The Blog

Now that 2012 is finally upon us, the whole Mayan Calendar thing is being mocked like never before. A few examples that I’ve seen quite a bit on Facebook this past week:

It’s funny. I get it. And I certainly agree that no exact-date end of the world “prophecy” should be taken seriously. But all jokes aside, the fact is that the end will come for all of us, maybe even sometime soon, and we should be preparing for it.

So too, you also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come (Mt. 24:44)

While we should never get caught up in end of the world date guessing, it is good to keep the end in mind and constantly as ourselves, “what am I doing to prepare myself to welcome the Bridegroom? Am I storing up treasures in heaven or am I trying to have it all here? Am I responding to God’s grace and nourishing my soul with the medicines of prayer, Scripture, Sacraments and holy fellowship so that my soul stands a chance?”

“Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life, and that day catch you by surprise like a trap. For that day will assault everyone who lives on the face of the earth. Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man” (Lk. 21:34-36).

I’ve found this lovely little “nativity scene” about a week ago during a Google image search and I’ve been contemplating it ever since. At first glance, this is just a picture of Our Lady looking lovingly at her newborn son as any mother would. But then consider the fact that Mary is not just any mother. She is the Mother…of God.

I don’t know why, but this image, more than any other nativity scene, makes me think of one of the greatest devotions we have as Catholics: the ability to be alone with our Lord and adore Him in the Most Blessed Sacrament and it strikes me that when I go in for my holy hours every week, I am in the real presence – body, blood, soul and divinity – of the very same little child that Mary adored in her loving arms in Bethlehem so long ago.

That is all…Happy Eighth Day of Christmas, everyone!

St. Maximilian Kolbe is typically considered the patron saint of drug addicts/against addiction and Venerable Matt Talbot is also frequently called on to help those with addiction, but St. Mark Ji Tianxiang might be worth praying to for help as well.

I’ve never heard of him until I read this article recently. St. Mark is one of the Chinese martyrs and, apparently, for the last 30 years of his life he was barred from receiving the sacraments because he was an opium addict.

It doesn’t sound like he was totally freed from addiction before he was martyred, but he tried and always prayed that he would be, so I’m sure he’d be a great intercessor for others who want freedom.

Deacon Greg Kandra delivered a wonderful homily in September about St. Mark and how, as the saying goes, a saint is just a sinner who keeps on trying. His memorial is on July 9, with the other Chinese martyrs.

related posts:
A Path to Freedom and Peace for Young People With Addiction
TOB Tuesday: Healing the Person
Sterilizing Addicts Doesn’t Fix the Real Problem

Our Bridegroom is here! Go out and welcome Him!

Greetings from the Sunshine State – where we’re guaranteed to have a white Christmas this year! Here I am at what has been my “office” since last Saturday and will be for the next five weeks:

It does not suck. Crash doesn’t think it sucks, either

I wish I could say that it’s been that sunny and warm everyday, but we’ve had quite a bit of rain and, for the most part, it’s been pretty cloudy and windy and chilly. BUT it’s warmer than mid-MO and there’s a beach, and that’s all that really matters, isn’t it? We’re on the panhandle, about as close to Alabama as you can get. So close, in fact, my mother and I have been going to daily Mass at St. Thomas by the Sea in Orange Beach.

So far things have been pretty relaxing. We haven’t been doing a whole lot; just getting ready for Christmas (I’ll be making some awesome Sauerbraten for Christmas dinner again this year). Next week I’m going out on a fishing boat with my dad and sister, but what I’m looking forward to the most is heading over to Jacksonville on January 2nd. for Florida vs. Ohio State at the Gator Bowl. I haven’t been to a Gator game since I was a little girl! Go Gators!! –,==,< Needless to say, I've been a little...distracted the past few weeks. There have been so many things I've wanted write about, but taking time to collect my thoughts and write on my blog has taken a back-seat to other work that needs to get done in between all the packing and getting ready to be away from home for six weeks, travelling, and now hanging out with my sisters who I never see anymore. Hopefully things will settle down here in the next week and I can focus a bit more on my writing – which is my New Year’s resolution.

In the meantime, I hope you all have a wonderful, blessed Christmas wherever you are. Here are a few more pictures of the beautiful view from our place.

Sunrise

Sunset