Saturday, February 28, 2009

Why We Fast



Thanks to Jean for this video.

On Self-Denial

St. Josemaria Escriva

186 We must give ourselves in everything, we must deny ourselves in everything: the sacrifice must be a holocaust.
The Works of St. Josemaría Escrivá

Friday, February 27, 2009

A Mother's Quiz

Mother
Thanks to Elena for sharing this. She used it as an Examination of Conscience which is very fitting during this season of Lent.

A Mother’s Quiz

MY CHILDREN

Do my children say their morning and night prayers?

Are my children trained to be polite at all times?

Do I teach my children to be good losers at play?

Do I fail to recognize faults in my children because they are mine?

Are my children learning to be calm when things go wrong because I myself am a patient mother?

Are my children learning to be charitable and tolerant of the faults of others because I am charitable and tolerant?

Have I fulfilled my obligations of instructing my children regarding holy purity, or have I allowed them to shift for themselves, getting their ideas from other boys and girls, bad movies and pictures, ungodly literature?

MY HOME

Is Christ the center of my life and of all that is done in my home?

Is there a picture of Christ or His Mother in my living room and not just in the bedrooms?

Is there a holy water font in each bedroom of my home?

Do the members of my family pray grace before and after meals?

Do my children know the Angelus because we recite it before grace in our home at noon and in the evening?

Would Christ approve of the magazines and comic books I allow into my home?

Is my phone used to receive and spread noble thoughts?


Fiat of the Sacred Heart

Sacred Heart

"Every day, but particularly in Lent, Christians must face a struggle, like the one that Christ underwent in the desert of Judea, where for 40 days he was tempted by the devil, and then in Gethsemane, when he rejected the most severe temptation, accepting the Father's will to the very end.

It is a spiritual battle waged against sin and finally, against Satan. It is a struggle that involves the whole of the person and demands attentive and constant watchfulness." ~~~Pope Bendict XVI, March 1, 2006
The above is from He Gently Calls Us. It's nice to have Kay blogging again.

On Suffering

St. Josemaria Escriva

Let us drink to the last drop the chalice of pain in this poor present life. What does it matter to suffer for ten years, twenty, fifty... if afterwards there is heaven for ever, for ever... for ever?

And, above all — rather than because of the reward, propter retributionem — what does suffering matter if we suffer to console, to please God our Lord, in a spirit of reparation, united to him on his Cross; in a word: if we suffer for Love?...

The Works of St. Josemaría Escrivá

Thursday, February 26, 2009

A Big Mahalo to Catholic Desktops

Aloha

Look at the beautiful little Aloha icon Lisa of Catholic Desktops made! She is so sweet! I hope you take a moment and read her post about the meaning of the word aloha. You can read it here. She even posted my favorite prayer to the Holy Spirit. That prayer has been a part of my email signature for many years now.

On Examination of Conscience -

St. Josemaria Escriva

236 At the time of examination beware of the devil that ties your tongue

Source - Works of St. Josemaría Escrivá

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Prayer for Lent

40 Days


Gracious Savior,
You have given us this season of Lent
so that we might open ourselves
more fully to your saving grace and new life.
By our fasting, prayer and almsgiving,
may we realize anew that we rely on You
in all things.
Your gift of grace makes all good things possible,
including our desire to reject sin and return to you.
Grant your people a spirit of reconciliation this Lent
so that we may forgive one another as you have forgiven us.
Amen.

From a holy card.

40 Days for Life Honolulu - Photos from Vigil Rally

Hawaii Right to Life Blog

On Fasting - Pope Benedict XVI's 2009 Lenten Message

Pope Benedict XVI

...We might wonder what value and meaning there is for us Christians in depriving ourselves of something that in itself is good and useful for our bodily sustenance. The Sacred Scriptures and the entire Christian tradition teach that fasting is a great help to avoid sin and all that leads to it. For this reason, the history of salvation is replete with occasions that invite fasting...
MESSAGE OF HIS HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI FOR LENT 2009