Repent, Go to confession!
I’ve been sitting in the confessional in a parish where I’m filling in for 50 minutes now. Not one penitent. The door is open the available light is on. I hear sharply the criticism from people that priests aren’t available enough for confession. Perhaps this is a reason. Both the lack of availability of priests and the lack of penitents are a symptom of what Pope Pius XII called back in 1950 “the loss of the sense of sin.” People don’t think they’ve done anything wrong. The Ten Commandments are outdated. They say mistakenly “Everybody goes to heaven, to the same place, a better place. You can presume that God forgives you.” Yet this is not compassion it is a loss of morality, a dead conscience. If you have knowingly violated one of the Ten Commandments you are in mortal sin and need to repent. Confession is the ordinary means Jesus gave the Church to do this. He wished us to receive his own forgiveness through this very human encounter with a priest because when you repent of your sins out loud before another human person you are only then really owning up to them, it neutralizes the shame, you immediately feel unburdened, and grace is given by the invisible God who also receives your confession through the visible minister. Grace is given as Jesus promised “whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven”. So you hear his voice through the priest say, “I absolve you.” Then you know without a shadow of a doubt that you are forgiven. Repent. Go to confession.
APPROVED Eucharistic Miracles from THE 21ST CENTURY
1. Legnica: A Bleeding Host in Poland, 2013 On Christmas Day 2013, at the Church of Saint Hyacinth in Legnica, Poland, a consecrated host fell on the floor. The host was put into a container with water so that it would dissolve. Instead, it formed red stains. In Feb. 2014, the host was examined by various research institutes including the Department of Forensic Medicine in Szczecin who stated: “In the histopathological image, the fragments were found containing the fragmented parts of the cross-striated muscle. It is most similar to the heart muscle.” Additionally, and similar to the findings of the Eucharistic miracle of Lanciano, Italy, research found that the tissue had alterations that would appear during great distress. The bleeding Host in Poland was approved for veneration in April 2016, by Bishop Zbigniew Kiernikowski of Legnica who said that it “has the hallmarks of a Eucharistic miracle.” 2. Tixtla: Eucharistic Miracle in Mexico, 2006 In Oct. 2006, a parish in the Chilpancingo-Chilapa Diocese of Mexico held a retreat. During mass, two priests and a religious sister were distributing communion when the religious sister looked at the celebrant with tears in her eyes. The Host that she held had begun to effuse a reddish substance. To determine the validity of the event, Bishop Alejo Zavala Castro asked Dr. Ricardo Castañón Gómez (who researched the Eucharistic miracle in Buenos Aires) and his team to conduct scientific research. In 2013, the research concluded that: “The reddish substance analyzed corresponds to blood in which there are hemoglobin and DNA of human origin… The blood type is AB, similar to the one found in the Host of Lanciano and in the Holy Shroud of Turin.” 3. A Eucharistic Miracle at Chirattakonam, India, 2001 Though most Eucharistic miracles have to do with a bleeding host, the one at at Chirattakonam, India was a bit different. On an April morning in 2001, Fr. Johnson Karoor, pastor at St. Mary’s parish in Chirattakonam, India, exposed the Blessed Sacrament for adoration. Soon Fr. Karoor noticed three dots on the host and shared what he saw with the people, who also saw the dots. The priest then left for a week and came back to find that the host had developed an image of a human face. To ensure it wasn’t his imagination, he asked an alter server if he saw anything in the host. “I see the figure of a man,” the alter server replied. After mass, Fr. Karoor had a local photographer capture the image of the host below: Read more…
Apparition Our Lady Of Zeitoun
Between 1968 and 1971, millions of people claimed to see the illuminated Virgin Mary atop the St. Mary’s Coptic Orthodox Church in Zeitoun, Egypt. One witness thought he saw a nun on the roof of the church and ran to intercept what he believed was a suicide attempt. Instead, the glowing woman disappeared. Over the next three years, the Virgin Mary reportedly appeared for minutes or hours to crowds of people gathered at the foot of the church. She was seen holding olive branches and with doves flying around her at night, or with St. Joseph and a baby Jesus on occasion. Investigations by local police tried to debunk the miracle and disperse the crowds from the area. A search within a 15-mile radius of the church uncovered no special effects equipment, special lighting rigs, or projectors capable of putting on such a spectacle. Some theories include mass hysteria, with the gathered people seeing what they wanted or expected to see. Many of the assembled witnesses, though, were Muslim and had no reason to imagine a figure they don’t consider highly significant to their religion. Many religious scholars point to Mary’s appearance as the fulfillment of a promise she made to the family who built the church. Around 1918, the Virgin Mary allegedly appeared to Ibrahim Khalil in a vision and told him to build the church in her name on the land. She promised to return to the location and bless the church in 50 years. The church was completed in 1924, and the Virgin Mary returned in 1968 to perform what is now considered the miracle of Zeitoun. Read more…
Modesty?
Today we are going to talk about a so beloved topic of modesty. It’s a topic that we either love or hate to talk about and it really should not be because modesty first and foremost is a virtue. Modesty is a fruit of the Holy spirit. A lot of times we’re presented with modesty as a bunch of rules but the truth is it starts with our own hearts. It is a disposition of the heart. when you are filled with the Holy Spirit you want to be modest. Also we often present modesty as just a clothing thing but really it is how I present myself, how I glorify God with my body, in my speech, in my conduct etc. There are people on the church who say modesty is a bunch of rules and say that people have to follow these rules and if they don’t do, they are immodest or sinful. But catholic church is wise and doesn’t have a modest code like other religions. Because Catholic church is universal and the modesty varies from culture to culture. As CS Lewis once said, a bare-breasted tribal woman is modest in her culture and a Victorian woman with buttons up to her neck is modest in her culture. There can be some extremes in modesty. Some people say that the body is bad and soul is good. But we don’t believe that. We believe our bodies and our souls are so good because they are made in the image and likeness of God. But also we glorify God with our bodies. Another extreme is making modest just pure laws and just pure code instead of a disposition of the heart from sin to God. Other extreme is “don’t tell me what to do with my body, how dare you tell me what to wear, how to speak or how to act”. That is fine if you are not a Christian but if you make the choice to be a Christian it says in Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life, I now in the body, I live by faith in the son of God who loved me and gave himself for me” Further 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 it says, “Do you know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit , who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own. You were bought at a price. Therefor honour God with your bodies” When you say yes to Christ you are saying I want to glorify God with everything , with my speech, with my conduct, how I present myself , how I dress, even I want to glorify God with all my body You can disagree with me because modesty is not a rule. I can give suggestions to be more modest but it is ultimately up to you to decide which is the best way to glorify God.
A Letter from Your Father
My child, You may not know me, but I know everything about you. I know when you sit down and when you rise up. I am familiar with all your ways. Even the very hairs on your head are numbered. For you were made for my image. In me you live and have your being. For you are my offspring. I knew you even before you were conceived. I chose you when I planned creation. You are not a mistake, for all your days are written in my book. I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live. You are fearfully and wonderfully made. I knit you together in your mother’s womb. And brought you forth on the day you were born. I have been misrepresented by those who don’t know me. I am not distant and angry. But I am the complete expression of love. And it is my desire to lavish my love on you simply because you are my child and I am your father. I offer you more than your earthly father ever could for I am the perfect father. Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand for I am your provider and I meet all your needs. My plan for your future has always been filled with hope. Because I love you with an everlasting love. My thoughts towards you are countless as the sand on the seashore. And I rejoice over you with singing. I will never stop doing good to you for you are my treasured possession. I desire to establish you with all my heart and my soul. And I want to show you great and marvellous things. If you seek me with all your heart you will find me. Delight in me and I will give you the desires of your heart. For it is I who gave you those desires. I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine for I am your greatest encourager. I am also the father who comforts you in all your troubles. When you broken-hearted I am close to you. As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to my heart. One day, I will wipe away every tear from your eyes. And I will take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth. I am your father, and I love you even as I love my son, Jesus. For in Jesus my love for you is revealed. He is the exact representation of my being. He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against for you. Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled. His death is the ultimate expression of my love for you. I gave up everything I loved that I might gain your love. If you receive the gift of my son Jesus, you receive me. And nothing will ever separate you from my love again. Come home and I will throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen. I have always been father, and will always be father. My question is will you be my child? I am waiting for you….. Love, Your Dad.
Look down upon me, good and gentle Jesus!
Look down upon me, good and gentle Jesus, while before your face I humbly kneel, and with burning soul pray and beseech you to fix deep in my heart lively sentiments of faith, hope and charity, true contrition for my sins, and a firm purpose of amendment, while I contemplate with great love and tender pity your five wounds, pondering over them within me, calling to mind the words which David, your prophet, said of you, my good Jesus: “They have pierced my hands and my feet; they have numbered all my bones” (Ps 21, 17-18).
The Miracles of Lourdes
Our Lady of Lourdes is one of the most popular and beloved titles of Mary venerated in the Catholic Church and all over the world. On February 11, 1858, a young, French peasant girl named Bernadette was collecting firewood with her sister and a friend near a dumping ground in the town of Lourdes where they lived. Suddenly, Bernadette saw a beautiful maiden appear with a golden rosary, so she began praying the Rosary with the lady, not knowing who she was. The lady asked Bernadette to return to the Grotto, and after a while, she revealed herself as “the Immaculate Conception,” which was a title unknown to Bernadette due to her lack of education. Only those theologically learned enough to understand the new dogma could interpret this to mean that this was, in fact, a woman claiming to be Mary, the Mother of God.
EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCE | FORGIVENESS PRAYER
EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCE | FORGIVENESS PRAYER By Discerning Hearts Lord Jesus Christ, I ask today to forgive everyone in my life. I know that You will give me the strength to forgive and I thank You that You love me more than I love myself and want my happiness more than I desire it for myself. Father, I forgive Your for the times death has come into my family, hard times, financial difficulties, or that I thought were punishments sent by You and people said “It’s God;s will,” and I became bitter and resentful toward You. Purify my heart and mind today. Lord, I forgive MYSELF for my sins, faults and failings, for all that is bad in myself or that I think is bad, I forgive myself. For any delvings in superstition, using ouija boards, horoscopes, going to seances, using fortune telling or wearing lucky charms, I reject all that superstition and choose You alone as my Lord and Savior. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit. I further forgive myself for taking Your name in vain, not worshipping You by attending church, for hurting my parents, getting drunk, for sins against purity, bad books, bad movies, fornication, adultery, homosexuality. You have forgiven me, today I forgive myself. Also for abortion, stealing, lying, defrauding, hurting people’s reputation, I forgive myself. I truly forgive my MOTHER, I forgive her for all the times she hurt me, she resented me, she was angry with me and for all the times she prefered my brothers and sisters to me. I forgive her for the times she told me I was dumb, ugly, stupid, the worst of the children or that I cost the family a lot of money. For the times she told me I was unwanted, an accident, a mistake or not what she expected, I forgive her. I forgive my FATHER. I forgive him for any non-support, any lack of love, affection or attention. I forgive him for any lack of time, for not giving me his companionship, for his drinking, arguing and fighting with my mother or the other children. For his severe punishments, for desertion, for being away from home, for divorcing my mother or for any running around, I do forgive him. Lord, I extend forgiveness to my SISTERS AND BROTHERS. I forgive those who rejected me, lied about me, hated me, resented me, competed for my parents’ love, those who hurt me, who physically harmed me. For those who were too severe on me, punished me or made my life unpleasant in any way, I do forgive them.Lord, I forgive my SPOUSE for lack of love, affection, consideration, support, attention, communication; for faults, failings, weaknesses and those other acts or words that hurt or disturb me. Jesus, I forgive my CHILDREN for their lack of respect, obedience, love, attention, support, warmth, understanding; for their bad habits, falling away from the church, any bad actions which disturb me. My God, I forgive my IN-LAWS, MY MOTHER-IN-LAW, FATHER-IN-LAW, SON/DAUGHTER IN-LAWAND OTHER RELATIVES by marriage, who treat my family with a lack of love. For all their words, thoughts, actions or omissions which injure and cause pain, I forgive them. Please help me to forgive my RELATIVES, my grandmother and grandfather, aunts, uncles, cousins, who may have interfered in our family, been possessive of my parents, who may have caused confusion or turned one parent against the other. Jesus, help me to forgive my CO-WORKERS who are disagreeable or make life miserable for me. For those who push their work off on me, gossip about me won’t cooperate with me, try to take my job, I do forgive them. My NEIGHBORS need to be forgiven, Lord. For all their noise, letting their property run down, not tying up their dogs who run through my yard, not taking in their trash barrels, being prejudiced and running down the neighborhood, I do forgive them. I now forgive all PRIESTS AND NUNS, MY PARISH, PARISH COUNCIL, PARISH ORGANIZATIONS, MY PASTOR, THE BISHOP, THE POPE, AND THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH for their lack of support, affirmation, bad sermons, pettiness, lack of friendliness, not providing me or my family with the inspiration we needed, for any hurts they have inflicted on me or my family, even in the distant past, I forgive them today. Lord, I forgive all those who are of different PERSUASIONS, those of opposite political views who have attacked me, ridiculed me, discriminated against me, made fun of me, economically hurt me.I forgive those of different religious DENOMINATIONS who have tried to convert me, harrassed me, attacked me, argued with me, forced their views on me. Those who have harmed me ETHNICALLY, have discriminated against me, moscked me, made jokes about my race or nationality, hurt my family physically, emotionally or economically, I do forgive them today.Lord, I forgive all PROFESSIONAL PEOPLE who have hurt me in any way; doctors, nurses, lawyers, judges, politicians and civil servants. I forgive all service people: policemen, firemen, bus drivers, hospital workers and especially repairmen who have taken advantage of me in their work. Lord, I forgive my EMPLOYER for not paying me enough money, for not appreciating my work, for being unkind and unreasonable with me, for being angry or unfriendly, for not promoting me, and for not complimenting me on my work. Lord, I forgive my SCHOOLTEACHERS ANDINSTRUCTORS of the past as well as the present. For those who punished me, humilitated me, insulted me, treated me unjustly, made fun of me, called me dumb or stupid, made me stay after school, I truly forgive them today. Lord, I forgive my FRIENDS who have let me down, lost contact with me, do not support me, were not available when I needed help, borrowed money and did not return it, gossiped about me. Lord Jesus, I especially pray for the grace of forgiveness for that ONE PERSON in life who has HURT ME THE MOST. I ask to forgive anyone who I consider my…