Your Life Story - What Does It Say About You?

I just saw Les Miserables in the theaters. Shamefully, I have never read the book nor was I very familiar with the content. Entering with no bias, I walked out satisfied and inspired. 

Coupled with this short clip, 

and the advent of New Years, I have decided that I must do better. 

In Les Miserables each character was unique in his/her individual purpose, but none was devoid of suffering. In sorting through the sadness and injustices of life, each life became more defined by choices made in moments of desperation, love, hate, purposeless, and mercy. Each longed for something external to his/herself and gave oneself entirely to it.

It moved me to ponder what it is that I have dedicated my life to? What is it that I serve? Am I serving it well? What truth do I seek? And in loving others do I see the face of God?

My now and my tomorrow resolution is to do better on two accounts: 1) To treat every person in my presence as the most important person.This will require patience and much charity. 2) To learn how to recognize God everywhere and learn how to consciously untie all my moments with Him; now is all I have. If I don't give Him my nows, when will I ever? This will require silence.

My life is a story that God has put into motion according to His Goodness and Mercy. Do I freely chose to partake in it well or do I rebel? Will I hear those coveted words, "Well done, my good and faithful servant"?

The Most Important Person Is...

“Remember that there is only one important time and it is Now. The present moment is the only time over which we have dominion. The most important person is always the person with whom you are, who is right before you, for who knows if you will have dealings with any other person in the future? The most important pursuit is making that person, the one standing at you side, happy, for that alone is the pursuit of life.” -- Leo Tolstoy

Don't forget the Reason for the season

November 30th - Christmas Novena

Say 15 times each day until Christmas.

Saint Andrew Christmas Novena

Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in piercing cold. In that hour, vouchsafe, O my God! to hear my prayer and grant my desires, through the merits of Our Saviour Jesus Christ, and of His Blessed Mother. Amen.

Just a Thought: There are...

There are four letters in HATE,
but there are also four letters in LOVE...

There are seven letters in ENEMIES,
but there are also seven letters in FRIENDS...

 HURT,
 HEAL...

 NEGATIVE,
 POSITIVE...

FALSE,
TRUTH...

Everybody has a story. But none of us know how long it will be. Some of us have volumes, others have chapters, while others, mere pages, paragraphs, or simply, the title. Death comes like a thief in the night. Every comma, letter, word, subplot adds up to the life we lived. Giving a finite amount of characters, how do we fill them? Leaving them empty is a choice, too.

If your story were to be written, what words would be used to describe your life? Would those around you agree with you? How many other stories would be inspired by yours? How many have been or will be extinguished because of you?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

TAKING,           ANGER,           FIGHT,            SAD,           FAITHLESS,

  GIVING...          MERCY...         PEACE...         JOY...          INTEGRITY...

WASTE,        COLD,          REVENGE,         RUDE,         STAGNATE,

  RENEW...      WARM...      FORGIVE...         KIND...        IMPROVES...          

LUST,            ADDICTIONS,          DISAPPOINTS,       NEGLECT,       

  PURE...          DISCIPLINE...          RESPONSIBLE...    NURTURE...  

GLUTTONY vs TEMPERANCE - Day 6

From the Catechism:

1809 Temperance is the moral virtue that moderates the attraction of pleasures and provides balance in the use of created goods. It ensures the will's mastery over instincts and keeps desires within the limits of what is honorable. The temperate person directs the sensitive appetites toward what is good and maintains a healthy discretion: "Do not follow your inclination and strength, walking according to the desires of your heart."⁷² Temperance is often praised in the Old Testament: "Do not follow your base desires, but restrain your appetites."⁷³ In the New Testament it is called "moderation" or "sobriety." We ought "to live sober, upright, and godly lives in this world."⁷⁴

To live well is nothing other than to love God with all one's heart, with all one's soul and with all one's efforts; from this it comes about that love is kept whole and uncorrupted (through temperance). No misfortune can disturb it (and this is fortitude). It obeys only [God] (and this is justice), and is careful in discerning things, so as not to be surprised by deceit or trickery (and this is prudence).⁷⁵

1838 Temperance moderates the attraction of the pleasures of the senses and provides balance in the use of created goods.

2290 The virtue of temperance disposes us to avoid every kind of excess: the abuse of food, alcohol, tobacco, or medicine. Those incur grave guilt who, by drunkenness or a love of speed, endanger their own and others' safety on the road, at sea, or in the air.

2341 The virtue of chastity comes under the cardinal virtue of temperance, which seeks to permeate the passions and appetites of the senses with reason.

2407 In economic matters, respect for human dignity requires the practice of the virtue of temperance, so as to moderate attachment to this world's goods; the practice of the virtue of justice, to preserve our neighbor's rights and render him what is his due; and the practice of solidarity, in accordance with the golden rule and in keeping with the generosity of the Lord, who "though he was rich, yet for your sake . . . became poor so that by his poverty, you might become rich."¹⁹⁰

2517 The heart is the seat of moral personality: "Out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, fornication. . . . "³⁰⁵ The struggle against carnal covetousness entails purifying the heart and practicing temperance:

Remain simple and innocent, and you will be like little children who do not know the evil that destroys man's life.³⁰⁶

Time - Fr. Isaac Relyea

GLUTTONY VS TEMPERANCE - Day 5

For those of you following my Devote Life Series, you have probably been wondering if I fell off the face of the planet.  :-)

I would say that life has been busy, or other more immediate projects came up, etc., and both these would be true, but the main reason the series froze was because every time I sat down to write something about temperance or gluttony, I couldn't think of anything to write and I couldn't find anything I wanted to reblog.

So, I apologize for the writer's block.

Since yesterday was Thanksgiving, I thought about temperance and gluttony all day. I resolved not to get second helpings and to not indulge in sweet unhealthy/unnecessary drinks. In regard to the food I was very good, minus the extra spoonful of stuffing. :-)  I normally don't drink alcohol; I don't like the taste of it. However, surprisingly I had way more alcohol than I average in a month.  My uncle made me a vodka drink and then my aunt handed me a huge glass of wine which I was only able to half finish. I also had two glasses of hot apple cider, coffee and one glass of sprite. So, basically I failed yesterday.

I feel very blessed to not have alcohol as a temptation in my life.  However, I do struggle with saying no to fatty, fried, gooey and sweet items. They always look or smell so good... yet I always know that my body doesn't need them at the time I devour them.

Our bodies need very little food to be healthy and functional. Our stomach is as big as our fists.  I am much better at not over-indulging then I used to be.  My will power has improved and second helpings are becoming less of a temptation.  However, I am still very bad at choosing healthy options that actually nutritionally fill and sustain me.

Eating unhealthy foods is gluttony because we are choosing taste over health. Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit and not protecting and maintaining His dwelling place is a capital sin.

Despite what the world says: that I deserve to eat bad because of a holiday, stress, working hard, etc., I know that when I do as it advises, as soon as I am conscious that I fell for and accepted the temptation, I must stop and go to confession. On this Black Friday, that is the only line I'll be in.

Mutual Subordination - Husbands & Wives

GLUTTONY vs TEMPERANCE - Day 4

St. Thomas Aquinas took a very expansive view of gluttony, going as far as to prepare a list of six ways to commit gluttony:

• Praepropere - eating too soon.
• Laute - eating too expensively.
• Nimis - eating too much.
• Ardenter - eating too eagerly.
• Studiose - eating too daintily (picky).
• Forente - eating wildly.

On the white house's official petition page, this is one of the petitions:

 https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/regulate-internet-pornography/cPbNXzzK

Please sign it to raise the awareness that we want to protect minors from this evil addiction. 

WE PETITION THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION TO:

Regulate Internet Pornography

Regulating the distribution of internet pornography is crucial. We petition the government to keep pornography away from minors by demanding and enforcing that a valid credit card number belonging to the adult viewer is provided at a login screen to every pornographic website.

We also request that advertising is made illegal on internet sites containing pornographic images or video.

These two simple steps are absolutely necessary to regulate the distribution of pornography and end the exponential increase of pornography among those 17 years of age and under.

GLUTTONY vs TEMPERANCE - Day 3

A quick look at what St. Thomas says about temperance:

Article 1. Whether temperance is a virtue?

I answer that, As stated above (I-II, 55, 3), it is essential to virtue to incline man to good. Now the good of man is to be in accordance with reason, as Dionysius states (Div. Nom. iv). Hence human virtue is that which inclines man to something in accordance with reason. Now temperance evidently inclines man to this, since its very name implies moderation or temperateness, which reason causes. Therefore temperance is a virtue.

Article 2. Whether temperance is a special virtue?

I answer that, ... Accordingly the word "temperance" has a twofold acceptation. First, in accordance with its common signification: and thus temperance is not a special but a general virtue, because the word "temperance" signifies a certain temperateness or moderation, which reason appoints to human operations and passions: and this is common to every moral virtue. Yet there is a logical difference between temperance and fortitude, even if we take them both as general virtues: since temperance withdraws man from things which seduce the appetite from obeying reason, while fortitude incites him to endure or withstand those things on account of which he forsakes the good of reason.

On the other hand, if we take temperance antonomastically, as withholding the appetite from those things which are most seductive to man, it is a special virtue, for thus it has, like fortitude, a special matter.

Article 3. Whether temperance is only about desires and pleasures?

I answer that, As stated above (123, 12; 136, 1), it belongs to moral virtue to safeguard the good of reason against the passions that rebel against reason. Now the movement of the soul's passions is twofold, as stated above (I-II, 23, 2), when we were treating of the passions: the one, whereby the sensitive appetite pursues sensible and bodily goods, the other whereby it flies from sensible and bodily evils... Accordingly, just as the virtue of fortitude, which by its very nature bestows firmness, is chiefly concerned with the passion, viz. fear, which regards flight from bodily evils, and consequently with daring, which attacks the objects of fear in the hope of attaining some good, so, too, temperance, which denotes a kind of moderation, is chiefly concerned with those passions that tend towards sensible goods, viz. desire and pleasure, and consequently with the sorrows that arise from the absence of those pleasures. For just as daring presupposes objects of fear, so too such like sorrow arises from the absence of the aforesaid pleasures.

Article 4. Whether temperance is only about desires and pleasures of touch?

I answer that, As stated above (Article 3), temperance is about desires and pleasures in the same way as fortitude is about fear and daring. Now fortitude is about fear and daring with respect to the greatest evils whereby nature itself is dissolved; and such are dangers of death. Wherefore in like manner temperance must needs be about desires for the greatest pleasures. And since pleasure results from a natural operation, it is so much the greater according as it results from a more natural operation. Now to animals the most natural operations are those which preserve the nature of theindividual by means of meat and drink, and the nature of the species by the union of the sexes. Hence temperance is properly about pleasures of meat and drink and sexual pleasures. Now these pleasures result from the sense of touch. Wherefore it follows that temperance is about pleasures of touch.

Article 5. Whether temperance is about the pleasures proper to the taste?

I answer that, ...On these matters certain things are to be considered as principal and others as secondary. The principal thing is the use itself of the necessary means, of the woman who is necessary for the preservation of the species, or of food and drink which are necessary for the preservation of the individual: while the very use of these necessary things has a certain essential pleasure annexed thereto. In regard to either use we consider as secondary whatever makes the use more pleasurable, such as beauty and adornment in woman, and a pleasing savor and likewise odor in food. Hence temperance is chiefly about the pleasure of touch, that results essentially from the use of these necessary things, which use is in all cases attained by the touch. Secondarily, however, temperance and intemperance are about pleasures of the taste, smell, or sight, inasmuch as the sensible objects of these senses conduce to the pleasurable use of the necessary things that have relation to the touch. But since the taste is more akin to the touch than the other senses are, it follows that temperance is more about the taste than about the other senses.

Article 6. Whether the rule of temperance depends on the need of the present life?

I answer that, As stated above (1; 109, 2; 123, 12), the good of moral virtue consists chiefly in the order of reason: because "man's good is to be in accord with reason," as Dionysius asserts (Div. Nom. iv). Now the principal order of reason is that by which it directs certain things towards their end, and the good of reason consists chiefly in this order; since good has the aspect of end, and the end is the rule of whatever is directed to the end. Now all the pleasurable objects that are at man's disposal, are directed to some necessity of this life as to their end. Wherefore temperance takes the need of this life, as the rule of the pleasurable objects of which it makes use, and uses them only for as much as the need of this life requires.

Article 7. Whether temperance is a cardinal virtue?

I answer that, As stated above (123, 11; 61, 3), a principal or cardinal virtue is so called because it has a foremost claim to praise on account of one of those things that are requisite for the notion of virtue in general. Now moderation, which is requisite in every virtue, deserves praise principally in pleasures of touch, with which temperance is concerned, both because these pleasures are most natural to us, so that it is more difficult to abstain from them, and to control the desire for them, and because their objects are more necessary to the present life, as stated above (Article 4). For this reason temperance is reckoned a principal or cardinal virtue.

Article 8. Whether temperance is the greatest of the virtues?

I answer that, As the Philosopher declares (Ethic. i, 2) "the good of the many is more of the godlike than the good of the individual," wherefore the more a virtue regards the good of the many, the better it is. Now justice and fortitude regard the good of the many more than temperance does, since justice regards the relations between one man and another, while fortitude regards dangers of battle which are endured for the common weal: whereas temperance moderates only the desires and pleasures which affect man himself. Hence it is evident that justice and fortitude are more excellent virtues than temperance: while prudence and the theological virtues are more excellent still.

GLUTTONY vs TEMPERANCE - Day 2

There is a wealth of resources out there that cover over-indulging, the inability to say no to that extra serving. There is much out there about the proper way to abstain and how to acquire the virtue of fasting. I may even touch upon these later.  However, for now, I am considering spiritual gluttony: that is, to say, the inability to say no to sin.

Yes, gluttony is about the flesh; it is when fleshly pleasure conquers will. Fleshly pleasures involve the taste, and touch.  Nevertheless, I think gluttony can extend to not saying no to certain thoughts, and behaviors.  We may be gluttonous over a certain day-dream and try to always escape there. Or we may be gluttonous insofar as we are addicted to a tv show, sports stats, video games, gossip, to talking constantly, drinking, sleeping or finding unhealthy outlets to pain, and responsibility. We over indulge in things that take us away from God, our spouse, our family, our faith. We may know that there are limits to how much we should indulge in distractions, if at all, but we just can't resist doing it, saying it, thinking it, participating in it just one more time.

This is different than greed, because greed covets and seeks to have more for more sake, whereas, gluttony seeks to experience a pleasure and/or to escape pain because the body wants to inordinately be in a state other than what it is in. When our will is weakened by these addictions, whatever they may be, I feel that St. Thomas' definition of gluttony still holds:

"Gluttony denotes, not any desire of eating and drinking, but an inordinate desire... leaving the order of reason, wherein the good of moral virtue consists."

It is an inordinate desire leaving the order of reason, wherein the good of the moral virtue consists. While it is most manifest in the appetite, can we admit gluttony in other areas of our lives, maybe the secret part of our lives? If so, when are we going to stop? When is enough, enough? When will it be the last time?

GLUTTONY VS TEMPERANCE

Why is Gluttony a capital sin?

St. Thomas Aquinas: "Gluttony denotes, not any desire of eating and drinking, but an inordinate desire... leaving the order of reason, wherein the good of moral virtue consists." (2, 148, ad 1)

Saint Alphonsus De Ligouri: "He that gratifies the taste will readily indulge the other senses; for, having lost the spirit of recollection, he will easily commit faults, by indecent words and by unbecoming gestures. But the greatest evil of intemperance, is that it exposes chastity to great danger. 'Repletion of the stomach,' says St. Jerome, 'is the hotbed of lust.'

New Advent says, "Clearly one who uses food or drink in such a way as to injure his health or impair the mental equipment needed for the discharge of his duties, is guilty of the sin of gluttony."

The folowing Scriptures advise against over indulging:

Pr 23:20-21 Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat, for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags.

Pr 28:7 He who keeps the law is a discerning son, but a companion of gluttons disgraces his father.

Mt 11:18-19 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, 'He has a demon.' The Son of Man came eating and drinking and they say, 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and "sinners."' But wisdom is proved right by her actions."

Php 3:18-19 For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things.

Temperance is the cure. 

Ven. Mary of Agreda: "Temperance includes the two virtues of abstinence and sobriety... Abstinence also includes fasting. These virtues take the first place in treating of temperance; for nourishment, being necessary for the preservation of life, is among the principal objects coveted by the appetites."

Saint Catherine of Siena: "without mortifying the taste, it is impossible to preserve innocence, since it was by the indulgence of his appetite that Adam fell."

Russian Bishop Ignatius Brianchaninov said, "Wise temperance of the stomach is a door to all the virtues. Restrain the stomach, and you will enter Paradise. But if you please and pamper your stomach, you will hurl yourself over the precipice of bodily impurity, into the fire of wrath and fury, you will coarsen and darken your mind, and in this way you will ruin your powers of attention and self-control, your sobriety and vigilance."

ANGER vs MEEKNESS - Day 7

Meekness:

"Though he was harshly treated, he submitted and opened not his mouth; Like a lamb led to the slaughter or a sheep before the shearers, he was silent and opened not his mouth. Oppressed and condemned, he was taken away..." (Isaiah 53:7)

ANGER vs MEEKNESS - Day 6

Anger:

ANGER vs MEEKNESS - Day 5

Anger in the Bible

Genesis 4:5-8 but for Cain and his offering he [the LORD] had no regard. So Cain was very angry, and his face fell. The LORD said to Cain, “Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen?  If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is for you, but you must rule over it.” Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him.

Psalms 37:8 Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath!  Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.

Proverbs 14:16  A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident. He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated.

Proverbs 14:29 Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.

Proverbs 15:18 A hot-tempered man stirs up strife,  but he who is slow to anger quiets contention.

Proverbs 19:11 Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense.

Proverbs 29:22 A man of wrath stirs up strife, and one given to anger causes much transgression.

Proverbs 30:33 For pressing milk produces curds, pressing the nose produces blood, and pressing anger produces strife.

Ecclesiastes 7:9 Be not quick in your spirit to become angry, for anger lodges in the bosom of fools.

James 1:19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

Matthew 5:21-24 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift…” (Jesus’ words)

Galatians 5:19-25 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.

Ephesians 4:26-28 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.

Colossians 3:8, 12-13 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

One Minute Each Night

America is considered a Christian country.  Nevertheless, according to 2009 statistics, there are approximately per year:

• 1.37 million abortions 
• 120,000 suicides
• 68,000 rapes
• 39,417 drug induced deaths
• 24,518 alcohol induced deaths
• 16,799 homicides
• 50% marriages ended in divorce

"You have heard that it was said to them of old: Thou shalt not kill. And whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment." (Matt 5:21)

" I hate divorce," says the LORD God of Israel," and I hate a man's covering himself with violence as well as with his garment," says the LORD Almighty. So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith. (Malachi 2:16)

"If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that home or town. I tell you the truth, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town." Matthew 10:15 

I do not know where the following originally came from.  It was emailed to me by a friend. 

May God forgive our country for the many evils we have allowed.

ONE MINUTE EACH NIGHT

During WWII, there was an adviser to Churchill, who organized a group of people who dropped what they were doing every night at a prescribed hour for one minute, to collectively pray for the safety of England, its people and peace. This had an amazing effect, as bombing stopped.

There is now a group of people organizing the same thing here in America; The United States of America, and our citizens, need prayer more than ever!!!

If you would like to participate, each evening at 9:00 P.M. Eastern Time (8 PM Central, 7 PM Mountain, 6 PM Pacific), stop whatever you're doing, and spend ONE minute praying for:

• the safety of the United States,
• our troops,
• our citizens,
• peace in the world,
• the upcoming elections,
• that the Constitution will remain the basis for the laws governing our land,
• and that Christianity will grow in the U.S.

If you know anyone who would like to participate, please pass this along.  Someone said if people really understood the full extent of the power we have available through prayer, we might be speechless.  Our prayers are the most powerful asset we have.

Please pass this on to anyone who you think will want to join us.

May God have mercy on America and may we turn back to what our Nation was founded on: IN GOD WE TRUST.  AMEN!

ANGER vs MEEKNESS - Day 4

St. Francis De Sales devotes two chapters on anger and meekness/gentleness in his book, Introduction to the Devote Life.

1. Of Gentleness Towards Our Neighbor And How To Remedy Anger
2. Of Gentleness Towards Ourself

In the first chapter, he offers many points; the most striking for me was: "...this miserable life is only a journey to the happy one; do not let us therefore be angry with one another in the way, but let us journey onward with our brethren and companions, gently, peacefully and amiably... St. James says quite shortly and without reserve that the anger of man worketh not the justice of God."

So much unnecessary pain, divorce, family division and lonely lives are lived because anger destroys our ability to love, forgive and be at peace with one another. I believe it is one the devil's sneakiest tools. We think we have the right to be angry and hold on to it, because we can find reasons to justify it -- but are our reasons more valued by us than our own interior peace and the soul of the one we are angry at?  

I think we do value our inner peace, and the well being of those whom we are angry with. However, I think that we are also often afraid to let go of that anger. We don't make peace because to release that angry hold on the other is to lose some control over the offender and the situation. We may also find it hard to respond with humility and meekness because our own failings haunt us. It is often easier to be angry at someone else and blame them for our miseries -- we don't want to take a close look at ourselves. We may be insecure, prideful, and remorseful of past misdeeds. We may be so angry at ourselves that we find comfort in sharing the anger.

In his second chapter on anger, St. Francis reminds us to treat ourselves gently, so that we may further be healed from our own inner sources of pain. He says: "When many commit a great fault, who, when they have given way to anger, are annoyed at being annoyed, are vexed at being vexed, and at having fretted; for by this means they have kept their hearts preserved and steeped in anger: and although the second anger seems to destroy the first, yet it serves as an opening for a new anger...hav[ing] no other source than self-love, which is troubled and disquieted at seeing ourselves imperfect... Lift up your heart, then, quite gently, when it falls, humming yourself profoundly before God by acknowledging your misery, without being in the least astonished by your fall, since it is not surprising that weakness should be weak, and feebleness, feeble, and misery, miserable. Nevertheless, detest with your whole heart the offense against God and with great courage and confidence in His mercy, pursue once more the practice of virtue which you had forsaken."  

ANGER vs MEEKNESS - Day 3

Meekness is one of those words that are cringed at. Often the image of a weak person comes to mind, "Meek? I don't want to be meek."

Properly understood though, it is the antidote to many of our self-made problems.

Dictionary.com defines meekness as:

meek

adjective, meek·er, meek·est.

1.

humbly patient or docile, as under provocation from others.

2.

overly submissive or compliant; spiritless; tame.

3.

Obsolete . gentle; kind.

Origin: 
1150–1200; Middle English meke, meoc  < Old Norse mjūkr  soft,mild, meek.

The primary definition is what is meant when we say Jesus was meek or when we quote His Sermon on the Mount, "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." 

The secondary definition is the way it is used and understood in secular society.  

If meekness really is oppressive suppression of personality, morals and will, then I agree with the secular understanding: "avoid being this".  However, since meekness is "humbly patient or docile, as under provocation from others," it is apparent that it is actually an incredible strength.  I like to think of it as: not letting the antagonist get under the protagonist's skin. It is control of the inner battle of the soul.  It is choosing to respond well in unfavorable circumstances. It is counting to ten and then responding with gentleness to the enemy that attempts to provoke the angry giant within us.

Think of the Hulk. Dr. Bruce Banner when taking certain measures can avoid transforming into a huge green creature of destruction. Likewise, the measures, that is, the habit of controlling our temper, is the virtue of meekness.  

"The servant of the Lord must be gentle, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose." (2 Tim. 2:24–25)

I Thirst

"I thirst." This is what Jesus said on the Cross.

Like all of Jesus' words I believe that they are full of meaning and thus, can be interpreted in many ways, and without contradiction. Here are my two favorite interpretations:

• If you are a fan of Dr. Scott Hahn, you will understand them both literally and figuratively in light of the Passover and the "fourth cup".  Dr. Hahn's in-depth theological study of Christ's words on the Cross (which ultimately led to his conversion) is a beautiful Scriptural explanation of an apostolic dogma, that is, the Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist.

He talks about how the Jesus' words "I thirst" (with the drink of vinegar on a hyssop branch) is the same participation of the fourth cup in the new Passover meal.

Dr. Hahn will tell you that in receiving the Eucharist, we are receiving not bread, but a Person. The Church teaches that we receive Jesus's Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity in even the smallest particle of the consecrated Host.  Jesus is fully present as He promised.

To receive Jesus physically in the Eucharist, is to become one with Him. To prostrate oneself before Him during adoration is to come before Him as Mary Magdalene did. In His presence we become secure and at peace. In Him, we know that we will be saved from all the things that want to stone us.  But to trust Him, we have to know Him.

• If you understand the words "I thirst" as Fr. John Riccardo does, you will understand better Jesus' deep and personal love for you.  Fr. Riccardo talks about how Jesus thirsts for us individually. He interprets Jesus' words to mean, "I thirst for YOU." This interpretation begs the question, "what is my relationship like with Jesus? He thirsts for me.  Do I thirst for Him?"

Fr. Riccardo challenges his listeners to examine that prayer is not words, but a relationship. And thus, the Eucharist is the most intimate prayer.

 Fr. Riccardo tell us how to be transformed so that we can begin to recognize Him in our lives.

Thu, 4 October 2012

Series on Prayer-Session 1

This year the Church celebrates the Year of Faith, giving us the opportunity to answer the question Jesus asks each of us, “Who do you say that I am?” Fr. Riccardo begins a three-part Series on Prayer with this talk from October 3rd. The handouts from this session are available here.

Direct download: YOFPrayer1.m4a
Category:Year of Faith -- posted at: 2:03 AM

Thu, 11 October 2012

Series on Prayer-Session 2

This year the Church celebrates the Year of Faith, giving us the opportunity to answer the question Jesus asks each of us, “Who do you say that I am?” Fr. Riccardo continues the three-part Series on Prayer with this talk from October 10th. A list of Fr. John's questions for reflection from this presentation may be downloaded here.

Direct download: YOFPrayer2.m4a
Category:Year of Faith -- posted at: 1:38 AM

Thu, 25 October 2012

Series on Prayer-Session 3

This year the Church celebrates the Year of Faith, giving us the opportunity to answer the question Jesus asks each of us, “Who do you say that I am?” Fr. Riccardo continues the three-part Series on Prayer with this talk from October 24th. The handouts from this session are available here.

Direct download: YOFPrayer3.m4a
Category:Year of Faith -- posted at: 1:45 AM

For more from Fr. John Riccardo, go here: http://frjohnriccardo.libsyn.com

ANGER vs MEEKNESS - Day 2

Thoughts throughout the years:

Confucius (551 BC - 479 BC):

When anger rises, think of the consequences. 

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Buddha (563-483 B.C.): 

Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.

Anger will never disappear so long as thoughts of resentment are cherished in the mind. 
Anger will disappear just as soon as thoughts of resentment are forgotten.

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Plato (428 BC-348 BC):

There are two things a person should never be angry at, what they can help, and what they cannot. 

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Aristotle (384 BC - 322 BC): 

Anyone can become angry - that is easy, but to be angry with the right person at the right time, and for the right purpose and in the right way - that is not within everyone's power and that is not easy.

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Epictetus (55 AD - 135 AD):

If you do not wish to be prone to anger, do not feed the habit; give it nothing which may tend to its increase. 

If you would cure anger, do not feed it. Say to yourself: 'I used to be angry every day; then every other day; now only every third or fourth day.' When you reach thirty days offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving to the gods.

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Elizabeth I (1533 - 1603):

Anger makes dull men witty, but it keeps them poor. 

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William Shakespeare (1564 - 1616):

I do oppose my patience to his fury, and am arm'd to suffer with a quietness of spirit, the very tyranny and rage of his. 

Upon the heat and flame of thy distemper sprinkle cool patience.

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Francis De Sales (1567 - 1622):

One of the best exercises in meekness we can perform is when the subject Is in ourselves. We must not fret over our own imperfections. Although reason requires that we must be displeased and sorry whenever we commit a fault we must refrain from bitter, gloomy,spiteful, and emotional displeasure. Many people are greatly at fault in this way. When overcome by anger they become angry at being angry, disturbed at being disturbed and vexed at being vexed. By such means they keep their hearts drenched and steeped in passion.”

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William Law (1686 -1761):

You have no questions to ask of any body, no new way that you need inquire after; no oracle that you need to consult; for whilst you shut yourself up in patience, meekness, humility, and resignation to God, you are in the very arms of Christ, your heart is His dwelling-place, and He lives and works in you as certainly as He lived in and governed that body and soul which He took from the Virgin Mary.

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Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790):

Anger is never without a reason, but seldom with a good one.

Whatever is begun in anger ends in shame. 

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Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)

Glances of true beauty can be seen in the faces of those who live in true meekness.

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Emily Dickinson (1830 - 1886)

Anger as soon as fed is dead-'Tis starving makes it fat.

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Winston Churchill (1874 -1965):

A man is about as big as the things that make him angry.

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Albert Einstein (1879-1955):

Anger dwells only in the bosom of fools. 

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Abraham J. Heschel (1907-1972):

In a controversy, the instant we feel anger, we have already ceased striving for truth and have begun striving for ourselves.

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Laurence J. Peter (1919 - 1988)

Speak when you are angry--and you will make the best speech you'll ever regret.

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Vaclav Havel (1936-2011)

The salvation of this human world lies nowhere else than in the human heart, in the human power to reflect, in human meekness and human responsibility.