Saturday, March 21, 2015

The Road Ahead

We're getting there....less than  two weeks left in our Lenten Journey. time to buckle down and finish strong. What do I have left to accomplish? Whatever it may be, I trust that Jesus is there to guide me to completion. 

Have a blessed day!

Monday, March 16, 2015

Just One Half Hour?

For many American Catholics, morning Mass is typical, with Mass offered in many parishes only in the morning on weekdays; consequently, this poses a problem for a lot of the faithful’s schedules.




Well I made it again to Adoration today. It was just a few minutes with 3 of my children after work, but it was time well spent with Our Lord and each other. It is a great blessing that our parish has Adoration from after the 7AM Mass, until 9PM. It allows many to attend  at a time that works with their schedules. Now as I said in my last post, I shouldn't make excuses for why I don't go often, but I am fortunate to have a nearby chapel that's open when I'm free. 

I also like to attend daily Mass when I can, but the reality of Mass times versus my work/home/other times usually doesn't work out. I leave the house for my hour-long commute around 6-6:30 AM and hope to get home before 5. By the time my wife and I get the children (and grandparents) settled after dinner, it's time for prayer and we get them to bed. This is usually around 7,  not counting if if I have a rehearsal or my wife needs to run errands. 

Most parishes around here have daily Mass between 7-9 AM on weekdays. With the exception of Saturday, getting to Mass is impossible. Yes, God is first in my life but I need to attend to the temporal welfare of my family, i.e. get to work on time to pay the bills.

Is a 5:15 during the week too much to ask???

I know our priests are stretched but maybe some variety in parish schedule would be helpful. If not, daily Mass will remain limited to mostly retirees. In an article for The National Catholic Register, writer John Grondelsk explains just that. He also mentions how Confession should be offered more than just prior to 4PM Mass on Saturday. I couldn't have expressed this better myself. If we really want to bet serious about evangelizing and bringing in those on the periphery, we need to schedule Sacraments when people are available, even if it falls outside of "normal business hours." 

I am thankful that a new pastor local to me has done some of this with his confession schedule. Let's hope this trend continues. 

Have a blessed week....

Thursday, March 12, 2015

Just One Hour?



I was blessed to have had a few precious minutes with Our Lord in my parish's Adoration Chapel this evening. I admit it, I don't spend enough time with Jesus in Adoration. I can blame work, being too busy, or countless other excuses. Sadly, when I arrived, Jesus was alone, covered by the shade used when no one is there. And sadly, I had to cover Him when it was time to leave. I need to go more often. No excuses, no reasons not to. 

Have a blessed week.


Wednesday, March 4, 2015

I am with you

A meditation from the diary of St. Faustia:

Suddenly I saw the Lord interiorly, and He said to me, Fear not, My daughter; I am with you. In that single moment, all the darkness and torments vanished, my senses were inundated with unspeakable joy, [and] the faculties of my soul filled with light (Diary, 103).

Satan always takes advantage of such moments; thoughts of discouragement began to rise to the surface for your faithfulness and sincerity this is your reward. How can one be sincere when one is so misunderstood? Jesus, Jesus, I cannot go on any longer. Again I fell to the ground under this weight, and I broke out in a sweat, and fear began to overcome me. I had no one to lean on interiorly. Suddenly I heard a voice within my soul, Do not fear; I am with you. And an unusual light illumined my mind, and I understood that I should not give in to such sorrows. I was filled with a certain strength and left my cell with new courage to suffer (Diary, 129).

My Prayer Response:
Lord Jesus, help me to hear Your word of encouragement when I need it: Do not fear; I am with you.

Monday, March 2, 2015

Where Are You Going?

Where are you going? Like the disciples in my last post, I don't really know the answer to that question. That last post was almost a year ago, yet it seems like yesterday. While a lot has happened since then, I feel as part of me is still in the same place. I've thought of many blog posts since, but none of them ever got past a few lines. I've had a lot to say, but I somehow can't put it into words. 

Now Lent is upon me again. I'm making strides to be "the best version of myself," to borrow a phrase from a well known apologist from Austrailia. I'm trying to make more time for prayer, make small sacrifices, and trying express that radical love which distinguish us as followers of Christ. I still have a long way to go in my journey and am trying to get by my "Lenten ADD," by trying to focus on one aspect of my faith life rather than everything all at once. 

Yes, a lot has happened, and I have a lot to say but that going to have to wait for now. Pray that I can focus on what I need to during this Lenten retreat and can give myself fully for what Jesus is calling me to do. Right now however, I need sleep. 

Be blessed!