I have created a new blog as a way of organizing some of the tags I have made. Please feel to use the blank tags if you'd like for emails, blog posts, etc. In the future I may share other graphics too.
Esther's Aloha Tags Blog
Saturday, September 27, 2008
My New Blog for Sig Tags
I have created a new blog as a way of organizing some of the tags I have made. Please feel to use the blank tags if you'd like for emails, blog posts, etc. In the future I may share other graphics too.
Esther's Aloha Tags Blog
Friday, September 26, 2008
Christ in the Home
The complete book by Fr. Raoul Plus, S.J. can be found at the EWTN library
A HOME ruled by the spirit of Christ is a happy home. It is also a school of virtue directed to spiritual transformation in Christ.
But Christ does not force His entry into a home. He enters only by invitation. He remains only when evidently welcome.
It is the wise bride and groom who let Him know by their spiritual preparation for marriage that they want Him to accompany them from the altar of their vows into the home they are about to establish. It is the wise husband and wife who let Him know they want Him always present by striving to put on His mind and to establish their family according to
His principles.
In such a home, husband and wife and children will enjoy gladness of heart, happiness in the fulfillment of duty, and intense union of souls.
The strength and honor of the family come above all from within, from union with Christ which gives power to manifest in daily living the beautiful family virtues of patience, energy, generosity, forbearance, cheerfulness, and mutual reverence with their consequent effect of peace and contentment.
This book is an invitation to the married or those about to marry, to spend the interior effort required to unite them solidly in Christ and to make them worthy transmitters of the Christ-life to their family. It is an invitation to fulfill the high purpose of their marriage which is to help each other to
sanctity and to rear saints for heaven; to possess Christ themselves as completely as possible and to give Christ to their children.
Now sanctity is the result of personal cooperation with grace. It is no passive attainment. Equally true is it that spiritual truths and principles merely known but not realized are of little force in stimulating spiritual energy and effort. Consequently this book of spiritual readings makes no
attempt to present fully developed meditations. It is not to be a substitute for personal reflection and prayer. Its various topics are presented as points of departure into deeper realms of thought and prayer; by the personal following through of the ideas offered, conviction and realization will
be achieved and lives transformed. A stronger bond of communication will be established between the soul and God resulting in real prayer and not prayers said. The affections made will be the outpouring of the individual's response to God and not someone else's pre-planned expression of what
that response ought to be.
The essential thing is to talk over the subjects with God. It is important then to enter into His Presence before each reading by a reverent act of recollection; to beg His light to see the truth and His strength to act on conviction and realization. It is important to see; it is more important to will.
The points offered for prayerful consideration are not meant to carry the reader into the clouds of elevated speculation and theory but rather to direct the soul to study prayerfully the daily, common, routine elements of his life in order to lift them out of possible monotony and deadening repetition into the challenging and absorbing adventure of making them
divine.
This book in no way presumes to replace what should be for all Christians the two essential meditation books--the Gospels and the Missal. In fact, it presupposes that its readers are Christians accustomed to live in the spirit of Our Lord's life according to the rhythm of the liturgy. It endeavors to
provide variety and to bring into practical application some of the lessons hidden in the Gospels or the Missal.
Of vital importance is it, no matter what the meditation book, to draw from the little that one reads a maximum of nourishment for the soul. That is not impossible. All one need do is to beg God for His grace and to co-operate with the grace that He gives.
Such a manifestation of good will is a sincere invitation to Christ and a convincing proof that He is welcome in your life.
CHRIST WILL ENTER YOUR HOME
HE WILL REMAIN TO DWELL WITH YOU
Shared by Sue
Saintly Quotes - The Power of the Mass
Pope Paul VI "The Mass is the most perfect form of prayer!"
Pope Benedict XV "The Holy Mass would be of greater profit if people had it offered in their lifetime, rather than having it celebrated for the relief of their souls after death."
Pope Benedict XV "The Holy Mass would be of greater profit if people had it offered in their lifetime, rather than having it celebrated for the relief of their souls after death."
A compilation of Quotes
Shared by Sue
Saintly Quotes - Angels and the Holy Mass
St. Gregory: "The Heavens open and multitudes of Angels come to assist at the Holy Sacrifice."
St. Augustine: "The Angels surround and help the priest when he is celebrating Mass."
St. John Chrysostom: "When Mass is being celebrated, the Sanctuary is filled with countless Angels, who adore the Divine Victim immolated on the altar."
The efficacy of the Mass is so wonderful, God's mercy and generosity are then so unlimited, that there is no moment so propitious to ask for favors as when Jesus is born on the altar. What we then ask we shall almost certainly receive, and what we do not obtain in the Mass we may scarcely hope to receive by all other prayers, penances or pilgrimages.
The Angels know this full well and come in multitudes to adore God and make their petitions at this hour of mercy.
We read in the revelations of St. Bridget: "One day when I was assisting at the Holy Sacrifice, I saw an immense number of Holy Angels descend and gather around the altar, contemplating the priest. They sang heavenly canticles that ravished my heart; Heaven itself seemed to be contemplating the great Sacrifice. And yet we poor, blind and miserable creatures assist at the Mass with so little love, relish and respect!
"Oh, if God would open our eyes, what wonders should we not see!"
When Blessed Henry Suso, the holy Dominican, was saying Mass, Angels in visible form gathered around the altar, and some came near to him in raptures of love.
This is what takes place at every Mass, though we do not see it.
Do Catholics ever think of this amazing truth? At Mass they are praying in the midst of thou- sands of God's Angels.
Shared by Sue
Fine Art Friday - Norman Rockwell
I found a print of this one at the thrift store.
It has a hard wood frame and I got it for only $5.00!
BTW, I must admit this is my all-time favorite Rockwell work
This week's featured artist is one of my favorites, Norman Rockwell. I have chosen some of his most famous works. They are also the ones who represent our America, good and bad. As you may know, most of Mr. Rockwell's works were done for the Saturday Evening Post, a magazine still in existence today.
If you plan to be in the area, make sure to plan your visit around the Norman Rockwell Museum
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Meditation on Sin - St. Francis de Sales
The following is a meditation from An Introduction to the Devout Life which I recommended to you the other day. I found it online for anyone who would like to read it on the computer.
On Sin.
Preparation.
1. PLACE yourself in the Presence of God.
2. Ask Him to inspire your heart.
Considerations.
1. Consider how long it is since you first began to commit sin, and how since that first beginning sin has multiplied in your heart; how every day has added to the number of your sins against God, against yourself and against your neighbour, by deed, word, thought and desire.
2. Consider your evil tendencies, and how far you have followed them. These two points will show you that your sins are more in number than the hairs of your head, or the sand on the seashore.
3. Apart from sin, consider your ingratitude towards God, which is in itself a sin enfolding all the others, and adding to their enormity: consider the gifts which God has given you, and which you have turned against the Giver; especially the inspirations you have neglected, and the promptings to good which you have frustrated. Review the many Sacraments you have received, and see where are their fruits. Where are the precious jewels wherewith your Heavenly Bridegroom decked you? with what preparation have you received them? Reflect upon the ingratitude with which, while God sought to save you, you have fled from Him and rushed upon destruction.
Affections and Resolutions.
1. Humble yourself in your wretchedness. O my God, how dare I come before Thine Eyes? I am but a corrupt being, a very sink of ingratitude and wickedness. Can it be that I have been so disloyal, that not one sense, not one faculty but has been sullied and stained;—not one day has passed but I have sinned before Thee? Was this a fitting return for all my Creator’s gifts, for my Redeemer’s Blood?
2. Ask pardon;—throw yourself at the Lord’s Feet as the prodigal son, as the Magdalene, as the woman convicted of adultery. Have mercy, Lord, on me a sinner! O Living Fountain of Mercy, have pity on me, unworthy as I am.
3. Resolve to do better. Lord, with the help of Thy Grace I will never again give myself up to sin. I have loved it too well;—henceforth I would abhor it and cleave to Thee. Father of Mercy, I would live and die to Thee.
4. In order to put away past sin, accuse yourself bravely of it, let there not be one sinful act which you do not bring to light.
5. Resolve to make every effort to tear up the roots of sin from your heart, especially this and that individual sin which troubles you most.
6. In order to do this, resolve steadfastly to follow the advice given you, and never think that you have done enough to atone for your past sin.
Conclusion.
1. Thank God for having waited till now for you, and for rousing these good intentions in your heart.
2. Offer Him all your heart to carry them to good effect.
3. Pray that He would strengthen you.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Feast of St. Padre Pio of Pietrelcina
"Jesus in the Holy Eucharist asks for nothing but love . . . . He is so much in love with my heart that He makes me burn with His divine fire, with the fire of His love . . . . I often ask myself if any people exist who do not feel their breast burning with divine fire, especially when they are close to Him in the Blessed Sacrament"
St. Padre Pio
Monday, September 22, 2008
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