Palm Sunday

Please Pray for Australia

or Deo Gratias!

This article from the Australian says it all.

Sanguis Christi, inebria me

This past week has been so full of blessings.

Although this actually stretches back further than a week, I will only start last Sunday because I want to do something like justice to what my Lord has been doing for me. I will start by offering a few quotes which sum up my feelings, thoughts and experiences; then, I will outline briefly what's been happening; finally, I will offer some other thoughts on these matters, some questions.

***

Firstly, I must quote Emily who yesterday morning summed up the week in this manner:

When you get retreat knees from spending all week with your frineds; without having been on a retreat!

 From Callum, on his blog Catholic Splash:

O Mother most Pure, hold us in your arms, just as you did hold your dearly beloved Son’s fragile and wounded Body.
O pray for me Our Lady of Sorrows, let me share in your sorrows, the sorrows of your Precious Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. (x)

From Bishop Giaquinta, founder of the Pro Sanctity Movement:

Every Apostle, indeed every Christian, must rest on the heart of Christ. The Church, aware of her birth from the heart of Christ, needs to return to His heart in order to be truly faithful. (x) 

 We must correspond with all of our strength, that is, to the maximum, to this love of the Father and of Jesus, accepting and actuating the message received. (Ibid.)

The three dimensions of holiness are personal, fraternal, and societal. As Pro Sanctity, we must be convinced that holiness is the only possible solution to social problems. This, however, does not mean our personal holiness is the only thing we are responsible for, but rather, we are called to be active in the second and third dimensions as well. (Quoted here)

From St John Vianney:

...the more we know of Him, the more we love Him. (Quoted here)

***

Sunday 9th:

Holy Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception; Lunch; Adoration and Holy Conversation at the Parish of St Bernadette; Theology of the Body and St Thomas More's Parish

Monday 10th:
Holy Hour and Holy Mass in the Holy Spirit Chapel at UNDA; Conversations about the Faith afterward

Tuesday 11th:
Adoration at All Saints' Chapel; Work, concluding in a lesson on music history which started with Gregorian Chant and finished with a discussion on the Holy Trinity with year fours

Wednesday 12th:
University; Holy Hour & Holy Mass at St Therese's Chapel with CYM followed by supper and fellowship; Holy Hour at the Parish of St Bernadette 

Thursday 13th:
University; Work; NDSSJ Sleep Out, including Divine Office, the Holy Rosary and other prayers, and fellowship

Friday 14th:
 Waking at UNDA; Divine Office - Lauds & Matins; Angelus & Holy Mass at St Therese's Chapel with CYM; catching up with my Spiritual Director; Eucharistic Adoration at Sacred Heart Parish

Saturday 15th:
Rosary Walk around Lake Monger; Holy Mass at the Parish of St Bernadette; holy Conversations followed by All Night Eucharistic Adoration at the same

Sunday 16th:
Holy conversation and walking prayer; Young Adults Gathering at the Redemptorist Monestary of Our Lady of Perpetual Help; Holy Mass in the Church of Sts Peter and Paul

***

What return can I make to the Lord for the good that He has done to me? What shall a man give in return for his life?

How do I live in a manner worthy of these gifts which he has so generously given me?

How do I become a Saint?

Father's Love Letter

My Child,

You may not know me,
but I know everything about you.
Psalm 139:1

I know when you sit down and when you rise up.
Psalm 139:2

I am familiar with all your ways.
Psalm 139:3

Even the very hairs on your head are numbered.
Matthew 10:29-31

For you were made in my image.
Genesis 1:27

In me you live and move and have your being.
Acts 17:28

For you are my offspring.
Acts 17:28

I knew you even before you were conceived.
Jeremiah 1:4-5

I chose you when I planned creation.
Ephesians 1:11-12

You were not a mistake,
for all your days are written in my book.
Psalm 139:15-16

I determined the exact time of your birth
and where you would live.
Acts 17:26

You are fearfully and wonderfully made.
Psalm 139:14

I knit you together in your mother’s womb.
Psalm 139:13

And brought you forth on the day you were born.
Psalm 71:6

I have been misrepresented
by those who don’t know me.
John 8:41-44

I am not distant and angry,
but am the complete expression of love.
1 John 4:16

And it is my desire to lavish my love on you.
1 John 3:1

Simply because you are my child
and I am your Father.
1 John 3:1

I offer you more than your earthly father ever could.
Matthew 7:11

For I am the perfect father.
Matthew 5:48

Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand.
James 1:17

For I am your provider and I meet all your needs.
Matthew 6:31-33

My plan for your future has always been filled with hope.
Jeremiah 29:11

Because I love you with an everlasting love.
Jeremiah 31:3

My thoughts toward you are countless
as the sand on the seashore.
Psalms 139:17-18

And I rejoice over you with singing.
Zephaniah 3:17

I will never stop doing good to you.
Jeremiah 32:40

For you are my treasured possession.
Exodus 19:5

I desire to establish you
with all my heart and all my soul.
Jeremiah 32:41

And I want to show you great and marvelous things.
Jeremiah 33:3

If you seek me with all your heart,
you will find me.
Deuteronomy 4:29

Delight in me and I will give you
the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:4

For it is I who gave you those desires.
Philippians 2:13

I am able to do more for you
than you could possibly imagine.
Ephesians 3:20

For I am your greatest encourager.
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

I am also the Father who comforts you
in all your troubles.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4

When you are brokenhearted,
I am close to you.
Psalm 34:18

As a shepherd carries a lamb,
I have carried you close to my heart.
Isaiah 40:11

One day I will wipe away
every tear from your eyes.
Revelation 21:3-4

And I’ll take away all the pain
you have suffered on this earth.
Revelation 21:3-4

I am your Father, and I love you
even as I love my son, Jesus.
John 17:23

For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed.
John 17:26

He is the exact representation of my being.
Hebrews 1:3

He came to demonstrate that I am for you,
not against you.
Romans 8:31

And to tell you that I am not counting your sins.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19

Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19

His death was the ultimate expression
of my love for you.
1 John 4:10

I gave up everything I loved
that I might gain your love.
Romans 8:31-32

If you receive the gift of my son Jesus,
you receive me.
1 John 2:23

And nothing will ever separate you
from my love again.
Romans 8:38-39

Come home and I’ll throw the biggest party
heaven has ever seen.
Luke 15:7

I have always been Father,
and will always be Father.
Ephesians 3:14-15

My question is…
Will you be my child?
John 1:12-13

I am waiting for you.
Luke 15:11-32

Love, Your Dad
Almighty God

Father's Love Letter used by permission Father Heart Communications
© 1999-2011 www.FathersLoveLetter.com

Wish List

You know how some girls have a list of everything they'd like in their ideal husband?
Well, the guy Whom I want to have a spousal relationship with is perfect.

This is my list of things that I think would ideally express my relationship to Him, lived within a Community.

• Habits
• Adoration
• All the Hours of the Church
• Silence
• Study
• Daily Adoration
• Daily Mass
• Daily Rosary
• Strict following of the Rule
• Saints in that Order
• Penance
• Use of Latin
• Some Active Apostolate
• 
  

We Are

Up loaded onto youtube by DefendUsInBattle.
I think this is the same as who comments regularly on blogs I read,
namely 'Joe@DefendUsInBattle'.

We Are Catholic.
It isn't something we 'do', it is who WE ARE.
We are something positive, wonderful, and special.
We are loyal to the Church, to the Pope, our tradition, and our God.

On God, Death and Taxis.

I’ve just had a lovely evening with Paul.

It’s amazing how God can answer your prayers when you actually ask. God has been so good to me in these past weeks, giving me situations that test me and refine me while not withholding even the small graces that I need and ask for.

I’ve been seeking an opportunity to get to know Paul a little better. Having known him for six months, I’ve felt like he’s known me better than I have known him. This is mostly due to my inability to speak prudently about myself.

What I mean is, I have the inordinate tendency to reveal more that would be prudent about my life to people who either have not asked or do not need to know; sometimes both. This is evidenced in what I write on this blog, most often. For this reason, Paul - who is blest with the gift of such prudence as I lack and who is a counsellor and very caring by nature - knew much, much more about my life and spiritual growth than I did about him.
None of this is inherently bad.
On the other hand, knowing that I need to temper my lack of prudence, I have resolved not to share random anecdotes about my life with people who I knew comparatively little about. This has required learning (albeit slowly) new conversation techniques, including listening. It’s been fruitful.

I digress.

I’ve always felt comfortable around Paul and he’s something of an older brother to me, so (my new conversation skills still lacking) I prayed that I would be able to know Paul better some how. This has been a prayer of mine for a few weeks now. This consistency in prayer is something else I’ve been working on. I have had the inclination to give-up on my intentions if they’re not answered immediately. Or, well, at least very soon. I need to learn to die to myself. Instead of being arrogant and assuming that God should do things in my time, I need to realise that He is outside of time and eternal, and, moreover, that He is God.

This evening, after Mass (which, unfortunately wasn’t the vigil Mass for Pentecost but was a Pentecost Sunday Day Mass without the Sequence [perhaps there’ll be more on this in a different post/rant]) Paul invited me to share a meal with him. Given that I could have been using the time to study - and having mentioned as much to Paul - I took very little convincing.

Deciding to go to the Mezz, Paul suggested that Fish and Chips should be on the menu. Having arrived there - at the Mezz, that is - we decided that the Authentic Japanese Restaurant (not it’s name, just the descriptor) might be the go instead. Conversation was initially bright and light hearted (to quote Minchin) and it continued to be both bright and light hearted throughout the evening. The subject matter, however, got deeper as time went on. (See graph below.)

***

God is good. Not only does He answer my prayers, He allows me to draw close to Him. Even in the midst of suffering, God is always there for me. I may not always be able to see Him, feel Him, touch Him, taste Him or hear Him, but He is there for me nonetheless.

God is the only constant. Well, and taxis.

***   ***   ***

Deo Gratias! Brave Bishop in Malta.

Praised be to God for Bsp Grech of the diocese of Gozo in Malta.

Here is copypasta from CatholicCulture.org:

Malta: bishop says dissenting Catholics should not receive Communion

  May 20, 2011

Preaching less than two weeks before a nationwide referendum on the legalization of divorce, the head of one of Malta’s two dioceses said that dissenting Catholics should not receive Holy Communion.
“Beware of the wolf in sheep’s clothing. And the wolf is now saying he is Catholic,” said Bishop Mario Grech of Gozo in what Maltese journalists describe as a reference to a pro-divorce Catholic organization. “This is a falsity, this is deceit. I am ready to dialogue with everyone but do not be false, do not lie … If you are not in communion with Christ’s teachings, you are not in communion with the Church and you cannot receive Communion.”
“To be politically correct and not tell things as they are will lead us to be sorry,” he added. “There are the brigands among us who are utilizing every means possible to lead the flock astray. They are going after marriage, and then other things will follow.”
During his April 2010 apostolic journey to Malta, Pope Benedict urged the nation’s citizens to defend the indissolubility of marriage.
“Your nation should continue to stand up for the indissolubility of marriage as a natural institution as well as a sacramental one, and for the true nature of the family, just as it does for the sacredness of human life from conception to natural death and for the proper respect owed to religious freedom in ways that bring authentic integral development to individuals and society,” he said upon arriving in the nation.