Crown of Thorns Reflection

One Halloween years ago I was getting my costume ready. I was going as St. Philomena and my mom was pinning the crown of flowers around my head. One of the hair clips jabbed my head accidentally and led out an "ow!" Then it reminded me of how Jesus was pierced by a whole crown of long and thick thorns. After the soldiers slammed it on His head they pounded it into his very skull so that it would stay on. I saw that my own pain was absolutely nothing compared to what He endured. No matter what we suffer, whether it be physical, emotional, mental, or spiritual, will never add up to what Jesus suffered. He loves us that much and wants us to seek Him in times of sorrow and joy as well. There is nothing that He has held back from us: His Body, His Life, His Time, His message, His love, and even lowered Himself- body, blood, soul, and divinity, down to the Eucharist in the form of bread and wine. So why do we struggle in giving ourselves totally to Him? (I ask this more to myself than anyone else.)

Regarding Lent

Today is Ash Wedesday, the first day of Lent. For those of you who don't know much about it or who don't understand it I'll explain what it entails.

For fourty days we prepare for Easter, just as Jesus was in the desert for fourty days in preparation for His ministry. During that time He fasted, prayed, and overcame temptation. The official Church teaching is that we are to abstain from meat accept for fish on Ash Wedesday and every friday throughout Lent. Why do we do this? In the time of Our Lord, whenever there was a celebration the fattened calf was slaughtered and eaten, but Lent is not a time of celebrating, Easter is. We await in hope for that glorious day. I also think of eating fish as a reminder of our call to discipleship and to spread the gospel to all people. Our Lord said to His disciples, "Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men" (Mk 1:17). The ashes on our foreheads serve as a reminder to us. For we are dust and to dust we shall return (Gen 3:19). This reminds us that our life on earth is a short one and that we are made for God in heaven, not earth.

In regards to fasting, those fourteen and above are required to do so only on Ash Wedesday and Good Friday. "On these days, we are permitted only one full meal and two small meals that together add up to one full meal and two small meals, and must abstain from eating meat. Days of abstinence (such as the Fridays of Lent) simply require the avoidance of meat on those days" (Pinto 168, 169). One is excused from fasting if it indangers one's health though. Many people also make other sacrifices such as giving up a particular food or drink that they like or secular music.

Why do we do these things?

"1. As a way to atone for sins of the past, both ours and others (Col 1:24).

2. To learn to master our inclinations towards sin (Jas 1:2-4).

3. To help us prepare for the spiritual feast of the resurrection of Jesus on Easter.

4. As a sign of our conversion.

5. As a way to purify our soul (CCC 2043)" (Pinto 168).

"Mastering the little changes in life prepares us for the big challenges (Heb 5:8, 1 Pt 4:12-13)" (Pinto 168).

I'd like to point out that the words Lent and love are interconnected. They both start with the letter "l" and have four letters. Some think that Lent is all about burdens, but actually, the only sacrifice that is burdensome is the one done apart from love. True love is not a feeling or an emotion, but action. True love is wishing the best for another, even to the point of sacrifice. The ultimate display of love was Jesus dying on the cross for us all. There was no other ration reason for Him doing it. Throughout Lent we offer our very selves up and unite our sufferings with His. We call it the paschal mystery, which means suffering and dying in order to gain new life, just like what Jesus did. We find this in the theme song to a television series entitled, "The Pure Life."

Was I born just to die? Was I given these gifts just to watch um' pass by and have I toiled in vain? There is joy in Him who leads us through pain. For all those who'll come to the Table to be sustained, there is joy, there is life here in my suffering.

Christ died for us and we are called to die a little for Him to show our love for Him. Don't focus on the cost but on the prize. "Do you not know that the runners in the stadium all run in the race, but to win a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one. Thus I do not run aimlessly; I do not fight as if I were shadowboxing. No I drive my body and train it, for fear that, after having preached to others, I myself should be disqualified" (1 Cor 9:24-27).

"I urge you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, your spiritual worship. Do not conform yourself to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect" (Rm 12:1-2).

Lent is a time to start anew. Perhaps instead of giving something up you could work on overcoming a particular sin or obtain a certain virtue. I urge you to go to confession during this season, especially if you have skipped mass, which is very serious (unless there was a valid reason such as illness, the weather wouldn't permit it, etc. I don't mean for this to sound judgmental. It's just that things are pretty lax these days and I want you to be brought up instead of down.) "Why should you go to confession? Why can't you just tell God you're sorry on your own?" www.catholic.com/thisrock/2001/0110sbs.asp

Think of every sacrifice you make as a gift to Jesus, an egg or treat in His Easter basket. If it is not done out of love though, the chocolate bunnies will taste terrible to Him. Why not possibly watch less tv or even give it up all together. I've heard it said that Blessed Mother Teresa refered to the tabernacle as her tv. Did you know that you can do Eucharistic Adoration online? www.savior.org Do you have questions about the Eucharist? "Isn't it just symbolic? Come on, it's just a piece of bread. Does receiving the Eucharist make us cannibals? Doesn't scripture disprove the doctrine? Wasn't it made up over time by the Church?" www.catholic.com/thisrock/2001/0103sbs.asp

Works Cited

The New American Bible. Ed. Hartman, Canada: World Bible Inc., 1987.

Pinto, Matthew J. Did Adam & Eve Have Belly Buttons? 2003. West Chester: Ascension Press,
1998.

Bella Movie Review

Over the summer I had heard about the upcoming release of a film entitled Bella. I was told that that it was a pro-life movie and that it had actually won the People's Choice Award at the Toronto Film Festival. Last August, producer and actor in the film, Eduardo Verastegui, made a guest appearance on popular EWTN show Life on the Rock discussing his conversion from being a mostly non-practicing Catholic to his journey home to Rome. He was a soap opera star in Mexico and was lost in the glitz of stardom, but through his mother's prayers and his English tutor's challenging words Eduardo discovered what was truly important. I yearned to see this movie but it was (and still is) released in a limited amount of theaters. Over Thanksgiving break my family and I went on vacation to Branson, MO. My mom surprised me by asking if I wanted to see Bella. I didn't know that she had even heard of the movie. Apparently it was playing in my hometown while I was away at college. Previously, I had prayed for the privilege of viewing the film and I knew that this was the answer to my prayer. So my mom and I drove to Springfield to see it and we are glad that we did. Nina, an unwed waitress, finds herself pregnant and her boyfriend is for aborting the child. To make matters worse she is fired from her job for her multiple tardies and her boss doesn't believe that she was truly sick one day. He thinks that she was actually hung over, but Nina was experiencing morning sickness. To promote life the writers could have gone in multiple directions with this. The film could have been preachy, judgmental, etc. Surprisingly enough, the movie doesn't do any of these things. We as an audience feel compassion for Nina, who had difficulty enough just living on her small salary at the restaurant. A chef named Jose from where she used to work, leaves the restaurant to come to her aid. He merely becomes her friend; listening to what she has to say, spends the day with her, and treats her to dinner with his family. Nina grows to trust Jose and through this friendship love their lives change. Both pro-choicers and pro-lifers will be challenged by this movie. Pro-choicers will ponder on their previous position and pro-lifers will consider how loving is the key to changing people. The main message is love in Bella. As the movie website says, it's a love story that goes beyond the romance between a man and woman. This theme of love can be applied to evangelizing. Everyone longs for it and is incomplete without it. Through loving we can reveal what being a follower of Christ is all about and the walls of defense around their hearts will collapse. As my mom put it, the movie is different in that it's for widescreen audiences. Bella isn't about any part of Christ's life or the life of a saint, so it draws attention and appeal to many faith backgrounds and views. Despite its common ground though, the Catholic faith isn't ignored. One seen involves Jose and his family praying before dinner and the film itself opens with the quote, "My grandmother told me that if you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans." (By the way if this is true I must be Robin Williams.) Most likely, Jose's displays of love are motivated by his faith. On another note Bella is a great film for Hispanics. Eduardo, who plays Jose commented on how Latinos are typically portrayed in films. The men are usually portrayed as criminals, thieves, drug dealers, and if they are handsome then they are Don Juan casanovas who are womanizing liars. "You never see a Latino as a hero- not a hero like Superman or Batman or any of those guys; a man of integrity, a man who sacrifices for his wife or children, a good citizen that serves his country." Eduardo and his fellow associates who made Bella, resolved to portray Hispanics in a much more positive light and kept their promise. Looking back at his past, Eduardo realized that back when he was a Mexican soap opera star, that he was feeding the negative stereotype in the media, and even became a womanizer himself. The man who was (and still is) regarded as Mexico's Brad Pitt, decided to turn his life around and has a profound new respect for women. He wanted to present women more favorably in this film as well, after all he said, he had a wonderful mother and three sisters. Bella is truly a magnificent treasure. You'll laugh, possibly cry, and be hungry for Puertorican/Mexican food afterwards. This is now one of my favorite movies of all time. I'm considering it for the number one spot on my list. At the moment, it's showing in a limited amount of theaters, but the requests for the movie keep coming in. To find out where it's being shown go to http://bellathemoviesite.com/.

All Saints Day

Happy All Saints Day everyone! Over the years I've studied the lives of many saints. Throughout this time I've noticed that even though each one of them is unique, that they have many similar traits.

1) Love Jesus More Than Anyone or Anything

2) Love Their Neighbor as They Love Themselves

3) Serve in Whatever Vocation That They Are Called To

4) Are Christlike

5) Chaste

6) Prayerful

7) Have Beautiful Souls

8) Seek God's Will Above Their Own

9) Childlike But Not Childish

10) Obedient

11) Follow 10 Ten Commandments

12) Passionately Love The Church

13) Live Out The Eight Beatitudes

14) Are Not Saints By Themselves, But With Total Reliance on The Lord

15) Reverent When Needed To Be, Never Wishing To Be Disrespectful

16) Love The Sacraments, Especially The Eucharist

17) Know How Important The Family Is

18) Pro-Life

19) Know That There Is Both a Spiritual World and a Natural World

20) Have a Healthy Love of Self

21) Have True Freedom, By Being Free in The Lord

22) Courageous in The Battle of Good vs. Evil

23) Pro- Scripture, But Anti-Scripture Alone

I have never found a single saint that contradicted any of these traits. As one can clearly see, we can live out these traits as well. Holiness is for everyone, not just for a select few.

God Blessed the Broken Road

I discovered a song that perfectly describes my conversion from being a halfhearted Catholic to an overflowing one. It's called, "God Blessed the Broken Road." I tweaked the song a little to make it fit, but for the most part it's the same as the original version.

"I set out on a narrow way many years ago, hoping I would find true joy along the broken road. But I got lost a time or two, wiped my brow and kept pushing through. I couldn't see how every sign pointed straight to You.

And every long lost dream led me to where You are. Others things that stired my heart, they were just northern stars pointing me on my way into Your loving arms. This much I know is true, that God blessed the broken road that led me straight to You.

I think about all the years I spent just passing through. I'd like to take the time I lost and give it back to You, but You just smile and take my hand. You've heard this before. You understand. It's all part of a grander plan that is coming through.

And every long lost dream led me to where You are. Other things that stired my heart, they were just northern stars pointing me on my way into Your loving arms. This much I know is true, that God blessed the broken road that me straight to You.

Now I'm just rolling home in my Beloved's arms. This much I know is true that God blessed the broken road and led me straight to You. ... that God blessed the broken road and led me straight to You."

My conversion story truly was a love story, just not the kind that I expected. There are many different types of love and one of them is between God and humanity. I fell in- love with Jesus. I never dreamed that such love existed. In the words of St. Augustine, "Our hearts were made for You Oh Lord, and they are restless until they rest in You." I found true peace and happiness.

"God Blessed the Broken Road" was originally performed by Rascal Flats but I prefer this version by Selah. http://youtube.com/watch?v=PZ7n6NXXYmo

If you'd like the lyrics to the real song, then go to www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/rascalflats/blessedthebrokenroad.html.

Witness to Hope

I'm going to tell you the story of a man who refered to himself as, "a witness to hope." For thematic purposes I won't reveal his name until much later. He is an inspiration to all of those who are struggling to hope in troubling times.

Many years ago in the land of poland, a baby boy was born. His nickname was Lolek. Lolek had a loving and devoutly Catholic family. At the young age of eight, Lolek lost his dear mother and then his older brother three years later. His father was all that he had left. These sorrows however, did not bring Lolek down. He was a confident and happy young man who excercised his many talents. Lolek was an athlete, a scholar, and a great actor. He began his first year of college with the intention of acting professionally. Then all of a sudden, his plans were changed.

Poland, his dear homeland, was captured by the Nazis and World War II began. Lolek and his father were driven from their home and they worked in a quarry just to survive. He had to say goodbye to his Jewish friends who were fleeing in order to save their lives. Poland's culture was suppressed. Plays, poetry, and music were forbidden.

Lolek couldn't bear to let the arts come to an end. He and several others secretly met at people's houses to perform for them. They risked their lives so that their Polish culture would not be forgotten. On one occasion, Adolf Hitler gave another fanatic speech. It was heard over the radio where Lolek was performing. Despite the power of Hitler's words, Lolek did not stop reading his speech. He refused to give way. He desired to proclaim his message no matter what.

Suddenly, Loleck's father died. At the age of twenty his entire family was gone. Years later he said that by this time in his life that he had lost all of those that he loved, even one that he would have loved. You see his older sister died in infancy before he was even born. During this period he was filled with tremendous sorrow. He got through this with his Catholic faith.

He became drawn to prayer like never before. He started to realize that he might have a call to the priesthood. Lolek knew that if he did pursue this vocation he would be in grave danger. Priests were definitely not favored by the Nazis. Seminarians had to meet in secret for formation. If he was discovered he would be killed. At the age of twenty-one, Lolek took the plunge and entered a seminary. He studied with his fellow seminarians by night and worked at his job by day. One terrifying day, Lolek and the other seminarians were nearly discovered. God protected them from their foes. Finally, after years of study, Lolek was ordained a priest.

After several years of oppression, Poland was set free from the Nazis. The land rejoiced, but their celebration was short-lived. They were taken over by the Soviet Union. The country was now communist. This wasn't much better than being ruled by the Nazis. Communism not only poisoned their form of government, but also their people. Even during these troubling times, Lolek did not give up. His Catholic faith remained a rock solid formation for him.

Many years passed and Poland was still under the control of the communists. Twenty-nine year ago to this day, something amazing happened. In Rome, a great multitude of people gathered outside. A man proclaimed words that everyone wanted to hear, "Habemus Papum!" This is Latin for, "We have a pope!" The crowd shouted for joy and they eagerly awaited for the man to be introduced. His original name was Karol Wojtyla (Voy-tee-wa), but he became known as Pope John Paul II. To say the least, this was a great surprise. Not only did he come from a communist country, but there had never been a polish pope before. The trend for the past few centuries was having an Italian pope.

Before, Karol (his real name) was ruled by men who hated the Catholic Church, but now he was the head of the Catholic Church. He came from the bottom and rose to the top. John was a peace maker, author, and missionary to the whole world. He wasn't popular for his conservative views, but that did not stop him from proclaiming the Church's stance on tough issues. John Paul knew that if one was Catholic that one had to remain strong. Throughout his reign, he dealt with difficult problems; materialism, the affects of the sexual revolution, terrorism, the scandals of sexually abusive priests... just to name a few. John Paul even suffered through an assassination attempt. He had the courage and strength to forgive the man who tried to kill him. The Holy Father never gave up on his children. He expected great things from them. Pope John Paul II was truly a witness to hope.

If you liked this than check out the documentary, "Witness to Hope." If you have the time read the book. It's very long but worth it.

One of the Patron Saints of This Blog

Today is the feastday of St. Therese of Lisieux, one of the patron saints of this blog. In honor of my favorite saint I'm writing a few recommendations.

First, her autobiography, "The Story of a Soul." If you want to get inside of her head and heart than this is definitely the book for you. It's one of my favorite books of all time!

Second, "The Mother of the Little Flower." This short book reveals who Therese's mother truly was; a strong woman of conviction. There's also a book entitled, "The Father of The Little Flower" but I haven't read it. Both of them are being considered for canonization! Eventually I'll write about what an amazing couple they truly were.

Third, "Celine The Sister of St. Therese." This beautiful work shows how this dear saint influenced her older sister.

Fourth, if you desire to start your day with a quote by the Little Flower or a quick story about her then check out, "Mornings with St. Therese." It's a positive way to begin your morning!

Fifth, if you've want to know the Little Flowers views on topics such as loving God, loving neighbor, hope, Our Lady, the Blessed Sacrament, etc. you'll be inspired by "Quotes of Saint Therese."

Sixth, if you want to learn how to follow the Little Way read the short booklet, "With Child-like Trust: The Spiritual Childhood of the Little Flower." www.littleflower.org

Seventh, you've got to see Luke Film's "Therese." It's not perfect but it's a wonderful film anyway. (I'm just picky because I'm a Theresian "scholar.") This movie is a great introduction to this compelling saint and it promotes vocations!