As the Archbishop of New Orleans maybe he could start by convincing his own people to avoid these kind of services, though past experiences have taught me that converting the pew sitters is nearly an impossibility. Christians tend to be self righteous in their sins, indignant, steadfast and above correction. The scenario is different but the theme is the always same, it's about defiance. Now I understand how humility is a factor in our salvation, as we humble not only our bodies but our mind and it's thoughts to the Lord.

I cannot love a soul which is stained with sin; but when it repents, there is no limit to My generosity toward it.  My mercy embraces and justifies it.  With My Mercy, I pursue sinners along all their paths, and My Heart rejoices when they return to Me.  I forget the bitterness with which they fed My Heart and rejoice at their return…”

Jesus to Sr.Faustina

With over 6 billion people on the planet  and a variety of medias competing for our attention,  I'm always  flattered -  honored  really, when ever people stop by my blog to visit.  I love my blogger buddies and I pray for those 45 people who for some reason - known only to God, chose to follow my blog. 

To me, catholic bloggers fill a void of common sense, and  fidelity  that's becoming harder to find in the real world but  because we're never going to get back the time we've spent blogging together, I hope you  feel as though your time with me was also well spent. 

I'm wishing each of you an Easter season full of joy as we contemplate how it is that our savior was willing to endure such a horrible death on our behalf. How incomprehensible the gulf of of love, passion, and forgiveness he has for each and every one of us. Who could measure the depth of  his love? 

How great a wound to the Holy Spirit when he's rejected-  an  open wound that can never be replaced by another soul, what a terrible blow to the most sacred heart of Jesus especially after all that he's done for us.

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We don't have enough Catholics yet.

‎"Then Jesus said to them: Amen, amen I say unto you: Except you eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink His Blood, you shall not have life in you." (John 6:54)

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The interpretation of this scripture is to be taken literally and not as a figurative sort of idea or act . What Christ had said, is what Christ had meant and partaking of his flesh and blood isn't to be enjoyed as a symbolic representation of a once great man, nor as an act of celebration in remembrance for the nice work that he had accomplished on our behalf,  but as Christ - our God clearly pointed out - his flesh - his actual body was and is given up for you and I and we are expected to partake. This is the very same flesh which the foundation of our church and her beliefs rest upon and if you don't believe this then your not really Catholic.

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 After we come to understand the reality of Christ in the Eucharist, then the next questions we have to ask ourselves are, "Am I worthy to partake and if not, then how do I  make myself  fit to receive?"

 
The answer is confession and our eternal salvation depends upon it.

A close up of cherry blossoms from Elizabeth's thesis film, "The Seven Rooms of the Soul."

 Do you not know?

Have you not heard?

The LORD is the everlasting God,

the Creator of the ends of the earth.

He will not grow tired or weary,

and his understanding no one can fathom.

 He gives strength to the weary

and increases the power of the weak.

 Even youths grow tired and weary,

and young men stumble and fall;

 but those who hope in the LORD

will renew their strength.

- Isaiah 40:28-31

One of the really great things about Christ  in the Eucharist is that he meets us where we are and he makes us grow in the ways in which we are deficient and then by doing so he makes us  greater people than who we really are.

An artistic rendition of self deception.

Just because you've molded and shaped the God of your mind and imagination into a God who agrees with your line of thinking and beliefs doesn't really make him God at all but an extension of yourself, someone who you've created in your own image, but sadly while your playing mind games, the real God sits and waits, and he waits for you alone.. 

On Saturday night my blog administrator was called out of bed to console a wife who had just lost her husband  only an hour or so before in a house fire. He was 33 and his widow is about 30. He left behind a baby and a toddler.

My heart is broken and so is the heart of my administrator.

Please pray for this young family.

What would Jesus do?

After spending the past week with my children (some of whom are grown now) I would like to offer a few "refresher" suggestions about  some rudeness I happened to notice. ( I would'a  noticed even if I were comatose.)  I would like to remind my children that it's  important to act like a "Lady" ( or a "gentleman" ) and even around family or close friends. It's not okay to be rude just because your comfy around the people your offending. ( I'm flattered)

If you want to have long lasting relationships (with spouses or friends) it's important to treat the people you love with the same amount of respect  and consideration that  you would give to your local  Walmart "grocery checker". You wouldn't even consider doing some of the things I've seen lately in front of your friends but if you do these things then you can't use the excuse .....  "My friends should take me as I am"   because I know we can do better.

1) Belching like whales is soooo unattractive and to say, "Mom, I 'm just being myself " doesn't cut it. Sure it was cute when you were babies but I'm over it now and if  you should accidentally happen to go there then you had better not derive any humor from it because it's gross. Apologize and  at least pretend to have remorse.

2) Passing um ,  unattractive smells is never ever allowed in public and if it should happen blame your brother. He still takes pride in those kind of things and it makes you come off smelling like a rose but the best plan would be for you to excuse yourself then go and take care of your business.  No"chem trails" are allowed either as you must always try to be polite.

3) Allowing  doors to slam into your younger siblings for pleasure or otherwise when we are out and about  is never a good idea. They look up to you for guidance and  besides your supposed to be setting a good example. I can't afford  medical co-pays for injuries nor  psychiatric bills from your lapse in good judgement. Help the little ones as you have been helped by your older siblings. I can't be everywhere at once no matter how hard I try to bi-locate.

4) When you speak to your friends on the computer with "Live Chat" or on the telephone  it would be considerate to announce to your family that you've invited a friend into our home so that as with any guest we can be on our best behavior. We never betray one another as we respect the dignity and privacy of each of our family members. And never text someone while your chatting with yet another person it's incredibly rude.

5) I'm not allowed to cuss so neither are you. Your dad hates it and finds it distasteful. Your not allowed to blame your parents for your "failures" either and not even if we happened to be sailors on shore leave. Grown ups shouldn't blame their "Mommy and Daddy"  for their sins because they assess and correct their sins on their own as adults should. (Anyway it makes you look like a fool when you  blame your parents for your problems.)

6) Just because you get married or have a great boyfriend it doesn't mean you can be impolite. You have to always say, "Please" and "Thank you" and treat the person you care about with the utmost respect. Inconsideration can lead to divorce and broken relationships. It's not about being yourself , it's about having enough love, respect  and consideration for the people your with to think about their feelings and perhaps they're feeling like they really don't want to smell you today nor deal with your crap.

7) It's rude to run around the house in your unmentionables and it's not acceptable to say "It's just my family"  because some family members may feel  uncomfortable and even if you may feel quite at ease. It's about consideration for others.

8) Relieving yourself out side must be done on cloudy days and behind something and never in the wide open field and always facing away from the neighbors house. Remember,  family members  don't want to "Catch" you either nor do we want to have to explain what your doing to the neighbors. (whom we love) Although they may have already caught a clue.

9) Do not crack your knuckles it's disgusting and you it makes you sound old and  brittle and it's not amusing or charming in any way.

10) Don't fight with your siblings or anyone else in public and no public meltdowns. You must control your emotions.  I know I haven't always set a good example here but keep in mind I only yell at people in public  about social justice issues. (someone mistreating another person etc...)  but remember there is always a price to be paid for non- compliance or confrontations with others. You could get hurt or worse.

Keep in mind that if your Dad and I argued even a fraction of the amount that you and your siblings argue you would all need immediate counseling. Ask yourselves - if your really being fair to your parents? Am I the son or daughter that God intends for me to be?

11) You must respect the property of other family members. Your not allowed to touch your sibling things without asking- again it's an issue of respect.

Your parents aren't perfect people but this is as good as it gets so let's  shape up around here because  people watch us more closely than other families and often times they try to find any excuse to ridicule
larger families as they consider us to be fools. Let's not give anyone else a lame excuse for using birth control ,...okay?

Mark 12:30-31

30 ) Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. 31) The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these."

*If  Jesus commands us to love our neighbor as ourselves, don't we then have an obligation to try to be lovable? 
Never forget that we worship God by the way we treat the people who he's created for himself.

Congratulations to Ana who was elected director of communications (school secretary) for her entire college.

Benedictine ballot inspectors found no cause for alarm with the paper ballots.

Proper accounting was the key to a successful election where five

outta six monks found that college students were proficient at coloring in the little circles with a number 2 pencil and even if when they happened to be inebriated.

No surprises there......... Benedictines answer to a higher authority.

*I'm trying to figure out what a communication director does.

Express yourself - the little way of self deception.

Well she's Like a virgin , but not exactly

and at some point she becomes like a joke.

It's Like a prayer,

but not really because it's a fake God who you've created in your mind.

One that conforms to your agenda and your will

and is now only a poor reflection of the one true God written about in the bible

and that too becomes laughable at some point.

You've been a material girl and you've put things before people and

your "stuff quest" has caused harm to yourself and to others.

The price has been high only you don't know it yet.

One day, you'll be called before God and your going to have to explain why so much of what you had thought , said and done had been a complete joke.
You think, "I'll die another day" but it will happen in an instant.

And like Eve, in the end,

pleading a case of deception isn't going to get you anywhere.

Confessions on a dance floor.
I dread when it's my turn.
***************
Jesus I trust in you.

Amazingly , Elin Nordegren added me as one of her friends over on YouTube and this is one of her favorite songs. Let's take a listen. ;)

I also found a song in Mr.Woods "favorites" selection. Geese Tiger, did you think this through?Have you considered how much alimony could cost you?

I hope that you both can pull yourselves together, because you have two beautiful children who are depending upon it.

*****************
* You country boys are wearing as much "bling" as Mister "T" only your not as funny.

Jesus , you don't actually expect for me to serve others now do you? I thought that religion was all about what you could do for me.

Besides serving others doesn't feel very good.

So maybe you meant something else. Maybe the bible scripture is wrong or maybe you have the wrong woman in mind to follow you.

I know what I'll do , I will either ignore, remove, or tweak the parts that you say that make me uncomfortable, or that I simply don't like , you'll love me anyway... right?

And lastly , if I follow you will you still do stuff for me ?

Luke 17; 7-10

Jesus said to the Apostles:
“Who among you would say to your servant
who has just come in from plowing or tending sheep in the field,
‘Come here immediately and take your place at table’?
Would he not rather say to him,
‘Prepare something for me to eat.
Put on your apron and wait on me while I eat and drink.
You may eat and drink when I am finished’?
Is he grateful to that servant because he did what was commanded?
So should it be with you.
When you have done all you have been commanded, say,
‘We are unprofitable servants;
we have done what we were obliged to do