Later this month we will gather with friends or family to give thanks for all the blessings we have received throughout the year. Yet the gifts don't just come once a year, so try these tips for living gratitude all year:
Say it out loud. Saying the words out loud will keep you from taking your blessings for granted. Let words of gratitude be the last ones on your lips at night.
Avoid complaining. How can we be thankful and still gripe when things don't go our way? When you find yourself feeling stressed or depressed, stop and list five blessings instead.
Don't shop or buy. Try putting off what you don't absolutely need. Instead, clean out a closet, drawer, or storage area you have been ignoring and rediscover the good things you already have.
Live thankfully. Each day, look for small blessings and pleasures. Noticing them will help you remember that God makes all things well and deserves our thanks.
Saturday, December 26, 2015
Celebrate the human saints
Sometimes we forget that the saints were people like us. They had similar weaknesses and sinned just like us but overcame it all for love of God. Getting to know them gives us role models we can follow to Heaven.
For example :
St. Francis of Assisi -- didn't start out saintly. He was a spoiled rich boy who loved a party. When God asked him to "repair my Church", Francis literally repaired church buildings by hand. Eventually, he became one of the great reformers of the Church, founding the Franciscan Order that thrives today.
St. Jerome -- was known for his bad temper. It was probably with some relief that the pope sent Jerome off to the solitary task of translating the Bible into Latin. St. Jerome gave himself up to prayer, penance, and study to produce this labor of love. The result was that the Word of God became accessible to anyone who spoke the common language, not just the educated few.
St. Marianne Cope -- could seem heartless in her work managing a leper colony in Kalaupapa, Hawaii. She was steely in maintaining sanitary and health conditions for those with Hansen's Disease (Leprosy) to avoid spreading the frightful disease. Yet, Mother Marianne's optimism, serenity, and her considerable abilities brought the love of God to the islands of Hawaii.
For example :
St. Francis of Assisi -- didn't start out saintly. He was a spoiled rich boy who loved a party. When God asked him to "repair my Church", Francis literally repaired church buildings by hand. Eventually, he became one of the great reformers of the Church, founding the Franciscan Order that thrives today.
St. Jerome -- was known for his bad temper. It was probably with some relief that the pope sent Jerome off to the solitary task of translating the Bible into Latin. St. Jerome gave himself up to prayer, penance, and study to produce this labor of love. The result was that the Word of God became accessible to anyone who spoke the common language, not just the educated few.
St. Marianne Cope -- could seem heartless in her work managing a leper colony in Kalaupapa, Hawaii. She was steely in maintaining sanitary and health conditions for those with Hansen's Disease (Leprosy) to avoid spreading the frightful disease. Yet, Mother Marianne's optimism, serenity, and her considerable abilities brought the love of God to the islands of Hawaii.
Devotions for each of us
The graces we get from the Mass are essential, but sometimes we feel called to do more to keep God always in our thoughts throughout the day. That's when we can draw on devotions --- external religious practices not part of the official liturgy of the Catholic Church. There are so many from which to choose and can be as unique as we are.
Something for everyone. The more devotions we know, the more we can use. Popular choices include the Rosary, novenas, adoration before the Blessed Sacrament, and celebrations in honor of Jesus and the saints. There are seasonal devotions, such as lighting an Advent wreath or praying the Stations of the Cross during Lent.
Grow in love. Devotions are designed to help us experience God in everyday life. Their regular use help us to see God anew and fall in love with him more each day. Find one --- or more --- that works for you.
Note : for ideas, try A Prayer Book of Catholic Devotions (Loyola Press, 800-621-1008, loyolapress.com).
Something for everyone. The more devotions we know, the more we can use. Popular choices include the Rosary, novenas, adoration before the Blessed Sacrament, and celebrations in honor of Jesus and the saints. There are seasonal devotions, such as lighting an Advent wreath or praying the Stations of the Cross during Lent.
Grow in love. Devotions are designed to help us experience God in everyday life. Their regular use help us to see God anew and fall in love with him more each day. Find one --- or more --- that works for you.
Note : for ideas, try A Prayer Book of Catholic Devotions (Loyola Press, 800-621-1008, loyolapress.com).
Choose to live a free life
God gave us free will so we can make our own choices and be free. Popular culture tells us freedom means doing whatever we choose even if that includes sin. Yet, true freedom is being open to God's love and closed to sin. "Live as free men, yet without using your freedom as a pretext for evil" (1 Peter 2:16). We are at our freest when we choose for good.
Don't give away your freedom. Sin can overtake us without our noticing. For example, sharing one juicy secret may make us feel popular but over time, gossip can become a habit we can't control. A nightly examination of the day can help identify sinful actions before they become habits. Monthly visits to the Sacrament of Reconciliation will also sharpen that sense of sin.
Freely choose love. God won't force us to love him; he hopes we will choose it. Often, we don't approach him because we feel unworthy, guilty, or distant. Instead, choose to believe that God's love is stronger than our sin or guilt. When we have faith that he loves us, we are free to love him back.
Choose for good. Consistently making good and moral choices in today's society is hard but it leads to great reward. The more we choose good, the freer we become.
Don't give away your freedom. Sin can overtake us without our noticing. For example, sharing one juicy secret may make us feel popular but over time, gossip can become a habit we can't control. A nightly examination of the day can help identify sinful actions before they become habits. Monthly visits to the Sacrament of Reconciliation will also sharpen that sense of sin.
Freely choose love. God won't force us to love him; he hopes we will choose it. Often, we don't approach him because we feel unworthy, guilty, or distant. Instead, choose to believe that God's love is stronger than our sin or guilt. When we have faith that he loves us, we are free to love him back.
Choose for good. Consistently making good and moral choices in today's society is hard but it leads to great reward. The more we choose good, the freer we become.
Carry the Eucharist with you
During the Mass, Jesus comes to us in the Sacrament of the Eucharist to nourish us, heal us, and draw us closer to him. The graces we receive from the Eucharist help us follow Christ more perfectly if we are open to them. The good news is these "sacramental graces" remain even after Mass. They help us become Christ to the world.
Cultivate grace. Grace is a share in God's divine life. Being open to Eucharist grace involves spending time with God in the Eucharist. Is there a Eucharistic Adoration Chapel nearby? Does your parish offer First Friday Benediction? Practicing a Eucharistic devotion will make the Mass less like a duty and more like a visit with a Friend.
Take the Eucharist on the road. We take Christ with us when we communicate his love through our actions and words. Grace from the Sacrament inspires us and strengthens us to show Christ-like love to the world. "As I have loved you, so you also should love one another" (John 13:34).
Cultivate grace. Grace is a share in God's divine life. Being open to Eucharist grace involves spending time with God in the Eucharist. Is there a Eucharistic Adoration Chapel nearby? Does your parish offer First Friday Benediction? Practicing a Eucharistic devotion will make the Mass less like a duty and more like a visit with a Friend.
Take the Eucharist on the road. We take Christ with us when we communicate his love through our actions and words. Grace from the Sacrament inspires us and strengthens us to show Christ-like love to the world. "As I have loved you, so you also should love one another" (John 13:34).
Discover God's plan of love for you
A vocation is a call from God to love him throughout your life. Whether you are called to be married, a priest or deacon, a religious brother or sister, or committeed to staying single, your vocation will bring you the most joy you can experience on Earth. It will help you and others to grow closer to God.
Here are some ways you can better discern God's plan for you:
Personally meet him. The Church's sacraments are opportunities to meet God personally and receive his grace. We can meet him often in the Sacrament of Holy Eucharist and the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Sacred Scripture is another opportunity for personal encounter. The more we open ourselves up to Our Lord, the more easily we can discern his voice.
Follow in another's footsteps. Find role models in the different vocations. See if you can picture yourself doing what he or she does each day. Ask for details of their vocations stories to see how God chose them. That will give you clues to how you are being called.
Keep in touch. Keeping a prayer journal is a good way to spot patterns that may show God is working in your life. Pick a prayer buddy and pray for each other's vocations. Spend time in front of the Blessed Sacrament when you can.
Here are some ways you can better discern God's plan for you:
Personally meet him. The Church's sacraments are opportunities to meet God personally and receive his grace. We can meet him often in the Sacrament of Holy Eucharist and the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Sacred Scripture is another opportunity for personal encounter. The more we open ourselves up to Our Lord, the more easily we can discern his voice.
Follow in another's footsteps. Find role models in the different vocations. See if you can picture yourself doing what he or she does each day. Ask for details of their vocations stories to see how God chose them. That will give you clues to how you are being called.
Keep in touch. Keeping a prayer journal is a good way to spot patterns that may show God is working in your life. Pick a prayer buddy and pray for each other's vocations. Spend time in front of the Blessed Sacrament when you can.
Still waiting for God to say "Yes?"
Even the most faithful Christians can get discouraged in prayer. It can be dishearting when you have your heart set on something, pray hard for it, but the hoped for result doesn't happen. It is important to remember that God hears you and he always answers prayer. He loves you more than you can imagine and wants the best for you. In fact, he knows what you need better than you do.
Answers to prayer usually fall into one of three responses:
1. Yes
2. Not right now
3. I have a better idea
The best approach is to make your request, trust him to do the right thing, and then look for his answer. Try not to get set on any one answer.
Perhaps God wants you to wait to increase your appreciation or because he doesn't think you are ready yet.
Perhaps he has something better in mind.
Whatever the answer --- and there is always an answer --- remember that it comes from his incredible and personal love.
Answers to prayer usually fall into one of three responses:
1. Yes
2. Not right now
3. I have a better idea
The best approach is to make your request, trust him to do the right thing, and then look for his answer. Try not to get set on any one answer.
Perhaps God wants you to wait to increase your appreciation or because he doesn't think you are ready yet.
Perhaps he has something better in mind.
Whatever the answer --- and there is always an answer --- remember that it comes from his incredible and personal love.
Polish your Catholic compass
Our Catholic faith is like a compass that can point us to a clear path to Heaven. If we aren't careful to keep our compass in working order, however, we can get pulled off course and lose our way.
Keep a sharp lookout. God made us in his image and likeness and we will be happiest when we avoid temptation and do what is good and loving in his eyes. The Beatitudes and the Ten Commandments are roadmaps we can follow.
Follow the well-worn path. We don't have to forge our own path. We have the Catholic Church to guide us. For example, an excellant source of answers to puzzling questions is the Catechism of the Catholic Church. It is a summary of what Catholics throughout the world believe in common. The Church also offers us thousands of saints as models.
Pack for the trip. Jesus knew we would need extra strength so he gave us the Sacraments. They are encounters with God and provide sanctifying grace. Fortify your traveler's spirit with the Eucharist and the Sacrament of Reconciliation as often as possible.
Journey toward God's voice. While God speaks to us in many ways, his voice is most clearly discerned in Scripture. A daily dose of the Word of God is a sure way to stay of the path to Heaven.
Keep a sharp lookout. God made us in his image and likeness and we will be happiest when we avoid temptation and do what is good and loving in his eyes. The Beatitudes and the Ten Commandments are roadmaps we can follow.
Follow the well-worn path. We don't have to forge our own path. We have the Catholic Church to guide us. For example, an excellant source of answers to puzzling questions is the Catechism of the Catholic Church. It is a summary of what Catholics throughout the world believe in common. The Church also offers us thousands of saints as models.
Pack for the trip. Jesus knew we would need extra strength so he gave us the Sacraments. They are encounters with God and provide sanctifying grace. Fortify your traveler's spirit with the Eucharist and the Sacrament of Reconciliation as often as possible.
Journey toward God's voice. While God speaks to us in many ways, his voice is most clearly discerned in Scripture. A daily dose of the Word of God is a sure way to stay of the path to Heaven.
Ever heard this one?
An elderly married couple were attending church one Sunday when halfway through the sermon the wife turned to her husband and whispered, "I just let out a long, silent toot!
What should I do?" The husband replied, "Replace the battery in your hearing aid!"
What should I do?" The husband replied, "Replace the battery in your hearing aid!"
Fwd: A Parable
An old man, a boy and a donkey were going to town. The boy rode on the donkey, and the old man walked.As they went along they passed some people who remarked "What a shame, the old man is walking, the boy is riding." The man and boy thought maybe the critics were right, so they changed positions.Later they passed some people who remarked "What a shame, he makes that little boy walk". So they decided they'd both walk.Soon they passed some more people who remarked "They're really stupid to walk when they have a decent donkey to ride." So they both decided to ride the donkey.They passed some people who shamed them by saying "How awful to put such a load on a poor donkey." The boy and the man figured they were probably right, so they decide to carry the donkey.As they crossed the bridge, they lost their grip on the donkey, the donkey fell into the river and drowned.The moral of the story: If you try to please everyone, you might as well kiss your ass goodbye.Have a nice day.
Fwd: Black and White
Hope you enjoy this
Black and White TV's.... You could hardly see for all the snow, Spread
the rabbit ears as far as they go.
My Mom used to cut chicken, chop eggs and spread mayo on the same cutting
board with the same knife and no bleach, but we didn't seem to get food
poisoning.
My Mom used to defrost hamburger on the counter and I used to eat it raw
sometimes, too. Our school sandwiches were wrapped in wax paper in a brown
paper bag, not in ice pack coolers, but I can't remember getting e.coli.
Almost all of us would have rather gone swimming in the lake instead of a
pristine pool (talk about boring), no beach closures then.
The term cell phone would have conjured up a phone in a jail cell, and a
pager was the school PA system.
We all took gym, not PE... And risked permanent injury with a pair of high
top Ked's (only worn in gym) instead of having cross-training athletic shoes
with air cushion soles and built in light reflectors. I can't recall any
injuries but they must have happened because they tell us how much safer we
are now.
Flunking gym was not an option... Even for stupid kids! I guess PE must be
much harder than gym.
Speaking of school, we all said prayers and sang the national anthem, and
staying in detention after school caught all sorts of negative attention.
We must have had horribly damaged psyches. What an archaic health system we
had then. Remember school nurses? Ours wore a hat and everything.
I thought that I was supposed to accomplish something before I was allowed
to be proud of myself.
I just can't recall how bored we were without computers, Play Station,
Nintendo, X-box or 270 digital TV cable stations.
Oh yeah... And where was the Benadryl and sterilization kit when I got that
bee sting? I could have been killed!
We played 'king of the hill' on piles of gravel left on vacant construction
sites, and when we got hurt, Mom pulled out the 48-cent bottle of
mercurochrome (kids liked it better because it didn't sting like iodine
did) and then we got our butt spanked.
Now it's a trip to the emergency room, followed by a 10-day dose of a $49
bottle of antibiotics, and then Mom calls the attorney to sue the contractor
for leaving a horribly vicious pile of gravel where it was such a threat.
We didn't act up at the neighbor's house either; because if we did we got
our butt spanked there and then we got our butt spanked again when we got
home.
I recall the kid next door coming over and doing his tricks on the front
stoop, just before he fell off.
Little did his Mom know that she could have owned our house.
Instead, she picked him up and swatted him for being such a goof. It was a
neighborhood run amuck.
To top it off, not a single person I knew had ever been told that they were
from a dysfunctional family.
How could we possibly have known that? We needed to get into group
therapy and anger management classes.
We were obviously so duped by so many societal ills, that we didn't even
notice that the entire country wasn't taking Prozac!
How did we ever survive?
LOVE TO ALL OF US WHO SHARED THIS ERA; AND TO ALL WHO DIDN'T, SORRY FOR WHAT
YOU MISSED. I WOULDN'T TRADE IT FOR ANYTHING!
Pass this to someone and remember that life's most simple pleasures are very
often the best.
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