Ooooops!!!

It has been brought to my attention that apparently Adoro does not want to poke her eyes out with a plastic fork. Silly me thought she was waaaay too spiritual and holy to care about such things as Wonderful Woman of Web Awards or beautiful vases of flowers. I was wrong and I apologize. I have discovered that Adoro is just as shallow, grasping, and insecure as the rest of us.

In an effort to make amends, I have created the Most Spiritual Blog Award just for Adoro. This young lady has answers for questions we haven't even dreamed up yet. And, may God bless her little heart, she is embarking on founding a new chapter of Lay Dominicans. Stop by and offer your support and prayers to this special lady and wish her well on her new endeavor.

I know she will be wonderful.

Obedience

Yesterday’s readings from Mass asked us to give even more of ourselves. We are to empty ourselves in order to receive more grace, more blessings, and more of the promised gifts.

In the readings for today, God is sending us the message of obedience. We have developed a disdain for authority in this country and in our church. The Catholic Church does not run as a democracy. It has a “pecking order” and those of us who are the laity have a place and a purpose in this order.

Imagine how difficult it would be for a large company to run efficiently if all the employees decided, day by day, what position they would hold. An approach like that would lead to chaos. Eventually they would end up in a free-for-all if everyone chose the same position on any given day.

A very nice lady in Minnesota I am acquainted with just passed away at the age of 102. Every day this lovely lady went to Mass, and every day she prayed her rosary. She prayed for those in her life who may have strayed from the path that Jesus had given them. She did not criticize or complain. She understood her place in the church and her mission in the world. If the manner in which the Mass was celebrated was a concern of hers, she never said so. If her priests or Bishops, most of whom she outlived, did not perform up to her expectations, she just prayed more.

People like her are the backbone of the Church. They are obedient and prayerful. They recognize what the readings for today are saying. Walk in humility and obedience, and you can change the world. Guard your thoughts and your actions. A friend in AA is always saying, “I change me, and you get better.” That is the core of the message of Jesus.

"The greatest among you will be the one who serves the rest" Matthew 23:11

Catechism of the Catholic Church

901 "Hence the laity, dedicated as they are to Christ and anointed by the Holy Spirit, are marvelously called and prepared so that even richer fruits of the Spirit may be produced in them. For all their works, prayers, and apostolic undertakings, family and married life, daily work, relaxation of mind and body, if they are accomplished in the Spirit - indeed even the hardships of life if patiently born - all these become spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Say Hello to Andrew, Riley, and Ted

While wandering around the blogosphere, I happened upon these fine young men studying to be priests. You can visit them at their blog In Umbris Sancti Petri. Since I was so impressed with these “whippersnappers” (at my age everyone is a whippersnapper), I decided to give them a bit of an introduction.

From their Profiles:

Andrew Hines is a Roman Catholic seminarian studying for the Diocese of Toledo in America. Currently, he is assigned to theological studies at the Pontificià Università Gregoriana and is living at the Pontifical North American College in Rome.

Ted Martin - I am a seminarian for the Diocese of Kalamazoo, Michigan. I am currently assigned to the North American College in Rome for theological studies at the Gregorian University

Riley Williams - Fall River, MA

Now, we don’t know much about this Riley feller so maybe when he has time he will tell us a bit more about himself. I spent some time on the official North American College website and it is clear they are having waaaaay too much fun. Not wanting them to have too much time on their hands, thereby increasing the possibility of them getting into mischief, I suggest that we fill up their combox with insightful and pertinent comments.

Called to be Holy

When I did the year long Spiritual Exercises in Everyday Life (SEEL), I was most taken by the call of Isaiah (Is. 6:1-13). The first reason was my fascination with the Seraphim. Six wings are pretty impressive, and I went on a search for a likeness of this amazing creature. My search eventually landed me at St. Charles Borromeo Church in Picayune, Mississippi. They have beautiful statues of the Seraphim on each side of their altar.

Once I had satisfied my pathological “need to know” about the Seraphim I had to address this business of being “called.” I had already come to understand that not only had God always known me, but also everyone else. Not only had I always existed, but also God had a plan for me, just as He does for each of you, gentle reader. This can be a comforting truth, especially if you think yourself useless.

We’re told quite often our first and most important calling is to be holy. It is through our calling that we work toward our holiness. Some of us will have conspicuous callings and others will labor for the Kingdom of God in a more subdued manner. Not everyone can be the star on the top of the Christmas tree. Some of us have to be little ornaments. But together we make up the whole beauty of the tree.

Believe then, the Word of God. You are uniquely chosen, prepared, and guided. When we pray and ask “Thy will be done”, we are taking the first step toward fulfilling our destiny.

Meditation for the day: Isaiah 6:1-13 The Call of Isaiah and Isaiah 45:1-13 to see how God called Cyrus by name and prepared his ways.