Words........

Son, stand firm and trust in Me; for what are words but words: they fly through the air, but hurt not a stone.
If thou art guilty think that thou wilt willingly amend thyself.
If thy conscience accuse thee not, think that thou wilt willingly suffer this for God's sake.
It is a small matter that thou shouldest some-times bear with words, if thou hast not as yet courage to endure hard stripes.
And why do such small things go to thy heart, but because thou art yet carnal, and regardest men more than thou oughtst!
For because thou art afraid of being despised, thou art not willing to be reprehended for thy faults, and seekest to shelter thyself in excuses.
......But give ear to My word, and thou shalt not value ten thousand words of men......
----Selections from the Immitation of Christ by Thomas Kempis, Chapter 46

Am I letting the things people say about me bother me? If these things are negative but true, I should take the action to ammend myself accordingly. However, if the things people say are not true, I should not seek revenge but offer up this small (though perhaps seemingly great) sacrifice.

Am I taking part in gossip?

Am I telling unneccesarily the faults of others?

Am I bringing my fellow man down by my words?

Am I a complainer?

If you are from China, please respond!!!

This is crazy, but it appears that my website is blocked from Internet users in China! if this website is correct, I am bad stuff in China! Wow! It may just be a technical glitch (I cannot find ANY website that is not supposedly blocked), but if not, this is scary!!! Pray for China!

And who were those bloggers that just thought this was a joke?

MEETING DISCUSSES "MOTU PROPRIO" ON USE JOHN XXIII'S MISSAL

VATICAN CITY, JUN 28, 2007 (VIS) - Given below is the text of a communique released today by the Holy See Press Office concerning Benedict XVI's forthcoming "Motu Proprio" on the use of the Missal promulgated by Blessed John XXIII in 1962.

"Yesterday afternoon in the Vatican, a meeting was held under the presidency of the Cardinal Secretary of State in which the content and spirit of the Holy Father's forthcoming 'Motu Proprio' on the use of the Missal promulgated by John XXIII in 1962 was explained to representatives from various episcopal conferences. The Holy Father also arrived to greet those present, spending nearly an hour in deep conversation with them.

"The publication of the document - which will be accompanied by an extensive personal letter from the Holy Father to individual bishops - is expected within a few days, once the document itself has been sent to all the bishops with an indication of when it will come into effect."
OP/MOTU PROPRIO/... VIS 070628 (180)

Here is a great article summing up the Church's teaching on Scientific research.

SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH MUST RESPECT HUMAN DIGNITY

VATICAN CITY, JUN 27, 2007 (VIS) - At the end of today's general audience, celebrated in the Paul VI Hall, the Pope addressed some remarks to participants in an international congress on adult stem cells, being organized by the "La Sapienza" University of Rome.

The Holy Father noted how the congress "sets itself the aim of developing autologous cell therapy in the treatment of cardiac problems, through the use of adult stem cells. On this matter the position of the Church, supported by reason and by science, is clear: scientific research must be encouraged and promoted, so long as it does not harm other human beings, whose dignity is inviolable from the very first stages of existence."
AG/ADULT STEM CELLS/... VIS 070627 (130)

Religious Survey

Well I have returned from the ECYD boy's convention which was wonderful! We spent 5 days studying Church history, going to Holy Mass, playing sports, and many other things. One of those other things we did was go to downtown Boulder Colorado and do a street mission. We did this through doing a Faith survey. We split up into groups of about 3 and went to random people and asked about 3-5 questions about their beliefs and asked if they had any questions or prayers intentions. We also invited them to come to Mass that night. Below I'll show you the results of my group's survey.

Do you believe in God?

Yes: 14

No: 3

I don't know: 2

Do, and if so how often, you go to church?

Yes: 9

No: 9

How much (various answers): 1 week, 1 month, 1 or 2 month, everyday, every Sunday, 2 month, Every holiday and 1 month.

Does God play a role in your day to day life?

3 no and the rest yes

Religious affiliation:

Jewish: 1

Catholic: 4 (though at least one non practicing)

Protestant: 2

Non denominational: 1

Buddhist: 2

Hindu: 1

Advata Vedanta (Indian religion): 1

Pagan: 1

None: 6

Interesting stories: You may wonder why "Pagan" was one of the options but that is what one guy told us when we asked about his religious affiliation. He was the only guy that told us that he went to church everyday, and he seem to be handling these cards that looked like tarot cards to me.

When we asked a lady if God played a role in her life she said she thought so because she "heard her grandmothers voice" frequently. She identified herself with Buddhism.

One lady identified herself as Catholic but said she attended a Unitarian church.

Please keep these requests in your prayers that we received from some people we surveyed: for Jessica Schnute who is a young lady with a brain tumor, and for a man who got in an accident and injured himself.

I'm so glad we had the opportunity to go on this mission as most people seem to block out the thought of religion in their life.

Just so you know....

I will be leaving for a Catholic Summer camp/convention for boys and therefore will not be posting for about a week. If you have posted a question, I will answer it when I get back!

Happy Father's day to all dads!!!

Poll Results.....

What would you like to read more about on this blog?
Votes

Catholic Apologetics and teaching
68% 41
Saints and Prayers
12% 7
Liturgical issues
7% 4
Scrupulosity and morals
5% 3
More fun and humor
2% 1
About my life
5% 3
I don't care
2% 1
60 votes total----

I think that someone thought it would be funny to come to my blog almost daily and vote "more Catholic teaching and apolgetics".... So, really I think only 30-45 people voted on this poll. If you were the guilty one please tell me, I'd love to know (I'm not angry, but I just don't know why).

And....

Which of these addictions do you consider most harmful?

Votes

Smoking
19% 6
Eating too much
19% 6
Watching TV
52% 16
Listening to music
3% 1
Internet use or Computer games
6% 2
31 votes total ----- Looks like TV wins the worst and worst for you addiction

Be sure to take the new polls!!!

APPEAL FOR THE RELEASE OF ALL KIDNAP VICTIMS

VATICAN CITY, JUN 10, 2007 (VIS) - After praying the Angelus today with thousands of people gathered in St. Peter's Square, the Pope made an appeal for the release of kidnap victims all over the world, Catholic priests among them, making particular reference to the "painful" example of Colombia.

"Unfortunately," he said, "I often receive requests to intervene in favor of people, among them Catholic priests, who have been kidnapped for different reasons and in various parts of the world.

"I carry them all in my heart, and I remember them all in my prayers thinking, among the others, of the painful case of Colombia. I appeal to the perpetrators of such deplorable acts to realize the evil they have done and immediately to restore prisoners to their loved ones."

"I entrust the victims to the maternal protection of Mary Most Holy, mother of all mankind."
ANG/LIBERATION KIDNAP VICTIMS/... VIS 070611 (160)

Pray for the conversion of the kidnappers and the safety of the victims!!!

"Quote..."

"However little soever it be, if a thing be inordinately loved and regarded, it keeps thee back from the sovereign good and corrupts the soul."---The Imitation of Christ Chapter 42

1. Is there anything in my life that I love more than I ought?
2. Do I love anything or anyone more than Christ?
3. Do I waste time doing things that are unnecessary?

So What do you Think???

It's Really Time to Clean my Room!!!

New Camera!!!

Today my new Fugi digital camera arrived and I love it so far! Below are some sample pictures I took so far... I plan now on taking pictures of my church and other things to share occasionally with my readers!

Here is an excerpt from a book I have called "Don Bosco and Dominic Savio" translated by Fr. Adolf Faroni, sdb. Once I read this book, I instantly fell in love with it and St. Dominic Savio is one of my all time favorite saints now! I plan to provide more excerpts later!

Dominc Resolves to Become a Saint

One Sunday in Lent, Don Bosco spoke on becoming a Saint, stressing three points which made a deep impression on Savio's receptive soul:

1. It is God's Will that we become saints.
2. It is quite easy to become a saint.
3. There is a great reward in Heaven for one who becomes a saint.

I feel a deep yearning, an earnest need, to become a Saint. I never knew it could be so easy, but now that I see one can be happy and holy too, I definitely want to become a Saint."

Don Bosco praised his resolve and showed him that the first thing God wanted of him was a constant, moderate cheerfulness. He advised him to carry out his scholastic and religious duties diligently and always to join in the games of his companions at recreation. At the same time, he forbade austere penances or long prayers as unsuitable to a boy of his age.

Savio obeyed, but one day Don Bosco saw him very dejected. "I really don't know what to do!" the boy complained. "The Lord says that unless I do penance, I can't get to Heaven, and you won't let me do any, What are my chances for Heaven?" "The penance Our Lord asks of you is obedience," Don Bosco replied. "Just obey, and you will be doing enough." "But won't you please let me do some other penance?" "Yes, I will let you do the penance of daily bearing with insults and patiently suffering heat, cold, wind, rain, tiredness and all the discomforts which God may send you." "But, I have to suffer these things anyway." "If you offer it all to God, it will become virtue and bring you merit." "Is there anything else I can do?" "Yes! Strive to win souls to God." "Thank you, Father!" B.M. Vol. V. p. 135 f.

Update:

Just in case you guys were worried I'm not dead...... Just a little lazy.....

Sorry, more posts coming soon----thanks to all commenters!