Thoughts, 2007
Thursday, December 27, 2007
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold,
magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, "Where is the newborn king of
the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage."
When King Herod heard this, he was greatly troubled, and all Jerusalem
with him. Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, he
inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They said to him, "In
Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it has been written through the prophet: 'And
you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of
Judah; since from you shall come a ruler, who is to shepherd my people
Israel.'"
-- Matthew 2: 1-6
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
"Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that
will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a savior has been
born for you who is Messiah and Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will
find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger."
And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising
God and saying: "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those
on whom his favor rests."
-- Luke 2: 10-14
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him
Emmanuel, which means “God is with us.”
-- Matthew 1: 23
Friday, December 14, 2007
All serious and upright human conduct is hope in action. This is so first of
all in the sense that we thereby strive to realize our lesser and greater
hopes, to complete this or that task which is important for our onward
journey, or we work towards a brighter and more humane world so as to open
doors into the future.
--
His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI
Section 35, Spe
Salvi
(You can download this entire encyclical
letter as a pdf file by clicking the link above.)
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
It is not science that redeems man: man is redeemed by love. This applies
even in terms of this present world. When someone has the experience of a
great love in his life, this is a moment of “redemption” which gives a new
meaning to his life. But soon he will also realize that the love bestowed
upon him cannot by itself resolve the question of his life. It is a love
that remains fragile. It can be destroyed by death. The human being needs
unconditional love. He needs the certainty which makes him say: “neither
death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor
things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all
creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus
our Lord” (Rom 8:38-39). If this absolute love exists, with its
absolute certainty, then—only then—is man “redeemed”, whatever should happen
to him in his particular circumstances. This is what it means to say: Jesus
Christ has “redeemed” us. Through him we have become certain of God, a God
who is not a remote “first cause” of the world, because his only-begotten
Son has become man and of him everyone can say: “I live by faith in the Son
of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Gal 2:20).
--
His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI
Section 26, Spe
Salvi
(You can download this entire encyclical
letter as a pdf file by clicking the link above.)
Friday, November 30, 2007
The First
Letter to the Corinthians (1:18-31) tells us that
many of the early Christians belonged to the lower social strata, and
precisely for this reason were open to the experience of new hope, as we saw
in the example of Bakhita. Yet from the beginning there were also
conversions in the aristocratic and cultured circles, since they too were
living "without hope and without God in the world". Myth had lost its
credibility; the Roman State religion had become fossilized into simple
ceremony which was scrupulously carried out, but by then it was merely
"political religion". Philosophical rationalism had confined the gods within
the realm of unreality. The Divine was seen in various ways in cosmic
forces, but a God to whom one could pray did not exist. Paul illustrates the
essential problem of the religion of that time quite accurately when he
contrasts life "according to Christ" with life under the dominion of the
"elemental spirits of the universe" (Col
2:8). In this regard a text by Saint Gregory
Nazianzen is enlightening. He says that at the very moment when the Magi,
guided by the star, adored Christ the new king, astrology came to an end,
because the stars were now moving in the orbit determined by Christ.2
This scene, in fact, overturns the world-view of that
time, which in a different way has become fashionable once again today. It
is not the elemental spirits of the universe, the laws of matter, which
ultimately govern the world and mankind, but a personal God governs the
stars, that is, the universe; it is not the laws of matter and of evolution
that have the final say, but reason, will, love—a Person. And if we know
this Person and he knows us, then truly the inexorable power of material
elements no longer has the last word; we are not slaves of the universe and
of its laws, we are free.
--
His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI
Section 5, Spe
Salvi
(You can download this entire encyclical
letter as a pdf file by clicking the link above.)
Tuesday,
October 23, 2007
My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God
my savior. For he has looked upon his handmaid's lowliness; behold, from
now on will all ages call me blessed. The Mighty One has done great
things for me, and holy is his name.
His mercy is from age to age to those who fear him. He has shown
might with his arm, dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart. He has
thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly. The
hungry he has filled with good things; the rich he has sent away empty.
He has helped Israel his servant, remembering his mercy, according to
his promise to our fathers, to Abraham and to his descendants forever.
-- Luke 1:46-55
Tuesday,
October 9, 2007
Blessed be God who lives forever, because his kingdom lasts for all ages.
For he scourges and then has mercy; he casts down to the depths of the
nether world, and he brings up from the great abyss. No one can escape his
hand. Praise him, you Israelites, before the Gentiles, for though he has
scattered you among them, he has shown you his greatness even there.
Exalt him before every living being, because he is the Lord our God, our
Father and God forever. He scourged you for your iniquities, but will again
have mercy on you all. He will gather you from all the Gentiles among whom
you have been scattered. When you turn back to him with all your heart, to
do what is right before him, Then he will turn back to you, and no longer
hide his face from you.
So now consider what he has done for you, and praise him with full voice.
Bless the Lord of righteousness, and exalt the King of the ages. In the land
of my exile I praise him, and show his power and majesty to a sinful nation.
Turn back, you sinners! do the right before him: perhaps he may look with
favor upon you and show you mercy. As for me, I exalt my God, and my spirit
rejoices in the King of heaven. Let all men speak of his majesty, and sing
his praises in Jerusalem.
O Jerusalem, holy city, he scourged you for the works of your hands, but
will again pity the children of the righteous. Praise the Lord for his
goodness, and bless the King of the ages, so that his tent may be rebuilt in
you with joy. May he gladden within you all who were captives; all who were
ravaged may he cherish within you for all generations to come.
A bright light will shine to all parts of the earth; many nations shall
come to you from afar, And the inhabitants of all the limits of the earth,
drawn to you by the name of the Lord God, Bearing in their hands their gifts
for the King of heaven. Every generation shall give joyful praise in you,
and shall call you the chosen one, through all ages forever. Accursed are
all who speak a harsh word against you; accursed are all who destroy you and
pull down your walls, And all who overthrow your towers and set fire to your
homes; but forever blessed are all those who build you up.
Go, then, rejoice over the children of the righteous, who shall all be
gathered together and shall bless the Lord of the ages. Happy are those who
love you, and happy those who rejoice in your prosperity. Happy are all the
men who shall grieve over you, over all your chastisements, for they shall
rejoice in you as they behold all your joy forever.
My spirit blesses the Lord, the great King; Jerusalem shall be rebuilt as
his home forever. Happy for me if a remnant of my offspring survive to see
your glory and to praise the King of heaven!
The gates of Jerusalem shall be built with sapphire and emerald, and all
your walls with precious stones. The towers of Jerusalem shall be built with
gold, and their battlements with pure gold. The streets of Jerusalem shall
be paved with rubies and stones of Ophir; The gates of Jerusalem shall sing
hymns of gladness, and all her houses shall cry out, "Alleluia! Blessed be
God who has raised you up! may he be blessed for all ages!" For in you they
shall praise his holy name forever.
-- Tobit 13:1-18
Thursday,
October 4, 2007
"Your strength is not in numbers, nor does
Your power depend upon stalwart men; but You are the God of the lowly, the
helper of the oppressed, the supporter of the weak, the protector of the
forsaken, the savior of those without hope."
-- Judith 9:11
Wednesday,
September 19, 2007
What Do You Do During
Adoration?
When you sign up to be an "adorer" at Our Lady of
Lourdes. This allows you to schedule yourself for one or more hours each
Friday to pray before the very presence of Our Lord, exposed in the
monstrance. It means that you can have some time alone with Jesus to recite
your favorite prayers; read the Bible; contemplate acts of faith, hope and
charity; offer thanksgiving; pray a Rosary; or do whatever type of prayerful
devotion to which you feel called before Our Lord.
You can just sit and say nothing, simply keeping
Him company... just as you would with a dear friend..
-- from the Parish Bulletin
for the
25th Sunday in Ordinary Time.
Thursday, August
23, 2007
Children were brought to Jesus
that he might lay his hands on them and pray.
The disciples rebuked them, but Jesus said,
“Let the children come to me, and do not prevent
them;
for the Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
After he placed his hands on them, he went away.
-- Matthew 19: 13-15
Monday, May 11,
2007
God's Coffee
A group of
alumni, all highly established in their respective careers, got together for
a visit with their old university professor. The conversation soon turned to
complaints about the endless stress of work and life in general...
Offering his guests coffee, the professor
went into the kitchen and soon returned with a large pot of coffee and an
eclectic assortment of cups: porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal - some
plain, some expensive, some quite exquisite. Quietly he told them to help
themselves to some fresh coffee...
When each of his former students had a cup
of coffee in hand, the old professor quietly cleared his throat and began to
patiently address the small gathering...
''You may have noticed that all of the nicer
looking cups were taken up first, leaving behind the plainer and cheaper
ones. While it is only natural for you to want only the best for yourselves,
that is actually the source of much of your stress-related problems...''
''Be assured that the cup itself adds no
quality to the coffee. In fact, the cup merely disguises or dresses up what
we drink. What each of you really wanted was coffee, not a cup, but you
instinctively went for the best cups...then you began eyeing each other's
cups....''
''Now consider this: Life is coffee. Jobs,
money, and position in society are merely cups. They are just tools to shape
and contain life, and the type of cup we have does not truly define nor
change the quality of the Life we live...''
''Often, by concentrating only on the cup,
we fail to enjoy the coffee that God has provided us... God brews the
coffee, but he does not supply the cups. Enjoy your coffee!''
The happiest
people don't have the best of everything, they just make the best of
everything they have...
So please
remember: Live simply. Love generously. Care Deeply. Speak Kindly. Leave the
Rest to God.
Thursday, May 4, 2007
The Pastor's Cat
Dwight Nelson recently told a true story about the pastor of his church. He
had a kitten that climbed up a tree in his backyard and then was afraid to
come down. The pastor coaxed, offered warm milk, etc. The kitty would not
come down. The tree was not sturdy enough to climb, so the pastor decided
that if he tied a rope to his car and pulled it until the tree bent down, he
could then reach up and get the kitten.That's what he did, all the while
checking his progress. He then figured if he went just a little bit further,
the tree would be bent sufficiently for him to reach the kitten. But as he
moved the car a little further forward, the rope broke. The tree went
"bong!" and the kitten instantly sailed through the air - out of sight.
The pastor felt terrible. He
walked all over the neighborhood asking people if they'd seen
a little kitten. No. Nobody had seen a stray kitten. So he prayed, "Lord, I
just commit this kitten to your keeping," and went on about his business.
A few days later he was at the grocery store, and met one of his
church members. He happened to look into her shopping cart and was amazed to
see cat food. This woman was a cat hater and everyone knew it, so he
asked her, "Why are you buying cat food when you hate cats so much?"
She replied, "You won't believe
this," and then... told him how her little girl had been
begging her for a cat, but she kept refusing. Then a few days before, the
child had begged again, so the Mom finally told her little girl, "Well, if
God gives you a cat, I'll let you keep it."
She told the
pastor, "I watched my child go out in the yard, get on her knees, and ask
God for a cat. And really, Pastor, you won't believe this, but I saw it with
my own eyes. A kitten suddenly came flying out of the blue sky, with its
paws outspread, and landed right in front of her. Never underestimate
the Power of God and His unique sense of humor!
Thursday, April 26, 2007
"Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes has
eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the
desert, but they died; this is the bread that comes down from heaven so that
one may eat it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from
heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will
give is my flesh for the life of the world."
--John 6:47-51
Thursday, April 19, 2007
What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with
our eyes, what we looked upon and touched with our hands concerns the Word
of life -- for the life was made visible; we have seen it and testify to it
and proclaim to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was made
visible to us -- what we have seen and heard we proclaim now to you, so that
you too may have fellowship with us; for our fellowship is with the Father
and with his Son, Jesus Christ.
We are writing this so that our joy may be complete. Now this is the
message that we have heard from him and proclaim to you: God is light,
and in him there is no darkness at all.
--1 John 1:1-5
Thursday, April 12, 2007
But Mary stayed outside the tomb weeping. And as she wept, she bent over
into the tomb and saw two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and
one at the feet where the body of Jesus had been. And they said to her,
"Woman, why are you weeping?"
She said to them, "They have taken my Lord, and I don't know where they
laid him."
When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there, but did
not know it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom
are you looking for?"
She thought it was the gardener and said to him, "Sir, if you carried him
away, tell me where you laid him, and I will take him."
Jesus said to her, "Mary!"
She turned and said to him in Hebrew, "Rabbouni," which means Teacher.
Jesus said to her, "Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to
the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, 'I am going to my Father
and your Father, to my God and your God.'"
Mary of Magdala went and announced to the disciples, "I have seen the
Lord."
--John 20:11-18
Good Friday, April
6, 2007
"Father, into your hands I commend my
spirit."
--Luke 23:46
Thursday, March 28 2007
LESSON TWENTIETH:
On the Manner of Making a Good Confession
Q. 825. What should we do on entering the confessional?
A. On entering the confessional we should kneel, make the
sign of the Cross, and say to the priest, "Bless me, father"; then add, "I
confess to Almighty God and to you, father, that I have sinned."
Q. 826. Which are the first things we should tell the
priest in Confession?
A. The first things we should tell the priest in
Confession are the time of our last Confession, and whether we said the
penance and went to Holy Communion.
Q. 827. Should we tell anything else in connection with
our last confession?
A. In connection with our last confession we should tell
also what restrictions -- if any -- were placed upon us with regard to our
occasions of sin, and what obligations with regard to the payment of debts,
restitution, injuries done to others and the like, we were commanded to
fulfill.
Q. 828. After telling the time of our last Confession and
Communion what should we do?
A. After telling the time of our last Confession and
Communion we should confess all the mortal sins we have since committed, and
all the venial sins we may wish to mention.
Q. 829. What is a general confession?
A. A general confession is the telling of the sins of our
whole life or a great part of it. It is made in the same manner as an
ordinary confession, except that it requires more time and longer
preparation.
Q. 830. When should a General Confession be made?
A. A general confession:
-
Is necessary when we are certain that our past
confessions were bad;
-
It is useful on special occasions in our lives when
some change in our way of living is about to take place;
-
It is hurtful and must not be made when persons are
scrupulous.
Q. 831. What are the signs of scruples and the remedy
against them?
A. The signs of scruples are chiefly:
-
To be always dissatisfied with our confessions;
-
To be self-willed in deciding what is sinful and what
is not.
The chief remedy against them is to follow exactly the
advice of the confessor without questioning the reason or utility of his
advice.
Q. 832. What must we do when the confessor asks us
questions?
A. When the confessor asks us questions we must answer
them truthfully and clearly.
Q. 833. What should we do after telling our sins?
A. After telling our sins we should listen with attention
to the advice which the confessor may think proper to give.
Q. 834. What duties does the priest perform in the
confessional?
A. In the confessional the priest performs the duties:
-
Of a judge, by listening to our self-accusations and
passing sentence upon our guilt or innocence;
-
Of a father, by the good advice and encouragement he
gives us;
-
Of a teacher, by his instructions, and
-
Of a physician, by discovering the afflictions of our
soul and giving us the remedies to restore it to spiritual health.
Q. 835. Why is it beneficial to go always if possible to
the same confessor?
A. It is beneficial to go always, if possible, to the
same confessor, because our continued confessions enable him to see more
clearly the true state of our soul and to understand better our occasions of
sin.
Q. 836. Should we remain away from confession because we
cannot go to our usual confessor?
A. We should not remain away from confession because we
cannot go to our usual confessor, for though it is well to confess to the
same priest, it is not necessary to do so. One should never become so
attached to a confessor that his absence or the great inconvenience of going
to him would become an excuse for neglecting the Sacraments.
Q. 837. How should we end our Confession?
A. We should end our Confession by saying, "I also accuse
myself of all the sins of my past life," telling, if we choose, one or
several of our past sins.
Q. 838. What should we do while the priest is giving us
absolution?
A. While the priest is giving us absolution we should
from our heart renew the Act of Contrition.
--from the Baltimore Catechism
of 1891
Thursday, March 22 2007
Tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus, but
the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, “This man welcomes
sinners and eats with them.”
So to them Jesus addressed this parable: "A man had two sons, and the
younger son said to his father, ‘Father give me the share of your estate
that should come to me.’ So the father divided the property between them.
"After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings and set
off to a distant country where he squandered his inheritance on a life of
dissipation. When he had freely spent everything, a severe famine struck
that country, and he found himself in dire need. So he hired himself out to
one of the local citizens who sent him to his farm to tend the swine.
"And he longed to eat his fill of the pods on which the swine fed, but
nobody gave him any. Coming to his senses he thought, ‘How many of my
father’s hired workers have more than enough food to eat, but here am I,
dying from hunger. I shall get up and go to my father and I shall say to
him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer
deserve to be called your son; treat me as you would treat one of your hired
workers.'
"So he got up and went back to his father. While he was still a long way
off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran
to his son, embraced him and kissed him. His son said to him, ‘Father, I
have sinned against heaven and against you; I no longer deserve to be called
your son.’
"But his father ordered his servants, ‘Quickly bring the finest robe and
put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Take the
fattened calf and slaughter it. Then let us celebrate with a feast, because
this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has
been found.’
"Then the celebration began. Now the older son had been out in the field
and, on his way back, as he neared the house, he heard the sound of music
and dancing. He called one of the servants and asked what this might mean.
The servant said to him, ‘Your brother has returned and your father has
slaughtered the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’
"He became angry, and when he refused to enter the house, his father came
out and pleaded with him. He said to his father in reply, ‘Look, all these
years I served you and not once did I disobey your orders; yet you never
gave me even a young goat to feast on with my friends. But when your son
returns who swallowed up your property with prostitutes, for him you
slaughter the fattened calf.’
"He said to him, ‘My son, you are here with me always; everything I have
is yours. But now we must celebrate and rejoice, because your brother was
dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.’”
Luke 15: 1-3, 11-32
Thursday, March 15, 2007
142. Q. Which are the Sacraments
that increase sanctifying grace in our soul?
A.
The Sacraments that increase sanctifying grace in
our soul are: Confirmation, Holy Eucharist, Extreme Unction, Holy
Orders, and Matrimony; and they are called Sacraments of the living.
143. Q. Why are Confirmation, Holy
Eucharist, Extreme Unction, Holy Orders, and Matrimony called Sacraments of
the living?
A.
Confirmation, Holy Eucharist, Extreme Unction,
Holy Orders, and Matrimony are called Sacraments of the living, because
those who receive them worthily are already living the life of grace.
144. Q. What sin does he commit who
receives the Sacraments of the living in mortal sin?
A.
He who receives the Sacraments of the living in
mortal sin commits a sacrilege, which is a great sin, because it is an
abuse of a sacred thing.
-- from the Baltimore Catechism of
1891.
Thursday, March 8, 2007
The Apostle's Creed
I believe in God, the Father
almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, God's
only Son, our Lord, Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the
Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was
buried; He descended into hell. On the third day he rose again; He
ascended into heaven; he is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will
come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the
holy Catholic church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. AMEN.
Thursday, February 22, 2007
My son, when you come to serve the LORD, stand in justice and fear,
prepare yourself for trials. Be sincere of heart and steadfast, incline your
ear and receive the word of understanding, undisturbed in time of adversity.
Wait on God, with patience, cling to Him, forsake him not; thus will you
be wise in all your ways. Accept whatever befalls you, when sorrowful, be
steadfast, and in crushing misfortune be patient; for in fire gold and
silver are tested, and worthy people in the crucible of humiliation.
Trust God and God will help you; trust in Him, and He will direct your
way; keep His fear and grow old therein.
You who fear the LORD, wait for His mercy, turn not away lest you fall.
You who fear the LORD, trust Him, and your reward will not be lost.
You who fear the LORD, hope for good things, for lasting joy and mercy.
You who fear the LORD, love Him, and your hearts will be enlightened.
Study the generations long past and understand; has anyone hoped in the
LORD and been disappointed? Has anyone persevered in His commandments and
been forsaken? Has anyone called upon Him and been rebuffed? Compassionate
and merciful is the LORD; He forgives sins; He saves in time of trouble and
He is a protector to all who seek Him in truth.
-- Sirach 2: 1-11
Thursday, February 15, 2007
The Trentine Creed
-- or --
The Creed of Pius IV. , A.D. 1564.
I most steadfastly admit and embrace Apostolical and ecclesiastical
traditions, and all other observances and constitutions of the Church.
I also admit the Holy Scripture according to that sense which our
holy mother the Church has held, and does hold, to which it belongs to judge
of the true sense and interpretations of the Scriptures. Neither will I ever
take and interpret them otherwise than according to the unanimous consent of
the Fathers.
I also profess that there are truly and properly seven Sacraments of the
New Law, instituted by Jesus Christ our Lord, and necessary for the
salvation of mankind, though not all for every one; to wit, Baptism,
Confirmation, Eucharist, Penance, Extreme Unction, Orders, and Matrimony;
and that they confer grace; and that of these, Baptism, Confirmation, and
Orders cannot be reiterated without sacrilege. I also receive and admit the
received and approved ceremonies of the Catholic Church in the solemn
administration of the aforesaid Sacraments.
I embrace and receive all and every one of the things which have been
defined and declared in the holy Council of Trent concerning Original Sin
and justification.
I profess, likewise, that in the Mass there is offered to God a true,
proper, and propitiatory sacrifice for the living and the dead; and that in
the most holy sacrament of the Eucharist there is truly, really, and
substantially, the Body and Blood, together with the Soul and Divinity, of
our Lord Jesus Christ; and that there is made a conversion of the whole
substance of the bread into the body, and of the whole substance of the
wine into the blood, which conversion the Catholic Church calls
Transubstantiation. I also confess that under either kind alone Christ is
received whole and entire, and a true Sacrament.
I constantly hold that there is a Purgatory, and that the souls therein
detained are helped by the suffrages of the faithful.
Likewise, that the saints, reigning together with Christ, are to be
honored and invocated, and that they offer prayers to God for us, and that
their relics are to be respected.
I most firmly assert that the images of Christ, of the mother of God,
ever virgin, and also of the saints, ought to be had and retained, and that
due honor and veneration is to be given them.
I also affirm that the power of indulgences was left by Christ in the
Church, and that the use of them is most wholesome to Christian people.
I acknowledge the Holy Catholic Apostolic Roman Church for the mother and
mistress of all churches; and I promise true obedience to the Bishop of
Rome, successor to St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles, and Vicar of Jesus
Christ.
I likewise undoubtedly receive and profess all other things delivered,
defined, and declared by the sacred Canons, and general Councils, and
particularly by the holy Council of Trent.
And I condemn, reject, and anathematize all things contrary thereto, and
all heresies whatsoever, condemned, rejected, and anathematized by the
Church. This true Catholic faith, without which no one can be saved,
I. N.N. do at this present freely confess and sincerely hold; and
I promise most constantly to retain, and confess the same entire and
unviolated, with God's assistance, to the end of my life
Thursday, February 01, 2007
Since there will never cease to be some in need on the
earth, I therefore command you, "Open your hand to the poor and needy
neighbor in your land."-
Deuteronomy 15:11-11
Thursday, January 25, 2007
"The arrogance of power must be countered with reason, force with
dialogue, pointed weapons with outstretched hands, evil with good."
- Pope John Paul II
Thursday, January 18, 2007
The word of God is living and effective,
sharper than any two-edged sword,
penetrating even between soul and spirit,
joints and marrow,
and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.
No creature is concealed from him,
but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him
to whom we must render an account.
Since we have a great high priest who has passed through the
heavens,
Jesus, the Son of God,
let us hold fast to our confession.
For we do not have a high priest
who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses,
but one who has similarly been tested in every way,
yet without sin.
So let us confidently approach the throne of grace
to receive mercy and to find grace for timely help.
--Hebrews 4:12-16
Thursday, January 11, 2007
At the evening of life, we shall be judged on our love.
--St. John of the Cross
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