The Christmas Message of Hope (shared from www.divinemercy.org)

St Faustina’s Christmas St. Faustina truly loved Christmas. For her, Christmas was about the birth of Jesus, the promised Messiah. As a poor nun, living far from her home, she probably didn’t receive many gifts. If you read the Christmas passages in the Diary, on every occasion, Jesus told her that her heart was His delight and His resting place. These words of love from Jesus must have been the greatest gift St. Faustina could have ever received. Like many great saints, she also had beautiful visions of Jesus as a small child during Christmas. On Christmas Day, 1934 during Midnight Mass, the child Jesus appeared on the Altar dressed in a white pinafore. She described Him as “incomparably beautiful” and said “the whole time the Infant kept looking at everyone, stretching out His little hands”. (Diary 347) St. Faustina also saw Mary holding her child during this Mass, which she told St. Faustina was the “secret of her happiness”. (Diary 346) If you’ve ever held a new born baby, you will understand the powerful feelings this can stir. It must have been truly amazing for Joseph & Mary to know they were holding the Messiah in their arms that glorious night.   The Christmas Story The beautiful passages we read during Mass at Christmas always provide us with new and interesting insights into this mystery. But probably the most important message is that the Messiah was not born in a posh house or fancy hospital. From the very beginning, Jesus was amongst the poorest of the poor. In November 1935, He told St. Faustina, “Today, penetrate into the spirit of My poverty and arrange everything in such a way that the most destitute will have no reason to envy you.” (Diary 532) Although we are all forced to deal with the commercial aspect of Christmas nowadays, and it is nice to give and to receive presents, this must not become the main focus of Christmas. The problem is we could miss the opportunity to really engage our faith in our rush to get everything done.   The Christmas Message of Hope The Christmas story is a message of hope. But not just the hope that the promised Saviour was born so that our sins might be forgiven, but practical hope also. If you read the story of Christmas, you will see how, even though everything seemed to be going wrong for Joseph and Mary, God was taking care of them all the time. There was a very distinct reason why Jesus was born in a stable. Can you imagine how terrible St. Joseph must have felt when he couldn’t get decent accommodation for his heavily pregnant wife or Mary who must have suffered so much physical pain without a comfortable bed to lie in? And yet the providence of God was caring for them all along. This is an important message for us this Christmas as we all face into uncertain economic times. As we feel the pressure of our Christmas expenses build up, we must look to the story of Christmas in our hearts and trust that God is watching over us. We must learn to trust that, even if things are going wrong, God knows and God cares.   Learning to Trust Every day we hear tragic stories in the media about our economy, our church and our society. Our faith gives us something to hold onto when times are tough. Our Catholic faith helps us to see what is truly important in life. Our faith is also our source of joy in life. Its wisdom guides us as we walk along the rocky path. The Churches Sacraments nourish our souls and inspire our minds. The more we understand that God’s ways are the best ways, the more secure we feel in life and the more happiness we experience.   Christmas and Divine Mercy Learning to trust in Jesus is the purpose of the devotion to Divine Mercy. The story of Christmas helps us on this journey towards complete trust in God. This Christmas season we must try to carry St. Faustina’s vision of the child Jesus in our hearts to remind us of the beauty of this mystery and let ourselves be inspired by God’s message of hope interwoven into the story of Christmas.

 

Join the National Marian Pilgrimage for Life! No to RH Bill! No toSame Sex Unions! , Dec. 11, 2011 @ Luneta

Divine Mercy Bundle of Joy- a look at the years past Part 3

Here we find that during the Bundle of Joy project, we not only supply physical resources (albeit limited supply) but most all, for the people's spiritual nourishment.

Divine Mercy Bundle of Joy - a look at the years past Part 1

Every year, we've enjoined people to help with the Archdiocese of Cebu Bundle of Joy project. This year, we would like to put a face (faces) on the actual people and community being helped as we once again appeal to those who have something to share.

The volunteer team in cebu (which includes the Villavicencio children) comb the communities and preselect (by assigning claim tickets) those who they find to be living in most need. They are screened very closely so much so those whose homes are found with any electronic (TV, ref, radio etc) are deemed not yet the poorest of the poor and will not be prioritized before those who have none and who have less. Those found to be MOST IN NEED, shall be assigned tickets to enable them to claim their Bundle of Joy after mass and spiritual nourishment.

We pray this year we can increase assistance to them by covering more families in need.

Divine Mercy Bundle of Joy - a look at the years past part 2

The Bundle of Joy project allows us to share in providing for each family's noche buena as this is distributed usually a few days before Christmas. This year it will be on December 22, 2011.

Each bundle contains basic food needs and some personal effects.

If you wish to extend help, please email us through ourdivinemercyfamily@gmail.com or SMS at 09278281119.

Praying for the Dead and Gaining Indulgences During November

Praying for the Dead and Gaining Indulgences During November

Explaining indulgences and practices Catholics can do during the month of November for the Poor Souls in Purgatory.

Directions

It is during November that the Church meditates on the Communion of
Saints, which is the charitable link with the faithful who have already
reached heaven (Church Triumphant), the faithful departed who are still
expiating their sins in Purgatory (Church Suffering) and of the pilgrim
faithful here on earth (Church Militant). "In this wonderful exchange,
the holiness of one profits others, well beyond the harm that the sin of
one could cause others. Thus recourse to the communion of saints lets
the contrite sinner be more promptly and efficaciously purified of the
punishments for sin." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1475).

On November 1st the Church celebrates the Solemnity of All Saints, a
holyday of obligation, honoring all those faithful in heaven. Throughout
November the Church also remembers our faithful departed. The need and
duty of prayer for the departed souls has been acknowledged by the
Church at all times. It is recommended in the Scriptures of the Old
Testament: "It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the
dead, that they may be loosed from sins."(2 Macch. 12, 46). This duty
has found expression not only in public and private prayers but
especially in the offering of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass for the
repose of souls.

Throughout November the Church prays for all who are in the purifying
fires of Purgatory, waiting for the day when they will join the company
of the saints in heaven. The celebration of Mass is the highest means
the Church can provide for charity for the dead, but we can also relieve
their sufferings through our prayers, sufferings and penances. We an
also help the Poor Souls by doing acts and prayers that have indulgences
attached to them. There are many indulgences, applicable only to the
Souls in Purgatory, that can be obtained during the month of November.

An indulgence is "the remission before God of the temporal
punishment due for sins already forgiven as far as their guilt is
concerned." To obtain this remission there are proper dispositions and
certain conditions predetermined by the Church that must be met by the
faithful. The remission is acquired through the intervention of the
Church, who has the power to loose and bind granted through Jesus
Christ. "As minister of the Redemption, authoritatively dispenses and
applies the treasury of the satisfaction won by Christ and the Saints" (Enchiridion of Indulgences).

To understand this practice of indulgences, the Catechism explains:

[I]t is necessary to understand that sin has a double consequence.
Grave sin deprives us of communion with God and therefore makes us
incapable of eternal life, the privation of which is called the "eternal
punishment" of sin. On the other hand every sin, even venial, entails
an unhealthy attachment to creatures, which must be purified either here
on earth, or after death in the state called Purgatory. This
purification frees one from what is called the "temporal punishment" of
sin. These two punishments must not be conceived of as a kind of
vengeance inflicted by God from without, but as following from the very
nature of sin. A conversion which proceeds from a fervent charity can
attain the complete purification of the sinner in such a way that no
punishment would remain.

The forgiveness of sin and restoration of communion with God entail the
remission of the eternal punishment of sin, but temporal punishment of
sin remains. While patiently bearing sufferings and trials of all kinds
and, when the day comes, serenely facing death, the Christian must
strive to accept this temporal punishment of sin as a grace. He should
strive by works of mercy and charity, as well as by prayer and the
various practices of penance, to put off completely the "old man" and to
put on the "new man." (1472, 1473)

An indulgence can either be partial or plenary. It is partial if it removes only part of the temporal punishment due to sin, or plenary if it removes all punishment.

To be able to gain an indulgence, one must have the intention to gain
them, and perform the works at the time and in the manner prescribed.

To attain a plenary indulgence, three conditions must accompany the prescribed act:

1. the faithful must receive the sacrament of confession, either eight days before or after the pious act is performed,


2. receive Holy Communion on that day
3. and recite prayers for the intentions of the Holy Father (one Our Father and one Hail Mary is the minimum, but any other additional prayers may be added).

All attachment to sin, even venial sin, must be absent. If one's
disposition is less than perfect or if some of the above conditions are
not fulfilled, the indulgence becomes partial.

One must also remember that one can acquire one plenary indulgence a day.

Indulgenced Acts for the Poor Souls A partial indulgence can be
obtained by devoutly visiting a cemetery and praying for the departed,
even if the prayer is only mental. One can gain a plenary indulgence visiting a cemetery each day between November 1 and November 8. These indulgences are applicable only to the Souls in Purgatory.

A plenary indulgence, again applicable only the Souls in Purgatory, is also granted when the faithful piously visit a church or a public oratory on November 2. In visiting the church or oratory, it is required, that one Our Father and the Creed be recited.

A partial indulgence, applicable only to the Souls in Purgatory, can be obtained when the Eternal Rest (Requiem aeternam) is prayed. This is a good prayer to recite especially during the month of November:

Requiem aeternam dona ei (eis), Domine, et lux perpetua luceat ei (eis). Requiescat (-ant) in pace Amen.

Eternal rest grant to them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine
upon them. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy
of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Many families add to the "Prayer Before Meals" the second half of the "Eternal Rest" prayer:

Bless
us, O Lord, and these thy gifts, Which we are about to receive,
from Thy bounty, through Christ, our Lord, Amen. And may the souls
of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
Amen.

Other families recite the "Eternal Rest" prayer in between decades of the rosary.

It is a good devotion to pray for the departed all through the year, not
just November. After these Souls in Purgatory are in heaven, they will
intercede for us. We should all develop prayerful habits, such as
praying the "Eternal Rest" prayer when passing cemeteries, to remind us
of our eternal destiny.

For more information on the Church's teachings on indulgences, read the Enchiridion of Indulgences given by the 1968 Decree of the Sacred Apostolic Penitentiary.

Also see The Catechism of the Catholic Church section on Indulgences, Part 2, Section 2, Chapter 2, Article 4, Subsection 10, 1471-1479..

Activity Source: Original Text (JGM) by Jennifer Gregory Miller, © Copyright 2003-2009 by Jennifer Gregory Miller

Nobody can give what he does not have.

Be convinced of this: your apostolate consists in spreading goodness, light, enthusiasm, generosity, a spirit of sacrifice, constancy in work, deep study, complete self surrender, being up to date, cheerful and complete obedience to the Church, and perfect charity.


Nobody can give what he does not have.

- St Jose Marie Escriva



Noon time and I reach for this small book that I keep close to me for inspiration-  The Furrow. After a week of somewhat emotional high and low - questioning all purpose, intention and direction, these words come to me like a gentle reminder. Perhaps I had to go through that questioning of confidence in order to appreciate the assurance i received just now.


This was what I needed reminding of-  my mold, my purpose here in this world need not be after any particular impression or design, aimed to closely resemble that which I think my life ought to be or again, that struggle for what the world considers straight out of the textbook- successful. 

What it needs to be is constant. To be in a constant state of apostolate.

An apostolate for spreading goodness because we were born for that reason. It is our innate task. We were born with that intent and nature.


For light, becoming if not being that light and bringing that light to others. God knows how many times weve switched them off for those who needed even a glimmer. 

For enthusiasm and radiating the same so much so it encourages and moves others to good. I do associate with the joy that emanates from service.


For generosity,  making  us channels and instruments for imparting the blessings we receive for the good of many more. Last Sunday at homily, the priest said that we are certain that blessings come from God when we are able to generously impart and part with it. He said be wary when what we have gained is something that is difficult to let go of and share and that we should consider the sources. That is because, God always gives/blesses us with the intent- that as custodians of goodness, we are enabled to be dispensers of mercy. When we are un-enabled, we must consider why.


For that spirit of sacrifice we shy from. Because everything about sacrifice is associate with suffering. And everything about suffering is scary. As we struggle with this continually, let us pray and draw grace from the truths that our life came from the greatest of sacrifices.


For that constancy in work. To avoid idleness and stagnancy. Perhaps to work on constancy in everything except where change is needed to improve and evolve as better human beings.

For deep study and continuous learning which I pray eventually makes us wiser than intelligent.


For complete self surrender when all world shouts for is control.

For being up to date- and not being left behind in living out the life intended for us.

For cheerful and complete obedience to the Church- for from obedience stems order and from order, peace.


And finally, for perfect charity- for where we have love, there stems mercy.

Apostolate, after all need not be an association with one virtue, one good, one mission, one charity, one focus, one project. It comes with embracing our unconditional lifelong purpose which were born into. It can all be all these wonderful things balled into one person- you. We are born an apostolate for goodness and everything else that follows.


How true- that we cannot give what we do not have. Again, I am reminded that the blessings we receive do not begin and end with us.
It is a grace granted to enable us to impart it to others. Let us always pray for discernment, inspiration and clarity of mind so that this very apostolate that we were born for can fulfilled beautifully.  Lets not let the day pass without our apostolic work. Every contribution counts.


Perhpas, we already have what we need today. What we will need tomorrow will be provided for.  We just need to pray harder for the grace to see it and the conviction to live it.

God bless us all with protection, provision and guidance.




--
"Shoot for the moon. Even if you don't reach it, at least you'll be among the stars."

"Be convinced of this: your apostolate consists in spreading goodness, light, enthusiasm, generosity, a spirit of sacrifice, constancy in work, deep study, complete self surrender, being up to date, cheerful and complete obedience to the Church, and perfect charity......Nobody can give what he does not have. - St. Jose Mari Escriva" (Thank you Lord for reminding me of my nothingness and emptiness which can only be filled through Your grace.....making of my life some mold, some purpose......)

Divine Mercy Mission Schedule in USA ongoing Oct-Dec 2011

Please find our updated sked for the schedule of Bro Stanley Villavicencio's testimony.  Forgive us for not being able to post ahead the sked for the Arizona and Omaha  area earlier this month.

Please email us direct for any inquiry. 

 

October 17    6:30pm    St. Anne's Church, Fort Shaw, Montana   

October 18    7:00pm    St. Luke's Church, Great Falls, Montana

October 19    6:00pm    Sacred Heart Church, Cascade, Montana

October 20    12 noon    Poor Clare's Monastery, Great Falls, Montana

October 20    7:00pm    Holy Spirit Church, Great Falls, Montana

Montana contact: Fr. Marcel Vogel (406)790-0561

 

October 22    6:00pm    "Totally Yours" Conference, Holiday Inn Rolling Meadows, Illinois    (Reserve online at www.medj1.com or call Guy Murphy, Monica, Kim, Celeste, Julie, Lin at (630)279-8424.

 

October 27    6:30pm    St. Mary Church, Rockwood, Michigan

October 29    4:30pm    St. Clare of Assisi Church, Farmington Hills, Michigan

November 1   6:30pm    St. Sebastian Church, Dearborn Heights, Michigan

Michigan contact:    Barbara Zarek (734)716-0077

 

November 4    6:30pm    Our Lady of the Angelus Church, St.Rego Park, NY

November 6    1:00pm    Holy Innocents Church, NYC

November 7    6:30pm    Our Lady of Ascension Church, NYC

November 8    7:00pm    St. John the Baptist Church, NYC

November 9    6:30pm    Our Lady of Mercy Church, Forest Hills, NY

November 10    6:30pm    St. James Church, Seaford, NY

New York contact: Cenacle World Prayergroup (718)381-4419

Divine Mercy Mission Schedule in USA ongoing Oct-Dec 2011

Please find our updated sked. Forgive us for not being able to post ahead the sked for the Arizona area earlier this month.

Please email us direct for any inquiry. 

 

October 17    6:30pm    St. Anne's Church, Fort Shaw, Montana   

October 18    7:00pm    St. Luke's Church, Great Falls, Montana

October 19    6:00pm    Sacred Heart Church, Cascade, Montana

October 20    12 noon    Poor Clare's Monastery, Great Falls, Montana

October 20    7:00pm    Holy Spirit Church, Great Falls, Montana

Montana contact: Fr. Marcel Vogel (406)790-0561

 

October 22    6:00pm    "Totally Yours" Conference, Holiday Inn Rolling Meadows, Illinois    (Reserve online at www.medj1.com or call Guy Murphy, Monica, Kim, Celeste, Julie, Lin at (630)279-8424.

 

October 27    6:30pm    St. Mary Church, Rockwood, Michigan

October 29    4:30pm    St. Clare of Assisi Church, Farmington Hills, Michigan

November 1   6:30pm    St. Sebastian Church, Dearborn Heights, Michigan

Michigan contact:    Barbara Zarek (734)716-0077

 

November 4    6:30pm    Our Lady of the Angelus Church, St.Rego Park, NY

November 6    1:00pm    Holy Innocents Church, NYC

November 7    6:30pm    Our Lady of Ascension Church, NYC

November 8    7:00pm    St. John the Baptist Church, NYC

November 9    6:30pm    Our Lady of Mercy Church, Forest Hills,
NY

November 10    6:30pm    St. James Church, Seaford, NY

New York contact: Cenacle World Prayergroup (718)381-4419

 

 

         

SILENCE AND SOLITUDE REVEAL THE PRESENCE OF GOD

SILENCE AND SOLITUDE REVEAL THE PRESENCE OF GOD

 

VATICAN CITY, 9 OCT 2011 (VIS) - Having addressed the local people of Serra San Bruno, the Holy Father entered the Carthusian monastery of Sts. Stephen and Bruno where he was greeted by the prior, Fr. Jacques Dupont. At 6 p.m.the Pope presided at Vespers with the monastic community in the monastery church.

 

  In his homily the Pope explained that the aim of his visit was to confirm the Carthusian Order in its mission, "more vital and important today than ever before", he said. The spiritual core of the Carthusians, founded by St. Bruno, lies in the desire "to enter into union of life with God, abandoning everything which impedes such communion, allowing oneself to be seized by the immense love of God and living from that love alone", through solitude and silence.

 

  Technological progress, the Holy Father noted, has made man's life more comfortable but also "more agitated, even convulsive". The growth of the communications media means that today we run the risk of virtual reality dominating reality itself. "People are increasingly, even unwittingly, immersed in a virtual dimension, thanks to the audiovisual images that accompany their livesfrom morning to evening. The youngest, having been born in this state, seem to fill each vacant moment with music and images, almost as if afraid to contemplate the void. ... Some people are no longer capable of remaining silent and alone".

 

  This situation of modern society and culture "throws light on the specific charism of the Carthusian monastery as a precious gift for the Church and for the world, a gift which contains a profound message for our lives and for all humanity. I would summarise it in these terms: by withdrawing in silence and solitude man, so to speak, 'exposes' himself to the truth of his nakedness, he exposes himself to that apparent 'void' I mentioned earlier. But in doing so he experiences fullness, the presence of God, of the most real Reality that exists. ... Monks, by leaving everything, ... expose themselves to solitude and silence so as to live only from what is essential; and precisely in living from the essential they discover a profound communion with their brothers and sisters, with all mankind".

 

  This vocation, the Pope went on, "finds its response in a journey, a lifelong search. ... Becoming a monk requires time, exercise, patience. ... The beauty of each vocation in the Church lies in giving time to God to work with His Spirit, and in giving time to one's own humanity to form, to grow in a particular state of life according to the measure of maturity in Christ. In Christ there is everything, fullness. However we need time to possess one of the dimensions of His mystery. ... At times, in the eyes of the world, it seems impossible that someone should spend his entire life in a monastery, but in reality a lifetime is hardly sufficient to enter into this union with God, into the essential and profound Reality which is Jesus Christ".

 

  "The Church needs you and you need the Church", the Holy Father told the monks at the end of his homily. "You, who live in voluntary isolation, are in fact at the heart of the Church; you ensure that the pure blood of contemplation and of God's love flows in her veins".

Requesting prayers for the people affected so badly by the rains and flooding in Bulacan, Pampanga and Pangasinan. So many people lost their homes and belongings and some spared their lives as well. Lets pray harder for the sustenance and providence at this time of need.

Please follow us on twitter @ourdivinemercy and @prayersdaily

Finding out you're a little bit brave after all....

"Maybe before you can be fearless, you must be humble. Maybe before you can be courageous, you must surrender. Maybe before you can have pride, you must swallow it. The ego obscures reality just as the clouds do the sun. Maybe that's why intelligent people seem more prone to phobias. It's not because they're smarter, it's because they feel more self-important. Conceit is what worry and fear feed on." — Joe Kita (Accidental Courage: Finding Out I'm a Bit Brave After All)

Browsing through my facebook, I saw this posted as the status message of my friend Tweet Sering. It caught my attention. The truth and the honesty of the writer did. 

Our self obsessive culture this day and age has caused us so much anxiety for things yet to happen and so much regret and remiss for things passed. We are made to thrive in the fear of the unknown, the fear of people's opinion, failing the world's standards and so on. Yet is it really worth losing ourselves and our identities to what the world dictates as as the so called modern day standard. We can win over these imposed challenges, yes. But it takes looking in the mirror and finding out that we have what it takes. 

I suppose - finding out that we're a little brave after all  is not a host of just  "maybes" but more of acknowledging the very basic very organic truths about ourselves. 

That indeed, to be fearless one has to be humble. As Mother Teresa admonishes us- it is good to be humble. For when you are humble, you recognize your nothingness. When you are humble, neither praise nor disgrace can hurt you. Nothing can hurt you. 

One who doesn't know how to be "little" as should be- cannot measure his courage against fear. His ego and his pride will overshadow the enemy and he will never know when the enemy is on approach. He will believe himself to be thoroughly prepared yet remain truly - unprepared and sightless. 

One who doesn't know how to surrender, would also not know how to conquer one's self.  Everything, every skill or virtue- the mastery of such begins with self. We are all works in progress. And unless we know our weakness and train in mastering it, allow guidance to take place, we will be unable to advance and win over our battles. 

That indeed, in the very acts self denial and humbleness, great or small, do we actually really receive the gifts of life. We receive more in giving, in life giving ways. 

Perhaps the truest lesson that I picked up on is that we do not have to pretend to be "big in life" to be actually enriched by our life and the people we encounter. The gifts and graces are abundant and available to us. We have what it takes to figure ourselves out of such an embattled culture. We have what it takes to survive, and where we fall short, God will supply us with the graces we need to get by. 

It starts with such an encouragement, a belief and a decision henceforth that in fact, we are a little bit brave after all.  If you acknowledge your true self, trust that you are. 

--
"Shoot for the moon. Even if you don't reach it, at least you'll be among the stars."

Finding out you're a little bit brave after all....

"Maybe before you can be fearless, you must be humble. Maybe before you can be courageous, you must surrender. Maybe before you can have pride, you must swallow it. The ego obscures reality just as the clouds do the sun. Maybe that's why intelligent people seem more prone to phobias. It's not because they're smarter, it's because they feel more self-important. Conceit is what worry and fear feed on." — Joe Kita (Accidental Courage: Finding Out I'm a Bit Brave After All)

Browsing through my facebook, I saw this posted as the status message of my friend Tweet Sering. It caught my attention. The truth and the honesty of the writer did. 

Our self obsessive culture this day and age has caused us so much anxiety for things yet to happen and so much regret and remiss for things passed. We are made to thrive in the fear of the unknown, the fear of people's opinion, failing the world's standards and so on. Yet is it really worth losing ourselves and our identities to what the world dictates as as the so called modern day standard. We can win over these imposed challenges, yes. But it takes looking in the mirror and finding out that we have what it takes. 

I suppose - finding out that we're a little brave after all  is not a host of just  "maybes" but more of acknowledging the very basic very organic truths about ourselves. 

That indeed, to be fearless one has to be humble. As Mother Teresa admonishes us- it is good to be humble. For when you are humble, you recognize your nothingness. When you are humble, neither praise nor disgrace can hurt you. Nothing can hurt you. 

One who doesn't know how to be "little" as should be- cannot measure his courage against fear. His ego and his pride will overshadow the enemy and he will never know when the enemy is on approach. He will believe himself to be thoroughly prepared yet remain truly - unprepared and sightless. 

One who doesn't know how to surrender, would also not know how to conquer one's self.  Everything, every skill or virtue- the mastery of such begins with self. We are all works in progress. And unless we know our weakness and train in the mastering it, allow guidance to take place, we will be unable to advance and win over our battles. 

That indeed, in the very acts self denial and humbleness, great or small, do we actually really receive the gifts of life. We receive more in giving, in life giving ways. 

Perhaps the truest lesson that I picked up on is that we do not have to pretend to be "big in life" to be actually enriched by our life and the people we encounter. The gifts and graces are abundant and available to us. We have what it takes to figure ourselves out of such an embattled culture. We have what it takes to survive, and where we fall short, God will supply us with the graces we need to get by. 

It starts with such an encouragement, a belief and a decision henceforth that in fact, we are a little bit brave after all.  If you acknowledge your true self, trust that you are. 

Finding out you're a little bit brave after all....

"Maybe before you can be fearless, you must be humble. Maybe before you can be courageous, you must surrender. Maybe before you can have pride, you must swallow it. The ego obscures reality just as the clouds do the sun. Maybe that's why intelligent people seem more prone to phobias. It's not because they're smarter, it's because they feel more self-important. Conceit is what worry and fear feed on." — Joe Kita (Accidental Courage: Finding Out I'm a Bit Brave After All)

Browsing through my facebook, I saw this posted as the status message of my friend Tweet Sering. It caught my attention. The truth and the honesty of the writer did. 

Our self obsessive culture this day and age has caused us so much anxiety for things yet to happen and so much regret and remiss for things passed. We are made to thrive in the fear of the unknown, the fear of people's opinion, failing the world's standards and so on. Yet is it really worth losing ourselves and our identities to what the world dictates as as the so called modern day standard. We can win over these imposed challenges, yes. But it takes looking in the mirror and finding out that we have what it takes. 

I suppose - finding out that we're a little brave after all  is not a host of just  "maybes" but more of acknowledging the very basic very organic truths about ourselves. 

That indeed, to be fearless one has to be humble. As Mother Teresa admonishes us- it is good to be humble. For when you are humble, you recognize your nothingness. When you are humble, neither praise nor disgrace can hurt you. Nothing can hurt you. 

One who doesn't know how to be "little" as should be- cannot measure his courage against fear. His ego and his pride will overshadow the enemy and he will never know when the enemy is on approach. He will believe himself to be thoroughly prepared yet remain truly - unprepared and sightless. 

One who doesn't know how to surrender, would also not know how to conquer one's self.  Everything, every skill or virtue- the mastery of such begins with self. We are all works in progress. And unless we know our weakness and train in the mastering it, allow guidance to take place, we will be unable to advance and win over our battles. 

That indeed, in the very acts self denial and humbleness, great or small, do we actually really receive the gifts of life. We receive more in giving, in life giving ways. 

Perhaps the truest lesson that I picked up on is that we do not have to pretend to be "big in life" to be actually enriched by our life and the people we encounter. The gifts and graces are abundant and available to us. We have what it takes to figure ourselves out of such an embattled culture. We have what it takes to survive, and where we fall short, God will supply us with the graces we need to get by. 

It starts with such an encouragement, a belief and a decision henceforth that in fact, we are a little bit brave after all.  If you acknowledge your true self, trust that you are. 

Finding out you're a little bit brave after all....

"Maybe before you can be fearless, you must be humble. Maybe before you can be courageous, you must surrender. Maybe before you can have pride, you must swallow it. The ego obscures reality just as the clouds do the sun. Maybe that's why intelligent people seem more prone to phobias. It's not because they're smarter, it's because they feel more self-important. Conceit is what worry and fear feed on." — Joe Kita (Accidental Courage: Finding Out I'm a Bit Brave After All)

Browsing through my facebook, I saw this posted as the status message of my friend Tweet Sering. It caught my attention. The truth and the honesty of the writer did. 

Our self obsessive culture this day and age has caused us so much anxiety for things yet to happen and so much regret and remiss for things passed. We are made to thrive in the fear of the unknown, the fear of people's opinion, failing the world's standards and so on. Yet is it really worth losing ourselves and our identities to what the world dictates as as the so called modern day standard. We can win over these imposed challenges, yes. But it takes looking in the mirror and finding out that we have what it takes. 

I suppose - finding out that we're a little brave after all  is not a host of just  "maybes" but more of acknowledging the very basic very organic truths about ourselves. 

That indeed, to be fearless one has to be humble. As Mother Teresa admonishes us- it is good to be humble. For when you are humble, you recognize your nothingness. When you are humble, neither praise nor disgrace can hurt you. Nothing can hurt you. 

One who doesn't know how to be "little" as should be- cannot measure his courage against fear. His ego and his pride will overshadow the enemy and he will never know when the enemy is on approach. He will believe himself to be thoroughly prepared yet remain truly - unprepared and sightless. 

One who doesn't know how to surrender, would also not know how to conquer one's self.  Everything, every skill or virtue- the mastery of such begins with self. We are all works in progress. And unless we know our weakness and train in the mastering it, allow guidance to take place, we will be unable to advance and win over our battles. 

That indeed, in the very acts self denial and humbleness, great or small, do we actually really receive the gifts of life. We receive more in giving, in life giving ways. 

Perhaps the truest lesson that I picked up on is that we do not have to pretend to be "big in life" to be actually enriched by our life and the people we encounter. The gifts and graces are abundant and available to us. We have what it takes to figure ourselves out of such an embattled culture. We have what it takes to survive, and where we fall short, God will supply us with the graces we need to get by. 

It starts with such an encouragement, a belief and a decision henceforth that in fact, we are a little bit brave after all.  If you acknowledge your true self, trust that you are. 

Finding out you're a little bit brave after all....

" Maybe before you can be fearless, you must be humble. Maybe before you can be
courageous, you must surrender. Maybe before you can have pride, you must
swallow it. The ego obscures reality just as the clouds do the sun. Maybe
that's why intelligent people seem more prone to phobias. It's not because
they're smarter, it's because they feel more self-important. Conceit is what
worry and fear feed on." — Joe Kita (Accidental Courage: Finding Out I'm a Bit Brave After All)

Browsing through my facebook, I saw this posted as the status message of my friend Tweet Sering. It caught my attention. The truth and the honesty of the writer did. 

Our self obsessive culture this day and age has caused us so much anxiety for things yet to happen and so much regret and remiss for things passed. We are made to thrive in the fear of the unknown, the fear of people's opinion, failing the world's standards and so on. Yet is it really worth losing ourselves and our identities to what the world dictates as as the so called modern day standard. We can win over these imposed challenges, yes. But it takes looking in the mirror and finding out that we have what it takes. 

I suppose - finding out that we're a little brave after all  is not a host of just  "maybes" but more of acknowledging the very basic very organic truths about ourselves. 

That indeed, to be fearless one has to be humble. As Mother Teresa admonishes us- it is good to be humble. For when you are humble, you recognize your nothingness. When you are humble, neither praise nor disgrace can hurt you. Nothing can hurt you. 

One who doesn't know how to be "little" as should be- cannot measure his courage against fear. His ego and his pride will overshadow the enemy and he will never know when the enemy is on approach. He will believe himself to be thoroughly prepared yet remain truly - unprepared and sightless. 

One who doesn't know how to surrender, would also not know how to conquer one's self.  Everything, every skill or virtue- the mastery of such begins with self. We are all works in progress. And unless we know our weakness and train in the mastering it, allow guidance to take place, we will be unable to advance and win over our battles. 

That indeed, in the very acts self denial and humbleness, great or small, do we actually really receive the gifts of life. We receive more in giving, in life giving ways. 

Perhaps the truest lesson that I picked up on is that we do not have to pretend to be "big in life" to be actually enriched by our life and the people we encounter. The gifts and graces are abundant and available to us. We have what it takes to figure ourselves out of such an embattled culture. We have what it takes to survive, and where we fall short, God will supply us with the graces we need to get by. 

It starts with such an encouragement, a belief and a decision henceforth that in fact, we are a little bit brave after all.  If you acknowledge your true self, trust that you are.