Category: Words of Wisdom

A first path of repentance is the condemnation of your own sins: be the first to admit your sins and you will be justified. For this reason, too, the prophet wrote: I said: I will accuse myself of my sins to the Lord and you forgave the weakness of my heart. Therefore, you too should condemn your own sins; that will be enough reason for the Lord to forgive you, for a man who condemns his own sins is slower to commit them again. Rouse your conscience to accuse you within your own house, lest it become your accuser before the judgment seat of the Lord.

Via EWTN

Category: Lent

One of my favourites: Isaiah 55: 10 - 11

10 "For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and return not thither but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
11 so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

Category: Lent

Sometimes I think I may have gone overboard with this whole religious education thing. This morning (Ash Wednesday), my 8-year old--who is not, by Canadian rules, obliged to fast--was going to have an egg for breakfast. One of her sisters said, "Hey, it's Lent. You're not supposed to have a fancy breakfast."

Category: Lent

Are you ready for Lent? I love this season. May we all come a little closer to knowing the Lord Jesus Christ and giving our lives over completely to Him.

Category: Life

Each and every day is an inestimable gift from God. It is not for us to say to God, "You gave me too many," or "You gave me too few." It is only for us to say, "Lord, thank you for this day. How may I serve you?" We may then be less likely to fall into the bad habit of wasting time.

Category: Words of Wisdom

From the EWTN website:

Of us God demands purity of heart, that purity which is the life of the soul. He wants besides, since we possess no virtues worthy of Him, a deep respect and true humility. Let us say to Him: " Lord I am not worthy to receive Thee. Depart from me, for I am a miserable sinner!" This conviction makes up for our shortcomings. Our Lord is content with it and, when he comes to us, He will give us all that we lack. Let us simply be faithful, humble, and confident. He will do the rest.

-- St. Peter Eymard

Category: The Church

Who knew that the sons of Zebedee were so far ahead of their time? They act like some modern church bureaucrats.

In today's gospel (Mark 10:32-45), Jesus tells his apostles that he is about to be delivered into the hands of his enemies, mocked, tortured and crucifed. Pretty sobering and scary stuff. If you were one of the Twelve, surely you would react with fear and horror, not to say compassion for Christ and what he is about to undergo. But in response to this revelation, James and John sidle up and say, "What's in it for us?"

Category: Words of Wisdom

Sirach 35:4

"Do not appear before the Lord empty-handed."

One of my prinicipal fears is that I will waste my entire life on earth and not complete the task(s) which God has set me. So one could logically ask why I am writing blog posts which no one will read?

Category: Liturgy

Happy Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. (Is a Solemnity also considered a feast day? Sorry for my ignorance; I was catechized in the 70s.)



Picture shamelessly stolen from my parish website. Thanks, Fr. A.

Category: Liturgy

Because some liturgical and catechetical experts in the Church in North America offer them junk like this to feed their souls:


I stumbled across this perfectly hideous Advent prayer book, apparently written for “teens, tweens and college-agers.”

Right-o. I can just imagine my 22-year old, fourth-year-university-age daughter "drawing the sounds of the season" along with her 11-year-old sister.

This little gem was written by one Peter J. Mead. I hope his grammar teacher, wherever she is, is not contemplating suicide.

You just know you’re in for a rough ride when it’s illustrated with scrawly cartoon images, and doesn’t mention Jesus Christ for the first five pages.

Here are some excerpts of the sublime and elegantly written devotions:

First Monday:

IT’S THAT TIME AGAIN

It’s that time again, I see …

… you know …

… time to torch the wreath.

Okay … that was uncalled for, I suppose. I’ll admit it.

It’s time to LIGHT the wreath.

Pardon my insolence. It’s just …

… well, it’s just that I’m not sure I get the point. You know … of all this ADVENT rigmarole.

First Wednesday:

UM … I THINK THE WREATH IS TALKING …

Shhh … do you hear it? Listen really close … I think I’m beginning to hear something. Unless I’m mistaken, the Advent wreath’s trying to tell us something.

Second Sunday:

PEOPLE IN DARKNESS!

Did Isaiah have to work a while before coming up with the right turn of phrase … the perfect metaphor?

“Let’s see … how can I say this? ‘There were some folks with their feet stuck in tar?’ Nope … that doesn’t seem to work. How ‘bout ‘life for them was as soupy as chocolate pudding’? No, no, no … that’s terrible!’ ‘They were like compasses without a magnet? … sheep without a shepherd? … oatmeal cookies without raisins? …’”


How about: a pseudo-theologian without a clue? (But a plethora of ellipses and screaming capitals). I did not finish reading the book. I had not the liturgical, theological or grammatical stomach for it. I did the holy thing and recycled it.

Vampire fic, on the other hand, offers mystery, sacrificial love, ritual, meaningful suffering, and eternal life. Who wouldn’t choose the latter? As Peter J. Mead might say, Um … like … I DUNNO.