Fooling God

Fooling God

  I saw this cartoon of Calvin and Hobbes and just had to post it on the blog. I have always been a fan of Calvin since I was younger and He really has at times been a voice of reason. Here we see Calvin acting as if he was sorry for what he just did but he really was just going through the motions so he wouldn’t get in trouble. Yet, the reality is, it was known he was not sorry and he says his act needs more work. 

  The same is for all of us who enter into the Sacrament of Reconciliation. We can not fool God. He knows if we are truly sorry for our sins. It does not matter how much we practice what will say in the confessional, the truth is still known. There is no walking out of there saying “ Wow, I got away with that”. There is no getting away with. There is no reason for us to even think that way because Jesus wants to forgive us. He will not love us less if we are honest and open to His saving Grace. 

    We are only fooling ourselves when we are not honest and open in the confessional. Do not ask for forgiveness if you really are not sorry. Wait until you feel ready to confess and you will be better off in the log run. Going through the motions will not give you the sanctifying  grace that we need to heal from our sins. It is through a penitent heart that we receive the sanctifying grace to restore our heart and soul.

Until tomorrow, God Bless, and remember we can only fool ourselves and never God. 

Pope to lead in Global Adoration

Pope to lead in Global Adoration

  This Sunday, June 2, Pope Francis will unite in prayer with the world in Eucharistic Adoration. The Worldwide Eucharist Adoration will be broadcasted from St. Basilica from 5 to 6 PM local time.  This has never happened in the History of our faith. There has been a great response and is expanding from the cathedrals to parishes, lay associations, religious congregations and cloistered religious. 

    Check out your local areas parishes and dioceses to find out how you can participate in joining what I must believe millions of fellow catholics in Eucharistic Adoration. Just the idea alone sends chills to my core. Millions of us gather in prayer at the same time, it is just incredible. I will post more information as it comes. 

Until tomorrow, God Bless, and may you find an hour to spend with Our Lord, in Adoration. 

Memorial Day

Memorial Day

Today I ask that we all pray for those who are serving and have served our Country and special prayers to those who lost their lives to protect our freedom. God Bless the USA.

Until tomorrow, God Bless, and may God Bless our Service Men and Women. 

A Prayer Before Mass - Saint Thomas Aquinas

A Prayer Before Mass - 

Saint Thomas Aquinas

 Today I found this prayer and it really speaks of what the most Holy Mass and receiving Holy Communion should mean to each of us. The prayer speaks of the healing power of the Body and Blood of Christ in the Eucharist. When we approach the alter of our Lord’s Supper we are seeking that spiritual, emotional and sometimes a physical & mental healing. The healing comes both from the Living Word and the Physical presence of Christ in the Eucharist. 

A Prayer Before Mass - Saint Thomas Aquinas

Almighty and ever-living God,

I approach the sacrament

of Your only-begotten Son

Our Lord Jesus Christ,

I come sick to the doctor of life,

unclean to the fountain of mercy,

blind to the radiance of eternal light,

and poor and needy to the Lord

of heaven and earth.

Lord, in your great generosity,

heal my sickness,

wash away my defilement,

enlighten my blindness, enrich my poverty,

and clothe my nakedness.

May I receive the bread of angels,

the King of kings and Lord of lords,

with humble reverence,

with the purity and faith,

the repentance and love,

and the determined purpose

that will help to bring me to salvation.

May I receive the sacrament

of the Lord's Body and Blood,

and its reality and power.

Kind God,

may I receive the Body

of Your only-begotten Son,

our Lord Jesus Christ,

born from the womb of the Virgin Mary,

and so be received into His mystical body

and numbered among His members.

Loving Father,

as on my earthly pilgrimage

I now receive Your beloved Son

under the veil of a sacrament,

may I one day see him face to face in glory,

who lives and reigns with You for ever.

Amen.

- Saint Thomas Aquinas

God's Gift Cards?

God's Gift Cards?

“Gifts clear the way for people, winning access to the great.” ~ Proverbs 18:16

  How do you feel when you get a gift card? Are you excited or does it depend if it a gift card that can be used anywhere or a specific store? Do you feel the person did not put in the time to think or is it fine with you? Well, one thing for sure is that God never gives you a gift card, you get the gift/gifts that is meant just for you. 

    Tonight I was going to go through the gifts of the Holy Spirit but again to me I felt that if we do not touch upon the reason for them and how they are given to us as individuals not as a whole, the actual gifts will not have the same meaning. I am talking about not only the gifts of the Holy Spirit but also the talents we all have inside of us that God has placed there. 

     If God did give us a gift card that we could use how ever we wanted to get the gifts and talents we wanted how special would it really be? How many of us would choose to be great singers, great actors, great artists, etc...? What would be special about them anymore? Nothing really special about them because so many have them now. It would be unique to be that bad singer, actor or artist now. I know it sounds ridiculous but really think about that reality. A life with no unique talents or gifts. We would not be as special as we are to God or each other. It would be more of a cookie cutter world then the special one we live in now. 

     What are some of the gifts and talents that make you different from other people? Even to those in your own family? What makes you, you? Think and pray on them and think how it would be if you did not have what makes you special and different? 

     We need to explore and strengthen those gifts and talents we have within us. This also means that we need to share them so we can glorify God in the process. When we use and share our gifts we are expressing our sincere Thanks to God. It is like when someone gets you a sweater and you know you will be seeing them so you wear it so they know you like it and that you are thankful for the gift. It is the same with God’s gifts to us. 

      When we receive the gifts or talents we decide if we use them or not. We even decide if we even want to open them to see what they are. God will never force the gifts upon us or force us to use them. It must and will come from inside ourselves if we are to or not. Of course God wants us to but in the ultimate gift of free will that He gave us, leaves all those other gifts for us to open or not. It is in prayer where we can learn what those gifts and talents are and also by exploring our own interests. 

       I ask for all of us to search in ourselves and really ask if we are using all of our gifts and talents and if we are not, What is holding you back? Remember, God choose those just for you because He knows who you are and who you are going to be.

Until tomorrow, God Bless, and do some unwrapping this week and see what you have inside you. 

My Relationship with the Holy Spirit

My Relationship with the Holy Spirit

   Tonight I want to focus on my personal thoughts and experiences with and about the Holy Spirit. Normally I would first go into the gifts of the Holy Spirit and the Fruits of the Holy Spirit but to me knowing the gifts will not help understand the Holy Spirit at all. It is when we use the gifts that is when we dive into that personal relationship with the Holy Spirit. 

     For me the Holy Spirit is that inner quake that shakes things up, brings things down, and rises up that burning sensation that sets my soul in that right direction. The Spirit is that whisper in the wind, that gentle touch, the inner stirring. The calling from the heavens. That gentle reminder of who I am and who I am to be each day. That force that quiets my mind and embraces my soul. The Spirit is my constant connection to God and Jesus. That never ending bond with Heaven.  

    I know it was the Holy Spirit that kept trying to pull me back to the life of God, Jesus, Church and Faith those years when I was away. It was that voice that would come from time to time and just a light whisper of who I used to be. It was never a judgmental whisper but that of hope. It is the same voice that continues now to guide me in the next chapter of my life. That new or even old vocation that I am being called and led to. I am not sure where the Spirit is leading me but I am finding many blessings and adventures on the way. 

     The Holy Spirit is and always has been that wind in my sail that moves me. Even when I was being stubborn and anchored myself to the ocean floor so I would not be moved by the spirit, I was still moved because the waves were strong and aided the spirit in moving me ever so slightly. Without the Holy Sprit I would not be back and living my life the way it is now. 

      It was not just on Pentecost that the Sprit sets us on fire but everyday. If we allow the spirit to move and work in us then we will be able to use the gifts and see the fruits of the Holy Spirit before us. Think of what the Holy Sprit has done and what the spirit is to you? How do you see the spirit working or guiding in your life? Seek the silence and see the Holy Spirit.

Until tomorrow, God Bless, and may the Holy Spirit live and work in you today and everyday. 

Oklahoma Prayers

Oklahoma Prayers

 Tonight I ask that we all gather in prayer for all those in Oklahoma.

For those who lost their lives and for those who are left behind weeping for them.

Lord hear our prayer.

For those who are trapped waiting for help, may the rescuers be guided to them.

Lord hear our prayer. 

For all those who are homeless, that they shall find shelter.

Lord hear our prayer.

For all those who are suffering, may they find comfort. 

Lord hear our prayer. 

For those who can help, may they find a way.

Lord hear our prayer.

For those who are hungry, may they find food.

Lord hear our prayer.

For those who thirst, may they find clean water.

Lord hear our prayer.

Heavenly Father hear the prayers of your faithful. May we all gather to be like Your Son, and help as Jesus would help, Love as He would love, share as He would have shared and care as He would have cared. We ask this in your Name... Amen