Fullness of Truth Conference:@ St. Francis in Grapevine, TX

The Fullness of Truth is a lay apostolate which puts on conferences throughout the United States. A few months after my return to the Church, Stacey and I attended a FOT conference in Arlington, TX. We got to hear Tim Staples, Doug Berry, Dr. Marcellino D'Ambrosio and Father Corapi. Scott Hahn has also recently spoken at another local FOT conference.

This February conference will take place in the Ft. Worth Diocese and will have Mike Aquilina (who recently co-authored Dion the Wanderer Talks Truth), Marshall Taylor (who shared a guest post with Joe Catholic) and Father Bill Casey who often appears on EWTN. The emcee will be Matthew Warner who writes for the National Catholic Register. I regularly share his humorous blog posts on Twitter.

Joe Catholics interested in attending can go to the FOT website for more information.

Presentation of the Lord

A Light to the Gentiles, Greg Olsen

Today is the feast of the Presentation of the Lord. Before I write about the feast day, I would like to say a few words about the Greg Olsen's piece, A Light to the Gentiles and why I selected it for this post. I first encountered this picture on the cover of Not Your Average Joe, by Rick Sarkisian, PH. D. (Looking back, I have to think that reading this book may have helped inspire the naming of the Joe Catholic apostolate.) I like the way Olsen portrays Joseph standing behind Mary with his hand on her shoulder. I think this is consistent with Joseph's treatment in the gospels. First, it reveals him as the quiet protector. Secondly, it shows he was a "righteous man," following the dictates of the Mosaic law. This is depicted with his carrying of the two turtle doves. Finally, it demonstrates his intimate love for our Lord, for he was the man closest to Christ.

Reflection #1: Adhering to the Law
Last night I was pondering the difficulty of always trying to stay true to the Church's teachings, both directly and indirectly. In the past two days, both Amazon and Starbucks have made public statements supporting a "gay marriage" bill in Washington state. I don't want to spend too much time getting into that debate. Others have done a good job with that already: CatholicVote and Defend Us in Battle. I had just asked myself if I should stop buying Starbucks and using Amazon when I read this in my morning reflections:

"Through this example, foolish child, won't you learn to fulfill the holy Law of God, regardless of personal sacrifice? "Purification! You and I certainly do need purification. Atonement and, more than atonement, Love. Love as a searing iron to cauterize our soul's uncleanness, and as a fire to kindle with divine flames the wretchedness of our hearts" (St. Josemaria Escriva, "Holy Rosary", Fourth Joyful Mystery).

I'm not sure how much of a sacrifice it would really be since I can still buy my coffee through Mystic Monk Coffee and order most of my books through Aquinas and More. I'm not advocating a boycott or anything like that. I am just thinking about how I choose to spend my money. Just a thought.

Reflection #2: Learning to be Humble
The presentation of Jesus in the Temple is another example of Christ's humility. He, who was perfect god and perfect man, had no need for the old laws, but still permitted himself to experience this. In allowing himself to experience all that we have, but sin, he shows us the path to sanctifying our daily lives. We should also think of this when we don't understand or agree with a teaching of the Church.

"Our Lord Jesus Christ as a child, that is, as one clothed in the fragility of human nature, had to grow and become stronger but as the eternal Word of God He had no need to become stronger or to grow. Hence He is rightly described as full of wisdom and grace" (St. Bede, "In Lucae Evangelium Expositio, in loc.").

Reflection #3: Making a Bucket List
The priest on today's USCCB video reflection on the readings made an interesting observation. He said that Simeon was waiting his whole life to meet the Messiah. It was on his "bucket list." The priest concluded his reflection by asking what spiritual acts do we have on our "bucket list?"

Introduction to the Devout Life

We recently celebrated the feast day of St. Francis de Sales who is the patron of writers (presumably this would include bloggers). One of the great gifts he has given the Church is his spiritual classic, Introduction to the Devout Life (At the end of the post, I provide additional links for obtaining a copy of the book).

Last month, I recommended Be a Man! by Father Larry Richards as a starting point for implementing consistent, daily, planned spiritual reading. I chose that title because it was written specifically for men of the laity. I have chosen Introduction to the Devout Life (IDL) for the same reason. It was written with the  laity in mind.

St. Francis de Sales was ahead of his time. The idea of the universal call to holiness is common to us now, but the laity of the 16th Century were not privy to this teaching. St. Francis actually addresses this in his Preface:

"But my object is to teach those who are living in towns, at court, in their own households, and whose calling obliges them to a social life, so far as externals are concerned. Such persons are apt to reject all attempt to lead a devout life under the plea of impossibility[.]" (vi)

St. Francis actually wrote that "it is not however, my own choice or wish which brings this Introduction before the public" (vii). He was instead urged by a "devout Religious" to publish the work.

In IDL, de Sales describes devotion as that guide that “not only leads us to do well, but to act carefully, diligently, and promptly” (p. 3). St. Francis de Sales directs a person to ponder Jacob’s Ladder, in order to help a person understand how to progress from simply doing good to doing good carefully, frequently and instinctively. He asserts the two poles of this spiritual ladder are meditative prayer, which seeks God’s love, and the second is the Sacraments, which dispense God’s love. The rungs of the ladder are the virtues and graces by which we ascend to join God’s love or descend to share His love with others in acts of mercy and charity.

St. Francis organized IDL into meditations. The meditations suggested by St. Francis de Sales act as instruments of purification, but are not themselves the purifying agent. Neither does the one who meditates purify himself, but rather the meditations prepare the soul to accept God’s sanctifying grace. When the meditations are obediently performed “they (by God’s Grace) will root out both sin and its affections from your heart (XIII, p. 24). As sin is abandoned and the will of God embraced, we seek to know, love and serve God. The CCC (2706) teaches, “to the extent that we are humble and faithful, we discover in meditation the movements that stir the heart and we are able to discern them.” This process stirs us to ask the question, "Lord, what do you want me to do?”

Introduction to the Devout Life - Multiple Formats (Some FREE!)
Online Searchable - Christian Classic Ethereal Library

PDF - CCEL

mp3 - CCEL (Recorded by a volunteer but adequate quality to supplement study.)

eBook - Amazon (Kindle)

Paperback - Aquinas & More

The Fight is On!Rise Up Oh Men of God!

Photo by CrisisMagazine

Yesterday I wrote that we are in a spiritual battle against the forces of evil. The Obama-care mandate to fund contraception is a vivid example of this war.

It's clear that the Obama administration is dedicated to "treating pregnancy as a disease" and attacking the Catholic Church. It's most recent attempt at undermining the Catholic Church, is an HHS policy which would require all employers, including Catholic schools, hospitals and other Catholic charities to pay for contraception, sterilization and even some abortion producing drugs.

It's time to take a stand. First, we need to get informed and then we need to speak out directly to our legislative representatives and also spread the word via every possible venue and media.

Below you will find links to the USCCB page dedicated to responding to this issue. Additionally, you will find a copy of an OpEd written by Cardinal-designate Timothy Dolan and a video from Dolan charging all Catholics to take action.

If you click on the icon on the left side of this blog that shows the Jerusalem Cross with the Stand With the US Bishops, you will be taken to a Facebook page addressing these issues. I intend to include as many links to other material via my Twitter feed: @dgonz15

Support Respect for Rights of Conscience Act

Cardinal-designate Timothy Dolan OpEd

Cardinal-designate  Timothy Dolan's video plea

Support Respect for Rights of Conscience Act

Catholic Toolbox: Spiritual Warfare

Fall of Rebel Angels, Pieter Bruegel

Spiritual Leaders

Joe Catholics we have a God given duty to protect our families – physically, financially, emotionally and spiritually. Whether we choose to acknowledge it or not we are at war. Not the war on terrorism, but an Ancient War in which “our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits” [Eph 6:12].

We are part of the Church Militant and as the spiritual leaders of our families, we are at the frontline of this battle. What can we do to arm ourselves against the devil and his minions?

Marching Orders

We need to return to spiritual fundamentals: prayer, sacraments and a life of virtue. Get straight and get right with God! You can be holier. Fight as to win. This is the big one. We are in dire combat with the forces of evil. Love is the answer.

Nurture your relationship with Him. Learn your faith. “Studying the faith is studying Jesus Christ.” Education is not enough. Most of us know more than enough to be canonized saints, but none of the saints were canonized for what they knew, but for what they did. It's not enough to know the faith, you have to live the faith. (NOTE: This is paraphrased from notes taken at a Father Corapi conference years ago.)

What is our purpose? To love, know and serve God with all our heart, mind and soul. 

SWAT: Spiritual Weapons and Tactics:

• Pray to your Guardian Angel for protection and help. 
• Pray the Rosary – “the greatest weapon;” “prayer of the Gospel. When you pray the rosary, you pray the Gospel, the Good News, the Word made Flesh, who is Jesus” 
• Receive the Sacraments frequently 
• Frequent Communion (i.e., daily mass) 
• More frequent Reconciliation 
• Use the Sacramentals: holy medals, scapulars, rosaries, prayer cards, blessed salt
• Holy Water 
• Brown Scapular – like “dog tags” it identifies us as children of Mary, the Mother of God; we reflect on prayer and penance; you may grasp it to overcome the temptation 
• Unite all your pain and suffering with Jesus. Offer it up!

Saint Talk: St. Thomas Aquinas

Today we celebrate the feast of St. Thomas Aquinas, Doctor of the Church. He is the patron of students and author of The Summa Theologica, which is considered by many to be the most influential piece of western literature.

St. Thomas was a Dominican priest who studied in France under the tutelage of St. Albert the Great. By all accounts Thomas was a supernatural genius, who garnered inspiration from the Holy Spirit and was visited by Blessed Mother and Sts. Peter and Paul (See New Advent, Supernatural Causes). He is also reported to have had the ability to read even the most complex material and have full understanding upon only one reading. I could certainly use a little of that charism when studying for my IPT courses. One thing we can certainly learn from this extraordinary saint is that he prayed before each time he studied or wrote. I am particularly fond of his Prayer Before Study.

Today, our own Frater Bovious made a presentation on St. Thomas' teachings.
WARNING: If you are easily offended by "salty" language there is an S-bomb around the 21:05 mark.