⚜My Theological Debates⚜ – FINAL POST: Fig: 20.20

"The Unforgivable sins!" – Mark 3:29

THIS, MY FINAL POST– I was "blocked" from posting at the original FBook location of the debate; Part of "someone elses" "Personal Wall", whom we shared a "mutual friend..."

Alas, without further-ado, I present my finale IMG Fig: 20.20

For the prior posts of this "debate"

visit my FaceBook Album

BY CLICKING HERE!!!

POST BEGINS:

Jordan mate, you make NO SENSE, LOGIC, RATIONALITY or REson, whatsoever!!! Then again, I can't expect someone who claims the "opposite" or the "counter" to LAW is GRACE, as opposed to the theologically and linguistically more sound (and appropriate!) LAWLESS being the "counter" or "opposite" of LAW.

I rest my point. I feel the debate has been proven to be dealing with hypocritical, judgemental teachings on YOU GUYS behalf. That your HYPOCRISY have PROVED your SHAKY, DECEPTIVE DOCTRINES and THEOLOGICAL views/understandings...

So, I highly doubt this debate will prove of any benefit in my further reproving you of sin, lawlessness etc; — if anything, it will rather devolve further into petty "name calling" without teaching you of any GODLY TRUTHS! Oh, brothers, I have been debating, trying to reprove your sins that you are TOTALLY BLINDED to! That you can continue sinning as its paid for already?!

Right. OK then... If your argument is in fact correct... That GOD wants us to continue to "crucify Him, again and again!"; That "The Law" the "Commandments" of Almighty God are irrelevant in this, the Age of Faith and Grace etc;... Well... Like I said... I may as well "live up the best of both worlds!"

Keep sinning — but without repentance, which ACTUALLY makes us more humble, more meek, with the continual, lifelong acts of sorrow for our personal sins and repentance...

"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land" see: Matt5:3-10

I also read "Blessed who hunger for RIGHTEOUSNESS, blessed the CLEAN OF HEART"... I DON'T, however, read anything REMOTELY SIMILAR to: "Blessed those who hunger for righteousness, whilst committing acts of lawlessness and unrighteousness, theirs is the Kingdom of God." No! Nothing REMOTELY similar!

In fact... Prophetic word SPEAKS of our very times, the final generations at the "end of the current age" which would increase in LAWLESSNESS, IMMORALITY, DECEPTION — committed by those who "know not the Lord". Once we become aware of our sins, shortcoming etc; it should be repented, actively struggle against reoffending, because God HATES sin! He cannot be AROUND sin! He doesn't want His Children to SIN, therefore, thus showing their allegiance to SATAN.

If however we actively fight AGAINST recommitting our sins, our fleshly lusts and desires, even if we struggle and struggle greatly... So long as we are truly repentant and truly sorry from the heart, He will forgive us! You cannot be TRULY sorry for sins if you ACTIVELY seek the next opportunity to reoffend! Where is the remorse? The guilt?

Alas, where is "the fear of the Lord" which, as Holy Scripture tells us, is the BEGINNING of WISDOM??? Without regret, or the "fear of God Almighty" (which is the beginning of Wisdom; See: Prov9:10!) 

Obviously, some people just can't see sense; reason; become too proud, too much seeking "the approval of men" but not the approval of God for living HIS WAYS, becoming more CHRIST LIKE each and every day, even if we have our lapses; or relapses into sin. So long as we REPENT, continually, and "turn from our errors!"

"I mourn many of them that sinned before, and have not done penance for the uncleanness, fornication, and lasciviousness, that they have committed." See: 2Cor12:21, and:

"Try your own selves if you be in the faith; prove ye yourselves. Know you not your own selves, that Christ Jesus is in you, unless perhaps you be reprobates? Now we pray God, that you may do no evil, not that we may appear approved, but you may do that which is good, what is right. For we cannot do anything against the truth but only for the truth. I write this while away from you, in order that when I come I may not have to be severe in my use of the authority which the Lord has given to me for building up not for tearing down." (2Cor13:5-10)

"They profess to know God: but in their works they deny Him; being abominable, and incredulous, and to every good work reprobate." (Titus1:16)

I pray you humble yourselves before the Lord, that you don't trust in your own created laws of right and wrong whilst leaving out His Scriptures. I pray that the final quote I leave you with this morning is NOT you, in particular, the first verse, No: 26:

"God delivered them up to shameful affections. For their women have changed the natural use into that use which is against nature. And, in like manner, the men also, leaving the natural use of the women, have burned in their lusts one toward another, men with men working that which is filthy, and receiving in themselves the recompense which was due to their error. And as they liked not to have God in their knowledge, God delivered them up to a reprobate sense, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all iniquity, malice, fornication, avarice, wickedness, full of envy, murder, contention, deceit, malignity, whisperers, detractors, hateful to God, contumelious, proud, haughty, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, foolish, dissolute, without affection, without fidelity, without mercy. Who, having known the justice of God, did not understand that they who do such things, are worthy of death; and not only they that do them, but they also that consent to them that do them." (Rom1:26-32)

Good morning; good afternoon; and good night. May the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of Wisdom, convict you of your sins before it is too late... Before God either "gives you up to your grave unrepentant immoralities" — or tells you that thou you say to Him, "Lord, Lord..." that he casts you aside, to the weeping and gnashing of teeth, because he doesn't know you.

Extreme, yes. But. Change IS possible!!! With the right type of therapeutic counselling/psychiatry/pschology (not the modern, new age mumbo-jumbo variety!) — if one truly desires to change... Not to necessarily become "heterosexual", but rather, more within "right standing with God" and a much more brotherly love,  faith, trust and reliance on Christ the Lord... unless you are "just not yet" given over to true repentance, desiring a more faithful devotion to your Lord and apparent Saviour... But... You are much better off casting the unrighteous fruit in the fire the sooner you are repentant for it, as opposed to delaying it!

We live in dangerous, "End Times" and those not believing this to be a fact are very, very much deceived... Long known Biblical prophecies that have NEVER been fulfilled, or even CLOSE to fulfilment are becoming more and more likely as the days draw on... Ezekiel 38/39 prophecy.... That of the Dead Sea coming back to life, miraculously! The birth of a pure, red heifer, the last and final pure, unblemished, spotless red heifer being born on the 28th August, 2018, bringing forth the soon to be reinstated Jewish Holy Sacrifices to thus "restore their land" and ready to reinstate Mosaic Sacrifices and the construction of their Third Temple... All the signs, plus the increasing birth-pangs, or earthquakes, volcanoes, flooding, fires — hell even what they are calling "firenadoes", a combo of tornado, built of fire, from bush fire ravaged areas (which, come to think of it, sounds very similar to the "pillar of fire" which led the ancient Israelites on their Exodus from the land of Egypt, see: Ex13:21)

Hence, it is becoming quite apparent that we may be the final generation before the second advent of Christ, who comes in glory, and judgement! Do u REALLY want to POTENTIALLY miss out on the Great Rapture of the Church, on the off chance your beliefs RE: continual sinning is in fact INCORRECT??? Believe me...living in "these times" I certainly wouldn't want to miss the greatest event in human history since the first coming, the birth, the death, or our One True God, through the Son, of Christ Jesus! Amen! 

Nor, would I want to believe in my own, fallen, corrupt judgement, as opposed to the MANY truths, signs etc; from the very Word of God in Sacred Scripture! Getting it horribly wrong, means living in the horribly wrong, much, much more evil, immoral, lawless and depraved times of the "Great Tribulation" — the WORST time in ALL the days of earth and human existence! Eek!!!

"Watch ye, therefore, praying at all times, that you may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that are to come, and to stand before the Son of Man"

." (Luke21:36)

Peace and blessing, friends. 🙏🏼✝🛐

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EXTRA FINAL piece to convey my case-in-point!!!

See the screenshot-grab 

(top of post; above) 

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About the

"unforgivable sins of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit."

(Mark 3:29)

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VIEW THE EXTERNAL LINK

to the WIKIPEDIA SOURCE by

CLICKING HERE!!!

Plenary Council 2020 – Official Prayer

Come, Holy Spirit of Pentecost.

Come, Holy Spirit of the great South Land.

O God, bless and unite all your people in Australia

and guide us on the pilgrim way of the Plenary Council.

Give us the grace to see your face in one another and to recognise Jesus, our companion on the road.

Give us the courage to tell our stories and to speak boldly of your truth. 

Give us ears to listen humbly to each other and a discerning heart to hear what you are saying.

Lead your Church into a hope-filled future, that we may live the joy of the Gospel.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord, bread for the journey from age to age.

Amen.

Our Lady Help of Christians, pray for us.

St Mary MacKillop, pray for us.

#PlenaryCouncil2020

(PDF "print-at-home" version of this prayer)

TERRORISM: MELBOURNE CBD

Our nations fear of an Islamic terrorist attack has been realised today, some two-years since the hostage situation at the Lindt Cafe in Martin Place, Sydney CBD. This time in the Melbourne CBD, in the style of the attacks in Nice, France, and the recent one at the Christmas markets in Germany.

Several deaths, including a young child, and at least twenty seriously injured, including children and a young baby that was hurtled from its pram from impact of the erratic, senseless driving through the closed to traffic strip of the Bourke Street Mall. The CBD in lockdown – trams stopped – emergency services on "code red" and hospital employees called in for duty. The offender was shot in the arm and arrested. Police say it was "not terror related," though eyewitness accounts of the shocking event say the driver was yelling "Allah Akbar" from his vehicle whilst doing donuts out the front of the busy Flinders Street Station intersection.

An initial media report from the "Cairns Post" said the man was of "middle eastern appearance" but that was soon removed from the article. As I said above, the police declared it was NOT terror related and was a follow-on from a stabbing incident in the inner city suburb of Windsor. HOW can it NOT be terror related? After all, what did the innocent shoppers have to do with this stabbing?

"Nine News" reported it as a "police chase" of a "out of control vehicle" – yet there said vehicle contained an Islamist yelling "Allah Akbar" – OF COURSE it was TERROR related!

Oh, how we as a nation have drastically changed in the past seventeen-years. Twenty-years ago, Islam was rarely heard of; now it is SATURATING our society and the entire Western-civilisation as they undertake a MASS-INVASION of our nations under the disguise of being "Asylum seekers."

The Islamists have realised how far we westerners have "fallen from grace," not believing in anything  but ourselves, materialism, atheism and sexual gratification. A nation cannot stand for long when it loses its "moral compass"; its heritage and belief in the One True God. They see us as "ripe for the picking" – the invasion, pillaging and rape of our once God-fearing nations.

A nation without a BELIEF in something other than themselves, a reason to fight for the belief in a higher power, even unto death – will only last a short time until someone else FORCES their beliefs, their culture, their god on to us.

Abortions. So-called same-sex "marriage" and the selfish needs of our people not producing offspring. Enter the so-called "refugee" or "asylum seeker" with multiple wives and much larger families – our culture will end, and very soon, being replaced either by force or by using our democratic rights against us, eventually to legally bring in Islamic Sharia law because we shall be outnumbered, a minority in our own once great country.

When will this world WAKE UP and see the TRUTH instead of being constantly distracted by personal, selfish self-gratification? When will people turn back to GOD? By the time they wake up, trade in their sexual-liberation ideologies for the belief in God, it will already be too late, as our mothers, wives and sisters are taken as sex-slaves; our men beheaded publicly; homosexuals thrown off skyscrapers and Christians forced to convert, or die.

I for one know where my heart lies, and that is with GOD – the ONE TRUE LORD; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. With Jesus Christ. YHWH – I AM – the GOD of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Amen.

NOT with the "anti-god" of death. NOT with Allah, the god of Muhammad. I would certainly rather DIE than to bow my knee to their oppressive dictator-god – a so-called god whom is nothing more than a CHRISTIAN HERESY.

I would rather die, assured in my belief that I will be born into heaven. Lord, grant me the strength to die a martyr, not a traitor, if that be Your Will. No more pain – no more suffering. To be forced to convert, living a life I know is NOT TRUE would be a much worse option, for if I were able to keep my earthly life through conversion, it would not be a life at all, but to live in slavery as a second, third or fourth class muslim – not a free one, if there actually is such a thing.

Our Lord Jesus Christ died for our salvation. If need be, I shall die for Him – living for Him and He alone, or not at all. There can only be ONE real TRUTH. You shall know the spirits from the fruit of a faith. Christianity's fruits include LOVE and COMPASSION, whilst the fruits of Islam is DEATH; DISEASE; DECAY.

I know THE truth and "the truth shall set you free." – St. John 8:32.

Lord, grant me the STRENGTH; COURAGE; CONVICTION – to LIVE only for YOU, and to DIE only for YOU. In the Most Holy Name of Jesus Christ, the Son of God and of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Amen, amen.

FORK IN THE ROAD

There comes a time in everyones life, a turning point – a change in thought, a fork in the road – where we drastically change our thoughts, modify our behaviours, start doing things, though many times stop doing things as well. For the last fifteen or so years I have been a self-identifying gay/bisexual man (lets not get too hung up on sexual identity labels!)

Up until very recently I was in a steady, long-term, same-sex relationship. After a good twelve-or-more months of deep thought, prayer and reflection, I had an adult conversation with my partner and we called it quits in January 2016: on the feast of the Epiphany to be exact... one could almost say, "I had an epiphany ON THE Epiphany!" Was an amicable break-up; we are still good friends: praise the Lord!

So I've lost the need to identify with a specific sexuality finding much more freedom within myself as a result. A strange time to choose to leave the gay-lifestyle at a time in history when things are drastically changing in many western nations, people becoming more accepting of gay/lesbian folk, many now forcing it upon the rest of society.

I'd like to thank several different people and sources for my change in thinking, namely the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference with their "Don't Mess With Marriage" booklet distributed nationwide in Catholic schools last year. But most of all I'd like to thank God, for without the Holy Spirit many things would have fallen on deaf ears.

Not all my research and information came from religious or "anti-gay" sources as the media portrays. A fair amount came from a well educated, feminist lesbian, Camille Paglia; in other words, I made a good effort at getting factual information, scientific information, theological information from both left and right, none could call me a bigot just because I now believe what's not the current social-norm, politically correct thing to do.

Here in Australia we have an upcoming plebiscite on the "gay marriage" issue. Thanks to God and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit I have drastically changed my mind on where I stand on the issue. I could no longer live my life, comfortable within myself, with such conflicting issues regarding my faith and sexuality, particularly when I read about the controversial "Safe Schools Coalition" already in many high-schools nationwide, teaching students unhealthy behaviours such as breast-binding and how to tuck-away your penis, and the ability for boys to go to school in dresses and vice-versa.

I've recently seen documentaries of young boys, not even into their double-figures in age, choosing to be "transgender" well before they have the mental capacity to fully understand their choices, and today I read how next month they will be teaching toddlers about sex and cross dressing in preschools, kindergartens and childcare centres!

Clearly even here in Australia the gay-lobby has gained too much power, and must be stopped. I don't want to fight for the rights of adults to live "on par" with traditional marriage. I'd much rather fight for the traditional understanding, as well as for those who are unable to fight for themselves just yet: the children of Australia, many of whom are growing up in broken homes already, without fathers etc;.

Children much be able to live their lives as children, not pushing them into the world of sexual ideologies too soon. They will have plenty of time to deal with those things when they become legal adults, unless the world finally sees through the lies of the gay agenda and yet again make drastic changes back to the way things were last century.

Perhaps if I was never exposed to the gay world at such a young age myself, who knows, but my life could have been very, very different by the time I turned 30. Maybe have a wife, my own family. A house, job, car and licence.

Instead, I must pick myself up yet again, dust myself off and see the positives to have come from the darkness in my life.

Nunji's final resting place

Today I went to visit where we buried Nunji. Spread some different coloured rose petals on top of where she lays – at least she is in peace now after a short though very rapid and surprising sickness.

Daddy loves you, and misses you everyday, my sweet little princess. My Nunji-bunji doggie-puss; my cute little black monster. If only I could hold you one last time, alas, that is not to be. So rest in peace, Nunji, my daughter, my best friend. 

Nunji's final resting place, strewn with fresh rose petals.

R.I.P Nunji

Nunji passed away today, only weeks after her 5th birthday. Here is a short prayer I dedicate to her, followed by another prayer attributed to St. Francis of Assisi, patron of animals and pets.

We comforted her up until her death, she is sadly missed. Such a shock to us.
Born 18/11/2010; Died 17/12/2015.

Thanks to ChurchYear.Net for the prayers.

David and Nunji in happier times, September 2014.

Prayer in Memory of a Pet

Almighty God,
I was fortunate to receive the gift of (pet name) from You
Now that he (she) has left this life,
please help me cope with my loss with strength and courage.
I know that my beloved companion no longer suffers,
and will live on in many fond memories.
May they be treated with the care and respect
As he (she) has enriched my life,
I pray that I may enrich the lives of others. Amen.
Basilica and Shrine of Our Lady of Consolation.

Prayer of Saint Francis for Animals

God Our Heavenly Father,
You created the world
to serve humanity's needs
and to lead them to You.
By our own fault
we have lost the beautiful relationship
which we once had with all your creation.
Help us to see
that by restoring our relationship with You
we will also restore it
with all Your creation.
Give us the grace
to see all animals as gifts from You
and to treat them with respect
for they are Your creation.

We pray for all animals
who are suffering as a result of our neglect.
May the order You originally established
be once again restored to the whole world
through the intercession of the Glorious Virgin Mary,
the prayers of Saint Francis
and the merits of Your Son,
Our Lord Jesus Christ
Who lives and reigns with You
now and forever. Amen.

Nine Prayer Novena

to St. Maximilian Kolbe – Patron of people suffering addictions to illegal drugs.

Last Saturday I started a novena to St. Maximilian Kolbe, I thought I'd publish it here as there are some good short prayers. I like it as it's nice and easy, particularly if you falter in your prayer life quite often, like me!

To read more about St. Maximilian Kolbe check out my post here!

FIRST DAY: 

Dear St Maximilian, when still a child you entrusted your future to the Mother of God and accepted the crowns of purity and martyrdom. Help us to learn to be generous with our lives in the service of God. We pray especially for (mention your request).

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be

SECOND DAY:

Dear St Maximilian, you had a great love of the military and thought of joining the army but instead began the Militia Immaculata to work for the conversion of sinners. We remember all those who serve in the armed forces and their families. We pray especially for (mention your request).

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be

THIRD DAY:

Dear St Maximilian, you began a small religious newspaper which led to an upsurge of faith amongst your countrymen. May we too realise that nothing we do is too small for God to use. We pray especially for (mention your request).

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be

FOURTH DAY:

Dear St Maximilian, you had such a zeal for the proclamation of the Gospel that you went to Japan with no money and no word of the language and what you built is now the centre of the Franciscan province there. May we share in your zeal to announce the Good News through our words and our lives. We pray especially for (mention your request).

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be 

FIFTH DAY:

Dear St Maximilian, when the Nazis had invaded your country and you were under suspicion you said, “No one in the world can change truth”. May we hold firm to the one who is the Truth, Jesus Christ. We pray especially for (mention your request).

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be

SIXTH DAY:

Dear St Maximilian, in prison you were asked whether you believed in Christ and were beaten every time you said you did. You persevered in your witness. May we still hold fast to Christ even in suffering or pain, and if we are persecuted for that belief may we have the courage not to desert him. We pray especially for (mention your request).

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be.

SEVENTH DAY:

Dear St Maximilian, even when you were sent to Auschwitz you did not abandon your vocation as priest. Although you were beaten almost to death you still heard confessions and spoke of Christ’s love. We ask you to give us something of your conviction and courage in the face of the sufferings of our lives. We pray especially for (mention your request).

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be.

EIGHTH DAY:

Dear St Maximilian, when a fellow prisoner was sentenced to death by starvation you volunteered to take his place: to die so that he had a chance of life. May we always remember the words of our Lord, “he who loses his life for my sake shall find it” and give us the courage to lose our lives in whatever way is asked of us. We pray especially for (mention your request).

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be.

NINTH DAY:

Dear St Maximilian, because you were killed by an injection of carbolic acid, you are the patron of drug users. We pray for all those who suffer this terrible addiction and for their families. May they have the courage and help they need to turn their lives around. We pray especially for (mention your request).

Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory be.

In memory of Samantha.

A reading from the book of Wisdom.

The souls of the righteous are in the hands of God, and no torment will ever touch them.

In the eyes of the foolish they seemed to have died, and their departure was thought to be a disaster, and their going from us to be their destruction;
but they are at peace.
For though in the sight of others they were punished,
their hope is full of immortality.
Having been disciplined a little,
they will receive great good,
because God tested them and found them worthy of himself; like gold in the furnace he tried them,
and like a sacrificial burnt offering he accepted them.
In the time of their visitation they will shine forth,
and will run like sparks through the stubble.
They will govern nations and rule over peoples,
and the Lord will reign over them forever.
Those who trust in him will understand truth,
and the faithful will abide with him in love,
because grace and mercy are upon his holy ones,
and he watches over his elect.

Wisdom 3:1-9

TEN-YEARS TODAY

Ten-years today since that deadly crash.
Ten-years since I last talked to Samantha.
Only to see her again in photos. Memorys. Dreams.
Why waste time getting upset,
Wishing this were an on-going nightmare I can't wake from?

Time to be thankful; count my blessings.
Look at the positives to come from such trauma.
Finding FAITH in Almighty God,
Ten-years since that too!
As sore as I can be - physically, emotionally, mentally;
Thank-you God for restoring my faith in you.

For showing me different ways of dealing with my sufferings,
The different crosses we all must bear,
To unite them with our crucified Lord,
Who died for us all,
Purely our of love.

If not for my faith,
I would probably disregard my life.
As time goes on,
I start understanding
Your Will a fraction more;
Though I will never fully understand,
I trust your plans.

A decade ago, I questioned
"Why did this happen to me?"
Though now I understand a little better,
I'm not quite so upset.

Thank-you Lord for the Holy Spirit,
Teaching me to understand Your Truths better;
For giving me a humble spirit ready to be guided,
Not seeking a way to condone my sins.

Your truths never change,
But the world always does.
Thank-you for PERSEVERANCE
Especially when I experience
Darkness of the soul.

Thank-you for a loving family; for my parents,
Who were my first teachers,
Raising me in the Catholic faith.
Thank-you for a stable home;
A peaceful land of natural resources
Wish room to move around.

Thank-you for showing me different faiths;
But ultimately bringing me home
To the one true Church, thank-you, Lord!
I haven't many friends, but for the ones I do have,
Again I thank-you, Lord!

Thank-you for showing me my life has meaning
For revealing yourself in Jesus Christ,
Inviting me to a personal friendship with you.
Thank-you for your love,
Your mercy, your forgiving ways.

Especially for Holy Mass and the Blessed Sacrament,
Sharing yourself with us, thank-you Lord.
For the blessing of life and all that is in it,
And my hope to spend eternity with you;
Thank-you, Lord.

Preparation for Death

O my God, I thank thee for the time which thou givest me to repair the disorders of my past life. Were I to die at this moment, the remembrance of the time I have lost should be one of my greatest torments. Ah, my Lord, thou hast given me time to love thee, and I have spent it in offending thee. I deserve to be sent to hell from the first moment in which I turned my back upon thee; but thou hast called me to repentance, and hast pardoned me. I promised to offend thee no more; but how often have I returned to sin! How often hast thou pardoned my ungrateful relapses! Blessed forever be thy mercy. If it were not infinite, how couldst thou have had so much patience with me? Who could have borne with me so long? O, how sorry do I feel for having offended so good a God! My Savior, the patience alone with which thou waitest for me ought to enamor me of thee. Ah! Do not suffer me to live any longer ungrateful to the love thou hast had for me. Detach me from every creature, and draw me entirely to thyself O my God, I will no longer dissipate the time thou givest me to repair the evil that I have done; I will spend it all in serving and loving thee. Give me holy perseverance. I love thee, O Infinite Goodness, and hope to love thee for eternity. I thank thee, O Mary; by thy advocacy thou hast obtained for me this time which is given to me. Assist me now, and obtain for me the grace to spend it all in loving thy Son, my Redeemer, and in loving thee, my queen and my mother.

St. Alphonsus Liguori.

“Preparation for Death”

Novena for Iraq: Day SIX

Sixth Intention: RIGHT BALANCE

Immaculate Mother of God, conceived without Original Sin, never touched by the slightest stain of sin, "tainted nature's solitary boast," we the beloved of thy Immaculate Heart come to thee on this sixth day of this Novena to pray for the grace of right balance.

O Spotless Virgin-Mother, Mother of God and our Mother by grace, obtain for us right balance as a foundation of candor, or tranquility, of clearness and holiness. may there be no duplicity in our thoughts and actions. Obtain for us a right balance in the order of our interior life, O Immaculate Heart of Mary, according to the well-ordered interior life thou lived in the perfection of holiness when thou lived on earth. Lead us to grown in holiness with a balance of spirituality so that our wills here below are in harmony with the Kingdom of God in heaven, where thou, as Queen and Mother reign with Jesus Christ thy Son Who is our King, and our Lord. May we avoid all extremes, as thou did, O Mother of God the Son, Daughter of God the Father, and Spouse of the Holy Spirit. Thou were subject to thy loving husband St. Joseph and to the laws of God. May we never be more Catholic than the Church, nor less Catholic than this same Holy Church thy Son Jesus Christ founded. May we seek to live a Catholic life and follow the teachings of the Church in faith and morals without compromise in a harmonious balance. May there be no conflict between what we believe and what we do. May we not demand of others what we decline to practice ourselves. May we never compromise right principles by subtle reasoning. May our speech be "Yes" when we mean "Yes" and "No" when we mean "No." - Mt. 5:37

Obtain for us by thy powerful intercession, O Holy Mediatrix of all Graces, a right balance in living the spirit of poverty, chastity and obedience according to our state in life, so that the wiles of Satan never succeed in getting us to succumb to the spirit of the world, the weakness of the flesh, or the pride of life. Send forth thy Holy Angels, O Queen of Angels, Cause of our Joy, Mother of Mercy. Intercede that we be open to the glorious Spirits of Heaven who are powerful to bring right order in our lives. Amen.

Novena for Iraq: Day FIVE

Fifth Intention: SILENCE

Immaculate Mother of God, our Mother by grace, we the beloved of thy Immaculate Heart come to thee on this fifth day of this Novena to pray for the grace of silence.

Blessed Mother Mary, Queen of Peace, exalted above all Angels and Saints, thou partakes in the Heavenly glory of the Beatific Vision of the Blessed trinity; thou sees God "face to face" even as He Is. 

- 1 Cor. 13:12 

Obtain for us the grace that everything we speak may be spoken in love and every silence we keep is kept, not in anger, obstinacy, vengefulness or deceitfulness, but in the sacredness that opens hearts to God's Word. As thou pondered the Word of God in thy Immaculate Heart, O Ever-Virgin Mother of God and Mother of men, obtain for us the grace of silence so that we are not bound to the distractions of the world. Rather, emptied of the world, we desire to be filled with the treasures of Divine Grace. It is in holy silence that we can comprehend Divine treasures and the secrets of the King's Sacred Heart.

Good St. Joseph, Foster Father of Jesus Christ and true husband of Mary, thou loved silence upon earth. The Bible does not record a word thou spoke. Yet, in thy silence, thou had the holiest state in life next to Jesus and Mary. By intercession in union with thy sweet spouse, obtain for us, O Glorious St. Joseph, the grace to imitate both interiorly and exteriorly the spirit of thy silence.

O Holy Family, Jesus, Mary and Joseph, in imitation of the silence which reigned in thy home, empty us of worldly noise and distractions so as to hear the voice of the Lord more clearly. Open our hearts to the work of the Holy Angels, who will lead us to faith in and love for the Most Blessed Trinity, the Word made flesh, the Church as the Mystical Body of Jesus and to the highest veneration of God's Mother, the Mother of the Church. May the spirit of materialism never more touch our lives, Heavenly Mother. Help us to be detached from the things of this world, opened in silence to the magnificent melodies of the supernatural. Where our hearts are, there also is our treasure. In the silence of our hearts, "Speak Lord, for thy servant is listening." - 1 Sam. 3:9.

Novena for Iraq: Day FOUR

Fourth Intention: CHARITY

Immaculate Mother of God, our Mother by grace, we the beloved of thy Immaculate Heart come to thee on this fourth day of this Novena to pray for the grace of the holy virtue of charity.

Let rays of light from thy Immaculate Heart penetrate our souls with the love of God. Mary, Mother of Christ, Mother of Holy Love, form us according to the Heart of thy Son. His love of the Father and all mankind was so great that He lay down His life for us, even to death on the Cross. Obtain for us the grace of the infused supernatural virtue by which we love God above all things for His own sake, and love others for the sake of God. In devotion to thy Immaculate Heart, O Mary, we will acquire the virtue of supernatural charity by the Divine power of charity infused into our souls together with sanctifying grace.

St. John, Apostle of Love, who received the Mother of Love into thine home and thereby into thy heart according to the word of Jesus Christ from the Cross, we look to thy intercession to obtain for us knowledge of God Who is Love so that we may abide in God, and God in us. Mary, Souse of the Holy Ghost, it is through thy powerful intercession that the Holy Spirit sanctifies souls and enables us to say "Lord Jesus" in faith and love. Invoke, O Immaculate Heart of Mary, the Spirit of Divine Love to fill us with ever grater love of Jesus Christ and of the Father. Teach us to have faith as thou had faith upon earth and to love as thou lovest. Share even now the flames of the intense love which radiates from thy Heart. Enkindle in us the fire of the Holy Spirit. Help us to serve the Church lovingly and faithfully. In a world grown cold to love, a world divided, unite us through the power of thy prayers, O Immaculate Mother of Love, into one fold under one Shepherd. In drawing us to Jesus, possess our souls, our very lives. Enlighten our every thought, word and deed, so that our lives reflect thy own.

As Our Lady of the Holy Eucharist, illuminate and purify us so that we may approach the Sacrament of Love to receive our loving Savior fruitfully to final glory. In this way, one day we will come, O Loving Mother of Grace, to be in Heaven both body and soul with Jesus as King and thou as Queen and Mother. Amen.

Spiritual Art

Since being hospitalised in March 2013 (after numerous issues, including brain-haemorrhage) I haven't been able to draw anywhere near as well as I did in the past. So I gave up - for a while anyways! I do love to draw, however, and have been doing it since I can remember!

Sacred Heart of Jesus

Spiritual pictures is something I have come to enjoy drawing, since I found God again nearly a decade ago. To me, I see it as a form of prayer. Praying doesn't have to be words - it's about communicating with God - so as I spend my minutes, hours, weeks or months even drawing a nice spiritual sort of image, I am really communicating with God. Which is why I decided, even though I may not be as good as I once was at drawing, if I enjoy it and it leads me to talk to God, I should continue to do it.

Funnily enough, as I draw one of my many spiritual pictures, I seem to be quite happy with the end result, as though my drawing skills have returned - sometimes improved. Trying to draw something else, something secular so to speak, is another story. It's like the Holy Spirit is making me draw these images, helping me improve, but only so long as its something that I would call a "prayerful piece".

These are a few pieces I have made in the past couple of months. Not the best quality as they are photographs as opposed to scanned-in images due to lack of owning a scanner at the moment... but you get the idea!

Immaculate Mary

Symbolic Sacred Heart of Jesus

Queen of Heaven

Sunday Snippets: #08

SUNDAY SNIPPETS: A Catholic Carnival. 

Week starting Sunday 19th Week in ORDINARY TIME

We are a group of Catholic bloggers who gather weekly to share our best posts with each other. 

I've written quite a few posts this week, guess you can say I'm back blogging more than ever.

• A have a good old rant on belief and believing in God.
• Another rant on the power of the devil.
• This week was the Feast of St. Maximilian Kolbe: Here is some info I him.
• Some information on my Patron Saint: St. Stanislaus Kostka.
• I also write about my Patron Saint, Stanislaus Kostka and my own life.
• This week I started a Novena for the persecuted in Iraq.
• Day ONE and Day TWO of the Novena.

Enjoy reading! All comments are greatly appreciated and welcomed!

Novena for Iraq: Day THREE

Third Intention: OBEDIENCE

Immaculate Mother of God, our Mother by grace, we the beloved of thy Immaculate Heart come to thee on this third day of this Novena to pray for the grace of obedience.

Obtain for us, O Holy Mother of God, the spirit of obedience found in responding to the grace of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in our souls. May we always realize that obedience comes from the desire to unite our wills with the Will of God.

O Spouse of the Holy Ghost, by thy intercession grant us the grace to be open to the ministrations of the Holy Spirit with us and to our Angels who influence us to think and act in harmony with the Divine Will. We desire to submit to all lawful authority, inwardly and outwardly, so as to avoid having those rebellious, dissenting attitudes, which cause the spirit of revenge in our hearts. By union with the Divine Will, with thy Immaculate Heart as guide, O Mother, we will obtain the true peace of the Holy Spirit and union with the Most Blessed Trinity.

Obtain for us, the beloved of thy Immaculate Heart, O Mother Mary, the grace of obedience to all lawful authorities which are in harmony with the laws of God and His Holy Church. In this way, the grace of humility for which we pray will accompany the doing of God's Will and all of the commands we obey will turn out for the greater glory of God and the salvation of souls.

Intercede, O Glorious Mother, that we may always remember that obedience as a virtue is pleasing to God because it means the sacrifice of our wills out of love for God. May our spirit imitate thine, O Holy Mother, when you answered God's Angel: "Behold the handmaid of the Lord; may it be done to me according to Thy word." - Luke 1:38

Grant us, O Loving Heart of Mary, the grace of rendering a special respect and undivided obedience to our Holy Father, the Pope and to bishops who speak and teach in union with him as Vicar of Christ on earth. By always being obedient, may we, with the refuge of thy Immaculate Heart, live in uprightness as in the discipline of a well-ordered army, for the sake of Jesus Christ and His Holy Church. Amen.