Harvesting The Fruits of Contemplation

(Photo©Michael Seagriff) It's Sunday and time to join an interesting group of Catholic bloggers at RAnn's place  where you are sure to find something that will touch your heart and stir your soul. Take a few minutes and visit! Here is what I shared: Guest Post - A Prophetic Warning! Are You The Center of Your Universe? Eucharistic Reflection - There Would Have Been No Need of Christ Coming to Earth If... No Better Place To Be! No Better Thing To Do! On The Feast Day of St. Thomas Aquinas "It's Worth Revisiting" Wednesday - Not this Time Buddy! Pondering Tidbits of Truth - January 29, 2015

Pondering Tidbits of Truth is my simple and inadequate way of providing nuggets of spiritual wisdom for you to chew on from time to time. Father Jean Nicholas Grou “God wishes-us to fear His justice, so that we may avoid sin, so that we may forsake it as soon as possible, so that we may ex­piate it by penance, so that we may never think we have expi­ated it sufficiently, and so that we may not lightly presume on the hope of pardon. But at the same time He wishes us to trust in Him, to hope for all things from His mercy, to return to Him through love rather than fear, and never to allow ourselves to become the prey of a terror that is without foundation and in­jurious to God, and that can have no other effect than to dis­courage and dishearten us. But how far are we to carry this trust in God? As far as His power and His goodness; as far as our own weakness and our own misery; that is to say, our trust is to be boundless.” (From The Spiritual Life-A Compreh...

Thanks to the generosity and encouragement of Allison Gingras and Elizabeth Riordan, an ever-expanding group of Catholic bloggers take the time each week to re-post their favorite articles on “It’s Worth Revisiting” Wednesday. Do yourself a favor- go there now (and every Wednesday) and let these authors bless and challenge you in Faith journey. During the rest of each week. visit Allison at   Reconciled To You and Elizabeth at Theology Is A Verb .  You will be pleased with what they share.  Here is what I am sharing this week: Not This Time Buddy (Originally posted 4/23/12) I am ashamed to admit how easily I fall prey to the “blues.” God has immensely blessed me in this life and I have no real reason for ever feeling down and discouraged.   But, of course, I am human and prone to such disorders. In reflecting (many times) on what might set me off on this non-productive path, I discovered a number of culprits, these being the ...

There is no better place to be and no better thing to do on this earth than to be on our knees adoring and worshiping our Loving Lord who humbles Himself to remain with us until the end of time. Thanks to Video Catechism and JD Trevors for sharing this video. Pass it along then go visit Him!

I recently began reading St. Thomas Aquinas by G.K. Chesterton. I highly recommend this book! Although I do not know if the following tale Chesterton shares about our Angelic Doctor is true, I just had to share it with you: "It was of him [St.Thomas Aquinas] that the tale was told, and would certainly have been told more widely among us if it had been told of a Puritan, that the Pope pointed to his gorgeous Papal Palace and said, "Peter can no longer say 'Silver and gold have I none' "; and the Spanish friar an­swered, "No, and neither can he now say, 'Rise and walk.' " St. Thomas Aquinas pray for us.

“If we were naturally good and naturally progressive, there would have been no need of Christ coming to earth to make men good. Those who are well have no need of a physician. If all were right with the world, God would have stayed In His Heaven. His Presence in the crib in Bethlehem is a witness not to our progress, but to our misery. Just as Christmas is a season for exchanging gifts with friends, so Our Lord came to this poor earth of ours to exchange gifts. He said to us, as only a good God could say: "You give Me your humanity and I will give you My divinity; you give Me your time and I will give you My eternity; you give Me your weary body and I will give you redemption; you give Me your broken heart and I will give you love; you give Me your nothingness and I will give you My All.” .                    (Venerable Fulton J. Sheen,  December 20, 1964 )

Although I have not yet had the privilege to physically meet the gifted writer whose work I am about to share with you, we are not strangers. Barbara Schoeneberger, M.A. has challenged and stirred my soul (and countless other souls) through her words and inspiring example. She has struggled for more than a decade with, among other crosses, physical limitations, surgeries and chronic pain. Once she understood "the purpose of her suffering", her life changed. Through sharing her life's experiences and spiritual journey, Barbara hopes her writings will " help others to make the most of the challenges God has sent them."     You would serve the welfare of your soul well if you made a point of visiting her frequently at  Suffering With Joy . Barbara has graciously consented to my sharing one of her most recent and timely posts - one that should be widely read and disseminated : A Prophetic Warning! by Barbara Schoeneberger Cleaning out a file ca...

They are at it again!!!

(Photo©Michael Seagriff) It's Sunday and time to join an interesting group of Catholic bloggers at RAnn's place  where you are sure to find something that will touch your heart and stir your soul. Take a few minutes and visit! These are the posts I shared: Have You Looked In The Mirror Lately? How Sharp Is Your Tongue? Eucharistic Reflection - The Invention Of Love Are You Passionately In Love? It's Worth Revisiting Wednesday - Monday Musings - When Can We Expect to Hear Humanae Vitae Preached At Sunday Mass?

Thanks to the generosity and encouragement of Allison Gingras and Elizabeth Riordan, an ever-expanding group of Catholic bloggers take the time each week to re-post their favorite articles on “It’s Worth Revisiting” Wednesdays. Do yourself a favor- go there now (and every Wednesday) and let these authors bless and challenge you in your Faith journey. During the rest of each week. visit Allison at   Reconciled To You and Elizabeth at Theology Is A Verb .  You will be pleased with what they share. Here is what I am sharing this week: Monday Musings - So When Can We Expect to Hear Humane Vitae Preached At Sunday Mass? (Originally published 7/22/13) (Image Source: Wikimedia Commons ) I recently read a short but interesting article written by Father Michael Orsi. It is entitled How Same-Sex Marriage Won . You can read his article here at Catholic Exchange .  As I am wont to do, I simply passed it along to several social...

(St. Vincent Ferrer Parish, NYC) The Eucharist is the invention of Love!. . .Yet how few souls corre­spond to that love which spends and consumes itself for them! I live in the midst of sinners that I may be their life, their physician, and the remedy of the diseases bred by corrupt nature. And in return they forsake, insult, and despise me.  . . .Poor pitiable sinners, do not turn away from me. . . . Day and night, I am on the watch for you in the tabernacle. I will not reproach you. . . I will not cast your sins in your face.. . But I will wash them in My Blood and in My Wounds. No need to be afraid. . . . Come to Me. . . . If you but knew how dearly I love you. 

(Photo©Michael Seagriff) It's Sunday and time to join an interesting group of Catholic bloggers at RAnn's place  where you are sure to find something that will touch your heart and stir your soul. Take a few minutes and visit! This is what I posted this week: Monday Musings-A Simple Man Shouts: Love Him! Revere Him! Visit Him! Quench His Thirst!    Guest Blog From Vultus Christi - Listen My Priests! Eucharistic Reflection - The August Prisoner It's "Worth Revisiting" Wednesday  Apostles of the Eucharist   Pondering Tidbits of Truth  January 15, 2015

(Image Source: Wikimedia Commons ) Pondering Tidbits of Truth is my simple and inadequate way of providing nuggets of spiritual wisdom for you to chew on from time to time. St. Peter Julian Eymard "If you read the Gospel, bring it to the Eucharist and, from the Eucharist, into yourself. You then have much greater power. The Gospel becomes clear, and you have before your eyes and in reality the continuation of what you are reading." (From Adore in Spirit and In Truth )  

Another week of “It’s Worth Revisiting”Wednesday has arrived where an ever-expanding group of Catholic bloggers takes the time  to re-share some of their favorite posts. Show your appreciation to Allison Gingras at  Reconciled To Yo u and Elizabeth Riordan,  at Theology Is A Verb for hosting this site by visiting them from time to time. Here is what I am sharing this week:  Apostles of the Eucharist - St. Peter Julian Eymard (Originally posted 8/ 21 /11)     Saint Peter Julian Eymard (1811-1868) founded the Society of the Blessed Sacrament, and the Servants of the Blessed Sacrament. He is often referred to as the Apostle of the Eucharist. His writings, including those on the Eucharist, are extensive and have been compiled into a 17 volume work. Even a cursory review of quotations attributable to him should set any heart afire. Let me share a few of them:       “ Receive Communion often, and ...

"If souls understood what treasure they possess in the divine Eu­charist, it would be necessary to protect tabernacles with impregnable ramparts; because, in the delirium of a holy and devouring hunger, they would go themselves to feed on the Manna of the Seraphim. Churches, at night as in daytime, would overflow with worshipers wasting away with love for the august prisoner."' (Blessed Dina Belanger as quoted by Father Florian Racini in Could You Not Watch With Me One Hour-How to Cultivate a Deeper Relationship with the Lord through Eucharistic Adoration )

(Image Source: Vultus Christi ) From time to time, it is my privilege to share the powerful exhortations posted on Vultus Christ i by Dom Mark Daniel Kirby, O.S.B. -  intended to re-ignite a passionate love for the Eucharist in all of us, and most particularly in his brother priests. Father is the Prior of the Benedictine Monks of Perpetual Adoration of the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar at Silverstream Monastery , whose website describes their community as follows: "Under the patronage of Our Lady of the Cenacle, the monks of Silverstream Priory devote themselves to the worthy celebration of the Sacred Liturgy (which St Benedict called the Opus Dei , or "Work of God"), in its age-old classical forms and to perpetual adoration of the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar, the Eucharistic Face of Christ, in a spirit of reparation. Their life of praise and adoration is marked by a heartfelt solicitude for the sanctification of priests." [Conside...

(Image Source: Wikimedia Commons ) Hey, sometimes we little fish in the big pond of Catholic writers must shout to get some attention. Fewer and fewer Catholics believe that our Lord is really and substantially present Body, Blood Soul and Divinity in the Blessed Sacrament. How painful and horrible it is to acknowledge this sad fact! Help re-ignite awe amazement and reverence for our Savior's Eucharistic Presence here among us!  Get a copy of  I Thirst For Your Love. Donna Marie Cooper O’Boyle  thanked the author for writing this book , and highly recommended it to her followers as “an excellent collection of beautiful poignant Eucharistic reflections”. Catholic blogger, Barbara Schoeneberger , (Suffering With Joy ), found this book – “full of little reminders as eye-opening as they are stimulating and, in some cases, conscience pricking” – and believes it needs “to be promoted in every parish for the sake of evangelizing ourselves and others.” ...

(Photo©Michael Seagriff) It's Sunday and time to join an interesting group of Catholic bloggers at RAnn's place  where you are sure to find something that will touch your heart and stir your soul. Take a few minutes and visit! I was able to post the following this past week: Monday Musings - To Scold or Not To Scold  How Much Do You Desire It? Eucharistic Reflection - Our Annex to Paradise  "It's Worth Revisiting" Wednesday Knowledge of God

This is an essential spiritual Truth, shared by so many of our predecessors in the Faith, yet so frequently dismissed and mocked.

Thanks to the generosity and encouragement of Allison Gingras and Elizabeth Riordan, an ever-expanding group of Catholic bloggers take the time each week to re-post their favorite articles on “It’s Worth Revisiting” Wednesday. Do yourself a favor- go there now (and every Wednesday) and let these authors bless and challenge you in Faith journey. During the rest of each week. visit Allison at   Reconciled To You and Elizabeth at Theology Is A Verb .  You will be pleased with what they share. Here is what I am sharing this week: Unlock The Doors Before Its Too Late (Originally posted April 1, 2011) Image Source: Wikimedia Commons and Bob Jones ) I was disappointed when I was not able to see You this morning.  I have grown to treasure our morning visit, Mass and the reception of Your Sacred Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity- so nourishing, peaceful and transforming.  I have noticed over the years that on those days I ...

(Image Source: Wikimedia Commons ) "It is in our churches, in this tabernacle, that the living body of the Sav­ior rests. He was but nine months in the womb of Mary, three hours on the Cross, three days in the tomb. Yet he is always in our churches. This is why they do not empty of angels, archangels, and seraphim unceasingly adoring him. They adore him with signs of respect, with prostrations that, if we could perceive them, would strangely confound us. Our churches, if we might speak in such a way, are like an annex of paradise; there the Creator is adored, there the resurrected Savior finds a body and a soul, thereto the heavenly spirits journey, and there they delight in the same happiness savored beyond the firmament" (St. Claude de la Colombiere from Christian Reflections )

Not to beat a dead horse but I believe this is worth repeating: Love and Justice require us to share God's Truth unambiguously but lovingly with our fallen-away or non-practicing Catholic family and friends. 

(Photo©Michael Seagriff) It's Sunday and time to join an interesting group of Catholic bloggers at RAnn's place  where you are sure to find something that will touch your heart and stir your soul. Take a few minutes and visit! This is what I shared this week: The Blessed Ordinariness of Everyday Work Eucharistic Reflection - Encountering Our Lord in Adoration Want To Be Perfect? Renounce Yourself!  Pondering Tidbits of Truth -December 31, 2014

A Blessed and Happy New Year! Why not begin the new year with a question? Did you know that we pose the biggest obstacle to our own spiritual development and advancement?