One thing has repeatedly disturbed me in the over 10 years of sobriety that I have. That thing is the phrase “Recovering Catholic.” I encountered that phrase quite a lot yesterday and today when I revisited an online recovery community called In The Rooms. I joined a few years ago, never did much with it, …
Many 12 Steppers usually scoff at “religious” solutions to addiction, and perhaps rightly so due to the low success rate (forgetting that AA has a very low success rate, too.) Maybe they also think that religious observance is pointless and is also an “easier, softer, way.” HA! I think the main reason that religious solutions …
This is the third and final part in the series of interviews with leaders of the St. Francis Mission, for background, see An Introduction to the St. Francis Mission Among the Lakota Q: The following link provides basic information on the recovery programs offered at the Reservation: Recovery programs at the St. Francis Mission. They …
Continue reading ‘St. Francis Mission Among the Lakota Part 3: Relapse and Recovery’ »
On this 8th day of the Novena, we pray for the strength of perseverance in Faith. The main reason why I started this blog, and the failed social networks involving Catholic addiction, is that too often in 12 Step meeting rooms (and online gatherings) I’ve seen Catholics leave the Church. I feel it is my …
Continue reading ‘Novena to St. Michael the Archangel, Day 8’ »
A rare "gratitude" post. In the United States today we are celebrating our Independence from Great Britain. They fought long and hard to rid themselves the "People" (British troops and tax collectors), "Places" (far off island governing this Continent), and "Things" (unjust taxation, lack of political representation) that were wrong our their’ lives. And so …
Well, it’s out! Judy Zarick’s interview with me, scheduled for this week, is available here: American Catholic Radio looks at Ash Wednesday, conversion and social justice The program is called “Living Faith with Judy Zarick.” (Via Franciscan Media.) All in all, the editing was great. It is a 5 minute distillation of a 20-25 minute-long …
Continue reading ‘My interview on American Catholic Radio’ »
The following is the Second Reading from the Mass for the Solemnity of Christ the King: Col 1:12-20: “Brothers and sisters: Let us give thanks to the Father, who has made you fit to share in the inheritance of the holy ones in light. He delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us …
One of the coping mechanisms that we alcoholics quite often use when dealing with the past is living with “no regrets” about it. Page 83 of AA’s “Big Book” has as one of the “Twelve Promises”: “We will not regret the past nor wish to shut the door on it.” We do not let the …
Yesterday I wrote Part 1 of this post. Today I hope to conclude this topic. I concluded yesterday’s post with this question: “Now I ask the question, or rather reframe the question in the title, ‘How do you live the life of the Church?’ The life of the Church is marked by prayer and the …
Continue reading ‘How often do you pray and go to Church? Part 2’ »
Today, July 31st, is the feast day of St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus (also known as the Jesuits). (Via Catholic Online.) For our purposes here at Sober Catholic he is best known as the author of the “Spiritual Exercises”, a classic text on ridding yourself of character defects and sinful …
Continue reading ‘St. Ignatius of Loyola and the Spiritual Exercises’ »