On Prayer

Diaconate Formation ~ Fr. Kiziewski
"If you do not have 30 minutes of mental prayer, you need to change (& add that)!

Some thoughts on Prayer:

Prayer must translate to the HEART!!!

Romans 8:26 ~ "Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words."

All Prayer has 2 purposes:
#1 ~ Glorify God
#2 ~ Make us better (saves our soul/more holy).

Below is a great video to reflect on:

Ashes & Sackcloth

A great bit of writing:
A Year of Ashes

Some key take-aways (besides a year of contrition & penance, which would be fitting!):

~ Vows are vows and should be recognized as such (for both laity and ordained).

~ SIN is the problem, and the unwillingness to call SIN what it is!

~ We should FEAR GOD more than we fear (earthly) consequences!

BTW ~
I HAVE heard homilies, teaching and preaching on these very subjects. I count myself blessed to have had fantastic priests that speak the TRUTH and who look after their flock and really try to save souls!

Saving souls is no joke!!!

Another quote/thought that I reflected on this week:

Jesus taught and THEN fed. ~ Fr. Altman (Homily HERE)

This was as it relates to the people who would like to say Jesus would accept everyone (no matter their sins, w/o repentance) today! That we should be open to all, no matter their choices.

WRONG...teach them the TRUTH, and then, if they choose to follow (repent), welcome them with open arms!
Let's keep in mind that teaching does not have to be with a hammer (but sometimes it helps), but it can also not ALWAYS be with a feather, either.

ALWAYS show compassion and mercy!
Let's define compassion and mercy...It is NOT acceptance!!!
It IS caring for their ETERNAL SALVATION...teach them if the things they are doing are contrary to the truth. We MUST let them know there is more to life than the temporal, and that they (& we) should be concerned with the "life to come" far more than the immediate satisfaction/pleasures.

All Glory be to God!

Advent 2018

I have begun to fast on the Ember Days
It has been a good thing...getting back to the traditions of the Catholic Church.

Fasting and abstinence on Fridays is an important part of our Faith.
I would encourage you to try this...see what you feel like, where your mind goes, etc.
Reflect on Christ's Passion...
Adding these ember days, contributes to that penitential response even more so...
Remembering that God has given us ALL of creation...this includes nature, the seasons, weather, etc

This is a pic that I found and reflected during this Advent Season (and will continue to this year):

It says volumes...maybe even better to reflect on throughout the entire year, but makes more sense when you read it in light of ADVENT...

HOWEVER... We have been told that "the many" (the "In crowd") are taking the broad path, while "the few" are following the narrow path to heaven 

Enter by the narrow gate, since the road that leads to destruction is wide and spacious, and many take it; but it is a narrow gate and a hard road that leads to life, and only a few find it.  ~ Matt 7:13