| |
|
Thursday, July 17, 2008
It took me a while, but...
Better late than never, no? From our good friend the Belief-o-Matic, courtesy of Beliefnet.com.
Monday, July 14, 2008
So Close, and Yet...
Sometimes when I pray, it feels like God is all around me--so close, that when I'm done, I almost hate to say amen.
--Laura Peyton Roberts
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Food for Thought
With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?
--Jay Leno
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Nobility
One of my favorite priests of all time is Fr. John Corapi, whom I discovered through EWTN a year or so before my reversion. His show comes on every Saturday night at 10:00 Eastern Time. Go. Watch. You'll be glad you did. ;)
Anyhow, on this past week's show, he had this to say:
"God is our Father. Mary is our Mother. You are nobility. So act like it."
A lightbulb went on when I heard this. Our Heavenly Father is the Maker of our world, and ruler over both His earthly and heavenly kingdom. His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, is called the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. As we're all children of God, the King of Kings is our spiritual brother.
Mary is the mother of Jesus, who is both true God and true man. This is where the Church gets the title Mother of God. If Jesus is the King of Kings, and God the Father is the ruler of all, Mary would be something special as well. From this, we get another title, the Queen of Heaven.
If we are Jesus' spiritual brothers and sisters, and Mary is His mother, then she would be our spiritual mother as well.
To sum up:
* The ruler of all the Earth is our Father.
* The Queen of Heaven is our Mother.
* The King of Kings is our brother.
We really are nobility. We are sons and daughters of spiritual royalty.
That should awe and humble us all at once. We'll never even come close to being worthy of this nobility we gain through Christ who died for us...and yet it's ours, a priceless gift.
Shouldn't we be doing whatever we can to show loyalty to and pride in our family?
Anyhow, on this past week's show, he had this to say:
"God is our Father. Mary is our Mother. You are nobility. So act like it."
A lightbulb went on when I heard this. Our Heavenly Father is the Maker of our world, and ruler over both His earthly and heavenly kingdom. His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, is called the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. As we're all children of God, the King of Kings is our spiritual brother.
Mary is the mother of Jesus, who is both true God and true man. This is where the Church gets the title Mother of God. If Jesus is the King of Kings, and God the Father is the ruler of all, Mary would be something special as well. From this, we get another title, the Queen of Heaven.
If we are Jesus' spiritual brothers and sisters, and Mary is His mother, then she would be our spiritual mother as well.
To sum up:
* The ruler of all the Earth is our Father.
* The Queen of Heaven is our Mother.
* The King of Kings is our brother.
We really are nobility. We are sons and daughters of spiritual royalty.
That should awe and humble us all at once. We'll never even come close to being worthy of this nobility we gain through Christ who died for us...and yet it's ours, a priceless gift.
Shouldn't we be doing whatever we can to show loyalty to and pride in our family?
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Speak
Two weeks ago, the Church celebrated the beginning of the Jubilee Year of St. Paul. As we mark the 2000th year since the birth of history's greatest evangelist, there will be a great deal of attention paid to his writings, work, and ministry.
For me, I'm starting to wonder if it will mean more than just Bible studies of the Pauline letters with my other half.
As you may or may not know, I've always had a very difficult time talking about my Faith with other people. This is mostly because my spiritual life is such an intimate part of me; to share that with others would be making myself vulnerable to a level that I usually only allow my confessor to see in the presence of God. The other part is natural, and what I hope is understandable: a fear of rejection. I know we are supposed to willingly shake the dust from our feet, but as a young Christian I still carry a lot of reservations and fear.
Lately, though, situations have arisen in my personal life where I can't stay silent. I hate the way I feel when I try to dodge the topic, but I love the adrenaline rush that comes from defending and upholding the Truth given to us through Christ and His Church. My confessor once mused that the Church is losing people because those of us in her aren't willing to defend her; instead, we are letting people walk on us, over us, and ultimately away from us.
That shouldn't be. And, as frightened as I may be, I can't let it happen because of my sins, particularly those of omission. Not on my watch.
For me, I'm starting to wonder if it will mean more than just Bible studies of the Pauline letters with my other half.
As you may or may not know, I've always had a very difficult time talking about my Faith with other people. This is mostly because my spiritual life is such an intimate part of me; to share that with others would be making myself vulnerable to a level that I usually only allow my confessor to see in the presence of God. The other part is natural, and what I hope is understandable: a fear of rejection. I know we are supposed to willingly shake the dust from our feet, but as a young Christian I still carry a lot of reservations and fear.
Lately, though, situations have arisen in my personal life where I can't stay silent. I hate the way I feel when I try to dodge the topic, but I love the adrenaline rush that comes from defending and upholding the Truth given to us through Christ and His Church. My confessor once mused that the Church is losing people because those of us in her aren't willing to defend her; instead, we are letting people walk on us, over us, and ultimately away from us.
That shouldn't be. And, as frightened as I may be, I can't let it happen because of my sins, particularly those of omission. Not on my watch.
Every night, every day, I find that I have nothing I can say.
So I stand here in silence, awaiting Your guidance
I'm wanting only Your voice to be heard;
Let them be Your words.
So give me words to speak,
Don't let my spirit sleep,
'Cause I can't think of anything worth saying,
But I know that I owe You my life.
--Aaron Shust, "Give Me Words to Speak"
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Memorial of St. Maria Goretti, Virgin and Martyr
I have to give some honor today to my patron, who's feast day falls on the 14th Sunday of Ordinary Time this year. Maria Goretti was only 12 years old when she died for her purity and faith, making her one of the youngest saints of the modern era.
Her family worked very closely with their neighbors, the Serenellis. Their teenaged son, Alessandro, was captivated by Maria in more ways than one, and after several failed attempts, got Maria alone in her house. He told her to undress, and she refused, saying it would be a terrible sin. He became aggressive, but she consistently denied him, wanting to protect his purity. Finally, Alessandro turned to violence, stabbing Maria 14 times before leaving her for dead.
While she lived for several days in the hospital, Maria would eventually succumb to her wounds. One of the last things she said was that she had forgiven Alessandro for what he did to her, and that she wanted him in heaven with her someday. She passed away on July 6th, 1902.
Several years later, while serving his 30-year prison sentence, Alessandro had a dream in which Maria presented him with 14 white lilies. He was converted by the experience, and after being released from prison, he asked for her mother Assunta's forgiveness. Saying that her daughter did no less, the pair received Communion together the next day. They were also side by side at her canonization in 1950. Serenelli would go on to become a laybrother of the Capuchins.
Today, St. Maria is honored as the patron of young women, and of chastity. I've been very grateful for her being in my life, especially through my teens. :)
Oh Saint Maria Goretti who, strengthened by God's grace, did not hesitate even at the age of twelve to shed your blood and sacrifice life itself to defend your virginal purity, look graciously on the unhappy human race which has strayed far from the path of eternal salvation. Teach us all, and especially youth, with what courage and promptitude we should flee for the love of Jesus anything that could offend Him or stain our souls with sin. Obtain for us from our Lord victory in temptation, comfort in the sorrows of life, and the grace which we earnestly beg of thee , and may we one day enjoy with thee the imperishable glory of Heaven. Amen.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)