The ABCs of Catholicism!

Sorry this is a bit late, but check out my latest at Epic Pew! Also, stay tuned for some updates and exciting new things happening on my end. This year has been and will continue to be truly EPIC!

Graduate School

This is going to be a great year. If things go the way they seem to be, graduate school should be on the horizon as early as next fall. Very exciting things, indeed. Pray for me.

"Behold, I make all things new"

"3 I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, God's dwelling is with the human race. He will dwell with them and they will be his people and God himself will always be with them (as their God). 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there shall be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain, (for) the old order has passed away." 5 The one who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." Then he said, "Write these words down, for they are trustworthy and true." 6 He said to me, "They are accomplished. I (am) the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give a gift from the spring of life-giving water. 7 The victor will inherit these gifts, and I shall be his God, and he will be my son" (Apoc. 21:3-7).

God's plan is so supremely better than any of our grandest ideas or plans that we have. When God dwells within you, you cannot but help be filled with a joy that nothing else can give. God indeed wipes away all the tears and takes our worries and pain and cares as His own. He takes them and makes them go away. And in their place, he gives life and hope and he makes all things so wonderfully new. And what God sets his mind to, he accomplishes. And he knows the plan from beginning to end and if we trust in Him, we know that he will always lead us in the right direction.

May we always strive to be in His will for His purposes. Amen.

St. Paschal, pray for us!

To Everything -- Turn, Turn, Turn

1 There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every affair under the heavens. 2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to uproot the plant. 3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to tear down, and a time to build. 4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance. 5 A time to scatter stones, and a time to gather them; a time to embrace, and a time to be far from embraces. 6 A time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away. 7 A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to be silent, and a time to speak. 8 A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace...11 He has made everything appropriate to its time, and has put the timeless into their hearts, without men's ever discovering, from beginning to end, the work which God has done. --Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, 11

I believe that it is time...

"He saves in time of trouble..."

Often in the course of life, a man must make some tough decisions. These decisions can and do affect not only him, but others as well. The true quest, as I am coming to find out, is not necessarily the end result, but the journey itself. Getting from point "A" to point "B" will undoubtedly happen. It is the way that one gets there that truly allows a man to grow into what he should become and must become in order to be what God wants him to be.

A true leader must make decisions that are tough and that others might not understand until they look back at a distance. A true Christian must take up His cross and follow Him. But His yoke is easy and His burden is light. We are not given more than we can handle. And Christ assures us that He is with us always, even unto the end of the age.

I don't know how much more obvious God can get. It is my perceptions, 'mis' or otherwise, that oftentimes get in the way of me truly seeing what the Lord has laid out for me. I am hesitant not because I don't trust God, but because I don't trust myself and my ability to make decisions. I know that I can, it is the act of doing that I seem to be shying away from.

I must take heed of the words, "Fear not, for I am with thee: turn not aside, for I am thy God: I have strengthened thee, and have helped thee, and the right hand of my just one hath upheld thee." -Isaiah 41:10.

Or these great words from the Old Testament that have always brought comfort to me, "My son, when you come to serve the LORD, prepare yourself for trials. Be sincere of heart and steadfast, undisturbed in time of adversity. Cling to him, forsake him not; thus will your future be great. Accept whatever befalls you, in crushing misfortune be patient; For in fire gold is tested, and worthy men in the crucible of humiliation. Trust God and he will help you; make straight your ways and hope in him. You who fear the LORD, wait for his mercy, turn not away lest you fall. You who fear the LORD, trust him, and your reward will not be lost. You who fear the LORD, hope for good things, for lasting joy and mercy. Study the generations long past and understand; has anyone hoped in the LORD and been disappointed? Has anyone persevered in his fear and been forsaken? has anyone called upon him and been rebuffed? Compassionate and merciful is the LORD; he forgives sins, he saves in time of trouble." -Sirach 2:1-11.

On Friendship

I'm always amazed at how God puts people in my life right when I need them. What's even more amazing is the fact that this is one of His favorite ways to let us know he hears our prayers. (At least I think so). Life would be terrible without friends. I've heard it said that "Friends are the family that we choose." I believe that wholeheartedly. I guess that's how all families start. Jesus says,

13 No one has greater love than this, than to lay down one's life for one's friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father. 16 It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you. 17 This I command you: love one another. 18 "If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own; but because you do not belong to the world, and I have chosen you out of the world, the world hates you. 20 Remember the word I spoke to you, 'No slave is greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.

What amazing words from the Master. Laying down your life does not necessarily mean that you have to die, but it could mean that you sacrifice your whole life for the greater good of this other person. Your friend. That's what Christ did. And that is something that is hard to wrap your mind around. My God has called me, little old flawed me, His friend. Wow. It doesn't get much more personal than that (except for when we receive the Eucharist. And when you can receive the Eucharist with your friend, that's a whole new level of friendship that exists between both of you). Eat that Protestants! Literally (see John 6).

That's the kind of friend that I want to be; that I strive to be. If I have the love of God, I want to share that with others. Especially my friends. I suppose that all of my recent posts all tie together somewhat. That just kind of happened. I think. God works it, not me.

To all who are and remain my best and closest friends, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. We can get through anything together because Christ was our friend first and He is the one that brought us together in the first place.

Our Lady of the Rosary -- Pray for us!
St. Pius V -- Pray for us!

Meant to Be

Love will not betray you

Dismay or enslave you, it will set you free

Be more like the man you were made to be...

What amazing words from a band called "Mumford and Sons." It's from the title track Sigh No More. It was actually suggested by a really great priest friend of mine. Seriously, one of the coolest guys ever.

When I listen to this song and really feel the words, I come to a sort of peace. When I hear "Love will not betray you" I hear God telling me these words. This is the same God who IS Love. When you are in love with God and being loved by God, it will set you free. It will help me to become the man that I am meant to be.

I have no idea of where I am going or what I will do. All I know is that I love God and I want what He wants. And music is a gift from God. Seriously. Find some that means something and listen to it. He might be speaking through that. Where my life will take me is up to Him. I will respond accordingly.

When I love as God Loves, I will truly be set free.

Discerning

How do we know that what we are doing is, in fact, the Will of God? How can we completely unite ourselves to His love and His Will? Is that even a remote possibility this side of the veil?

Life, I have come to realize, is just one big discernment process. Even at the most basest of levels. Even in the most mundane everyday things, there is a process of discernment. Do I put on this shirt or that one? Eat this for breakfast or that? Go to sleep or keep reading? Though seemingly unimportant, I believe that the process perfects itself and helps you to decide when it really matters. Practice, as they say (whoever 'they' are), makes perfect.

Jesus Himself, had periods of intense discernment. Think about His time in the desert for 40 days or about His prayers in the Garden before His Passion. God Himself, in virtue of His humanity, had to discern the Father's Will. He knew what He had to do, and still asked if the cup would pass. But the key was complete and total loving submission to the plan of the Father. That is what I want to do. ('Course, J.C. was God and knew what exactly was going to happen. I don't have the luxury.)

I am only concerned with what God's plan is for me. I am entirely in His hands right now. I know that my life also includes me and my wants and desires. I've said it before, if I conform myself so intimately with His Will, my will becomes His. Or something like that. That's true freedom.

I just wish sometimes that he would drop a letter on down telling me what exactly to do. I suppose that's what it means to have Faith. Faith in God that He will lead me to what He wants for my life. Faith that I will be able to act accordingly to His Will.

St. Louis-Marie de Montfort -- Pray for us!
Check out this link to Fr. Longenecker's blog about the still small voice in discerning. I love God!

Adoration: Remedy to Stress

Lately, I have been in a constant conversation with myself about a lot of different things. It's been good days, bad days, and just daze sometimes. One minute I feel that I should be going in one direction and the next minute, I feel that I should stay the course that I am on.

I get frustrated at myself and have trouble sometimes with what exactly is going on. I will say that because of this internal "strife" I have been even more prayerful than normal and it has been an opportunity to again place all of my woes and worries in Christ's hands. Those wonderful hands that stretched themselves out on that cross for me. I don't have to worry about if I am the only one in this. I know that God Himself has gone through this and is going through it all with me now.

I thank Him for all the support of friends, family, and the prayers that I know are being said. And another great benefit through this has been my adoration time. It's increased a lot in the past month or so (going from no time to some time is a big increase.) I find myself ever more longing to spend some more time with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. To paraphrase a great saint, "I just stare at Him and He just stares right back".

Adoration: try it and you'll be hooked.

Prayer: The Remedy to Stress and Life

Lately, there have been a lot of distractions and a lot of little stresses in life. But, I believe that God sends people to let us know that he is still there and that yes, He is right here with us all. Not that I truly ever doubt that he is there. It's just nice to know that people have your back and that behind those prayers and those people, God is right there smiling and allowing life to be experienced through Him, with Him, and in Him.

And praying is key. Prayer gets us through the day and prayer can be small offerings throughout the day. And it's really humbling to know other are praying for me too. Just knowing that gives me a sense of peace that everything will be okay. I guess, I just really recommend praying and being open to what is being prayed.

It sure is good to be a Catholic Christian.

Life and Death to Life

On September 12th, 2009 my grandfather was called home to the Lord. It was a trying time, but it was a peaceful time. He was surrounded by his family, just the way that he wanted. We sang him home with is favorite song, "On Eagles Wings." It still chokes me up and I will never listen to that song the same again. (The following Sunday after his inurnment, the choir sang the song and I couldn't help but smile to myself. That is true comfort. I'm thinking that Grandpa pulled some strings to let me know that though he's gone from my sight, he is still very much alive.) I am missing his advice and his pure love for us all. Truly he was a great man and he drew his strength from the Lord.

I guess through this whole ordeal, you begin to realize the value of family and the comfort that faith in Christ brings to us. It is through our sufferings that we are made more in the image of Christ. Truly to be a Christian you share in the life of Christ. And Christ suffered and died. It is a part of life and indeed the birth into a new life. Victorious over death, in Christ we have no need to be scared. Our hope is the hope of the Resurrection at the end of time when we will be reunited in spirit and body with all of those who have ever lived and died in Christ. What a beautiful future. And we know how the story ends. We win. And there is nothing that will seperate us from the Love of God.

This is what the Catechism says about the Resurrection and what it means. And this is what it says about us and our own resurrection. I cannot but thank God for the opportunity to have known and loved my grandfather. I am praying that Grandpa remembers us and prays for us and that he heard what we all want to hear, "Well done my good and faithful servant...Come share your Master's joy." (St. Matthew 25:23).