Little Steps Along The Way

The Holy Guest of Our Souls

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda Rose) — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 02:26:00 +0000

Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity wrote, “We must become aware that God dwells within us and do everything in Him, then we are never commonplace, even when performing the most ordinary tasks.”

This sounds like such a simple practice, and it is simple...but not easy. It is so hard to remember, but the more we do remember that God, the Most Holy Trinity, dwells within us and recall His presence as we go about our daily mundane and not-so-mundane tasks, the more our lives will be transformed. We will become more and more like the One who created us, more and more like the One who gave up His life so that we could live forever, more and more like the One who is Love Eternal and whispers inspiration into our souls.

Let us think of Him as we fold our laundry, as we wash the dishes, as we drive to work, as we answer the phone and as we smile when we feel like lashing out in anger. Let us be aware that He is not only watching us, but dwelling within us in the deepest part of who we are. He breathes life into us and constantly wills our existance. As we remember Who is with us, Who dwells in us, we begin to understand the incredible beauty that He has created around us and within us.

Melting our Hearts

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda Rose) — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 03:01:00 +0000

Have you ever felt like you have been praying but God hasn’t been hearing your prayer? Or maybe you have been working hard to grow in virtue but see no change in your life despite your best efforts? Maybe you’ve felt like you just don’t know how to pray anymore, although you continue to set aside time to be with Him. Perhaps a lesson from Earth Science class can help us out here.

Let’s put a pot of ice water on the stove and turn on the heat. We will watch the temperature on a thermometer to measure the change in water temperature as the pot sits on the heat, and we won’t look inside that pot. Now, if we watch that thermometer for a while, we will begin to think that nothing is happening. Heat is being applied to the water, but the water isn't feeling warmer.

Suddenly there is a rise in temperature! How can the water go from cold to hot so quickly? Well, the water temperature doesn't rise - it doesn’t change - until all the ice is melted. It seems as though nothing is happening, but something is happening - the heat energy is melting the ice rather than raising the water temperature. Only when all the ice is melted is the heat energy finally able to warm up the water temperature.

Doesn't this make you think of the spiritual life? We may feel as though we work and work to grow in virtue but with no results. Sometimes in our prayer we may feel that we are stuck, that we have stopped moving closer to God. Where is He? Why can’t we reach Him? He may seem very far away. Well, God is often working in the secret of our hearts. Sometimes there are hard, icy parts of us that need to melt before the heat of God’s love can continue to transform other aspects of our lives. We can’t always see those bits and pieces of ice hidden often so deep within our souls, and thankfully God usually reveals them to us just a little at a time so as not to overwhelm us. But if we pray, if we partake of the sacrament, then we are applying heat – the heat of God’s love and mercy. Change is taking place, we must just continue to trust and to love.

Can We Ever Be Perfect?

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda Rose) — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 18:48:00 +0000

“You must therefore be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

Matthew 5:48 (New Jerusalem Translation)

What does it mean to be perfect? The New Catholic Dictionary defines perfection as “a state of supreme excellence to which nothing is lacking.” Christian perfection is described as “a state of union with God through charity.”

Can we be like God our Father? Can we be holy and perfect? We can! God would never ask us to be something that is impossible for us to be. As our creator, He is in the best position to be aware of our defects, our limitations, and also of our capabilities. He created us in His own image and likeness and our capabilities are often much greater than we imagine. We are journeying on the Little Way to perfection, to holiness, to union with God. Our sanctification is worked out each day in the small and large choices that we make at each moment.

Our Creator has a vision for us that is much greater than we have for ourselves! He sees us whole, our wounds bound up, our hearts full of joy and love. He sees us not just alone anymore but united to Him through charity, through love. He has seen the blueprints for our souls! We were created to love Him so much that we become one with Him, looking like Him and loving like Him.

Hold My Hand, Jesus and Don't Let Go

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda Rose) — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 07:00:00 +0000

Please, Lord Jesus, don’t abandon me.

Hold me tightly by the hand

So that I can’t run away from you when I am confused.

I am going through this pain for You, Lord Jesus,

Because in order to walk closer to You,

I have to walk through these things.

I may not think that I am worth it,

But I know that You are worth it.

You – to be closer to You,

To be your beloved,

Your dove,

Your precious one,

Your delight.

This is the pearl of great price.

God Lives Within Us

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda Rose) — Sat, 27 Aug 2011 09:00:00 +0000

Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity wrote,

“We must become aware that God dwells within us and do everything in Him, then we are never commonplace, even when performing the most ordinary tasks.” 1

It is amazing but true. If we are in a state of grace as baptized Catholic Christians, then the Holy Trinity lives within us. This is a real living within us, not just a dead thing stuck inside us, or something distant that we can't touch, but One who is alive and continues to pour out His grace, love and mercy into our souls. Our awareness of this indwelling presence leads us to change our life and it transforms our smallest actions.

The hardest part is to remember this truth: that our Creator has chosen to live within us. How do we remember? What reminds us? Prayer. We must pray every day for at least 15- 30 minutes just as we must eat and drink and breathe. This time is what animates the rest of our day, breathing the reminder of His presence into the moments we would otherwise forget Him. Prayer is the great secret to happiness, to real joy. It takes so little to reap such delightful and immeasurable benefits. What else are we doing that benefits us not only in the moment but also for all eternity? Our prayers help not just ourselves, this time set aside to be with God also changes the world around us.

How will you pray today? How will you fall in love with God?

1 From Elizabeth of the Trinity, The Complete Works Volume One

The Hidden Blessing of Trials, Sacrifices and Hardships

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda Rose) — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 00:17:00 +0000

I have never been on a pilgrimage. Traveling is not something I enjoy and the thought of a pilgrimage has seemed to me merely an opportunity to spend a lot of money to be uncomfortable. However, I do enjoy living vicariously, and so I very much enjoyed the photos and videos in the article series by Dr. Lilles at Beginning to Pray: Pilgrimage as he accompanied a group of seminarians on a pilgrimage through Krakow, Milan, Venice, Manresa, and finally to Madrid. Don’t tell anyone – but I almost want to go on a pilgrimage now, despite the likelihood of being uncomfortable! Here are the words that touched deep into my heart with their truth:

“It is hard to explain the graces that are here. Nothing has been real easy - yet everything filled with so much joy. Trials and sacrifices and hardships are the greatest blessings on a pilgrimage. At the time you do not see it - but then if you are patient and trust - God does some great and unexpected thing. Isn't this just the way He works in our lives all the time when we let Him?” Beginning to Pray: Madrid - a city of great blessings!

God does do great and unexpected things when we least expect it. So often it is after the storms and darkness have raged in our lives. The rains and storms so often serve to wash away the parts of ourselves that get in the way - in the way of loving God, loving ourselves, loving others. We may assess the damage when the storms are over, but often we forget to look for the beautiful flowers that have started to push through the now rich and fertile soil.

Let us always remember to look for those flowers after the storm. It is not so hard to see the large blooms that have grown strong and opened fully and confidently. But sometimes the flowers are very small and we do not take the time to appreciate their delicate beauty. We don’t realize that those very small flowers have roots that run deep and will continue to send up more precious blossoms if we continue to nourish and nurture them.

Maybe you don’t like to travel (like me!) or can’t afford to travel. We can still make little pilgrimages. Some parish Church’s have special shrines we can visit, or perhaps there is a convent or monastery open to the public, or we can make a trip to our local Cathedral for Mass or adoration. Whether we set aside a day to travel somewhere special or an just an hour that would have been spent in other ways, it is the attitude that will make our journey a pilgrimage.

I think we can even make a pilgrimage right at home, by setting aside time to turn within, detaching from all that is around us that keeps us busy, removing ourselves from that busyness and taking a trip deep within the silence of our heart and soul to meet our Creator, the Most Holy Trinity who dwells in our souls from our baptism. How often we forget He is there! He longs for us and invites us to Him. Even if we do not travel geographically in pilgrimage, let us at least travel within to the One who desires to form us into His own image and likeness. And on this pilgrimage let us take the time to appreciate even the tiniest blossoms that have sprouted up in our souls, nurtured by “trials, sacrifice, and hardships” and let us give thanks to the God for that beauty!

To go on an arm-chair pilgrimage with Dr. Lilles and his seminarians, visit his site at Beginning To Pray

How to Be Happy

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda Rose) — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 00:35:00 +0000

The Bible offers many reminders for us to give thanks to God, such as “ Always be joyful; pray constantly; and for all things give thanks; this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. If the Word of God and over 2000 years of Catholic spirituality has not been enough to convince us of the necessity of gratitude, modern psychology has confirmed that gratitude is one of the key practices that correlates with feeling happy in life. As Catholics we understand that there is more to life than just “feeling happy.” Feeling happy is nice, but gratitude to God will also open our hearts to His love and bring a deep joy that is much more than happiness. This joy can be experienced even in the midst of sorrows and troubles.

Many psychologists, counselors and life coaches recommend keeping a “Gratitude Journal.” As Catholics, it could be beneficial spiritually and emotionally to spend a few minutes at the end of the day thinking about the good things in our lives, thanking God for them and then recording three of them in a journal. Another practice many find helpful is to make a “Gratitude List” and list all the things in our lives for which we are grateful. This is something we can look back on when we are having a difficult day or experiencing a devastating time in our life.

Expressing gratitude to God is also a type of prayer that we can practice throughout the day. We can tuck it in here or there, reminding ourselves of Who it is who painted the colors of the sunset, or appreciating the flower blooming through the crack in the sidewalk. Gratitude is a wonderful habit to cultivate that can change our lives and lead us closer to God. And that closeness to God brings the best happiness and joy!

What are you grateful for today?

Leave a comment to share your gratitude and joy, or send me an email at alongthelittleway@gmail.com and I will post the responses. Blogger seems to be finicky on accepting comments lately and seems to prefer Google Chrome over Internet Explorer. I apologize if you have had trouble leaving a comment.

Betrayal, Love, and the Eucharist

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda Rose) — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 22:38:00 +0000

There are many betrayals, large and small, that we may experience in our lives - someone we depend on doesn’t come through for us, someone we love leaves us, someone we trust gossips about. We can feel so very alone at these times, but as Christians we are not alone, we are never alone. Our Good God who created us understands how we feel because He us has experienced betrayal because of His love for us.

Jesus befriended a man that He knew would become an enemy, or who would at least treat Him as an enemy. He chose Judas to be a disciple in His special, close-knit group of twelve. Jesus knew that Judas would betray Him, and yet throughout the ministry treated Judas as a friend. Jesus taught Judas, ate with Judas, prayed with Judas, slept next to Judas and loved Judas. He did all of this knowing fully that Judas would turn Him over for humiliation, pain, suffering, and death.

The entire time that Judas was with Jesus must have been a time of pain for Him seeing this man who had so much potential. What intense agony it must have caused Jesus, with the full knowledge and infinite love that His divinity experienced and yet also the fully human frailty and natural fear of suffering and pain? In His divinity, Jesus could see all the good that the Father had created in Judas, but He also knew that eventually the fallen nature of the man would prevail.

And Jesus loved this man so much. Even at the Last Supper, the institution of the Eucharist, Judas was there. Jesus took and gave of His own Body and Blood to Judas that night, knowing the betrayal that was to come. Such great love is evident in this! This intense and intimate love was not only for Judas, but also for all of us who betray Him in ways large and small and are so often betrayed by others.

On this special and intimate evening of the Last Supper, not only did Jesus know that He would endure suffering and death, but He was also aware that one of His very best friends would soon be the one to hand Him over. Yet still, He loved that friend to the end. Jesus generously shared His love at the first Eucharist with one he knew would betray him in just hours...the Eucharist being a most intimate sharing of his own Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity. The Eucharistic sharing was and continues to be a total giving of Himself to us.

Christ longs to be invited to comfort us in the times of our sorrow, whether we are mourning betrayal, the death of a loved one, or any other difficulty life may bring. We can turn to Him in prayer, meditating on the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary, reading the Psalms that offer consolation and comfort, or even just resting quietly in His loving arms that encircle us. Invite Him to be with you, look for Him where He dwells in the center of your soul. Through our baptism, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell within us and so God is never far away from us. We don’t have to reach outwardly for Him, we need only to turn within to find Him in the Heaven He creates within our soul.

Jesus invites us into intimacy with His Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity in Holy Communion. He longs for union with us in this way. As we approach the alter, on Sundays and as often as possible during the week, we must be aware of Who we are receiving - The Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of One who was betrayed by a closest friend and yet continues to entrust His very self to us so intimately. Let us always live up to this trust. Long for Him, look for Him, set aside time to be with Him each day. He will never betray you.

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noreply@blogger.com (Amanda Rose) — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 23:28:00 +0000

"In the beginning the Word was, and He dwelt with God,and possessed in Him infinite happiness."

John of the Cross, Romances

I have been contemplating this verse for the last month or so in my prayer time, especially after Mass. There is so much in this one sentence, such depth that seems to be just out of reach of my understanding. I continue to be drawn to it, longing to perceive just a little bit more of this mystery, the mystery of the Most Holy Trinity. Since it is a Mystery I will never, of course, be able to fully understand it. Our finite minds cannot contain knowledge of that which is infinite, but the searching and struggling to understand more is quite delightful and draws me ever closer to this Trinity of Love.

It is beautiful to consider that Jesus, the Word, dwells with God from the beginning of all time, that the Three Persons of the Trinity possess “infinite happiness” among themselves. They are perfectly sufficient for their own happiness and joy. This Trinity of shared love, of perpetual creation, is the same Trinity that gives Himself to us in Holy Communion. In His greatness, in His infinite qualities, He chooses to humble Himself and become vulnerable for us, first as the Word made Flesh of Jesus and today in the Holy Eucharist.

In the smallest speck of the Host and the tiniest drop of wine, Jesus is fully present Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity. He is fully present with the Infinite Happiness shared by the Three Persons of the Trinity. In that fullness, Jesus chooses to enter into our life, into our body, blood, soul and humanity. He who is Infinite chooses to enter into and reside within one who is limited, and in His co-mingling with us gives us a taste, a small share, of His infinite happiness.

As we begin to perceive and understand the Mystery of the Trinity we continue to be transformed, partaking of tiny tidbits of this infinite happiness as we give ourselves to God through prayer, even as the Eucharist transforms us through the sacramental grace it imparts to us. We are invited by our Good God to enter into an intimate relationship of grace with Him. We cultivate gratitude for this exquisite gift.

“Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit I adore you profoundly…”

From a prayer taught to the children of Fatima by the angel.

You can find the full prayer at Prayers of the Angel at WorldFatima.com

Cherishing

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda Rose) — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 03:02:00 +0000

Do you cherish your spouse? Do you cherish your Lord? Cherishing is more than just a feeling of loving affection, it is an active cultivation of the deepest love that can exist – the love of God for His creature. That is the love we are to cultivate for a spouse and the love we are to cultivate for our God in return.

We receive Christ through a spousal relationship even as we receive the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ into our hands at Mass. It is within the marital relationship that God places His very self into the palm of our outstretched hand. The small kindnesses done for one another, overlooking mistakes, listening patiently and with full attention even when we don’t feel like it; those are ways to cherish, those are ways to receive Christ into our hand, into our soul in a deep and intimate way. Although we may have no spouse, Christ will give himself to us this way, too. He will be mine, my All, as the Groom in Song of Songs gives Himself to His bride.

We think of these things and really, “such knowledge is to wonderful for me, far too lofty for me to bear.” Psalm 139:6 Our mind, although not quite understanding, can perceive so deeply in the soul that it hurts with longing to truly grasp what cannot be grasped. To understand, to taste, to experience the tiniest glimmer of what is True, of that spousal relationship with Christ, it is too much to comprehend. It can only be experienced because love is not something we can analyze in order to understand, it must be lived.

Why I'm Catholic - My Conversion Story

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda Rose) — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 01:57:00 +0000

Why I'm Catholic features inspiring conversion stories written by Catholics from all former faiths and no faith.
Back in the spring I received an email from Steve Lawson asking me to share my conversion story for the website Why I'm Catholic. This beautiful and well-designed site was started in January 2011 by a team of young Catholics from around the world. Their mission is to "affirm the reality of God and his Catholic Church by spreading subjective conversion testimonies that witness to the Truth."

It took me longer than I expected to write about some of the wonderful joy God has brought into my life, but looking at all He has done for me made me even more aware of the Pearl of Great Price that I have found in Christ and His Church. Reflecting on my past also brought a new appreciation of the gift my mother gave me in the always-present respect and quest for spirituality that pervaded our home as I was growing up.

Since my story and background didn't quite fit into any of the existing categories of, Steven graciously created a new one for me - Eclectic! So, if you are curious, then here is a little taste followed by the link to follow if you would like to read more:

My mother likes to say that we were catholic with a small "c" meaning that our religious interests were varied. Although my mother and father were both baptized Christians, my mother converted to Judaism when I was about three years old. My earliest religious memories are of the reverence shown to the Torah as the velvet-covered scrolls were carried through the assembly in the Temple and of the poetic cadence of the Sabbath blessing my mother recited in Hebrew as candles glowed from our dining table. We didn't remain Jewish more than a year or two, but those memories became an anchor in my soul.

My family didn't go to church, but I was brought up to respect both religion and spirituality. My Nana did go to church and she gave me a pretty little booklet of Bible verses that I cherished. I memorized my favorite verse: "God is love. Whoever lives in love, lives in God and God in he." 1 John 4:16. By fourth grade I was reading my Nana's Guidepost magazines with their stories of faith and miracles, and I knew they were true and that God was real. I wanted what those people in the magazine had, but I didn't know how to get it.

My early childhood was punctuated with traumatic injuries, frequent illnesses, and the divorce of my parents...

To read more, please visit Eclectic Convert Amanda Rose at Why I'm Catholic

Praising God in All Things

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda Rose) — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 02:45:00 +0000

It is easy to praise God when we look around us and see a beautiful sunset or a beautiful mountain vista. It's easy to praise God when our lives are comfortable, when our health is good, when good friends love us. We thank Him for the good He brings to us, just as we should, and it is not difficult, although we may sometimes become so caught up with the good things that we do in fact forget to thank God for them.

There is a real grace that comes from thanking and blessing God, not only in the joys and beauty of life, but also in the struggles and pain. Father M. D'Avila is quoted in The Spiritual Diary:

"A "thanks be to God" a "blessed be God," said in times of adversity have more value than a thousand "thank you's" in times of prosperity."

When we suffer loss, when we struggle through times of darkness, when the beauty seems to be missing from our life, we have a choice. We can turn to consolations in the world like TV, alcohol, or other escapes. We can become bitter. Or like Job we can say, "The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away, Blessed be the name of the Lord." In this way, we honor God, we turn to Him, we accept all as coming through His good hands.

We will feel pain with either choice, but in choosing to bless God in our times of adversity, we invite His goodness and love into our lives in a deeper way. We can sanctify our pain by continuing to thank God for the good that still exists, and sometimes to begin to see that the thing that we may have considered a source of great suffering, actually brings something quite beautiful into our life.

We cam choose to bless Him in all things, to accept all as coming from His good hands. We will still feel pain, but He will carry that pain with us and we will never alone.

How to Be an Effective Witness

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda Rose) — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 03:08:00 +0000

"Perhaps you have sensed God's call to evangelize but you feel inadequate for the task. If this is how you feel, you are actually in a very good position. To be an effective witness, you must rely on God's power to work through you. The person who is confident and relies upon their own learning and abilities will be much less effective than the person who relies upon God's grace and power.”

Greg Trainor, Catholic Lay Missionary

So, we may not be good enough, but God’s grace is sufficient!

My personal inspiration is Mother Angelica – if a cloistered nun can start a huge cable network because God wanted her to, then I guess I can do whatever little thing the Lord puts before me to do. After all, He will be the one providing the grace, putting into my hand at each moment what I need.

Often, that grace doesn’t come early, but it is there right when you need it, with the right words to say, or the peaceful responses you are able to give in the face of angry words, or in that little nudge that tells you to ask someone where they go to church. (And then they answer that they used to be Catholic!)

We learn to trust the Holy Spirit, and as we trust Him in these little missions, we also grow closer to Him through the rest of our life, in our prayer time that becomes richer and more rewarding.

You can learn more about Greg Trainor’s missionary work at the Holy Spirit Missionary Association at http://www.hsma.net/

Answering the Invitation of Christ

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda Rose) — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 21:03:00 +0000

“The most holy council, then, earnestly entreats all the laity in the Lord to answer gladly, nobly, and promptly the more urgent invitation of Christ in this hour and the impulse of the Holy Spirit.”

Vatican II Apostolicam Actuositatem

Note the urgency in this plea to us. We are “earnestly entreated" and begged to “promptly answer”

But why me? Why you?

Because we are the Church. We are Christ’s body on earth.

If we don’t reach out our hand to someone in need, whether it is a spiritual or emotional need, or a need for more tangible help, there may be no one else. If we don’t share our faith with others, others may miss out on something they have been searching for and waiting for someone to talk to them about. They may miss out on the greatest gift they could ever receive – the gift of faith. It is up to us to “answer gladly” and to follow “the impulse of the Holy Spirit.”

The Lord is begging us to do this, through the words of the Second Vatican Council.

How to be Consumed by Love

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda Rose) — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 00:48:00 +0000

Photo by Br Lawrence Lew, O.P
View more inspiring photos here

We must consume Love

so that we may be consumed by Love.

The Obedience Advantage

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda Rose) — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 10:08:00 +0000

Obedience as a spiritual practice is not often spoken about today. I have learned about it particularly through an out-of print book of daily meditations called The Spiritual Diary published by the Daughters of St. Paul. Obedience is the theme for the month of June.

The first sin, the first choice against God is said to have come from Lucifer saying “I will not serve” to God. For man, our first sin came from Adam and Eve choosing not to obey the one rule they had been given – the one rule which by obeying they could show love and respect for their Creator. Each day we face choices, small and large, of whether to obey, to submit our will to that of the Church or some other rightful authority. Maybe it is in keeping the one hour fast before Holy Communion, avoiding the use of artificial birth control methods, or going to Mass each Sunday and Holy Day of obligation.

We are in a spiritual combat, the same one that has raged since the first “I will not serve” when our enemy chose to side against his Creator. We are under constant attack within this war, yet we each have our own field of combat, our own personal daily battles. We fight often against ourselves, fighting to live the virtues. We fight against temptations, we fight for truth. When we lose a battle, or if we chose to give up ground rather than stand firm, our defeat affects more than just ourselves. Each success, each time we vanquish the enemy, that strength is felt throughout the Mystical Body of Christ, and each defeat is a grave blow to all.

The saints have much to say about obedience, and so I will share with you some of my favorite quotes from The Spiritual Diary. I pray these words that have encouraged me will also inspire and bless you for the battle which is so often against our very ourselves.

Without a doubt, obedience is more meritorious than penance. And what greater penance can there be than keeping one’s will continuously submissive and obedient?
St. Catherine of Bologna

We all are naturally inclined to command and very loathe to obey. Yet is is certain that to obey is more advantageous that to command. Hence perfect souls have a great love for obedience and find great satisfaction in it.
St. Francis de Sales

The best things for creatures is to fulfill God’s will, and this is best done by obedience, which affects the annihilation of self-will and the freedom of the children of God. This is the reason good souls find so much happiness and satisfaction in obedience.
St Vincent de Paul

Proposing the Truth with Respect

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda Rose) — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 02:39:00 +0000

Cardinal Francis George wrote in “One Lord and One Church for The World” that “…it is not wrong to "propose" the truth of the Gospel and of salvation in Jesus Christ to the consciences of those who do not know it. On the contrary, to make this presentation is to respect their liberty by offering them the possibility of accepting the Good News which, by God's mercy, we have received.”

When we share about our faith, we don’t have to twist anyone’s arm, we just “propose” the truth. When we propose the Truth gently, it can be more easily received. We share what we love, offering them something that we appreciate as a wonderful gift. We can share this beautiful gift of Christ’s love, and then it is up to them whether they accept that very same gift into their own hands. It is up to them to unwrap the gift.

We live in a pro-choice world. How can someone choose Christ if they don’t know who He is? We can gently – but sometimes also boldly! – share our faith so that others really do have the choice of accepting the gift of His love, the Good News.

God Can't Resist Our Broken Wings

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda Rose) — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 03:22:00 +0000

Sometimes we are like little birds suffering with a broken wing, unable to fly. Our eyes remain focused on ourselves and on the ground as we try to rise above it. We flap our little broken wing so hard but never manage more than a few inches under our own propulsion.

And yet, when we turn our eyes away from ourselves and look longingly towards our Master, we meet His loving gaze, the gaze He has been longing for us to return. Our Master cannot resist responding to our misery and weakness when our eyes meet His within this gaze of love and faith, and so He reaches down to us with His own strong hand. He gently picks us up, shielding us as He lifts us higher and higher and places us in the nest He has prepared for us near His own tenderly impassioned heart.

Even our healthy wings could never have carried us this high, and we would not have recognized our weakness. We would not have seen the nest our Master had prepared for us near His heart. Our broken wing was His mercy, it made us see our need for Him, it made us cry out to Him so He could save us from ourselves.

A Tangible Treasure

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda Rose) — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 05:58:00 +0000

We think that everyone knows who Jesus is, but although most have heard the name “Jesus,” many do not know much about the real Jesus who lives and loves still today. Archbishop Wuerl wrote in Disciples of The Lord: Sharing the Vision, A Pastoral Letter on the New Evangelization, “There are numerous people, particularly in the Western world, who have already heard of Jesus. Our call is to stir up again and rekindle in the midst of their daily life and concrete situation, a new awareness and familiarity with Jesus. We are called not just to announce, but to adapt our approach so as to attract and to urge an entire generation to find again the uncomplicated, genuine, and tangible treasure of friendship with Jesus.”

This means that we need to share our relationship with Jesus just as we naturally share other things that excite us or mean a lot to us, kind of like introducing someone to one of our very best friends. And it’s not just what we say, but also how we integrate our faith into our normal lives, and how that faith shows through to others. It may be blessing our food when we are out to eat, offering to pray for someone who is suffering through a difficult time in their life, sharing a story of how God is working in your life, or openly expressing gratitude to God for the good things. These are little ways to attract rather than announce or preach. These little ways can “stir up and rekindle” in others a “new awareness and familiarity with Jesus.”

Do you personally have a “tangible treasure of friendship with Jesus” that is visible in your day to day life? If not, what can you do to live what you believe?

Catholic Spiritual Warfare

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda Rose) — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 23:16:00 +0000

Spiritual warfare is not a concept we hear much about. Spiritual warfare, or spiritual combat, is simply our struggle against the enemy of our soul. He attacks, and with the grace of God we defend. This is part of our normal spiritual life as we grow in faith and virtue.

This book was recommended to me when I asked about a simple book on spiritual warfare - I didn't want anything scary, nothing that would be too complicated. I just needed something that would give me some tips and courage. I was experiencing some deep struggles, and knew it was more than just emotional. I knew there was a very strong spiritual component and I wanted to feel better!

I must say the book Onward Catholic Soldier totally surprised me. It was so much more than what I had hoped or even imagined possible. The author, John LaBriola, describes the book well in his introduction:

"With this book, I hope to shine a bold, bright light on the evil one, the light of Christ and His Church that dispels all darkness. Relying on Scripture and the saints for grounding and inspiration, the following chapters offer practical advice on how to do and how not to do battle. The realities, the cautions, the burdens and the benefits of spiritual warfare will be discussed. Satan will be spoken of, but only to the degree that it serves the kingdom of God."

LaBriola's writing is confident and informative, bursting with quotes from a variety of saints. Whatever struggles you may have - depression, temptations, unforgiveness, any struggle you could imagine - there is hope in this book for you. LaBriola leads us through understanding, encouraging, arming, and learning when to engage and when to ignore.

This is not a book you will read once and put on the shelf. The sheer quantity of quotes, scripture verses, and even references to the Catechism, make this a resource for which you will continue to reach. I make sure I have a pen in my hand whenever I pick up this book to read it as there are so many jewels to highlight and come back to again and again. The final chapter puts additional tools right into our hands by including an assortment of very inspiring and helpful prayers, such as the Anima Christi, Litany of Humility, and the Breastplate of St. Patrick.

Visit http://www.onwardcatholicsoldier.com/ to order the book. It is not available on Amazon.

Loving Our Neighbor, Following God's Will, and Trusting God

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda Rose) — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 04:38:00 +0000

"To be a servant of God means to have a great charity toward one’s neighbor and an unshakable resolution to follow the divine Will in all things, trusting in God with simplicity and humility, bearing with one’s defects and patiently tolerating the imperfections of others. "

St. Francis de Sales
Spiritual Diary by the Daughters of St. Paul

Just as we must “love our neighbors as ourselves” we also tolerate their defects as we tolerate our own. This is not about feelings, or accepting that we must live forever with the faults we have, or that we should allow ourselves to be victimized by someone elses' sinful behaviour that cause us great pain. This is about extending mercy towards ourselves and others. Mercy in loving, mercy in forgiving. Mercy, love and forgiveness all being actions of our will, decisions we make and the feelings may follow, or they may continue as they were. Whether the feelings follow or not, we continue to use our will to choose how we live instead of following our emotions, and in this way we learn to follow God’s Will in all things.

How to Love God's Will

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda Rose) — Mon, 30 May 2011 03:06:00 +0000

The will of God is one of my favorite subjects to read about. The Will of God in Other Words by Dom Hubert Van Zeller excited me because it was published in 1964, not too long ago really, compared to most of the spiritual “classics.” This book is out of print so if you find it used, be sure to snatch it up!

Van Zeller wrote:

"It is important to think of God’s will as something positive, as a vital force with which we can become identified, and not merely as something restrictive and imposed in virtue of God’s prerogative. In our recognition of God’s will it would be something of a waste to stop short at bowing to the inevitable. God’s will should be an invitation, a challenge to the service of love."

So often we refer to God’s will with a sense of reluctant acceptance. We may see it as something that we are not enjoying, but must submit to because we don’t have any choice anyway. We often do see it as “restrictive” and limiting, something that we must try to fit ourselves into no matter how we feel about it. It requires a real change in attitude to think of it as a “positive vital force.”

Would this vital force be love?

Would this "vital force with which we can become identified” be God’s love for us and our love for Him that we can find within His will?

Van Zeller says it would be a waste to merely accept what we can’t control. Although accepting and submitting to God’s will is so very important, Van Zeller is explaining to us what our motivation should be, could be, in doing so. He is teaching us a secret to joy.

“God’s will should be an invitation, a challenge to the service of love.”

God is personally inviting us to serve Him in love, to live in love. His will challenges us to do so in a way that will change not just our outer actions, but also our inner attitudes. Our thoughts form our feelings to some degree and also influence our actions. St Paul wrote that we should “be transformed by the renewal of our minds.”

How we think about God’s will is vitally important to how we are able to submit to it and accept it. This submission, this abandonment to God’s will can bring great joy when we begin to look at it as an acceptance of His loving invitation to step closer to Him.

My devotion to Cardinal Mercier’s Secret of Sanctity prayer has helped to change my inner attitudes. I say it every morning, and often during the day. The heart of it for me has been, “I promise to submit myself to all that you desire of me, and to accept all that you permit to happen to me…”

This prayer allows me to move through the feeling of suffering at the hand of God and into a feeling that God is present with me, that He is still in control, and that His love will sustain me. It has allowed me to accept difficult things as a challenge and invitation to walk more deeply into God’s loving embrace. The words of this prayer give me encouragement; they challenge me to love, to trust, to hope beyond my own feelings, uniting myself with what Van Zeller calls “the vital force” of God’s will.

I invite you to find a prayer that speaks to your hear and that will transform your inner attitude so that you can joyfully accept God’s will as an “invitation…in the service of love.”

Praising God, Loving Life

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda Rose) — Fri, 27 May 2011 02:02:00 +0000

Indian Shores, Florida

I was sitting at the beach tonight alone, but not alone. The waves whispered continuously to me of God’s love, the wind was His breath caressing me. The beauty of heaven spread out before me in the soft white sand, the sea-green Gulf leading to the blue of the sky.

The sky itself a miracle of light as the fiery transformation of light to dark unfolded before me – the orange glow extending across the horizon line where the water meets the sky. The colors of the sky melting through the colors of the rainbow until they finally succumb to darkness. And then on the drive home yet another gift as sudden flashes of heat lightening exploded from huge fluffy clouds of darkest grey with moments of orange-tinged light.

All the suffering and pain I have endured – physical, emotional, spiritual – I do not regret and would not want to have avoided living through. I like who I am at this moment, embraced by God and aware of his beauty.

I am grateful for every grace and gift He has lavishly bestowed; grateful to be able to praise Him and to see His beauty all around me and within me; grateful to smell the salt in the moist air that envelopes me; grateful for the colors of the sunset that He created for me to see and appreciate. I am grateful for the warm orange glow emanating across the watery horizon like arms reaching out to embrace me, the fiery heat descending into the water to be hidden – just for tonight – but not to stop existing. As the gravity of the sun continues to hold our earth in orbit even when it is hidden in the darkness of night, so He has sometimes been hidden from me - yet still His love sustaining me invisibly.

No, I would not change one part of my life; I embrace every moment, the joys and the suffering, and offer it all in praise to Him. My life is mine to give now to Him, it is what made me who I am today and enabled me to love the One who sustains me.

“Bless the Lord, oh my soul, and let all that is within me bless His holy name!”

Psalm 101:3

A Crisis of Faith or Crisis of Holiness?

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda Rose) — Tue, 24 May 2011 03:04:00 +0000

"Some people say there is a crisis of faith or of authority, but I think there is actually a crisis of holiness. Any trials you can encounter can refine you and seperate the good from the bad in you."
The Road of Hope by Bishop Francis Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan

I am so excited to now own this book! I first learned about it through a presentation by a Vietnemese seminarian to our little prayer group. He shared a qoute from this book and I wanted to read more. Last month I read another qoute from it at Beginning to Pray and I knew I had to get the book - soon!

I did splurge finally, and to my great delight, the book arrived just this weekend! As much as I long to take in all it says immediately, I am savoring it slowly. It is not a book to quickly read cover to cover. It is full of short inspirations composed while Bishop Francis Xavier was imprisoned for 13 years and that were smuggled out to be shared with his flock.

These inspirations are arranged into themes by chapter, making it easy to find a topic that is dear to you at the moment. Thinking of the conditions in which these words were written gives me an even greater respect for the wisdom that is communicated, as well as the love that seems to animate them. I read them hungrily but slowly, allowing them to resonate within me, giving them the respect they deserve because of the sacrifices that accompanied their writing and delivery. I pray the words of Bishop Francis Xavier will draw me along the path of holiness and help me also to sanctify my suffering.

Three Favorite Scripture Verses

noreply@blogger.com (Amanda Rose) — Sun, 22 May 2011 03:25:00 +0000

Thank you, Anne at Imprisoned In My Bones, for tagging me in my first ever blogging meme. A meme (rhymes with dream) is a blog post topic that is passed around, shared. This time around the theme is
"Three Favorite Scripture Verses."

The rules are:

1.Write a post on your three favorite verses from the Bible and why you like them.
2. Link back to this post.
3. In your post tag three other bloggers to carry this theme forward, link to you and tag additional bloggers.

Yes, it is hard to pick a top three, but here are three I love right now:

1) Because you are precious in my eyes and glorious, and because I love you, I give men in return for you and peoples in exchange for your life. Isaiah 43:7

This verse makes me feel loved! God thinks I am “precious and glorious!” WOW!

2) O, Lord, my heart is not proud nor are my eyes haughty. I do not trouble myself with great matters, with things too sublime for me. Rather I have stilled my soul, hushed it like a weaned child, like a weaned child on its mother's lap, so is my soul within me. Psalm 131:3

This Psalm first became important to me during a transition from seeking an overabundance of intellectual knowledge about the faith to moving into the heart - sitting with the Lord like a little child. It called me to pray by turning within to where the Lord dwells and meets us in the quiet of prayer. I picture a child of about three, about the age a child would have been weaned, sitting peacefully and no longer pulling and tugging trying to get the milk they used to need, but now satisfied just to be with its mother, on her lap being loved. I nursed three children and I had experienced the difference between a child on my lap wanting something, and a child on my lap just cuddling.

3) Out of weakness they were made more powerful, became strong in battle, and turned back foreign invaders. Hebrews 11:34

This is a verse I started praying with when my marriage was breaking up and going through the divorce. I felt very weak and vulnerable. The part about “foreign invaders” sometimes I would consider to be referring to my negative thoughts – anger, bitterness, self-hatred. My prayer response was…“Lord, I am weak, so You can make me powerful. You give me strength in the battle to push back the foreign invader.” It still reminds me that is okay to be weak because then God will make me strong.

I tag bloggers:

Holly at A Life-Size Catholic Blog
Marc at Marc Cardaronella
Denise at Catholic By Grace

You are invited to share your favorite verse (or two or three) below in the combox, but be sure to say WHY you love it, too!