Prepare a Highway For the Lord: A Teaching on Advent

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The Grace to Listen to the Lord's Words

Advent is the time of the promise, not yet the fulfillment. We are still standing in the middle of the whole thing, in the logical relentlessness and inevitability of destiny. To captive eyes, it still appears that the ultimate throw of the dice indeed will be cast here below in these valleys, on these battlefields, in these camps, and prisons, and cellars. Once keeping vigil, though, senses the other powers at work and can await their hour.

The sounds of devastation and destruction, the cries of self-importance and arrogance, the weeping of despair and powerlessness still fill the world. Yet, standing silently, all along the horizon are the eternal realities with their age-old longing. The first gentle light of the glorious abundance to come is already shining above them. From out there, the first sounds are ringing out like shepherds' flutes and a boys' choir singing. They do not yet form a song or melody--it is all still too far off and only the first announcement and intimation. Still, it is happening. This is today. And tomorrow the angels will relate loudly and jubilantly what has happened, and we will know it and will be blesssed if we have believed and trusted in Advent.

I originally found this excerpt in today's Meditation of the Day from Magnificat, Vol 13. No. 10. The author's name was Father Alfred Delp, S.J., a German Jesuit priest executed February 2, 1945 by the Nazis after suffering torture and imprisonment for fearlessly speaking out against their regime. I felt compelled to find out more about him, and discovered that this excerpt is from Advent of the Heart, a book of Fr. Delp's Advent sermons along with meditations that he wrote while he was imprisoned by the Nazis.

What a magnificent find. I recommend it highly. CLICK HERE to get a copy for yourself.

A God of Order

In the first Chapter of Genesis, we read that God created, and created in order. Our God is a God of order; we, created in His image, must therefore be a people of order.

Pray For America

This was in my inbox this morning:

The way to cut short all the evils we suffer is to pray. (The Forge, 76)

Remember that prayer does not consist in making pretty speeches, or high‑sounding or consoling phrases. Prayer, at times, will be a glance at a picture of Our Lord or of his Mother; sometimes a petition, expressed in words; or offering good works, and the fruits of faithfulness. We have to be like a guard on sentry duty at the gate of God Our Lord: that's what prayer is. Or like a small dog that lies down at his master's feet. Do not mind telling him: Lord, here I am, like a faithful dog; or better still like a little donkey, which will not kick the one who loves him. (The Forge, 73)

Your prayer cannot stop at mere words. It has to lead to deeds and practical consequences. (The Forge, 75)

Heroism, sanctity, daring, require a constant spiritual preparation. You can only ever give to others what you already have. And in order to give God to them you yourself need to get to know him, to live his Life, to serve him. (The Forge, 78)

Source: www.opusdei.us

Join us in prayer for America
Saturday, October 15, 2011
CLICK HERE for more information

Take 33 Minutes Out Of Your Day And Watch This.

"HE ALONE WHO OWNS THE YOUTH OWNS THE FUTURE." 

This film is why we need to pray for this country. 

JOIN US ON OCT 15.

Click here for more information.

Secular View of Work

Yesterday a group here at my workplace (including upper management--we don't mess around) got together for what we call our monthly devotional meeting.

We discussed the secular view of work and work's place in life:

The ultimate purpose of work is to fulfill yourself.  Success in life means success in work. Image counts more than substance. Do whatever it takes to get the job done. Success is measured by material wealth, professional recognition and positional status. Work is self-directed, defines the worker and is assigned whatever purpose or meaning to the worker's life by the worker. You set both the goals and the rules, and there is no authority or value system higher than yourself to which you will ultimately submit.

And we wonder why the world is going to hell in a fast car?  The secular view of life is ultimately self-defeating and makes work a form of idolatry. (thanks to Marketplace Solutions for inspiring this reflection.)

Take a hard look at the world today, governed by this secular view of work and it's place in life. Is it any wonder that our nation continues to suffer from so many social and economic ills?

When God is left out of the solution, the problems only get worse, because we were created by God, for God and His purpose, which is to love and serve HIM in this world, so we can be with Him in the next.


Pray for America.

Pray for a return to the true freedom from the chains of this world.

Pro life meeting

Tomorrow night at 7pm Men and Women United for Life will be having a meeting open to the public at St Charles Catholic Church in Boardman, Ohio. The meeting will feature speakers and light refreshments!

Lies.

From the Gonzaga Bulletin article titled Homosexuality & Catholicism: Misconceptions addressed by students and University Ministry by Joseph Suttner:

"First and foremost, [the Church] doesn't say anything in particular about homosexuality, per se. It does say that we are created in God's image, male and female created in God's image," Hightower said.

Hightower said the only document the American Catholic Church has to guide it on the topic of homosexuals within the Church is a document from the United States Bishops' Conference called "Always Our Children."

"They're not meaning to be experts on sexuality, they're not meaning to be experts on orientation, but they are providing pastoral ministry to parents and students at a very difficult time in someone's life as they come to terms and come to the freedom of their orientation," Hightower said.

Thanks to RealCatholicTV.com for initially getting this article out there.

*SIGH.* WHERE TO BEGIN?

1. The Church actually says quite alot "in particular about homosexuality, per se". She says it here, here, here, here, and in so many other documents that I can't link them all.

2. The "American Catholic Church" is not an entity. There is ONE Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.

3. The document referenced was produced by a committee, not by the Bishops' Conference directly, and neglected to obtain any input from the majority of our Bishops. (Read this article by Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz--again, thanks to RealCatholicTV for initially making it available.)

4. The Church's intent is singular: to provide for us the very means to our salvation, as Jesus Christ designed her to be. Thus Hightower's statement regarding the Church's "expertise" is laughable.

5. Homosexuality is, and has always been, considered DISORDERED, and therefore an obstacle to the grace of God and to our salvation which flows from His grace. Therefore, any member of the clergy either implying or outright stating otherwise is participating in the obstruction of God's saving grace and really needs to rethink his vocation.

Pray for our priests. Pray for Mother Church.

Fr. Frank Pavone Recalled To Amarillo

STATEN ISLAND, NY – Father Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life, has issued the following statement:


“For the past several years, my Ordinary, the Most Reverend Patrick Zurek, Bishop of Amarillo, has given me permission to do the full-time pro-life work that I have done since 1993. In 2005, I made a public promise in a Church ceremony in Amarillo, presided over by a Vatican Cardinal, that this full-time pro-life work would be a lifetime commitment. That’s a commitment I promise to fulfill without wavering.

“This past week, however, I received a letter from the Bishop insisting that I report to the Diocese this Tuesday, September 13 and, for the time being, remain only there. 

Read Fr. Pavone's entire statement HERE.