+JMJ+
On more than one occasion, I've been told I'd make an excellent university professor. I highly doubt that I shall ever attain that status, but my ability to throughly enjoy (to an extreme degree) any academic discourse (particularly relating to philosophy and theology) remains.
Tending to have the personality type that asks "Why Not?" rather than "Why?", this weekend I added yet another project...but this one shall help develop a side of me I've allowed to deepen (at least intentionally) in a while.
I was having an conversation with a friend of mine...and we were essentially discussing the concept of the Reign of Christ the King vs. that of the Enemy--as discussed by a certain 20th Century Irish Priest. That lead us to consider how most Catholics really do not have a substantive understanding of the Catholic Faith in general...and surely many Catholics have more opinions about Catholicism than actually adhering to the tenants of the Faith. Part of this is pride...but one cannot fail to factor in the lack of solid formation and catechesis that contributes to these widespread attitudes among Catholics, especially in the more 'advanced' societies.
As our conversation continued, we of course turned to Papa John Paul, and my friend stated that he hadn't even read all of his Encyclicals. Neither have I...and so we decided to begin--right away!
During the next couple of months the goal is to read, chronologically, each of Papa's 12 Encyclicals, and to discuss the content thereof. The object of this study will be to come to a fuller understanding of the catechetical implications of Papa John Paul's works, while simultaneously discerning ways to build up the formation of the 'average' Catholic, and really allow the Holy Spirit to illuminate ways to make the Faith come alive for those who have never been allowed to (or allowed themselves to) experience the Sacred Mysteries of Catholicism.
This goes hand in hand with the recent political shift in the United States of America. Concurrently, I've been privileged to take part in two new initiatives, both in Illinois, in response to the rise of the Obama Administration. Both of these initiatives, Students for Life of Illinois, and The Culture of Life Junior Board, aim to put the talent and enthusiasm of young adults in Chicago and around the state into action for the defense of a Culture of Life and to promote true moral values through the Theology of the Body. I am very hopeful about both these endeavors, which really are in cooperation with the movements of the Holy Spirit in response to the dramatic shifts towards an even more drastically entrenched moral relativism in the U.S.
+++++++
The first of Papa John Paul's Encyclicals is Redemptor Hominis. The goal is to complete the reading of this Encyclical by the Feast of Christ the King (Sunday, November 23). We want to discuss the riches found within the text and are excited to learn how to allow this garden of grace to bear much fruit for the New Evangelization. It is such a great joy.
For anyone who reads this blog, I invite you to read the Encyclicals with us over the next couple of months! I find it helpful to take notes while I read, and I will be posting the fruits of our discussions of the texts on this blog, and welcome any questions/comments and feedback you may have.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
C. George Speaks Out!
+JMJ+
I work with a lot of amazing young men and women. One such young lady has the greatest respect for Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I., our Archbishop in Chicago. She came up with the nickname "C. George" for him, and he is lovingly known among us as such!
In light of the election results, dear C. George and the entire USCCB took a phenomenal stand today, unifying their voices and calling for unity among Catholics and all people of good will regarding FOCA--the Freedom of Choice Act. This piece of legislation, which president elect Obama has vowed to sign, would essentially eliminate any and all restrictions on abortion...including partial birth abortion. This is EXTREME legislation.
I am proud to post the closing statement given by C. George today, as the USCCB closed up their meeting in D.C.
+++++++
May we unite in solutions that eliminate the 'need' for abortion, and honor the dignity of all people, born and unborn!
I work with a lot of amazing young men and women. One such young lady has the greatest respect for Francis Cardinal George, O.M.I., our Archbishop in Chicago. She came up with the nickname "C. George" for him, and he is lovingly known among us as such!
In light of the election results, dear C. George and the entire USCCB took a phenomenal stand today, unifying their voices and calling for unity among Catholics and all people of good will regarding FOCA--the Freedom of Choice Act. This piece of legislation, which president elect Obama has vowed to sign, would essentially eliminate any and all restrictions on abortion...including partial birth abortion. This is EXTREME legislation.
I am proud to post the closing statement given by C. George today, as the USCCB closed up their meeting in D.C.
+++++++
STATEMENT of the President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops
“If the Lord does not build the house, in vain do its builders labor; if the Lord does not watch over the city, in vain does the watchman keep vigil.” (Psalm 127, vs. 1)
The Bishops of the Catholic Church in the United States welcome this moment of historic transition and look forward to working with President-elect Obama and the members of the new Congress for the common good of all. Because of the Church’s history and the scope of her ministries in this country, we want to continue our work for economic justice and opportunity for all; our efforts to reform laws around immigration and the situation of the undocumented; our provision of better education and adequate health care for all, especially for women and children; our desire to safeguard religious freedom and foster peace at home and abroad. The Church is intent on doing good and will continue to cooperate gladly with the government and all others working for these goods.
The fundamental good is life itself, a gift from God and our parents. A good state protects the lives of all. Legal protection for those members of the human family waiting to be born in this country was removed when the Supreme Court decided Roe vs. Wade in 1973. This was bad law. The danger the Bishops see at this moment is that a bad court decision will be enshrined in bad legislation that is more radical than the 1973 Supreme Court decision itself.
In the last Congress, a Freedom of Choice Act (FOCA) was introduced that would, if brought forward in the same form today, outlaw any “interference” in providing abortion at will. It would deprive the American people in all fifty states of the freedom they now have to enact modest restraints and regulations on the abortion industry. FOCA would coerce all Americans into subsidizing and promoting abortion with their tax dollars. It would counteract any and all sincere efforts by government and others of good will to reduce the number of abortions in our country.
Parental notification and informed consent precautions would be outlawed, as would be laws banning procedures such as partial-birth abortion and protecting infants born alive after a failed abortion. Abortion clinics would be deregulated. The Hyde Amendment restricting the federal funding of abortions would be abrogated. FOCA would have lethal consequences for prenatal human life.
FOCA would have an equally destructive effect on the freedom of conscience of doctors, nurses and health care workers whose personal convictions do not permit them to cooperate in the private killing of unborn children. It would threaten Catholic health care institutions and Catholic Charities. It would be an evil law that would further divide our country, and the Church should be intent on opposing evil.
On this issue, the legal protection of the unborn, the bishops are of one mind with Catholics and others of good will. They are also pastors who have listened to women whose lives have been diminished because they believed they had no choice but to abort a baby. Abortion is a medical procedure that kills, and the psychological and spiritual consequences are written in the sorrow and depression of many women and men. The bishops are single-minded because they are, first of all, single-hearted.
The recent election was principally decided out of concern for the economy, for the loss of jobs and homes and financial security for families, here and around the world. If the election is misinterpreted ideologically as a referendum on abortion, the unity desired by President-elect Obama and all Americans at this moment of crisis will be impossible to achieve. Abortion kills not only unborn children; it destroys constitutional order and the common good, which is assured only when the life of every human being is legally protected. Aggressively pro-abortion policies, legislation and executive orders will permanently alienate tens of millions of Americans, and would be seen by many as an attack on the free exercise of their religion.
This statement is written at the request and direction of all the Bishops, who also want to thank all those in politics who work with good will to protect the lives of the most vulnerable among us. Those in public life do so, sometimes, at the cost of great sacrifice to themselves and their families; and we are grateful. We express again our great desire to work with all those who cherish the common good of our nation. The common good is not the sum total of individual desires and interests; it is achieved in the working out of a common life based upon good reason and good will for all.
Our prayers accompany President-elect Obama and his family and those who are cooperating with him to assure a smooth transition in government. Many issues demand immediate attention on the part of our elected “watchman.” (Psalm 127) May God bless him and our country.
# # # # #
+++++++May we unite in solutions that eliminate the 'need' for abortion, and honor the dignity of all people, born and unborn!
Monday, November 10, 2008
From Cardinal George to President Elect Obama
+JMJ+
Cardinal George Points to a Different Hope:
Opens Bishops' Meeting With Plea to Promote Common Good
BALTIMORE, Maryland, NOV. 10, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Meeting amidst "enormous challenges" in the Church and the nation, the president of the U.S. episcopal conference is encouraging the faithful to place their hope in "what lasts forever."
Cardinal Francis George, the archbishop of Chicago, said today upon delivering the opening address of the bishops' fall general assembly, being held in Baltimore through Thursday.
The meeting takes place one week after Barack Obama won his bid for the U.S. presidency, which the cardinal said ended an election cycle in which "both candidates invited us to hope in change."
The cardinal contrasted this message with that of Benedict XVI, who "invites us to place our hope in what lasts forever."
"Perhaps that is the difference between a vision that looks at what is ultimate and one that, by the very nature of things, is most concerned with what is less than ultimate," he said. "No political order conforms fully to the Kingdom of God.
"Separation is built into our faith itself, yet we can hope and work and pray that things political and economic not impede or contest the things that are of God."
Reason to rejoice
Commenting on the historic win of President-elect Barack Obama, the first African-American to be elected president in the country, Cardinal George said "we can rejoice today with those who, following heroic figures like the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., were part of a movement to bring our country's civil rights, our legal order, into better accord with universal human rights, God's order. "We are, perhaps, at a moment when, with the grace of God, all races are safely within the American consensus," the cardinal continued. "We are not at the point, however, when Catholics, especially in public life, can be considered full partners in the American experience unless they are willing to put aside some fundamental Catholic teachings on a just moral and political order."
Cardinal George remarked that this "makes America herself far less than she claims to be in this world."
He added: "What is of major importance to us, as bishops of the Church, is that the Church remain true to herself and her Lord in the years to come, for only in being authentically herself will the Church serve society and its members, in time and in eternity.
"In working for the common good of our society, racial justice is one pillar of our social doctrine. Economic justice, especially for the poor both here and abroad, is another.
"But the Church comes also and always and everywhere with the memory, the conviction, that the Eternal Word of God became man, took flesh in the womb of the Virgin Mary, nine months before Jesus was born in Bethlehem. This truth is celebrated in our liturgy because it is branded into our spirit.
"The common good can never be adequately incarnated in any society when those waiting to be born can be legally killed at choice."
"If the Supreme Court's Dred Scott decision that African Americans were other people's property and somehow less than persons were still settled constitutional law," continued Cardinal George, "Mr. Obama would not be president of the United States. Today, as was the case a hundred and fifty years ago, common ground cannot be found by destroying the common good."
Divided world
The cardinal recalled that 50 years ago Pope John XXIII initiated the Second Vatica n Council: "The Pope looked at a divided world and hoped that the Church could act as 'Lumen Gentium' calls us, as the 'sacrament of the unity of the human race.'"
"Those who would weaken our internal unity render the Church's external mission to the world more difficult if not impossible," he noted. "Jesus promised that the world would believe in him if we are one: one in faith and doctrine, one in prayer and sacrament, one in governance and shepherding.
"The Church and her life and teaching do not fit easily into the prior narratives that shape our public discussions. As bishops, we can only insist that those who would impose their own agenda on the Church, those who believe and act self-righteously, answerable only to themselves, whether ideologically on the left or the right, betray the Lord Jesus Christ."
The episcopal conference, the president reminded the bishops present, is an "instrument for shapi ng spiritual unity, for creating the bonds of affection that help us to govern in communion with each other, especially in a divided world and in a Church that knows dissent from some of her teachings and dissatisfaction with aspects of her governance."
He continued: "As we all know, the Church was born without episcopal conferences, as she was born without parishes and without dioceses, although all these structures have been helpful pastorally throughout the centuries.
"The Church was born only with shepherds, with apostolic pastors, whose relationship to their people keeps them one with Christ, from whom comes authority to govern the Church.
"Strengthening people's relationship with Christ remains our primary concern and duty as bishops."
We extend that pastoral concern, especially at the beginning of a new administration and a new Congress, to Catholics of either major party who serve others in government,& quot; said Cardinal George. "We respect you and we love you, and we pray that the Catholic faith will shape your decisions so that our communion may be full."
+++++++
Thank you Cardinal George. May the bishops be strong and bold...and defend the Faith with renewed vigor, and hold those Catholics holding political office accountable, so that they may no longer be guilty of the Body and Blood of Christ!
Cardinal George Points to a Different Hope:
Opens Bishops' Meeting With Plea to Promote Common Good
BALTIMORE, Maryland, NOV. 10, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Meeting amidst "enormous challenges" in the Church and the nation, the president of the U.S. episcopal conference is encouraging the faithful to place their hope in "what lasts forever."
Cardinal Francis George, the archbishop of Chicago, said today upon delivering the opening address of the bishops' fall general assembly, being held in Baltimore through Thursday.
The meeting takes place one week after Barack Obama won his bid for the U.S. presidency, which the cardinal said ended an election cycle in which "both candidates invited us to hope in change."
The cardinal contrasted this message with that of Benedict XVI, who "invites us to place our hope in what lasts forever."
"Perhaps that is the difference between a vision that looks at what is ultimate and one that, by the very nature of things, is most concerned with what is less than ultimate," he said. "No political order conforms fully to the Kingdom of God.
"Separation is built into our faith itself, yet we can hope and work and pray that things political and economic not impede or contest the things that are of God."
Reason to rejoice
Commenting on the historic win of President-elect Barack Obama, the first African-American to be elected president in the country, Cardinal George said "we can rejoice today with those who, following heroic figures like the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., were part of a movement to bring our country's civil rights, our legal order, into better accord with universal human rights, God's order. "We are, perhaps, at a moment when, with the grace of God, all races are safely within the American consensus," the cardinal continued. "We are not at the point, however, when Catholics, especially in public life, can be considered full partners in the American experience unless they are willing to put aside some fundamental Catholic teachings on a just moral and political order."
Cardinal George remarked that this "makes America herself far less than she claims to be in this world."
He added: "What is of major importance to us, as bishops of the Church, is that the Church remain true to herself and her Lord in the years to come, for only in being authentically herself will the Church serve society and its members, in time and in eternity.
"In working for the common good of our society, racial justice is one pillar of our social doctrine. Economic justice, especially for the poor both here and abroad, is another.
"But the Church comes also and always and everywhere with the memory, the conviction, that the Eternal Word of God became man, took flesh in the womb of the Virgin Mary, nine months before Jesus was born in Bethlehem. This truth is celebrated in our liturgy because it is branded into our spirit.
"The common good can never be adequately incarnated in any society when those waiting to be born can be legally killed at choice."
"If the Supreme Court's Dred Scott decision that African Americans were other people's property and somehow less than persons were still settled constitutional law," continued Cardinal George, "Mr. Obama would not be president of the United States. Today, as was the case a hundred and fifty years ago, common ground cannot be found by destroying the common good."
Divided world
The cardinal recalled that 50 years ago Pope John XXIII initiated the Second Vatica n Council: "The Pope looked at a divided world and hoped that the Church could act as 'Lumen Gentium' calls us, as the 'sacrament of the unity of the human race.'"
"Those who would weaken our internal unity render the Church's external mission to the world more difficult if not impossible," he noted. "Jesus promised that the world would believe in him if we are one: one in faith and doctrine, one in prayer and sacrament, one in governance and shepherding.
"The Church and her life and teaching do not fit easily into the prior narratives that shape our public discussions. As bishops, we can only insist that those who would impose their own agenda on the Church, those who believe and act self-righteously, answerable only to themselves, whether ideologically on the left or the right, betray the Lord Jesus Christ."
The episcopal conference, the president reminded the bishops present, is an "instrument for shapi ng spiritual unity, for creating the bonds of affection that help us to govern in communion with each other, especially in a divided world and in a Church that knows dissent from some of her teachings and dissatisfaction with aspects of her governance."
He continued: "As we all know, the Church was born without episcopal conferences, as she was born without parishes and without dioceses, although all these structures have been helpful pastorally throughout the centuries.
"The Church was born only with shepherds, with apostolic pastors, whose relationship to their people keeps them one with Christ, from whom comes authority to govern the Church.
"Strengthening people's relationship with Christ remains our primary concern and duty as bishops."
We extend that pastoral concern, especially at the beginning of a new administration and a new Congress, to Catholics of either major party who serve others in government,& quot; said Cardinal George. "We respect you and we love you, and we pray that the Catholic faith will shape your decisions so that our communion may be full."
+++++++
Thank you Cardinal George. May the bishops be strong and bold...and defend the Faith with renewed vigor, and hold those Catholics holding political office accountable, so that they may no longer be guilty of the Body and Blood of Christ!
Sunday, November 9, 2008
On Persecution
+JMJ+
VATICAN CITY, NOV. 9, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI joined Jews around the world in remembering the 70th anniversary of Kristallnacht, or "Night of Broken Glass."
After reciting the Angelus together with the crowds gathered in St. Peter's Square, the Pope lamented the Nazi program that killed or arrested thousands of Jews and destroyed synagogues during the nights of Nov. 9-10, 1938.
"Nazi fury was unleashed against the Jews in Germany," he explained. "Shops, offices, dwellings and synagogues were attacked and many people were also killed, initiating the systematic and violent persecution of German Jews, which ended with the Shoah."
"Today I still feel pain over what happened in those tragic circumstances," the Pontiff said. "The memory of these things must serve to prevent similar horrors from ever happening again and must lead us to dedicate ourselves, at every level, to fight against every form of anti-Semitism and discrimination, educating the younger generations in respect and reciprocal acceptance.
"I invite you to pray for the victims of that time and to join with me in manifesting a deep solidarity with the Jewish world."
+++++++
I remember first learning about Kristallnacht when I was an undergraduate. I'd always been fascinated by WWII History and horrified by Nazi atrocities. Of course, this one sticks out among others.
It also reminds me of the persecution men and women have faced for their faith. We know today Christians are being persecuted around the world, especially in Iraq, India and China. I heard a priest reflect on this during his homily today...and I couldn't help but think--how fortunate these persecuted men and women are!
Now, you may be thinking--am I crazy? Did I just type that I believe the Christians being tormented and killed for their Faith are fortunate? Yes, I did...and I will explain.
In the Gospel of Matthew, Christ says, "Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, fear the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell." (Matthew 10:28) This relates to the persecution our brothers and sisters face today in the East. They are standing up in the midst of suffering and laying down their lives for Christ. They do not fear...because Christ is their strength...and they Trust in His promise of Eternal Life.
I submit that in the United States we are under a more severe form of persecution. We are in the midst of a spiritual war waged against the Mystical Body of Christ. This war concerns the "One who can destroy both soul and body in hell."
In the U.S. today, a majority of men and women have bought the lie of moral relativism. This has lead many along the road to perdition. We are suffering a cultural persecution on Christianity...and many men and women, instead of standing with Christ...are bowing to the idols of lust and relativism. Many have lost soul and body in hellfire, and many more are in great danger of this most undesirable end.
In the United States...and in the West...we face the most drastic and deadly persecution--a persecution against our Eternal Salvation, that is under the guise of 'freedom.'
We are blessed to have the witness of our brothers and sisters in the East. We should be humbled by their witness. This witness should cause us to pause and reflect on where, in our lives, have we bought the lie of relativism...and where are we in danger of loosing the battle? Where are we in danger of bowing to false idols that can lead to eternal damnation?
This is not a joke...it is not insanity...this is reality. Plain and simple. And, I believe it is something we need to bring into the light. I hear people talk about how men and women may be persecuted for their faith in Christ in the U.S.--well, the thing is, we already are being persecuted. There are things like taking prayer out of school...and more deadly things, like destroying our moral code and wiring us to beleive that anything goes...and the only place anything goes will lead to is Hell.
May we seek strength in Christ to overcome this persecution, as the enemy of our souls seeks to destroy us. Christ is our strength, He is our Hope, and through His Divine Mercy, we can know Eternal Joy. But, we must desire it...and we must strive for it in all of our thoughts, words and actions.
VATICAN CITY, NOV. 9, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI joined Jews around the world in remembering the 70th anniversary of Kristallnacht, or "Night of Broken Glass."
After reciting the Angelus together with the crowds gathered in St. Peter's Square, the Pope lamented the Nazi program that killed or arrested thousands of Jews and destroyed synagogues during the nights of Nov. 9-10, 1938.
"Nazi fury was unleashed against the Jews in Germany," he explained. "Shops, offices, dwellings and synagogues were attacked and many people were also killed, initiating the systematic and violent persecution of German Jews, which ended with the Shoah."
"Today I still feel pain over what happened in those tragic circumstances," the Pontiff said. "The memory of these things must serve to prevent similar horrors from ever happening again and must lead us to dedicate ourselves, at every level, to fight against every form of anti-Semitism and discrimination, educating the younger generations in respect and reciprocal acceptance.
"I invite you to pray for the victims of that time and to join with me in manifesting a deep solidarity with the Jewish world."
+++++++
I remember first learning about Kristallnacht when I was an undergraduate. I'd always been fascinated by WWII History and horrified by Nazi atrocities. Of course, this one sticks out among others.
It also reminds me of the persecution men and women have faced for their faith. We know today Christians are being persecuted around the world, especially in Iraq, India and China. I heard a priest reflect on this during his homily today...and I couldn't help but think--how fortunate these persecuted men and women are!
Now, you may be thinking--am I crazy? Did I just type that I believe the Christians being tormented and killed for their Faith are fortunate? Yes, I did...and I will explain.
In the Gospel of Matthew, Christ says, "Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, fear the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell." (Matthew 10:28) This relates to the persecution our brothers and sisters face today in the East. They are standing up in the midst of suffering and laying down their lives for Christ. They do not fear...because Christ is their strength...and they Trust in His promise of Eternal Life.
I submit that in the United States we are under a more severe form of persecution. We are in the midst of a spiritual war waged against the Mystical Body of Christ. This war concerns the "One who can destroy both soul and body in hell."
In the U.S. today, a majority of men and women have bought the lie of moral relativism. This has lead many along the road to perdition. We are suffering a cultural persecution on Christianity...and many men and women, instead of standing with Christ...are bowing to the idols of lust and relativism. Many have lost soul and body in hellfire, and many more are in great danger of this most undesirable end.
In the United States...and in the West...we face the most drastic and deadly persecution--a persecution against our Eternal Salvation, that is under the guise of 'freedom.'
We are blessed to have the witness of our brothers and sisters in the East. We should be humbled by their witness. This witness should cause us to pause and reflect on where, in our lives, have we bought the lie of relativism...and where are we in danger of loosing the battle? Where are we in danger of bowing to false idols that can lead to eternal damnation?
This is not a joke...it is not insanity...this is reality. Plain and simple. And, I believe it is something we need to bring into the light. I hear people talk about how men and women may be persecuted for their faith in Christ in the U.S.--well, the thing is, we already are being persecuted. There are things like taking prayer out of school...and more deadly things, like destroying our moral code and wiring us to beleive that anything goes...and the only place anything goes will lead to is Hell.
May we seek strength in Christ to overcome this persecution, as the enemy of our souls seeks to destroy us. Christ is our strength, He is our Hope, and through His Divine Mercy, we can know Eternal Joy. But, we must desire it...and we must strive for it in all of our thoughts, words and actions.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
You are the Light
+JMJ+
These past couple of days have been intense and beautiful. There is just this sense of peace I'm blessed to experience, even amidst the disappointment of Obama's election.
I just began preparing to renew my Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary yesterday...and these readings have been powerful--especially today from the Imitation of Christ. It was all about withstanding temptation, and considers how some temptations are great, and some are small...but God never gives us a temptation that is too great for us to withstand.
I just thought, how vigilant must I be! I am so often distraught by the state of others' souls...and yet, I could easily fall at any moment! How HUMBLE I must be, so that I place all of my trust and hope in the Lord, for He is my strength and only through Him will I find the Joy my heart was made for.
There is no time for sadness. We must rejoice, because Christ is our Hope and Victory has already been achieved. Jesus Christ already died on the Cross, and destroyed death. Even though we must withstand pain and persecution, even though abortion is still legal and human dignity and sexuality are made a mockery of...Christ has already redeemed all of this!
Now, this in no way means we sit back and wait to die. NO! This is a rallying cry to be apostles of Christ's Victory! We must proclaim that Salvation is from the Lord and that He alone is Author of Life. We must bring the truth to the streets. We have to inspire others by the way that we live, and show them that there is a best option out there...one that leads to true happiness and satisfaction.
No, I am not discouraged! I rejoice in the Lord...and am so excited for all that we can do to bring the message of life and salvation to the world, and especially to our country plagued by confusion and dimmed by darkness. There is no evil that God cannot overcome!
So, be calm...and at peace. You are the Light of the World...and you must let the Light that is Christ shine through you...to illuminate the path that leads to Eternal Life.
These past couple of days have been intense and beautiful. There is just this sense of peace I'm blessed to experience, even amidst the disappointment of Obama's election.
I just began preparing to renew my Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary yesterday...and these readings have been powerful--especially today from the Imitation of Christ. It was all about withstanding temptation, and considers how some temptations are great, and some are small...but God never gives us a temptation that is too great for us to withstand.
I just thought, how vigilant must I be! I am so often distraught by the state of others' souls...and yet, I could easily fall at any moment! How HUMBLE I must be, so that I place all of my trust and hope in the Lord, for He is my strength and only through Him will I find the Joy my heart was made for.
There is no time for sadness. We must rejoice, because Christ is our Hope and Victory has already been achieved. Jesus Christ already died on the Cross, and destroyed death. Even though we must withstand pain and persecution, even though abortion is still legal and human dignity and sexuality are made a mockery of...Christ has already redeemed all of this!
Now, this in no way means we sit back and wait to die. NO! This is a rallying cry to be apostles of Christ's Victory! We must proclaim that Salvation is from the Lord and that He alone is Author of Life. We must bring the truth to the streets. We have to inspire others by the way that we live, and show them that there is a best option out there...one that leads to true happiness and satisfaction.
No, I am not discouraged! I rejoice in the Lord...and am so excited for all that we can do to bring the message of life and salvation to the world, and especially to our country plagued by confusion and dimmed by darkness. There is no evil that God cannot overcome!
So, be calm...and at peace. You are the Light of the World...and you must let the Light that is Christ shine through you...to illuminate the path that leads to Eternal Life.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
It is Time to See
+JMJ+
IT seems the 'verdict' is in, although all the votes have not been officially tallied.
We may look back on this as the darkest day in American History...but, remember, Christ is our Hope.
If you are an Orthodox Catholic, a Pro-Lifer, an Evangelical Christian or anyone with pure common sense, you know what I am getting at here.
We have to band together now. If America wants Abortion, American needs to see Abortion all the time, pictures of what 'freedom' for Abortion really is.
If America wants Gay Marriage...she needs to recall that every society that has institutionalized homosexuality has ceased to exist within 3 generations.
If America wants to be a communist country...we are going in the right direction if Barack Obama is going to be our fearless leader.
I am not afraid to say these things, because they are true...and there may be a day in my lifetime when I am not permitted to say these things in public any more. Remember the First Amendment?? I suggest you read it and memorize it...and realize that the time has come to spend your energy defending your First Amendment Rights, because they are already under attack.
The time is now to turn to prayer and fasting, seeking guidance and direction from Almighty God. We need to know how to respond, and God alone holds the answer. May Our Immaculate Queen Triumph and remember her children in this hour of great need!
St. Maximillian Maria Kolbe and Pope John Paul the Great, pray for us!
IT seems the 'verdict' is in, although all the votes have not been officially tallied.
We may look back on this as the darkest day in American History...but, remember, Christ is our Hope.
If you are an Orthodox Catholic, a Pro-Lifer, an Evangelical Christian or anyone with pure common sense, you know what I am getting at here.
We have to band together now. If America wants Abortion, American needs to see Abortion all the time, pictures of what 'freedom' for Abortion really is.
If America wants Gay Marriage...she needs to recall that every society that has institutionalized homosexuality has ceased to exist within 3 generations.
If America wants to be a communist country...we are going in the right direction if Barack Obama is going to be our fearless leader.
I am not afraid to say these things, because they are true...and there may be a day in my lifetime when I am not permitted to say these things in public any more. Remember the First Amendment?? I suggest you read it and memorize it...and realize that the time has come to spend your energy defending your First Amendment Rights, because they are already under attack.
The time is now to turn to prayer and fasting, seeking guidance and direction from Almighty God. We need to know how to respond, and God alone holds the answer. May Our Immaculate Queen Triumph and remember her children in this hour of great need!
St. Maximillian Maria Kolbe and Pope John Paul the Great, pray for us!
This Disgusts Me
+JMJ+
Mayor Daley saw it this way: “This is the highlight in Chicago’s history to have the first American American president hail from Chicago and have a president from Chicago. It’s the first time since John F. Kennedy that a president comes from an urban community like ours. That’s a long way. We don’t have to educate him about all the urban problems. He knows them all first hand.”
This quote was taken directly from NYTimes.com which is covering the 'celebration' in Grant Park for Barack Obama's 'presidency' all day and into the night.
I guess Obama taught his supporters about audacity, huh? Too bad his brand of hope will only lead to the destruction of the United States of America.
We continue to pray, through Our Lady of Victory, St. Michael and the countless unborn victims of violence...for a Pro-Life Victory. We pray for the conversion of Barack Obama and all pro-death politicians. We beg for them to become Children of Mary, just as St. Maximillian Maria Kolbe would pray for all who opposed the Gospel (especially the Freemasons) God is on our side. We cannot loose...no matter the outcome. And this is not over...not at all.
Mayor Daley saw it this way: “This is the highlight in Chicago’s history to have the first American American president hail from Chicago and have a president from Chicago. It’s the first time since John F. Kennedy that a president comes from an urban community like ours. That’s a long way. We don’t have to educate him about all the urban problems. He knows them all first hand.”
This quote was taken directly from NYTimes.com which is covering the 'celebration' in Grant Park for Barack Obama's 'presidency' all day and into the night.
I guess Obama taught his supporters about audacity, huh? Too bad his brand of hope will only lead to the destruction of the United States of America.
We continue to pray, through Our Lady of Victory, St. Michael and the countless unborn victims of violence...for a Pro-Life Victory. We pray for the conversion of Barack Obama and all pro-death politicians. We beg for them to become Children of Mary, just as St. Maximillian Maria Kolbe would pray for all who opposed the Gospel (especially the Freemasons) God is on our side. We cannot loose...no matter the outcome. And this is not over...not at all.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Rejoice
+JMJ+
"There is cause for rejoicing here. You may for a time have to suffer the distress of many trials; but this is so that your faith, which is more precious than the passing splendor of fire-tried gold, may be its genuineness lead to praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ appears."
~ 1 Peter 1:3-7
This passage has spoken to men and women for centuries now--and of course during every age of History, God's Word is alive. How poingnant this call for Steadfastness is from Peter. Even amid trials and persecution...there is CAUSE for REJOICING--Why?? Because trials prove what kind of foundation our Faith is built upon. Trials, suffering...it all has a purpose.
Because of our utilitarian and morally relative culture, suffering is often looked at as something to be avoided at all costs. And yet, as Christians, we beleive that the ultimate act of suffering--Christ's Crucifixion--is the means for our very Redemption. Even more amazing, as members of the Mystical Body of Christ, we have countless opportunities to share in that redemptive suffering.
So, let us rejoice! The trials we undergo are reflective of our YES to God. Every temptation we withstand, every insult we bear...even physical illness and hardship...all have a purpose. They draw us closer to God, challenge us to trust more in His strength. Ultimately, our trust in God is synonymous with our YES to Him for His Holy Will in our own lives. Genuine Faith is more precious to God than anything on the earth. And, what is the fruit of this Faith? Eternal Communion with the Blessed Trinity--Heaven.
As we recalled All Saints yesterday and the Holy Souls today, it is behoove us to consider where we are in our Spiritual Lives. If you haven't been paying attention to the Gospel all these years, I'll give you a summary "Do not be afraid to be Saints...for to the Saints belongs the Future." This, spoken so simply by Cardinal Dziwisz (Papa John Paul's secratar for over 30 years) really is THE MESSAGE of the entire Gospel.
Why are we here? God PUT US HERE. There is a mission each of us MUST fulfill. Simply stated, we all have the same call. We must become saints. No, this does not mean be St. Bernadette or St. Francis...this means be Saint YOU. That is right. You. We must learn who we are...I have to be the most authentic ME. That is my path to holiness. The same goes for you.
What of suffering? It doesn't mean busting out the lash and whipping myself...it means accepting the little (and big) crosses that God invites me to carry. I don't have to go out and look for mortification and suffering. God sends plenty my way (and your way), every day. The more you pray, the more you silence yourself before God, the more you invite Him to direct you...to show you what it is He desires of you. That is the beauty of humility...it draws us into silence, recognizing our nothingness in the presence of our Creator, and understanding His great love and mission for us.
So yes, REJOICE! You have been called and chosen for greatness. You MUST be a saint. I know, I've said it many times before, but seriously...people must not be listening, because there is still great darkness in our world. Remember, this is not some message I made up. I am just boiling down the 72 books of the Bible for you. This is very simple. All it takes is your TOTAL YES. Are you ready to give in? Are you ready?
The prince of this world, Satan, already has droves co-workers pushing for the Reign of Darkness. What the world needs now are Missionaries of the Light...men and women fearless...even in the face of death. This life is so short! Don't miss your opportunity for the most excellent adventure by giving into fear. There is either Heaven to gain...or Heaven to loose. The choice is truly yours. Remember, God doesn't condemn anyone to Hell...only those who say NO to God and His love condemn themselves.
May we have the courage to say YES, to be SAINTS, to live the Gospel, and to be the Light in this dim world. There is no time for tomorrow...God needs our YES today.
PS~ The Virgin Mary gave God her YES...and look how that changed the World...
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