Conclave Date Set

Conclave Date Set

    The Conclave date has been set for Tuesday, March 12th. This weekend I ask for all of us to offer up our prayers and mass for all the Cardinals Say a rosary or two. Go to adoration for some time. This is how we are able to be a part of this time of transition. The Catholic Faith is that of a Universal Faith. The Faith is one and as one united body we need to come together and offer ourselves to the church body and unite for the soon to be new Pontiff. 

Until tomorrow, God Bless, and may the Holy Spirit guide us all. 

Saint Thomas

Saint Thomas

Feast day: July 3

Patron of architects

St. Thomas was a Jew, called to be one of the twelve Apostles. He was a dedicated but impetuous follower of Christ. When Jesus said He was returning to Judea to visit His sick friend Lazarus, Thomas immediately exhorted the other Apostles to accompany Him on the trip which involved certain danger and possible death because of the mounting hostility of the authorities. At the Last Supper, when Christ told His Apostles that He was going to prepare a place for them to which they also might come because they knew both the place and the way, Thomas pleaded that they did not understand and received the beautiful assurance that Christ is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. But St. Thomas is best known for his role in verifying the Resurrection of his Master. Thomas' unwillingness to believe that the other Apostles had seen their risen Lord on the first Easter Sunday merited for him the title of "doubting Thomas." Eight days later, on Christ's second apparition, Thomas was gently rebuked for his skepticism and furnished with the evidence he had demanded - seeing in Christ's hands the point of the nails and putting his fingers in the place of the nails and his hand into His side. At this, St. Thomas became convinced of the truth of the Resurrection and exclaimed: "My Lord and My God," thus making a public Profession of Faith in the Divinity of Jesus. St. Thomas is also mentioned as being present at another Resurrection appearance of Jesus - at Lake Tiberias when a miraculous catch of fish occurred. This is all that we know about St. Thomas from the New Testament. Tradition says that at the dispersal of the Apostles after Pentecost this saint was sent to evangelize the Parthians, Medes, and Persians; he ultimately reached India, carrying the Faith to the Malabar coast, which still boasts a large native population calling themselves "Christians of St. Thomas." He capped his left by shedding his blood for his Master, speared to death at a place called Calamine. His feast day is July 3rd and he is the patron of architects.

Church to Pray

Church to Pray

    The Vatican today invited the entire Church to pray with cardinals when they dedicate tomorrow afternoon to prayer and adoration in St. Peter's basilica for the upcoming papal election. The prayers begin at 5pm Rome time (11a.m. EST). I ask that we join in Union in our hearts and souls with the Cardinals. 

Until tomorrow, God Bless, and may the spirit guide us all. 

Chipping Away

Chipping Away

    Have you ever just stopped whatever you were doing and sighed then looked around and just got a feeling of God or Jesus out of no where? They were not on your mind at that time but a feeling just comes over you and it is like you are transported to another place where it s calm and you start to search your soul? Well, it has happened a few times for me and just a while ago that feeling came over me.  

    I know for some I may sound a bit crazy or just slightly out there but please humor me and listen with an open mind and heart. I debated about sharing this because it is more on a deeper personal level but is it not that deeper personal level we are seeking with God and Jesus? So, how can I not. 

     As I said Lent is my time of working on myself daily and chipping away at myself so I may find Jesus with in me. I have more to chip away since being away. More sin to chip away. More doubts to chip. More anger to chip. More misunderstandings to chip. With each hit of the hammer and chisel I try to take more and more of myself away so that Jesus can shine through me. I was walking through my home and I just stopped and let out a sigh and a feeling of calm and warmth came over me. For a little while, problems and decisions seemed to be clearer in my head. Things seemed to settle in my heart, mind and soul. For the first time in a long time I felt I was on the right path to God. The doubts were gone and the path was straight. 

      It did not last long but knowing for just a few moments my life was in line with God and Jesus was calming and the fears of going the wrong way was gone. My greatest fear in my life is not of sin but of going that wrong way and not being on the right path. That I am not serving God and Jesus in the right way. Tonight it was getting that bit of confirmation, that seal of approval I have been worried about. 

     Is there some decisions or areas of your life that you pray are in line with God and Jesus? That you pray that you get some confirmation on? I pray that you get those confirmations. It was like a sigh of relief tonight for me. That God is working in me and I am chipping away to find Jesus in me. A lot is to be done still and it never becomes perfection till we are all in His presence in all His glory and grace. 

       I was not searching or praying for that confirmation tonight but that is part of how God and Jesus works. We may not get those answers or confirmations when we are seeking them but will get them when we are not expecting them. 

Until tomorrow, God Bless, and may we all feel that sigh of God’s Love and Jesus’ Grace. 

Tony Melendez

Tony Melendez

Tonight I went to see the Tony Melendez concert. He is a man of God who seeks to show God’s grace and love to others. Tonight instead of a normal blog I am just posting some of his videos because there are just no words that can explain his ministry. 

Stop Look Listen

Stop Look Listen

  I bet as we all were growing up we were told to Stop, Look, Listen before we crossed the street. It was ingrained in us. Our parents said it over and over and over again an we would yell back I KNOW!!! We always felt we knew better and some of us just might had some close calls with the car because we did the quick version of Stop, Look, Listen and that was Pause, Look one way, Yell to friend across street. 

   We need to do the same with our relationship with God. Stop, Look, Listen. Each one is just as important as the other.  Without doing all three we are putting ourself at risk of getting run over  in our lives. We also risk missing opportunities because we are not paying attention. Each time we pray and ask for guidance or answers we have to Stop, Look, Listen. 

     First thing to do after we pray is that  we have to Stop. Stop everything. Stop the phone, the texts, the tv, the thoughts, the distractions. Stop doing things also. It may feel like the world stopped turning but trust me it will still turn even without all of these things being on in your life. This does not mean we have to remove these things forever but to stop and turn them off now and again so we can do the next part and that is to look. 

      Second we need to Look. Look around you and see the miracles and signs from God. We zoom through life and miss the signs and miracles around us. We miss the “everyday”. Think about those around you and see the blessings they are in your life. What do they bring to your life? What are the miracles around you? They do not have to be just the grand miracles like healing but can just be the simple ones like getting out of bed, being able to see, walking etc... Make a list of some of the miracles you see around you and when you feel life is hard, look them over. Now the signs in your life. Look for them each day. God may not answer right away or make a great grand parting of the Red Sea kind of sign but He will answer you. Just look and then to the next is to listen. 

      Third is to Listen. Listen to your heart and soul. Listen to all the signs around you. Sometimes the answer may come in a song, words of a friend, bible passage, etc.. When we listen with our whole heart and whole soul we are able to be open to hear the message from God. Do not just listen to what you want to hear but listen to everything. We may not like an answer but we still need to listen to it. 

     When we incorporate Stop, Look, Listen into our prayer lives we are able to create the opportunity to come closer to God and understand what He wants for us and has done for us. If we decide to do the quick version we will miss the everyday miracles and signs from God. We need to take the time to do this right so we will have the graces upon us.

Until tomorrow, God Bless, and remember Stop, Look. Listen. 

St. Casimir

St. Casimir

Feast day: March 4

Patron of Poland and Lithuania

1461 - 1484

Casimir grew up in a world where his life was not his own. As a prince of Poland, the second son of King Casimir IV and Elizabeth of Austria, his life was scheduled to cement his father's authority and increase Poland's power.

Casimir realized from an early age that his life belonged to someone else, but to a much higher King than his father. Despite pressure, humiliation, and rejection, he stood by that loyalty through his whole life.

Born the third of thirteen children in 1461, Casimir was committed to God from childhood. Some of that commitment was the result of a tutor, John Dlugosz, whose holiness encouraged Casimir on his own journey.

It may be hard for us to imagine royal luxury as a pressure. But for Casimir, the riches around him were temptations to forget his true loyalties. Rebelling against the rich, fashionable clothes he was expected to enjoy, he wore the plainest of clothes.

Rejecting even ordinary comforts, he slept little, spending his nights in prayer. And when he did sleep, he lay on the floor not on a royal bed. Even though he was a prince, many of those around him must have laughed and joked at his choices. Yet, in the face of any pressure, Casimir was always friendly and calm.

Though his father must have wondered about him, he must have seen and admired Casimir's strength. He showed that he misunderstood this strength when he sent Casimir as head of an army to take over the throne of Hungary at the request of some nobles there. Casimir felt the whole expedition was wrong but was convinced to go out of obedience to his father. He could not help but feel at every step that it was disobedient to his other Father. So when soldiers started deserting, he was only too glad to listen to the advice of his officers and turn back home. His feelings were confirmed when he discovered that Pope Sixtus IV had opposed the move.

His father, however, was furious at being deterred from his plans and banished Casimir to a castle in Dobzki, hoping that imprisonment would change Casimir's mind. Casimir's commitment to what he believed was right only grew stronger in his exile and he refused to cooperate with his father's plans any more despite the pressure to give in. He even rejected a marriage alliance his father tried to form. He participated in his true King's plans wholeheartedly by praying, studying, and helping the poor.

He died at the age of 23 in 1484 from lung disease. He was buried with his favorite song, a Latin hymn to Mary called "Omni die dic Mariae" which we know as "Daily, Daily Sing to Mary." Because of his love for the song, it is known as the Hymn of St. Casimir though he didn't write it.

Casimir is patron saint of Poland and Lithuania.

In His Footsteps:

Where do your loyalties lie? Is there a part of your life where you feel your loyalties divided and feel pressure to follow worldly commitment? Today choose the action that best serves Christ the King.

Prayer:

Saint Casimir, help us to remember that our true King is Jesus Christ and always serve him with joy and love. Help us to turn to our true Father for guidance and protection. Amen