What Consoles You?

This is the question that will decide everything in your life, so you better have a good answer.
What consoles you? 

Well, first of all, what exactly does console mean? Webster says "to alleviate or lessen grief, sorrow, or disappointment" and "to give solace or comfort". Maybe you can counter that you don't know anyone close to you who has died so you don't have any grief to be lessened. But grief isn't the only thing from which we ask
for comfort. 

We are all hurting. We are all asking for something more than this life. Each one of us faces disappointment every day. And when we are overcome by that ache, the sadness that makes us miserable and empty inside, where do we run for comfort?

Comfort can be found in so many things. Friends. Family. Food. Drugs. Alcohol. Crying. Loud music. Fixing trucks. Shopping. Puppy dogs. Taking a hike. Texting. Fishing. Sleep. Casinos. Pornography. Talking. Cooking. Video games. Sex. Bullying. Facebook. Singing. Drawing. Riding a bike. Gardening. Starbucks. Laughing. Playing golf. Books.

Where do you run when you want to escape?
What consoles you?

We need to get to the point in our lives where
the one thing that consoles us is Jesus Christ. 

Next time you are facing disappointment, grief, or sadness, run to Him. Let Him be your escape. Let Him hold you when there is nothing else that satisfies you. Let Him embrace you when words can't speak for the hurt and disappointment you feel. Run to Him. You don't even have to say a word, just let His hope and love fill your heart and bring you solace and peace. Let Him be your everything and I promise you will be consoled by every pain you will ever have to face.

*Disclaimer: This post was inspired by a talk given by
Father Jeff Kirby.

the Little Flower

*picture from humanflowerproject.com

So once upon a time, not too long ago, there was this little girl. She didn't seem like much when compared to great world leaders or millionaires or inventors, and she only lived to be twenty-four years old. But in those short twenty-four years of her life, she lived beautifully and accomplished something that some people never even dream of. She became one of the four female doctors of the Catholic Church and she found her own "little way" for others to follow to get to heaven.

Today we celebrate the life of Saint Therese of Lisieux. She was born in France in 1873. When she was only four years old, her mother died. She grew up with five older sisters and was raised by her the father she adored. When she was fifteen, she entered a convent just like her other sisters and became a Carmelite nun. She was too young to join the convent, but when her father took her to Rome for a visit, she got close to the Pope and begged him to let her become a nun. She was carried off by two guards, but the Vicar General was impressed, and not soon after, 

she was admitted into the convent.

For almost ten years, she lived a simple life as a nun. She meditated very often on the faith and the last four things (death, judgment, heaven, and hell). She had always wanted to become a saint and live a life only for God. She found her own way to get to heaven - 

a short and straight way to God's arms.

"I have always wanted to become a saint. Unfortunately when I have compared myself with the saints, I have always found that there is the same difference between the saints and me as there is between a mountain whose summit is lost in the clouds and a humble grain of sand trodden underfoot by passers-by. Instead of being discouraged, I told myself: God would not make me wish for something impossible and so, in spite of my littleness, I can aim at being a saint. It is impossible for me to grow bigger, so I put up with myself as I am, with all my countless faults. But I will look for some means of going to heaven by a little way which is very short and very straight, a little way that is quite new."

*picture from
carmelourladysdovecote.wordpress.com

"We live in an age of inventions. We need no longer climb laboriously up flights of stairs; in well-to-do houses there are lifts. And I was determined to find a lift to carry me to Jesus, for I was far too small to climb the steep stairs of perfection. 

So I sought in holy Scripture some idea of what this life I wanted would be, and I read these words: "Whosoever is a little one, come to me." It is your arms, Jesus, that are the lift to carry me to heaven. And so there is no need for me to grow up: I must stay little and become less and less."

When Therese was on her deathbed, her biological sister who was the prioress of the order ordered Therese to write down the story of her spiritual life. Therese's writings became a book that is still widely read today: Story of a Soul.

She was an absolutely amazing saint and her works still inspire many people to be saints today.

His Grace is Enough

I went to a Matt Maher concert last night and he sang a song that I've heard so many times before, but I had never really thought about its meaning. It's called Your Grace is Enough.

This song he wrote was inspired by a verse in 2 Corinthians chapter 12. In this chapter, Paul is talking about how there is something in his life that he really struggles with, "a thorn in the flesh", "an angel from Satan sent to beat me" (2 Cor 12:7). Three times Paul begs God to help him overcome this trial ad suffering. But God says to him, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness (2 Cor 12:9)."

Just meditate on that for a minute. These are striking words, whether you've heard them a million times at mass or if you're reading them for the first time, I encourage you to think about how they apply to you in your life right now. The Scripture is alive and it speaks to us even today.

"I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me. Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and constraints, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong (2 Cor 12:9-10)."

So if you're going through a difficult time in your life or if there is something you're really struggling with, don't be discouraged. Hope in the Lord, for He will give you the strength you need to get through whatever you are fighting. Nothing is too much for Him to handle.

We are all human. We are all fragile creatures. We are all weak. There are always demons in this life that we must face. There is always something in your life that must be overcome so that you will be closer to Christ and closer to heaven. These weaknesses make us stronger because God's power is "made perfect in weakness". When we are weak, God will be our strength. So we don't need to rely on ourselves and our own physical strengths, but we should always cry out to God, for He is ready to give us everything we need. He wants more than anything to help us with our struggles and temptations. We can't overcome them without Him. There can be no victory over sin without the love, mercy, and strength of Jesus Christ.

In Matt Maher's song, he says "You (God) use the weak to lead the strong." So don't be afraid if God wants to use your weaknesses and your imperfections to show the world His own strength and might. Let Him work in your heart so that the whole world will come to know the beauty and strength of our almighty God. He can do great things if we let Him.

His grace is enough.

Come Home

For many Catholics, religion is all about rules and what you have to do and what you mustn't do. And if you don't follow these rules perfectly, you will go to hell. That is what many of us believe these days, even though it is very far from the truth.

The Catholic faith is not about doing everything perfectly and never making a mistake, it's about falling down and receiving from God the grace and strength to stand up and try again. It's not about being perfect and flawless, it's about recognizing our own weaknesses and overcoming them with God's mercy and love. It's not about fighting and hating our human nature, it's about realizing that we are weak creatures and we are nothing without God. It's not about blind and heartless obedience, it's about knowing and loving and serving God, doing His will, and giving Him glory in our every day lives, so that we may be happy with Him forever in heaven.

Even if you follow the rules perfectly, it doesn't guarantee salvation. We have to do all things with great love. Like it says in the Bible, "If I speak in human and angelic tongues, but do not have love, I am a resounding gong or a clashing cymbal. And if I have the gift of prophecy and comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge; if I have all faith so as to move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away everything I own, and if I hand my body over so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing (1 Corinthians 13:1-3)."

Following Christ isn't about rules and regulations and doing meaningless things. From the very beginning, it has been the greatest and truest love story you will ever experience.

There's a beautiful song I would like to share called "Come Home" by the Christian band Luminate. Its lyrics are very powerful. Every time I hear this song, I begin to look at things differently. 

Here are the lyrics to this song:

You're best friends with the word regret
Your afraid that your life's been wasted
So why hope if it's only gonna let you down?
You don't think people really change
You're a mess and you'll always be the same
And you doubt if you'll ever get it turned around

So you've been running, searching for something
But you're looking in a place you don't belong
But it's never too late, you can't outrun grace
No, Mercy doesn't care what you've done 

Come home

Come home

You can try to fix your broken empire
Put bricks on a cracked foundation
But you'll be building castles on the sand
There's power in the blood of Jesus
Your father's screaming Just Come Home!
He's reaching out His hands

From the shadows, From the wrong roads
From the darkness, From the unknown
To redemption, Something beautiful
To a new love, to new home

I know you've been running, searching for something

But you're looking in a place you don't belong

But it's never too late, you can't outrun grace

His Mercy doesn't care what you've done

Come home

Come home

So if you feel like you're far away from God and you feel far from His love, know that He loves you still. Know that He just wants you to come home and share in His happiness and peace.

Come home.

The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Today we celebrate the Assumption of Mary into heaven.

*picture from www.photo-junction.blogspot.com

"We never give more honor to Jesus than when we honor His mother, and we honor her simply and solely to honor Him all the more perfectly. We go to her only as a way leading to the goal we seek - Jesus, her Son." 

~Saint Louis de Montfort

"Men do not fear a powerful hostile army as the powers of hell fear the name and protection of Mary." ~Saint Bonaventure

"Mary having cooperated in our redemption with so much glory to God and so much love for us, our Lord ordained that no one shall obtain salvation except through her intercession." 

~Saint Alphonsus de Ligouri

 

"Never be afraid of loving the Blessed Virgin too much. You can never love her more than Jesus did." ~Saint Maximilian Kolbe

"Before, by yourself, you couldn't. Now, you've turned to our Lady, and with her, how easy!" 

~Saint Josemaria Escriva

 

"O sinner, be not discouraged, but have recourse to Mary in all your necessities. Call her to your assistance, for such is the divine Will that she should help in every kind of necessity." 

~Saint Basil the Great

"Mary, give me your heart: so beautiful, so pure, so immaculate; your heart so full of love and humility that I may be able to receive Jesus in the Bread of Life and love Him as you love Him and serve Him in the distressing disguise 

of the poor." ~Mother Teresa

Saint Clare of Assisi

*picture from www.marypages.com

 
"Totally love Him, Who gave Himself for your love." 

~Saint Clare

"Gaze upon Him, consider Him, contemplate Him, as you desire to imitate Him."  

~Saint Clare

Today we celebrate Saint Clare of Assisi. Inspired by the teachings and life of Saint Francis of Assisi, she founded an order of nuns known as "the Poor Clares". She was a noblewoman, but she ran away to live a poor, humble life of mortification and simplicity.
 
"They say that we are too poor, but can a heart which possesses the infinite God be truly called poor?" 

~Saint Clare

Some soldiers came to attack Assisi and the convent, so Saint Clare brought the Blessed Sacrament to the wall of the convent so that the soldiers might see it. She prayed to God that He would save the nuns, and suddenly the soldiers ran in fear.

"Place your mind before the mirror of eternity! Place your soul in the brilliance of glory! And transform your entire being  into the image of the Godhead Itself through contemplation." 

~Saint Clare


"He Christ is the splendor of eternal glory, the brightness of eternal light, and the mirror without cloud." 

 ~Saint Clare

In all the picture I have ever seen of Saint Clare, she is depicted holding a monstrance. I'm sure the artists are reminding us of that great day where God saved the nuns from the soldiers, but I think it tells us a lot about Saint Clare. She had a deep devotion to the Eucharist and was a great witness of God's love. She shows us the power of God and that we have nothing to fear if we believe in Him. She reminds me of our Lady who is always pointing us to Jesus. She was a powerful model of holiness in the way she lived and gave up her life for something deeper, something not of this world, but of heaven. So let us ask Saint Clare to lead us to Jesus and love Him in a deeper way, just like she did.

"I come, O Lord, unto Thy sanctuary to see the life and food of my soul. As I hope in Thee, O Lord, inspire me with that confidence which brings me to Thy holy mountain. Permit me, Divine Jesus, to come closer to Thee, that my whole soul may do homage to the greatness of Thy majesty; that my heart, with its tenderest affections, may acknowledge Thine infinite love; that my memory may dwell on the admirable mysteries here renewed every day, and that the sacrifice of my whole being may accompany Thine." 

~Saint Clare

"Save me, O Lord, from every evil - of soul and body." 

~Saint Clare

Saint Clare of Assisi, pray for us!

Saint John Vianney

*picture from http://thepinoycatholic.blogspot.com

Today we celebrate the feast of Saint John Vianney. He was an amazing saint who lived a life of extreme mortification. He was renowned as a wonderful confessor.

Interesting facts about Saint John Vianney:

•  born May 8, 1786
• died August 4, 1859
• seventy-three years old
• also known as the Curé d'Ars (priest of Ars)
• the devil bothered and attacked him almost every night, occasionally injuring him
• the devil told Saint John Vianney: "If there were three such priests as you, my kingdom would be ruined."
• Saint John Vianney once said: "Oh! The grappin (his nickname for the devil) and myself? We are almost chums."
• the last ten years of his life, he spent 16-18 hours in a confessional
• by 1855, there were 20,000 pilgrims who came to visit him and seek his guidance each year
• had a strong devotion to Mary and Saint Philomena
• 300 priests and 6,000 people attended his funeral
• he is incorruptible - his body is still intact and not decomposed
• his incorrupt body is on display above the main altar in the Basilica at Ars in France
• patron saint of priests

 

*picture from www.christtotheworld.blogspot.com

Quotes by Saint John Vianney:

• Prayer is nothing else but union with God. In this intimate union, God and the soul are fused together like two bits of wax that no one can ever pull apart. This union of God with a tiny creature is a lovely thing. It is a happiness beyond understanding.
• If we really understood the Mass, we would die of joy.
• My little children, your hearts are small, but prayer stretches them and makes them capable of loving God. Through prayer, we receive a foretaste of heaven and something of paradise comes down upon us. Prayer never leaves us without sweetness. It is honey that flows into the souls and makes all things sweet. When we pray properly, sorrows disappear like snow before the sun.
• I wish I could lose myself and never find myself except in God! 
• You cannot please both God and the world at the same time. They are utterly opposed to each other in their thoughts, their desires, and their actions.
• When we go before the Blessed Sacrament, let us open our hearts; our good God will open His. We shall go to Him; He will come to us; the one to ask, the other to receive. It will be like a breath from one to the other.
• If we could comprehend all the good things contained in Holy Communion, nothing more would be wanting to content the heart of man. The miser would run no more after his treasures, or the ambitious after glory; each would shake off the dust of the earth, leave the world, and fly away towards heaven.
• All the good works in the world are not equal to the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass because they are the works of men; but the Mass is the work of God. Martyrdom is nothing in comparison for it is but the sacrifice of man to God; but the Mass is the sacrifice of God for man.