Holy Michael, the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray; and do you, O Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who wander through the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.
Month: October 2021
Our True Identity
One of my daughter’s friends announced that she is non-binary, changing her name to Shawn, and using they/them pronouns. In response to questions she said she is more comfortable with these words in identifying who she feels she is.
How did we get here?
In the beginning, God created Adam and Eve. They lived happily in the garden until the evil one got involved and cast seeds of doubt. God told them that if they ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil they would die. Satan invited them to doubt the truth of God’s words and death entered in..
“But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not die. For God knows that when you eat it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” (Gen 3:4-5)
Satan is at it again. This time he is sowing seeds of doubt about our identity. The creation story tells us we are made male and female. This is our identity. The gender fluidity movement says that’s a lie – our gender is what we say it is not what God says it is.
He whispers, “You aren’t a female just because your biology is female. You are what you think you are. You are what feels comfortable.”
In today’s Gospel we hear about who we really are. Our identity is as a fellow citizen with the holy ones. We are members of God’s household. The truth of who we are, our true identity, is that we are His. We are his sons and daughters. We are male and female parts of a large family spanning time and space. We are part of something built upon and held together by Jesus Christ. We are a place where the Spirit dwells.
When we embrace our place as children of God we come to see the beauty of our created bodies and we value that creation. We don’t pick our gender, we are blessed with our gender. Our gender is how we generate new life and God chooses whether we do that generating by creating seed or growing the new life inside us. It’s one or the other and we can look at our bodies to figure out which it is.
Today we are reminded: we are not strangers to God. We belong to him. Our identity is as his children. We are not what the world says we are. We may not even be what we think we are. The truth is that we are who God says we are – beautiful children who belong to him. If we stay close to him, he will reveal more to us and we won’t have to listen to any lies.
Claim your place in his household. Number yourself with the holy ones. Stand firm upon his foundation and let his spirit dwell within you.
Merridith Frediani loves words and is delighted by good sentences. She also loves Lake Michigan, dahlias, the first sip of hot coffee in the morning, millennials, and playing Sheepshead with her husband and three kids. She writes for Catholic Mom, Diocesan.com, and her local Catholic Herald. Her first book Draw Close to Jesus: A Woman’s Guide to Adoration is available at Our Sunday Visitor and Amazon. You can learn more at merridithfrediani.com.
Feature Image Credit: Juan Pablo Arias, https://www.cathopic.com/photo/14655-soy-un-hijo-dios
St. Jude Thaddaeus: Saint of the Day for Thursday, October 28, 2021
St. Jude, known as Thaddaeus, was a brother of St. James the Less, and a relative of Our Saviour. He was one of the 12 Apostles of Jesus and his attribute is a club. Images of St. Jude often include a flame around his head, which represent his presence at Pentecost, when he accepted the Holy Spirit alongside the other apostles. Another attribute is St. Jude holding an image of Christ, in the Image of Edessa.
Sometimes he can also be seen holding a carpenter’s ruler or is depicted with a scroll …
Peace of Heart: Prayer of the Day for Thursday, October 28, 2021
Almighty and Eternal God,
Give me, I beseech You,
the great gift of inward peace.
Command the winds and storms
of my unruly passions.
Subdue, by Your grace,
my proneness to love
created things too much.
Give me a love of suffering for Your sake.
make me forbearing and kind to others,
that I may avoid quarrels and contentions.
And teach me constantly to seek after
and to acquire that perfect resignation
to Your Holy Will
which alone brings interior peace.
Amen.
Is The Gate Too Narrow?
In Romans 8: 26-30, Saint Paul, reminds us that the Holy Spirit comes to the aid of our weakness. When was the last time we thought of that? Paul has no problem telling us about his weaknesses over and over. Somehow, over the centuries, a person sharing his or her weaknesses has been lost. We are now in a time when we are looking for something to brag about. God always works through humility, not pride. Just ask Paul, his humility did not start until he was knocked off his “horse” by Jesus. Paul had to ask him who he was. And when he began to know him, Paul’s life changed radically! He was, as I like to say, All In. He gave his life totally to God.
Now, let us ask ourselves, Are we all in? Have we given ourselves totally to God? It’s a pretty difficult task. Well, I guess my next question would be, are you or am I really trying to live in God’s will? Something to ponder.
Today’s Gospel, Luke 13:22-30, is in our faces. Someone asked Jesus if only a few people would be saved. Jesus tells him (us) to enter through the narrow gate. Jesus even adds that the gate will be locked, and when those who are not strong (in their faith) ask for entrance they will hear the response, “I do not know you”! Those are horrific words! Why would he say that? Perhaps we are going through the motions, but our hearts are divided. Only a small portion of our hearts are saved for the Lord.
Remember, he is a jealous God and wants us all in. I know, I know, easier said than done. But, we need to start somewhere. You and I know where to start, on our knees. We need to spend more time in prayer. Then He will lead us where he wants us to be! What a wonderful place!
Serving with joy!
Deacon Dan Schneider is a retired general manager of industrial distributors. He and his wife Vicki have been married for over 50 years. They are the parents of eight children and thirty grandchildren. He has a degree in Family Life Education from Spring Arbor University. He was ordained a Permanent Deacon in 2002. He has a passion for working with engaged and married couples and his main ministry has been preparing couples for marriage.
Featured Image Credit: Anuja Mary Tilj, https://unsplash.com/photos/ftuTt79imCk
St. Frumentius: Saint of the Day for Wednesday, October 27, 2021
Called “Abuna” or “the faÂther’ of Ethiopia, sent to that land by St. Athanasius. Frumentius was born in Tyre, Lebanon. While on a voyage in the Red Sea with St. Aedesius, possibly his brother, only Frumentius and Aedesius survived the shipwreck. Taken to the Ethiopian royal court at Aksum, they soon attained high positions. Aedesius was royal cup bearer, and Fruementius was a secretary. They introduced Christianity to that land. When Abreha and Asbeha inherited the Ethiopian throne from their …
Prayer for Purity: Prayer of the Day for Wednesday, October 27, 2021
Jesus, Lover of chastity, Mary, Mother most pure, and Joseph, chaste guardian of the Virgin, to you I come at this hour, begging you to plead with God for me. I earnestly wish to be pure in thought, word and deed in imitation of your own holy purity.
Obtain for me, then, a deep sense of modesty which will be reflected in my external conduct. Protect my eyes, the windows of my soul, from anything that might dim the luster of a heart that must mirror only Christlike purity.
And when the “Bread …
Hope and Goodness
“For in hope we are saved” (Rom 8:24).
In today’s First Reading, we are reminded that “this, too, shall pass” and what we are truly working towards is the Kingdom of God. The reading is about the Glory of God, the “eager expectation” we should have. The reading is about hope.
Sadly, we live in a world where it is so easy to lose hope. We see corrupt people rising in the ranks, we see people starving in the streets, and we see our loved ones falling sick. But when we look to the Lord, keep our eyes set upon Him, we can be renewed in this hope. The book of Romans tells us that hope isn’t knowing that something has already happened, but waiting in anticipation and with faith. If we based our hopes for this world on what we see, then hope would be a negative word for a negative world.
Instead, hope is something that inspires us. It reminds us that there is more to dream of, more to live for, more to hope for, because “the sufferings of this present time are as nothing compared to the glory to be revealed to us.”
By living in unity with God, with Jesus, with the Holy Spirit, we know that there is good. Just as my high school youth group would chant, “God is good! All the time! All the time! God is good!”
Glory to you, God, for redemption through your Son,
for the most holy sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
Thank you for the hope you have given us through all your goodness.
Thank you for showing us Your mercy, Your love, and Your glory, even here on earth.
May we shed tears of joy in hope.
May we dance and sing and cry out in undignified praise,
giving glory to you without worry or pride as King David did.
May we always hope in you and through you, Lord. Amen.
Veronica Alvarado is a born and raised Texan currently living in Pennsylvania. Since graduating from Texas A&M University, Veronica has published various Catholic articles in bulletins, newspapers, e-newsletters, and blogs. She continued sharing her faith after graduation as a web content strategist and digital project manager. Today, she continues this mission in her current role as communications director and project manager for Pentecost Today USA, a Catholic Charismatic Renewal organization in Pittsburgh.
Feature Image Credit: Hao Pan, https://unsplash.com/photos/GqGsAF1sABU
St. Bean: Saint of the Day for Tuesday, October 26, 2021
On December 16, there is named in the Roman Martyrology and in certain Irish calendars a Saint Bean in Ireland, who had been confused with the St. Bean whose feast is still observed in the Scottish diocese of Aberdeen, but on October 26, as founder of the bishopric of Mortlach in Banff which was the forerunner of that of Aberdeen. Nothing else is known about him. The fourteenth century chronicler Fordun, states that he was made bishop by Pope Benedict VIII, at the request of Malcolm Canmore, …
For Expectant Mothers: Prayer of the Day for Tuesday, October 26, 2021
Almighty and everlasting God, through the power of the Holy Spirit, you prepared the body of the Virgin Mary to be a worthy dwelling place of your divine son. You sanctified St. John the Baptist, while still in his mother’s womb. Listen now to my prayer. Through the intercession of St. Gerard, watch over my child and me; protect us at the time of delivery. May my child receive the saving graces of Baptism, lead a Christian life, and, together with all the members of our family, attain …