Category Archives: Faith

August 19, 2016 · 7:23 pm

God. Not God. These are the Only Choices!

“The strength of the soul consists in its faculties, passions and desires, all of which are governed by the will. Now when these faculties, passions and desires are directed by the will toward God, and turned away from all that is not God, then the strength of the soul is kept for God, and thus the soul is able to love God with all its strength.”

— St. John of the Cross, p. 259 of “Ascent of Mt. Carmel.”

Not everyone is going to heaven.  Let’s get that out of the way.  And, there are probably people who are going to hell who, at this moment, don’t think that it is possible for them.  After all, they were baptized and received their First Holy Communion (especially if they are Catholic) or they have accepted Jesus as their personal Savior (if they are Protestant.)  It’s not enough, though.

We have to make the choice to act like we are baptized or Jesus is our Savior every single minute of our existence on this life.

Dr. Italy likens this to a door.  On one side is Jesus (who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life and the only way to the Father) and on the other is not-Jesus.  The idea is at the end of our life the door will close and depending upon which side of the door we are standing when it slams shut and locks will determine where we spend eternity.

I don’t know about you, but I tremble when I think about it.  St. Paul told us that we need to work out our salvation with fear and trembling.  Pretty scary words.  I mean, have you read Matthew, Chapter 5 and 25?  We all fall short of the beatitudes.  Oh, and by the way, the door is narrow that leads to heaven.  More complications.

And, yet, there is so much hope if (and this is a big “if”) we trust Jesus.  Trust Him in everything, everyday.  Put our daily lives into His loving Hands.  Sometimes, I feel like the woman with the hemorrhage and I touch the hem of His garment and hold on for dear life.  Everyday, we make the choice for God because we don’t know when that door is going to shut.

Choose wisely, friends.

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August 12, 2016 · 7:26 pm

God Can’t Stop Himself

Tonight, I’m going to make a short story long.

We own a 21 year old car, a Corolla.  It has 257K miles on it and we are expecting to get another 50K before it dies and we park it on the side of the road with a sign that says “first come, first serve.”  It hasn’t had air-conditioning in almost 10 years.  Ten years ago it didn’t matter so much because we were younger.  Now, it does, so we only go out in the heat before noon or after 7 p.m.  That, too, is okay.  The two back windows haven’t been able to come down in about 4 years.  Now, the driver’s side window doesn’t come down.  It would cost us almost $300 to get it fixed.  That is about what the car is worth.  So we have one window that we can open.

Yesterday, when I was at Adoration, Jesus and I discussed the car.  Charlie and I had had the discussion on Wednesday, when we were talking about whether or not getting another used car was a wise use of our resources right now.  (We pray every night that God will show us how to use our resources wisely.)  I realized that since the heater works quite well on the car, we only have to get through about 2, possibly 2 1/2 months before cooler weather.  I came home from Church and purchased a portable car fan for circulating the air from Amazon.  We decided that we will make a decision in the spring unless a newer used car drops itself in our lap.  I believe in miracles so who knows?

On Friday, we go up into town to run any errands that we need to do.  We left the house about 9:30 a.m. under very cloudy skies.  The clouds kept the sun off of us and the heat down in the car.  We had 6 stops to make.  At the last stop, the sky looked very threatening for a storm.  I told Charlie as we walked into the store that I had a feeling that it wouldn’t start raining until we were home.  When we came out, the sky was still dark and cloudy, and the car, even with only one window open was comfortable.  No rain.

I told Charlie that today, God was blessing us with the clouds to keep us cool.  He replied, “He’s always blessing us.  In fact, I think God can’t stop Himself from blessing us.”

Amen!

The sun came out when we pulled into the driveway and it has been sunny and hot the rest of the day.

 

 

 

 

 

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August 10, 2016 · 7:57 pm

No! We don’t!

I went to the Women’s Club meeting last night at my Church (Catholic, of course.)  Thirteen years ago, I joined.  Stopped going to the meetings about 8 years or so ago.  I always pay my dues though.  (It’s only 20 dollars and then I get a copy of the minutes, etc. and can keep up with what they are doing in case I want to go back.)  Most of the time in the past 8 years, I went to the first meeting of the year and paid my dues in person.  However, last night was the first time I went to a first meeting in two years.  They have all new officers, so I thought it might be different.  So, I went.

And, it started out fine.  One of the past presidents did a wonderful program on why we should and do make the Sign of the Cross.  We all got to read one of the 21 reasons and as we went around the room to read, the whole thing began to fall apart.  So, we are talking about our worship of a Triune God.  (Get it, right?  Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.)  Couldn’t get any plainer.  Then someone, who should know better, reminded us that a wonderful Muslim woman told her that we all pray to the same God.  WOW!  NO WE DON”T.  What doesn’t this good Catholic woman not understand about a Triune God?  Of course, since I wouldn’t be coming back to the meetings the rest of the year, I let it pass.  Someone else can deal with her delusion

That wasn’t all.  They pass a jar around for donations to the Madonna Fund.  This fund used to provide locally for mothers with small children who needed financial help.  Last night, I found out that the Madonna Fund is given to the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) for use overseas.  Since 98% of CRS employees give to pro-abortion candidates during an election and CRS also promotes contraception and abortion overseas, I could never give to the Madonna Fund again.

It’s never easy for me to go to a Catholic organization’s meeting, when it espouses positions that aren’t Catholic.  (sigh)

Maybe next year?

 

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August 6, 2016 · 11:06 am

It’s the Feast of the Transfiguration! The Apostles Saw the Face of God and Lived!

Here is the picture and explanation from http://www.morningoffering.com

Transfiguration

Feast of the Transfiguration

The Feast of the Transfiguration of Our Lord takes place on August 6th, an event mentioned in all three Synoptic Gospels. After revealing that he would be put to death in Jerusalem, Jesus took the three disciples of his inner circle to the summit of Mount Tabor in order to reveal his glory to them. Peter, James, and John saw Jesus transfigure before them, radiant in the fullness of his glory as he truly was, the Son of God. Next to Jesus were Moses and Elijah as witnesses to Christ’s fulfillment of the Old Testament law and prophets. St. Matthew writes of the event by saying, “He was transfigured before them. And his face did shine as the sun: and his garments became white as snow.”

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February 12, 2016 · 7:49 pm

Have to Get It Right!

Matthew 5:48   “You therefore must be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

Want to know what you need to do (and, if you are anything like me, you’re probably not doing it very well at all.)  Read Matthew Chapter 5.  You know, the one with the beatitudes, plucking out eyes and cutting off hands, and anger, and adultery, and divorce, and swearing, and retaliation, and loving one’s enemies.  One can’t read this Chapter without realizing what little worms we are when it comes to the whole perfection thing.  I read Chapter 5 before and after going to confession.  This and Chapter 25 are all I need to trot myself off to the confessional.  Add the corporal and spiritual works of mercy, and I can go all gooey on the inside contemplating my long stay in Purgatory.

And yet. . .

God gives us grace and forgiveness and mercy to help us to prioritize the pursuit of holiness in our lives.  Pursuing holiness begins with having a strong, true, and ardent love for God and for our neighbor.  It means praying and fasting and making each word and act and little daily sacrifice the means of proving our love for our Savior who died on the cross for Love of us.  An effective love can transform a dry, cold heart into a furnace of charity.  Then we can burn with Love of God even while we must live here below.  I hope you, like myself, pursue this ardent charity.

We got to get this right.

“Lord, with your loving care, guide the penance we have begun.  Help us to persevere with love and sincerity.  Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen.”  Liturgy of the Hours: Evening Prayer for the Friday after Ash Wednesday.

 

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February 11, 2016 · 7:37 pm

Righteousness – A Word Study

Just finished reading Chapters 3 and 4 of Matthew’s Gospel.  There is so much there that it would take pages to discuss.  It is about His baptism by John and His temptation in the desert.  Satan was tempting Jesus’ identity as the Son of God.  He wants Him to embrace an earthly and political mission and thus subvert from His real mission of suffering and dying for our salvation.

Unlike us, Jesus could not have sinned at any time during His earthly life.  His “temptations” were entirely the suggestions of the devil and had nothing to do with any kind of inner struggle or disordered desire of a fallen nature.  We, of course, experience temptation because of our fallen nature.  However, just because He couldn’t sin, doesn’t mean that He didn’t show us how the devil should be treated when he comes around with his “suggestions.”

According to St. John Chrysostom, Jesus gives us a perfect example of Christian obedience.  Earthly life is our wilderness.  Our goal is to get to the “land” of heaven.  This life is like a probationary period for us.  God wills that we  overcome temptations (from the world, the flesh, and the devil) through the practice of penance and obedience to God’s word.   We must desire Christ’s humility.  And this is how we can increase the gift of righteousness:  penance, obedience, and humility.

Righteousness is a gift from God.  The word itself is used 7 times in Matthew and 85 times in the rest of the New Testament.  Christ first gives us this gift in Baptism when we are restored in our relationship as an adopted son or daughter of God.  It always means (from the Greek) the uprightness and faithfulness of God and His people.  It is part of the unique covenant vocabulary that runs throughout the old and new testaments.  God’s righteousness is because He is holy and is revealed as He takes care of Israel.  Now, He has demonstrated His righteousness through the saving work of His Son, Jesus Christ.  Jesus wants us to be righteous, like He and His Father, are righteous.

“Submit yourselves therefore to God.  Resist the devil and he will flee from you.  Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.  Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you men of double mind.  Humble yourselves before the Lord and He will exalt you.”  Jn 4: 7-8, 10

And, I might add, fill you with righteousness.

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January 6, 2016 · 5:56 pm

The Manifestation

Collect.  O God, who by the leading of a star didst on this day manifest thy only-begotten Son to the Gentiles, mercifully grant that we, who know thee now by faith, may be brought to the contemplation of thy glorious majesty. through the same Lord. . .”

Today, Jesus shows Himself to the world as God and the Lord of the world.

The Magi saw a star and set out immediately.  Their faith was strong and sure.  They had generous hearts.  Their souls were ready to make the long, arduous journey.  They didn’t give up although the star disappeared at one point.

My meditation today reminds me that when God urges us to greater generosity and closer union with Him, we need to be like the Magi and follow His urging with faith, promptness, selfless generosity, and perseverance.  He is our Quest and we must not give up, even if the star of faith in our soul disappears and we feel an interior darkness.  These periods of darkness are part of His will and so we must overcome them with a pure, naked faith.  In other words, no matter what, we trust in Him.

Sometimes I pray, “Lord, what do you want from me?”  The Feast of the Epiphany reveals some of the answers.  He wants my co-operation.  He wants me to pray and work for the conversion of those who are near to me (family and friends) and those are far away (strangers.)  He wants the incense of prayer, the myrrh of suffering for the love of Him, and the gold of charity.

O Lord, please let Your star shine for me today so I will only take the road that leads directly to you.

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December 2, 2015 · 12:01 pm

The Fig Tree

“Behold the fig tree, and all the trees.  When they put forth their buds, you know that summer is near.  Even so, when you see these things coming to pass, know that the kingdom of God is near.”  Luke 21: 29-31

The Advent season in an invitation to sanctity.  Yes, we wait “with joyful hope for the coming of our Savior.”  We have hopeful expectations that He will come again in all His glory.  We even look for signs like Jesus told us in Luke’s gospel.  We pour over the signs of our times and wonder if the end is near.  Some of us long for the end of the world with a longing that is so deep in our soul that we fear we will die from the longing.  We ask with the Psalmist, “How long, O Lord?”

There were two meanings in the Gospel on Sunday.  Jesus foretold the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD.  Then, He turned to His second coming.  He gives us a reason to be glad for it.  “Now when these things begin to take place, look up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”  Luke 21: 28

Finally, He exhorts us to sanctity.  We have to face the fact that only by being holy as the Father is holy will we enter into heaven.  He is the fountain of life and grace; of strength and holiness.  He has already merited everything that serves for our sanctification; His gifts are unnumbered, yet we can not become saints unless we co-operate with Him.

Sanctity is the fullness of grace.  Jesus wills this for all of us.  Then, why are so few of us saints?  Why am I not a saint?

Sanctity is not obtained by our accomplishments or the number of gifts we have received from God.  Rather it is in the degree of sanctifying grace and charity to which our souls have attained by cooperating with His many invitations, inspirations and actual graces.  The gifts of Baptism and the Holy Spirit and all the sacraments should have already increased our treasure trove of grace.  And, yet, we remain slothful, prideful, and stingy.

It didn’t escape my attention that Luke’s chapter 21 begins with the Widow’s mite–extreme charity from extreme poverty.  What a lesson for us to begin this Advent season.  If we are to prove to Jesus that we are sincere about becoming holy, we need to, with His help, be very, very generous.  We need to overcome our selfishness and attachment to things no matter what it costs us.  We need to say a resounding “yes” to Him even when we would rather let our “hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life.”  Luke 21″ 34  We must not grow lazy in our pursuit of sanctity.

“O Jesus, never allow me to oppose and hinder Your actions in my soul.  Pursue me with Your grace until I give myself entirely to you.”

Have a blessed Advent.  Pursue sainthood with fervor!

 

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November 18, 2015 · 10:44 am

Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary

Every year for the past 12, I have begun the Consecration according to St Louis Marie de Monfort on November 5 to renew my “vow” on December 8, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.  It’s a wonderful way to approach Advent.  It’s always refreshing spiritually and I find some new nugget for pondering over and meditating upon each year.

I do not take these 33 days lightly because it is a great devotion for deepening commitment to my baptismal vows and living them faithfully.  This Marian spirituality suits me as I have always had a devotion to the rosary since I received my first one at the age of seven.  The rosary has always been for me a powerful weapon against temptation and evil in my life.

So what’s the Total Consecration about?  It’s divided into four sections.  The first 12 days are for emptying oneself of all attachments to the Spirit of the World.  The second seven days are for growing in our Knowledge of Ourselves.  During the next seven days, we concentrate on getting to know Mary better so that we can better serve Jesus through her.  Finally, in the fourth section, it is time to deepen our relationship with Jesus through her.  Each day contains a reading and prayer.  Some of the prayers are “Veni Creator,” Ave Maris Stella,” “The Magnificat,” “The Litany of the Holy Ghost,” “The Litany of the Blessed Virgin,” and, of course, the Rosary.

To learn more go to My Consecration and order your materials to make your consecration.  The next one begins on November 29 to end on January 1.  You will be glad you did.

Ave, maris stella,
Dei Mater alma,
Atque semper virgo,
Felix coeli porta.

Sumens illud
Ave Gabrielis ore,
Funda nos in pace,
Mutans Evae nomen.

Solve vinyl reis,
Profer lumen caecis,
Mala nostra pelle,
Bona cuncta posce.

Monstra te esse matrem,
Sumat per te preces,
Qui pro nobis natus,
Tulit esse tuus.

Virgo singularis,
Inter omnes mitis,
Nos culpis solutos
Mites fac et castos.

Vitam praesta puram,
Iter pare tutum;
Ut videntes Jesum,
Semper collaetemur.

Sit laus Deo Patri,
Summo Christo decus,
Spiritui Sancto,
Tribus honor unus. Amen.

 

 

 

Copyright (c) 1997 EWTN Online Services.

 

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November 11, 2015 · 9:47 am

Okay. What Now, Lord?

On October 31st, I officially stopped doing all paid work.  I’ve been cutting back my hours with Georgia Right to Life for about seven years now; from 4 days a week in the office to three; then, two days from home to one.  It’s been a gradual “retirement.”  And, now I will be going on to their Executive Committee as the Treasurer for the next two years.  Since I’m not ready to leave my active pro-life work this will provide another transition.

I don’t know what will happen at the end of the two years, however, that is not what I’m thinking about tonight.  I’m trying to decide what I’m going to do for the next twenty.  Praise God, I am in excellent health and have longevity in my genes.  So, Lord, what’s the plan?

There have been ideas swirling around in my head for at least the past month or two.  Should I write that novel I have been wanting to write since I’ve been 15 years old?  Maybe, I should teach again.  After all, I am a PhD in Psychology and have taught in Universities.  Perhaps it’s time to give talks about my Catholic faith journey and do some of that formal evangelizing stuff.  Or, I could live the life of a Benedictine Oblate.  (Just kidding. . .maybe.)

God’s plan for this end part of my life has not been revealed to me yet.  So I keep praying, “What now, Lord;” then write a list of Christmas cakes and cookies that I’ll be baking this year.  Now, that’s something that I haven’t done in about five years and am going to really enjoy.  Yum!

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