The State of Pride

It's Lent again and once again I am failing to pray the Way of Cross.  I am freely admitting this so that the www. will hold me accountable.  The fact is, that I love to meditate on the Cross.  But my pride has gotten in the way of a good and Holy devotion exhibited in reflective prayer.

Please pray the Way of the Cross with me this Lent in order to have a well-formed conscience in preparation for the trials of this world.



Meditations for the Way of the Cross Fr. Frank Pavone

Save the Blue Fin Tuna????

I am all for the ecosystem but when it comes to Tuna or Babies, it seems some people are missing the boat.

If you don't know, or you've been hiding under the proverbial rock, then please let me explain again that abortion is Murder of human babies.

Once a child is conceived within the womb of a woman it is a living entity that inhabits all of the essence of a human being.  The child forms organs within days.

Abortion takes place by Killing a child in the womb with drugs, chemicals or foreign objects thrust in the person of the child in the womb.

Partial birth abortion is always Murder of a child by killing in the womb or as the child is being born.

Yet people still do these things and admit to it freely.  So when it comes down to supporting Tuna, Wolves, Penguins or Human Babies, I am going to stick with the living breathing children that die each day to moral relativism and indifference to Life.

Abortion Methods
Beginning of a Child's Life

The Gradual Change

I wish sometimes that we could all just get where we are going.  In the spiritual sense though.  

But as I reflect on the scripture and the path of the disciples this Lent, I realize that they too, took baby steps in order to become leaders and healers in Jesus' name.  Only a few such as Andrew and John seemed to really 'get it' at first.  But then we have our very real friends in scripture, Peter and Paul and the rest of the crew that didn't really 'get it' at first that all things lead to the Messiah Christ.

It would probably help us in this life to hang around Jesus as much as possible. Thank goodness for Adoration!  But at the same time, there is not the sense of urgency that there may have been at the time of Christ.  In this world things are changing rapidly and it seems like when we make advances against embryonic stem cell research and partial birth abortion, we are just hit back down the hill to push against a very real boulder blocking many people's salvation.

The political fight for Life issues is only a metaphor for the inner struggle to battle sin in our everyday lives.  Like the very real sins of abortion and not natural genetic manipulation, the battle against every day sins rages for most of us like Peter in the scripture who make the same stupid mistakes over and over.  And that is the spiritual journey happening in tandem with the physical life on this Earth. 

Hakuin 

 

I read an internet article recently about living life in an experiential way. Before that I happened upon the work of a Zen Buddhist master named Hakuin in an art museum who suggested making activity your meditation rather than just doing meditation for its own self.  Both of these have merit and experiencing Christ in the sacraments, adoration and in personal prayer is the only method for tackling that spiritual hill where we must face our boulder each day in order to reach the Light.

One thing I choose to do is hope and pray for hope.  It is a grace of God to hope in the one who saved us and in all that salvation entails.  There is an 'Act of Hope' prayer for a reason.  If you truly desire to make a path on your spiritual journey no matter what is happening in the world then it will be.

Just as Peter was led to the cross, we must all bear our cross and eventually master our sin upon it.

The Famous Ones

It's really cool to hear and read about Christians in the world that are living their faith even though they are famous or what not.  Like I have said before, I have been watching these cute 'kdrama' shows out of Korea.  Watching to much tv is a bad habit, but it led me to read about a few nice Christian leaders in various Asian countries.

My first interest in Asia started when I had an awesome Catholic geography professor at LSU freshman year that had lived and researched in China.  He shared the most amazing pictures and excitement about the beauty of the country.  Being a history teacher myself, I would love to learn more about the culture and history and geography.  But my first love is Christ, and their are so many people in Asia that I fear have not heard the true message of Jesus Christ. 

I would love to go there if God will's it one day and maybe do a little missionary work.  In the mean time, I will pray for Christian leaders like Kim Hyun Joong to seek the Sacred Heart of Christ and be a true witness to Him.

Saint Anna Pak Agi pray for us!

The Feast of the Annunciation

I was driving my way back to Florida yesterday and couldn't attend mass like I wanted too for this feast.  I really miss the reverence in the Catholic Churches in Louisiana.  There is reverence here in Florida, but you can tell sometimes that it doesn't seem very deeply rooted.  Here is a photo of the Children with Our Lady of Fatima at my church in Louisiana that I used to attend.  The flowers are always rotated and kept up so well.

My 100 Things...

Inspired by the pictures down the 2nd grade hallway and the possible onset of a midlife crisis or just plain insanity.  These are 100 things I might like to be when I grow up starting with the least desirable, but possible occupations.

My 100 things I want to be when I grow up…

100. Tarantula caretaker

99. Bill O’Reilly intern

98. Gum scraper

97. Kindergarten teacher

96. Mail person

95. Foot massager

94. Obama intern

93. Cocaine inspector

92. Moral Relativist

91. Wedding Planner

90. Outhouse Checker

89. Mariana Trench diver

88. School counselor

87. School principal

86. Nun

85. Mel Gibson”s ticket writer

84. Explosion videographer

83. Volcano Explorer

82. Circus cannon projectile

81. Slum investigator

80. Hurricane Scientist

79. Envelope licker

78. Britney Speer’s back-up dancer

77. IRS Agent

76. Clay pigeon retriever

75. Conspiracy theorist

74. Pig slop processor

73. Cow mucker

72. Coffin maker

71. Phone book deliverer

70. Herpetologist

69. Purple People Eater

68. Incan Sacrifice

67. Daycare poop wiper

66. Malaria vaccine tester

65. Skywriter at a Rifle Festival

64. Construction manager

63. 1980s Historian

62. 1970s Historian

61. Bowling Ball Shiner

60. M&M color separator

59.Glue sniffer

58. Paper inspector

57. West Coast Rap Star

56. Dental spit vacuumer

55. Butter churner

54. Astronaut

53. Comic Con Door welcomer

52. Karaoke singer

51. Drunk Saints football fan

50. Stephen Colbert intern

49. Drunk Premier League fan

48. Crash test dummy

47. Photographer

46. Restaurant critic

45. South Park illustrator

44. Bulgarian Gypsy

43. Divet replacer

42. Shakespearian actor

41. Crawfish peeler

40. Graphic designer

39. Regular Bum

38. Danube River boat operator

37. Neoclassical Architect

36. Beach Bum

35. Cat Groomer

34. Golfer with an awesome handicap

33. Irish bartender

32. Sunglasses examiner

31. Printer

30. Dog Groomer

29. Theologian

28. Manga artist

27. Restoration painter

26. Book Publisher

25. Modern Historian

24. Marine biologist

23. Retro Furniture restorer

22. Beer taster

21. Oceanographer

20. Wine critic

19. Professional Tennis player

18. Muscle Car repair person

17. Copy Editor

16. Museum Director

15. Horse caretaker

14. Nonprofit PR manager

13. Coffee sniffer/taster

12. Software programmer

11. Teacher

10. Baker of any sort

9. Patisserie baker

8. Coffee Barista

7. Philanthropist

6. Stage actress

5. Painter

4. Full-time missionary

3. Poet

2. Musician

1. Full-time writer

Galactic Catholic Universe Photo of the Day: Florida State Fair

The Changing World

The world seems to be changing so fast for me to catch up with.  I am very much the type of person that could live happily without a cell phone or television.  I do love the internet though and it has helped me to have a more global view.  If you read my blog, you know I am interested in going to South Korea.  It seems that country is booming with different types of industry.  It would be even cooler to visit or work there and try to bring more of the Gospel of Christ. 

I have always had an interest in different countries and their people.  There are many saints I have read about and their countries.  I wish we had more American saints.  Many saints are those that have died as white martyrs or red martyrs.  Maybe one day I will get to visit South Korea and Asia, but for the mean time I will listen to the fun kpop and pray for those suffering from the earthquake and tsunami.

Prayer for Suffering in Japan

Dear Blessed Virgin Mary,

You told countless saints, "Do not be troubled or weighed down with grief. Do not fear any illness or vexation, anxiety or pain. Am I not here who am you Mother?"

Virgin gentle in mercy, Health of the sick, Morning Star, shine the light of your loving view upon those who are struggling with despair around the world.  Comforter of the troubled and Refuge of Christians embrace the survivors of the tsunami in Japan and wrap them in your arms as you would hold the child Jesus.

Help all of us turn to you now.  Intercede for those souls whose time it was to meet the face of Christ.  Through your motherly intercession heal our hearts and guide us into the fullness of God's Love and Mercy. In Jesus' Name. Amen

The Litany of Loreto

The Will of God

 

Saints are amazing in our Catholic history because somehow, no matter what sinful, crazy stuff is happening in the world, they do the will of God.  The Gospel of Matthew urges us to also do the will of God.  I understand the sincerity of following through with the will of God, but I fall short when it comes to applying it and knowing what it is.

I don't think the Saints really knew if they were completely fulfilling the will of God.  If they are any type of human who loves the Lord, most of the time they were probably chastising themselves for raising their voice in a poor tone and worried about the mandate for loving thy neighbor in all ways.
 

God teaches us vain and selfish creatures to mainly love Him and love our neighbors.  There are detailed aspects to this in the scripture but the overriding theme of life seems to be, "What am I supposed to be doing for our Lord?"  This is the question that is just a daily question. 

For myself, it is a frustrating question.  All of the little things matter and they matter to God.  It is His will to be concerned with the details and love, love, love.  The frustrating part comes in for all the things that we have no control over.  The world in my view today, is disgusting.  I am 33 and even though I know many disgusting things have gone on for centuries, it has disgusted me as a history teacher and it disgusts me as a participant in this present time.

I thought for a minute today that, 'Wouldn't it be nice to have lived in the 1950s?'  Not that the things happening now would be any different but just in secret.  So I am charged with living in this time period and I am called by the will of God to live with joy and a shining Light of Christ for all to see.  Seems pretty darn impossible and I have very little knowledge as how to move past the enumerable barriers that want to break the spirit.  (I admit I have been discouraged by persecutors)

This is where one of the most important phrases that Christians can know comes into play for me.  "Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?" Matt 6:26  Last week's Sunday reading is a reminder and a connection to the life that God the Father calls us to live no matter the conditions.  It's not the value that God puts on our beings so much as the distance He will go to provide for our every spiritual and physical need.  


Therefore, I can only assume that the small duties that Christ calls me to do, to know the Father are those that are God's will.  As for the limitations of my sin and the call to sainthood, I try to remember that God the Creator will try infinite ways to help me make right decisions and by the Holy Spirit, do His will. The world of deceit will always crumble before the righteousness of truth that is Jesus Christ the Savior.

The Vernal Equinox

There is so much that holds us upright upon two legs on this place we call Earth.  The science of the universe and all of its puzzle pieces has inspired Aristotle to Benedict XVI.  The vernal equinox is a yearly event when night and day are supposed to be closest in length. It is a balance of the tilt of the Earth toward the Sun in the Northern Hemisphere and it also officially summons Spring. Roman Catholics will be in the midst of Lent on March 20th this year when the equinox occurs.  In a sense, the tilt of the Earth which allows for the seasons is much like the changing seasons of our faith life as we revolve closer toward the Son.

Madeira Beach, FL  Copyright GalacticCatholic

God intends for our joy in this life with the hopes that we would grow closer to Him, but at a much faster rate than the Earth moving toward the Sun. Our sun is a medium sized start that has a long time to go before it reaches a point of becoming supernova.  What is fascinating is that, we are in a galaxy where stars are far enough away so that human life has been made possible on this planet.  It is pretty amazing that all of these factors have been designed for our existent to work harmoniously with the universe.

The time of Lent is a Catholic season of a call to 'meet various trials' and 'let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.' James 1:4     Christ beckons night and day, no matter the length and He never forsakes and never leaves you.  He is divine and has a much greater capacity for divine light than our medium sized sun.  Therefore, our Son lights our universe with love and the same gravitational pull that keeps our feet on the ground is designed by our Savior's Father in Heaven. 

We may tilt away and rotate affections and revolve this way and that, but ultimately we will meet the Son as the Earth will meet the Sun.

Yay!

I received Dr. Brant Pitre's book in the mail today. Awesome!

ADDICTION: The Climb Upwards

Recognizing addiction's impact on your family

This article is the last piece of this small series on addiction.  I am not a doctor or psychologist, I only know what I have discerned and experienced from those in my family who have had addictions.  Family members I never met have made the largest impact in my thoughts on this topic because of the destruction of addiction and how it then affected those around me today.

The other aspect of my experience, is the unconditional love of Jesus Christ in my life.  Because I have sought Him regularly in my own failings, it is possible for me to have gained an insight in the love that He bears for the weakest in His sight.

Addiction affects generations

I have spoken about the pain and lies that come from the slow trickle into addiction.  Along with the present situation that a person can create by their fall, there is a long lasting generational effect in a family.  For example,  the trauma created for a young child in a home with an alcoholic or a drug abuser, creates a lasting impression of anger and resentment in the child and others who are traumatized.
Also, the direct influences of the care giver for a child are effected by a traumatized lifestyle which manifests in stress related outbursts, physical violence and verbal abuse to others in order to relieve the powerless feeling they themselves are experiencing.

Steps for atonement and peace after generational addiction

Atonement of the heart, mind, and soul is necessary for true recovery.  After recognizing and contemplating the manifestations of trauma from addiction in your family history, even if it is a current history, make a choice to atone.

For some reason, God's grace has allowed me to forgive repeatedly the sins of my grandfather and his family.  It is hard and I have harbored anger in the past and still work through it.  But when I came to know Christ better, I sought understanding. I prayed for understanding repeatedly for a long time.  This was originally for me to be able to not judge others, but Christ knew I needed to forgive within my own family before I could love others as much as He wanted me too.

The effects of addiction show up in small ways that satan uses as leverage over your soul.  Remember that he is the great lier and he desires fully to turn your heart from Christ the Savior.  The great lier will use the anger and resentment of those affected by addiction to continue to break down family and love of the Divine Father God.  These ways include the hurt that a loved one may cause from continuous verbal abuse or manipulative means of gaining affection or things.  I have found that recognizing these events or actions, is a way to recognize the cry of that person's heart for the True Love of the Sacred Heart of Christ, which we are called to share.

Before I go on, here is the review: Recognize generational affects, seek understanding, forgive and love like you have never been hurt before.

It may seem very, very hard to continue to forgive over and over, someone you love that you cannot ever step away from like a family member.   It is not meant to be easy to suffer, but this struggle is a means to an end.  Consider the path that you take as a minute part of the Cross of Christ which he carried all of our own sins upon.  The end result was Eternal Salvation.

When you choose to love instead of hate, to forgive instead of resent and to understand rather than despise, you are the light of Christ for your whole family.  Because, even though their may be many family members that feel darkly about others, you can be a loving light of Christ bringing them together in love.  Love and Joy will always, always defeat darkness.

The person you love may never express sorrow or seek forgiveness from you.  But I think, you can see it in their eyes that they know you know Christ.  Therefore, they may lash out at you till the very end, but you must endure because you will have witnessed to Love.

Reasons for Hope

Hope is not a vague mist in the wind.  Hope is a very real fruit of the Life and Cross of Jesus Christ.  I have seen how the love of Christ has changed members in my family for the good.  By God's grace alone, the Holy Spirit has brought those in my family who have struggled with addiction, back toward the right path.  When one family member struggles, we all struggle, no matter if we are attached to the person or detached.  It is best to recognize this generational inheritance and accept the truth of it and move on in acts of love, understanding and forgiveness.

Addiction Part One
Addiciton Part Two

Galactic Catholic Universe Photo of the Day: Madeira Beach

The God Timeline

Time is catching up with me today.  It was one of those days where a little longevity pill would seem to help in the larger scale of things.  I feel like I will not have enough time.  This feeling has been building for a couple of days.

Before I become ridiculous in my worry, I try to focus on the ones who walked before in Scripture.  My favorites are Job, Elizabeth, Tobit and Jonah.  The crap they went through makes my easy life seem pretty simple.

Job always amazes me when he calls out to God even though he has lost all.  Elizabeth is amazing just for being able to bare a child.  Tobit's sense of duty strikes my shallow selfishness to the ground and Jonah's denial to do God's will and subsequent thrashing resonates with my pridefulness and harbored anger.

I am young and there is happiness in more knowledge as each year comes, but frustration also because I wish I would have known more sooner.  Luckily though, I don't believe in regrets. I never have.  God is the orchestrator of all things, it's just up to me to follow the tune or make it sound flat.

The Travel Bug

I have the travel bug.  It is very hard to get rid of it.  I think it is because I have been watching this wonderful drama from South Korea, that now I want to go there.  It would be so much fun to go and teach at a school and learn a new language.

Matthew 28:18-20
Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Besides, I love the food!  We shall see. God is in the details.

Galactic Catholic Universe Photo of the Day: Florida

The Winning Defeat

"Yahweh, set a guard at my mouth,

a watcher at the gate of my lips.

Let me feel no impulse to do wrong, 

to share the godlessness of evil-doers."

Psalm 141 NJB

Which side do you take when you sin? What argument do you use to justify your actions?
Though we may have a clear and present mind not to sin, it inevitably happens. Always the attacks, always the subtle and blatant reminders that we are so far from God's will when we try to accomplish our will.  Our selfishness is the first battle that must be waged.  The front line combats laziness, relativity and poor formation.  These can be defeated, but it is a long drawn out battle of wills and underground treachery.

I am often reminded of Blessed Mother Theresa of Calcutta and the way in which she told her sisters that more time in prayer is the way of finding more time in service to others.  The concrete act of prayer  fights fatigue and dissatisfaction with life.  There is more meaning in the forgiveness of sin when you truly seek to know Jesus.  There is more opportunity to love and obtain grace when you strive for sincerity in supplication.

Christ is always, with total devotion to our souls, compelling us with his divine love to practice more devotion to God the Father.  It is in the times of recognizing sin, that we may realize the time we have not spent with Christ in order to know the Father.  It is hard to find extra moments when you can seem so busy, and then spend 'catch-up' time in order to beg Him for something.  He does not wait for us though, because He is a constant presence in the heart that seeks Him.

The next time you cry out for forgiveness, beg for the grace of a convicted heart that will long for Christ.  The prayer is the easy part, it's the practice that takes time and effort. Anything worth the effort is worth the wait.  How much better is it to hope in the fruits of heaven?

Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day approaches. I will probably forget that it's happening, as I usually forget my own birthday sometimes.

But this year I am approaching several things a little differently. One of them is diversity. I never really thought of a type of guy that I would like before. Mostly because I didn't care. The only guys I really like are those who love Christ and could maybe keep up with my pace of life. (Haven't found one yet who is as spontaneous as me!!) But maybe I need to look beyond my fellow Caucasian Americans to Asians, Europeans and what not. I don't know of any specific traits, because you really can't judge a book by it's cover. There's always good and bad everywhere. So I will stick with piety.


Diversity is a pretty cool idea though, coming straight from Our Lady of Guadeloupe. The Spanish conquistadors did not know if they should marry the conquered natives of South America until, it was believed, that Our Lady appeared with her hands in two different colors. This appearance encouraged the bond of the marriage sacrament for the Catholic Spaniards and the natives of the land.

The scripture today also mentions the importance of shining a true Christian light on everyone. It is so tempting to move to China and try to evangelize but for the threat of sure imprisonment. So prayer and sacrifice will have to do for conversions for now. So many Saints traveled so far for the mission of the gospel. Therefore love cannot be limited to one race. If it was, none of us would get salvation.

So for Valentine's Day, if I remember which day it is, I will open my eyes and try to spread the love of Christ to everyone I meet with a smile.

Pray for Life

www.nationalprayerforlife.org