Thoughts on Redefining Marriage (but less on same-sex marriage)

This is an image of a beautiful couple... isn't it?! They are some of my friends from Youth 2000 UK. I've written this post as a response to something someone wrote on my fb page when I put a link up about a Bishop's response to the governments plans to enforce legislation in this country that redefines marriage, by legalising same-sex marriages. 
His words that struck me were "That's disgusting". And I thought to myself, that only about 2-3 years ago, I'd have given the same reaction. But I don't now! "Why" is that - I asked myself?! My response to my why follows:

... until I actively became interested in WHY the Church teaches what she teaches. I used to question "Why is she being so ignorant of contraception? What is the big deal about cohabitation - everyone's doing it? If two people REALLY love each other, why shouldn't they get married?".

The answer to this is very wide in spectrum, but I will just summarise only 3 points of what I discovered here...

1. Most people (even Catholics who go through a marriage prep course) DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT LOVE IS ALL ABOUT.
2. Marriage is a SACRAMENT
3. There is a CHASTE life to be lived in marriage between the couple.

Addressing point 1: Most people do not understand what love is all about

Love is not just some fuzzy feeling. Or words that you promise to someone. Love isn't self-seeking (but many of us seek pleasure for 'myself' in sexually active relationships). Love is a mutual self-giving... not just of your whole soul... but your whole body as well. Part of your body is the gift of your fertility. Love and Marriage are a) FREE = given without force. b) TOTAL = there is nothing of yourself that you hold back from the other (that is soul and body). c) FAITHFUL = a trusting exclusive committed relationship which INCLUDES God that is binding through the vows until death. d) FRUITFUL = all genuine love bears fruit. Another word for love is charity. Just as when you show charity (or love) to someone in need - their joy is a fruit of your charity. The nuptial union (i.e. sex) was Divinely Designed to bear fruit. There are only 5 possible fertile days in a woman's cycle... and couples are invited to know more about the woman's cycles if they wish to respect God's gift of their fertility but wait for the right time to have a child. Many of my Catholic couple friends I know use the Creighton Method to manage their family sizes naturally. This is NOT the same as contracepting. So as well as intimate bonding with your spouse, expect that one of the fruits of love-making is the love of a child!
Love is also willing the supreme and ultimate good of the others' soul. So, if my friend told me he intends to steal something, then in love, it is only right for me to inform him that his choice will have very negative consequences that cause others hurt, pain, unnecessary worry etc. In the end, I say it because I only will his good, rather than his bad. Same with love between a couple. God has entrusted a man's journey to heaven into the hands of his wife, and his wife is entrusted, by God, to reach heaven through her husband.

Addressing point 2: Marriage is a Sacrament

Marriage is not just some piece of paper that you sign as a binding agreement. It is a sacrament that is otherwise called the sacrament of matrimony. Marriage was always meant to be a sacrament. In other words, marriage, as all the other sacraments of the Church, communicate the spiritual reality of grace it signifies. Do you understand much about Baptism? It is a sacrament which places an indellible mark on one's soul, claiming him/her to Christ. In Baptism, you live a life of a Christian, IN Christ. First Holy Communion... again... a sacrament. Places an indellible mark on the human soul, to consume Christ and be one IN Christ. Same thing for the sacrament of Confirmation, except you receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit so that you may live more fully IN Christ. It is to deepen your relationship with Christ. So what's my point about marriage and this sacrament business? Hopefully you see the picture here, as marriage is one of seven sacraments in the Church... marriage is a union between two people, IN Christ. That's not what you see in the movies these days, or in society in fact. The Sacrament has been taken OUT of marriage in today's culture. People have taken CHRIST out of marriage both outside and within the Church... and it is this utter lack of understanding about the sacrament of marriage that makes the government's actions extremely erroneous. Who is someone to change the definition of MARRIAGE (aka matrimony)? A civil partnership is NOT the same as a marriage. P.S Matrimony means "motherhood".

Addressing point 3: Chastity for all

All people within the family of the Church are called to live chastely - that includes married couples. For this, you'd need to understand what chastity means. Chastity is the virtue that orients sexual desire toward the supreme value of the person and the truth of self-giving love. Just as the nuptial union is Divinely Designed to bear fruit, so are our bodies Divinely Designed to "feel" both physically and emotionally. In the act of sex, both physical and emotional passions rise to an indescribable ecstacy. Many people (even within the Church) don't realise that this ecstacy is a foretaste of the continual ecstacy of heaven (which is why I don't get how someone doesn't think heaven is someOne worth gaining!) St. Teresa of Avila was a primary saint who experienced this in her prayer. Was this ecstacy oriented in the right way? Yes! Yet, she lived a chaste life. Within marriage, sex isn't something you just have when you're feeling aroused - although your body is giving you a big indicator that you could share it with your spouse. But what happens if spouse is at that time of the month? For her own good, hubby needs to make the ultimate sacrifice... and put it away! Also, if you wish to manage numbers of children without disrespecting your fertility, then chastity is the best way of looking at doing what is best for the other. Chastity isn't about don't's and 'rules', but about freedom from lust - which very easily enslaves many of us - as lust only transforms our intention to love, into intention to self-satisfy.

Where does that leave people who have same-sex attraction and want to get married?

Just like all my single "straight" friends, my gay friends are also in need of support and genuine love from the Church. We all (and that includes myself as a single person) need to build friendships and relationships that can help us to live chaste, and we need to be able to support each other and find avenues where we are able to express the gifts of our bodies for the good of the whole Church. At the moment, you can find lots of groups that help with people's differing needs, but very few can be found to support the need for love of our gay brothers and sisters. How do we go about helping them to feel loved by God? How do we help and support dating couples remain within the chaste love of God and His commandments during their dating time together? How do we help ourselves and our gay friends live by the commandments and the Church's teachings? Would support groups satisfy their need? I've had conversations with some of my gay friends about this, because it is important for us to remain united for love of each other, and we really need to support one another. What's a good way forward with this here in London for gay Catholics, is now my biggest question on this topic?

If anyone has constructive comments, please feel free to share.

I'm not interested in those comments that attest to me being homophobic, because I know I'm not... so don't bother if you are thinking to comment down that route.

In abandonment to Our Lord Jesus Christ, and Our loving Mother, Mary.

Prayer for the Holy Souls on All Souls Day | Novena Day 9

This picture is directly linked to a wonderful blogpost which very briefly invites people to pray for the Holy Souls. It isn't Theological, and expresses the key reason why, in Charity, we pray for those who have departed before us. Please visit it: http://padrescottsolt.blogspot.co.uk/2011/10/pray-for-holy-souls-in-purgatory.html

So on this Feast of the Commemoration of the Dead (All Souls), I invite all who read this post to pray for all those departed before us. 

Lux æterna luceat eis, Domine, cum sanctis tuis in æternum, quia pius es.
Requiem æternam dona eis, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat eis, cum Sanctis tuis in æternum, quia pius es. Amen.

[And in English:
May everlasting light shine upon them, O Lord, with your Saints forever, for you are kind.
Grant them eternal rest, O Lord, and may everlasting light shine upon them, with your Saints forever, for you are merciful.
Amen]

Novena Day 9

Great are all the sufferings of the holy souls: the fire, the grief, the darkness, the uncertainty of the time of their deliverance from prison; but the greatest of all these sorrows is this, that these holy souls are separated from their divine Spouse, and deprived of His beatific vision.

Prayer: O my God! How was it ppossible that I, for so many years, have borne tranquilly the separation from Thee and Thy holy grace! O infinite Good, how long-suffering hast Thou shown Thyself to me!  Henceforth, I shall love Thee above all things. I am deeply sorry for having offended Thee. Grant me the grace of holy perseverance and do not allow that I should ever again fall into sin.
Have compassion on the holy souls in purgatory. I pray Thee, moderate their sufferings; shorten the time of their misery; call them soon unto Thee in heaven, that they may behold Thee face to face and forever love Thee.

O Mary, Mother of God, come to their assistance with thy powerful intercession, and pray for us also who are still in danger of eternal damnation.

Our Father...
Hail Mary...
O most sweet Jesus, have mercy on them!
On Thy spouses have compassion,
on these suffering children Thine;
make these holy souls partakers
of Thy happiness Divine.
Amen.

Prayer of St. Gertrude the Great, to release 1000 souls from Purgatory
Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus, 
in union with the masses said throughout the world today, for all the holy souls in Purgatory, 
for sinners everywhere, for sinners in the universal church, 
those in my own home and within my family. 
Amen.
--------------------------------------------------

All 9 days of this novena found on my blogposts have been extracted from Susan Tassone's "Praying in the Presences of Our Lord for the Holy Souls" and is a novena by St. Alphonsus de Ligouri.
Susan's writing on the Holy Souls are all worth purchasing and reading, and I highly encourage you to buy her materials from any worthy supplier. The ISBN for this particular book is 978-0-87973-921-8.

Prayer for the Holy Souls | Novena Day 8

Another bitter sorrow of these souls is caused by the reflection that God had distinguished them by so many graces not granted to others, and that they compelled Him, by their sins, to condemn them to these sufferings, and that they had deserved hell, but were pardoned and saved only by the mercy of God.

Prayer: O my God! I also am one of these ungrateful beings, having received so much grace, and yet despised Thy love, and deserved to be cast by Thee into hell. Thy infinite goodness has spared me until now. Therefore, I now love Thee above all things, and I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee. I would rather die than ever again offend Thee. Grant me the grace of holy perseverance. Have compassion on me and, at the same time, on the holy souls suffering in purgatory.


O Mary, Mother of God, come to their assistance with thy powerful intercession.


Our Father...
Hail Mary...
O most sweet Jesus, have mercy on them!
On Thy spouses have compassion,
on these suffering children Thine;
make these holy souls partakers
of Thy happiness Divine.

 
This has been extracted from Susan Tassone's "Praying in the Presences of Our Lord for the Holy Souls" and is a novena by St. Alphonsus de Ligouri.
Susan's writing on the Holy Souls are all worth purchasing and reading.

"Halloween" - introducing belief in the secular world?

Image source: Michael Halcomb's
blogpost on halloween:
http://michaelhalcomb.blogspot.co.uk/2011
/10/rethinking-halloween-christian.html

Hallow

Ok. When we pray the greatest prayer that we have been taught, which is the Our Father, we pray:
"Our Father, who art in heaven, HALLOWED be thy name".

Yup. Hallowed. Sounds close enough to the word "halloween" to take this freaky celebration as linked, in some way, to Christianity.

So what's this halloween stuff all about? Like, REALLY all about? And why do I have an issue with it (enough to write a blogpost about it)?

In the YouCat, #519 teaches that to "hallow" or to "treat God's name as something holy means to place him above everything else". It then goes on to say that "to hallow God's name means to do justice to his reality, to acknowledge him, to praise him, to give him due honour, and to live according to his commandments.

Oblivious

I dunno about you, but I rarely see God's name, his army of angels and saints, or the Church that Our Lord Jesus Christ died for, acknowledged or honoured during this 'night of fright'. In fact... quite the opposite. On the streets tonight, we'll see groups of children and teenagers glorifying the devil, demons and witches in their apparel - and it's not the worst of it that they're most likely oblivious to doing this.  The worst of it, is that halloween has become such a joke, that people tend to think demons and witches, and the devil himself is a joke. I would really like for everyone to meet an exorcist, to discover how much of a joke demons ARE NOT! So I stress my point: it's probably not so much that children & teens are allowed to go around wearing devil costumes and freaking each other out with ghoulish 'tricks' or the yuckiest 'treats' that can be bought out of Poundland. The idea of dressing up, or eating sweets and chocolate, is a pretty fun thing - and it's good to encourage this in moderation. But they need to be educated on what exactly they are representing when they do this at halloween, and the reality of it.

Belief

I watched this freaky movie the other night, called The Skeleton Key with Kate Hudson - really well made movie about a young and upcoming nurse, who goes into a home to care for an elderly man. However, there has been a history of voodoo in that place, and the 'wife' of the elderly mute is a spirit who has lived hundreds of years, transferring from body to body, and this young nurse is her next victim. When this spirit has gotten into the body of the nurse, [thus getting to my point], she says this: "It gets harder every time. They just don't believe like they used to. Gotta get 'em all riled up." When you lose faith, or belief, then your vision of the bigger picture of life becomes narrower.

Consider your eyesight. You can see objects or people nearly 180 degrees around the front of your peripheral. Having faith in God is pretty similar to that, in that the spectrum of belief is wide - one tends to believe in the devil, his demons and bad angels, and voodoo, and witchcraft. Of course... these are all things of the spiritual world that very few of us are well connected to. When you don't believe, that spectrum is narrowed - your eyesight is then only what you can see right in front of you.

Mockery

One could argue that you've gotta dangle the bait in front of the preys eyes before the prey can act... is that what halloween is about then? Could the purpose of halloween be a good thing in the end? Could it help children and teens understand the reality of evil? I believe in the way we do it today, no. Like I mentioned, it's become a joke - a mockery. And mockery is neither good, true, real nor kind. And a second 'no' because if parents and teachers don't educate the kids on this stuff, then the message or the reality of evil is lost. When I look at the fake blood on people's faces, I think and reflect on the real blood of the Christ mocked after His scourging during His Passion. Not much has changed, right?

Solution

I know of an awesome Catholic family, so God-fearing, and beautiful witnesses to the faith (the father was one of my lecturers @ SPES), who actually go around with candles on trick or treat night dressed as angels, and granting the peace of Christ to anyone who opens the doors. I mean... imagine if all Christian families did that on "trick-or-treat"night. Wow... there'd be competition with it becoming a "peace night" on certain streets of the States!

As for me, I plan to give little bags of sweets out, but will include a little slip calling the child/teen to holiness, and a miraculous medal. And I'll be surprised if my front door doesn't get egged tonight!

Anyways, in ancient Catholic tradition, we celebrated the feast of All Saints (all God's holy people who have left this world) as "All Hallows" on the 1st November. That would... errr... be tomorrow. Today is thus, in ancient terms, "All Hallows Eve" which is where the term "Halloween" comes from. It is meant to be (and if you pray the Divine Office, you'll see), a great celebration of holiness. A "holyween"!

So as my conclusion, my issue with people celebrating halloween is that, like Christmas, people have COMPLETELY MISSED THE POINT!! If you don't truly believe in God and his army of HOLY angels and saints, then you don't truly believe in the devil, and his army of demons and invokers. My advice: go and read up about it, and then see what your heart is thirsty for. Please God that won't be the fake blood of vampires but the Eucharistic Blood of Christ upon the altar of the Church.

Prayer for the Holy Souls | Novena Day 7

A further great sorrow of these holy souls consists in their ardent desire for the beatific vision. Slowly and painfully the moments of their purgatorial imprisonment pass by, for they love God deeply and desire to be delivered from their sad prison in order to praise Him forever.

Prayer: O God, Father of Mercy, satisfy this ardent desire! Send them Thy holy angel to announce to them, that Thou, their Father, art now reconciled with them through the suffering and death of Jesus, and that the moment of their deliverance has arrived.


O Mary, Mother of God, come to their assistance with thy powerful intercession.

Our Father...
Hail Mary...
O most sweet Jesus, have mercy on them!
On Thy spouses have compassion,
on these suffering children Thine;
make these holy souls partakers
of Thy happiness Divine.

This has been extracted from Susan Tassone's "Praying in the Presences of Our Lord for the Holy Souls" and is a novena by St. Alphonsus de Ligouri. 
Susan's writing on the Holy Souls are all worth purchasing and reading.

London to World Youth Day, Rio 2013! #JMJ

CLICK TO ENLARGE :)

Prayer for the Holy Souls | Novena Day 6

The holy souls are, indeed, comforted by the recollection of the passion of Jesus Christ, and the Holy Sacrament of the Altar, since they know they are saved by the passion of Jesus Christ, and have received, and still receive, so much consolation from Holy Masses and Holy Communions. Nevertheless, they are greatly pained by the recollection of their ingratitude for these two gifts of love of Jesus Christ.

Prayer: O my Divine Redeemer, Thou didst die for me on the Cross, and have so often united Thyself with me in Holy Communion, and I have repaid Thee only with ingratitude. Now, however, I love Thee above all things, O supreme God; and I am more grieved at my offenses against Thee than any other evil. I would rather die than offend you again. Grant me the grace of holy perseverance. Have compassion on me, and at the same time, on the holy souls in purgatory.

O Mary, Mother of God, come to their assistance with thy powerful intercession.

Our Father...
Hail Mary...
O most sweet Jesus, have mercy on them!
On Thy spouses have compassion,
on these suffering children Thine;
make these holy souls partakers
of Thy happiness Divine.

This has been extracted from Susan Tassone's "Praying in the Presences of Our Lord for the Holy Souls" and is a novena by St. Alphonsus de Ligouri. 
Susan's writing on the Holy Souls are all worth purchasing and reading.

Prayer for the Holy Souls | Novena Day 5

Another great suffering is caused these holy souls by the ignorance of the time of their deliverance. They are certain of being one day released, yet the uncertainty of the time when their purgatorial term will have ended gives them great pain.


Prayer: Woe to me, unhappy being, if Thou, O Lord, had cast me into hell; for from that dungeon of eternal pain there is no deliverance. I love Thee above all things, O infinite God, and I am sincerely sorry for having ever offended Thee again. Grant me the grace of holy perseverance. Have compassion on me, and, at the same time, on the holy souls in purgatory.

O Mary, Mother of God, come to their assistance with thy powerful intercession.
 
Our Father...
Hail Mary...
O most sweet Jesus, have mercy on them!
On Thy spouses have compassion,
on these suffering children Thine;
make these holy souls partakers
of Thy happiness Divine.

This has been extracted from Susan Tassone's "Praying in the Presences of Our Lord for the Holy Souls" and is a novena by St. Alphonsus de Ligouri. 
Susan's writing on the Holy Souls are all worth purchasing and reading.

Prayer for the Holy Souls | Novena Day 4

The pain that still more afflicts these holy souls, the spouses of Jesus, is the thought of having, during life, displeased by their sins that God whom they so ardently love.

Some penitents have felt so much pain and sorrow in thinking of having, by their sins, offended so good a God, that they died of grief. The souls in purgatory understand, far better than we do, the claims that God has to our love; they love Him with all their strength. Hence, at the thought of having offended Him during life, they experience pain that surpasses all other pain.

Prayer: O my God! Because Though art infinite goodness, I am sorry with my whole heart for having offended Thee. I promise to die rather than ever offend Thee more. Give me holy perseverance; have pity on me, and have pity on those holy souls that anguish in the cleansing flames of love, and who love Thee with all their hearts.


O Mary, Mother of God, come to their assistance with thy powerful intercession.
Our Father...
Hail Mary...
O most sweet Jesus, have mercy on them!
On Thy spouses have compassion,
on these suffering children Thine;
make these holy souls partakers
of Thy happiness Divine.

This has been extracted from Susan Tassone's "Praying in the Presences of Our Lord for the Holy Souls" and is a novena by St. Alphonsus de Ligouri. 
Susan's writing on the Holy Souls are all worth purchasing and reading.

Prayer for the Holy Souls | Novena Day 3

Another great pain of the holy souls is caused by the hideous vision of their guilt, for which they now suffer. In this life the hideousness of sin is not seen as in the life to come; and this is one of the greatest sufferings of purgatory.

Prayer: O my God! Because Thou art infinte goodness, I love Thee above all things, and repent with my whole heart of my offenses against Thee. Grant me the grace of holy perseverance. Have compassion on me, and, at the same time, on the holy souls suffering in purgator.

O Mary, Mother of God, come to their assistance with thy powerful intercession.



Our Father...
Hail Mary...
On Thy spouses have compassion,
on these suffering children Thine;
make these holy souls partakers
of Thy happiness Divine.

Prayer for the Holy Souls | Novena Day 2

The second pain which causes these holy souls much suffering, is the time lost in life, when they might have gained merits for Heaven, and the thought that they are unable to repair this loss, because the time of life and merit is passed.

Prayer: Woe to me, unhappy being, so many years have I already spent on earth and have earned naught but hell! I give Thee thanks, O Lord, for granting me time even now to atone for my sins. My good God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee. Send me Thy assistance, that I may apply the time yet remaining to me for Thy love and service; have compassion on me, and at the same time, on the holy souls suffering in purgatory.



O Mary, Mother of God, come to their assistance with thy powerful intercession.

Our Father...
Hail Mary...
O most sweet Jess, have mercy on them! 
On Thy spouses have compassion, 
on these suffering children Thine;
make these holy souls partakers
of Thy happiness Divine.

This has been extracted from Susan Tassone's "Praying in the Presences of Our Lord for the Holy Souls" and is a novena by St. Alphonsus de Ligouri. Susan's writing on the Holy Souls are all worth purchasing and reading.

Prayer for the Holy Souls | Novena Day 1

Manifold are the sufferings which those blessed souls must endure, but the greatest of all is the reflection that their sins in life are the cause of their present torment.

O Jesus, my Saviour, I have so often deserved to be cast into hell; how great were my sufferings if I were now cast away and obliged to think that I, myself, had caused my damnation! I thank Thee for the patience with which Thou has endured me. My God, I love Thee above all things and I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee because Thou art infinite goodness. I would rather die than offend The again. Grant me the graces of perseverance; have pity on me and at the same time on those blessed souls suffering in purgatory.


O Mary, Mother of God, come to their assistance with thy powerful intercession.

Our Father...
Hail Mary...
O most sweet Jesus, have mercy on them! On Thy spouses have compassion, on these suffering children Thine; make these holy souls partakers of Thy happiness Divine.

This has been extracted from Susan Tassone's "Praying in the PResences of Our Lord for the Holy Souls" and is a novena by St. Alphonsus de Ligouri. Susan's writing on the Holy Souls are all worth purchasing and reading.

Interior Recollection - a necessary disposition for obtaining a loving devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ

So it's First Friday today, and I usually have a great devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. But today, I found myself so pre-occupied! I got too busy for Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament - which is like... ritual for me on a First Friday.

And it caused me to reflect on the concept of Interior Recollection.

I have this beautiful little red book all about Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, written by Father Croiset, S.J. who was Rector of the Jesuit College at Lyons and about whom St. Margaret Mary Alacoque claimed: "By means of a book of Father Croiset, a Jesuit,devotion to the Sacred Heart shall everywhere be spread."

He neatly prepares his pupils for devotion to the Sacred Heart by describing the disposition we must be, in order to obtain this devotion. The first disposition, is a great horror of sin. The second is a lively faith. The third is a real desire to love Jesus Christ. And the Fourth, I shall share with you here: Interior Recollection. Fr. Croiset S.J says:

"The Fourth Disposition in which we ought to be if we are to taste the full sweetness of this devotion, and obtain all its fruit, is that of interior recollection. It is not in a state of disturbance that God makes His presence felt: and a mind habitually dissipated by a crowd of idle thoughts is not in a likely state to hear the voice of Him Who does not communicate Himself to the soul, nor speak to the heart, except in solitude.

This interior Recollection is the foundation of the entire spiritual edifice of souls; so much so, that without this it is impossible to rise towards perfection and attain to a closer union with God, Who dwells only in peacefulness of the spirit and in the retirement of a soul freed from the entanglement of external affairs. And it may be asserted that the commonest source of our imperfections is this want of recollectedness, and that a man little given to interior reflection is never very devout. "Whence comes it," said a holy man, "that so many pious persons, who have such good intentions, who devote themselves to good works, and who appear to be doing all that is necessary to make themselves saints, nevertheless get so little profit from their prayers, Communions, and reading, and after so many years' practice of all the exercises of the spiritual life [by this Fr. Croiset means the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises], rarely show that they have at all benefited by them? How is it that their passions are still so strong, and that their defects are just what they always used to be? The only reason is their want of interior recollection. These persons are too unreserved, too anxious to talk about themselves and their feelings. Hence, countless faults escape their notice, a thousand thoughtless speeches, spurts of ill-temper, unrestrained impulses, and acts whose motive is purely natural. All this would not befall them, did they but keep a constant watch upon the regulation of their interior conduct, with a view to uproot their passions and self-love."

This disspation of pious souls is often the result of one of the most cunning wiles of the devil, who turns to his own account their practice of good works, by obliging them to fritter their energies abroad, and for this purpose to quit the trenches, so to speak, where they were sheltered from his darts. A soul, drawn by a certain inexplicable gratification to be found in the throng of exterior actions, beguiled by the specious pretext of doing much for God, wastes her strength and insensibly loses that union with God, and that sweet sense of His presence, without which we may toil so much, but make so little way. A dissipated soul (a soul that allows itself any number of disctractions), is like a lost and wandering sheep, which soon becomes a prey to the wolf. It is not easy for us, after this vagabondage, to re-enter into ourselves, fo besides that the preference for God is a grace not always at our own disposal, the soul is no longer able to rid herself of the numberless exterior objects which absorb her attention; she has lost the taste for spiritual things by too long a sojourn, as it were, in a foreign land.

My God! What does not a soul lose by incessantly wasting herself abroad, on exterior things! what inspirations and what graces she renders unavailing, and of what favours does she not deprive herself, by a want of interior recollection! "I must," says a great servant of God, "choose one of two things: either to become an interior man, or else lead an impotent and useless life." Without this recollectedness, far from fulfilling God's designs, we shall not even know what they are; and we shall never reach the degree of holiness our state of life demands, much less attain perfection.

In fact, a man who is not of a recollected spirit, wanders hither and thither, nowhere finding repose; seeks eagerly all sorts of things, without finding satisfaction in any; whereas, were he to re-enter within himself, he would find God in the stillness; he would enjoy God, Who by His presence would replenish hiim with such abundance of good things that he would no more wander elsewhere, seeking wherewith to fill the void of his desires. This, with regard to interior persons, is what we can daily see. We imagine their fondness for retirement, their unwillngness to live outside of themselves as it were, to be the result of melancholy. It is nothing of the kind. It is because of the delight they take in their inward converse with God; and, the unspeakale sweetness with which they are filled, makes the amusements and pleasures the world has to offer appear so paltry and so wearisome, that they regard them with disgust. To those who have once tasted what God is, and what spiritual things are, everything that suggests the bondage and contagion of flesh and blood appears insipid; and it may be affirmed that none but interior persons have a true delight in God, and know by experioence what is meant by the sweetness of virtue. They possess Faith, Hope and Charity, in so sublime a manner, that nothing is able to disturb these virtues, within them. Insensibly they find themselves raised above all human creatures, and remain always in the same equal state of mind, immovable in God. From all that they see and all that they hear, they take occasion to rise towards God; and it is God alone Whom they see in His creatures, even as they, who from long gazing at the sun, seem still to see it, whatever may be the objects which afterwards meet their eyes.

And it must not be supposed that this recollectedness has the effect of making people idle. A truly interior man is active, and renders more services to the Church in a single day, than a hundred persons who are not so could render her during many years, although they possessed more natural talents than he; not only because disspation of mind is a check to the fruits of zeal, but because a man who is not at all interior, and nevertheless labours much, is, at best, a man who works for God, whereas, by means of recollection, it is God Himself Who works in the inward man: this man working only by God, and in accordance with the influence and guidance of the Holy Ghost.

Being occupied with external things is no hindrance to inward recollection, provided that these things are of obligation; and we may very well maintain recollection during action. The greatest saints, who have had the most communication with God, and who, in consequence, have been most recollected, have often been the most unsparing of their trouble in regard to outward matters. Such were the Apostles and apostolic men who have laboured for the salvation of their fellow-men; and, provided that our employments are the fittest means of promoting our constant union with God. 

But we must only, as it were, lend our mind to these outward occupations; not give them our heart. God alone must be the spring and groundwork of all our actions, and it is a sign that we are doing them for God, if we can quit them without reluctance, if we continue them without anxiety and chagrin, and if we can bear to be interrupted in them without anger or impatience. This, I repeat, is a sign that we are doing them for God, and not from motives of self-love.

But, in our actual conduct, how different are our intentions from such purity as this! If we dislike what we have to do, how many false reasons we find for dispensing ourselves from doing it; how many excuses for putting it off and then, with what apathy and indifference we accomplish it! If, on the other hand, it fits in with our liking, we feel a delight which at once produces dissipation. The mere dread of not succeeding makes us anxious and unhappy. "
Fr Croiset then goes on to describe 11 means of obtaining interior recollection.

2 great testimonies on the feast of St. Peter and St. Paul

Mates Br. John the Baptist and Trevor share their testimony and relationship with St. Peter, whose feast, along with St. Paul, it is today! These guys are real witnesses to our faith. One being religious (Franciscan Friar of the Renewal - CFR), and one being lay, we're all pretty much the same age, and all have a passion for Christ that the world could use with some of... especially here in London!

St. Peter and St. Paul founded the legacy of what is the Roman Catholic Church today. Let's look to them today and ask for their intercession that the Lord be with His Church today and always. Hear what Br. John the Baptist and Trevor have to share about them:

http://www.totus2us.eu/The_Saints/Totus2us-The_Incredibles-St_Peter_the_Apostle.mp3

Ruth Davies, is the amazing woman that runs the website Totus 2us! Aimed for young people to hear different perspectives and experiences of the faith lived out by other young Catholics, this website is worth checking out regularly because it is regularly updated with some awesome content to inspire and motivate us in this test of endurance in the faith.

I hope to one day write a blogpost especially about this website. Ruth is always so busy trying to interview others, I think it would make a nice change to interview her about all her work one day soon!

LONG LIVE THE BRIDE OF CHRIST... THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH... AND HER LEGACY!

SS Peter & Paul: ORATE PRO NOBIS

"The more a soul is consecrated to Mary, the more it is consecrated to Jesus Christ"

"If you put all the love of all the mothers into one heart it still would not equal the love of the Heart of Mary for her children."         St. Louis de Monfort

A Solemn Act of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

Most Holy Virgin Mary, tender Mother of men; to fulfill the desires of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the request of the Vicar of your Son on earth, we consecrate ourselves and our families to your Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart, o queen of the most holy rosary, and we recommend to You, all the people of our country and all the world.

Please accept our consecration, dearest Mother, and use us as you wish to accomplish your designs in the world.

O Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, queen of the most holy rosary, and queen of the world, rule over us, together with the Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ, our King. Save us from the spreading flood of modern paganism; kindle in our hearts and homes the love of purity, the practice of a virtuous life, an ardent zeal for souls, and a desire to pray the rosary more faithfully.

We come with confidence to you, O throne of grace and mother of fair Love. Inflame us with the same divine fire which has inflamed your own Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart. Make our hearts and homes your shrine, and through us, make the Heart of Jesus, together with your rule, triumph in every heart and home.

Amen.

"HE must increase, but I must decrease" (Jn 3:30)

JOHN THE BAPTIST -
How could this great saint inspire young Catholics in the way we live?

Ok... so it has been around 9 months since I last posted on my blog! I will have to explain it all on another blogpost in the future! But for the meantime, I couldn't pass up on this opportunity to talk a little about John the Baptist, whose feast we celebrated yesterday.

In case you don't know, we're approaching the launch of a "YEAR OF FAITH" starting October. Like the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. John the Baptist is a pretty awesome model of faith to follow, and by his example, there is always something new we can learn and adopt into our way of living!

Let me take 3 things that strikes me about St. John the Baptist, and share with you how he inspires me.

1) The man was fearless! It doesn't seem that he was ashamed or afraid of anything. Remember... John the Baptist (I'll abbreviate from hereon 'J the B') faced execution by beheading (Mt 14:10), after he told Herod that he was wrong to commit adultery with his brother's wife Herodias (Mk 6:18), after he lived and preached in the wilderness wearing "clothing made of camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey" (Mk 1:6)... could you imagine what his reputation must have been like?! How does this inspire me? Well... he was a bit mad. And rather outrageous! Which I both like and admire. He knew what he was about; he knew what God called him to do: to prepare the way for Jesus and eternal life. He did it in complete faith, remaining faithful to the Truth, living in full hope of the Messiah's mission. He served humanity in charity by baptising them... readying them for their salvation.

2) Simple living was his trend! He ate locusts and wild honey. And wore... hair! Need I say more? Sometimes I just think... if every single mobile phone owner put their mobile phones away on the same day for just one day, we'd all learn something of what it means to live simply.

3) He never failed to proclaim the truth; always bearing witness to that living Truth. From Elizabeth's womb, J the B rejoiced with joy at the presence of his Lord (Lk 1:41). Do you not think that the attention he received because of his outrageousness could have tempted him to become prideful and attempt to overshadow Jesus, who at this point hadn't yet made a name for Himself? Jesus ministry and preaching only began after His baptism, which was ministered through J the B. If he wanted to, J the B could have decided not to baptise the Messiah, thus changing the outcome of what the Scriptures prophesised. Instead, he said the very poignant phrase "HE must increase, but I must decrease" (Jn 3:30). He came to prepare the way for Jesus, as the greatest of prophets, calling all to repentance. Big word: repentance. That's a word for another blog post altogether. But look here at the point I make... J the B put himself last. He died to himself, and put Christ first. Perhaps one of the key aspects of repentance, is to acknowledge and embrace a humble state of being. For most young people today, I'll rephrase that to mean: be less selfish, and think less of the "I" and more of the "you".

This is not an easy concept to grasp, because it takes a while to even recognise that we think so much in terms of "I want", "I like", "I wish", "I don't", "I hate", "I am". These aren't necessarily bad directions to be thinking, but they could be if we turn them into words or actions which close off the gift of charity and love we are called to offer others by God.

The nativity of St. John the Baptist is the only saint's birth date, other than the Blessed Virgin Mary's, that the Catholic Church celebrates. Taking place 6 months before Christmas day, when in Europe, the days begin to get shorter (a great analogy for the idea of J the B decreasing, to make way for the Lord), there is something uber special about this day. It's forever marked as a feast of one who we can learn to love, and be inspired by. So what are my tips?

a) Be fearless (yet prudent) in proclaiming the faith! Don't worry about what your mates will think about you... if they were really your mates, they would be interested in what you live your life for.

b) Detach yourself from overspending on things what you don't really need. Think about this one... unselfishly.

c) Try spend a day thinking about all the others around you, and how your presence impacts them. It wouldn't hurt to put a smile on everyone's face... trust me, you'll find it quite a rewarding task. Get this nailed, and the year of faith will become attractive to you.