'Post of the Month' - July, 2010

Don't play "pious mind games"

Ever notice Catholics playing "pious mind games"? Like on Ash Wednesday when some Catholics decide whether or not [to] wash off ashes based on how they feel (want to leave them on?, take them off and vice versa). This is not right thinking. We must do what is best and then conform our minds. When saints advise us to practice contrariety, this is for vices ONLY. While a holy instructor would advise a prideful person to practice humility, he would not advise a humble person to practice pride! Don't fall into the mind game trap proposed by some Catholics. We must do what is good and then conform our minds to that action--not simply do the opposite of what one is inclined to do. This is a harmful mind game. And it can be exploited by Satan.

Posted in Section: Increase Holiness | Category: N/A

View Current Posts in This Section | Add Your Post in This Section

'Post of the Month' - June, 2010

Real freedom in following Christ

There is a certain freedom about following Christ and realizing you only have to please Him and Him alone. If you are pleasing Him, it does not really matter if you are displeasing anyone else.

Posted in Section: Catholic Life | Category: Catholic Reflections

View Current Posts in This Section | Add Your Post in This Section

'Post of the Month' - May, 2010

See Jesus' face in others

Looking into another's eyes reminds us that they, too, have an eternal soul and in God's image are Christ's brother/sister. Could I yell at Jesus? No. Respecting others as if "Christ" themselves helps us to quickly assess our reactions. Can I envision myself as acting/reacting as I expect Christ would? Loving myself and others in this way helps to act and live in a Christ-like way, in all ways. Praying in a busy family makes me visualize what Jesus' prayer life must have been like with 72 disciples and 12 apostles...

Posted in Section: Increase Holiness | Category: N/A

View Current Posts in This Section | Add Your Post in This Section

'Post of the Month' - April, 2010

The Holy Family

The Holy Family I pray to all the time. I pray to Jesus and to Mary and to Joseph they each bring me peace Everyday.

Posted in Section: Catholic Life | Category: The Holy Family

View Current Posts in This Section | Add Your Post in This Section

'Post of the Month' - March, 2010

Write your wishes down

Do yourself a favor, write your wishes down. Especially when it comes to religious matters and your family isn't Catholic. If you don't, you might find that your non-Catholic relative gets to make the decisions for you. I couldn't even get a priest to come give anointing to my devoutly Catholic friend because I'm not family and they don't want to "offend" the family. Fear of offense now apparently comes before fear for the person's soul. What a fouled up age this is! Write your wishes down or you may suffer later.

Posted in Section: Catholic Seniors | Category: Seniors' Wisdom

View Current Posts in This Section | Add Your Post in This Section

'Post of the Month' - February, 2010

Useful exercise for being around difficult people

Sometimes my mind wanders in a critical direction when I must associate with difficult people. And sometimes it's a big struggle to avoid thinking uncharitably about those who rub me the wrong way. Perhaps by the grace of God I have come up with a useful exercise to help. First I realize that no one is all bad nor all good. Then I stop focusing on the bad and start looking for the good. Once I find the good, I work on appreciating the person's good qualities and stop letting the bad ones absorb my thoughts. It is joyous to notice that a previously "unlikable" person has some magnificently endearing qualities. Appreciating the other person then gets much easier. Others might want to give this a try.

Posted in Section: Catholic Life | Category: Life's Lessons

View Current Posts in This Section | Add Your Post in This Section

'Post of the Month' - January, 2010

Eliminate Ungodly Things

Holiness is not achieved in a day, by no means, in fact it's an ongoing process. One way to start to be holy is to eliminate things you enjoy, by replacing them with Godly things... instead of T.V., watch Catholic videos, instead of secular music, listen to Catholic music, instead of outside entertainment, replace it with doing good deeds, like visiting nursing homes often. Of course we can only succeed in holiness, if we have a committed prayer life, in season and out of season. The more we rid ourselves from the things of this world, unless they bring us closer to Jesus Christ, the better and holier we will be and the world too!

Posted in Section: Increase Holiness | Category: N/A

View Current Posts in This Section | Add Your Post in This Section

'Post of the Month' - December, 2009

Why I Pray The Rosary Daily

I love praying the rosary every day. In fact, if I missed a day now, it would be heartbreaking for me. But the reason why I do is because of my wife. She brought me to this beautiful practice. She started long before I did - years before. When she went off to pray I usually said some daily prayers and went on about my business. But seeing her devotion to it was inspiring. I thought "I could do this too" and thought it would be a nice thing to do as a family. So one day I asked her to pray together. From that day on, EVERY day we have said it together. Even if I have to be away overnight, we say it together over the phone. I am devoted to the daily rosary and I'm indebted to my wife. Example is a great teacher.

Posted in Section: Catholic Life | Category: Catholic Family Devotions & Practices

View Current Posts in This Section | Add Your Post in This Section

'Post of the Month' - November, 2009

Choosing friends

So much harm comes to others because of poor choice of friends. When tempted to enter friendship with obstinate sinners, I remember the wise question "Why do you want to befriend God's enemies?" Better to ask myself at the beginning then be sorry later that I didn't ask. A wise priest once compared bad associates with persons who wear muddy garments. He said when you hug them you will get the mud on you, but they will not get the clean on them. This holds true time and again.

Posted in Section: Catholic Life | Category: Catholic Wisdom

View Current Posts in This Section | Add Your Post in This Section

'Post of the Month' - October, 2009

New pro-life approach

My new pro-life position at least momentarily dumbfounds opponents. I now say I've changed my mind and I'm now pro-choice. Then I follow up with - I believe the baby should have the choice whether to be killed or not. What can they say to that?

Posted in Section: Catholic Life | Category: Food For Thought

View Current Posts in This Section | Add Your Post in This Section

'Post of the Month' - September, 2009

Has everyone forgotten common courtesy?

Does anyone have any concern for others anymore? Previous generations had respect for others. Recent generations seem to have no concern for others. I see this even in church. Please teach your grandchildren to have respect for others. Please ask your priest to give a sermon on consideration for others. Think about yourself and how you affect others. Do your actions bother others? Have you ever thought given this a thought? When we die and must atone for sins how much time might we have suffer in purgatory because we harmed others by our carelessness - poor language, bad driving habits, failing to return greetings, bad dress, rudeness, loud music, uncontrolled barking dog...? It's not too late to do better.

Posted in Section: Catholic Seniors | Category: Life of a Catholic

View Current Posts in This Section | Add Your Post in This Section

'Post of the Month' - August, 2009

The Patron Saint For The Internet

I think it is a wonderful habit to pray to Saint Isidore of Seville before going online. Perhaps a holy card or medal by your monitor would serve as a good reminder. Most people probably give it little thought, but it is true that each trip online has the potential for us sin. We may gossip, harm reputations, act uncharitably, encounter immodest pictures or insults against our holy religion. We may also neglect our chores and make our families suffer. If we faithfully invoke the aid of Saint Isidore of Seville we may be less likely to sin.|

Posted in Section: Saints | Category: Saintly Intercession

View Current Posts in This Section | Add Your Post in This Section

'Post of the Month' - July, 2009

So much criticism

The modern means of communication gives every 'yahoo' a voice now, even if all they have to do is criticize. Certainly some criticism is useful. But I think it's being overdone. Have people forgotten how hard it is to create vs. how easy it is to criticize? A good rule is never to criticize what you couldn't do better yourself, had you to start from scratch. An even better rule is not to say anything unless what you have to say is kind. Don't be puffed up with pride criticizing others, putting them down. That creates nothing. So something isn't perfect. As long as it's not sinful, so be it.

Posted in Section: Catholic Seniors | Category: A Pat on the Back

View Current Posts in This Section | Add Your Post in This Section

'Post of the Month' - June, 2009

Remember The Passion

I was reminded of something today that made me think. I used to wear a watch with an alarm set for 3 p.m., the hour of Our Lord's death on the cross. It reminded me to say a short prayer every day at that important hour. Just a short thanksgiving. When I bought a new watch, I didn't set the alarm. I'm ashamed to admit that it had sometimes bothered me. Of course without the daily reminder, I stopped saying the prayer. It's been a while now but I was reminded today about my former practice. I miss it. In fact, I have realized time and again how my spiritual life always suffers the further away I get from the Passion. The more the Passion is on my mind, the better I am spiritually. I plan to set my watch alarm again for 3 p.m.

Posted in Section: Catholic Life | Category: Catholic Reflections

View Current Posts in This Section | Add Your Post in This Section

'Post of the Month' - May, 2009

How to know yourself better

I do not claim to be an expert, but I am of the opinion that knowing yourself is important. While reflecting on this I developed the idea to ask myself what cause I would most want to give my life for. I won't share my answer here, but I will share that this question made me know myself better. I thought this might be profitable to someone else so I decided to post it here. If you want to know yourself better, maybe you could also ask yourself this question. It might also help you understand those around you better if you know what their answer was to this question. Anyways, it is an idea to think about.|

Posted in Section: Catholic Life | Category: Catholic Reflections

View Current Posts in This Section | Add Your Post in This Section

'Post of the Month' - April, 2009

One drastic way to reach a Protestant

I heard one great but drastic way to reach a 'bible only' Protestant. I will share it here for the benefit of others. Next time you talk with a 'bible only' Protestant, have a "King James Bible" on hand. When you want to make a point, get out your pen and "edit" it - just add whatever you want (you are not being sacrilegious - it is a heretical translation, not true scripture). Make sure they see you do it. Then hand them the book and show them how your "doctrine" is in the "bible". When they protest, point to Rom. 3:28 and remind them that Luther added "alone" to support his "faith alone" theory, so why can't you make some additions too? It's dramatic, but powerful.|

Posted in Section: Coming Home | Category: Reaching Protestants

View Current Posts in This Section | Add Your Post in This Section

'Post of the Month' - March, 2009

My pro-life idea

Let's rent houses & apartments near abortion clinics and put up graphic images of aborted babies in our windows. If they are taped to the glass inside, what can they do about it? |Even if you end up having to take them down, they might be up long enough to do some good.|

Posted in Section: Catholic Life | Category: Civic Duties / Civic Life

View Current Posts in This Section | Add Your Post in This Section