mycatholicchat.com blog

 Sometimes it's a little tough to maintain your faith.   Bad things happen, right?  But where is it written that because we follow Christ we're supposed to have things easy?   If I recall correctly, Jesus said "If the world hates you, remember it hated me first..."   He also said "pick up your cross DAILY and follow me." There was nothing easy about His crucifixion.  It was the ultimate act of self-sacrifice -- personal suffering for another's benefit.  There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for a friend.   Christ's whole example in his ministry was one of self-sacrifice.   If we are to be followers of Jesus, then we have to follow his *example*.   We can't expect things to be easy.  This is not the time for doubt - but rather a time to double-down on our faith in God. Jesus did say that we are the beloved children of the Father, and that the father will give good things to His children, j...

 These past couple of years have been sort of insane --- we've dealt with covid and lockdowns, we're dealing with runaway inflation, and it just seems life is becoming so much more difficult, right? In the past couple of years I've been focusing on self-development, have become a certified coach, and worked on my own personal growth.  So I do apologize for not posting, and letting this sort of fall by the wayside. But in the midst of suffering and trials, we can still find joy.  Knowing that God is with us allows us to experience true joy.   It took me a long time to understand that in my own life.  However, knowing that God has your back allows you to go through anything.  That doesn't mean that you'll be walking around in some form of delusional happiness, ignoring reality.  Quite the opposite.   I'll give you an example. A couple of years ago, my adult daughter was struggling, and living about 5 hours away from me.  I suggested t...

Well, here we are again. People are shocked, lives are shattered, shepherds have shown themselves to be untrustworthy.  We ask ourselves, "Are we not doing things right?" - "I thought we fixed this"....  "We have rules and procedures to prevent these things now".   I submit to you that this is not a procedural problem, but a spiritual one.  And we have been warned.   Multiple times. Our Lady has appeared numerous times to us - Fatima, Ecuador, Akita and elsewhere.   Her message is always the same:  "Pray the rosary daily, offer sacrifices in reparation for sin.  Turn away from evil and back to God."    The same message she gave at the wedding at Cana:   "Do whatever He tells you". At Fatima, in 1917, she told the children: “This war will end, but if men do not refrain from offending God, another and more terrible war will begin...” Think about it.   World war II did NOT have to...

I started thinking that maybe God could have done it better if after we reached adulthood, we could get these old decrepit bodies in our twenties, then work backward to the physical health we had then.   It would be SO much better if we could have the health we had in our twenties, and the wisdom we get in old age!    But then God showed me why he did it this way: We start off as babies - and we're cute, and sweet, and lovable.   We're not very "useful" at this point, in terms of "work" or "productivity".  What we are is pure love...  (and CRAZY amounts of energy!) and in the pure love of a child, you can see God.  Children grow, and learn, until their late teens/ early 20's when they're considered "adults".    Talk to any 20 year old, and they're convinced that they're going to go out and conquer the world.   Talk to any 50 year old, and they'll say, (as I do), "I was SUCH an idiot when I was 20".   ...

Catholics *used* to be seen with their rosary in hand... it used to be one sign of a Catholic.   Unfortunately, it seems to have fallen "out of fashion".    I think we need to reconsider what we're neglecting. In today's world, many Catholics, protestants, and even non-religious can see how messed up the world is, and how much we need to change -- that was one of Trumps main attractants to people in the US.... getting back to where we USED to be....    I'll agree on one level.   We need to get back to where we used to be --- we need to get back to being a rosary-praying people!    The rosary is a meditation on the entire Gospel and incarnation of Christ.   But if you look at the history of the rosary (one talk on the bible studies page gives a good history of the rosary), you'll see that this is more than "some devotion".   When Our Lady appeared in Fatima, Portugal in 1917, she told the children  " Say the R...

Each of us fails.  That's no secret.   But do we always get back up?  It's easy to wallow in self-pity, or get discouraged - but that's not what we're meant to do. Jesus gave us the example.  He fell three times carrying his cross.  He didn't fall in new and spectacular ways when he fell -- he just fell.   The thing is, as badly bruised and broken as he was, he still got back up. I've been gone for awhile, having had surgery, getting back to work, and having numerous responsibilities that I've had to attend to.... all of which were clamoring for my attention.  So i let this go.  I failed. But today -- i resolve to get back on track, to get back up, to just keep going, because I think that this is something that God is asking of me.  If i'm truly a disciple of Christ, there's no saying "no".   There's only one answer --- "yes".  I won't worry about the "how", or "when" -- i'll just let Go...

As I think about my life, I can look and see all my possessions, that will be left to my children when I die.   However, is I have to ask myself, is this all there is?  Is this all I've managed to do with my life?  Is this all I have to give?  I think my children would tell you that I've given them some form of moral compass... even if it isn't all that I dreamed, necessarily...   I've demonstrated to them what it means to be responsible, and faithful, and self-giving.   But even if I hadn't done any of these things until now, I can recognize that I still have today, and God willing, I'll have tomorrow.   So what will I do with this time?  What treasures will I be storing up? I think I'm at the point where I'm far less concerned about the financial things I can achieve - even though I could busy myself with all sorts of financial goals at this point....  I'm certainly not "financially secure"...   But after m...