Feast of the Guardian Angels

This Feast Day is properly celebrated on October 2 which falls on a Sunday this year so it is trumped by Mass (and quite rightly). However, I have quite an attachment to my Guardian Angel and so thought I'd put this up today.

Devotion to the Guardian Angels goes back to the beginnings of Christianity. Pope Clement X proclaimed the feast a universal celebration in the seventeenth century. The Guardian Angels serve as the messengers of God. The Almighty has allocated a Guardian Angel to each one of us for our protection and for the good of our apostolate...

We have to deal with our Guardian Angels in a familiar way, while at the same time recognizing their superior nature and grace. Though less palpable in their presence than human friends are, their efficacy for our benefit is far greater. Their counsel and suggestions come from God, and penetrate more deeply than any human voice. To reiterate, their capacity for hearing and understanding us is much superior even to that of our most faithful human friend, since their attendance at our side is continuous; they can enter more deeply into our intentions, desires and petitions than can any human being, since angels can reach our imagination directly without recourse to the comprehension of words. They are able to incite images, provoke memories, and make impressions in order to give us direction.

In Conversation With God : Feast Days July - December

As devoted as I am to the Archangels, I am especially fond of my Guardian Angel. He is always there when I need him and has a wicked sense of humor. Perhaps wicked is not the right word. He must, therefore, have an angelic sense of humor! This is one of my favorite feast days.

For my personal angel stories, as well as some general information, you can read more here, here, and here.

Prayer to One's Guardian Angel

Dear Angel,
in his goodness God gave you to me to
guide, protect and enlighten me,
and to being me back to the right way when I go astray.
Encourage me when I am disheartened,
and instruct me when I err in my judgment.
Help me to become more Christlike,
and so some day to be accepted into
the company of Angels and Saints in heaven.
Amen.

Mortification, Part II

Continued from Part I.

There are three main areas for daily mortification in our ordinary lives. First of all, there is the heartfelt and serene acceptance of the contradictions every day brings. In most cases this refers to the very small things that crop up unexpectedly, and that force us to change our plans or adjust our expectations. One example might be a minor illness that interferes with our performance at work or affects family life. Other examples would include having to put up with inclement weather, heavy traffic, the difficult personality of a colleague at work ... These circumstances are beyond our personal control. We have got to see them as providing opportunities to love God even more. None of these problems should take away our peace and joy.

If these small contradictions are not accepted for the sake of Love, they will only succeed in making people become frustrated and irritable. The great majority of our frustrations come from small contradictions which we have not accepted rather than from major disasters. The person who lies awake at night, who is gloomy, who is in a bad humor, has usually not suffered some great blow. He has simply been unable to turn small setbacks into encounters with God (A. G. Dorronsoro). Such a one loses many chances to grow in virtue. In addition, when the soul gets into the habit of accepting small reverses as divine favors it becomes better prepared to face more serious trials in union with the Lord.

God came into the world to provide a healing remedy for the root of all our rebellion and misery He destroyed many things as useless obstacles but chose to leave pain intact. He did not take away pain, but gave it a new meaning. He could have chosen a thousand different ways to accomplish the Redemption of the human race, but he chose the Cross. It was by this path that He has led his Mother Mary, Joseph, the Apostles and all the sons of God. The Lord allows evil to exist and he draws out good for our souls from it (J. Urteaga). Let us be sure to convert setbacks into occasions of interior growth.

In Conversation with God: Ordinary Time: Weeks 24-34

I have to say that when I remember to do this, offer up my annoyances, pray for those who are driving me crazy, to pray and for myself (for more patience, a better grip on my temper, etc.) not only does my day turn around but I really feel God's presence much more throughout the day. And why not? I am then focusing on pleasing Him rather than on making myself the center of the universe.

Coming Monday: the last two of three main areas for daily mortification.

The Shining Redux

The Shining the way you never imagined it. Pure genius. Don't miss it!

Great Google Links, Batman!

It seems that Spero News is coming right along as a content provider. And more people are figuring that out all the time. Pretty good considering they just got started in April or May!

Mortification, Part I

Just the word, "mortification," sounds terrible doesn't it? However, it is not such a bad thing at all and nothing "extra" for the practicing Christian who wants to draw closer to Jesus. I am going to put this reading up in three parts to make it easy to digest.

Mortification prepares the soul to listen to the Lord and to follow his Will: If we want to reach God we will have to mortify the soul and all its powers (St. Jean Vianney). Mortification can convert our souls into the good soil that will bring the divine seed to fruition. We have to weed out and burn those thorns that tend to flourish in the soul -- laziness, egoism, envy, curiosity ... This is why the church recommends that we review our spirit of penance and mortification on Fridays. This spirit will lead us to be more generous in our invitation of Christ on the Cross. Closely related to mortification is that happiness which we all find so necessary.

Anyone who intends to live his Christian faith seriously needs to put off the old nature with its practices (Col 3:9). This old nature consists in the variety of bad inclinations we have inherited from Adam. It is the triple concupiscence which we need to control through the exercise of mortification (A. Tanquerey). Mortification is not recommended as a negative action. On the contrary, it is meant to rejuvenate the soul. Mortification makes the soul better disposed to receive supernatural gifts. It also helps us to make reparation for our past sins. This is why we frequently pray to the Lord to grant us emendationem vitae, spatium verae paenitentiae, a time of true penance and reformation of life (Roman Missal). By means of the Communion of Saints we give help and strength to other members of the mystical body which is the Church.

In Conversation with God: Ordinary Time: Weeks 24-34

Coming tomorrow: the first of three main areas for daily mortification.

The First Cool Weather is Here

the breeze is cooler
and the sun sets early
now it's cocoa weather!

Monkey

I Concur.

Your Blog Should Be Yellow

You're a cheerful, upbeat blogger who tends to make everyone laugh. You are a great storyteller, and the first to post the latest funny link. You're also friendly and welcoming to everyone who comments on your blog.

What Color Should Your Blog or Journal Be?

Via Culture Shock and the blondelibrarian.

Do Y'all Think So?

Your Blogging Type is Social and Responsible

You enjoy blogging and do all you can to advance the blogging community. From helping friends set up blogs to getting rid of spam - you take a leadership role. A super blogger, you tend to blog regularly. You'd hate to disappoint your audience. And always appropriate, there's no way you'd blog something too personal!

What's Your Blogging Personality?

There were only four questions so it is short and sweet ... but I don't know if it is right or not. (I'm finding it difficult to evaluate my own style in this for some reason.) Via Fructis Ventris.

I Actually Stuck It Out to the Bitter End

... and there is an end. Enjoy!

Via ukok.

My Latest Spero News Article

Quick! What's For Dinner? ... a couple of cookbook recommendations for getting dinner on the table with a minimum of effort ... and recipe samples.

Leave Her at the Altar

CORPSE BRIDE
Tim Burton is one of our favorite directors. The Nightmare Before Christmas is one of our favorite movies. However, Corpse Bride left us cold.

The animation was good. The voice talent was great. However, the story was extremely simple. Also, the look of the entire movie, both in the land of the living and the land of the dead was so dreary and sepia-toned that I almost fell asleep a few times. Tom said he had the same problem. As an additional irritation, the intended comic relief of a maggot (that lives inside the corpse bride's head) sounded a strident and obnoxious note that belonged in a different movie altogether.

It was not a bad movie and not a bad way to pass the afternoon. However with matinee tickets for four costing $22 my advice is to rent it later. Save your money for Serenity next weekend ... or for Wallace and Grommit the weekend after that (for more first rate animation).

HC rating: *** Good despite lack of flubber

Question The Second

As a follow-up, is there an Old Testament person who you particularly identify with? We're not picky about this ... "person" is either a character or an author. just any old person that resonates with you...

My answer is in the comments box.

Mass Thought - The Funny One

Phil 2:1-11

Brothers and sisters:

If there is any encouragement in Christ,
any solace in love,
any participation in the Spirit,
any compassion and mercy,
complete my joy by being of the same mind, with the same love,
united in heart, thinking one thing.
Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory;
rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves,
each looking out not for his own interests,
but also for those of others.

Have in you the same attitude
that is also in Christ Jesus,
Who, though he was in the form of God,
did not regard equality with God
something to be grasped.
Rather, he emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
coming in human likeness;
and found human in appearance,
he humbled himself,
becoming obedient to the point of death,
even death on a cross.
Because of this, God greatly exalted him
and bestowed on him the name
which is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bend,
of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that
Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

Kneeling at the altar rail, waiting for the priest to move down the line to me, I was looking at Jesus on the crucifix, pondering the second Mass reading. I thought of all the ways that Jesus showed us how to live in humility and, once again, was struck by the fact that he had covered every circumstance I'd find myself in.

"Wow, you were so perfect at being humble," I thought.

"Well, I am God," flashed the thought into my head.

Touche! Which pretty much explains why I was kind of giggling when the priest moved over and stood in front of me.

Update: Sharon's Baby

Y'all may remember this couple's choice of life for their unborn baby, despite the fact that she may only live an hour or two. I found out today that the situation has changed. The baby actually has a different genetic problem than the one originally diagnosed. She will live but will be severely retarded, maybe being able to progress only as much as being able to feed herself.

That doesn't change a thing for this couple's decision. They are firmly on the side of life. In fact, when I asked how Sharon was feeling right now, Joanette told me that one of Sharon's gifts is to have a hugely positive outlook no matter what the circumstances. And that is just what she and her husband need right now.

So let's continue to storm heaven for God to give this couple the graces they will need with their baby. And, I'm not at all shy about asking also for the miracle of perfect physical and mental health for this baby either. Let's go for the whole enchilada!

Further reading on the subject:
Power of the Powerless by Christopher De Vinck is the book that made me really, truly understand the sanctity of life even when it is under circumstances that common sense might dictate as providing no "qualify of life."

Also, ukok has a very powerful post prompted by the situation with Sharon's baby.

How to Unite a Divided Country

The Anchoress has the answer and I think it just might work. Go check it out. This is too, too funny.

Except that I demand bipartisan sexiness. The Dems are gonna have all the fun. Come to think of it, the Republican guys are gonna have the best time of all. And what are we conservative women left with? John Kerry? I think not!

Resource Spotlight

MYCATHOLIC.COM

Check it out. This is a page that would be very cool to have as your home page. It is already set up with daily Mass readings, a saint of the day complete with quote, headlines from both Yahoo and Catholic news sources, weather, a Catechism reading and more. It even has a link to a podcast so you can listen to the Mass readings.

You also can personalize it with sites that you like to check a lot. Some blogs are already listed to make it easy to add their headlines to your home page (such as The Curt Jester, Kathy Shaidle, Bettnet, and more) but it is easy to add whatever links you please.

I definitely am going to be playing around with this in the days to come to get it just right.

Messing Around With God's Word

25 The Sermon on the Mount

Much of Jesus’ teaching was brought together when, seated on a hillside, he spoke to his disciples about life in the kingdom of God. He taught that true happiness comes from having the right attitudes. Those who are humble, concerned about the world’s sinfulness, gentle, devoted to goodness, merciful, single-minded in God’s service, and peace-lovers will be blessed by God. Those of his followers who are persecuted in this world should rejoice, because they will have a rich reward in the next.

Jesus emphasised that he had not come to destroy the moral demands of the Jewish Law but to fulfil them. He taught that it is not enough not to commit murder; the anger which can lead to murder must be set aside too. It is not enough not to commit adultery; lustful thoughts must be set aside too. It is not enough to keep only our solemn promises; we should always mean what we say.

The Jewish Law taught that retaliation should be proportionate to the harm done - an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth - but Jesus taught that we should love our enemies and that we should return good for evil, turning the other cheek when others attack us.

He went on to say that ostentatious piety and charitable giving are wrong; both piety and giving should be between ourselves and God. No-one can serve two masters; it is impossible to serve both God and money. God knows what people’s needs are and will supply them, in the same way as he provides food for birds and glorious clothing for flowers; we should not be anxious but should trust him. We should not judge others; for we shall be judged to the degree we judge. It is difficult to find the way to the kingdom of heaven and there will be those who will try to mislead us. We should assess others by the moral and spiritual quality of their lives.

He summarised the whole moral teaching of the Old Testament in the command to treat others as you would like them to treat you.

Jesus said that anyone who acts on his words is like a wise man who built his house on a rock. When storms came the house stood firm. But anyone who does not act on his words is like a man who built his house on sand. When storms came the house fell, and the ensuing devastation was great.

Matthew 5 - 7

That's a sample of the new 100 Minute Bible. UK publishers have managed to get the entire Bible down to 57 pages and say it can be read in 100 minutes.

They admit that they have sacrificed poetry for clarity. Well, isn't that so very modern of them. Who needs all those extra words and verbal images that the Holy Spirit inspired men to write over thousands of years? Pffft. We don't have time for that stuff any more.

Personally, I notice that this sample serves to remove me from Jesus' presence. No more is he speaking directly to me as he has done throughout the Gospels ("but I say to you..."). I have enough trouble getting the path clear to be in Jesus' presence already. I don't need this stripped-down, economy version of the Bible to get in my way too. No thanks.

Via LAMland and People of the Book.

Hurricane Rita Blogging

My prime two sources are:

• Minivan Mom: also has a list of other Houston area bloggers who are on-line for the storm.


• What Is and Never Should Be (aka Minivan Dad) who has been taking photos to record the desertion of Houston.

Gen X Revert also has a list of Texas bloggers up.

To My Fellow Dallasites ... GET A GRIP!

Reminder to all those living in our fair city: the hurricane is not coming here. There is no need to run to the gas station, wait in line for an hour to fill your tank, and then go on to strip the local grocery stores clean of water, batteries, and bread. (Did y'all hear the news anchors laughing at you? And deservedly so I might add...I saw those interviews where you were musing about laying in "emergency supplies.")

The most it is going to do is rain (and rain and rain) ... well, maybe some wind also.

So the next time you want to panic, resist. Then I will not have to go to three fuel-less gas stations in order to fill my tank with super premium at the fourth one (which is all that you greedy-guts left them).

Because, I actually was out of gas and envisioning being stranded by the side of the road because y'all are such idiots! (Lord have mercy on me and bless them...)

We now return you to our regularly scheduled programming.

St. Pio

Today is St. Pio's feast day. I just love this guy, an Italian priest who knew how to throw his head back and laugh, who would scold a famous actress for being shallow, who suffered the stigmata for over 50 years, who knew (and could see) his guardian angel from the time he was a tiny child, who could bilocate and read souls, who was one of the greatest saints in living memory ... and who I share a birthday with (although his was 70 years earlier - May 25).

I haven't had time to prepare a post about him but luckily TSO and Jean have done a splendid job, complete with links for further information. Be sure to drop by their blogs and see the take that each of them has on this great saint.