RCIA Playlist for the Existence of God

One of our first sessions covers God's existence. If you missed this class, or if you just need a bit more information, check out the YouTube playlist linked below. 

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL7H4hdigJnXBYM3_c2bLOjhdDhdQgpYKc

What Are We Seeking?

We are restless. We long for something more and we unconsciously express this in many ways. Some people like to shop because it very temporarily fills that desire for something more, but it quickly fades. Some people seek success in work or sports or other competition because the accolades received from others fills that desire, but that too quickly fades. Others seek to fill that desire in relationships, sometimes good relationships, sometimes unhealthy relationships, and we still feel that empty.

What is it we seek? If we are really honest and dig deeply into that question, what we will find is that we seek love. We want to be truly and unconditionally loved and to truly and unconditionally love another. We want to experience a love that completely fills that hole within us. One that leaves no emptiness or hunger for more. A love that puts our restlessness to rest.

It is as if we were created for the purpose of entering into a deep love that we yearn for in innermost part of our being, yet it alludes us. And we feel this because that is precisely what we were created for.

Within the very essence of God, the Father gazes upon the Son with the perfection of love, and the Son returns that gaze of perfect love to the Father. This Love is so perfect, so unconditional, so passionate, so powerful, so amazing… that it is poured out and is the Holy Spirit, the Third Person of the Trinity. This is why we learn in catechism class as young children that “God is Love.” It’s the very essence of His nature.

And God’s love doesn’t stop there. God doesn’t keep it to himself. God’s love is so intense that He needed to share it beyond Himself. This is why he created mankind. We are created for the purpose of entering into this intense love of the Godhead. That is our primary purpose for existence. We were designed, from the beginning, for relationship with God. This is precisely why we long for the perfection of Love. It is God, who is the perfection of Love, that we yearn for. This is what Augustine meant in his famous quote, “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.”

So, what do we do? We need to seek God in prayer and we need to be consistent. Spend some time in prayer every day. Prayer from the heart. Below is just one way that you could begin to pray daily if you aren’t sure how to begin.

I-                 Find a quiet peaceful place to sit.

II-               Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you in your time of prayer and to help you enter into this relationship of Love that God has created you for.

III-              Read a chapter of one of the Gospels. Continue in that Gospel each day. Maybe start with Mark.

IV-             When finished reading ask the Lord to come into your heart and to help you understand more deeply what you have read.

V-               Spend some time silently thinking about a part of the passage that stands out to you. 

VI-             Pray for any needs you have.

VII-            Give thanks for God for the time of Prayer and for things that you are grateful for.

This is not the only formula for prayer. Taylor it to work for you. But be consistent. Pray every day and make it a priority. Like any relationship it takes time.

Through seeking God in prayer, we can enter into that relationship with God that he has created us for and begin to know His love for us. We won’t find complete fulfillment in this life. That is Heaven. Growing in this this relationship with God is more like a path we travel down, daily growing closer and closer to the Divine Love, until one day we reach its fulfillment, enveloped in Love itself for all eternity.   

A Captivating Look at Holy Thursday and Good Friday

You want to take 10 minutes to watch this. Hit play, then make it full screen. Powerful! Through the eyes of about 6 eyewitnesses to the Passion.

Wait... Did Jesus Just Fly By?

Well, if you live in the Diocese of Fall River, Massachusetts, He just might have. This article highlights another way that some of our priests are getting creative in spreading God's grace during this COVID-19 pandemic. #BringingJesusToThePeople

Our Sunday Visitor Article: Priests fly monstrance over diocese, reflect on priestly mission

Spiritual Communion and a Blog Resurrected by Pandemic

It has been exactly 2 years since my last blog post. It's taken a worldwide crisis to get me to post again. In the work we are doing at the parish to reach people in new and different ways during this time when we are all staying home and Churches are closed, I am looking through a LOT of online material to see what we want to push out to our parishioners to comfort them at this time, and help them grow in their spiritual lives. In doing this I am coming across a lot of great stuff that may not go on our parish outlets, but may be helpful to people at this time. I am going to start posting some of that here.

The first is a Spiritual Communion video I cam across. It's beautifully done, short, and has a few great quotes that I hope people will find inspiring.

Be sure to view it in full screen. 

Paul, Apostle of Christ Interview

If you are interested in the movie, Paul, Apostle of Christ, you want to watch this. Interview with Jim Caviezel by Raymond Arroyo (EWTN) with comments by Dr. Scott Hahn (Franciscan University).

Paul, Apostle of Christ Comes Out this Friday!

If you have not seen the trailer for Paul, Apostle of Christ, click below to watch it. It's a must see Catholic film!

Do You Really Know Why We Fast in Lent?

Fr. Mike Schmitz lays out 4 reasons for fasting. Warning! this video may inspire you to fast more often and in different ways.

Feeling Overwhelmed?

This is a great 6.5 minute video on dealing with being overwhelmed. I know. I just gave you something else to do! But this is worth it. "Forget what lies behind and strive ahead!"

What You Need to Know About the Immaculate Conception

Tomorrow is December 8th, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, and a Holy Day of
Obligation. It's a fantastic time for each of us to brush up on this awesome truth. The Immaculate Conception is not only dogmatically defined by the Church, but it is one of only a handful of dogmas that a pope has made an infallible statement regarding. It's ironic that an element of the faith that is so important is also so often completely misunderstood.

Take a few minutes and read the short article my Dr. Marcellino D'Ambrosio called Immaculate Conception and Mary as a Model of Faith.  Dr. D'Ambrosio also goes by the superhero name "Dr. Italy", and his superhero power is clearly explaining Systematic and Sacramental Theology. Reading this article is 5 minutes well spent!

Click here to go to the Article