Real Presence: How Do You Show Reverence?

Recently, I heard a story about Fr. Benedict Groeschel, CFR. He was traveling with a Protestant minister in a car and, when they passed a Catholic Church, Fr. Benedict made the Sign of the Cross. The minister asked him why he did this. Fr. ...Benedict explained that it was out of reverence for Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament. The minister told him, if I believed what you believe, I would get out of the car, run inside the church, fall on my knees and never get up again.

With regard to having faith in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, I found the story interesting and thought provoking. I am sure Fr. Benedict Groeshel believes in the Real Presence!

Are You Saved?

 

If a Protestant asks you, “Are you saved?”, it’s fun to ask them, “Saved from what?” After all, if somebody is saved, they must have been saved from something. But what’s surprising is that Protestants disagree with each ot...her about what Jesus saved them from. Some say they are saved from sin. But I am still a sinner. Some say they are saved from death. But some day I will die. Some say they are saved from Hell. But if I were to presume that I am definitely not going to Hell, that would be the sin of presumption. Read more @ http://www.stmichaelsabbey.com/abbey/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=258%3Asoteriology&catid=51%3Ahomilies&Itemid=129

How Can I Ever Thank You, Lord? Lenten Reflection

The following reflection came to me as I prayed the Rosary meditating on the Sorrowful mysteries on this Friday of the third week of Lent 2014.

As I began the Sorrowful Mysteries, I reflected on the loneliness our Lord must have experienced during his Agony in the Garden; the unimaginable stress he must have suffered in bearing the sins of all mankind, past, present, and future. And I thought, “How can I ever thank you, Lord? You did this for me!”

 

You, Creator of a universe so vast that its boundaries, if any, will most likely never be known to science, the one and only omniscient God who did not have to leave your Heavenly throne, be born in a filthy stable, and live, work, and experience human joy and suffering for thirty-three years to experience our humanity because You knew our human experiences from the beginning. “How can I ever thank you, Lord? You did this for me.”

You, Creator of a universe so vast that its boundaries, if they exist, will most likely never be known to science, did not have to suffer the unimaginable torture of being scourged, flesh being torn from your body, organs and bones exposed, soaked in blood, with every vicious blow, but you did for me.  “How can I ever thank you, Lord? You did this for me.”

 

You, Creator of a universe so vast that its boundaries, if they exist, will most likely never be known to science, did not have to be spat upon, beaten beyond recognition, mocked, and nailed naked to the rough wood of the cross in the presence of your Mother and close friends, but you did it for me. “How can I ever thank you, Lord? You did this for me.”

Lord, may I never take your eternal gift of love for me for granted. In times of weakness and temptation, may I always recall the price you paid for my sins. There is no greater love than yours! I am sorry for the pain I’ve caused you. Please forgive me and have mercy on me, a sinner!
 

Amen.

 



 

Have You Ever Wondered About the Candles in Church?

Rely on His Mercy!

Our fallen human nature prohibits us from remaining free from sin, even when we strongly desire to do so. Our daily sins, our thoughts, our words, what we do, and what we fail to do, are numerous on a daily basis. Ask for God's grace, try to refrain from sin, but most importantly, acknowledge and rely upon God's mercy always! If blessed with the opportunity to do so, the most important words we can ever utter on our death beds are simply the words, "Jesus, mercy". Saint Padre Pio, as he was approaching the time in which he would draw his last breath, continually prayed the words, "Jesus, Mary".

Surges of the Heart and Looks Turned Toward Heaven

 

I love St. Therese of Lisieux’s definition of prayer found in (CCC 2558). She says, “For me, prayer is a surge of the heart; it is a simple look turned toward heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy.” The beauty of prayer as described by St. Therese of Lisieux, and by the Church, is that the “surges of the heart,” the simple looks turned toward heaven,” come spontaneously to those who are humble enough to acknowledge their dependence upon the loving and merciful care of a Heavenly Father.

Prayer is a gift from God to those humble enough to acknowledge dependence upon His love and mercy and respond with praise and thanksgiving (CCC 2559). It is a covenant relationship with God as we come into communion with the love of the Trinity and our brothers and sisters in Christ (CCC 2564). Effective prayer stems from the heart. “According to Scripture, it is the heart that prays. If our heart is far from God, the words of prayer are in vain.” (CCC 2562)

Jesus, Our Friend

 

When you come to know Him, and grow in your relationship with Him, you will soon realize He is the most trusted, loyal, and faithful Friend you’ll ever have! He may be the only true friend you'll ever have!

The Big Bang - Who was there before it? Who put it all into motion?

 

The creation of the vast universe, billions upon billions of galaxies, containing billions upon billions of stars, the universe in which we live upon this tiny planet we call earth, is an awesome thing to ponder!

Unlike a man-made bomb, which explodes into existing space, the “Big Bang” explosion created even the space into which it exploded and expanded. Space did not yet exist.

Today, astrophysicists estimate that the temperature of the entire universe at just a tiny fraction of a second after the “Big Bang” explosion was 1000 trillion degrees Celsius. Even the cores of the hottest stars in today's universe are much cooler than that. As mere humans, we lack the ability to begin to even imagine the intensity of such force, energy, and heat!

Man looks to science for proof of God’s existence. But science has its limits.

With regard to the “Big Bang” theory, science has the authority to tell us how things are only from the moment of the explosion until today. Science has no legitimacy, no power to tell us anything about what happened or Who was there prior to the explosion. It cannot tell us why the explosion took place in the first place. That is the province of religion and spirituality, and the legitimate authorities on that subject are the great saints and prophets, and all to whom God has revealed such knowledge.