Thursday, June 27, 2013

Hot Summer Nights

Source

Starting on July 1st and for each day of the month of July, you can head on over to Jen's blog,  Enter Under My Roof to read up on inspirational and christian ways to strengthen your marriage.
Here's the scoop:
IGNITES ON JULY 1, 2013

Marriage. One of the greatest gifts we've been given, yet - sometimes - one of the things we take most for granted. This July, spend 30 days with us as we bring you a different article each day focused on real life marriages, passion, love, and faith. We've pulled together some of the best in the business, including Marriage & Family therapists, published authors, counselors, clergy, and everyday people just like you and me to share experiences (both good and bad), talk openly about passion and sex, discuss how God sets the example for us in our marriages, and more. We'll be sharing our amazing line-up of authors beginning on July 1 and will publish a different article each day from a new author on marriage.

We'll be exploring things like: Keeping the passion alive (or where to go looking if it's missing) • Making it through tough times • The natural stages & progression of marriage • Including God in your marriage • Ideas for alone time • Being married to a non-Christian • Celebrating anniversaries • Falling back in love with each other • The intimacy of spending every night with “the one” • What the Bible says about marriage • ...and more. We'll be updating this page with the amazing contributors on July 1 and linking, each day, to their article.

Here's how to stay updated:
Like Us on Facebook'
Follow on Twitter
Follow on pinterest
Suscribe via email

Starting July 1st, you can also check out the Date Night Link Up for ideas or add your own posts.

May God bless your marriage and make it holy!

Blessings,
Noreen

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Christ the carpenter.

Can you imagine Jesus as a carpenter making a wobbly table with a shorter leg than the others?

No?

Then why should we make a wobbly job of whatever tasks we are asked to do?

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Beautiful Words from St. Maximus of Turin

We Catholics are so lucky, blessed, and completely fortunate in our saints. Every time I read a quote from one of them I want to jump for joy. How good of God to let us hear the Gospel repeated through His saints for every day and age!

Today's feast is that of St. Maximus of Turin (380-466):

The celestial day is perpetually bright and shining with brilliant light; clouds can never darken its skies. In the same way, the light of Christ is eternally glowing with luminous radiance and can never be extinguished by the darkness of sin.
What a great reminder for us to go about our business of doing His will, regardless of the effects of sin in and around us. Jesus cannot be overcome and neither can we if we walk in His steps. No matter how dark the world is, we always have the light of Christ to show us the way. St. Maximus also reminds us of our final destination: life in the celestial day.

Sunday, June 16, 2013

Quick Bytes #59: Father's Day

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How many of you remembered to wish our Heavenly Father
a Happy Father's Day today?
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Wednesday, June 5, 2013

Obstacles to Holiness: Discouragement and Exaggerated Anxiety


From St. Faustina's Diary, 1488:

Conversation of the Merciful God with a Soul Striving after Perfection
Jesus: I am pleased with your efforts, O soul aspiring for perfection, but why do I see you so often sad and depressed? Tell Me, My child, what is the meaning of this sadness, and what is its cause?
Soul: Lord, the reason for my sadness is that, in spite of my sincere resolutions, I fall again into the same faults. I make resolutions in the morning, but in the evening I see how much I have departed from them.
Jesus: You see, My child, what you are of yourself. The cause of your falls is that you rely too much upon yourself and too little on Me. But let this not sadden you so much. You are dealing with the God of mercy, which your misery cannot exhaust. Remember, I did not allot only a certain number of pardons.
Soul: Yes, I know all that, but great temptations assail me, and various doubts awaken within me and, moreover, everything irritates and discourages me.
Jesus: My child, know that the greatest obstacles to holiness are discouragement and an exaggerated anxiety. These will deprive you of the ability to practice virtue. All temptations united together ought not disturb your interior peace, not even momentarily. Sensitiveness and discouragement are the fruits of self-love. You should not become discouraged, but strive to make My love reign in place of your self-love. Have confidence, My child. Do not lose heart in coming for pardon, for I am always ready to forgive you. As often as you beg for it, you glorify My mercy.
Soul: I understand what is the better thing to do, what pleases You more, but I encounter great obstacles in acting on this understanding.
Jesus: My child, life on earth is a struggle indeed; a great struggle for My kingdom.
But fear not, because you are not alone. I am always supporting you, so lean on Me as you struggle, fearing nothing. Take the vessel of trust and draw from the fountain of life-for yourself, but also for other souls, especially such as are distrustful of My goodness.
Soul: O Lord, I feel my heart being filled with Your love and the rays of Your mercy and love piercing my soul. I go, Lord, at Your command. I go to conquer souls. Sustained by Your grace, I am ready to follow You, Lord, not only to Tabor, but also to Calvary. I desire to lead souls to the fount of Your mercy so that the splendor of Your mercy may be reflected in all souls, and the home of our Father be filled to overflowing. And when the enemy begins to attack me, I shall take refuge behind the shield of Your mercy. (1488, Diary of St. Faustina)

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

An E-book Review: Five Lessons from the Carmelite Saints That Will Change Your Life

Navigating the interior life is not always easy and many of us can use a bit of help on our journeys. With this in mind, Connie Rossini , a Catholic writer who blogs at Contemplative Homeschool  (and the administrator of Catholic Spirituality Blogs Network) has authored an illuminating new e-book called Five Lessons from the Carmelite Saints That Will Change Your Life. This short e-book is broken up into 5 chapters, or lessons, with each lesson focusing on an important aspect of the spiritual life.

In a clear, engaging manner, the author guides her readers through  lessons based on the teachings of the Carmelite saints. Each chapter begins with a  reflection and finishes with practical applications for living the lesson out in your daily spiritual walk. If you are searching for concrete advice on how to navigate the waters of  the spiritual life this book is for you.  The e-book also provides links to articles on her blog where you can find more information on prayer and Carmelite spirituality.

This is an excellent book for Catholics and non-Catholics alike. Five Lessons from the Carmelite Saints That Will Change Your Life  will be available for download at no cost on June 11th at Connie's  faith-based education and Carmelite spirituality blog, Contemplative Homeschool.

 I highly recommend this little spiritual gem!