Category Archives: Sacraments

Independence Day

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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 now we have 235 years of Independence.

We are grateful for that. Although things are not, putting it mildly, all that great in the USA today regardless of one’s political persuasion, our Independence is largely still in our own hands.

Anyone who has been sober and clean for any length of time hopefully remembers the dark days of dependency on their chemical of choice. The "People, Places and Things" of that life are long past, with very little desire to return.

How much control do you have over your sobriety? What do you do to maintain your independence, or do you take it for granted that it will always be present? Twelve Step meetings? The Church and the Sacraments, as well as a prayer life? Service and volunteering?

Be mindful and keep watch.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

A Guide for Confession

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As someone who hasn’t been to Confession in nearly 2 months or so, due to a change in my job schedule which has me working on Saturdays, (the most popular time for the Sacrament), I am posting this for other readers who are thinking of going to Confession (but are fearful – it’s not so bad!)

A Guide for Confession

(Via Catholic Online.)

Me, I have to find non-traditional weekday times, or schedule an appointment with a priest. I usually went every 3 weeks, give or take a week. Regular and frequent Confession is excellent for one’s spiritual progression.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

In need of a physician?

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Are you in need of a physician? How about a Divine Physician? The Gospel Reading for the Mass for the Saturday after Ash Wednesday:

Luke 5:27-32: “After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the customs post. He said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And leaving everything behind, he got up and followed him. Then Levi gave a great banquet for him in his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were at table with them. The Pharisees and their scribes complained to his disciples, saying, ‘Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?’ Jesus said to them in reply, ‘Those who are healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do. I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners.’“

(Via USCCB.)

If you are reading this blog, chances are that you are not healthy. You are or were suffering from an addiction, be it alcohol or drugs or something else. As this is the season of Lent, a time of repentance and returning to a closer relationship with God, now is your chance to seek out the healing nature of the Sacraments. Especially Confession! See about talking to a priest about it. It’ll do you an eternity of good.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Touch only the tassel on his cloak

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The Gospel Reading from today’s Mass has a special message of Jesus’ healing nature:

Mark 6:53-56: “After making the crossing to the other side of the sea, Jesus and his disciples came to land at Gennesaret and tied up there. As they were leaving the boat, people immediately recognized him. They scurried about the surrounding country and began to bring in the sick on mats to wherever they heard he was. Whatever villages or towns or countryside he entered, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak; and as many as touched it were healed.”

(Via USCCB.)

It seems to me that the people were hungry for healing, that their lives were broken and wounded as a result of their afflictions and they sought Jesus no matter what.

As alcoholics and addicts, no matter how long we have been clean and sober, we still desperately need the healing touch of Jesus.

Seek Him out, and beg to “touch only the tassel on his cloak,” in that your journey of recovery be kept straight and strong.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

The well do not need a physician, the sick do

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I have probably blogged about this Scripture passage before, but it bears mentioning again. The Gospel reading for today’s Mass (Saturday of the First Week of Ordinary Time) tells us that Jesus came here for the broken and wounded of humanity:

Mark 2:16-17: “Some scribes who were Pharisees saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors and said to his disciples, ‘Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?’ Jesus heard this and said to them (that), ‘Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.’“

(Via USCCB.)

He came for all who need healing. Regardless of the circumstances, if you are sick and suffering, alone and fearful, anxious and worried, He came to heal you. Turn to Him in the Mass, in the Eucharist and in Adoration, and He will heal you. It may take time, but the process begins.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Making room in the Inn

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Advent, a time of waiting for the coming of Christ the Lord. How well do we receive Him into our lives? Is He welcome in all areas of it or do we compartmentalize (pigeon-hole) Him in convenient places?

There are many distractions, and we do not make sufficient room for Him in the inn that is our lives. He is pushed outdoors.

Some of these distractions are addictive. These addictions fill the “hole in the soul” that should be filled by Jesus and the Sacraments. Grace alone should suffice but we improperly seek it. We are misdirected in our gropings in the dark for Truth and Life. We don’t find them in the right places. We stray from the path marked out for us.

Jesus is ever-present in the Blessed Sacrament and ever-waiting for us to come to Him. We prepare our way to Him through prayer, meditation and examining our consciences. We offer up a contrite heart as a sacrifice to Him, so that we will be pleasing in His sight.

And then Jesus, upon being asked, enters our lives and fills our very being with the stuff we seek: healing, direction, life. Things we sought elsewhere and failed miserably because we were deceived.

Christmas is coming, with Jesus in the Manger. Are we prepared to welcome and receive Him?

(Blogger’s Note: This post is a part of the 2010 Catholic New Media Advent Calendar on Catholic Roundup For those new to Sober Catholic my usual source for inspiration is either the Sunday and Daily Mass Readings, or some commentary on the liturgical season. I then try to make it applicable to those recovering from alcoholism and other addictions. But, if you are in a conversion or a development of the interior life mindset, (or just love the Sacrament of Confession), you might find my ramblings useful. 🙂

My other blog, with it’s own post for the Calendar, is: The Four Last Things a blog on Death, Judgment, Heaven and Hell. Its first post explains it: The Four Last Things.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

LET IT PASS AND IT WILL PASS

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Spirit Daily has an article posted yesterday (or today) entitled: LET IT PASS AND IT WILL PASS. It is on the spiritual and sacramental benefits of Confession.

In Twelve Step movements we usually hear a lot about cleaning up the past, and this in important in 4th and 5th Step work. Past hurts, resentment and guilt all can clog up and retard your spiritual development. Not to mention unconfessed sins can perhaps condemn you if they are mortal.

In the Spirit Daily piece linked to above, the writer describes how Jesus can help you clean up your past through Confession.

This is the season of Advent. We must prepare for the coming of the Lord. Clean up your life by examining your conscience and going to Confession before Christmas.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

This is the King

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Today is the Solemnity of Christ the King, in which we acknowledge Jesus as our King, the centerpiece of Creation and of our lives. The following excerpt from the Gospel for the Mass for today announces His Kingship over the Jews, albeit in perhaps a mocking way:

Luke 23:38: “Above him there was an inscription that read, ‘This is the King of the Jews.'”

(Via USCCB.)

Is Jesus your King? Is He your “Higher Power” inasmuch as He is your Divine Physician and the Healer of all that afflicts you? Or have you held on to whatever false or temporary “Higher Power” under the guise of “Well, it got me sober?” Whatever methods you used that helped you achieve sobriety, are they enduring? Only Jesus is “the Way, the Truth and the Life,” and only in Him will we find true and lasting peace and healing.

Do you truly follow Him and obey Him, along with the teachings of His Church? Only in His Church will you find the healing power of His grace through the sacraments of Holy Communion and Confession. Grace is available to all who seek it, but as members of His Church we have the special avenues of His grace, directly flowing to us through Her sacraments.

Advent is one week away, it is the season in which we prepare for the coming of the Lord, our King. Although it is in memory of His first arrival, it calls to mind the fact of His future coming, as well as our need to welcome Him into our lives.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

The Mystical “Magical” “Real-life Sci-fi” Mysteries of the Catholic Mass

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A good online friend of mine has an incredible and I think potentially very useful project from an educational perspective.

His name is Bryan Bustard and his project is a series of paintings on The Mystical “Magical” “Real-life Sci-fi” Mysteries of the Catholic Mass

Most Catholics do not understand exactly what the Mass is. It is not simply yet another “worship service” like the Protestants have. The Mass is a union of Heaven and Earth, where the Last Supper is presented again and the sacrifice of Jesus on Calvary is ongoing, from across time and space. There is only “one sacrifice”, and Jesus did it, but it is continued from 2,000 years ago at every Catholic Mass.

When you are at a Catholic Mass, it is as if you are present at the Last Supper and are at the foot of the Cross with Mary, the Mother of Jesus and the others.

Bryan’s artistic endeavor attempts to, well, illustrate this reality through a series of paintings. He needs funding to do this and to that end is requesting donations through the Kickstarter Project. Kickstarter is a way form people to obtain funding and patronage for the works.

Bryan has about 17 days left to raise the money needed and has a long ways to go to accomplish this. Hence, I am blogging about the project here and am asking that you take a look at the site: The Mystical “Magical” “Real-life Sci-fi” Mysteries of the Catholic Mass and please consider contributing.

This may be the first of a series of posts on Catholic art. Art, either the creation or appreciation of, is to me a form of spiritual development as good art takes you outside yourself and connects you to God.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Nothing will be impossible for you with great faith

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The Gospel Reading from the Mass for Saturday of the 18th Week in Ordinary Time has an excellent teaching from Jesus on the power of Faith to heal:

Matthew 17:14-20: “A man came up to Jesus, knelt down before him, and said,
‘Lord, have pity on my son, who is a lunatic and suffers severely;
often he falls into fire, and often into water.
I brought him to your disciples, but they could not cure him.’
Jesus said in reply,
‘O faithless and perverse generation, how long will I be with you?
How long will I endure you? 
Bring the boy here to me.’
Jesus rebuked him and the demon came out of him,
and from that hour the boy was cured.
Then the disciples approached Jesus in private and said,
‘Why could we not drive it out?’
He said to them, ‘Because of your little faith.
Amen, I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed,
you will say to this mountain,
‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move.
Nothing will be impossible for you.’”

Via USCCB.)

As alcoholics and addicts there are competing sources for our attention, all telling us that this works or that works, that a 12 Step program is all you need, or religion and 12 Steps… you get the idea.

Jesus is the Divine Physician. He came to us to heal us of our afflictions and to redeem us from our sins. Mere human methods can help us, at least from the outset and perhaps occasionally afterwards in certain situations. But only Jesus, through the Sacraments He established in His Church, can give us the lasting healing from that which plagues us.

Twelve Step programs speak of “HOW”, which means “Honesty, Open-mindedness, and Willingness” as the key to a successful recovery. Honesty with yourself and others, an openness to working the program fully, and a willingness to do whatever it takes by the program’s offerings. A similar thing is a part of accepting Jesus and His Church as your healer.

The “HOW” can be the Humility needed to submit to God’s will in all areas of your life so He can lead you to the healing you crave; the Openness to God’s graces flowing forth from the Sacraments, especially the Eucharist and Confession; and the Willingness to live according to the Gospels.

With faith believe in the healing power of Jesus and the Sacraments and be humble, open and willing to accept it. Miracles happen.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)