St. Monica Parish
Why I Pray! Jesus is present in the Tabernacle. He promised to never leave us and his promise is true.
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Irritations
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Enslavement to Sin
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Heaven
Peter Kreeft tells us that this is from St. Augustine -
"Imagine God appeared to you and said, "I'll make a deal with you if you wish. I'll give you anything and everything you ask: pleasure, power, honor, wealth, freedom, even peace of mind and a good conscience. Nothing will be a sin; nothing will be forbidden; and nothing will be impossible for you. You will never be bored and you will never die. Only...you shall never see my face."
Strikes the heart!! God bless!!
Monday, March 26, 2012
The Annunciation of the Lord
Friday, March 23, 2012
Faith
It is in faith that we live. We know not what each day will hold, but we think we do. Our knowledge is so limited, but we think it is not. If we have true faith as the writer of Hebrews writes, we are assured of things we hope for. We believe! But we are weak humans who fall quickly. God lives! He's the Creator of ALL things, not just some. He makes the sun rise as well as the moon. He made the mountains, rivers, the seas and all that is on and in them. Why would He not continue to create within you and me? Today is a new day. Prayer should strip us of self and our wants and needs and open us up to whatever the Creator wants from us - even the tough journey! We thank our God for the good things in life; why not thank him for that which is not good. For it is in suffering that we truly grow and are formed. God bless!!
Thursday, March 22, 2012
To Follow Jesus even to the Cross!
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
A Sermon by St. Leo the Great
It is through prayer that we come to know God and His great love for us. It is through prayer that we open ourselves to that love that we might carry it to all those we meet each day. God bless!!
Sunday, March 18, 2012
The Happy Priest: Sin, Confession, Freedom and God's Mercy - Living Faith - Home & Family - Catholic Online
Lent is a time to mindfully remember that we are all sinners, that confession is a sacrament, and that we live in the freedom of God's great mercy. Today's Gospel is from St. John and the well known verse from 6:13.
God bless!!
Saturday, March 17, 2012
The Truth will set you Free!
Friday, March 16, 2012
Thursday, March 15, 2012
St Teresa
Treatise on Prayer by Tertullian, priest
"Prayer cleanses from sin, drives away temptations, stamps out persecutions, comforts the fainthearted, gives new strength to the courageous, brings travelers safely home, calms the waves, confounds robbers, feeds the poor, overrules the rich, lifts up the fallen, supports those who are falling, sustains those who stand firm.
...Even the Lord himself prayed."
Pray, especially during this season of Lent. God bless!!
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
St. Peter Chrysologus, Bishop
"There are three things, my brethren, by which faith stands firm, devotion remains constant, and virtue endures. They are prayer, fasting and mercy. Prayer knocks at the door, fasting obtains, mercy receives. Prayer, mercy and fasting: these three are one, and they give life to each other.
"Fasting is the soul of prayer, mercy is the lifeblood of fasting. Let no one try to separate them; they cannot be separated. If you have only one of them or not all together, you have nothing. So if you pray, fast; if you fast, show mercy; if you want your petition to be heard, hear the petition of others. If you do not close your ear to others you open God's ear to yourself."
Jesus had said to the apostles that they must fast as well as pray. In fasting we find our weaknesses and how very dependent we are on God's great love and mercy. During this season of Lent, find time to pray and take time to fast, even for just a day. God bless!!
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Teach Me!
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Third Sunday in Lent
Jesus tells the Jews "Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up." The Gospel also ends with "...Jesus...did not need anyone to testify about human nature. He himself understood it well."
The Jerusalem temple was destroyed in 70AD and never rebuilt. Jesus in this Gospel refers to His body which was destroyed by crucifixion and buried, and on the third day He was raised from the dead. As St. Paul tells us, "If Christ was not raised, our faith is vain." Jesus also tells us in the last line of this Sunday's Gospel reading that He understands human nature well. It is why Jesus died on the cross because He knew too well our weaknesses. Weaknesses that people in today's culture deny or too often refuse to see. Many tend to be deaf and blind. Many refuse to seek knowledge in order to understand.
From the Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians -
"For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength." In the second reading on this Third Sunday in Lent, Paul tells us about God's foolishness and weakness. In our human nature, we see so differently than God. We think life is about power, prestige, possessions, but it's not. It's in our own weakness that we become strong. It is in our own foolishness that we become wise. When we humble ourselves and empty ourselves, God our Creator makes us strong and fills us with His presence. It is always the opposite of what our human nature wants to think. Evil is alive and well in this world of ours. But lies do not survive in the end.
Pray as if your life depends upon it, for it surely does!! You can live for the moment in a passing life, or you can live for eternity that will last forever! God bless!
Praying Together
Saturday, March 10, 2012
A Relationship with Jesus
Friday, March 9, 2012
Rosary
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Serving others
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Tues March 6, 2012 - Servant of God Sylvester of Assisi | Saint of the Day | AmericanCatholic.org
Servant of God Sylvester of Assisi | Saint of the Day | AmericanCatholic.org
Women Star in the President's Political Theater: Who's Really Getting Played? - U.s. - Catholic Online
Tough Times Ahead: Courageous Cardinals and Catholic Action - U.s. - Catholic Online
Redemptor hominis - Pope John Paul II
15. What modern man is afraid of
Accordingly, while keeping alive in our memory the picture that was so perspicaciously and authoritatively traced by the Second Vatican Council, we shall try once more to adapt it to the "signs of the times" and to the demands of the situation, which is continually changing and evolving in certain directions.
The man of today seems ever to be under threat from what he produces, that is to say from the result of the work of hÃs hands and, even more so, of the work of his intellect and the tendencies of his will. All too soon, and often in an unforeseeable way, what this manifold activity of man yields is not only subjected to "alienation", in the sense that it is simply taken away from the person who produces it, but rather it turns against man himself, at least in part, through the indirect consequences of its effects returning on himself. It is or can be directed against him. This seems to make up the main chapter of the drama of present-day human existence in its broadest and universal dimension. Man therefore lives increasingly in fear. He is afraid that what he produces-not all of it, of course, or even most of it, but part of it and precisely that part that contains a special share of his genius and initiative-can radically turn against himself; he is afraid that it can become the means and instrument for an unimaginable self-destruction, compared with which all the cataclysms and catastrophes of history known to us seem to fade away. This gives rise to a question: Why is it that the power given to man from the beginning by which he was to subdue the earth98 turns against himself, producing an understandable state of disquiet, of conscious or unconscious fear and of menace, which in various ways is being communicated to the whole of the present-day human family and is manifesting itself under various aspects?
This state of menace for man from what he produces shows itself in various directions and various degrees of intensity. We seem to be increasingly aware of the fact that the exploitation of the earth, the planet on which we are living, demands rational and honest planning. At the same time, exploitation of the earth not only for industrial but also for military purposes and the uncontrolled development of technology outside the framework of a long-range authentically humanistic plan often bring with them a threat to man's natural environment, alienate him in his relations with nature and remove him from nature. Man often seems to see no other meaning in his natural environment than what serves for immediate use and consumption. Yet it was the Creator's will that man should communicate with nature as an intelligent and noble "master" and "guardian", and not as a heedless "exploiter" and "destroyer".
The development of technology and the development of contemporary civilization, which is marked by the ascendancy of technology, demand a proportional development of morals and ethics. For the present, this last development seems unfortunately to be always left behind. Accordingly, in spite of the marvel of this progress, in which it is diffiicult not to see also authentic signs of man's greatness, signs that in their creative seeds were revealed to us in the pages of the Book of Genesis, as early as where it describes man's creation99, this progress cannot fail to give rise to disquiet on many counts. The first reason for disquiet concerns the essential and fundamental question: Does this progress, which has man for its author and promoter, make human life on earth "more human" in every aspect of that life? Does it make it more "worthy of man"? There can be no doubt that in various aspects it does. But the question keeps coming back with regard to what is most essential -whether in the context of this progress man, as man, is becoming truly better, that is to say more mature spiritually, more aware of the dignity of his humanity, more responsible, more open to others, especially the neediest and the weakest, and readier to give and to aid all.
This question must be put by Christians, precisely because Jesus Christ has made them so universally sensitive about the problem of man. The same question must be asked by all men, especially those belonging to the social groups that are dedicating themselves actively to development and progress today. As we observe and take part in these processes we cannot let ourselves be taken over merely by euphoria or be carried away by one-sided enthusiasm for our conquests, but we must all ask ourselves, with absolute honesty, objectivity and a sense of moral responsibility, the essential questions concerning man's situation today and in the future. Do all the conquests attained until now and those projected for the future for technology accord with man's moral and spiritual progress? In this context is man, as man, developing and progressing or is he regressing and being degraded in his humanity? In men and "in man's world", which in itself is a world of moral good and evil, does good prevail over evil? In men and among men is there a growth of social love, of respect for the rights of others-for every man, nation and people-or on the contrary is there an increase of various degrees of selfishness, exaggerated nationalism instead of authentic love of country, and also the propensity to dominate others beyond the limits of one's legitimate rights and merits and the propensity to exploit the whole of material progress and that in the technology of production for the exclusive purpose of dominating others or of favouring this or that imperialism?
Adoration
Monday, March 5, 2012
Luke 6: 36-38
"Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven..."
We are all sinners and all in need of forgiveness. We are called to love as the Father loves us, to be merciful as the Father is merciful, to forgive as the Father forgives. But we find all of this so difficult because we are sinners. Because we are sinners, we do not love, we are not merciful and we do not forgive - ourselves!! Because we are sinners and find it difficult to love, be merciful and forgive ourselves, we find it difficult to love, be merciful and forgive others. With God all things are possible though and it is through prayer and our relationship with Jesus that we become loving, merciful and forgiving toward ourselves and others. And remember this from Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity - "...our sins become a source of humility for us." Pray every day, especially during this Lenten season! God bless!!
Mon Mar 5, 2012 - St. John Joseph of the Cross | Saint of the Day | AmericanCatholic.org
St. John Joseph of the Cross | Saint of the Day | AmericanCatholic.org
Liberal Secularism and Subsidizing Unchastity - U.s. - Catholic Online
Redemptor hominis - Pope John Paul II
15. What modern man is afraid of
Accordingly, while keeping alive in our memory the picture that was so perspicaciously and authoritatively traced by the Second Vatican Council, we shall try once more to adapt it to the "signs of the times" and to the demands of the situation, which is continually changing and evolving in certain directions.
The man of today seems ever to be under threat from what he produces, that is to say from the result of the work of his hands and, even more so, of the work of his intellect and the tendencies of his will. All too soon, and often in an unforeseeable way, what this manifold activity of man yields is not only subjected to "alienation", in the sense that it is simply taken away from the person who produces it, but rather it turns against man himself, at least in part, through the indirect consequences of its effects returning on himself. It is or can be directed against him. This seems to make up the main chapter of the drama of present-day human existence in its broadest and universal dimension. Man therefore lives increasingly in fear. He is afraid that what he produces-not all of it, of course, or even most of it, but part of it and precisely that part that contains a special share of his genius and initiative-can radically turn against himself; he is afraid that it can become the means and instrument for an unimaginable self-destruction, compared with which all the cataclysms and catastrophes of history known to us seem to fade away. This gives rise to a question: Why is it that the power given to man from the beginning by which he was to subdue the earth98 turns against himself, producing an understandable state of disquiet, of conscious or unconscious fear and of menace, which in various ways is being communicated to the whole of the present-day human family and is manifesting itself under various aspects?
This state of menace for man from what he produces shows itself in various directions and various degrees of intensity. We seem to be increasingly aware of the fact that the exploitation of the earth, the planet on which we are living, demands rational and honest planning. At the same time, exploitation of the earth not only for industrial but also for military purposes and the uncontrolled development of technology outside the framework of a long-range authentically humanistic plan often bring with them a threat to man's natural environment, alienate him in his relations with nature and remove him from nature. Man often seems to see no other meaning in his natural environment than what serves for immediate use and consumption. Yet it was the Creator's will that man should communicate with nature as an intelligent and noble "master" and "guardian", and not as a heedless "exploiter" and "destroyer".
The development of technology and the development of contemporary civilization, which is marked by the ascendancy of technology, demand a proportional development of morals and ethics. For the present, this last development seems unfortunately to be always left behind. Accordingly, in spite of the marvel of this progress, in which it is difficult not to see also authentic signs of man's greatness, signs that in their creative seeds were revealed to us in the pages of the Book of Genesis, as early as where it describes man's creation99, this progress cannot fail to give rise to disquiet on many counts. The first reason for disquiet concerns the essential and fundamental question: Does this progress, which has man for its author and promoter, make human life on earth "more human" in every aspect of that life? Does it make it more "worthy of man"? There can be no doubt that in various aspects it does. But the question keeps coming back with regard to what is most essential -whether in the context of this progress man, as man, is becoming truly better, that is to say more mature spiritually, more aware of the dignity of his humanity, more responsible, more open to others, especially the neediest and the weakest, and readier to give and to aid all.
This question must be put by Christians, precisely because Jesus Christ has made them so universally sensitive about the problem of man. The same question must be asked by all men, especially those belonging to the social groups that are dedicating themselves actively to development and progress today. As we observe and take part in these processes we cannot let ourselves be taken over merely by euphoria or be carried away by one-sided enthusiasm for our conquests, but we must all ask ourselves, with absolute honesty, objectivity and a sense of moral responsibility, the essential questions concerning man's situation today and in the future. Do all the conquests attained until now and those projected for the future for technology accord with man's moral and spiritual progress? In this context is man, as man, developing and progressing or is he regressing and being degraded in his humanity? In men and "in man's world", which in itself is a world of moral good and evil, does good prevail over evil? In men and among men is there a growth of social love, of respect for the rights of others-for every man, nation and people-or on the contrary is there an increase of various degrees of selfishness, exaggerated nationalism instead of authentic love of country, and also the propensity to dominate others beyond the limits of one's legitimate rights and merits and the propensity to exploit the whole of material progress and that in the technology of production for the exclusive purpose of dominating others or of favouring this or that imperialism?
These are the essential questions that the Church is bound to ask herself, since they are being asked with greater or less explicitness by the thousands of millions of people now living in the world. The subject of development and progress is on everybody's lips and appears in the columns of all the newspapers and other publications in all the languages of the modern world. Let us not forget however that this subject contains not only affirmations and certainties but also questions and points of anguished disquiet. The latter are no less important than the former. They fit in with the dialectical nature of human knowledge and even more with the fundamental need for solicitude by man for man, for his humanity, and for the future of people on earth. Inspired by eschatological faith, the Church considers an essential, unbreakably united element of her mission this solicitude for man, for his humanity, for the future of men on earth and therefore also for the course set for the whole of development and progress. She finds the principle of this solicitude in Jesus Christ himself, as the Gospels witness. This is why she wishes to make it grow continually through her relationship with Christ, reading man's situation in the modern world in accordance with the most important signs of our time.
"Our Lord is occupied with each soul as though there were no others like it." St. Therese of Lisieux