Adapting a Slogan

Remember this commercial?

Well, perhaps what Catholic institutions need to say in regard to Obama's Contraception
Mandate is something along these lines:
"We won't! We're Catholic!"

Chotki

I always find myself praying, silently,
The Jesus Prayer, or The Prayer of The Heart much more frequently when I'm reading,
or have recently read this book!

The version I use, "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me, a sinner," is slightly different from the one the Pilgrim prays.
Sometimes I just say the Prayer over and over, for example when doing certain tasks,
but now that I have a Chotki,

I can also repeat the Prayer a set number of times.

My First Ash Wednesday (reposted from last year)

I remember my very first Ash Wednesday, my first day of
fasting as a Catholic. For me it was easy as pie; it was
a piece of cake. (Although, of course, I had neither pie nor
cake!)
Remember, I am a Jewish convert, a veteran of Yom Kippur
fasts: From a little before sundown until a little after sundown,
no food, and nothing to drink. Not even a sip of water!
The not eating wasn't all that hard (I'm not saying it was a picnic, but who picnicked on Yom Kippur, anyway?).
What I found hard was the "not even a sip of water" part.
So, my first fast as a Catholic was easy in that respect. What I found difficult was figuring out the "two small meals that
together don't equal a full meal."
It was like a combined one-day-diet and math exercise!
When Fr. Kelly asked me how I'd gotten through my first
fast-day, I couldn't help laughing.
"Father," I said, "you don't know from fasting!"

Homily 2012-02-22 - Fr Joseph Mary MFVA - Ash Wednesday

Fr. Joseph shares two great stories in this homily. Thank God, we don't have
to give up laughing during Lent!

That Makes TWO Pictures Today!

I've just added another picture to my Rosary Art Collection.

New Picture

I've just added this picture to my Rosary Art Collection.
Notice how young the Blessed Virgin Mary looks.

Lent, 2012

I've just re-read some of my goals for last year's Lent.
It's funny, but I had forgotten that I abstained from meat last year, except for Sundays,
solemnities, and feast days. I'm going to do it again this year.
I will pray the Chaplet of Mercy several times a day, instead of just at 3:00 in the afternoon.
In addition, at least once a day, I will pray The Chaplet of the Holy Wounds.
My second cup of coffee and light snack will also be my breakfast during Lent, so that, except for Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, I will have one light snack and two full meals, with liquids at any time. Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, of course, one full meal and two small meals which together won't add up to a full meal. Liquids, except water, only at meals.
Actually, I like Lent. It's a great time for spiritual growth. Besides, I enjoy, yes, enjoy the challenge of keeping all of my Lenten resolutions. Of course, a great part
of the enjoyment of Lent is in knowing that Easter is coming!