Scripture Reference #1 from SCRC 2016

Romans 12: 1-2  The New Life in Christ

12 I appeal to you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

2 Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Favorite Saints for today!

We are so blessed to know the names of our saints and some of the angels in Heaven!  Their lives are examples of how we can and should live, and sometimes, examples of how we shouldn't live!! (St. Augustine comes to mind.)  No one on Earth, not even the Pope, is as close to God as these saints; many encountered Him face to face here on Earth.  Just as we ask those close to us on Earth for their prayers and intercessions, we can ask, through prayer, the saints and angels in Heaven to pray for us as well.  If you are not Catholic, or even if you are, understand that we are not 'worshiping' angels or saints, but our only means of communication with them is through prayer, and through God's allowance of that communication.

St. Dymphna, please pray for me and all those who suffer either directly or indirectly from the effects of depression, mental illness, and other such diseases.  Give us strength to overcome these diseases, or the strength to bear the burden.



St. Augustine, please pray for all of us who suffer from addictions of any kind, that we may overcome them through His Love and Mercy, and our Love for the Lord.  You lived part of your life as far from God as possible, yet you became a saint.  Please pray with us and for us to conquer these burdens, or to accept these crosses and chains according to His will.  Give us the strength to walk away from our addictions, or the ability to stand to bear them.  Please pray with us for those of our children who are away from the Faith, away from God, and living apart from His Life for us; your mother, St. Monica, suffered this daily until you returned to the Lord.  St. Monica and St. Augustine, pray that all wayward children, especially our sons, see the way back that the Lord has given them.

St. Cecilia, please pray to help us to find the joy of God in the beauty around us, especially in music and art; please bless those gifted to share those talents, that they may share God's Love for us in those ways that touch us.

St. Teresa of Avila, please pray for me and all those who suffer from severe headaches, migraines, and other painful physical conditions.  Help us to offer up our suffering when we are unable to alleviate our pain conventionally.  If so, please offer our suffering to God so that someone else's suffering might be eased.

St. Therese of Lisieux, pray for us to be children of God, and to appreciate all His Wonders we have in our daily lives.  Share your roses with those that need the sign to complete this love and appreciation of our God's great love for us.

St. Anne, we ask you to pray for us and with us; you were Mary's mother, and saw the path your Grandson took to save the world, as well as the pain that His Mother suffered.  Pray for our families, especially those families that have an unborn baby.  We pray that this, and every baby, be born as to God's plan, and not killed in the womb.  Pray with us for the end to abortion, and for the situations to end that cause those who think there is a need for these murders.

St. Faustina, through you we have learned the Divine Mercy prayer, and it has been prayed millions of times for God's Mercy.  You are so close to Jesus, we ask for your prayers that we also may see Jesus in our daily lives, and be open and able to hear His own Message for us.  Help us to live to see His Divine Mercy.

St. Francis de Sales, please pray with me that my words, actions, writings, may be led by Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, that somehow others are drawn to learn more, and perhaps be led to Christianity and Catholicism in order to serve their lives as His Children.  Please pray that my discernment may be easily understood and clear to me.

St. Catherine of Bologna, please pray for us against the temptations both of the body and soul.  After seeing your habit and hearing your story last week, I have felt drawn to learn more about you.  Be with me as I begin this journey of learning, and that I may acquire any of your amazing attributes that allowed you to turn your back on the ways of the world to serve Christ as He called you.

St. Mary Magdalene, please pray for all us sinners; you were accused of being a sinner by the public, and that your sins were too great for even the Lord to forgive.  You asked His forgiveness, even feeling unworthy.  Help us to remember that no sins are too great to be forgiven, for His Love and Mercy are limitless. Pray for us and with us for our contrition for our sins, and that we may be closer to Christ.  Our Lord could see into Mary's heart, and He said: "Many sins are forgiven her, because she has loved very much." Then to Mary He said kindly, "Your faith has made you safe; go in peace." From then on, with the other holy women, Mary humbly served Jesus and His Apostles.  Help us to serve Him, and to be an example to those who have condemned others for their sins, while hiding their own.

All you saints and angels in Heaven, pray for us, and for the departed souls in purgatory.

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Watch, O Lord (St. Augustine)

Watch, O Lord, with those who wake, or watch, or weep tonight,
and give Your angels and saints charge over those who sleep.
Tend Your sick ones, O Lord Christ.
Rest Your weary ones.
Bless Your dying ones.
Soothe Your suffering ones.
Pity Your afflicted ones.
Shield Your joyous ones, and all for Your love's sake. Amen.

Forgiveness and Reconciliation

Forgive me Father, for I have sinned.  It's been TOO LONG since my last Confession!  

Too long?  It was at least 10 years, maybe 14, between Confessions until I went in February of this year.  Now I go a few weeks, and I feel 'weak'.

Don't get me wrong; we don't have this sacrament as a 'feel good' instant healing.  My sins still hurt myself, others, and most importantly, God. Earlier this evening, it came to me that the Wednesday Confessions at our parish were starting. I quickly jumped in my car, and arrived 15 minutes after they 'opened for business'. :)  I couldn't believe how many men were in line tonight; they easily outnumbered the women 6 to 1.  I was much overjoyed at the number of people in line, even though it meant I would be there awhile.  There were two priests available, but I had no idea which ones were there.  I thought to myself that even if the wait was for hours, or even days, I would wait.  The chance to ask our Savior directly for forgiveness, and RECEIVING IT, is so powerful, amazing and such a gift.  As I prayed and waited in line for my turn to visit the Confessional, I found myself looking at the crucifix hanging overhead near the altar.  I had used my Laudate application on my phone to guide my memory and conscience; it forces me to be VERY honest with myself about my mistakes.  God already knows them; He's just waiting for me to ask Him for His Forgiveness. 

I feel like Jesus is holding me when I confess.

After preparing myself and examining my sins, I often will pray the Rosary as I wait.  Today, I chose the Divine Mercy.  As always, I had tears streaming down my face as I prayed.  I tried to contain them so as not to be noticeable to others and distract them, but it's such a powerful prayer.  It was especially powerful tonight, as I prayed for His Mercy not only for myself, but the others in attendance as well.  After all, it is through His Mercy that we are forgiven.

I've been to many different priests for Confession in the last 8 months.  Each one has been very different.  But one message has been universal (and, on a side note, 'Catholic' means universal).  "The Lord rejoices that you are asking His forgiveness, and are repentant."  I've visited with older priests, foreign priests, young (!) priests (which is a little strange...when you know the priest on the other side of the screen reminds not only you, but many others according to him, of Daniel Radcliffe!), talkative priests, quiet priests.  But there is One that I have encountered EACH TIME I've been to Confession: Jesus Christ Himself.  How else could it be, that this stranger on the other side of the screen, can offer me such guidance after a few moments of me telling him how many horrible things I've done or thought?  While I should watch my pride in thinking that I'm at all unique in my sins, I have been amazed at priests throughout the US, not even in the same diocese, can offer me such similar guidance, while not even knowing who I am.  I also believe it does take true humility and repentance for us humans to admit our worst faults and sins to a human being; we truly have to believe that the Lord is present with us, and that the priest is acting 'in persona Christi', in the person of Christ.  Just as I've heard things coming out of my mouth that I have no way of explaining or knowing, yet it comes out clear as a bell to the person I'm talking to, I know it's the Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, our Father, who is being heard. And for the person to be representing our actual Christ is amazing.

I used to fear Confession and the Penance, but thankfully, the Penance I've always received is never as painful as what I deserve.  I should fear death and judgement if I haven't repented and confessed!  Confession is such a beautiful sacrament.  The fear is from the devil, who does NOT want us to repent.  The doubts? That's him, too.  By that last minute decision, I didn't give the bad guy much time to try to dissuade me. He did try to sneak in while I was there, but I had the Lord on my side. 

Another reason Confession is so powerful, especially as we wait in line with other sinners: it is helpful to know that I am not the only one who sins. It's easy to feel isolated, and like we are the worst sinners in the world, and that God will never forgive us (again, thoughts from the devil).  It reminds us that we are not alone, that we are never alone, in our sinful ways. We are not called to be perfect.  We are called to be the best we can be for Him. We feel the strength of each other and come to lean on each other spiritually, even without realizing it.  Plus, who knows how many others are praying specifically for us at that very moment we are standing in line with them, or saying our prayers in the pews?

Just another reason I love being Catholic!  God have Mercy on my soul, and those of my fellow sinners.

(Why Confession to a priest? "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9)

God had sent Jesus to forgive sins, but after his resurrection Jesus told the apostles, "‘As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.’ And when he had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained’" (John 20:21–23). (This is one of only two times we are told that God breathed on man, the other being in Genesis 2:7, when he made man a living soul. It emphasizes how important the establishment of the sacrament of penance was.)  )

For further reading:

http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/sacraments/penance/sacrament-of-penance-resources-for-individuals.cfm

http://www.catholic.com/tracts/confession

http://www.catholic.com/tracts/the-forgiveness-of-sins

Examination of conscience:

http://www.fatima.org/essentials/requests/examconc.asp

http://www.ncregister.com/info/confession_guide_for_adults/

http://www.ewtn.com/library/prayer/examconscience.htm

http://www.ewtn.com/library/spirit/examcons.txt

http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/sacraments/penance/examinations-of-conscience.cfm