Sunday, February 25, 2007


Lenten Tip #1


It's a good idea during Lent to do extra sacrifices, fast, and extra prayer. Now what about sacrifices? It's a good practice during Lent to "give something up" that you normally enjoy but is not necessary or something that is bad (e.g. some sin, vice, or imperfection). It's interesting that there is a "Fat Tuesday", where people wish to indulge in extra amounts of whatever they are going to give up during Lent. However, think about it for a second... Should the sacrifices we make during Lent just continue during Lent, or maybe some of the sacrifices of stopping the bad or unhealthy things we've given up continue forever? Yes! Lent is the time for conversion and repentance, and that should be lasting and not just seasonal. I encourage you this Lent to give up whatever vice, sin, or imperfection that you need to overcome and once Easter rolls around to rise with Christ free from that evil and not fall back into it! "From that time on, Jesus began to preach and say, 'Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.'" (Matthew 4:17)
TRUTH IS NOT DETERMINED BY A MAJORITY VOTE!!!!
(But that doesn't mean we can't have fun and vote on matters which are not doctrine!) So here are the results from my polls, and I thank everyone that has taken them! Please vote on the upcoming polls.

When was the last time you went to confession?
Votes
Within the last two weeks 53% 8

Within the last month 13% 2

Within the last 3 months 20% 3

Within the past year 13% 2

I have never been to confession 0%

15 votes total


Which of these languages for the Mass do you prefer?
Votes
All English 13% 2

Latin 38% 6

Latin and English 50% 8

I really don't care 0% 0

16 votes total

Saturday, February 24, 2007


Lenten Meme

1. What is your favorite Sorrowful Mystery? I suppose it would be the Crucifixion because this is the most awesome yet horrifying and terrible moment that ever occurred in history. It reminds me of how God loves me and the kind of love I must have for Him....
2. What is your favorite Station of the Cross? I guess it would be "Jesus falls the third time" because it reminds me that we all fall many times but can still get back up.
3. Do you fast during Lent? Well, I fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday and abstain from meat on Fridays as required, but I'm not doing much other fasting because I'm trying to gain weight not loose it!!! However, I'll try to maintain a spirit of penance through sacrifices and prayer...
4. What is your Lenten Resolution(s)? 1. Not hitting the sleep button on my alarm clock, 2. praying the whole rosary before TV or blogging, etc. 3. Not buying anything for me except necessities and spiritual items.
5. Do you use Holy Water during Lent? Of course!!! I'm not stupid!!!
6. How many times do you go to Mass during Lent? Actually, I don't have the option at this time in my life to attend daily Mass, so it looks like just pretty much on Sundays.

I tag Mac McLernon from http://mulier-fortis.blogspot.com/

Thursday, February 22, 2007

Prayers needed
No, this is not a prayer request but a request for prayers... OK, let me make myself a little clearer.... I have been given the privilege of picking out new prayer books for our Altar Servers to use for after Holy Communion so that they are not fidgeting around and possibly talking etc., but are focusing on Whom they have just received. So, does anyone know of any prayer book that would be suitable for children as young as about 8 and for as old as about 16? If you have any suggestions or ideas please leave a note in the comment box. The prayer book must, of course, have prayers for after Holy Communion. Thanks!

Tuesday, February 20, 2007

I had to post this article from Alive and Young, as it was so funny yet very informative!
Source: Alive and Young

Monday, February 19, 2007

Confused Teen Interviews Local Bishop on the Season of Lint

Teen: Bishop, As Catholics we are about to enter the Season of Lint. Would you mind telling us something about the Linten Season?

Bishop: Well, I don't know much about the season of Lint. If I remember correctly, Lint is the stuff you find in your pockets after drying your clothes. Personally, I don't see a theological reasoning to have an entire season devoted to Lint. But as Christians and Catholics we have an entire season devoted to Lent. In as few words as possible, Lent is a season of preparation for Easter Sunday, the resurrection of our Lord. Lent is a time of penance, prayer, fasting, and alms giving. It is considered one of the most holiest times of the year, and because of that we too should engage in deepening our relationship with Christ. As Christ went to the desert for 40 days so we too enter into a period of 40 days of spiritual exercise.

Teen: I'm from a post-Vatican II parish and I'm not familiar with some of the words you used, what is Arms giving? Why must we give arms during Lint?
Bishop: My child, all churches have been post-vatican II churches ever since Vatican II ended. As far as "arms giving" goes, well we don't give arms during LENT. It is "Alms giving." Although Alms giving can be done with your arms, it is by no means a giving of arms. Alms giving -- or to give other alms -- is to simply give of one's material possessions to assist the needy or poor inspired by charity, or love as most people say these days, for the sake of Christ. Always remember, helping the needy in any way is a good thing. But the act itself is empty without it done for the Sake of Christ.
Teen: Why exactly, Bishop, does Lint have so many Holes in it?

Bishop: I'm sorry. I don't understand the question.

Teen: You said that Lint was the holiest season. Why are there so many holes in it?

Bishop: Haha! No no no. Not Holes. There aren't any holes in Lent. Holiest as in the most sacred. Lent is nearing the Apex of our faith. If you must, it is the penultimate time for us Christians. Lent is leading us to the resurrection of Christ. It is leading us to the 8th day that is the first day. It is leading us to the new creation. We as Christians need to take advantage of this time and do real penance.

Teen: That brings me to my next question. Is it our moral responsibility to cheer for the Angels to win the Pennants in the years to come?

Bishop: No, I don't think so. I believe you can cheer for any baseball team and still be in good moral standing with the church. What exactly spurred this question?

Teen: You kept mentioning that during Lint we should be true pennants.
Bishop: You are a kidder. Penance not Pennants. Pennants is something a baseball team wins. Penance is something that you do when you are sorry for your actions. It is seeking forgiveness as well as doing some act to right the wrong which has been done. Our sacrament of reconciliation is sometimes call the sacrament of penance, because it is about seeking forgiveness and righting our relationship with God and the full body of Christ. With our being a true penitent one cannot find true forgiveness. I have time for one more questions.

Teen: I am on the track team at school. How can I become faster during this season.

Bishop: (Sigh!) Let me guess. You think fasting means becoming faster?

Teen: Well, yeah. What else does it mean? Our track team is really bad, and we need all the edges we can get.

Bishop: Oh my. What do they teach you kids these days? Fasting doesn't make you faster. Although, it could put you on the fast track to heaven if done properly. So what is fasting? Fasting means to abstain from certain foods. More specifically it means to cut back on the amount of food you eat for a certain period of time. Traditionally, fasting means to eat two small meals, maybe what most of us call a snack, and one normal, but nor over sized, meal. Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are two days of fasting. How do you fast? You fast first and foremost for the Love of Christ. Fasting done for its own sake is really just starvation or maybe even a diet. Fasting should always have a spiritual end incorporated with the corporal action. That is, we fast physically to reconnect our selves to the sufferings of Christ's passion. It remind us that we are mortal and our bodies are week, and it is by Christ that we live and have the Bread of Life.

Teen: Thanks your for your time bishop. I learned a lot. I hope other do too.During Lent we give Alms and not Arms.

Sunday, February 18, 2007

I Can't Tell, Is this Good?

Your IQ Is 125

Your Logical Intelligence is Below Average

Your Verbal Intelligence is Exceptional

Your Mathematical Intelligence is Genius

Your General Knowledge is Exceptional
Pouring of the Precious Blood update: AND I THINK THE LAST!!!!!
ALLELUIA!!!! Praise to You Lord Jesus Christ! I have such good news for everyone, and I thank EVERYONE that has been putting this intention in your prayers. The liturgical abuse happening at my parish concerning the pouring of the Precious Blood after consecration will cease after this Sunday to my knowledge. The deacon told me this morning that we would be making some changes and that would be one of them! Alleluia! I haven't received this good of news in such a long time. I hope we can all see the power of prayer and sacrifice through this. Thank you all who prayed and made sacrifices, and I praise Our Lord Jesus Christ most of all!!!
Bless me Bloggers.....
For I haven't blogged!
Sorry everyone, more blog articles coming soon---my life is a little hectic right now. Thanks for all the recent comments! God Bless!

Sunday, February 11, 2007

Good News and Bad News
The good news is that the abortion referendum did not pass due to not enough of a turnout at the polls. The bad news is it seems that the government in Portugal will get their way no matter what. Sounds like a free country huh? Free for everyone that has enough power and can have their way---oh wait, I guess that doesn't leave room for innocent unborn babies, doest it? This make me mad. Once again please pray and do penance for an end to abortion!

Thursday, February 08, 2007



Fulton Sheen and Stalin

I have heard a story recently that was very interesting though I have found no sources backing its authenticity. Nonetheless, it is a story worth telling weather true or not because it could happen this way and there is an important lesson.

The story is of the late Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen when he was only an altar boy. One day as he was serving at Holy Mass he accidentally dropped the flask of wine and it splattered everywhere. He was distressed but the priest serving Mass told him not to worry, and that he would one day become a priest himself. Apparently Stalin (though doing research this could more likely be Hitler) was also an altar boy and was serving at Holy Mass. He did the same thing that Fulton Sheen did and dropped the wine in the flask. The Bishop celebrating Mass slapped him and told him to get out and not come back! We know the rest of the story...

I think that what we can learn from this is the effect of our seemingly small actions, that really can have bigger effects than we imagined. Can we blame this Bishop for Stalin's choices for an evil life based on this one instance? No. But we could say it played a role. Take a second to think about what effects your actions and attitudes are having on other people especially children. I am not saying we shouldn't discipline children, but that we need to know our place. This Bishop could have talked to Stalin about his carelessness and told and showed him God's loving Mercy, instead he focused on the moment.
Lord, lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil! For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, Have Mercy on us and on the whole world!!!





Can you Live ONE Day Without TV?

The short answer is actually: yes! You can live one day without TV, but there is a campaign to come together and all shut off our TVs on one specific day so as to protest the degeneration of the culture through TV. Turn Off Your TV Day is on February 14th.

Fr. Morton A. Hill, S.J., founder of Morality in Media says: "Addiction is an ugly word, but it is a reality. And what are the results of TV addiction? Deterioration. Deterioration of family togetherness, closeness. Deterioration of mind and spirit. We've lost the art of family conversation. We don't read. Our children are not stimulated to read. They are missing the great treasures, the literature of the ages. But the worst result of the addiction is a lack of interest in God and Scriptures. Divine love as well as human love is leaving the home of the family addicted to television,"

The degeneration of TV is obvious when you watch shows like "I Love Lucy" to "Two and a Half Men". "I Love Lucy" is mostly just good clean humor while our recent shows have turned to praise sexual and vulgar jokes and lifestyles. It's time to draw the line as to what we watch and don't watch on TV these days. Remember on your death bed it won't matter if you've missed an episode of "The Young and the Restless" (brainless?) but what you have done in your life to follow Jesus Christ.

Wednesday, February 07, 2007


INDULGENCES FOR THE WORLD DAY OF THE SICK

VATICAN CITY, FEB 6, 2007 (VIS) - Late yesterday afternoon, the Apostolic Penitentiary published a decree announcing the concession of indulgences to the faithful for the World Day of the Sick, which is celebrated every year on February 11, Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. This year, the Day will be celebrated in Seoul, Korea.

"We must," the text of the decree reads, "reflect deeply upon the fact that human remedies have a limit and that, therefore, there will inevitably come a time when man reaches the end of his journey on this earth. To the sick who are in that condition we must offer the most attentive care and the greatest charity, so that their transit from this world to the Father is comforted by divine consolation and so that, as the Church's prayer for the dying implores, they may see the gentle face of Jesus Christ and clearly hear the voice calling them to eternal glory and joy."

"With this awareness, the Holy Mother Church hopes that the annual celebration of the World Day of the Sick may become an effective catechesis of the teaching ... of the treasure of Revelation, concerning the value and function of suffering."

For this reason, Plenary Indulgence will be granted "to the faithful who, under the usual conditions (sacramental Confession, Eucharistic communion and prayer in keeping with the intentions of the Holy Father), and with the soul completely removed from attachment to any form of sin, participate on February 11 in the city of Seoul, or at any other place decided by the ecclesiastical authorities, in a sacred ceremony held to beseech God to grant the goals of the World Day of the Sick."

The decree continues: "The faithful who, in public hospitals or in private houses, like 'Good Samaritans' charitably assist the sick - especially those suffering incurable and terminal diseases - and who, because of the service they provide, cannot participate in the aforementioned ceremony, will obtain the same gift of Plenary Indulgence if on that day they generously provide, at least for a few hours, their charitable assistance to the sick as if they were tending to Christ the Lord Himself, with the soul completely removed from attachment to any form of sin, and with the intention of observing, as soon as they can, the conditions required for obtaining the Plenary Indulgence.

"The faithful who, through sickness, old age or similar reason, are prevented from participating in the aforementioned ceremony, may obtain the Plenary Indulgence if, with the soul completely removed from attachment to any form of sin and with the intention of observing, as soon as they can, the conditions required, they spiritually participate together with the Holy Father in the aforesaid ceremony, pray devotedly for the sick, and offer - through the Virgin Mary 'Health of the Sick' - their physical and spiritual sufferings to God."

Partial Indulgence, the text of the decree concludes, will be conceded to "all the faithful whenever, between February 9 and 11, with a contrite heart they raise devout prayers to the merciful Lord calling for these aspirations to be met in order to help the sick, especially those suffering incurable and terminal disease."
PENT/INDULGENCES:SICK/... VIS 070206 (540)


Lost and confused about Indulgences??? Read my previous post (scan down)

Sunday, February 04, 2007

Characteristics of Good Mental Health
Here I will provide random thoughts on good mental health based off of a talk my Biology teacher gave that was excellent.
1. Emotionally Stable. Are your emotions under control? Are you excessively depressed or excessively goofy? Many people think it's only depressed people whose emotions are unstable, but some people are the opposite and are always laughing or making jokes to distract themselves/others about their problems. It's a good thing to have a sense of humor and to be serious sometimes, but to be overdosed with a particular emotion is unhealthy. One should be able to have control over their emotions in normal everyday situations.
2. Humility. Neither overestimate nor underestimate your abilities and gifts that God has given you. True humility sees oneself as who he truly is. It's so easy to deceive ourselves and think we are stronger in certain areas, or sometimes the opposite and think that something is impossible for us that is attainable. Learn to see yourself sincerely and unbiased. God uses all of our abilities, but we all have different abilities and gifts. We can't do anything even if that is what some people would want you to believe. Through God all things are possible, yes, but God has called each of us to a certain vocation.
3. Being able to have relationships with other people. In Mark 12:31 Jesus says the second greatest commandment is: "The second is this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these."
As Christians we need to love everyone. That is an order from God. Do we have to LIKE everyone? No, because there is a difference. I may not like somebody that is a mass murderer, but I still must love him. I don't FEEL any attraction or liking towards this individual, but I still as a Christian must have love for him. I must be willing to pray for him, to sacrifice my life if necessary for him, and love him as much as I love myself.
Mentally healthy people can have lasting friendships with others. There are some people that seek only after attention from peers, but a true friend is one that sticks through the thick and thin. There may be hardships, but the friends can remain friends and try to work through what is hindering the relationship.
Being able to trust others is also important. Now, be careful on this one, because you must trust only trustworthy people and shouldn't be naive and just trust everything/anyone that you hear. But stop just trusting yourself and be willing to listen to and trust others. A problem with scrupulous people for example is that they often do not wish to trust their spiritual directors and therefore hinder themselves in progress.
Being able to respect people's differences is also important. As Catholics for example, we must believe in the doctrines that the Church teaches to be proclaimed by God to consider ourselves Catholic. But do we have to do to the First Saturday Devotion or First Friday devotion to enter Heaven? Now these are wonderful devotions and should be encouraged to everyone, but it's not wrong for Catholics to have variety in line with the Church.
4. Able to meet the demands of Life. You can probably think of some people (yourself?) that are the type that will skip school or work for a "sick day" whenever they don't "feel" like going to work or school. Mentally healthy people are responsible and can go to work and school even when they don't "feel" like it. This unhealthy attitude can have people lose a job or get bad grades in school. It certainly is not a healthy habit.
Also, mental health consists in being able to think for yourself. Now this one we have to be careful on. Some people think that thinking for themselves means that they shouldn't listen to anyone else. Remember we've already talked about it being necessary to be able to trust other people who are trustworthy. The things you wonder about are not unique. I mean that probably every question you have had about life, someone else probably has thought the same thing or something similar. So you sometimes need to be able to trust others who have done research before. Truth is not a majority vote, and therefore you can't just believe something just because a bunch of people believe it. Christ promised us that if we seek we will find (Matthew 7:8). Seek after truth and God will help you to find it. That doesn't mean you should just sit in your room and close your eyes and imagine stuff. Pray, read, and work for the search of truth.

Saturday, February 03, 2007

Pray for and End to the Culture of Death!!!

H/T to Mac



"I died while waiting for a cure to be found by research on embryonic stem cells, and you?"

— "I was that embryo!"

Thursday, February 01, 2007


Marijuana and the Catholic Church


Thanks to the wonders of site-meter on my blog, I have found that many visitors have come with Google searches wondering about marijuana and what the Catholic Church teaches about it. So I hope the following article will be informative, but if you have questions please ask away.

First of all, marijuana is a mind altering drug and will put one into intoxication always when using it. That is an important point, because that distinguishes marijuana from something like beer which can be used without becoming intoxicated. Marijuana however you will always become intoxicated from.

As Christians we can find in the Bible in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10: "Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither the immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor robbers will inherit the kingdom of God." Drunkenness in intoxication can be achieved through alcohol or other drugs. The Bible is saying here that those people who engage in drunkenness will not enter Heaven. This makes a very clear statement that marijuana can not be compatible with a Christian as marijuana can never be used without abuse.

Now some people have brought up that intoxication with alcohol is much worse than intoxication with marijuana and that may be true. However just because it MAY (though not necessarily) be a lesser evil, it is still evil and a serious sin that St. Paul said would not allow us to enter Heaven unrepented of.

God has entrusted us to guard our minds and to take care of our bodies. In 1 Peter 5:8 it says: "Be sober, be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking some one to devour." And in Titus 2:11-12: "For the grace of God has appeared for the salvation of all men, training us to renounce irreligion and worldly passions, and to live sober, upright, and godly lives in this world..."

In 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 it is obvious that we must take care of our bodies as we do not belong to ourselves: "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God? You are not your own. You were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body."


Now God didn't tell us that intoxication is evil so that He could outlaw having "fun" and for the sake of making rules. No! God has a reason for every Law that He sets for us. Intoxication is poisoning your body. Important body cells are killed through intoxication and can even lead to death if severe enough or if repeated enough. Affects from marijuana include according to National Institute on Drug Abuse, InfoFacts: Marijuana, April 2006: "Marijuana abuse is associated with many detrimental health effects. These effects can include frequent respiratory infections, impaired memory and learning, increased heart rate, anxiety, panic attacks and tolerance. Marijuana meets the criteria for an addictive drug and animal studies suggest marijuana causes physical dependence and some people report withdrawal symptoms"


and from 12 National Institute on Drug Abuse, Research Report Series—Marijuana Abuse, October 2001. : "Someone who smokes marijuana regularly may have many of the same respiratory problems that tobacco smokers do, such as daily cough and phlegm production, more frequent acute chest illnesses, a heightened risk of lung infections, and a greater tendency toward obstructed airways. Cancer of the respiratory tract and lungs may also be promoted by marijuana smoke. Marijuana has the potential to promote cancer of the lungs and other parts of the respiratory tract because marijuana smoke contains 50 percent to 70 percent more carcinogenic hydrocarbons than does tobacco smoke"


Look in The Catechsim of the Catholic Church #2291



When life presents its problems we must remember that intoxication will only leave us with emptiness and only a temporary feeling of "happiness". Turning our hearts to God is the only answer. Many people try to do anything but that and eventually die in unhappiness or find What they were looking for all along--- their Saviour Jesus Christ Who died for us and offers us Eternal Life with Him for those who are willing to follow.