Pearls...

Few souls understand what God would accomplish in them if they were to abandon themselves unreservedly to Him and if they were to allow His grace to mold them accordingly.
~ St. Ignatius of Loyola

Heaven on Earth

Part of growing in wisdom is being able to admit that you were wrong.  When Cardinal Ratzinger was elected to the office of Supreme Pontiff, I was less then thrilled.  What a difference a few years, a little bit of learning and a lot of prayer can make!!

I receive a daily press release from the Vatican, and on Wednesday, it includes the Holy Father's weekly address.  I found today's message particularly inspiriational, so I share it with you.

Here is a little taste~
The Gospel says that the disciples were unable to remain awake for Christ, and Pope Benedict concluded his catechesis by saying: "Let us ask the Lord for the power to keep awake for Him in prayer, to follow the will of God every day even if He speaks of the Cross, to live in ever increasing intimacy with the Lord and bring a little of God's 'heaven' to this 'earth'".

Confession~ A balm for the soul

I have been thinking a lot lately about the Sacrament of Reconciliation. 
I have a regular confessor who also acts as my spiritual director, and over the past few years I have really learned to love and appreciate this Sacrament.

Sadly, many  Catholics do not avail themselves of this great gift of the Church.

A therapist friend of mine often says "When things are right with you, the things around you become right."  There is a lot of wisdom there that can be brought into the context of confession. 

The USCCB published this wonderful list outlining 10 benefits of confession  This is from the article. 

Peace of soul leads to peace of heart leads to peace beyond oneself.

If there is peace my soul and in my heart, that is the start to peace in the world.  I can't think of a better reason for confession, can you?

Vocation Awareness Week

It is Vocation Awareness Week. 

As we all know, too well, there is a serious lack of vocations to the priesthood and religious life in our diocese.  I leave out the Permanent Diaconate, because I believe that our diocese is fairly strong in fostering this vocation, as there are 9 (or there about) men who are in formation who are scheduled to be ordained this year, and many more in various other stages of formation.  Praise be to God for these men and their families!

That said, I find it very sad that except for St. CharlesBorromeo in Greece, who dedicated the front page of their bulletin to vocations awareness and St. Pius X in Chili, who published the prayer for vocations in their bulletin, I found no other parish bulletin in Rochester that even mentioned Vocations Awareness Week.   And to make matters even worse, there is no mention of it at all on the DORwebsite, or the “Vocations Home Page”, which incidentally, does not look like it has been updated in quite a while.

Vocation Awareness Week should be an important part of every parish.   We should be praying for and fostering vocations and  the only way to really do this is to actually talk about them!!      

Wouldn’t be wonderful to hear your priest tell his vocation story in a homily?  To talk about how he heard “the call” and what he did to foster that?  I would bet the farm that he would say that at some point, it was another parishioner who planted the seed in his heart, or who saw his potential and encouraged him.  And isn’t that our job?  Prayers are important, but sometimes, you actually have to do something!!

Take a moment, pray for all priests, deacons, and religious brothers & sister and pray that we, as a Church, can foster more vocations and that we all will live the vocation that God has planned for us with joyful hearts.  And if you know a young man or woman, who you think may have a vocation to the religious life- talk to them about it! 

Encourage them!! Be there for them!!  Do Something!!

Prayer for Openness to God’s Call

Lord Jesus, once You called the first disciples in order to make them fishers of men. Continue to let resound today Your sweet invitation: “Come and Follow Me.”

Grant to young men and women the grace of responding promptly to Your voice. Sustain our bishops, priests, and consecrated souls in their apostolic work. Give perseverance to our seminarians and to all those who are fulfilling the ideal of a life of total consecration to Your service.

Enkindle in our communities a missionary zeal. Send, Lord, workers into Your fields and do not let mankind be lost because of a lack of pastors, missionaries, and people dedicated to the cause of the Gospel.

Mary, Mother of the Church, Model of Vocations, help us say “Yes” to the Lord Who calls us to collaborate in the divine design of salvation. Amen.

~Pope John Paul II

Thoughts on the new translation

While I still am having some issues with some parts of the new translation, I am finding that I am loving some of the new "Collects".  This is the one from Friday, January 6th.
What beautiful imagery!

Cast your kindly light upon your faithful, Lord, we pray, and with the splendor of your glory, set their hearts ever aflame, that they may never cease to acknowledge their Savior and may truly hold fast to him. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen.

A baby changes everything

"The history of 20 centuries begins in this stable,

for the Child, is in very truth the source of all things."  ~Blessed John XXIII

Have a very merry & blessed Christmas!! 

O Emmanuel

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel,
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.

Father in heaven,

I am eagerly awaiting

the gift of my redemption,

Jesus, the Christ

the Son you sent to save me

Emmanuel, God-with-us.

Bleesed are we who embrace

Him, for by doing so,

we embrace You!

O Rex Gentium

O Come, Desire of the nations, bind
in one the hearts of all mankind;
bid every strife and quarrel cease
and fill the world with heaven's peace

Father in heaven,
join me together with all your children,
so that in living your will,
we make bring your kingdom here to earth.

O Oriens

O Come, Thou Dayspring from on high,
and cheer us by thy drawing nigh;
disperse the gloomy clouds of night
and death's dark shadow put to flight.

Father in Heaven,

as we enter into the darkest night of the year,

help me to remember that the light of your Son

is with me always.

O Clavis David

O Come, Thou Key of David, come,
and open wide our heav'nly home,
make safe the way that leads on high,
that we no more have cause to sigh.

Father in heaven,
My path is rocky and my heart is heavy,
be with me on my journey and
and help me to not fall into doubt & despair.