The Whole Deal

As a young, lay Catholic, I’m currently aspiring to what it means to feeling “whole” and thriving.  This is part of the call to holiness.  What do I mean by “whole?”  I’m thinking about the times I have been a workaholic (even in ministry) and never taken a break for rest and leisure.  After all, being a former religious in formation, was not being spiritual being “leisurely?”  Yes and no.  For example, praying may mean resting in the heart of God, but it does not involve laughing and socializing with friends.  You see what I mean?  We need to be well-rounded emotionally, mentally, spiritually, and physically.  This sense of balance is healthy not just for the mind, but for the soul.  We can do all these practices with God (I’m not saying we have to take a break from God).  It’s about embracing and thriving in a healthy, human way.  This will prevent mental burnout from whatever it is we are doing (however much we may love it), as well as promote a sense of endurance and of thriving in what you love.  God be Ever Praised!

Psalm 19

“The heavens declare the glory of God;

The sky proclaims its builders craft.

One day to the next conveys that message;

One night to the next imparts that knowledge.

There is no word or sound;

No voice is heard;

Yet their report goes forth through all the earth,

Their message, to the ends of the world.

God has pitched there a tent for the sun;

It comes forth like a bridegroom from his chamber;

And like an athlete joyfully runs its course.

From one end of the heavens it comes forth;

Its course runs through to the other;

Nothing escapes its heat.”

Confidence In God

We just celebrated the Feast of Our Lady’s Assumption into Heaven.  It’s funny, because it made me ponder Our Lord’s Ascension into Heaven rather than her own!  I remember once, as a teenager, how I meditated on “being with Him” during that time.  I did not want to let Him go!  But He kept promising me that He would never leave me.

Now, after learning from St. Therese, I am practicing the attitude of confidence; confidence that Jesus never leaves me.  Sure, there are still plenty of times where I have to strive to put this attitude of trust and assurance into effect, but I am building up these “spiritual muscles” of grace.

Yes!  (Or is it no?)  Jesus never leaves us.  It is we who tend to leave Him.  It is I who am saddened, thinking I am alone.  But He never is the cause for saddening me, because He really never left!  Let us take another look at God as Father, and know that He never abandons His children- and neither will Our Lady.

A Thriving Catholic (Continued)

So, resuming our discussion, what is a thriving Catholic?

First and foremost, it involves being active partakers in the Sacraments.  Being in a state of grace brings us closer to union with and living Jesus in our day to day lives.  It means more than just being catechized and formed with a healthy conscience.

When it comes to Living Jesus, as is the motto I have come to know and love, it is important not to keep the fruits of the sacraments to ourselves.  After all, love is active, full and alive!  I find this to be very true when proclaiming the truth at youth group and in preparing for the Becoming Disciples ministry.  While watching the CORE team give talks to highschoolers, I see both their piety and enthusiasm for living out Church Teachings. 

In addition, I have been blessed as a Catholic to go to three different countries on pilgrimage.  Whether these places are currently secularized or still enriched by the Faith, it has brought me to a greater realization of the universality of the Church.  Now, when the priest says “Remember Lord Your Church, spread throughout the world,” after the consecration at Mass, I remember the people and places I have come to know.  After all, does not Catholic mean “universal?”

How do you thrive as a Catholic?  Do you go to Mass on Sundays and Holy Days?  These sacraments and opportunities bring us into the Mystery of Truth- the fullness of Truth!  God be Ever Praised!

A Thriving Catholic

                What does it mean to be a “Thriving Catholic?”  I know it must mean one is practicing, but is there something more to it?  Jesus says, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life” (italics mine).  I know it’s got to be more than feelings.  It’s about the way we choose to live.

                So my question for you is: do you see yourself as a “Thriving Catholic?” 

                Stay tuned for examples!

“God is Love”

I’ve been reading a wonderful, spiritual book by Brother Lawrence called The Practice of the Presence of God.  It is written in little sections by him and his friend Joseph de Beaufort.  In the “Second Conversation,” the latter writes of how Br. Lawrence did everything out of love for God.  I have read about such intentions from commentators on the life of St. Therese of Lisieux.  Both brother and nun had similar ambitions, even when they received no love in return from their neighbor.

Inspired by these witnesses of God’s Love, I too desire to follow this way of life.  My reading of spiritual books has taught me that, where there is love, God is present; because “God is love.” (cf. 1 John 4:8)  I can glimpse Who He is every time I choose to act in this way. 

Being human and still disciplining myself, I find that it is easy to let these opportunities slip by.  For example, by passing someone without saying hello.  There goes my chance to love, let alone to see Jesus in my neighbor!  But I still persist in this quest to be “love in the Heart of the Church” (paraphrase), as St. Therese puts it so beautifully. 

Can I bring love to others?  Not the romantic type of love, but the caring, compassion of Jesus? 

Live Jesus!

Finding God in L.A.

            My parents and I took a trip to Los Angeles to pick up my sister at the airport.  I had been looking forward to it with enthusiasm, as I wanted to start this series of a quest to Finding God in the big, secular city. 

            Anticipating this excursion, I pondered how Our Creator can be found amidst the hustle and bustle.  Would I only find Him when on my knees?

            As expected, Highway 405 traffic was very heavy.  10 AM and still slowed up!  The occasional, angry, car horns gave me some anxiety from the backseat, but I managed.  Daring locals cut each other off, whether on the highway or in town.

            The houses were large and expensive.  I wondered if these “rich people” had generous hearts toward those in need?

            After picking up my sister at LAX, we headed over to Santa Monica, a touristy area by the beach.  Walking along the sidewalk above the sandy beach, I saw that only hearts can be touched if we let God into our lives.  Some people dressed in clingy fashion statements, or played blaring, loud music as we passed.             

            Though kneeling shows reverence in appropriate places like the cathedral (which I regret being unable to see in LA since it was twenty miles out of our way), I knew that God could be seen everywhere.  The tiniest flower blossoming along the walk or in the eyes of a lonely bystander brings Him to light in our hearts and in our minds. 

            God can be found everywhere, if we only let Him in- even in a crazy city like Los Angeles!

Courage

Sunday

Today, Jesus praises the Father for revealing Himself to the childlike.  

The childlike.  

It brought me to thinking of how it does not matter so much what we do, but the heart that makes the difference.  St. Paul has spoken to the Corinthians of having gifts and all knowledge, but without love, is nothing. 

I sometimes wonder what I can bring to the world to make a difference.  When I feel incapable due to health issues, I have to remind myself that it is the heart that matters.  Am I praying?  Do I offer it up for special intentions?  Am I “busy” loving God?  Do I have a relationship with Him?  Do I stand by Our Lady in her fidelity whether it be at the nativity, during Our Lord’s public ministry, and even at the foot of the cross?

Sent Forth

“Go in peace,” the deacon said at the end of Mass. 

“Thanks be to God!”  The congregation replied.

In being sent forth, it is not concluded in the context of a sigh of relief, but with great rejoicing.  This is how we should see the closing of Mass.  We are sent on this Monday morning to our jobs, to our families, and to our errands with the blessing of peace. 

How will we choose to live the Eucharist, the selfless Christ in our hearts and in our lives?

Going Beyond Ourselves

In today’s gospel (Tuesday), Jesus calls us to go beyond ourselves.  It is so easy to do what is... easy, like pay a tithe at church or stay amidst our friends.  But what do we do when we see a homeless person?  It’s not always the safest thing to approach them (some are involved in alcohol and drugs), but are we generous with our time? 

It is time we went outside ourselves as Our Lord calls us to.  “What you did for one of the least of my brothers, you did unto me” (paraphrase).  Do we approach the lonely or offer empathy to the suffering?  Maybe you already do these things, and God will reward you for it!  But let this “refresher” be part of our examination of conscience today: did I help the least of these?  Did I go beyond myself, live up to the name of Christian?

Salt of the Earth

                Today, Jesus sends us forth as the salt of the earth.  What does that mean? 

                It is a calling to refresh ourselves in Christ and to let it pour out in our words and actions.  I love to use this going forth while helping at youth group and being that listening ear to others.  It is also in the little things that we are called to be the light of the world.  I often find myself in spiritual darkness because I rely too much on myself and less on the beauty of God’s grace.  What can we do about it?  “Let go and let God.”  He is greater than any weakness, and inspires us with purpose and love. 

                How are you called to be the Salt of the Earth?  Are we up for the challenge?

Spending Time With God

                Today, as we prepare for the first official days of summer, I invite you to enter it with an open mind.  Vacations are probably already planned, summer jobs for the kids are filled, and life begins anew for the recent college graduate. 

                What will these summer days bring?  I’m not for sure myself.  I have considered settling into a new routine, but today is my first “quiet day” in a long time.  I have considered praying the Divine Office throughout the day, like old times.  I may also appreciate the beauty of nature by going for frequent walks in the countryside. 

                What will you do?  It’s kind of like Lent, except the Ordinary Time becomes Extra-Ordinary.  How can I incorporate a little, hidden way of good deeds into my life?  How can I give more time for God?  I pray not so much for a “successful” encounter with God, but a realization of His goodness in our lives.  God be Ever Praised!

Seeking God in Nature

I’m at the lake today. 

I sit at the top of a slope, watching my dad fish, and kayakers paddling down below.  The water is a lot higher than the last time I was here, as the snow upon the mountaintops continue to melt and stream down to our elevation.  Birds along the path perch on barren tree branches, seeming to quarrel about something.  What appears to be a mouse peeks amidst the flattened, dry grass at my feet.

This is where I seek God today.  Amidst the gentle wind that blows, the chirping of birds…  I find Him in the words I put on paper.  Yeah!  He’s here.

Ordinary Time- Not So Ordinary

Ordinary Time

                Happy Pentecost!  Tomorrow (Monday) we return to Ordinary Time. But is it so “ordinary?”  We have spent so many days celebrating the Resurrection of Our Lord, and before that gone deep into Lent.  The celebration and appreciation of Our Lord’s triumph continues with Sunday Feasts of the Most Holy Trinity and Corpus Christi.  And let us not forget the Hearts of Jesus and Mary this month of June!

                The church must continue celebrating.  As a friend told me today, “every Sunday is Easter, and every Friday Jesus dies on the cross.”  We must commemorate these days with reverence and gratitude; not just during Holy Week.

                How can we keep the Easter Season alive in our hearts?  It’s not all over.  It’s still happening!  It was only last week during the Ascension that Jesus promised to never leave us.  And we too must promise never to leave Him. 

God be Praised!

Finding God's Presence

I know this blog is called "In the Presence of God," and I wanted us to explore how we can find God's Presence among us.  Personally, I like to place myself in His Presence by listening to Christian music or seeking Him in creation.  Here's some examples through pictures that I took of seeking God's Presence among us.  And in them, we can take in the beauty God has created and thank Him for them.

The Easter Mystery

Happy Easter Again!
I know it's been a week since the celebration of Easter, but remember that this mystery is lived out for an entire liturgical season!  Alleluia!
Yesterday (Sunday), we rejoiced in Divine Mercy.  We must have confidence in His great mercy!
How will you continue to live out this Easter Celebration?
God be Praised!

On the Eve of Divine Mercy Sunday, let us never lose our trust in His Mercy and Grace!

Jesus, I trust in You!

Easter Octave Psalm

Happy Easter!

Now is a time of great rejoicing.  The Lord has Risen from the tomb!  Alleluia!  Please keep the video team in your prayers as we prepare a short series of footage this Easter Octave and in the near future.  May God be Praised!

Beauty of God's Creation

https://www.youtube.com/edit?o=U&video_id=k0X9k3WKNS4

Wednesday of Holy Week

Bask in the sun.  Feel the rays come upon you.
Created things can be the stuff that God uses to speak to us.
It is a nice, breezy day at the lake. 
Look beyond to the forest at the opposite side.  See the snow peeking out from them in the distant hills. 
The sound of the contuous waves washing onshore give a continuity in rhythm. 
The sun peers out from more passing clouds, earning my hands. 
It is a fine getaway that I can always return to by this entry.

Wednesday of Holy Week

Bask in the sun.  Feel the rays come upon you.
Created things can be the stuff that God uses to speak to us.
It is a nice, breezy day at the lake. 
Look beyond to the forest at the opposite side.  See the snow peeking out from them in the distant hills. 
The sound of the contuous waves washing onshore give a continuity in rhythm. 
The sun peers out from more passing clouds, warming my hands. 
It is a fine getaway that I can always return to by this entry.

Holy Week 2017

Taking Time for Holy Week

During this Holy Week, let us refresh our commitments from Ash Wednesday.  Whether we are off on spring break or busy as always in our work life, let us recognize Christ's Presence in our lives.
Let us stand at the Foot of the Cross with John, Our Lady, and Mary Magdalene, consoling the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Who is dying for love of us!
How He loves us!  Let us strive to contemplate this love!

The Truth in God

I found today's gospel very meaningful, in many ways.
For example, when Jesus says, "But the one who sent me is true, and what I heard from him I tell the world." (bold is mine)
And later on Pontius Pilate asks Him, "What is truth?"
Do we know God as the Way, the truth, and the life?  Will we ever be able to contemplate God in all His fullness, love, and mercy?

Fiat

Most of the time, I find it easier to make a fiat to God when things are going well.  But what about the times we are called to accept situations that involve struggle, temptation, and self-doubt?  This calls for an entrustment to Our Lady, who was misunderstood when she conceived Our Lord, or even He Who suffered on the cross for us- abandoned by all but a few.  Let us choose to be among the few, and stand with Him in His sorrows.  That we may give a constant fiat to the Holy Spirit, that He may work in our lives even in the midst of darkness.  Our Lady of Fidelity, pray for us!

"O Sacred Heart of Jesus, I give and consecrate to Thee, my actions and pains, my sufferings and my life, in order that my entire being may be devoted to honor, love and glorify Thy Sacred Heart.”  (Saint Margaret Mary)

The Prophet Jeremiah

As we near the end of the day, let us read the beginning of today’s 1^st Reading from the prophet Jerememiah:

“Thus says the Lord: This is what I commanded my people: Listen to my voice; then I will be your God and you shall be my people.  Walk in all the ways that I command you, so that you may prosper.”

How did I listen to God’s voice today?

Getting to Know God

Psalm 51 starts off with “Have mercy on me, God, in your kindness. In your compassion blot out my offense.” We remind ourselves of the goodness of God, as well as sending a message to ourselves that God is merciful.  He is compassionate! 

While practicing the Fear of the Lord, I find myself being always fearful.  But that’s not how God wants us to see Him. 

6Then the LORD passed by in front of him and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD God,compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; 7who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations." (Exodus 36:6,7)

Though we must give God His reverence due, it is also important to keep a close relationship with Him through confidence and acts of love.

Grasping the key words in the mentioned psalm will help us better understand who God is: Mercy and compassion.  This is why we have confession!  This is why we can begin afresh every day!  As St. Francis de Sales says, “You make spiritual progress by beginning again and again.”

And God is nearer to us than we think!  It doesn’t take a text message, a phone call, or even skype!  We need only place ourselves in God’s Presence, and choose to bask in Him Love.  Jesus said to St. Faustina, “The more a soul trusts, the more it will receive.” (Divine Mercy Diary, 1578).­­­­

Today's Gospel (3/15/17)

                Today I simply wanted to share with you today’s gospel.  I really appreciated it during Mass this morning!

                As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the Twelve disciples by themselves, and said to them on the way, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn him to death, and hand him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and scourged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.”

                Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee approached Jesus with her sons and did him homage, wishing to ask him for something.  He said to her, “What do you wish?”  She answered him, “Command that these two sons of mine sit, one at your right and the other at your left, in your kingdom.”  Jesus said in reply, “You do not know what you are asking.  Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?”  They said to him, “We can.”  He replied, “My chalice you will indeed drink, but to sit at my right and at my left, this is not mine to give but is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.”  When the ten heard this, they became indignant at the two brothers.  But Jesus summoned them and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and the great ones make their authority over them felt.  But it shall not be so among you.  Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave.  Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

(Matthew 20:17-28)

            Again, let us “Come away by [ourselves] to a secluded place and rest a while." (Mark 6:31)  As we ponder these beautiful Sunday Readings, let us leave our world like Abraham and set off into a deserted place. 

            Encountering Our Lord in the Mystery of the Transfiguration is a comforting scene.  It is full of consolation to see Him in all His brilliance, which often takes faith to realize in our hardened and distracted hearts.  But that is what Lent is for!  We need only have this faith to treasure the Father’s Love for us.  We stand before His beloved Son, and He will also say “You are my beloved.”  That way, as our Second Reading for today states, we may: “Bear [our] share of hardship for the gospel with the strength that comes from God. 

            I also want to shed light on the second part of today’s Letter to Timothy that “He saved us and called us to a holy life, not according to our works but according to his own design and the grace bestowed on us in Christ Jesus before time began, but now made manifest through the appearance of our savior Christ Jesus, who destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.” 

            On that first note, I wanted to put emphasis that holiness is not about our merits.  It is always important to do the right thing and putting our effort in; but it is Christ’s merits which make us holy.  After all, are we not imperfect? 

            So let us spend the rest of this weekend basking in the Love of God and run the race!

            God Bless!

"Behold this Heart which has so loved men that it has spared nothing, even to exhausting and consuming itself, in order to testify its love. In return, I receive from the greater part only ingratitude, by their irreverence and sacrileges, and by the coldness and contempt they have for me in this Sacrament of love… I come into the heart I have given you in order that through your fervor you may atone for the offenses which I have received from lukewarm and slothful hearts that dishonor me in the Blessed Sacrament." (Our Lord to St. Margaret Mary)

Why Suffering?

                This blog post is going to take on a more serious note: Why suffering?  Why does God permit it?  Sometimes we feel unreachable in our deepest pains, even though family, friends, and professionals try to be there for us.  Our emotions can seem overwhelming and it seems that the tide of sorrow has washed permanently over us. 

                Let us bring our grievances before God and cry out like in the Book of Esther: Help me, who am alone and have no help but you…  When I read the meditation from my Magnificat subscription, Sister Ruth, a Carmelite nun, says that “We must trust God enough to know that he would never leave us in a state of weakness without a purpose.” 

                As for me, I cannot give a clear enough answer about suffering.  But I do know that Jesus, too, suffered in His Passion and Death- for love of us.  Do we suffer for love of others?  My suffering tells me to offer it for you, especially you readers who are tempted by the ways of the world.  Let us unite our sufferings with that of Our Lord’s.  Let us raise our eyes in hope, before a God who provides healing.  Let us not despair.  Please don’t!  For we are loved, reached out to, by God through the lives of those who reach out to help and console us. 

                Let us suffer with trust in the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and look on with hope as we seek Him out in the resurrection.

God be Praised!

First Sunday of Lent- Into the Desert

When we journey through Lent, there are different ways of envisioning our journey.  Most years, I prefer to journey with Our Lord on His way to the cross.  Though I’m sure I will at least contemplate His Agony in the Garden during Holy Week, I would like to focus on Jesus’ time in the desert.

Yes, He was tempted.  But He also went there to be alone with God.  He frequently returns to this solitude throughout His Proclamation of the Kingdom. 

He calls each of us in a special way to “Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest awhile.” (cf Mark 6:31)  St. Teresa of Calcutta adds that “We need silence to be alone with God, to speak to him, to listen to him, to ponder his words deep in our hearts.  We need to be alone with God in silence to be renewed and transformed.”

And we are not alone, in this silence and solitude.  We are with God Himself!  How we see God and how we let Him impact our lives is not about loneliness.  How we see ourselves will also determine if we are comfortable with solitude.  Are we afraid of ourselves, or do we accept and embrace ourselves in the Father’s Love?  After all, there is a difference between loneliness and solitude. 

So let us learn from the “porch” of Lent behind and enter the depths of what mortifications, adjustments, and additions that will help us grow in the spiritual life. 

What will make me trust Jesus more?

How can I offer things up in a more meaningful way?

What is it like to be with God?

“Therefore, behold, I will allure her, Bring her into the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her.” (Hosea 2:14)

A Few Thoughts For the First Friday of Lent

                I hope you all had a blessed Ash Wednesday.  The First Friday of Lent, as well as of March, takes me back to the devotions to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  We can recall this devotion of reparation and petition for the sins of the world. 

                But I also wanted to share with you a phrase from the Lord’s Prayer: Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.  Yes, we want to be forgiven, but can we forgive others to the same degree? 

                I was reading in Bishop Robert Barron’s reflection for Ash Wednesday that, “…according to Jesus’ model, you have to pray with forgiveness.”  I found this call to forgiveness especially meaningful when I opened up my Magnificat subscription for March and read in a reflection that   “Forgiveness does not overlook the deed: it rises above it.”  (Gobodo-Madikizel, page 5.)

                How can we answer this need to forgive?  Let us ponder the Lord’s prayer again: Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.  It’s about learning to forgive ourselves through the Sacrament of Confession and to forgive others when we are wronged. 

                I found a good reminder about spiritual fasting during the Lenten Season from what I have of my notes from the novitiate.  Not only should we abstain from meat on Fridays and Ash Wednesday.  We must avoid all negative behavior so as to be enriched by the positives of authentic, Christian living.

“Fast from judging others; feast on the Christ dwelling within them.

Fast from emphasis on differences; feast on the unity of all life.

Fast from apparent darkness; feast on the reality of light.

Fast from words that pollute; feast on phrases that purify.

Fast from discontent; feast on gratitude.

Fast from anger; feast on patience.

Fast from pessimism; feast on optimism.

Fast from worry; feast on trust.

Fast from complaining; feast on appreciation.

Fast from negatives; feast on affirmatives.

Fast from unrelenting pressures; feast on unceasing prayer.

Fast from hostility; feast on nonviolence.

Fast from bitterness; feast on forgiveness.

Fast from self-concern; feast on compassion for others.

Fast from personal anxiety; feast on eternal truth.

Fast from discouragement; feast on hope.

Fast from facts that depress; feast on truths that uplift.

Fast from lethargy; feast on enthusiasm.

Fast from suspicion; feast on truth.

Fast from thoughts that weaken; feast on promises that inspire.

Fast from idle gossip; feast on purposeful silence.

“Gentle God, during this season of fasting and feasting, gift us with Your Presence, so we can be gift to others in carrying out your work.  Amen.”

Lenten Resolutions

          “Even now, says the Lord, return to me with your whole heart…  Rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the Lord, your God.”  (Joel) 

            And so we begin the liturgical season of Lent.  When I think of this “penitential” time of year in the Catholic world, I think of giving up candy as a kid.  (Boy, was it hard!)  Then came the negotiating of whether Sundays counted as part of Lent, and if the ultimate penance could be broken for a day.  When I think of penance, it sounds like I am imposing something difficult on myself.  This can be good for self-discipline, but I’ve also wondered if there’s a gentler way of returning to the heart of what it means to be Catholic?

            As a former novice in religious life, I continue to be enlightened by the psalms to “sing a new song.”  (see Psalm 96)  How can we renew our “song” as Catholics?  What is our attitude in prayer?  How are we living out our Catholic faith? 

            Lent is a great time to refresh and begin anew.  As St. Francis de Sales says, “Have patience with all things, but chiefly have patience with yourself. Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections but instantly set about remedying them - every day begin the task anew.” 

Now is the time to start afresh, and I encourage you to walk through Lent as a journey with Christ and His Blessed Mother, whether in His gospel ministry in the daily readings at Mass or on His walk towards Cavalry with His self-gift on the cross.

God be Praised! 

To read more articles by Jennifer Mendenhall, visit her blog at

in-the-presence-of-god.blogspot.com

Monday Before Ash Wednesday

Monday Before Ash Wednesday

As we are two days from Ash Wednesday and concluding what we are going to do for Lent, I want us to consider the use of modern technology and social media.  I’m in the middle of reading Teresa Tomeo’s book called Noise.  I’ve been considering the use of media while developing this blog and the website.  This enables me to evangelize to anyone who comes across it.  Something the book mentioned, though, was that we are so glued to our TVs, phones, and computers, that we are less present to the people right in front of us.  I have read about living mindfully vs. mindlessly.  I’ve got to admit, I’m pretty “mindless” myself.  It seems so much easier to multi-task, such as texting while cooking dinner.  It gives only half of our attention to each task.

Before I go further, I will agree that Catholic apps on our phones are a blessing.  I’m preparing for the Marian Consecration using an app.  But that’s in addition to a life of personal prayer and spiritual reading – and books are so much easier to read than from a screen! 

Let us clear the way to be more “mindful” of what we are doing.  In particular, in giving God more of our time.  Turn off the radio.  Let that incoming text wait a minute.  It’s time to open our hearts to prayer. 

Let Lent be the start of a new beginning.  Have a trusted friend hold you accountable; it’s very encouraging!  Open your Bible and let the words come in at a personal level.  Do yourself a favor and unwind from your busy life and make room for an authentic relationship with God; even if it means getting up fifteen minutes earlier every day.  Now is the time.  “The Kingdom of God is at hand.”

In Preparation of Lent

I wasn’t quite sure what to give up for Lent this year.  You may be thinking the same thing as well.  I wasn’t positive if giving something up would help me.  (If you feel called to mortify yourself in some way, go for it!  We are all led in a unique, individual way by the spirit.)

A good question to ask ourselves is: what will spiritually feed me this Lent?

I have already begun 33 Days to Morning Glory, a preparation to consecrate myself on a particular feast day to Mary.  The Annunciation is going to be beautiful this year!
But I wanted to be continually growing, even after the feast day.  So, with all that said, I have decided to concentrate on more trusting prayer and spiritual reading this Lent.  It’s time to go out into the desert with Our Lord. 

I hope this blog provides you with many insights and graces, and I hope by summarizing these personal insights that I am able to live them out more fully.  But, if you and I can take them to a deeper level this Lent, let us begin with openness and good faith.

I encourage you to go on this Lenten journey with me.  If you would like to post a comment or send me an e-mail to take my posts to “the next level,” please do so.  We are on this Lenten journey together! 

God be Ever Praised!

Seeking Out Our Transfigured Lord

In today’s gospel (Mark 9:2-13), we are taken to Our Lord’s transfiguration.  But right now, I want us to consider how Jesus sets Peter, James, and John apart from His other disciples.  Let us picture this passage from their perspective, so that we may see Jesus looking at us individually, and taking us apart from society and our obligations, to be with Him.

Where can we experience the transfigured Jesus?  As the holy season of lent approaches, let us seek Him out all the more, that we may see Him glorified – before He is crucified.  We are called to seek Him out.

My parish is so blessed to have an adoration chapel.  We see the Eucharist, in a sense, transfigured, before us. 

Or we can choose to go on a retreat.  It can be within the quiet of a spare room, or we can go to a more formal version of a retreat at a retreat house. 

This is just brainstorming.  Find a place to see Our Lord transfigured.  I pray this weekend for all retreatants such as yourself.

Where will you go to find Jesus?

The following an answer during a Q&A with college students on June 7, I think in 2013.  I believe that everyone struggling with faith needs to read this - then again, it's great for those having
"good days" as well!

“Journeying is an art because if we're always in a hurry, we get tired and don't arrive at our journey's goal,” he said. “If we stop, we don't go forward and we also miss the goal. Journeying is precisely the art of looking toward the horizon, thinking where I want to go but also enduring the fatigue of the journey, which is sometimes difficult. … There are dark days, even days when we fail, even days when we fall … but always think of this: Don't be afraid of failures. Don't be afraid of falling. What matters in the art of journeying isn't not falling but not staying down. Get up right away and continue going forward. This is what's beautiful: This is working every day, this is journeying as humans. But also, it's bad walking alone: It's bad and boring. Walking in community, with friends, with those who love us, that helps us. It helps us to arrive precisely at that goal, that 'there where' we're supposed to arrive.”
(taken from https://www.ncronline.org/blogs/francis-chronicles/popes-quotes-faith-journey)

God be Praised!  Always!

Let us pray for the cause of the beatification of Lucia of Fatima.  May she intercede for our world alongside her beloved Lady of Fatima.

I'm sure we're all preparing for Valentines Day by now; so I thought I would post St. Paul's letter describing what love really is.  Though you may have read these passages hundreds of times previously, I encourage you to take another look at this beautiful explanation by this great apostle that I copied from bible.com:

1If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.

4Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, 5does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, 6does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

8Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. 9For we know in part and we prophesy in part; 10but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away. 11When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things. 12For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. 13But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.