I'm currently watching the last sunset of my 18th year. How time flies!
It's been an interesting year, I went from mildly Catholic to Jesus freak lol! I never would have seen myself like this a year ago.
I saw our wonderful Pope Benedict in the flesh at WYD. Even though I was sick with the "pope flu", I had so much fun and I grew so much spiritually. WYD was where I got to know my soon-to-be Godfather.
I'm finally baptised and now I can enjoy all of the graces and sacraments of God, especially the Eucharist.
I've been driving by myself for a year now. I've only dented my car....4 times ;)
I feel like I'm getting older and I have to leave my childhood behind forever, and it scares me a little. But I know God is there for me so I rest all of my worries in his hands, and best of all he wants me to. I can only hope I'll grow more in my faith.
God Bless,
Beth
Friday, May 15, 2009
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Litany of Humility
I found this prayer a couple of days ago:
O Jesus! meek and humble of heart, Hear me.
From the desire of being esteemed,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being loved...
From the desire of being extolled ...
From the desire of being honored ...
From the desire of being praised ...
From the desire of being preferred to others...
From the desire of being consulted ...
From the desire of being approved ...
From the fear of being humiliated ...
From the fear of being despised...
From the fear of suffering rebukes ...
From the fear of being calumniated ...
From the fear of being forgotten ...
From the fear of being ridiculed ...
From the fear of being wronged ...
From the fear of being suspected ...
That others may be loved more than I,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be esteemed more than I ...
That, in the opinion of the world,
others may increase and I may decrease ...
That others may be chosen and I set aside ...
That others may be praised and I unnoticed ...
That others may be preferred to me in everything...
That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should…*
----Cardinal Merry del Val(1865-1930),
Secretary of State for Pope Saint Pius X
Ouch! That's heart-breaking isn't it? It's a great prayer, but it hurts to give up those desires and fears. But that's part of purity, purgatory is a painful passage to purity, and so is this.
I was speaking a couple of posts ago about hoarding material possessions and the damage it does to the love, but hoarding love is the same isn't it? Our pursuit of love can severely damage other people, and in the end we don't have it, it dissappears, and is replaced completely by God's love and physical presence.
However, we have to be careful with humility, I found this aswell:
"Still, let’s be careful that this is done in a psychologically healthy manner.
First, it’s good when our work is recognized and appreciated; the spiritual point is that we shouldn’t crave this admiration as an aspect of a personal identity, but that we endeavor to accept all benefits of our work in praise of Christ, who emptied Himself for our sake, who suffered for us, who died on a cross for us, and in whose service we do our work. But may I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ (Galatians 6:14).
Second, we all feel hurt when someone insults us; still, the spiritual point is that we don’t need to build up psychological defenses [sic] to protect ourselves from the pain of being insulted if only, even in our deepest hurt, we always endeavor to trust in Christ, who alone will protect us from all danger. Be not afraid, as Jesus says repetitively throughout the Gospels.
Finally, although “placing others first” runs counter to natural self-preservation, the spiritual point is that, if we really trust in God, not only can we stop competing with others to satisfy our pride but also we can endeavor to notice the needs of others, looking on others with compassion, in the hope that they might be saved from damnation because of their own desperate obsession with self-preservation. Nevertheless, our concern for others must not take on a form of masochism or self-defilement; in all of our charity to others we must never relinquish the responsibility of developing our talents to the fullest, so that we can serve Christ effectively and joyfully, in pure love."**
In the end, we need love from others, like we need some material possessions, it does sustain us, and I've heard people say "we see God's love come through others love". But in moderation, without "craving" it and letting it become the central motivation of our lives.
You know, I think I wrote this mostly for myself ;P
But seriously, take time to say the litany, it's beautiful.
God Bless,
Beth
*http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/prayers/humility.htm
**http://www.chastitysf.com/humility.htm
O Jesus! meek and humble of heart, Hear me.
From the desire of being esteemed,
Deliver me, Jesus.
From the desire of being loved...
From the desire of being extolled ...
From the desire of being honored ...
From the desire of being praised ...
From the desire of being preferred to others...
From the desire of being consulted ...
From the desire of being approved ...
From the fear of being humiliated ...
From the fear of being despised...
From the fear of suffering rebukes ...
From the fear of being calumniated ...
From the fear of being forgotten ...
From the fear of being ridiculed ...
From the fear of being wronged ...
From the fear of being suspected ...
That others may be loved more than I,
Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.
That others may be esteemed more than I ...
That, in the opinion of the world,
others may increase and I may decrease ...
That others may be chosen and I set aside ...
That others may be praised and I unnoticed ...
That others may be preferred to me in everything...
That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should…*
----Cardinal Merry del Val(1865-1930),
Secretary of State for Pope Saint Pius X
Ouch! That's heart-breaking isn't it? It's a great prayer, but it hurts to give up those desires and fears. But that's part of purity, purgatory is a painful passage to purity, and so is this.
I was speaking a couple of posts ago about hoarding material possessions and the damage it does to the love, but hoarding love is the same isn't it? Our pursuit of love can severely damage other people, and in the end we don't have it, it dissappears, and is replaced completely by God's love and physical presence.
However, we have to be careful with humility, I found this aswell:
"Still, let’s be careful that this is done in a psychologically healthy manner.
First, it’s good when our work is recognized and appreciated; the spiritual point is that we shouldn’t crave this admiration as an aspect of a personal identity, but that we endeavor to accept all benefits of our work in praise of Christ, who emptied Himself for our sake, who suffered for us, who died on a cross for us, and in whose service we do our work. But may I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ (Galatians 6:14).
Second, we all feel hurt when someone insults us; still, the spiritual point is that we don’t need to build up psychological defenses [sic] to protect ourselves from the pain of being insulted if only, even in our deepest hurt, we always endeavor to trust in Christ, who alone will protect us from all danger. Be not afraid, as Jesus says repetitively throughout the Gospels.
Finally, although “placing others first” runs counter to natural self-preservation, the spiritual point is that, if we really trust in God, not only can we stop competing with others to satisfy our pride but also we can endeavor to notice the needs of others, looking on others with compassion, in the hope that they might be saved from damnation because of their own desperate obsession with self-preservation. Nevertheless, our concern for others must not take on a form of masochism or self-defilement; in all of our charity to others we must never relinquish the responsibility of developing our talents to the fullest, so that we can serve Christ effectively and joyfully, in pure love."**
In the end, we need love from others, like we need some material possessions, it does sustain us, and I've heard people say "we see God's love come through others love". But in moderation, without "craving" it and letting it become the central motivation of our lives.
You know, I think I wrote this mostly for myself ;P
But seriously, take time to say the litany, it's beautiful.
God Bless,
Beth
*http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/prayers/humility.htm
**http://www.chastitysf.com/humility.htm
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
The 8th and 9th Commandment
Every Wednesday we have our Young Adults Discussion night. We get together and discuss issues we pull out of a jar, or the NET Team (we're currently hosting) decide on.
Tonight, as I'm sure you gathered, was about:
#8 Thou shalt not steal
and
#9 Thou shall not bear false witness against your neighbour.
The young men and women we have there never cease to amaze me! Watching the way each of them approach it is fascinating.
One questioned whether survival is good reason. If you steal that loaf of bread to survive, is it really wrong? Another said: but what about that escalation? You steal lollies one day and are able to justify that, but doesn't that mean you're able steal gradually more valuable things and are able to continue to justify that? Another said: It's hard to say "I've done the wrong thing" but easy to say "It's only a 10c lolly". It's easy to justify your actions, but so hard to forgive yourself for those actions.
In the end we turned to our priest, Father Peter, his answer was; there are degrees of how sinful it is, but in the end it is a simple, clear and direct sentence: You shall not steal. Whether it's a 10c lolly or a car, it's defined as stealing.
Next, we looked at bearing false witness. It became a conversation about witnessing the faith, mainly by example, through our lifestyles. A few said we should answer questions when they arise, but do little more than that. I put in my two cents and said some views are irreconcilable e.g. abortion. However, someone said we should take others opinions into account, because Jesus taught us to love and by respecting others opinions we are loving them. However, someone else said, but we have to back off if our opinion is going to start a fight, and talk about it another time.
It's been a very interesting night.
Oh, by the way, On Monday I'll be going to Mass at the Carmelite Nun's convent with our NET Team, it should be interesting. They only have 45 minutes interaction with the public, how intense is that?
Tonight, as I'm sure you gathered, was about:
#8 Thou shalt not steal
and
#9 Thou shall not bear false witness against your neighbour.
The young men and women we have there never cease to amaze me! Watching the way each of them approach it is fascinating.
One questioned whether survival is good reason. If you steal that loaf of bread to survive, is it really wrong? Another said: but what about that escalation? You steal lollies one day and are able to justify that, but doesn't that mean you're able steal gradually more valuable things and are able to continue to justify that? Another said: It's hard to say "I've done the wrong thing" but easy to say "It's only a 10c lolly". It's easy to justify your actions, but so hard to forgive yourself for those actions.
In the end we turned to our priest, Father Peter, his answer was; there are degrees of how sinful it is, but in the end it is a simple, clear and direct sentence: You shall not steal. Whether it's a 10c lolly or a car, it's defined as stealing.
Next, we looked at bearing false witness. It became a conversation about witnessing the faith, mainly by example, through our lifestyles. A few said we should answer questions when they arise, but do little more than that. I put in my two cents and said some views are irreconcilable e.g. abortion. However, someone said we should take others opinions into account, because Jesus taught us to love and by respecting others opinions we are loving them. However, someone else said, but we have to back off if our opinion is going to start a fight, and talk about it another time.
It's been a very interesting night.
Oh, by the way, On Monday I'll be going to Mass at the Carmelite Nun's convent with our NET Team, it should be interesting. They only have 45 minutes interaction with the public, how intense is that?
Great News!
I've been accepted as an Altar Server!
I'm so happy! I'm starting training next week.
In the mean time, I'll have to brush up on the prayers of mass, I still don't know them off by heart :P
I'm so happy! I'm starting training next week.
In the mean time, I'll have to brush up on the prayers of mass, I still don't know them off by heart :P
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Ah! Tosca...
I'm just loving this at the moment - Link
I watched this production of Tosca on the ABC a couple of months ago and just loved the Church imagery. After all this part is set during the Te Deum. Although, the production shots ruined the mood for me :P
But how creepy is Scarpia? Beautiful voice though :)
God Bless,
Beth
I watched this production of Tosca on the ABC a couple of months ago and just loved the Church imagery. After all this part is set during the Te Deum. Although, the production shots ruined the mood for me :P
But how creepy is Scarpia? Beautiful voice though :)
God Bless,
Beth
Interesting Pictures
My lovely Mother sent me this link a couple of days ago. It's of these interesting (and very unusual!) pictures from the Vatican. Enjoy!
God bless,
Beth
God bless,
Beth
Monday, May 11, 2009
As the sun is rising....
Here is a morning prayer I found. It's really quite beautiful;
O Jesus,
through the Immaculate Heart of Mary,
I offer You my prayers, works,
joys and sufferings
of this day for all the intentions
of Your Sacred Heart,
in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass
throughout the world,
in reparation for my sins,
for the intentions of all my relatives and friends,
and in particular
for the intentions of the Holy Father. Amen.
*footnote: this prayer is from http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/prayers/morning2.htm
O Jesus,
through the Immaculate Heart of Mary,
I offer You my prayers, works,
joys and sufferings
of this day for all the intentions
of Your Sacred Heart,
in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass
throughout the world,
in reparation for my sins,
for the intentions of all my relatives and friends,
and in particular
for the intentions of the Holy Father. Amen.
*footnote: this prayer is from http://www.ewtn.com/Devotionals/prayers/morning2.htm
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