Yes way ! "

"Do NOT eat the fruit ! "
said God.

"Why ? "

"Because I am your Father and I said so ! "
God replied,
wondering why He hadn't stopped
creation after making the elephants

A few minutes later,
God saw His children having an apple break
and He was ticked !
"Didn't I tell you not to eat the fruit ? "
God asked.

"Uh huh,"
Adam replied.

"Then why did you ? "
said the Father.

"I don't know,"
said Eve.
"She started it! "
Adam said.

"Did not ! "
"Did too ! "
"DID NOT ! "

Having had it with the two of them,
God's punishment was that Adam and Eve
should have children of their own.
Thus the pattern was set and it has never changed.

If you have persistently and lovingly tried to give children wisdom and
they haven't taken it,
don't be hard on yourself.

If God had trouble raising children,
what makes you think it woul d be
a piece of cake for you ?

I Believe

The following was shared by my good friend Laura.

I believe -. . . That just because two people argue, it doesn't mean they don't love each other. And just because they don't argue, it doesn't mean they do.

I believe - That we don't have to change friends if we understand that friends change.

I believe - That no matter how good a friend is, they're going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that.

I believe - That true friendship continues to grow, even over the longest distance. Same goes for true love.

I believe - That you can do something in an instant that will give you
heartache for life.

I believe - That it's taking me a long time to become the person I want
to be.

I believe - That you should always leave loved ones with loving words. It may be the last time you see them.

I believe - That you can keep going long after you think you can't.

I believe - That we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel.

I believe - That either you control your attitude or it controls you.

I believe - That heroes are the people who do what has to be done when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.

I believe - That money is a lousy way of keeping score.

I believe - That my best friend and I can do anything or nothing and have the best time.

I believe - That sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you're down, will be the ones to help you get back up.

I believe - That sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to be angry, but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.

I believe - That maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had and what you've learned from them and less to do with how many birthdays you've celebrated.

I believe - That it isn't always enough to be forgiven by others.
Sometimes you have to learn to forgive yourself.

I believe - That no matter how bad your heart is broken the world doesn't stop for your grief.

I believe - That our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.

I believe - That you shouldn't be so eager to find out a secret. It could
change your life. Forever.

I believe - Two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally different.

I believe - That your life can be changed in a matter of hours by people who don't even know you.

I believe - That even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you - you will find the strength to help.

I believe - That credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.

I believe - That the people you care about most in life are taken from
you too soon.

What lies behind us and what lies before us, are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.