Before my morning post, let us start off with a prayer:

Father in Heaven, all throughout this day thou hast given us, may we do what is pleasing in thine eyes, and do what is good and right. Help us to resist temptation, and love the Lord with our whole heart, and help us to dedicate all we are to you.

Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, Amen.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee, blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus, Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, Amen.

We ask this through Christ Our Lord, Amen


In the Name of the +Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen




It always helps me to start my day off with morning Mass and prayer. It's a way of dedicating yourself to Jesus, and if you do this, He will help you through anything you may be faced with during the course of the day. Basing your life around the Sacraments is a wonderful way to live the Catholic faith. If you have to get up earlier to go to Mass, then do it! If your co-workers ask why you get up so early, don't be afraid to tell them! Perhaps they are Catholics, but haven't practiced the faith in awhile. Your attendance at Mass may motivate them to return to the Faith.

Preach the Gospel always, and when necessary, use words--St. Francis of Assisi




God Bless!

John

To start this post off, I'd like to wish the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI a wonderful feast day, considering this is the feast of St. Benedict. May he be blessed with a long, healthy life.


I went out to dinner tonight with the assistant pastor at my parish. He is a newly-ordained priest, and a wonderful, holy, priest as well. He seems to be incredibly knowledgeable, friendly, and always willing to talk to you about nearly anything. I feel incredibly blessed to have him at my parish. It was truly a wonderful experience.


Moving on to better things; I have been thinking about the so-called "vocations crisis" in the Catholic Church. There's no doubt, there is a shortage of priests currently. But, I do not currently believe there is a crisis in vocations. I think there is a crisis in the meaning of life. Most young men today are bombarded with all kinds of inappropriate material, and it takes an incredible amount of faith and determination to resist all the temptations in today's society. Young females have it even worse. They are constantly pressured by billboards and other advertisements that show beautiful women showing off their external features, and showing off their bodies. I think that there is a definite problem with today's media, in that, a new movie that comes out isn't any good unless it contains drugs, sex, or violence. Honestly, the best movies are usually the ones that do not contain any of this disgusting material. Our Lord teaches us that our bodies are supposed to be temples of the Holy Spirit, yet so often, we do not really realize this. The next time you are tempted by sexual thoughts or desires, say to yourself "My body is a temple of the holy spirit," and I assure you that you will have an easier time resisting these temptations.




And now, let us close with a prayer:


In the Name of the +Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen
O Lord, watch over us as we sleep, be with us when we are awake, so that awake we may keep watch with Christ, and asleep rest in his peace. Lord, now you let your servant go in peace, my own eyes have seen the salvation, that you have prepared in the sight of every people. And, in the morning, when I rise, help me to do well in all that I do, and to dedicate all my work and play to you.


May the Almighty Lord give us a restful night and a peaceful death, Amen


In the Name of the +Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen