A little boy went into Confession. "Bless me, Father, for I have sinned....I was mean to my brother, got mad at my parents, and had a bath with bubbles." The priest said, "Son, work on those first two things, but there is nothing wrong with simply taking a bath with bubbles." He gave the boy absolution and then his penance.
The next boy came in. "Bless me, Father,...I didn't obey my parents a few times, and had a bath with bubbles." The priest started thinking to himself, 'why do they think this is a sin?' "My son, having a bath with bubbles is not a sin." After he received absolution, the boy left to do his penance.
The next child, a little girl, came into the Confessional. "Bless me, Father, for I have sinned. I'm Bubbles."
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Going to Confession
Whenever we go to the Sacrament of Penance, we encounter Jesus Christ in the Confessional (through the person of the priest). It is Christ himself who hears our sins and forgives EVERY sin for which we are sorry.
In this POWERFUL Sacrament, Jesus desperately wants to free us from our sins, the tremendous weight of our sins, our burdens, anxieties, problems, fears, and doubts.
In Confession, there is Christ. Freedom. Mercy.
Forgiveness. Healing. Reconciliation with the Father.
Union with the Church. Peace. Rejoicing in Heaven.
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Questions for GW bloggers
1. Why is going to Confession so difficult for many Catholics?
2. Why do we need to go to a priest to have our sins forgiven?
3. Where in the Gospel does Jesus give the first priests (the Apostles) the power to forgive sins?
Tuesday, December 28, 2004
Saturday, December 25, 2004
Christ is born!
"For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord." (Lk 2:11)
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas!
Tuesday, December 21, 2004
Jesus' Birthday List
A boy named Johnny writes a letter to Jesus, telling him his one wish for Christmas.
Dear Jesus,
I've been a good boy this year. All I want for Christmas is a new bicycle.
Thanks,
Johnny
Johnny thinks about his letter, and realizes he hasn't been very good at all. So, he writes another letter.
Dear Jesus,
Ok, I tried to be good. Please give me a shiny new red bike for Christmas.
Johnny
Then, he thinks more about it, and realizes that Jesus knows that he has been a brat all year, and rips up the letter. He goes for a walk, upset about the whole thing. He walks right in front of a Catholic Church, and heads inside. He grabs a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary, takes it home, and hides it under his bed. Then, he writes a new letter.
Jesus,
I've got your momma. If you want her back, give me a bike.
You know who
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Jesus’ birthday list ’04
“ Father…I wish that where I am they also may be with me.” (Jn 18:24)
The following are some of the best ways for GW students to give Jesus his wish, and be with Him where He is, during the 8 days (Dec. 25 – Jan 1) of celebrating His birth:
1. Go to Confession
- “Your sins are forgiven” (Lk 7:48)
2. Attend a weekday Mass (in addition to Sundays)
- “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him.” (Jn 6:56)
3. Make a “Holy Hour” (an hour in front of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament)
- “Could you not keep watch with me for one hour?” (Mt 26:40)
4. Make Him a part of your New Year’s resolution
- “Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit,
because without me you can do nothing.” (Jn 15:5)
5. Visit this blog site once a week
- “If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you
will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (Jn 8:31-32)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Of these five ways, which one is the most challenging? Why?
What other ways can we give to Jesus?
Dear Jesus,
I've been a good boy this year. All I want for Christmas is a new bicycle.
Thanks,
Johnny
Johnny thinks about his letter, and realizes he hasn't been very good at all. So, he writes another letter.
Dear Jesus,
Ok, I tried to be good. Please give me a shiny new red bike for Christmas.
Johnny
Then, he thinks more about it, and realizes that Jesus knows that he has been a brat all year, and rips up the letter. He goes for a walk, upset about the whole thing. He walks right in front of a Catholic Church, and heads inside. He grabs a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary, takes it home, and hides it under his bed. Then, he writes a new letter.
Jesus,
I've got your momma. If you want her back, give me a bike.
You know who
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Jesus’ birthday list ’04
“ Father…I wish that where I am they also may be with me.” (Jn 18:24)
The following are some of the best ways for GW students to give Jesus his wish, and be with Him where He is, during the 8 days (Dec. 25 – Jan 1) of celebrating His birth:
1. Go to Confession
- “Your sins are forgiven” (Lk 7:48)
2. Attend a weekday Mass (in addition to Sundays)
- “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him.” (Jn 6:56)
3. Make a “Holy Hour” (an hour in front of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament)
- “Could you not keep watch with me for one hour?” (Mt 26:40)
4. Make Him a part of your New Year’s resolution
- “Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit,
because without me you can do nothing.” (Jn 15:5)
5. Visit this blog site once a week
- “If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you
will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (Jn 8:31-32)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Of these five ways, which one is the most challenging? Why?
What other ways can we give to Jesus?
Tuesday, December 14, 2004
"Christ dwells in me"
Years ago, at the Cardinal's annual Christmas party for seminarians, the Cardinal greeted each man as he arrived and congratulated most men on their grades. He said to the two guys ahead of me, "Hello Tommy, great job this semester...Hi, Matt, all A's. Well done, my son". Then, I step forward. "Oh, hello, Greg".
I WISH ALL OF THE GW STUDENTS WELL ON YOUR EXAMS. I'M PRAYING FOR YOU UNTIL THE END OF FINALS, ESPECIALLY.
--------------------------
As I wrote in my comment to Derek last night, Jesus Christ wants to be so close to us that He is in us. In Holy Communion, the Son of God comes inside of us. We are one with Him at that sacred moment. "He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him" (Jn 6:56).
Anyone who has ever been away from God knows how incredible this union is. Sin separates us from God; the Eucharist (and all the sacraments) unites us with Him. Literally.
-----------------------------
"As I read the sad statistics... that only 30% believe what the Church teaches on the Real Presence of Christ, my mind went back to an earlier heresy - the Protestant
Revolt. It was not the so called 'selling of indulgences' that caused the painful break in our family. It was... [those] who no longer believed in the Real Presence...
When Catholics are asked, 'Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ?' they should answer a resounding YES! There is no closer union with Jesus than when you receive Him in the Eucharist. You too can say with St. Paul, '...and the life I now live is not my own, CHRIST IS LIVING IN ME.' (Gal 2:20)"
Rev. Msgr. Richard L. Carroll, V.F.
-----------------------------
"Do you realize that Jesus is there in the tabernacle expressly for you- for you alone? He burns with the desire to come into your heart...
Receive Communion often, very often...there you will have the sole remedy, if you want to be cured."
St. Therese of Lisieux
----------------------------
Is there a time or experience when you felt closest to God?
I WISH ALL OF THE GW STUDENTS WELL ON YOUR EXAMS. I'M PRAYING FOR YOU UNTIL THE END OF FINALS, ESPECIALLY.
--------------------------
As I wrote in my comment to Derek last night, Jesus Christ wants to be so close to us that He is in us. In Holy Communion, the Son of God comes inside of us. We are one with Him at that sacred moment. "He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him" (Jn 6:56).
Anyone who has ever been away from God knows how incredible this union is. Sin separates us from God; the Eucharist (and all the sacraments) unites us with Him. Literally.
-----------------------------
"As I read the sad statistics... that only 30% believe what the Church teaches on the Real Presence of Christ, my mind went back to an earlier heresy - the Protestant
Revolt. It was not the so called 'selling of indulgences' that caused the painful break in our family. It was... [those] who no longer believed in the Real Presence...
When Catholics are asked, 'Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ?' they should answer a resounding YES! There is no closer union with Jesus than when you receive Him in the Eucharist. You too can say with St. Paul, '...and the life I now live is not my own, CHRIST IS LIVING IN ME.' (Gal 2:20)"
Rev. Msgr. Richard L. Carroll, V.F.
-----------------------------
"Do you realize that Jesus is there in the tabernacle expressly for you- for you alone? He burns with the desire to come into your heart...
Receive Communion often, very often...there you will have the sole remedy, if you want to be cured."
St. Therese of Lisieux
----------------------------
Is there a time or experience when you felt closest to God?
Tuesday, December 07, 2004
Awesome!
A pastor went out one Saturday to visit his church members. At one house it was obvious that someone was home, but nobody came to the door even though the pastor knocked several times. Finally, the pastor took out his card and wrote "Revelation 3:20" on the back of it, and stuck it in the door.
{Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him and him with me.}
The next day, the card turned up in the collection plate. Below the pastor's message was the notation "Genesis 3:10".
{I heard your voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself}
--------------------------
True story of mine:
Six years ago*, I saw God! With my own eyes. It is the main reason I want to be a priest. I was on a golf trip in Ireland with some buddies, one of whom was a priest, Fr. Wells. One morning, Fr. Wells invited all of us to start our day with prayer in our room at the B & B which we agreed to (with half-open eyes). A few minutes later, there He was: God! In the flesh**. Before my very (at this point, wide- open) eyes. We were in the 2nd half of Mass!
It is amazing and AWESOME that God comes to us in the flesh (the Eucharist) at every Mass for each of us to see Him
a) on the altar and then
b) about 6" from our faces just before He is placed on our tongues in Holy Communion...
------------------------
Statistics have said that 70% of Catholics believe the Eucharist is only a symbol of Jesus' body and blood.
1. What have you been taught?
2. What do you believe?
-------------------------
* It has happened that day and thousands of others when God has visibly appeared to me (and all others present at Mass) under the signs of bread and wine.
** The Holy Eucharist. Please see responses made to the 11/30 post.
{Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him and him with me.}
The next day, the card turned up in the collection plate. Below the pastor's message was the notation "Genesis 3:10".
{I heard your voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself}
--------------------------
True story of mine:
Six years ago*, I saw God! With my own eyes. It is the main reason I want to be a priest. I was on a golf trip in Ireland with some buddies, one of whom was a priest, Fr. Wells. One morning, Fr. Wells invited all of us to start our day with prayer in our room at the B & B which we agreed to (with half-open eyes). A few minutes later, there He was: God! In the flesh**. Before my very (at this point, wide- open) eyes. We were in the 2nd half of Mass!
It is amazing and AWESOME that God comes to us in the flesh (the Eucharist) at every Mass for each of us to see Him
a) on the altar and then
b) about 6" from our faces just before He is placed on our tongues in Holy Communion...
------------------------
Statistics have said that 70% of Catholics believe the Eucharist is only a symbol of Jesus' body and blood.
1. What have you been taught?
2. What do you believe?
-------------------------
* It has happened that day and thousands of others when God has visibly appeared to me (and all others present at Mass) under the signs of bread and wine.
** The Holy Eucharist. Please see responses made to the 11/30 post.
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