https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/248829/sainthood-cause-opened-for-polish-catholic-known-as-earthly-guardian-angel-of-auschwitz
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Tuesday, August 31, 2021
Saturday, August 28, 2021
Thursday, August 26, 2021
Joseph Chiwatenhwa’s Prayer
Joseph Chiwatenhwa’s Recorded Prayer
O God, at last I start to understand you. You made the earth, which we live in.
You made the sky, which we see above us. You made us, we who are called people.
Now you let me start to know who you really are. I know how to make a canoe, and how to enjoy it.
I know how to build a cabin and how to live in it. But you… you made us, and you live in us.
The things we make last for a few seasons. We only use the canoes we create for a short time.
We only live in the houses we build for a few years.
But your love for us will endure so long that we cannot count the time. You will comfort us forever.
As long as we live, how can anyone not acknowledge you? You are the one who protects us.
The time we feel your presence the most is when we face death.
You are the one with the power to keep our souls alive,
because only you know how to love us in the deepest part of ourselves.
Not even a mother or father can love a human being the way you do.
Your love for us is so strong that it makes evil spirits lose their power.
Now I begin to see that the reason you made us is because you want to share your love.
Nothing attracts you as much as your people. Thank you for letting me understand you.
You love us so deeply that all I can do in return is offer myself to you. I claim you as my elder and chief.
There is no one else. Ask me for anything you want. Just let me always hold you in my heart.
I always want to feel you watching and protecting me. I offer you my family.
If any evil strikes them when I am away, I know you will take care of them.
Your love is more than I can ever give them. Thank you … from my heart.
I see the loving way you lead us along the path of life. You want what is best for us.
If we have poverty, let us feel your love in it. If we get rich, do not let comfort make us forget that we need you.
Never let us turn into selfish people. Never let us think we are better than others who have less.
You love us equally, rich and poor. We are people, your people, and you love us as we are.
It fills me with joy to know you. I can feel the presence of your love.
Thank you for letting me give you myself just as I am.
The more I thank you, the more I find I can give myself to you.
Help me let go of the things I used to place my faith in. All I ask is to be yours.
It would have been enough to give us the gifts of the earth. Thank you for them.
But you’ve given us much more. In you, we live forever. I can hardly imagine what heaven is like, but it is enough for me to know your love and to believe in you with all my heart.
You have promised to let us be free spirits in you, and because I know you love us,your promise gives me hope. Help us to welcome suffering if it means we will know our need of you more deeply.
In our suffering, help us give ourselves to you.
We don’t have to be afraid to die, because death is the new birth that lets us live fully in you.
Life is a journey, and with you as our companion and our destination, it will end with great joy.
Lord, I am not afraid of death anymore. I will rejoice when I know the time has come for me to die.
I do not even want to mourn the passing of my relatives.
All I need to remember is you are bringing them to be with you in paradise.
You want to take them away so they can have perfect happiness.
Amen
Wednesday, August 25, 2021
Tuesday, August 24, 2021
Monday, August 23, 2021
Saturday, August 21, 2021
Friday, August 20, 2021
Thursday, August 19, 2021
Joyfully Orthodox Catholic: Aug 17
Joyfully Orthodox Catholic: Aug 17 - LOSING FRIENDSHIPS FOR LOVE
I had a friend for about 25 years who eventually grew to demonstrate nothing but contempt and disdain (hate?) for me. It was a very gradual development, but it grew and grew and grew to an unbearable and untenable tension and conflict. He'd lost respect for me and could not hide it in the last few years of our association. I too held many things with regard to our 'friendship' with a heavy degree of tension. I tried on a number of occasions to find a way that we could be reconciled but without any success.
~ The dam of irreconcilable tension eventually broke, with words and with no words; The silence - the silence of waters barely moving atop, but beneath hiding a violent undertow.
~ All I know for absolutely certain is that as he let go of an orthodox Christian faith, worldview, anthropology - as he abandoned the Christian tradition and culture with which he had been raised: that today he resents, belittles, and condemns, - our friendship withered - withered - died - with violence, spoken and not.
The End...
~ But the corpse still rots beneath ocean waves till Leviathan consumes all and perhaps one day a new life will be born.
Amen.
JONAH AND THE WHALE
Tuesday, August 17, 2021
1 Samuel 31
1 Samuel 31
1 The boy Samuel ministered before the LORD under Eli. In those days the word of the LORD was rare; there were not many visions.
2 One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place.
3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple [1] of the LORD, where the ark of God was.
4 Then the LORD called Samuel. Samuel answered, "Here I am."
5 And he ran to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me." But Eli said, "I did not call; go back and lie down." So he went and lay down.
6 Again the LORD called, "Samuel!" And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me." "My son," Eli said, "I did not call; go back and lie down."
7 Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD: The word of the LORD had not yet been revealed to him.
8 The LORD called Samuel a third time, and Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, "Here I am; you called me." Then Eli realized that the LORD was calling the boy.
9 So Eli told Samuel, "Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, `Speak, LORD, for your servant is listening.'" So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
10 The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" Then Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant is listening."
Joyfully Orthodox Catholic: Aug 16 / Haters' gonna hate.
Joyfully Orthodox Catholic: Aug 16
16. How to thrive and not just 'survive' in a society that increasingly hates you (or at best 'pities' you with a tinge of contempt)?; a culture that calls you mentally ill / insane / self-hating gay / gay who's internalised societal and religious homophobia?
1) Keep eyes and heart on God in Jesus - where your PEACE is There abides Your Life, Your Hope, the future that God Has Promised For You (Jer.29:11).
Some days are overflowing with temptations, But, Jesus "promises us way out" (1 Cor. 10:13) and he provides. When you 'crash and burn' say sorry, to Him and to yourself - cuz you're the one who's suffering as a result - do what you need to do to regain your inner peace and stability, and try to keep on the narrow path. It is hard, some days more, some days less.
2) Keep on doing things that you love to do.
3) Keep spending time with people you love and who love you.
4) HUGS ARE IMPORTANT!!! :)
Joyfully Orthodox Catholic: Aug 15
15. Today's the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the BIGGEST HolY-day of the year dedicated to Mary our Mama in Jesus!!!!
I'm in my 50th year of life now...
What can one say in one's 50th year about living as a Catholic Christian who is homosexually oriented (" gay ") but chooses - and has always chosen - to live according to Biblical Catholic faith and moral teaching? i.e. celibate, chaste, and prayerful about it.
Well, it is a blessed and super challenging adventure from the inside out. Being it's an adventure it is Really hard at times because the territory is dangerous, and unknown and filled with demons and monsters - its landscape is constantly shifting to be More treacherous, More confusing, More incomprehensible with the passing of time - And God in Jesus and the Holy Spirit are always there mostly unseen, but known by faith. God does never just 'go away' (unless you tell him you don't want him anymore but that's to be worked out between the two of you) - in Him we live and move and have our being (Bible)... It is thus and so. BLESSED FEAST OF OUR LADY'S ASSUMPTION!
Monday, August 16, 2021
Joyfully Orthodox Catholic: Aug 12 - 14 / ST MAXIMILIAN KOLBE, OFM cap.
12. Life with Jesus is full of surprises. He is better than you imagine he is. There can be so many ups and downs in a single day. Try to keep your heart on him. Maintain your routines best you can when you have breaks from work/holidays for example. Do some things you enjoy each day. Talk to him and talk to him and have silence and quiet, and allow yourself to see the beauty around you. Create beauty around you.
13. Talk to Jesus. Stay in 'reality', and if you don't know what that is ask Jesus to Keep You in reality. You'll be surprised in life how many people choose the opposite! You'll eventually discover the healthy and unhealthy relationships that you have, and have had, over the years.
Spend time with Jesus; prayer journaling can be a help. Spend time with friends who will give you a hug!
14. The Saints, like Maximilian Kolbe who's commemorated today, are real supports to you. Get to know at least one or two saints. Heroes, we all need heroes. Jesus comes to you in young friends and old, in friends you disagree with and friends you're on the same page with.
Time is not long in this life. That's a fact. Years go by fast. Do the best you can to keep heart and mind and actions on Jesus and what is important in his eyes. You know his will through orthodox Bible interpretation and the orthodox teaching of the Church in faith and morals.
Sunday, August 15, 2021
Poland prepares for beatification of mentor to John Paul II
Poland prepares for beatification of mentor to John Paul II: https://cruxnow.com/church-in-europe/2021/08/poland-prepares-for-beatification-of-mentor-to-john-paul-ii/
Thursday, August 12, 2021
REPRISE :) Hermit Humour - An Old Irish Joke in Primitive Irish
An Old Irish Joke in Primitive Irish (translation by David Stifter)
Transliteration
Tengwās īwerijonākāTut raddassodd trīs dītrebākī dīslondetun do bitū.
Tēgoddit in wāssākan do atareregiyī esyan kenutan writ dēwan.
Bāddar kina labarātun writ alaliyan qos qennan blēdaniyās.
Issit andan esset bīrt wiras dī ēbis writ alaliyan diyas blēdniyas: "mati ad tāyomas."
Bowet samali qos qennan blēdaniyās.
"Issit mati sodesin," esset bīrt aliyas uiras.
Bāddar andan ēran sodesū qos qennan blēdaniyās.
"Tongū wo mō brattan," esset bīrt trissas uiras, "ma nīt lēggītar kiyunessus do mū, imbit gabiyū wāssākan oliyan dū swi."
Old Irish (Sengoídelc) version
Tríar manach do·rat díultad dont ṡaegul.Tíagait i fásach do aithrigi a peccad fri día.
Bátar cen labrad fri araile co cenn blíadnae.
Is and as·bert fer diib fri araile dia blíadnae, "Maith at·taam," olse.
Amein co cenn blíadnae.
"Is maith ón," ol in indara fer.
Bátar and íar suidiu co cenn blíadnae.
"Toingim fom aibit," ol in tres fer, "mani·léicthe ciúnas dom co n-imgéb in fásach uile dúib."
Modern Irish (Gaeilge) version (by Dennis King)
Triúr manach a thug diúltú don saol.Téann siad ins an fhásach chun aithrí a dhéanamh ina gcuid peacaí roimh Dhia.
Bhí siad gan labhairt lena chéile go ceann bliana.
Ansin dúirt fear díobh le fear eile bliain amháin ina dhiaidh sin, "Táimid go maith," ar seisean.
Mar sin go ceann bliana.
"Is maith go deimhin," arsa an dara fear.
Bhí siad ann ina dhiaidh sin go ceann bliana.
"Dar m'aibíd," arsa an treas fear, "mura ligeann sibh ciúnas dom fágfaidh mé an fásach uile daoibh!"
English version (by Dennis King)
Three holy men turned their back on the world.They went into the wilderness to atone for their sins before God.
They did not speak to one another for a year.
At the end of the year, one of them spoke up and said, "We're doing well."
Another year went by the same way.
"Yes we are," said the next man.
And so another year went by.
"I swear by my smock," said the third man, "if you two won't be still I'm going to leave you here in the wilderness!
Source: http://www.smo.uhi.ac.uk/sengoidelc/donncha/tm/ilteangach/
Joyfully Orthodox Catholic: Aug. 10 - 11
Joyfully Orthodox Catholic: Aug. 10 - 11
10. Slow and steady wins the race. Keep on task with you hobbies and the other constructive pastimes and passions of your life; Where your treasure is, there will be your heart (Matthew 6).
11. Each day presents its own unique challenges. Maybe trusted friends will surprise you with an unexpected call, or text, etc.
Be Grateful that you are Loved and Cared For by others; They are the Face, and Hands, and Heart, and Voice of Jesus for you.
Jesus never departs from you, even when you're feeling divided and tempted of heart and mind.
Holy Prophet Moses
CHINA: Tyranny, Slavery and Columbia U | Yeonmi Park | The Jordan B. Peterson P...
Holy Martyrs of China Pray for Us
Joyfully Orthodox Catholic: Aug. 6 - 9
Joyfully Orthodox Catholic: Aug. 6 - 9
6. He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and lead us to everlasting life. - 1 John 1
Spend time with brothers and sisters in faith. Let Holy Spirit guide and comfort you through them.
7. Figuring your way forward in a good way is hard work. You learn new aspects of your identity year by year.
8. "Slow and steady wins the race" as the old saying goes!
Spend time with friends.
Pray.
Read.
Do your hobbies / projects.
Temptation towards those things you know won't help you, ie. porn, etc. does stick around but think about who you want to be, feelings come and go, think about the man you want to be at your best.
9. Spend time with family and friends in the faith.
Teresa of Avila
Joyfully Orthodox Catholic: Aug 3 - 5
Joyfully Orthodox Catholic: Aug 3 - 5
3. When the day is emotionally and mentally super rough make a plan to talk to a friend in the evening for an hour or so, in person or on the phone, etc.
Do things through the day that lift your spirits, ie. get a favourite meal somewhere, hobby/project, YouTube vids that uplift you or get you thinking (Jordan Peterson - Bible Series), go shopping for project parts or necessities.
Talk to Jesus and the Saints all day.
Pray in the ways that you find helpful.
Walk in a beautiful place.
Call someone unplanned, randomly.
There are days that will be Very Difficult and Jesus is there with you. He'll help you, even if you find you can't resist all of the things you feel like doing.
He Loves You.
4. On days that you "crash and burn" Trust in God's forgiveness, He is merciful and just, He forgives (Psalm 116; Ps. 103).
5. Regardless of your weaknesses and desperate longings and huge falls, God Is Still Good To You & Still Loving You & Still Holding You.
+St. John of the Cross, Pray for Us+
Joyfully Orthodox Catholic: August 1 - 2
Joyfully Orthodox Catholic: August 1 - 2
1. Begin and end your day in prayer. Read some Scripture (Bible reading); some other spiritual reading.
Do some prayer journaling in the morning with your tea/coffee at hand.
Pray your rosary/beads, or some part of it, in the day.
Set down to some task that allows you to remain in peace, or find peace of mind and heart.
Spend time with friends who help you be faithful to your Catholic faith and moral convictions; Just spend time together, no need to always talk about heavy stuff! :)
2. Talk to Jesus and/or Mary and the Saints all the time.
Keep icons of Jesus, Mary and the Saints in your home and work spaces.
Create a home altar / icon / prayer corner in your home.
When you are terrified ask Jesus to hold you.
Ask the Saints to be with you, the 40 Martyrs of Sebaste, Mother Teresa, St. Joseph, Virgin Mary, John of the Cross, Teresa of Avila, Maximilian Kolbe, Josephata Hordashevska, Augustine of Hippo, Mary of Egypt, Anthony of Egypt, Kateri, Bernadette, Therese, etc. (!!!) :)
When you go to sleep hold as big a crucifix as you can comfortably nod off with and cling to Jesus with all that you have and all that you are
Spend some time with some solid, supportive Christian friends if you can.
Call someone to chat / talk.
Pray at regular times in the day, Rosary / Divine Office / Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary, etc.
+Holy 40 Martyrs of Sebaste - Pray for Us+
Joyfully Orthodox Catholic: Gay mental health, addiction, suicide ~ Observations: A Lived Personal Perspective
Observations: A Lived Personal Perspective
1. Homosexual behaviour (HB) amongst men is obsessive and compulsive in a significant percentage of homosexually oriented men.
2. HB is commonly risky, promiscuous, life endangering on all observable / measurable levels.
3. HB has no ethical / moral limits or boundaries beyond age of consent.
4. HB is about dominance or passivity / submission.
5. The Physical, Psychological, Emotional, and Spiritual Boundary Transgression in homosexual behaviour is universally destructive - destroying - to all facets of the human person.
6. Only Jesus fills, fulfils, and overcomes in a man the desperation for love and wholeness that are at the root of homosexual orientation, inclination, and behaviour (John 14:6; Psalm 27).
7. Only the Sacrament of Reconciliation ~ Confession ~ Meets our need for Forgiveness, Peace, Mercy, and Hope; - Hope for a Better Life than what our inclinations lead us toward, and Better Than what our societies overbearingly press us toward.
8. Reception of the Blessed Sacrament ~ Eucharist ~ Holy Communion is the Only physical Reality that penetrates to the depth of our human need for Love and Wholeness.
+Holy 40 Martyrs of Sebaste - Pray for us+
Saint Angus the Culdee ( St * Aengus * Oengus * Ceile De )
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St. Angus wanted only a humble life of prayer, but his holiness and wisdom brought him fame. His effort to escape notoriety ended up leaving behind an important record of saints.
After the death of St. Maelruan, Angus returned to Clonenagh, where he finished the work, and was raised to the position of abbot. The custom of the time made the appointment also a designation as bishop. He died on this date in 824, and his relics rest in the reliquary chapel in the Basilica. Variations on his name are Aengus and Oengus.Wednesday, August 11, 2021
Tuesday, August 10, 2021
Saturday, August 7, 2021
The Martyrdom of Saint Magnus of Orkney
The Martyrdom of Saint Magnus of Orkney
With Magnus’s fate sealed, Hakon ordered Ofeig, his standard-bearer, to execute the earl. But the warrior refused angrily.
Enraged, Hakon turned to his cook, Lifolf, and instructed him to kill Magnus.
According to the saga, Lifolf wept loudly but Magnus spoke comforting words and forgave him for the acts he must carry out:
"Be not afraid, for you do this against your will and he who forces you sins more than you do."
So Magnus knelt before Lifolf and asked to be struck hard on the head, rather than beheaded like a common criminal:
"Stand thou before me, and hew on my head a great wound, for it is not seemly to behead chiefs like thieves. Take heart, poor wretch, for I have prayed to God for thee, that He be merciful unto thee."
Lifolf struck the blow and cleaved the Earl's skull in two.
The Orkneyinga Saga declares this act took place "1,091 winters after the birth of Christ" but this date does not tie in with documented events and is definitely incorrect. Magnus was killed many years later - on April 16, in 1115, 1116, 1117 or even 1118. Click here for more.
Initially, Magnus was denied a Christian burial by Earl Hakon and simply buried where he fell.
Miraculous happenings
Shortly afterwards, the miracles began.
The Orkneyinga Saga recounts that the site of Magnus’ murder was originally rocky and overgrown, but after his death "God showed that he had suffered for righteousness' sake" and the area was miraculously transformed into a green field.
Magnus' mother, Thora, pled with Hakon to allow her son a Christian burial. Hakon relented and allowed Magnus’ corpse to be retrieved. It was transferred to Birsay, where it was interred at Christchurch, the church Magnus’ grandfather, Thorfinn Sigurdsson, had built.
The exact location of this church remains uncertain today. Although it is generally thought to have either been on the Brough of Birsay or the site of the current St Magnus Kirk on Mainland Birsay. Recent investigations seem to favour the latter.
Wherever he was laid to rest, from the day of his burial a bright, heavenly light was said to have been seen above Magnus' grave. This holy light was accompanied by a "heavenly fragrance".
Before long, as the cult of Magnus grew, other stories began to spread, each detailing the miraculous happenings around about the Earl's gravesite.
The Orkneyinga Saga recounts in great detail the numerous miraculous healings that resulted from visits to the Magnus' resting place.
from: http://www.orkneyjar.com/history/stmagnus/magnus4.htm
Friday, August 6, 2021
Prophet Samuel, Monk with Raven, Jesus' Mercy, Saint Francis
Prophet Samuel
Monk and Raven
Jesus Mercy
St. Francis
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Saints Michael, Gertrude, and Marina P.P.N.
St. Michael Archangel
St. Gertrude
St. Marina
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Thursday, August 5, 2021
Wednesday, August 4, 2021
AN ORTHODOX CATHOLIC APPROACH TO - BEING GAY - Homosexuality - Homosexual Orientation - Same Sex Attraction - Trans - Queer - Etc.
AN ORTHODOX CATHOLIC APPROACH TO BEING GAY - HOMOSEXUALITY - HOMOSEXUAL ORIENTATION - SAME SEX ATTRACTED - TRANS - QUEER - Etc.
* "ORTHODOX CATHOLIC" hereafter refers to the Christian Faith and Moral teachings outlined in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
1) Talk & Pray to Jesus as your Spouse; Ask Jesus to Make You Live In Reality! He is All The Love You Will Ever Need, you can Trust Him To Provide for Your Every True and Right Longing, but make no mistake, the journey is Very Very Difficult and you will complete it if you want to follow Jesus with all that you have and all that you are; You must be willing to live "All for Jesus and Only for Jesus"** as your First and Greatest Love.
2) Ask Sts. Mary and Joseph to help you in all your needs, as family.
3) READ SCRIPTURE DAILY, directly from your Bible, in daily Mass readings, or in some prayer book form - Follow Orthodox Catholic faith and moral teaching (it is hard but absolutely doable, because God Holy Spirit Makes it possible and does the work in you over time :)
4) Attend Mass (served by an Orthodox Catholic priest!), ideally Saturday evenings or Sundays, but do what you can :)
5) Pray the Rosary, it mellows out your heart.
6) Have or Build a broad circle of Orthodox Catholic (and Other Christian!) friends and family who support you in your Faith and Moral decisions and convictions; Be a help and support to them as you are able, But Know that ONLY JESUS is Forever reliable and Faithful in His relationships!
7) LOSE The Associates ("friends"?) WHO DO NOT SUPPORT YOU(!) in your Orthodox Catholic Faith and Moral conscience, convictions, and commitments.
8) Do Orthodox Catholic Spiritual reading in the lives of the saints and martyrs, ie. 40 Martyrs of Sebaste, St. Augustine, St. Mary of Egypt, Sts. Teresa of Avila and John of the Cross, Martyrs of Japan, Maximilian Kolbe, Maria Skobtsova of Paris, etc.
9) Eucharistic Adoration (at an Orthodox Catholic parish :)
10) Regular Confession/Sacrament of Reconciliation WITH AN ORTHODOX CATHOLIC PRIEST who you trust :)
11) Avoid Unnecessary media use - (as it's full of 'some' things you need, and Much you do not need ;)
12) IN SUMMARY: Talk to Jesus as Your Spouse day and night; Read some Faith related Meditations based in the Bible Daily; pray a bit of your Rosary daily; attend Mass when you can; attend Eucharistic Adoration if you are able. Pray with friends and/or family by phone or in person at least once a week. Spend time with Orthodox Catholic / Christian friends or family as regularly as possible.
13) JESUS Is the ONLY LOVER WHO FILLS US (John 10:10). If and when you should stumble, or fall, or "crash and burn", just get back up again, He will never leave you or forsake you. He has called you by your name, You Are His. You'll always be a sinner, and you'll never be perfect, but He will make you holy like He is holy - Be not Afraid, He loves you With An Everlasting Love!!!
14) Gaily Orthodox Catholic daily reflections are posted to help you on the journey.
15) And A COUPLE OF FILMS TO ENCOURAGE YOU !!! :) -
Films: EVERLASTING HILLS - about Living with Jesus and 'being gay'.
THE THIRD WAY: Homosexuality and the Catholic Church
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**Words of Mother Teresa of Calcutta.