tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58278423778103458962024-03-05T02:22:03.394-08:00Catechism, Apologetics and Catholic Product ReviewsRaising {& Teaching} Little Saintshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13541681374839041280noreply@blogger.comBlogger217125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5827842377810345896.post-27205880572480654952014-09-30T12:29:00.000-07:002014-09-30T10:45:09.169-07:00Attention Bloggers and Readers...We are making BIG changes here on CBN! We have combined the <strong>4 Contributor blogs</strong> into the main <strong>Catholic Bloggers Network</strong> blog. <u>No more posts will be added to this contributor blog.</u> All new posts will be added to the main blog. For more information about this please visit our main blog: <a href="http://www.catholicbloggersnetwork.com/2014/09/have-we-got-your-attention-yetover-at.html" target="_blank">HERE</a>.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5827842377810345896.post-29303569947085715062014-09-30T07:04:00.000-07:002014-09-30T07:04:02.431-07:00A biography of St. Therese (and a Kindle bargain)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<strong style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="File:Little Flower Catholic Church (Toledo, Ohio) - interior, statue of St. Thérèse of Lisieux.jpg" data-file-height="3656" data-file-width="2924" height="479" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e6/Little_Flower_Catholic_Church_%28Toledo%2C_Ohio%29_-_interior%2C_statue_of_St._Th%C3%A9r%C3%A8se_of_Lisieux.jpg/479px-Little_Flower_Catholic_Church_%28Toledo%2C_Ohio%29_-_interior%2C_statue_of_St._Th%C3%A9r%C3%A8se_of_Lisieux.jpg" width="383" /> </strong></div>
<br />
<br />
<strong>Note: </strong> In celebration of the feast of St. Therese on Wednesday, October 1, the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LTATI6C" target="_blank" title="Trusting God on Amazon">Kindle version of <em>Trusting God with St. Therese</em></a>
is only $.99 until 8 AM Pacific Thursday. This may be the only time I
run such a sale, so it’s a great opportunity to pick up a copy if you
haven’t already.<br />
<br />
St. Therese of Lisieux is one of the most popular
saints in history. Almost immediately after her death, her little way
of spiritual childhood began to spread. She was canonized less than
thirty later and named a Doctor of the Church by Pope John Paul II.<br />
<br />
<h2>
St. Therese’s childhood</h2>
Marie-François-Therese
Martin was born in Alençon, France in 1873. Her parents were Louis
Martin and Marie-Azelie Guerin Martin. She was the youngest of their
nine children, four of whom died before age six. Louis and Zelie were
committed Catholics. They were standouts even in the Catholic subculture
that had grown up in the larger, anti-Catholic culture of their place
and time. Both had considered religious life before they met and
married. Zelie was a successful businesswoman. Louis eventually sold his
business to help with hers.<br />
<br />
Therese was a talkative, happy, but
spoiled child. She had a strong will, but everyone loved her. When
Therese was four, Zelie was diagnosed with incurable breast cancer. She
died before the year was over. “My happy disposition completely
changed after Mama’s death,” Therese later wrote in her autobiography, <i>Story of a Soul.</i> She became shy and extremely sensitive.<br />
<br />
<i>Continue reading at </i><a href="http://contemplativehomeschool.com/2014/09/30/biography-st-therese-kindle-bargain/" target="_blank">Contemplative Homeschool. </a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5827842377810345896.post-59425857485030427032014-09-26T06:52:00.002-07:002014-09-26T06:52:37.170-07:00Pope Francis Pops the Soap Bubble of Christian Vanity<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-size: large;">Pope Francis used his homily during the morning Mass at the Casa Santa Marta to warn Christians against vanity when practicing the faith. The Holy Father keyed off of the scriptural reading from the Book of Ecclesiastes to dwell upon vanity, which the pontiff illustrated through several examples of living to be seen.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Pope Francis emulated the inspiration for his regnal name by railing against doctors of the law who stroll around the square wearing luxurious attire like princes. This certainly sounds like words that could be uttered by St. Francis Assisi. </span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pope Francis celebrating Mass at acro Convento and Saint Francis Basilica in Assisi<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Pope Francis pastorally inspired homilies used tangible metaphors, like soap bubbles and onions, to drive home his point against vanity. But the Holy Father supplemented these symbols with the rich history of the Church. </span></div>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">“The Egyptian Fathers of the desert said that vanity is a
temptation against which we must battle our whole life, because it
always comes back to take the truth away from us. And in order to
understand this they said: It’s like an onion. You take it, and begin to
peel it – the onion – and you peel away vanity today, a little bit
tomorrow, and your whole life your peeling away vanity in order to
overcome it. And at the end you are pleased: I removed the vanity, I
peeled the onion, but the odor remains with you on your hand. Let us
ask the Lord for the grace to not be vain, to be true, with the truth of
reality and of the Gospel.”</span></blockquote>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The answer from the Holy Father is humility, prayer leading to acts of charity.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">h/t <a href="http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-vain-christians-are-like-soap-bubbles" target="_blank">Vatican Radio </a></span><a href="http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-vain-christians-are-like-soap-bubbles" target="_blank"> </a><br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5827842377810345896.post-68273069101157347432014-09-23T15:01:00.002-07:002014-09-23T15:01:14.199-07:00True Contemplation and its Counterfeit<a data-mce-href="http://davidtorkington.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/422px-12th-century_painters_-_the_monk_eadwine_-_wga15731.jpg" href="http://davidtorkington.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/422px-12th-century_painters_-_the_monk_eadwine_-_wga15731.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="422px-12th-century_painters_-_The_Monk_Eadwine_-_WGA15731" class="alignright size-medium wp-image-491" data-mce-src="http://davidtorkington.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/422px-12th-century_painters_-_the_monk_eadwine_-_wga15731.jpg?w=211" src="http://davidtorkington.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/422px-12th-century_painters_-_the_monk_eadwine_-_wga15731.jpg?w=211" height="300" width="211" /></a>Normally the word <em>contemplation</em> is used to describe the mystical awareness of God's action in a person, working through the Holy Spirit as they are being gradually transformed into the image and likeness of Christ. It begins not when we so choose, but when he chooses. Although we can prepare for it, it is essentially God's gift. To begin with it is often called <em>'obscure contemplation'</em>, or <em>'the prayer of faith'</em> or a '<em>ray of darkness'</em>. This is because at first, the action of the Holy Spirit only highlights all that separates us from the transformation into Christ that he is working to achieve. The <em>'ray of darkness</em>' suddenly becomes a <em>'ray of light' </em>when God chooses, giving the believer ever deeper experiences of the presence of God within, as the journey into Christ deepens. <a data-mce-href="http://davidtorkington.wordpress.com/true-contemplation-and-its-counterfeit-part-one/" href="http://davidtorkington.wordpress.com/true-contemplation-and-its-counterfeit-part-one/" title="True Contemplation and its counterfeit – Part one">read more...</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5827842377810345896.post-45831315831486999562014-09-05T07:09:00.002-07:002014-09-05T07:09:26.578-07:00Should we sit quietly during prayer?<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Hermit Praying in the Ruins of a Roman Temple by Hubert Robert</td></tr>
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<br />
<br />
Last week I wrote about<a href="http://contemplativehomeschool.com/2014/08/29/teresa-avila-teach-centering-prayer/" title="Did Teresa teach Centering Prayer?"> St. Teresa’s of Avila’s method of mental prayer.</a>
Today I want to discuss misunderstandings about prayer from a different
angle. Since we desire contemplation, should we sit still in prayer and
wait for it? Should we try to make it happen by quieting our minds?
Like last Friday’s post, this series speaks to the differences between
Carmelite teaching and Centering Prayer, yoga, and other types of
meditation influenced by eastern religions.<br />
<br />
Some people falsely
equate silence with supernatural (infused) contemplation. They read
about the need for interior silence in prayer, and they mistakenly think
that if they sit quietly, God will necessarily bestow contemplation
upon them. They equate the peace they find in silence to communion with
God.<br />
<br />
<h2>
The Vatican has cautioned us about certain methods of prayer</h2>
In 1989, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (later Pope Benedict XVI), as head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, wrote <a href="http://www.ewtn.com/library/curia/cdfmed.htm" target="_blank" title="Letter at EWTN"><i>Letter to the Bishops of the Catholic Church on Some Aspects of Christian Meditation</i>.</a> Here is what the document says about silence:<br />
<blockquote>
Similar
methods of meditation, on the other hand, including those which have
their starting-point in the words and deeds of Jesus, try as far as
possible to put aside everything that is worldly, sense perceptible or
conceptually limited. It is thus an attempt to ascend to or immerse
oneself in the sphere of the divine, which, as such, is neither
terrestrial, sense-perceptible nor capable of conceptualization.” (11)</blockquote>
<br />
<i>Continue reading at </i><a href="http://contemplativehomeschool.com/2014/09/05/sit-quietly-prayer/">Contemplative Homeschool. </a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5827842377810345896.post-63818372426157835512014-08-29T06:58:00.001-07:002014-09-03T18:26:41.858-07:00Did Teresa of Avila teach Centering Prayer?<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" height="360" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a6/Josefa_st.teresa-transv.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="462" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St. Teresa's Transverberation by Joefa de Obidos (Wikimedia Commons)</td></tr>
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<br />
<br />
Last winter on social media, I came across another Catholic author
who was promoting yoga. Not as an exercise program, but for spiritual
growth. I was shocked. I asked her why she wasn’t promoting prayer
instead. She answered, “Meditation is prayer!”<br />
<br />
Nope.<br />
<br />
Two
months ago, my brother forwarded an email from a colleague, asking about
Centering Prayer. A friend was pushing it relentlessly. I looked at the
website of the Catholic group that promotes Centering Prayer and found
this in the FAQs:<br />
<blockquote>
This form of prayer was first
practiced and taught by the Desert Fathers of Egypt … the Carmelites St.
Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross and St. Therese of Lisieux…</blockquote>
<br />
Nonsense.<br />
<br />
The
other day a new reader asked in the comments about meditating on Sacred
Scripture. “Is this the same as the method of Fr. John Main, who has
adapted an Eastern mantra method for Christian meditation?”<br />
<br />
Uh-uh.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://contemplativehomeschool.com/2013/03/08/christian-prayer-is-much-more-than-eastern-meditation/" title="Prayer is more than eastern meditation">I have written a little on this topic before</a>, but I think it’s time to revisit it. Let’s start with Teresa of Avila.<br />
<br />
<br />
<i>Continue reading at Connie's blog </i><a href="http://contemplativehomeschool.com/2014/08/29/teresa-avila-teach-centering-prayer/">Contemplative Homeschool. </a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5827842377810345896.post-35697639587848116482014-08-08T07:08:00.000-07:002014-09-03T18:26:41.786-07:00How to suffer like a Christan<a href="http://contemplativehomeschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Tragic.jpg"><img alt="Tragic Situations" border="0" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2648" height="400" src="http://contemplativehomeschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Tragic.jpg" width="243" /></a> <br />
<br />
<br />
Suffering. Ever since the Fall of Adam, it’s an unavoidable part of
life. We suffer daily in little ways. The alarm clock rings too early.
We spill coffee all over our work clothes. The kids are disobedient. We
get stuck in traffic. These little things are a reminder that all is not
right with the world. Something is out of whack. We have lost the close
connection with God we were meant to have.<br />
<br />
When we face small
trials, we have an opportunity to grow in trust and love. We can offer
our disappointments and dislikes to God in love, asking Him to use them
to bring others to Him. We can say, “Jesus, I trust in you,” praying
that He helps us to accept His sovereignty over our day. Because after
all, we were never meant to be in charge of our life. These gentle
reminders of that fact can help us reorient ourselves towards God. (As
an aside, I am experiencing a little annoyance right now from my kids.
Thank you, Lord, for this opportunity to put into practice what I am
preaching!)<br />
<h2>
</h2>
<h2>
What about tragedies?</h2>
Every day on FaceBook,
someone asks me for prayers. Sometimes, a loved one is seriously ill.
Other times, a FaceBook friend faces clinical depression. Prayers for
difficult pregnancies and comfort while burying infants or dealing with
miscarriage are common.<br />
<br />
How should a Christian face tragic suffering?<br />
<br />
<i>Continue reading at </i><a href="http://contemplativehomeschool.com/2014/08/08/suffer-like-christian/" target="_blank">Contemplative Homeschool.</a><br />
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5827842377810345896.post-40399917966878055672014-07-25T08:18:00.001-07:002014-09-03T18:26:41.806-07:00In the spirit of Elijah<img alt="" class=" " height="324" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a8/SaintIliaFromRilaMonastery.jpg/1920px-SaintIliaFromRilaMonastery.jpg" width="536" /> <br />
<br />
In the past week we’ve celebrated two major Carmelite feasts: Our
Lady of Mt. Carmel (July 16) and the prophet Elijah (July 20). These two
great saints in different ways exemplify what Carmelite spirituality is
about.<br />
<br />
Elijah demonstrates the prophetic aspect of Carmelite spirituality. The Carmelite seal bears these words of his as a motto:<br />
<em>With zeal have I been zealous for the Lord God of Hosts </em>(1 Kings 19:10).<br />
<h2>
Consumed with zeal for holiness</h2>
Elijah
was not afraid to confront the rulers of his day. He risked death to
preach repentance to King Ahab, while Queen Jezebel launched an
anti-crusade to wipe out God’s prophets. He challenged the prophets of
Baal to a contest on Mt. Carmel to see whose god would consume a
sacrifice with fire from Heaven. After winning that contest (surprise!),
Elijah had all the false prophets killed. He led the people to
re-commit themselves to the true God.<br />
Then he went and prayed
that, seeing their repentance, God would send rain. Elijah’s prayers had
kept the land in drought for three years.<br />
<blockquote>
So Ahab
went up to eat and to drink. And Eli′jah went up to the top of Carmel;
and he bowed himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his
knees. And he said to his servant, “Go up now, look toward the sea.” And
he went up and looked, and said, “There is nothing.” And he said, “Go
again seven times.”And at the seventh time he said, “Behold, a little
cloud like a man’s hand is rising out of the sea.” And he said, “Go up,
say to Ahab, ‘Prepare your chariot and go down, lest the rain stop
you.’” And in a little while the heavens grew black with clouds and
wind, and there was a great rain. And Ahab rode and went to Jezreel. (1
Kings 18:42-45)</blockquote>
Since medieval times, Carmelites have
seen the cloud as a symbol of Mary. She rises from the sea of our
fallen humanity, a human being herself, yet without the stain of sin.
She pours down on God’s people the pure water of His grace from Heaven.
So the return of rain to the land of Israel is also a prophecy of the
Woman whose cooperation with God’s grace will bring about the
Incarnation.<br />
Here are some more facts about Elijah:<br />
<ul>
<li>His name means, “Yahweh is God.”</li>
<li>He heard God speak to him in a gentle whisper (or “still, small voice”).</li>
<li>He nearly despaired because he thought he was the last surviving faithful Israelite.</li>
<li>He said, “The Lord my God lives, in whose presence I stand” (1 Kings 18:15).</li>
<li>He raised a boy from the dead.</li>
<li>He was taken up to Heaven in a chariot of fire.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<i>Continue reading at </i><a href="http://contemplativehomeschool.com/2014/07/25/spirit-elijah/" target="_blank">Contemplative Homeschool.</a><strong><a href="http://contemplativehomeschool.com/2014/07/25/spirit-elijah/" target="_blank"> </a></strong>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5827842377810345896.post-41701873353556089442014-07-21T14:14:00.000-07:002014-09-03T18:26:41.812-07:00Mystical Marriage<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIG1tRQT3Tw_nKI2D59YuOEJ_B0ZHB1E-2jn86n_BspUVWppWMpOpBRoQS3f2eTBJUkA-ybh96BarL_XD9ZtPT_dFodfpLIbTqE6wnUQlSckkLwyShqLdQRq945szkBEvUOiwq3KRqrXEg/s1600/450px-090511-Barcino-SPonctius_151.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIG1tRQT3Tw_nKI2D59YuOEJ_B0ZHB1E-2jn86n_BspUVWppWMpOpBRoQS3f2eTBJUkA-ybh96BarL_XD9ZtPT_dFodfpLIbTqE6wnUQlSckkLwyShqLdQRq945szkBEvUOiwq3KRqrXEg/s320/450px-090511-Barcino-SPonctius_151.jpg" /></a></div>Some years ago I had lunch with friends in London. On my way out they introduced me to their father who was busy working in the garden. Without thinking I asked him what he was doing and he replied <em>–“I do be digging the garden.”</em> Some months later I met a nun who taught Irish in Dublin and I asked her about this expression that I’d never come across before. She explained that it was an English translation of what in Irish is called the <em>present continuing tense.</em> “Well what does it mean?” I asked, “What was he trying to say to me?” “Oh, what he was saying was this.” she said. “I have been digging the garden, I am digging the garden, and when you stop asking the obvious, I will continue digging the garden!” <a data-mce-href="http://davidtorkington.wordpress.com/mystical-marriage/" href="http://davidtorkington.wordpress.com/mystical-marriage/" title="Mystical Marriage">read on...</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5827842377810345896.post-16225111224279547592014-07-21T09:45:00.003-07:002014-09-03T18:26:41.752-07:00A Bit On ISIS Marking Christians for Extermination and Expropriation in Iraq<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">As jihadist Sunni Islamist terrorists from ISIS/ISIL strive to create a sharia inspired Caliphate as they take over territory in Iraq and Syria, they are slaughtering innocent Christians. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/O_LFYKSqaY0?rel=0" width="560"></iframe>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">However, even sharia law allows for dhimmitude, second class citizen status for "people of the book" (i.e. Jews and Christians) so long as they pay the jizya tax. But that is not good enough for ISIS jihadists. They have taken to mark the buildings of Christian institutions with spray-painted red marks indicating holdouts to exterminate and expropriate.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGqHVd0KndnL0ZAUKn1gZyqWwUvYQ114y5RJJJtTZKEOnn6nM92ah2ahP0Y_QQB3r1hUO2QZ25ckB0IkONoj_YbjOA3YhyCNbfmMYsRsw2uFFRDtjkxg9cO1l2swNuIwfK_7oiZJpSksQD/s1600/ISIS+Extermination+spraypaint.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGqHVd0KndnL0ZAUKn1gZyqWwUvYQ114y5RJJJtTZKEOnn6nM92ah2ahP0Y_QQB3r1hUO2QZ25ckB0IkONoj_YbjOA3YhyCNbfmMYsRsw2uFFRDtjkxg9cO1l2swNuIwfK_7oiZJpSksQD/s1600/ISIS+Extermination+spraypaint.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Spraypainted ISIS Extermination Graffiti on Christian buildings in Mosel, Iraq</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGYWdrH1mo7ed1NICAalS2n8y9wJdm4_YTURwro-Fd7YFdO1MEVhx8Cik8-sM4GNgYhjt6Afcw6ch-R76gA1typfG4Pkz7dcu7GruBwo7P2UEQ6QTaRMbIwEOdKDMQvL6PxHAbe7QS6EG3/s1600/Arabic+Letter+Nun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGYWdrH1mo7ed1NICAalS2n8y9wJdm4_YTURwro-Fd7YFdO1MEVhx8Cik8-sM4GNgYhjt6Afcw6ch-R76gA1typfG4Pkz7dcu7GruBwo7P2UEQ6QTaRMbIwEOdKDMQvL6PxHAbe7QS6EG3/s1600/Arabic+Letter+Nun.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Nun" 14th letter in Arabic alphabet</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The symbol is "Nun", the 14th letter in the Arabic alphabet. It is the first letter in the name "Nazara" (or Nazarenes) the way in which Muslims have referred to Christians since the 7th Century. This is intended as a badge of shame for what is perceived as a contemptible and disobedient sect. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /><b><a href="http://goo.gl/NDVJXS">SEE MORE</a></b> at <a href="http://www.dc-lausdeo.us/">DC-LausDeo.US </a></span><br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5827842377810345896.post-52839765381710799952014-07-18T09:04:00.000-07:002014-09-03T18:26:41.819-07:00Are your fears, doubts, and frustrations keeping you from intimacy with God?<img alt="Afraid" class="size-medium wp-image-2575 aligncenter" height="298" src="http://contemplativehomeschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/Afraid-300x224.jpg" width="400" /> <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
How is your spiritual life going? Are you feeling frustrated with
yourself? Are you distraught over your lack of progress? Do you keep
falling into the same sins repeatedly?<br />
Welcome to the human race!<br />
<br />
No,
I’m not trying to dismiss your concerns flippantly. Sometimes we just
need a reminder that we are, after all, fallen. Adam’s sin affects us
all. But here’s something you may not have realized:<br />
<br />
<strong>Your sins do not shock God!</strong><br />
<br />
God
is used to sinners. He has centuries of experience with them. He even
came down from Heaven to live among them. Then people criticized Him for
eating with sinners instead of the “righteous.” Yes, He loved to hang
out with people like you and me.<br />
<br />
God delights in showing mercy. He
delights in lifting our burdens. He delights in carrying our yoke with
us, comforting our sorrows, calming our fears.<br />
<br />
<br />
<i>Continue reading at </i><a href="http://contemplativehomeschool.com/2014/07/18/fears-doubts-frustrations-keeping-intimacy-god/" target="_blank">Contemplative Homeschool. </a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5827842377810345896.post-2232815047607372122014-07-16T05:24:00.000-07:002014-09-03T18:29:11.217-07:00Win a signed print copy of Trusting God with St. Therese!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/79/Saint_Paul_Catholic_Church_%28Westerville%2C_Ohio%29_-_stained_glass%2C_arcade%2C_Our_Lady_of_Mount_Carmel.jpg/640px-Saint_Paul_Catholic_Church_%28Westerville%2C_Ohio%29_-_stained_glass%2C_arcade%2C_Our_Lady_of_Mount_Carmel.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/79/Saint_Paul_Catholic_Church_%28Westerville%2C_Ohio%29_-_stained_glass%2C_arcade%2C_Our_Lady_of_Mount_Carmel.jpg/640px-Saint_Paul_Catholic_Church_%28Westerville%2C_Ohio%29_-_stained_glass%2C_arcade%2C_Our_Lady_of_Mount_Carmel.jpg" height="400" width="250" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
Ladies and Gentlemen, this is the day! Happy Feast of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. <i>Trusting God with St. Therese</i> is now available on Amazon for the <a href="http://smarturl.trustinggod/" target="_blank" title="Trusting God ebook">Kindle</a> and in <a href="http://smarturl.trustinggodbook/" target="_blank" title="Trusting God Paperback">print</a>.
For the time being (at least the next 90 days) the ebook will be
exclusive to Amazon. However, the paperback should be available soon at
Barnes and Noble and other online retailers. I hope to see it in some
Catholic bookstores as well. And those of you who are local or who know
me personally are always welcome to purchase the paperback directly from
me as well.<br />
<br />
The last 14 months writing and publishing this book
have been busy but rewarding. I pray you will find them rewarding for
you too. I really believe it will help almost everyone but those very
advanced in the spiritual life to come closer to Christ.<br />
<br />
Now for the fun stuff!<br />
<br />
<br />
<i>Visit Contemplative Homeschool to enter the contest and see the other contests and events marking the release of </i><a href="http://contemplativehomeschool.com/2014/07/16/win-signed-print-copy-trusting-god-st-therese/">Trusting God with St. Therese. </a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5827842377810345896.post-63769251991310325462014-07-08T06:46:00.000-07:002014-09-03T18:26:41.851-07:00Helping your choleric child grow in holiness<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
<img alt="" height="268" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6e/Charles_Le_Brun-Grande_Commande-Les_Quatre_temperaments.jpg" title="The Four Temperaments" width="400" /> </div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Today I’m taking a break from talking about
my book to return to the new project I’ve talked about a little
before–making a spiritual growth plan for children of each temperament.
First I’ll give a little overview of the four classic temperaments, tell
you a little more about this project, then delve in deeper to help you
with your choleric children. At the bottom you’ll find a special
download to help you.</div>
<h2>
</h2>
<h2>
What are the four temperaments?</h2>
The
four classic temperaments are choleric, melancholic, phlegmatic, and
sanguine. Catholic philosophers adpoted them from the Greeks. There are
several good sources for learning about the temperaments from a Catholic
perspective. Art and Laraine Bennett have written several books on the
temperaments. <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CB8QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fangelicum.net%2Fnewsroom%2Fthe-four-temperaments-by-rev-conrad-hock%2F&ei=wv-6U5mHDZeoyATnx4GoAw&usg=AFQjCNEEr9LFd2Cr2t4eaUfF1_31ryywQA&bvm=bv.70138588,d.aWw" target="_blank" title="Angelicum Academy: Temperaments">Fr. Conrad Hock’s treatment of the temperaments</a> can be read online. Traditional books on spiritual direction usually address the temperaments as well.<br />
<br />
To figure out which temperament you have, ask yourself two questions:<br />
<ul>
<li>Are my initial reactions to stimuli intense or dull?</li>
<li>Do my impressions last or do they quickly fade?</li>
</ul>
<br />
Intense & lasting=choleric<br />
Intense & fading=sanguine<br />
Dull but lasting=melancholic<br />
Dull and fading=phlegmatic<br />
<br />
<br />
<i>Continue reading at </i><a href="http://contemplativehomeschool.com/2014/07/08/helping-choleric-child-grow-holiness/" target="_blank">Contemplative Homeschool. </a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5827842377810345896.post-11247557247693400812014-06-24T06:14:00.000-07:002014-09-03T18:29:11.207-07:00You're more like St. Therese than you think<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<img alt="Think Again Pin copy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2461" height="516" src="http://contemplativehomeschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Think-Again-Pin-copy.jpg" width="166" /> </div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;">
Do you think you have little in common with St. Therese? Think again.</div>
<br />
If I’ve learned anything in writing <em>Trusting God with St. Therese,</em> it’s how much Therese’s struggles were like mine. Consider these points:<br />
<ul>
<li>Therese was born weakened by Original Sin.</li>
<li>It took her years of grace and hard work to overcome family tragedy.</li>
<li>She had difficulties relating to other children at school.</li>
<li>She suffered from scruples.</li>
<li> God repeatedly made her wait for things she believed were His will.</li>
<li>Her family members misunderstood her spirituality.</li>
<li>She felt natural aversion to people with difficult personalities.</li>
<li>She feared losing her remaining loved ones.</li>
<li>Spiritual darkness and dryness in prayer were her norm.</li>
<li>Great deeds for God were beyond her capability.</li>
<li>She suffered terrible pain.</li>
<li>She was tempted to despair.</li>
</ul>
Now tell me that none of those sound like you.<br />
<br />
Think you can’t become a saint? Think again.<br />
<br />
Therese believed in the same God you do. He was her strength and her righteousness. He can be yours as well.<br />
<br />
<br />
<i>Connie Rossini blogs at </i><a href="http://contemplativehomeschool.com/" target="_blank">Contemplative Homeschool. </a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5827842377810345896.post-66107275288254970132014-06-17T09:34:00.000-07:002014-09-03T18:26:41.864-07:00Fleeing temptations from the world<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="File:Domenico Ghirlandaio - Renunciation of Worldly Goods (detail) - WGA08798.jpg" data-file-height="950" data-file-width="876" height="360" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8b/Domenico_Ghirlandaio_-_Renunciation_of_Worldly_Goods_%28detail%29_-_WGA08798.jpg/553px-Domenico_Ghirlandaio_-_Renunciation_of_Worldly_Goods_%28detail%29_-_WGA08798.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="332" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>The Renunciation of Worldly Goods</i> by Ghirlandaio.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
Over the past few weeks, we’ve been considering the sources of
temptations and how to overcome them. We complete the series today by
pondering how to flee temptations coming to us from the world.<br />
<br />
As
we saw earlier, when we speak of “the world” in the context of
temptations, we don’t mean the created world. Everything God created is
good if used correctly. The problem is, when we lost our proper
relationship with God in Adam’s sin, we also lost our proper
relationship with one another and with creation.<br />
<br />
“The world” is the
society that delights in pleasure more than it delights in God. The
world entices us to join in the “fun.”<br />
<br />
The world values pleasure,
power, violence, wealth, fame, and comfort. It does not stop at tempting
us. When we resist, it mocks and persecutes us. The world cannot stand
to be rejected, having the fury of the proverbial scorned woman.<br />
<br />
The
world exalts the lowest things to the highest stature. Its motto is
“sex, drugs, and rock and roll.” It uses crude, vulgar, and blasphemous
language without a second thought. It enshrines these values in book,
magazines, TV, and movies. Ancient Rome’s coliseums and circuses
exemplified the depths the world can sink to.<br />
<br />
<br />
<i>Continue reading at </i><a href="http://contemplativehomeschool.com/2014/06/17/fleeing-temptations-world/" target="_blank">Contemplative Homeschool. </a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5827842377810345896.post-4438466843104225512014-06-10T06:18:00.000-07:002014-09-03T18:29:11.236-07:00A sad anniversary and a free chapter of Trusting God with St. Therese<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://contemplativehomeschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Smashed-Car2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="This is my family (plus two friends) on June 10, 1974. I'm the one with the braids in the front. Terri is behind me next to my mom. " class="size-medium wp-image-2417" height="238" src="http://contemplativehomeschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Family-and-Car-300x238.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is my family (plus two friends) on June 10, 1974.<br /> I’m the one with
the braids in the front. <br />Terri is behind me next to our mom.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2416" style="width: 310px;">
</div>
<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2416" style="width: 310px;">
</div>
<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2416" style="width: 310px;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Here is how our car looked thirty minutes later." class="size-medium wp-image-2416" height="187" src="http://contemplativehomeschool.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Smashed-Car2-300x187.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here is how our car looked thirty minutes later.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" id="attachment_2416" style="width: 310px;">
<div class="wp-caption-text">
<br /></div>
</div>
<br />
Today
is the fortieth anniversary of one of the saddest events in my life so
far. On June 10, 1974, our family was driving to the annual Catholic
Charismatic Conference at the University of Notre Dame. We began our
journey in Spokane, Washington, where we had spent a weekend on retreat.
Just outside Missoula, Montana, the car rolled over three times,
landing in the median of the freeway. I was in the back with the seat
down and no seat belt. So were two of my siblings and two friends.<br />
<br />
I
ended up with stitches in my leg and a bump on my head. My sister
Terri, who had been sitting next to me, was thrown from the car and
died. She was ten years old.<br />
<br />
Why did God let this happen? Didn’t
He know where we had come from and where we were going? Hadn’t He heard
Terri’s voice, when she had volunteered that morning to pray for a safe
trip?<br />
<br />
<br />
<i><a href="http://contemplativehomeschool.com/2014/06/10/sad-anniversary-free-chapter-trusting-god-wtih-st-therese/" target="_blank">Continue to Connie's blog</a> to receive a free chapter of </i>Trusting God with St. Therese. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5827842377810345896.post-90989331106726845602014-06-06T16:25:00.002-07:002014-09-03T18:26:41.895-07:00The Prayer that Jesus learned<div data-mce-style="text-align: center;" style="text-align: center;">
<strong>Morning, Daily and Evening Prayer</strong><a data-mce-href="http://davidtorkington.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/abel_-_figure_kneeling_in_prayer.jpg" href="http://davidtorkington.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/abel_-_figure_kneeling_in_prayer.jpg"></a> <strong><strong><a data-mce-href="http://davidtorkington.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/abel_-_figure_kneeling_in_prayer.jpg" href="http://davidtorkington.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/abel_-_figure_kneeling_in_prayer.jpg"><img alt="ABEL_-_Figure_Kneeling_in_Prayer" class="alignright wp-image-655 size-medium" data-mce-src="http://davidtorkington.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/abel_-_figure_kneeling_in_prayer.jpg?w=300" height="212" src="http://davidtorkington.files.wordpress.com/2014/06/abel_-_figure_kneeling_in_prayer.jpg?w=300" width="300" /></a></strong></strong></div>
The first prayer that Jesus would have learnt from his mother, like all other Jewish children, was called the <em>‘Shema Israel,</em> part act of faith, part prayer. Its first words proclaimed belief in the One God who should be loved <em>‘with the whole heart and mind and with one’s whole strength’</em>. This embodied the essence of Jewish wisdom that Jesus had come to bring to perfection. The<em> ‘Shema’</em> was the first prayer to be said on the Sabbath in the synagogue where it was also said three times a day to coincide with the sacrifices made in the Temple. For those who were unable to go to the Synagogue, it was said at work, in the fields, or at home, so that the whole day would be dedicated to the love of God. <a data-mce-href="http://davidtorkington.wordpress.com/the-prayer-of-jesus/" href="http://davidtorkington.wordpress.com/the-prayer-of-jesus/" title="The Prayer that Jesus learned">more </a><br />
<br />
from <a href="http://davidtorkington.wordpress.com/">David</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5827842377810345896.post-55203505138116376012014-06-03T06:56:00.000-07:002014-09-03T18:26:41.832-07:00Battling the temptations of the flesh<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class=" " height="297" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6f/Pietro_Mauro_Crapula_ingenium_offuscat.jpg/1280px-Pietro_Mauro_Crapula_ingenium_offuscat.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Allegory of Virtues and Vices </i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
We’ve been delving into temptations coming from the world, the flesh,
and the Devil. Last week we discussed demonic temptations in detail.
Today, we’ll examine temptations of the flesh and how to combat them.<br />
<br />
We
saw that people with melancholic or choleric temperaments tend to be
more prone to the temptations that come directly from the Devil: pride,
envy, and anger. Temptations of the flesh particularly plague the other
two temperaments. More specifically, sanguines often struggle with
gluttony and sins against chastity. Phlegmatics struggle with sloth. (I
will be writing more about the four classic temperaments throughout
this year. I am creating a spiritual growth plan for you to use with
your children of each temperament.)<br />
<br />
As I have said before, the
flesh can be the most relentless of the three sources of temptation.
While the Devil may leave us alone for a time, and we can shut out the
world to a certain extent, we can never get away from our own flesh. It
remains with us every moment until the end of our life, but we can learn
to resist it.<br />
<h2>
</h2>
<h2>
Gluttony, lust, and sloth</h2>
The Catechism
defines concupiscence as “the movement of the sensitive appetite
contrary to the operation of the human reason… Concupiscence stems from
the disobedience of the first sin. It unsettles man’s moral faculties
and, without being in itself an offense, inclines man to commit sins”
(2515).<br />
<br />
Sanguines are easily moved by what they experience through
their exterior senses. Thus, immodest entertainment might lead them
into sexual sin. An all-you-can-eat buffet might tempt them towards
gluttony. They might start using vulgar and blasphemous language if they
listen to the wrong kind of music.<br />
<br />
<br />
<i>Continue reading at </i><a href="http://contemplativehomeschool.com/2014/06/03/battling-temptations-flesh/" target="_blank">Contemplative Homeschool. </a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5827842377810345896.post-86470642951946452602014-05-27T07:30:00.000-07:002014-09-03T18:26:41.889-07:00How to overcome the Devil’s temptation<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name">
<br />
</h3>
<div class="post-header">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" class=" " height="280" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/13/Blake_Dante_Hell_VIII_Canto.jpg/1280px-Blake_Dante_Hell_VIII_Canto.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Dante's Inferno, Canto 8</i> by William Blake (Wikimedia Commons).</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Last week I wrote about the three sources of temptation. Now let’s look at temptation by the Devil in more detail.<br />
<br />
Two
Scripture passages show us how the Devil tempts us. Genesis 3 tells how
Adam and Eve gave in to temptation and sinned. Matthew 4 tells how
Jesus resisted the Devil’s temptation. The two stories contain striking
similarities.<br />
<h2>
</h2>
<h2>
The lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life</h2>
When
the Devil tempted Eve, the first thing she noticed was that the
forbidden fruit was “good for food” (Gen 3:6). Similarly, the Devil
first tempted Jesus by telling Him to turn stones into bread (Mt 4:3).
So we see that the Devil often begins by appealing to our natural
appetites. In fact, he tempts us with the desires of the flesh.<br />
<br />
Apparently,
Eve was not completely swayed by this temptation, for she also noticed
that the fruit was “a delight to the eyes.” Catholic tradition equates
this delight with greed–the desire to have something that is not rightly
ours, or to have it in overabundance, or otherwise outside of God’s
will. Matthew’s Gospel sets this as Jesus’ third temptation. The Devil
promised Jesus all the kingdoms of the world for the “small” price of
worshiping him. It’s easy to see how this corresponds to temptation by
the world.<br />
<br />
<br />
<i>Continue reading at </i><a href="http://contemplativehomeschool.com/2014/05/27/overcome-devils-temptation/" target="_blank">Contemplative Homeschool. </a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5827842377810345896.post-66593516004604667042014-05-14T17:18:00.002-07:002014-09-03T18:26:41.870-07:00RepentanceOur Father - Repentance <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi8W7k8xQYKzTCM6K06p6WU-ykvb8LrMaBjqZBiTlUIq9vWB1pLa-fjXLMqbyWFIEDfffWWSxL2LumUeplk9TW5Df867DLqOVfYEBnOOMpQIaJs9Jg-bLwxW_edisrYLA-I0pkgwFSPKPe/s1600/Jano_Ananidze_escalator.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi8W7k8xQYKzTCM6K06p6WU-ykvb8LrMaBjqZBiTlUIq9vWB1pLa-fjXLMqbyWFIEDfffWWSxL2LumUeplk9TW5Df867DLqOVfYEBnOOMpQIaJs9Jg-bLwxW_edisrYLA-I0pkgwFSPKPe/s320/Jano_Ananidze_escalator.jpg" /></a></div>
On the feast of Pentecost the Jews celebrated the day on which God had given the Law to Moses. However the first Pentecost after the Resurrection was the day on which God gave his new law - the law of love. This law was not primarily a list of rules and regulations like the laws that were given to Moses, but the same personal love that God had showered on Jesus. It was this love that enabled Jesus to practise to perfection the New Commandments that he taught his disciples. Namely, to Love God with their whole hearts and minds, and with their whole being, as he did, and to love others as he did too, and still does. <a href="http://wp.me/P4nDPq-ag">read on</a>
<a href="http://davidtorkington.wordpress.com"></a>
<a href="http://www.davidtorkington.com"></a>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5827842377810345896.post-85264869904132504932014-05-13T07:02:00.002-07:002014-09-03T18:26:41.882-07:00Becoming your children's spiritual director<div class="wp-caption aligncenter" style="width: 543px;">
<img alt="File:James Sant - The Fairy Tale - Google Art Project.jpg" data-file-height="3421" data-file-width="4343" height="314" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/0f/James_Sant_-_The_Fairy_Tale_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg/761px-James_Sant_-_The_Fairy_Tale_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg" width="400" /><div class="wp-caption-text">
<em></em><br /></div>
</div>
<br />
Have
you ever thought of having a spiritual director for your kids or
grandkids? Have you ever thought of being one? It’s not enough to teach
children “religion”–i.e., Catechism. We also need to teach them how to
become saints.<br />
<br />
I am developing a spiritual growth plan for my
three older children. (J is a little too young at age three!) Here are
the areas I am considering:<br />
<h2>
Temperament</h2>
D is almost purely
choleric, M is melancholic-phlegmatic, and C is primarily phlegmatic.
(I haven’t completely figured him out yet–he’s eight and doesn’t know
himself as well as the others do.)<br />
<br />
Each of the <a href="http://angelicum.net/newsroom/the-four-temperaments-by-rev-conrad-hock/" target="_blank" title="The Four Temperaments by Fr. Hock">four classical temperaments</a>
has a different perspective on life. Each has typical strengths and
weaknesses. I seek to encourage my boys in their strengths and help them
fight their weaknesses. I plan to do much of this through reading.
Books will inspire them where lectures won’t.<br />
<br />
<h2>
Talents and interests</h2>
Temperament is only one part of
personality. Each child has unique talents. For example, cholerics are
bursting with energy, but one may be good at football and another at
track.<br />
<br />
Quiet and reserved M has a surprising acting ability.<br />
<br />
How can my children use their gifts to glorify God? How can their talents help them choose a vocation and a career?<br />
<br />
<br />
<i>Continue reading at </i><a href="http://contemplativehomeschool.com/2014/05/13/becoming-childrens-spritual-director/" target="_blank">Contemplative Homeschool. </a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5827842377810345896.post-10315474309697178312014-05-09T20:10:00.002-07:002014-09-03T18:26:41.736-07:00Church Authority<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NffyWvCoBbc/U22ZHs9pLSI/AAAAAAAADFI/xI3waNqCcxU/s1600/authority.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NffyWvCoBbc/U22ZHs9pLSI/AAAAAAAADFI/xI3waNqCcxU/s1600/authority.jpg" height="200" width="175" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
The authority of the Church, which was once accepted by the churched and respected by the secular, is in modern times no longer a means through which our belief system can be argued or upheld. This sad reality, while a cause for dismay, is also an opportunity for expansion of pedagogical and catechetical methods.<br />
<br />
However, this expansion can not come at the price of the recognition that our beliefs stem not from our own intellect, as a sort of series of philosophical conclusions about how to live that were constructed by a group of 12 disciples some 2,000 years ago, but from the Church as guided by the Holy Spirit and led on earth by the Pope. As the noted communications mantra goes, “The medium is the message.”<br />
<br />
This is why methods of teaching and conversion that do not ultimately stem from a belief in the magisterium, or teaching authority, of the Church are limited in scope. For example we as Catholics can point to Aristotle’s reason-based arguments for the existence of God, but we can not talk about God as Trinity without citing Christ’s teachings and the theology developed by the Church over thousands of years. The Church guards and passes on the deposit of faith given by Christ.<br />
<br />
To believe in the authority of the Church, you see, is simultaneously to believe in Him who formed it, namely Christ. We must then ask ourselves rhetorically: why would Christ form the Church without equipping it with the means (councils, the Papacy, tradition, scripture, etc.) to construct correct dogma? And so to follow church authority means to believe in all of its teachings on faith and morals. This does not entail a blind faith that accepts a series of teachings simply because “Father ‘John Smith’ said so.” In praying each week in the Creed that we “believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church,” we are instead embracing theology arrived at via reason and based upon the premises of faith.<br />
<br />
Ryan Bilodeau<br />
<a href="http://www.ryanbilodeau.com/">Prayer to Pen</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5827842377810345896.post-57001261887921718532014-05-07T09:17:00.000-07:002014-09-03T18:26:41.839-07:00You can make someone else’s suffering meaningful<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="Portrait de l'artiste avec un ami, by Raffaello Sanzio, from C2RMF retouched.jpg" data-file-height="18781" data-file-width="15729" height="350" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/57/Portrait_de_l%27artiste_avec_un_ami%2C_by_Raffaello_Sanzio%2C_from_C2RMF_retouched.jpg/293px-Portrait_de_l%27artiste_avec_un_ami%2C_by_Raffaello_Sanzio%2C_from_C2RMF_retouched.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="293" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Self Portrait with a Friend</i> by Rafael.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />
In the middle of Lent, I received an email from a new reader I’ll
call Jill. Jill shared with me her years of darkness in her personal and
spiritual life. My heart went out to her. I wanted to do something for
her, more than just writing an encouraging answer. So I thought about it
and prayed about it. Then I had an insight.<br />
<br />
Here, in part, is how I replied:<br />
<br />
“I
explore these questions [about God and suffering] a lot in my book. I
will give you a brief version here. Rabbi Kushner, writing in <i>When Bad Things Happen to Good People,</i> said that we shouldn’t ask <i>why</i> when we suffer. Instead, we should ask,<i> What now? How am I to react?</i><br />
<h2>
</h2>
<h2>
Finding meaning in our suffering</h2>
“Similarly, Holocaust survivor Victor Frankl, author of <i>Man’s Search for Meaning</i>
wrote, “Suffering ceases to be suffering in some way in the moment that
it finds a meaning.” He found that in the concentration camp, those who
were able to survive and be psychologically sound found a purpose in
their suffering. For Frankl himself, that purpose was to rewrite the
manuscript of his book on helping his psychiatric patients find meaning
in life. The Nazis had destroyed his manuscript when he was stripped of
his possessions at the camp. So over the years he rewrote the
manuscript, partly in his head and partly on any strips of paper he
could find. He had the will to survive so he could publish his work…<br />
<br />
“My question for your situation then was, <i>How can your suffering become purposeful?</i>
Some people would counsel you to offer up your suffering. But if you
are unable to complete even small projects because your darkness has
sapped all your energy, offering it up may just be beyond your strength.
What then?<br />
<br />
<br />
<i>Continue reading at </i><a href="http://contemplativehomeschool.com/2014/05/07/can-make-someone-elses-suffering-meaningful/" target="_blank">Contemplative Homeschool. </a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5827842377810345896.post-37157370753732984222014-05-04T18:54:00.001-07:002014-09-03T18:26:41.794-07:00Holy Communion<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://davidtorkington.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/409px-fuente_de_la_alcachofa_retiro_madrid_01-1.jpg?w=204" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://davidtorkington.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/409px-fuente_de_la_alcachofa_retiro_madrid_01-1.jpg?w=204" /></a></div>As a person tries to observe the new commandments by making acts of love through all they say and do, they are gradually able to rise step by step towards journey’s end. Their progress is made possible, because it is made in, with, and through Christ who claimed to be the vital living embodiment of Jacob’s mystical ladder (John1:51). He is The Way, The Truth, and The Life (Jn 14:6). He is the way to our destination, the Truth who both reveals and embodies that destination, and the eternal life that constitutes that destination.
The journey stretches from here to eternity where the traveller finally enters into a profound and ongoing Holy Communion with the One who dwells in the eternal ecstatic joy, that flows from the mystical vortex of loving that constitutes God’s very being. <a href="http://wp.me/P4nDPq-9s">read on</a>
<a href="http://www.davidtorkington.com">David's webpage</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5827842377810345896.post-40234806329340864092014-04-30T06:32:00.000-07:002014-09-03T18:26:41.800-07:00ThanksgivingContinuing the theme: - Praying the Our Father -<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRq3Z1QGXUYMP1R33kNmiXa9h6q_4SV6ImqwUOa7JIywmluGyQyvQ9WSm5MSYZZGlpeab33addAuZGdoebJbjpWSLclHLtIW762A5FwOecVvYbiWoYam2LmF9OaSR5I-UhdxRCmEySdcOc/s1600/214px-Catacomb_Via_Latina_Jacob_ladder+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRq3Z1QGXUYMP1R33kNmiXa9h6q_4SV6ImqwUOa7JIywmluGyQyvQ9WSm5MSYZZGlpeab33addAuZGdoebJbjpWSLclHLtIW762A5FwOecVvYbiWoYam2LmF9OaSR5I-UhdxRCmEySdcOc/s1600/214px-Catacomb_Via_Latina_Jacob_ladder+(1).jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
My earliest and happiest memories are of going to visit my grandfather. It wasn’t because he played games with me, gave me my favourite chocolate or even money to buy myself an ice cream on the way home, it was just because I loved him. He was such a lovable kindly man that it was more than enough just to be with him and feel myself enveloped by his love. This was before I even went to prep school.<a href="http://wp.me/P4nDPq-8m"> read on....</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://davidtorkington.wordpress.com/">http://davidtorkington.wordpress.com</a><br />
<a href="http://www.davidtorkington.com/">http://www.davidtorkington.com</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0