NOTE: Reblogged from last year, which itself was a reblog from the previous year and edited with some additions.) Coming up on August 15th is the Solemnity of the Assumption of Our Lady. It is also the beginning of a Franciscan devotion known as “St. Michael’s Lent.” It is a 40-day period of fasting begun by …
Today is the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul. Peter was the ‘Rock’ upon which Christ built His Church and served as Her first Pope; and Paul, becoming the Apostle to the Gentile nations. Both serve as guides to our Faith; Peter, being that first Pope, can symbolize fidelity to Her traditions, apostolic authority and …
Today is the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It is an old and extremely popular devotion; although it has faded somewhat during the 20th century, it appears to me to be reviving. Some have said that the Divine Mercy Devotion is a ’reboot’ of the Sacred Heart Devotion; a close comparison reveals much …
While praying this morning a sudden thought occurred to me regarding the concept of forgiveness. I do not recall by now where I was in my Morning Prayers and what triggered the thought. It doesn’t matter, really. I have struggled with forgiveness quite a lot over the years; what it means, do you ‘feel anything,’ …
Continue reading ‘A sudden inspiration regarding forgiveness’ »
In the Evening Prayer from the Liturgy of the Hours for the Friday after Ash Wednesday, there’s this passage from the Letter of James: James 5:19-20 “My brothers, if anyone of you strays from the truth, and if someone converts him, he ought to know that whoever causes a sinner to be converted from the …
Today begins the spiritual discipline amongst Christians known as Lent. It is the liturgical season in which we increase and strengthen our desire to grow closer to Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ by prayer, fasting, and penance. It leads to Christ’s Passion, Death and Resurrection. This season and November are the two biggest seasons …
Just giving all my readers a heads up that the Divine Mercy Novena begins on Good Friday. This is an excellent annual novena to take yourself on the journey to Divine Mercy Sunday, that annual festival wherein we bathe ourselves in the ocean of mercy that is God’s love and forgiveness. No matter how bad …
“Say what? What’s Paulcoholic mean, ‘Another chance to celebrate Lent!’ Doesn’t he know it’s August?” Of course, I know! But Time is open to interpretation. For a number of years I have introduced to my blog readers something I discovered (I forgot the source) a few years before I started Sober Catholic in 2007; that …
I just added to the “Other Healing Resources” linkylist the following: Examination of Conscience from Beginning Catholic. I thought you might find it useful. Are you a creative Catholic? “The Catholicpunk Manifesto” is my new book exhorting Catholics to apply their faith to change the culture for the better! Know someone, perhaps yourself, who might …
There was a windstorm where I live last Wednesday and we lost power for just over two days. I actually did have some plans for blogging, but with no power, there’s no Internet and so no blogging. Today is Divine Mercy Sunday and I do hope that you took advantage of the tremendous source of …
Continue reading ‘Divine Mercy Sunday: A great day for those who’ve really messed things up’ »