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Holy Readings and Thoughts — Suffering and Love

Posted in Catholic, Christian, Christianity, encyclical, faith, God, Pope, Saint Faustina's Diary, tagged blessing, charity, Evangelium Vitae, faith, God, grace, homily, hope, love, pain, Pope Francis, pure, Saint Faustina, say Yes, Song of the Sparrow, suffer, suffering, tribulation on June 17, 2013 | 6 Comments »

This is a section from #57 in Sister Faustina’s Diary.

Suffering is a great grace; through suffering the soul becomes like the Savior; in suffering love becomes crystallized; the greater the suffering, the purer the love.

I am unable to wrap my head around the saying “suffering is a great grace.” How can suffering be a “great grace?” I know that God gives us grace to help us get through suffering and times of trouble and maybe that is what the saying is alluding to but I just don’t see simply experiencing suffering as being a “great grace.”

I am fully aware that through our suffering we are able to become like Christ. I have experienced the gift of having a purer love and have displayed a purer love the more I have suffered. The more we suffer the purer our love. I am guessing the words “the greater the suffering, the purer the love” pertains to our love of God, everyone, and everything – all that is good. I know since my having suffered greatly I have become more accepting of others’ different points of view. It’s not that I don’t disagree with people anymore cause I do, but I don’t get upset and blow the lid off with unkind, defensive words near as often as I used to do. So through suffering I have become a better, more faithful, more loving person.

Here is a meditation from the book Song of the Sparrow.

The real signs of our faith are often the men and women we know. Some are evident signs of faith, hope, and charity, and others signs of contradiction. It is the latter people who disturb us and make us question whether we are seeing things aright. Those who are hostile and aggressive and speak like Old Testament prophets, make us wonder if they are real. The meek and humble somehow beguile us by their gentleness and goodness.

Amen. I am so blessed to have gotten to know a number of men and women across the blogosphere. Thank you all so much and God Bless.

Here is a small portion of Pope Francis’ homily for “Evangelium Vitae Sunday”.

Dear brothers and sisters, let us look to God as the God of Life, let us look to his law, to the Gospel message, as the way to freedom and life. The Living God sets us free! Let us say “Yes” to love and not selfishness. Let us say “Yes” to life and not death. Let us say “Yes” to freedom and not enslavement to the many idols of our time. In a word, let us say “Yes” to the God who is love, life and freedom, and who never disappoints (cf. 1 Jn 4:8; Jn 11:2; Jn 8:32). Only faith in the Living God saves us: in the God who in Jesus Christ has given us his own life, and by the gift of the Holy Spirit has enabled us to live as true sons and daughters of God. This faith brings us freedom and happiness. Let us ask Mary, Mother of Life, to help us receive and bear constant witness to the “Gospel of Life”.

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Have a Relationship with the Holy Spirit?

Posted in Christian, Christianity, faith, God, Holy Spirit, Sacraments, Theology, tagged baptism, faith, God, Holy Spirit, LORD, relationship on June 16, 2013 | 1 Comment »

Do each of us have a relationship with the Holy Spirit?

I am reading a book on the Holy Spirit, learning a great deal of information about the Holy Spirit and how vital it is for our faith that persons have a relationship with the Holy Spirit. I talk to and pray to God but do I pray to God as the Holy Spirit? Maybe I do and I don’t know that I do but I’m not sure. I have experienced the awesome healing power of the Holy Spirit on a number of occasions so I guess that means that I at least have somewhat of a relationship with the Holy Spirit. In the book Alan Schreck said that those who are baptized experience a rebirth, a rebirth in the Holy Spirit. It is up to us whether our relationship with the Holy Spirit flourishes or fades.

4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”

14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

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Friday Blues

Posted in Bible, faith, health, scripture, tagged baby blues, emotional, faith, health, hysterectomy, LORD, no kids, pain, physical, sad, scritpure on June 14, 2013 | 7 Comments »

Today I have been feeling sad with tearing up every now and then. I think it’s a combination of me dealing with life after having a hysterectomy, the baby blues (not having a child) and having to endure constant severe physical pain. It’s wearing me down. I guess emotionally and physically.

For some reason in my thoughts the number 15 kept on coming up. I turned to page 15 of an ebook of scripture passages that I downloaded. Here are a few scripture quotes:

1 Corinthians 16:13 –Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.

Psalm 9:9 –The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.

Psalm 18:2 – The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Psalm 34:18 — The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

I needed to see some positive words of encouragement. Seeing the words above helped a bit.

Have a blessed weekend!

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The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit — Athanasian Creed

Posted in Catholic, Catholic Church Doctrine, Christianity, faith, God, Holy Spirit, Theology, tagged Athanasian Creed, Catholic, faith, father, God, Holy Spirit, son, Trinity on June 3, 2013 | 3 Comments »

I just started reading a book on the Holy Spirit. So far it’s very good. As I was talking to Kevin today about the Holy Spirit he noticed that I was conflating the Holy Spirit with Jesus. He suggested I find the Athanasian Creed online. Then we discussed the Trinity as I read the Athanasian Creed. He says the Trinity is hard to understand. Reading the Athanasian Creed helped me to understand the Trinity more fully. Here is the Athanasian Creed.

Athanasian Creed

1. Whosoever will be saved, before all things it is necessary that he hold the catholic faith;

2. Which faith except every one do keep whole and undefiled, without doubt he shall perish everlastingly.

3. And the catholic faith is this: That we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity;

4. Neither confounding the persons nor dividing the substance.

5. For there is one person of the Father, another of the Son, and another of the Holy Spirit.

6. But the Godhead of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit is all one, the glory equal, the majesty coeternal.

7. Such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Spirit.

8. The Father uncreated, the Son uncreated, and the Holy Spirit uncreated.

9. The Father incomprehensible, the Son incomprehensible, and the Holy Spirit incomprehensible.

10. The Father eternal, the Son eternal, and the Holy Spirit eternal.

11. And yet they are not three eternals but one eternal.

12. As also there are not three uncreated nor three incomprehensible, but one uncreated and one incomprehensible.

13. So likewise the Father is almighty, the Son almighty, and the Holy Spirit almighty.

14. And yet they are not three almighties, but one almighty.

15. So the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Spirit is God;

16. And yet they are not three Gods, but one God.

17. So likewise the Father is Lord, the Son Lord, and the Holy Spirit Lord;

18. And yet they are not three Lords but one Lord.

19. For like as we are compelled by the Christian verity to acknowledge every Person by himself to be God and Lord;

20. So are we forbidden by the catholic religion to say; There are three Gods or three Lords.

21. The Father is made of none, neither created nor begotten.

22. The Son is of the Father alone; not made nor created, but begotten.

23. The Holy Spirit is of the Father and of the Son; neither made, nor created, nor begotten, but proceeding.

24. So there is one Father, not three Fathers; one Son, not three Sons; one Holy Spirit, not three Holy Spirits.

25. And in this Trinity none is afore or after another; none is greater or less than another.

26. But the whole three persons are coeternal, and coequal.

27. So that in all things, as aforesaid, the Unity in Trinity and the Trinity in Unity is to be worshipped.

28. He therefore that will be saved must thus think of the Trinity.

29. Furthermore it is necessary to everlasting salvation that he also believe rightly the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ.

30. For the right faith is that we believe and confess that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is God and man.

31. God of the substance of the Father, begotten before the worlds; and man of substance of His mother, born in the world.

32. Perfect God and perfect man, of a reasonable soul and human flesh subsisting.

33. Equal to the Father as touching His Godhead, and inferior to the Father as touching His manhood.

34. Who, although He is God and man, yet He is not two, but one Christ.

35. One, not by conversion of the Godhead into flesh, but by taking of that manhood into God.

36. One altogether, not by confusion of substance, but by unity of person.

37. For as the reasonable soul and flesh is one man, so God and man is one Christ;

38. Who suffered for our salvation, descended into hell, rose again the third day from the dead;

39. He ascended into heaven, He sits on the right hand of the Father, God, Almighty;

40. From thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

41. At whose coming all men shall rise again with their bodies;

42. and shall give account of their own works.

43. And they that have done good shall go into life everlasting and they that have done evil into everlasting fire.

44. This is the catholic faith, which except a man believe faithfully he cannot be saved.

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God or Atheism — Which is More Rational? by Peter Kreeft

Posted in Bible, Catholic, Christian, Christianity, faith, God, tagged atheism, big bang, causality, creationism, faith, God, Peter Kreeft, rational, reason, science, scientist, Sir Isaac Newton on May 24, 2013 | 9 Comments »

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Letting God into our deepest depths

Posted in Catholic, Christian, Christianity, faith, God, Jesus, prayer, Saint Faustina's Diary, Theology, tagged boat, deep water, depths, Diary, faith, God, Jesus, LORD, shallow water, Sister Faustina Kowalska, soul, St Faustina, trust on May 15, 2013 | 6 Comments »

In #55 of Sister Faustina Kowalska’s Diary she received spiritual counsel from Father Adrasz, S.J. This is one of Father’s instructions for St. Faustina:

“Let God push your boat out into the deep waters, toward the unfathomable depths of the interior life.”

shallow water

deep water

Are we afraid to let Jesus into the deep depths of our interior life? Do we allow God into our lives enough so He can change us? So the Lord is able to transform each of us into better beings? Do we stop our boat from entering into deep waters? Do we put limits on what we will allow God to do in each of our lives? Do we put a shield up because we are afraid to change?

I pray, talk to God, trust in the Lord’s will for me more than I used to but. . . I find myself asking whether I allow God into the deep waters of my soul. Do I only allow God to enter the shallow depths of my interior self? Do I stop God from pushing my boat into deep waters? I am guarded to a certain degree because of past events which happened in my life. While I trust in God more than I used to I know that I need to allow Him enter the deepest depths of my soul. I need to not push back and stop my boat from entering deeper waters. God Bless.

H/T for images: amustard.com

integrateddigitalpublishing

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3-year-old play ‘celebrating’ Mass — awesome and adorable!

Posted in Catholic, Catholicism, Christian, faith, God, Jesus, Mass, prayer, Religion, religious vocations, tagged boy, Catholic, celebrate, Colombia, faith, God, humility, liturgy, love, Mass, play, pretend priest, priesthood, religious vocations, Samuel Jaramillo, video on May 13, 2013 | Leave a Comment »

This video has become an online hit – 300,000 hits in about a week. Samuel wears priestly garments as he ‘celebrates Mass. He is adorable!! It is totally awesome to see the tremendous faith of this little one. Samuel lives in Colombia. He is an orphan who lives with his grandmother and an aunt.

From CNA:

His relatives told reporters that last Christmas, Jaramillo did not ask for toys like most kids his age. Instead, he wanted “priest’s clothes” and the objects necessary to “celebrate” Mass.

He has learned to recite the Mass from memory with the corresponding pauses, intonations and gestures of an experienced priest.

In a reflection published by El Colombiano, Father Daniel Monsalve noted Jaramillo’s “passion for what he says and the tenderness that inspires him” in the videos.

“Amid a changing world that is at times indifferent to religious matters, this child appears as a testimony of love for God and fascination for sacred celebrations, most certainly fostered by those who care for him and by the priest of his parish,” Fr. Monsalve wrote.

Cases like that of Jaramillo “should not only awaken religious fervor but also serve as an example for the promotion of priestly and religious vocations, supported always by the encouragement of parishes, seminaries and houses of formation,” he added.

Jaramillo’s aunt, Elizabeth Rojas Arango, said, “This isn’t something we taught him, and we don’t even attend church,” but Jaramillo goes to Mass every Sunday and on Tuesdays with his grandmother, Rosa Eva Arango. CONTINUED

H/T Jean’s Bistro2010′s Blog

Matthew 18:3

And said: Amen I say to you, unless you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

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Holy Readings and Thoughts

Posted in Bible, faith, God, Jesus, Religion, scripture, tagged Be Not Afraid, courage, evangelize, faith, fear, God, Jesus, LORD, Matthew, prudence on May 8, 2013 | 2 Comments »

I read a meditation from the book Song of the Sparrow on fear and not letting fear paralyze us to the point where we won’t do something simply because we are afraid. There is prudence in not doing dangerous things, or things each of perceives as dangerous. Prudence can turn into fear and a lack of courage when we let fear take over our lives and we let fear decide for us what we will and won’t do. Do we avoid evangelizing in public for fear of offending someone or being called names or possibly having something thrown at us? If we have a special story to give witness to such as either a conversion story, an eye-opening experience of our Lord or a reversion story that brought us back to God and/or a religion are each of us letting our fears paralyze us so we avoid giving witness to others?

Then I read this scripture passage:

Matthew 17: 1-8

And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. And Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah.” He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Rise, and have no fear.” And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only.

God is calling each one of us to preach the Gospel even if it may be a bit uncomfortable for us. We need to trust our Lord, that He will watch over us and take care of us. We need to listen and follow what Jesus said to Peter, James, and John. We need to rise up and have no fear. We need to conquer our fears with the help of our Lord. We need to repeatedly say Jesus I trust in You.

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Holy Reading and Thoughts — Monday April 29

Posted in Books, Catholic, Christian, faith, God, Jesus, Saints, Theology, tagged faith, God, Host, Jesus, love, picture, Saint Faustina, salvation, sheep, strayed, theology, unbelievable, vision, weak on April 29, 2013 | 2 Comments »

Saint Faustina in her Diary described hearing Jesus say that He would leave the house because there were things that displeased Him. Faustina had a vision where she saw the Host coming out of the tabernacle and landed in her hand. The, she placed the Host back in the tabernacle. This happened two more times her describing the third time how the Host transformed into the living Lord Jesus. Jesus said “I will stay here no longer!” A powerful love rose up in Faustina’s soul and she said to Jesus that she wouldn’t let Jesus leave this house. Jesus disappeared. Faustina put the Host back into the tabernacle. Jesus stayed there and Saint Faustina did three days of adoration for the reparation of sins.

To be honest I’m not feeling the greatest today and am having a hard time thinking so please bear with my scattered thoughts.

I find it surprising that St. Faustina would hear Jesus say that He would leave a place because of there having been things that displeased Him. Wouldn’t He stay there to try to guide persons to change that which displeased Him? Jesus doesn’t give us any clues as to what displeased our Lord. Was it something St. Faustina and the other Sisters did or failed to do? Could that have been an empty threat to wake up St. Faustina, that Jesus never really intended to leave the house? It just baffles my mind that since a few in His flock had gone astray, going by Jesus’ words, why would He have left them?

The imagery of what St. Faustina visioned has me wondering what we could have seen if a camera had been there to take pictures. Would we have seen Jesus? Or an outline of Him? There have been witnesses that have seen outlines and figures of ghosts so I don’t think it is far-fetched to think and hope that we could have seen our Lord in a photo. I have seen different pictures depicting our Lord but do you have an image in your mind of what you think Jesus looks like?

In “Song of the Sparrow” Fr. Bodo talks about the love of God and how many people find it hard to believe that they are loved and lovable. Yet God sent His only Son to die for us in the ultimate act of love. An unbelievable act of love. Since Jesus died on the Cross for each of us in an unbelievable act of love is it so It seems logical to me that the weak persons of little faith have trouble believing the “unbelievable.” It takes great faith to believe the “unbelievable” so we should encourage those of little faith and try to understand why the person has trouble believing certain things. I would ask, why wouldn’t God love us this much? Why do you doubt that God would have sent His only Son to die that we may be saved? God loves us and is waiting for each of us to know, feel, and show Him love in return. God is Love.

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Mary, Christ’s Redemptive Masterpiece by Scott Hahn

Posted in Catholic, Christian, Dogma, God, Jesus, Virgin Mary, tagged Catholic, Christ, Christian, dogma, Dr. Scott Hahn, faith, Genesis, God, Gospel of John, Incarnate, New Eve, New Testament, Old Testament, redemption, Virgin Mary on April 21, 2013 | 4 Comments »

Scott Hahn posted this video in celebration of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Scott Hahn explains about Mary as the New Eve and is very informative so I have posted the video today.

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Posts Tagged ‘faith’

Holy Readings and Thoughts — Suffering and Love

Have a Relationship with the Holy Spirit?

Friday Blues

Today I have been feeling sad with tearing up every now and then. I think it’s a combination of me dealing with life after having a hysterectomy, the baby blues (not having a child) and having to endure constant severe physical pain. It’s wearing me down. I guess emotionally and physically.

For some reason in my thoughts the number 15 kept on coming up. I turned to page 15 of an ebook of scripture passages that I downloaded. Here are a few scripture quotes:

1 Corinthians 16:13 –Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.

Psalm 9:9 –The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.

Psalm 18:2 – The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

Psalm 34:18 — The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

I needed to see some positive words of encouragement. Seeing the words above helped a bit.

Have a blessed weekend!

The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit — Athanasian Creed

Athanasian Creed

God or Atheism — Which is More Rational? by Peter Kreeft

Letting God into our deepest depths

3-year-old play ‘celebrating’ Mass — awesome and adorable!

Holy Readings and Thoughts

Holy Reading and Thoughts — Monday April 29

Mary, Christ’s Redemptive Masterpiece by Scott Hahn

Virgin Mary, Mother of Jesus

Pope Francis

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI

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