Relationships

During a catechism class that I taught this past month our topic was RELATIONSHIPS.  All caps and bold faced.  Exactly like that, except... not really.  You see they were under the assumption that we would talk about boyfriend and girlfriend relationships.  The girls in the class were hoping I would talk more about my fiance and I.  The guys in the class were hoping I would give them tips and pointers.  You see, we associate the word "relationship" with the following:

This is what I'm talking about:

re·la·tion·ship n.:  The way in which two or more concepts, objects, or people are connected, or the state of being connected.

Too often we worry ourselves with our romantic relationships we neglect others.  You see, relationships are the very connections between persons.  It isn't necessarily a romantic one.  Off the bat you have a relationship with your mother, father, brother or sister.  Granted those relationships may not be very good ones, but they are relationships none the less.  

I think most can agree that the basis for some of the most important relationships we will ever have is love.  Some of the most damaging relationships we will ever have will be due to a lack of love, or a misinterpretation of what love is.

So here is the point I drove home during our short discussion in catechism class:  Our first relationship that takes priority is that with God.  There plenty of reasons that our relationship with God should take precedence but the main one is this... He's God.  If we cannot love God who loved us first and loves us perfectly and if that relationship isn't solid.  How well will we do in those relationships where their love for us is far from perfect?

St. Augustine famously has been quoted:

"Love God first, then do what thou will."

Making this relationship our first priority gives us the basic building blocks for every other relationship we will have.  After all "Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love" (1 John 4:8).  So lets renew ourselves this coming Easter Season.  Observe reverently these next few days of the Holy Triduum (Holy Thursday to Holy Saturday).  Living out what each day means in Salvation History and to us personally so that come Easter Sunday we may put on our new selves and draw closer to Love Himself.

Deus Providebit

Write it down!

Most know the benefits to Holy Mass, Adoration, frequent Confession and recitation of the Rosary. (If not stay tuned because these will eventually be discussed)

But how many people know and practice the use of a spiritual journal? Today during my catechism class I mentioned that during adoration I wrote in my spiritual journal and many of the guys chuckled a little bit. Even my peers sometimes may forget it's significance and importance.

Why have one? What are it's advantages? And why is it not as comical as some would like to think?

Having a spiritual journal is a helpful way to keep up with our spiritual journey and to allow us time to focus our thoughts and meditations on things of God and our faith journey. I sometimes enjoy reading my past entries just to see and better appreciate the many different things God has done. This sometimes turns into it's own little reminders that God know's what He's doing even though at the time we don't.

The Sisters of Saint Joseph list a few other benefits to having a spiritual journal:

• Growing in self-understanding 
• Deepening awareness of God within 
• Making sense and order out of life 
• Expressing emotions and gaining perspective 
• Developing a greater awareness of daily life 
• Clarifying beliefs 
• Setting goals and managing time 
• Working through problems 
• Recording memories 

(source: http://www.goodgroundpress.com/part_1_beginning_your_spiritual_journal.aspx)

When I first started to pursue my fiance one of the first things I gave her was a spiritual journal. In it I wrote a note which said something to the effect of:

"In this journal we have the ability to escape from the world and be alone on an island with God. To simply BE with Him and communicate our deepest thoughts, desires and even fears. It allows us to contemplate His deepest mysteries but also to express our thoughts on the daily mundane things"

I like to look at it as me simply taking notes on the story which God has already begun writing in our lives. So during this Lenten Season, a season where we are more inclined to reflection and silence, it would be ideal and beneficial to start your very own spiritual journal if you don't have one already.

If you do and seem to have gotten a bit stuck on what to write here are some ideas:

Letters to God: Make a daily account to our Lord and speak to Him as you would a friend. Sometimes writing our thoughts and prayers down in this way can help us understand better the depth or lack of depth in our piety.

Reflections on Readings: Reflecting on the Mass Readings for the day not only allow you to meditate on the Word of God but also to better prepare yourself for Mass. If you do this after Mass you could use it to recap on the inspirations you picked up during Mass. Reflecting on Spiritual Readings are also helpful and inspiring. If you're like me we don't just pick up a good Catholic Book like "Story of a Soul" by St. Therese or "Confessions" by St. Augustine for simple recreation. But rather we are hunting for bits and pieces (or even mountains) of inspirations. To spend a little extra time to expand on those spurts of inspiration not only are beneficial to remember them but help us to meditate on how we can echo God's inspirations in our own lives.

Writing during the homily: This is where I get a page or two done. So often we have homilies that are truly inspired by the Holy Spirit and what a shame to meditate on these further. If we take notes during our lectures because we feel that information is important enough for us to remember. Why not the lessons the Holy Spirit is teaching us from the pulpit? Even if you don't go back and read over the homily, simply writing it down helps you pay attention and remember what's being said.

Letters from God: Some may think it silly but I know plenty of people who seek small bits of inspiration from our Lord himself. I'm not claiming that I or any of those I know are locutionist

(A locutionist is one who hears inwardly revelations which purport to be from some heavenly source)

But I do believe that God can send us inspirations if we are open to receiving them. That being said  normally say a prayer and ask for the aid of the Holy Spirit. I personally say the Come Holy Spirit prayer:

"Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth.

O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever enjoy His consolations, Through Christ Our Lord, Amen."

Afterwards, simply let the Spirit guide the words you write. If you have questions or concerns about those things you write this is where a good and holy Spiritual Director would be helpful.

Now then... get out there and start journaling! or not... But remember St Therese of Lisieux , St Faustina, St. Gemma Galgani all wrote down in one form or another about their spiritual journeys just to name a few.

God Bless and remember....
Deus Providebit. 

Just to start things off

JMJ

What drives the youth of today? I myself at 25 years of age have reached the point where considering myself part of that sector of society becomes daring if not wishful. But nonetheless there has been in the past generations of the young of the world an increasing trend away from God and a move towards things more sensual or sensible. It’s not a fact that is widely disputed yet unfortunately there is little concern for the morale of the youth.

The young have found themselves in the midst of humanities greatest and most important battle. As cliché as it all may sound, it is neither the war on terror nor on those parties who wish to topple or overtake our governments. Yes such struggles are important and weigh heavily on what will happen within our lifetimes, this battle weighs what will happen to us for the rest of eternity. It is a “do or die” battle, literally, and if we do not take arms we will be swept away with the deceits of the enemy who “prowls about the world seeking the ruin of souls.”

One word to describe their situation:

TRAPPED

But why do I describe the youth as trapped? How and by who? Unlike previous times vices have never been so widely promoted and accepted by society. Even in the Philippines, where I currently reside, whose majority of the population, over 80%, are Catholic, the Culture of Death slowly wraps its claws around the very thicket of its Catholic roots. But regardless of where you go in the world, there is a similar story, a tragedy to be shared. The music videos, TV shows, fashion, dancing, advertising and everything that builds this present culture gives a false image of happiness, and we have sunk our teeth so deep into the bait that we can’t, or don’t want to, let go. It’s all too attractive and enticing to renounce for most people and so we are led to justify ourselves and defend our “stance” on why these things are ok. All around us we have examples of people trapped by their own desires, passions, and wants. Not allowing themselves to be guided by the Spirit of God, but instead by the flesh and the spirit of the world. But what we have in this world is only temporary; our very lives are transitory, meaning we are pilgrims moving toward eternity. God desires that we rise above the sensual and hold firmly on him through the spiritual.

Trapped by whom? Of course we know who, it is he who we as children of God and of the Blessed Mother have been placed “in enmity,” or at odds, with. Lucifer, satan, the devil, say it how you want it, he leads the rebellion against God and His people. But he does not act alone; he has with him the other third of the angels who fell with him after their rebellion against God. Who else? There are also those, men and women like you and me, who have knowingly, or even unknowingly, allied themselves with these powers of darkness. Who promote and themselves flirt with the dangers of the Culture of Death.

Yes now we know, if we didn’t already, that we have an enemy. It is the devil, who is more real than most people would like to believe, and his cohorts. On the hierarchy of creation the devil and those other fallen angels are preternatural beings, and we are merely natural beings. How do we fair against such odds?

Actually our odds are pretty good, in fact there overwhelmingly great. We may lose on the hierarchy of creation, but we have God who is SUPERnatural. “What then shall we say to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Rom 8:31) If we are trapped then let us have recourse to God to set us free. For he is the same God who showed his might, power and glory in Egypt to free them from their bondage, how much more can he do for us if we only allow Him to work those miracles through us and in us. He has given us all the means to overcome ourselves and all that could stand in the way with our journey to holiness. Holy Mass, Holy Hours of Adoration, the Holy Rosary, 2000 years worth of saints whose examples we can follow, legions of heavenly hosts and much more. We have no excuses and need only the DESIRE for holiness, the DESIRE to love God.