WHAT DO YOU KNOW FATHER JOE? HOLY FAMILY SUNDAY It is not a coincidence that the Sunday after Christmas is always Holy Family Sunday. Jesus learned to be holy in a family. Our first experience of being holy is in our family. Spend some time this week looking at how holiness happens or doesnt happen in your family. The family is the first place we learn to pray. The family is the first place we learn to say thank you and it is the first place to say I am sorry. Parents always teach by example far more than with words. Follow the example of the Holy Family and in time you will be living in a holy family. REDISCOVERING CATHOLICISM Hopefully you received a copy of the book, Rediscovering Catholicism. If you havent we will give you one for free. Before you put this book on the shelf and let it collect dust like so many other books you have read the following information. Also, before you read this book think of when was the last time that you updated yourself on the teachings and practices of your Catholic Church. For most people it would be in religious education several years ago. Like any doctor who treats me I hope they are always learning more through continuing education. Read 15 minutes a day and soon you will be smarter, holier and happier than you were before. That always makes the world a better place. From a book review: Over the past 20 years, Matthew Kelly has seen more of the world than most presidents and more of the Church than most bishops. Now, in this unique and timely book, he proposes that Catholicism is not a lifeless set of rules and regulations , but a way of life designed by God to help each person reach his or her full potential. With remarkable insight, Kelly dispels dozens of myths that surround the rejection of Catholicism today and provides a profound and practical vision of what will lead the Catholic Church to thrive again in the future. Rediscover Catholicism is quickly becoming the most read catholic book of our times. From the spellbinding opening story, Kelly grips his readers and takes them on a life-changing journey to rediscover the genius of Catholicism. Here are some of the pearls of wisdom from the book: “The Church, and indeed the whole world, desperately awaits a few brave souls who will stand up and remind us of our great spiritual heritage by redirecting us toward the goal of Christian life: living holy lives.” I think a lot of us use the excuse, ‘I’m only human’ in way-too-exaggerated manner. How can we be perfect? We can’t. But we still need to strive for perfection; we need to try our best to imitate Christ. If we truly try, our spiritual lives will greatly benefit. We are all called to be holy, we are called to be saints. Everyone in heaven is a saint. “We are called to be saints… Familiarize yourself with the lives of the saints. They were not born saints. They did not become saints overnight. In most cases, they didn’t set out to do anything extraordinary, and they didn’t set out to change the world. These extraordinary souls were very much focused on the ordinary. They allowed the everyday activities of their lives to transform them. About Confession: “There is still nothing quite as wonderful as a clear conscience. Nothing fills us with joy in the same way. Ah, a clear conscience – it is the ultimate simple pleasure.” “Our lives change when our habits change. The only way for the Church to become more spiritual is for the people who make up the Church to become more spiritual.” About fasting: “The message delivered with unrelenting enthusiasm by our culture is, ‘You can be happy without discipline. Do whatever you feel like doing and you will be happy!’ While the Church says, ‘You cannot be happy without discipline In fact, discipline is the path to happiness!” Citing the early Christians using fasting to amplify prayers, Kelly says, “in each of these cases, fasting was used to humbly seek out God’s will. Over and over again, the Old Testament makes it abundantly clear that genuine fasting involves turning away from evil and turning back to God
Posted on: Tue, 30 Dec 2014 15:32:59 +0000
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