His Light Amidst Our Darkness. By: C.C.

 

       As we continue journeying through Advent and anticipate the coming of Christ again into our midst on Christmas day we are reminded of His light amidst our darkness. This idea of Jesus as light has been rather amplified for me personally during this Advent season. On December 19th I received the news that my great aunt Zia Giovanna had passed away.
   As my family continues to mourn the loss of my Zia I realize that there is something greater at work within this situation. Only a few days ago while Zia was on her way alone to visit her Doctor with a gift for Christmas she fell to the pavement as a result of a massive heart attack. Thanks to many kind soul bystanders who called 911 she was able to be stabilized enough to make it to the hospital. Today was difficult as I was just made aware of many of the details of her final moments. My Zia has suffered greatly in her life with heart trouble. From as early as her forties she had already had her first of what would be multiple heart attacks before her final rest at age 68.
   Today we had Zia's funeral and it was a very emotional time for all present. Despite her history of heart trouble she was doing relatively well and this was very sudden for all of us.  The viewing was very difficult and the burial was equally as sorrowful. It was very evident that Zia Giovanna is already greatly missed by everyone who knew her.
  Following the burial, we gathered at my grandparents home to eat and share time with one another. Due to the amount of people my Nonna decided to have our lunch in the basement at the larger table.
   As I walked down into Nonna's basement I realized that it was the first time in years that my entire family (extended family and all) was sharing a meal together in that basement. The death of my Zia had not only joined us all together again in love, but it brought life back into an area of the home where we used to spend many holiday dinners and gatherings. Overcome with emotion many of my cousins sat and cried over the loss of Zia, while others shared memories of Nonna's basement and the many laughs lived. We spoke of our deceased grandparents, great grandparents, uncles, cousins, and other relatives who have gone before us, and were once so very present in the same space that we shared today. When this realization came upon me I paused and took this picture with my phone. I had to capture this moment of us sharing food and candidly chatting with each other. When I looked at the picture later this evening I noticed the amount of light shining in through the small basement window; it was then I realized that the Lord's light is truly present amidst our time of darkness. 

    It is easy to focus on the darkness when these events occur. Death is one of these circumstances that presents us with numerous emotions. In these moments many question their faith, the existence of God, and the purpose for such a loss to happen. Especially now within this joyful season of Christ's birth it seems that death has come at the "wrong time". When we accept that God's time is always right and further seek and yearn for His will we may come to find supernatural hope and divine comfort within our hearts. We may come to see that God's light is truly so very near  to us. 
   Tonight I pray for all of those who mourn the loss of Zia Giovanna, and for anyone who is dealing with loss, suffering, and a heavy heart during this time. May we be open to seeing the light of Christ surrounding us amidst our circumstances. Let us draw nearer to our Lord with trust and hope that though we do not know His plan we can trust in His Providence. May we continue to extend the gift of love and our time to one another. May our Lord have mercy on all of our deceased loved ones and may they be welcomed into His Kingdom. Tonight I am saddened by the loss of my Zia, and yet, I rejoice with hopeful prayer for Zia Giovanna to be blessed to spend Christmas day with The birthday boy. Amen (C.C.)  
    

Advent: By: C.C.

"God is constantly revealing himself to us. He whispers to us, he doesn't shout--Advent invites us to listen and discover His grace and mercy" (Cardinal Dolan)

  As each of us are preparing for Christmas during this Advent season it is often easy to get caught up in the chaos and noise of our consumerist culture. As we journey through our Advent season it is important to take the time and put everything into proper perspective. As the commercial/consumerist world pulls at us with various propaganda we are called to remember the true focus of Christmas. We are called to keep Christ as the centre of the season.
  Cardinal Dolan reminds us of the quiet voice our Lord uses to speak to us. During this Advent season we are shouted at with an overwhelming amount of Christmas marketing and it is easy for us to lose sight of the real reason for the season. As we journey through Advent we are called to interior preparation for Christ. We must make an effort to set aside time for prayer and spiritual growth. It is important that we seek silence, solitude, and uninterrupted time with our Lord despite the many distractions, commitments, and other external things that may consume us. 
  The "Christmas season" seems to highlight the way in which we as Christians are in the world but not of the world. This is a time that we prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ and one in which the world prepares for "X-mas". Let us continue to walk with our Lord and keep Him as the focus amidst our preparations. (C.C.)
   

St. Augustine and Perseverance: By: C.C.

"Your first task is to be dissatisfied with yourself, fight sin, and transform yourself into something better. Your second task is to put up with the trials and temptations of this world that will be brought on by the change in your life and to persevere to the very end in the midst of these things."
(St. Augustine)

 

   This sharing from St. Augustine is not written with any "fluff" at all. Augustine succeeds in relating a very important and hard hitting truth about the spiritual journey, and more so, about the effect of conversion and the on going effort that is required to persevere in the daily battle against sin. For those of you familiar with the life of St. Augustine and his Confessions you are aware that the emotions with which these hard hitting words are written were very familiar to this beloved Saint. Through the life of St. Augustine one comes to witness the tremendous transforming power of our Lord and the multitude of mercy that He has upon His children no matter how "lost" they may seem to be.
   "To be dissatisfied with yourself" is a statement that the secular world may look upon with a large amount of criticism. Today we seek to praise ourselves falsely, often setting our worth upon the external realities of our society and pleasures of the world. The idea of a soul and of sin is something very far from the minds of many individuals. Quite frankly, this reality was also something far from my mind at one point in my life. 
    The greatest blessing that God ever bestowed upon me was gifting me with complete dissatisfaction with myself and my life. This lead me to recognize the reality of sin that plagued me. It helped me to seek something greater. It helped me to find God in a way that I had never known. It was then that the stories of the Saints and statements like that which I share with you tonight became ever so real to me and relative. I began to understand that these works were more than just words and human testimonies of personal experiences- these words were the very real revelation of a present, loving, merciful, and powerful God. Revelations that though written so long ago their truth remains so relevant today because our Lord is constant and unchanging. Consistent with this unchanging and all loving Heavenly Father is the difficulty of the Spiritual life. 
   Recognition of sin and the yearning to "transform yourself into something better" is the beginning of a journey that St. Augustine reminds us is followed by "trials" and "temptations". Yes, these moments can be terribly difficult and the temptation to leave the path flirts with us along the way. Greater than all of this is the love of our Lord and the strength that He can provide when we cry out to Him as David did many times in the Psalms. We will come to see the "fruits" of our journey and our devotion in striving to become holy and better than what we are. The intense pain of purification is truly the birth of indescribable joy.
  Whatever it is that each of us battle within our lives, wherever we seek healing and God's mercy..PERSEVERE do not relent in your walk with the Lord. May we fully turn to Him who is able to satisfy our deepest desires and our restless hearts. In the midst of all trial and temptation may we cling to hope, love, and trust in our Lord. May all the Glory be to God. Amen (C.C.)

"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer" (Romans 12:12)

(Musical Inspiration to tonight's writing- David Braid- El Castillo Interior)


  
  

"Let Nothing Trouble You". By: C.C.

"Let nothing trouble you, let nothing frighten you. All things are passing; God never changes. Patience obtains all things. He who possesses God lacks nothing: God alone suffices" (St. Teresa of Avila)

    These words from St. Teresa of Avila have always brought me great comfort. I have visited them many times throughout my journey of faith and each time I read them they speak so differently. Revisiting these words not only confirms the fact of how much we as individuals grow and change within our spiritual life, they also affirm that God is constant and His love unchanging.
   St. Teresa of Avila did not share these words without also empathizing with the emotion of which they are written; she identifies with each of us. 
   As I read this quotation today I can not help but smile. I reflect upon the many times that I have felt troubled and afraid. I remember that these emotions and situations did indeed pass away. It was in clinging to God despite the heaviness of my burdens that I was brought great comfort. Through faith we can endure whatever we are presented with. 
    "All things are passing; God never changes"
   In order for us to find full comfort in these words we must first have some understanding of our Lord as unchanging. We must acquire some sense of who God truly is and where our greatest source of stability can be found. As we come to reflect on Scripture, the lives of the Saints, and even our own lives we can recognize the truth of this statement. We may come to find that as we spent time questioning God, wondering where He was, longing for His comfort, that He was ultimately right there with us. Arguably in the midst of our difficulties we may often lose sight of His presence and give into our anxious feelings. St. Teresa of Avila reminds us of our need to constantly stay focused on our Lord through every circumstance.
     If God never changes, and we understand Him to be constant and all loving, then we must not be troubled or frightened. It is through faith that we are able to be patient through the storms of life and through the things that may burden our hearts. Let us come to recognize that we are fulfilled by God alone and that with Him present in our lives we lack nothing. May we see His unchanging love as a comfort to us in everything. Amen (C.C.)

"Pray, Hope, and Don't Worry"- Padre Pio

"Pray without Ceasing" By: C.C.

 

 

 

"It is better to say one Our Father fervently and devoutly than a thousand with no devotion and full of distraction." (St. Edmund)

   Numerous Novenas, devotions, prayers, the Holy Rosary, and many other beautiful ways of prayer surround our Catholic faith. However, it is truly important that our prayers are more than what we are raised with, taught, and recite during the liturgy; we must have a life of personal and meaningful prayer that is truly from our hearts. Even as we pray these prayers of our faith we must pray them with devoutness, sincerity, and authenticity. It is not only about us communicating with our Lord but allowing ourselves to be open to God's voice communicating to us.

   As we live amidst the chaos of working life, various schedules, and the pressures and pulls of numerous commitments our prayer time may often suffer. Even if we schedule time for prayer within our day it can often seem that this too becomes more of "something to do" opposed to a time of peace. Our Lord invites us to share in the peace of His presence through prayer. It is Him who places this desire to communicate with Him upon our hearts. The other day I came across this wonderful quotation..

 “To say that we travel toward God with God and in God is to make clear that prayer is not first a human initiative, but a divine one. On life’s journey, it is God who first calls us." (Catholic Update Guide to CCC)

   If God has initiated within our hearts this desire to communicate with Him, to thank Him, and to need Him; then He too is truly yearning for all of your heart, all of your words, your distractions, your pains, your burdens, and your love.

    When we approach our Heavenly Father in prayer we must do so with openness and honesty. Before reciting words from our prayers and novenas let us sit before the Lord in silence and offer Him every distraction and burden that is upon our hearts and minds. May we find comfort in our time of prayer and may we come to experience God present among us and within us daily.

   Lord, tonight I pray for all of those who are experiencing difficulty in their prayer life. Provide them with comfort and perseverance so that they may come to find true comfort in you. Lord provide each of us with humility when we pray so that we may share with You openly and honestly. Help us through our distractions when we pray Lord, and may we realize that even our prayer of tears and silence is understood by You when we can not find the right words. Thank you Lord for all of Your blessings and for calling each and every one of us to a deeper relationship with you. Help us to recognize your presence around us and within us each day. We ask for the intercession of our Blessed Mother and all the Angels and Saints as we pray. Amen (C.C.)  

 

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Deacon Robert, Leah Darrow, and The Power of Testimony: C.C.

   

    Tonight at prayer group I was very grateful to hear the testimony of a Deacon that I truly respect. It was through his humility, rawness, and truth that we as listeners were able to recognize the Lord's hand upon every moment of his life. Throughout the sharing of his testimony Deacon Robert also allowed for each of us to understand the importance of sharing the experiences of our own lives and God's mercy with one another. It is in this sharing and relating that we come to see Christ present among us today.
   Throughout the history of our Church there have been numerous men and women of faith whose lives have served as testimonies of our Lord's love and mercy. Often the way in which God revealed Himself through these early followers is quite drastic. There are various Divine interventions leading to conversions that continue to leave us speechless today. As we reflect upon these moments from Scripture and history it takes great faith in our Lord to believe them. It also takes great faith to acknowledge these events as the work of our Almighty God. From Abraham and Sarah, Job, our Holy Mother, St. Paul, and St Augustine the lives of these men and women have revealed to us the love of our Lord and the power of His grace and mercy. No less important are we as His followers today.
  Our lives also serve as testimonies of God's goodness and mercy. It is through the sharing of our experiences with one another that we each come to glorify God and recognize Him present today among us and working through us. Deacon Robert shared his story tonight, and yet, what was truly being shared was the story of the Lord's love for each of His children.
   Following the prayer group this evening I came home and began watching one of my favorite shows on EWTN entitled The Journey Home through which various testimonies are shared. Tonight Leah Darrow was featured. As I listened and watched her recount her story I was deeply moved. I watched as she spoke about her way of living before "reverting" back to her Catholic faith. I could not deny the immense courage that it takes to be able to publicly reveal personal struggles, to fully expose ones weaknesses, vulnerabilities and sin. Yet, through seeing her speak so full of Christ's love tonight her openness serves as a means of glorifying the Lord and understanding the depths that He will go to transform our hearts and our lives if we permit Him to. Our present day testimonies are reminders in these times that our Lord's love is constant and unchanging. We are His children. Jesus died for you.
    Let us each take the time to reflect upon our lives and take note of the moments that we recognized God working. Let us offer prayers of thanksgiving for everything that He has given. May we each pray for the clarity to see Him at work daily in our lives, surrendering fully to His will and allow ourselves to be His instruments each day. Lord Help us to also share our story and glorify You by doing so. Provide us with the strength, courage, and humility that we need. Thank you Lord for your unchanging love and for your mercy and grace. May we strive each day to live in closer union with You. We pray for the intercession of our Blessed Mother and all the Angels and Saints. Amen. (C.C) 

http://youtu.be/78pQoOsHSaI - Leah Darrow- The Journey Home

Chastity. By: C.C.

    

        Chastity is not about repression, but rather it is truly a means of reclaiming the wonderful gift of sexuality that God gave to each of us. I am currently reading He Speaks to You by Sr. Helena Burns and this month's focus is Chastity and Celibacy. As I read these wonderful reflections each day I am strengthened through my journey of chastity and have also come to understand the importance of speaking to this matter openly and without shame. Somehow the sacredness of our sexuality has been lost amidst a culture that is seemingly okay with highly provocative and arguably pornographic lifestyles, images, shows, and music . There seems to be an expectation that all of these things are truly "normal" and accepted, where as living chaste or celibate is considered an illness. 
     Chastity is not a fear of sexuality or of sexual desire, but rather it is an understanding of ones sexuality as a gift from God and the acknowledgement that the marital act is entrusted to His children in the Sacrament of marriage. Our society makes it difficult to speak of these matters and determines that anyone who lives in such a manner is "abnormal" or "repressed". I admit that there are struggles and challenges living out chastity in these highly sexual times. There is no way that this would be possible without a loving commitment to the Lord and full trust in His Providence and mercy. No matter what your past is and what you have gone through living a life of chastity is truly possible.
    Heavenly Father we thank you tonight for the gift of our sexuality. Help us always to acknowledge this as a gift from You and provide us with strength to live in purity as we strive to serve You. Lord forgive our sins and protect all of us from temptations and from lust. We pray especially for the intercession of Our Blessed Mother to wrap her mantle of love around our shoulders and guide us along our journey toward purity. Amen (C.C.)