"Of the Week's"

My Dog and My God

Last Friday my dog ate an entire chocolate torte.  One of these:

 

I walked into my house and was like, "Surprise!  Your dog is one sick little puppy!"  It wasn't pleasant.  It's a miracle he didn't die.

There is a reason that there are rules.  In my house, we have the rule that the dog doesn't eat entire chocolate tortes.  And even though he wants to, and it feels good at the time, he really needs to learn to obey the rules.  Because I doesn't feel good (for anyone) later on.

God gave us rules.  It's true.  But He doesn't give us rules because He is mean or unfair.  He gives us rules because He loves us and doesn't want us to be sick, hurt, or dead.   If everyone were to obey all of God's commandments all the time, people would experience great peace and joy.  It would be easy to obey Him if everyone else was obeying Him.  If it was cool to do so.  

Eating an entire chocolate torte may sound good at the time, but I promise you (and God promises you) that it isn't worth it! 

 

Bible Verse of the Week 

Oh, the irony!  Today is Valentine's Day.  I am single, which isn't the worst thing to ever happen to a person (although Facebook might tell you differently!).  Anyway, I was not sure what I should do for my Bible verse, so I did Bible Roulette a bit differently.  I went to www.biblegateway.com and typed in any book of the Bible that popped into mind.  It was 1 Corinthians.  Then I typed the first number that came to mind.  It was seven.  Then I typed the first number that came to mind after that.  It was eight.  Guess what God's message for me today was!
  
"Now to the unmarried and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do" - 1 Corinthians 7:8.  

Thanks, God, for that one! 

Saint Quote of the Week:   

^{"The things that we love tell us what we are" - Saint Thomas Aquinas}

Prayer of the Week:  

To keep us humble during Lent, pure of heart on Valentine's Day, and full of love always, there is not better prayer than this:

Hail Mary, Full of Grace,
The Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women
And blessed is the Fruit of they womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God,
Pray for us sinners,
Now and at the hour of our death.

Amen.     

 Video of the Week:  

Perfect!  I have no words for this.  It says it itself!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uo2OF2Qb7I

"Of the Week's"

My Dog and My God

This morning, my dog got a long overdue bath.  And let's just say that he was not very excited about it.  I tried a new technique with him, where I tried just calling him into the bathroom, instead of leading him there by the collar.  It didn't work.  He just ran circles around my room, trying to avoid me.  I eventually caught him, got him in the bath, and cleaned him up.

But I know he won't stay clean for long.  As soon as I wash him, he goes outside and rolls in something nasty, totally undoing the work that I have done.  And then he'll be stinky and gross again for a while until I bathe him once more.

He thinks that he enjoys being dirty, but I know that he doesn't.  Because, when he is clean, he doesn't spend as much time cleaning himself.  There are times when I know that he is cleaning himself because he is uncomfortable from being dirty.  Plus, I don't give him as much attention when he is super dirty, because he's just gross, and he makes my skin itchy.  But when he's clean, he gets all the attention he could ask for!

Letting God clean us up in Reconciliation can be difficult.  Rather than run in circles around my room like my dog did when avoiding the bath, I make excuses for why I can't go to Reconciliation.  "I'm too busy."  Or, well, that's really the main excuse that I use.  And sometimes, God works so hard to get me there, it's like He's pulling on my collar.

But when I go, I'm far less uncomfortable than when I don't.  I don't have to stress about getting there.  I know that my relationship with God is good, and that any ties that I severed are fixed.  I know that God is there, because I let Him be there.

I eventually roll in nasty sin again.  Sometimes very quickly after Reconciliation.  But being clean, as temporary as it is, is wonderful.

 

Bible Verse of the Week 

I have struggled with self-pity for most of my life (even if I don't have any real reason to pity myself, I still find a reason to do so).  Lately I have been working very hard at this, which has been freeing in many ways.  If you struggle with self-pity, here are some words from Scripture to help you out:
  
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything" - James 1:2

Saint Quote of the Week:   

<sup>Again with the theme of overcoming self pity:

"We always find that those who walked closest to Christ were those who had to bear the greatest trials" - St Theresa of Avila</sup>

Prayer of the Week:  

Again, about self-pity:

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference. 
 
Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen.

--Reinhold Niebuhr

 Video of the Week:  

I like this video, because I think that the Pope is so brave here!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GOx045-UlBc

"Of the Week's"

My Dog and My God

Last weekend, I was away leading a retreat for our high school teens.  Now, I have to explain, that the few days after a retreat are usually spent in a semi-conscious state.  I'm sure that is not just true for me, but for all retreat participants.  We are exhausted emotionally, physically, and spiritually.  And, in his own way, my dog is too.  He gets to spend retreats at my mom's house, with all of the crazy dogs who live there, too!  But, once the first few days are over, he feels much more rested, while I'm still trying to catch up on sleep.  And he gets anxious, wanting to be taken out for walks, play with things, and eat stuff.  I just want to sit on my couch, eat pizza, and watch movies.  Unfortunately, neither of us gets what we want!

 

When my dog doesn't get exercise, he gets restless, much like I do when I don't exercise my soul.  Long periods of time without prayer leave me feeling restless.  And much like exercise, the more I don't do it, the more I don't want to do it.  It's strange how that feeds itself.

 

Feelings of restlessness are easy to combat, actually, though they seem hopeless at the time.  If you're feeling restless, bored, anxious or frustrated, try giving yourself a little spiritual exercise.  Because, like my dog, if you don't get that exercise, you could end up damaging something.

 

(Let's play "I Spy," to see if you can find all of the things my dog destroyed while bored.  There is a sock, ribbon, a compass, a dog bone, a chew toy, a flip flop and a rag)

   

 

 

Bible Verse of the Week 

I was having a really hard week (it is, after all, the week after a retreat), and I was praying, but I knew that I wasn't really listening to God's answer to my question.  I asked, but then I tuned Him out.  Which, as we know, is never a good thing.  At one point, I started complaining to God about how small my faith is.  About how stubborn I am.  About how little I trust.  I asked Him to let me hear Him, I almost begged in fact, but I was still closed off to His answer.  Afterwards (after I didn't hear Him), I was walking past my dresser, that had a Bible that I never use sitting on it.  Something (cough cough God cough cough) told me to pick up the Bible and read what it said.  I felt like God was putting me in my place with this verse.  It still doesn't answer the question that I asked Him to answer, but it does tell me that He's listening to me.  And for that, I love Him.

"Then Jesus said to her in reply, 'O woman, great is your faith!  Let it be done for you as you wish'" - Matthew 15:28.

Saint Quote of the Week:   

I chose this week's Saint quote because it reminds me to be grateful for the fact that I have neither form of poverty.  It reminds me that, even though I feel lonely from time to time, that I am surrounded by people who love me.  And even though I don't have a ton of money, I still manage to buy food (even if it's Ramen Noodles, which is rare).  Thank God that poverty has not affected my life.

"Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody, I think that is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty than the person who has nothing to eat" - Mother Teresa

Prayer of the Week:  

If you've never used a litany to pray before, it's a beautiful way to pray.  I have to admit, when my boss assigned this prayer to the Core Team once a couple of years ago, I thought that it was weird and stupid.  But after I did it a few times (yes, it did take me a few times), I realized how amazing Mary really is.  I never knew that she was all of these things.  Things I didn't even understand.  And my love for Mary grew more than I can say.  I encourage you to pray this every day for at least a week, to see how it transforms your life!

 

Lord, have mercy on us.

Christ, have mercy on us.

Lord, have mercy on us.

Christ, hear us.

Christ, graciously hear us.

God the Father of Heaven,

Have mercy on us.

God the Son, Redeemer of the world,

Have mercy on us.

God the Holy Ghost,

Have mercy on us.

Holy Trinity, one God,

Have mercy on us.

Holy Mary,

pray for us.

Holy Mother of God,

pray for us.

Holy Virgin of virgins,

pray for us.

Mother of Christ,

pray for us.

Mother of divine grace,

pray for us.

Mother most pure,

pray for us.

Mother most chaste,

pray for us.

Mother inviolate,

pray for us.

Mother undefiled,

pray for us.

Mother most amiable,

pray for us.

Mother most admirable,

pray for us.

Mother of good counsel,

pray for us.

Mother of our Creator,

pray for us.

Mother of our Savior,

pray for us.

Virgin most prudent,

pray for us.

Virgin most venerable,

pray for us.

Virgin most renowned,

pray for us.

Virgin most powerful,

pray for us.

Virgin most merciful,

pray for us.

Virgin most faithful,

pray for us.

Mirror of justice,

pray for us.

Seat of wisdom,

pray for us.

Cause of our joy,

pray for us.

Spiritual vessel,

pray for us.

Vessel of honor,

pray for us.

Singular vessel of devotion,

pray for us.

Mystical rose,

pray for us.

Tower of David,

pray for us.

Tower of ivory,

pray for us.

House of gold,

pray for us.

Ark of the Covenant,

pray for us.

Gate of Heaven,

pray for us.

Morning star,

pray for us.

Health of the sick,

pray for us.

Refuge of sinners,

pray for us.

Comforter of the afflicted,

pray for us.

Help of Christians,

pray for us.

Queen of angels,

pray for us.

Queen of patriarchs,

pray for us.

Queen of prophets,

pray for us.

Queen of apostles,

pray for us.

Queen of martyrs,

pray for us.

Queen of confessors,

pray for us.

Queen of virgins,

pray for us.

Queen of all saints,

pray for us.

Queen conceived without Original Sin,

pray for us.

Queen assumed into Heaven,

pray for us.

Queen of the most holy Rosary,

pray for us.

Queen of peace,

pray for us.

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,

Spare us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,

Graciously hear us, O Lord.

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,

Have mercy on us.

Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God,

That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord God, that we Thy Servants may enjoy perpetual health of mind and body and by the glorious intercession of the Blessed Mary, ever Virgin, be delivered from present sorrow and unjoy enternal happiness. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
Approved by Pope Sixtus V in 1587

Video of the Week:  

The theme song from our retreat this past weekend.  What a great song.  It inspires me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfosSggwQS0

"Of the Week's"

My Dog and My God

Every morning, when I wake up, my dog is so excited to see me.  He starts the day jumping up and down, trying to lick my face, and acting like a complete psychopath!  It's really cute.

Oh to be a psychopath for God!  I think that the most important way to start our day is with prayer.  Even if it's just as simple as making the sign of the cross and offering the day to Jesus.  To be as excited about seeing Jesus as my dog is about seeing me, would make my day so wonderful, no matter what happens during the rest of that day.  So, I encourage you, when you wake up, not to curse God for making the morning, but to thank Him, and to offer your day to Him.

Bible Verse of the Week 

I really like this Bible verse, because it reminds me that no matter how much people sin, God will always use what we create for the greater good.  Joseph, of all people, could relate to that, since his brothers tried to kill him, then sold him into slavery, and then Joseph was thrown in jail after being falsely accused of a crime.  But God used all of that, and He used Joseph's patience, to bring about a fruitful and full life for Joseph.  Just remember, that God is good, even when people aren't.

"But Joseph said to them, 'Don't be afraid.  Am I in the place of God?  You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.'"

Saint Quote of the Week:   

Sometimes the writings of the Saints are so complicated and difficult that I have no idea what they are saying.  And sometimes they are so simple that I am astonished by the fact that I, myself, did not say it.  That's how this week's quote is for me.  It's so simple, and yet, so profound.  

"Since Christ Himself said, 'This is My Body' who shall dare to doubt that It is His Body?" - Saint Cyril of Jerusalem.

Prayer of the Week:  

Jesus, the very thought of Thee
With sweetness fills the breast!
Yet sweeter far Thy face to see
And in Thy Presence rest.
No voice can sing, no heart can frame,
Nor can the memory find,
A sweeter sound than Jesus' Name,
The Saviour of mankind.
O hope of every contrite heart!
O joy of all the meek!
But what to those who find? Ah!  This
Nor tongue nor pen can show
The love of Jesus, what it is,
None but His loved ones know.
Jesus!  our only hope be Thou,
As Thou our prize shalt be;
In Thee be all our glory now,
And through eternity.  Amen.    

Video of the Week:  

This is my favorite hymn, and it is sung by one of my favorite artists. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhvaDJTUmrU

"Of the Week's"

My Dog and My God

My dog hates it when things touch him.  He doesn't mind if people touch him, but he doesn't like things touching him.  Blankets.  His leash.  A piece of ribbon!  If his leash gets wrapped around his leg, he won't move.  He will literally just freeze where he is until I untangle it.  It's a good think that he's not out in the wild, because someone might not be there to rescue him!  What a weirdo!

Anyway, I was taking my dog for his walk when his leash became tangled between two of his toes.  I don't imagine that this was a painful moment.  He didn't yelp or limp later at all.  But he began trashing about, panicking, and acting like he was about to die.  This panicked movement just made matters worse.  He got it more and more tangled.  He wouldn't sit still long enough for me to do much about it, which just made things even worse.

When things come into our lives that we can't fix ourselves, it is our natural tendency to start flailing about, trying to fix it anyway.  But the Truth is that if we stay calm and let God take care of it, it won't get any worse than it already is.  We just have to take a deep breath, and let Him work.

Bible Verse of the Week 

  My heart is so dirtied sometimes, by pride, hatred, jealousy, fear, disappointment.  This verse is what I pray to help me get rid of those toxins, and replace them with nutrients.

"A clean heart create for me, God; renew within me a steadfast spirit" - Psalm 51:12 (according to the NAB, but is Psalm 51:10 in the NIV translation)

Saint Quote of the Week:   

The word freedom relates to different people in different ways, but there is only one definition.  And this is it:

"Freedom consists not in doing what we like, but in having the right to do what we ought." -Venerable John Paul I

Prayer of the Week:  

O God our Creator,
Through the power and working of your Holy Spirit,
You call us to live out our faith in the midst of the world,
Bringing the light and the saving truth of the Gospel
To every corner of society.

We ask you to bless us
In our vigilence for the gift of religious liberty.
Give us the strength of mind and heart
To readily defend our freedoms when they are threatened;
Give us courage in making our voices heard
On behalf of the rights of your Church
And the freedom of conscience of all people of faith.

Grant, we pray, O heavenly Father,
A clear and united voice to all your sons and daughters
Gathered in Your Church
In this decisive hour in the history of our nation,
So that, with every trial withstood
And every danger overcome -
For the sake of our children, or grandchildren,
And all who come after us - 
This great land will always be
"One nation, under God,
Indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen             

Video of the Week:  

Since this week we are praying for Vocations, I thought that it would be good to post this video that is an advertisement for the Priesthood.  This video is cool, and it inspired me, even though I cannot (nor do I think I should be able to) become a priest.  This video shows the joy and the awesomeness (yep, I said awesomeness) of the priesthood, and it makes me really appreciative of what we've got!  So I encourage you all to watch it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FbL7eFJGdQ

"Of the Week's"

My Dog and My God

On Friday, I babysat my niece.  My sister brought her over to my house early in the morning, and she was here until about 6:00 pm that night.  It was fun.  I like babysitting my niece, especially at my house.  My dog, though, is not such a fan!  He was jealous and worried all day.  He actually ended up getting a lot of my attention that day, but could he speak, he'd tell you that wasn't true.  He's an all-or-nothing kind of creature.

Throughout the Old Testament, we hear about how God is a jealous God.  People often think that this is contradictory to what is later said about God, that "God is love" (1 John 4:8).  But it's because God is jealous that He is love.  God is not jealous of us; He is jealous for us.  Just like my dog, God isn't satisfied unless we are completely His, not just mostly or slightly His.

Bible Verse of the Week 

Last night, at Confirmation, my boss told the teens, "You don't have to be perfect, but you have to be holy."  I think it's interesting that he said that when this is the Bible verse of the week!
 
"But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written 'Be holy as I am Holy.'" - 1 Peter 1:15-16

Saint Quote of the Week:   

"Christ said, 'I am the Truth,' He did not say, 'I am the custom'" - St. Toribio

Prayer of the Week:  

 All I'm going to say about this prayer is that it is crazy intense!  And I love that about it!

O Lord my God, help me to be obedient without reserve, poor without servility, chaste without compromise, humble without pretense, joyful without depravity, serious without affectation, active without frivolity, submissive without bitterness, truthful without duplicity, fruitful in good works without presumption, quick to revive my neighbor without haughtiness, and quick to edify others by word and example without simulation.

Grant me, O Lord, an ever-watchful heart that no alien thought can lure away from You; a noble heart that no base love can sully; an upright heart that no perverse intention can lead astray; an invincible heart that no distress can overcome; an unfettered heart that no impetuous desires can enchain.  

O Lord my God, also bestow upon me understanding to know You, zeal to seek You, wisdom to find You, a life that is pleasing to You, unshakable perseverance, and a hope that will one day take hold of You.

May I do penance here below and patiently bear your chastisements.  May I also receive the benefits of your grace, in order to taste your heavenly joys and contemplate your glory.

Amen. 

Video of the Week:  

This is just plain funny.  Nothing else.  Just funny.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCoD-TELD0A

 

"Of the Week's"

My Dog and My God

This week I decided to re-arrange my bedroom.  My bed was over one of the vents in my room, and I have never liked that.  Because of this, my room was usually much colder than necessary, and I was always irrationally afraid that my bed would catch fire (I said it was irrational!).  My dog could not figure out what I was doing, but what's worse is that he could not figure out what I had done afterwards.  The first night after I moved my furniture, he sat up and stared at everything for what seemed like hours.  To tell you the truth, it was quite frustrating.  I realized, though, that sometimes God does the same thing to us.  He rearranges our lives in even the tiniest ways, but for important reasons.  Change is scary and frustrating.  But God is good.  Trusting in God is always best.  It saves a lot of stress in the long run!

Bible Verse of the Week 

I did what I rather hate in order to pick this week's Bible verse:  Bible Roulette.  To be honest, I don't really recommend it.  But I did it anyway.  I really liked this verse, not just because it uses the word "stouthearted," which made me feel kind of like a hobbit (it just seems like a word they'd use), but because of the great joy and faith that is in this verse.  I believe I shall enjoy the Lord's goodness in the land of the living!  Yes!  What a hopeful message!

Psalm 28:11-14 – "Lord, show me your way; lead me on a level path because of my enemies.  Do not abandon me to the will of my foes; malicious and lying witnesses have risen against me.  But I believe I shall enjoy the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living.  Wait for the Lord, take courage; be stouthearted, wait for the Lord!"

Saint Quote of the Week:   

Saint Francis of Assisi is amazing.  He's definitely one of my favorites.  This felt like such a good message, considering we just celebrated the New Year.  What Saint Francis left out was the part about sticking to it!  You want to become a great Saint like Saint Francis?  Don't stop doing this great advice!

“Start by doing what’s necessary; then do what’s possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible” – Saint Francis of Assisi

Prayer of the Week:  

My prayer for the week is one that I have decided to be my prayer for the whole year!  It's a challenging prayer, to say the least!  But I think that 2013 could be a great year of growing in my faith because of this prayer!  I encourage all of you to do the same!

Father, I abandon myself into your hands; do with me what you will.  Whatever you may do, I thank you:  I am ready for all, I accept all.  Let only your will be done in me, and in all your creatures.  I wish no more than this, O Lord.  Into your hands I commend my soul; I offer it to you with all the love of my heart, for I love you, Lord, and so need to give myself, to surrender myself into your hands, without reserve, and with boundless confidence, for you are my Father.  Amen.”

Video of the Week:  

I saw this movie recently and even though it disappointed me in many ways, I thought that this commentary was very appropriate!  If you have seen this movie, listen to what Father Robert Barron has to say about it's Catholicity!  If you haven't seen it, I suggest you do, simply because of the amazing Catholic themes presented in it.  

Father Robert Barron comments on the movie "The Hobbit."  Careful, though!  There are spoilers!

"Evil is always trying to implant itself in the world.  And your job is to battle it....Very often people think you battle it through power, when in fact...the best way to battle it is through simple acts of love and kindness."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJH9VOmXRG4