There’s a hole in the side of my parents bathtub and it’s all my fault.
I was 11 years old. We had only lived in our newly built house for 2 years. On this particular evening my siblings and I were getting ready to go to a square dance. Yes, I just said square dance. Leave me alone. It was cool.
XLT is back! XLT is a night worship that includes great music, inspiring and challenging talks, and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. We’re starting off with a bang, too! Mark Hart dives into the heart of past sin and about giving God permission to heal everything in your life. The power of sin can confuse our sense of worth, driving us to believe that God doesn’t love us in our past. But God’s love covers everything we are, everything we will be, and everything we have done. Worship is led by the amazing Ike Ndolo and Erin Gauvin
“The doctor should not meddle. The right of the child is equal to the right of the mother’s life. The doctor can’t decide; it is a sin to kill in the womb.”
“If you must choose between me and the baby, no hesitation; I choose – and I demand it – the baby. Save her!”
- St. Gianna Beretta Molla
Catholics do not pray to statues.
That would be idolatry and therefore, a violation of the First Commandment. If a person prays to a statue out of superstition, believes that the statue has special powers or is even God – that is idolatry.
However, this is not what Catholics do when they pray in front of a statue. Catholics worship with their whole person and all of the senses. A statue, or any other piece of religious art, is intended to draw the soul deeper into prayer by helping the senses to recall the mystery that it represents.
When we skip Mass on Sunday, we are violating our covenant with God. We are saying to God, “I don’t need to be united to you. I don’t need to worship you.” It may seem innocent, but we are actually declining His marriage proposal. We are not showing up for our own wedding.
When we make a decision to deny His invitation to covenant we are saying we don’t want a relationship with Him. Because our God loves us and is a gentleman, he allows us to do this.
However, it’s a grave sin to miss Mass.
… I felt it slipping but didn’t know what to do. The ornate, china plate fell to the tile floor.
You know that split second of silence after something shatters on the ground? It’s in that split second that I caught my breath in shock waiting for the reprimand, gasp or look of disapproval. And in that moment, my grandma had a choice.
She would always, no matter what was broken, say something to the effect of: “That’s ok! Don’t worry!” Immediately, that’s what she said to me. No hesitation. I remember asking her about it later and having her tell me, “What’s done is done and it’s no use being upset over.”
The night of the Last Supper our blessed Lord told of the three effects of the Holy Spirit. One of them was: “He will convict you of sin, because you did not believe in me.” How do we know we are sinners? By the Holy Spirit.
I think most of the time I’m the thief on the left cross. I’m tempting Jesus. I’m yelling at Him. I’m talking to Him like he’s my equal. “Hey if you’re really God do this. Hey Jesus, if you really love me, get me out of (insert impossible situation here). And if you do, (insert impossible promise here that I’ll break in a week).” I’m the thief on the left.
Did you promise to pray more during Lent this year? Then this free download is just for you! We pulled out some pages from Life Teen’s book 40 More to help keep you going in this fifth week of Lent. In the download, you’ll read a verse from the Bible, some questions about how it applies to your own life, a reflection, and a closing prayer. This week it’s about recognizing our sinfulness and accepting God’s compassion. Download: Jesus Shows Compassion in our Sinfulness Read more [...]
