Christmas Joy

I was listening to a priest preaching about the Gospel today. He spoke of how we belong to Christ. I found myself asking the question, “Today did I act like I really believe that we belong to Christ or did I behave as if I belong only to this world?" Today, Am I living like I believe that I am His, bought with the sacrifice of His life, the shedding of His precious blood. Am I living in the joy of knowing that God is my Father, I am not alone, and I am a child of the King? Can I take a moment to rest in the joy of knowing that Christ came to a tiny, dirty stable in Bethlehem? He accepted all its imperfections for love of me and You. ..I don’t want to be so busy with life that I don't rest in that knowledge so as to let it permeate all that I do. Come Holy Spirit, lead us this Advent to Bethlehem where we can encounter Christ in a Spirit of Joy and contemplation. Deliver us from the spirit of consumerism and restlessness. May the heart of the infant Jesus move our hearts to joy and peace overflowing?
Like the centurion we can pray, Lord I do believe, please help our unbelief that we may receive and live out the joy, and the graces you have won for us. Amen

Running from God

Now the men were seized with great fear and said to him,
"How could you do such a thing!"
They knew that he was fleeing from the LORD,
Because he had told them."...Then they took Jonah and threw him into the sea,and the sea's raging abated. Struck with great fear of the LORD,
the men offered sacrifice and made vows to him.
But the LORD sent a large fish, that swallowed Jonah;
and Jonah remained in the belly of the fish
three days and three nights. to read more go to Jon 1:1:2:1-2,http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/100311.cfm 11

Even when Jonah fled, the Lord showed him mercy but how much better it would of been for Jonah and all involved if Jonah had obeyed and answered God's call. I wonder if God is asking;
Are you fleeing from the Lord? Afraid He may ask too much of you? Forgetting that He will never be out done in generosity?

His Love

In Ephesians 3:14-20 [14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family[a] in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen

Patience

"Be patient with everyone, but above all with yourself. Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections but instantly set about remedying them - every day begin the task anew."

-St. Francis de Sales

Seeking God

"Whenever I go to the chapel, I put myself in the presence of our good Lord, and I say to Him, " Lord, I am here. Tell me what You would have me do"
If He gives me some task, I am content and I thank Him. If he gives me nothing I still thank Him since I don not deserve to receive anything more that that. And I tell God everything that is inmy heart. I tell Him my pains and joys, and then I listen..
If you listen, God will also speak to you, for with the good Lord, you have to both speak and listen. God always speakes to you when you approach Him plainly and simply."
Saint Catherin Laboure Her story and the story of the Miraculous medal can be found onMiraculous Medal Association - Marian Prayer, Spiritual Reflections ...
www.cammonline.org/ - I prayed the Novena and I was healed of a cyst , Thanks be to God!

The Lord is Near

These are some of my favorite Scriptures that I am glad to be reminded of.

"Cast all your anxiety on him becuause he cares for you." 1 Peter 5;7
"I sought the Lord, and he answered me; He delivered me from all my fears. Psalm 34:4
"The Lord is my light and my salvation-whom shall I fear?" Psalm 27:1
Philippians 4:6
New American Standard Bible (NASB)
6 (A)Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by (B)prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Philippians 4:5
New International Version (NIV)
5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.

Testify to Love

" .. ..What matters is not owning life (which is impossible), but sanctifying it with love while we have it. Recognizing it as the fleeting, precious gift it is. "
This quote is written by Paula D'Arcy in her book,Where the Wind Begins,one of the best books I ever read. It was written by a woman who lost her husband and two year old in a car accident. She was pregnant and survived. Her book tells of her victory and the victory of others over suffering. I hope you can make time to read it. It is a book filled with hope.

Corrie ten Boom and Rising Higher

"If a bird is flying for pleasure it flies with the wind, but if it meets danger
it turns and faces the wind, in order that it may rise higher." Corrie ten Boom




This quote means a lot to me  as it comes from a survivor of the Nazi concentration camps. Corrie's witness is one of great hope and faith. I hope you get a chance to read her story. It is amazing. It is called "The Hiding Place"
Psalm 32:7
"You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance."


Isaiah 40:30-31
30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
31 but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

Show Me Your Glory , Third Day

A Christian should never let adversity get him down except on his knees. -
Mae Nicholson

'Blessed is the man who endures temptation: for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him."
James1:12 The photo here was taken by my brother Mark Petruzzi(copywrite 2011). The resolution on my computer doesn't do it justice but I love it as it reminds me the victory we have in Christ. The roses are in all their Glory as reach for the sun and they embrace the Cross trelace.

Dear Lord in times of difficulty and always,help us to reach for your Son, Jesus, to embrace our cross and to trust that through it, He will show us Your Glory.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JbEQHmCEFU&feature=related

Confession Fulton sheen

:)

"God, in His mercy, instituted the sacrament of Penance, or Confession, so that sins committed after Baptism may be remitted.
Sin is possible because we are free. It is an abuse of freedom. Denying sin makes the forgiveness of sins impossible. Sin is a deliberate violation of the law of God and is the breaking of a personal relationship. But regardless of how great the sin, there is always mercy."Bishop Fulton Sheen


Dear God, No use tryin' to kid You... You know I done it. ~ Dennis The Menace

Humility vs Humbled

"When tempted to despair, I have only one resource: to throw myself at the foot of the tabernacle like a little dog at the foot of his master."
-St. John Vianney
That's the kind of humility that leads us to Christ, who raises us up far higher than we could ever raise ourselves in our own power. It is hard to ask for the virtue of humility. Maybe this is because the word congers up visions of past humiliations and the fear of more to come. I was glad to of been told that Humility doesn't ask us to think badly of ourselves. Real humility is an honest recognition of ones strengths and weaknesses in the light of Christ's love for us.It calls us to trust in Him and to give thanks to Him in a way that draws us closer to all that is good. Real humility can lead to true contrition and it empowers us to live in the peace and freedom of Christ. Remembering that makes it easier for me to pray for this most foundational of all virtues. Dear Lord, We pray for the light we need to recognize our sins, our strenghts and our weaknesses. We pray for the virtue of humility. We pray this lent for true contrition for our sins and the grace to overcome obstacles that keep us from going to confession, your Sacrament of Mercy. Amen

You Matter

I read today that one of the greatest gifts of love anyone can ever give or receive is attention. It is a simple yet life changing thought that when you give people your time, you give them your life. How great it was to be reminded that when you pay attention to someone and look them in the eye, you are saying, “You matter to me. You are valuable.” Sometimes it feels like we can not make a difference but Moms, children, dads and all the laity can remember that everyday,when we take the time to listen and pay attention to the needs of others, we are part of Christ's salvic mission. How can we treat others like they matter. We can treat others like they really matter when we are convinced that we really matter to God.Luke12: 6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. 7 Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Homeward Bound St. John Bosco

"The longer you stay away from Communion, the more your soul will become weak, and in the end you will become dangerously indifferent." -St. John Bosco

Why do we neglect the Mass when it is so powerful in assisting us in our every need?
Is it because we lack knowledge,faith, perseverance,and love? Maybe, we hope to take pride in ourselves and our own accomplishments. Decieved into thinking we have no time or no need for Sunday Mass or even daily Mass, we unknowingly reject the love of God and His means of assisting us. St. John Baptist de la Salle says;
"The Eucharist is necessary to preserve the soul in the spiritual life of grace; for the soul, like the body, becomes gradually exhausted, if care is not taken to repair its strength."
Dear God help us not to get so busy and distracted by the cares of this world that we forget your care, love and saving power for us in the Blessed Sacrament.Amen

An Unhappy Anniversary

52,008,666 Babies Aborted Since Roe v.Wade, January 22, 1973
Prayer to the Virgin Mary

O Mary, Mother of Jesus and Mother of us all, we turn to you today as the one who said "Yes" to Life. "You will conceive and bear a Son," the angel told you. Despite the surprise and the uncertainty about how this could be, you said yes. "Be it done unto me according to your word."
Mary, we pray today for all mothers who are afraid to be mothers. We pray for those who feel threatened and overwhelmed by their pregnancy. Intercede for them, that God may give them the grace to say yes and the courage to go on. May they have the grace to reject the false solution of abortion. May they say with you, "Be it done unto me according to your word." May they experience the help of Christian people, and know the peace that comes from doing God's will. Amen.
http://www.priestsforlife.org/prayers/prayertomary.html
Woman need love, not abortions!

How to Pray?

Pray as Mary, the mother of Jesus prayed.
..."She whom the Almighty made "full of grace" responds by offering her whole being: "Behold I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be [done] to me according to Thy word". "Fiat": this is Christian prayer: to be wholly Gods' because He is wholly ours. [CCC 2617]

"How to pray? This is a simple matter. I would say: Pray any way you like, so long as you do pray."
--Pope John Paul II

Prayer

"Prayer is the place of refuge for every worry, a foundation for cheerfulness, a source of constant happiness, a protection against sadness."

-- St. John Chrysostom

WISHING YOU A BLESSED NEW YEAR

"...so as one year ends and another begins, never forget that you are a child of God. Never forget that you are wrapped in his love, enfolded in his plan, and held close to his heart. He who is from all eternity has divine wisdom to guide you as you face the challenges of 2011. No matter what comes your way. Jesus Christ,the Word of God,has taken on human flesh. He came to dwell among us centuries ago, and he is still dwelling among us today." A meditation based on 1 John 2:18-21 froim FIVE MINUTES WITH THE WORD ADVENT 2010, CALL 1-800-775-9673 TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE WORD AMOUNG US. DAILY MEDITATIONS