Category Archives: Service and Volunteering

Novena to St. Joseph for Alcoholics: Day 6

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On this sixth day of the novena, we pray:

St. Joseph: “O glorious Saint Joseph, an angel on earth, thou didst marvel to see the King of Heaven obedient to thy commands, but thy consolation in bringing Jesus out of the land of Egypt was troubled by thy fear of Archelaus; nevertheless, being assured by the Angel, thou didst dwell in gladness at Nazareth with Jesus and Mary.

By this thy sorrow and this thy joy, obtain for us that our hearts may be delivered from harmful fears, that so we may rejoice in peace of conscience and may live in safety with Jesus and Mary, and, like unto thee, may die in their company.

Now recite the Our Father…, the Hail Mary…, and then the Glory be…”

(Via Inter Mirifica.)

Not everyone can “dwell in gladness”. Homelessness is oftentimes the result of addiction. We cannot treat our addiction, either through stubborn pride or weak will, or lack of recognizing when someone is trying to help. Or a host of reasons beyond the victim’s power. Nevertheless, the addict loses everything and winds up on the street, dependent upon the kindness of strangers or charitable organizations.

Perhaps this is when many “hit bottom”, and make the decision that not drinking may just be better than drinking. It is then that the veil may be removed from their eyes and they see the help that is available.

Pretty much everyone who is an addict faces homelessness. Many manage to avoid it. For those who cannot, we pray:

Oh, Lord, look with favor upon those suffering from the indignity of homelessness. May they seek shelter where it is available and may the hearts of those who can provide assistance be softened to see past their immediate situation and recognize in the homeless the truth that they also are adopted children of God and thus provide for their needs. We pray that the homeless may then take their place as valuable members of society and contribute to building up the Kingdom of God on Earth. We ask this through Christ, Our Lord.

 

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!!)

Novena to St. Joseph for Alcoholics: Day 1

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As we begin the first day of this Novena to St. Joseph for Alcoholics, we pray:

O chaste Spouse of Mary most holy, glorious Saint Joseph, great was the trouble and anguish of thy heart when thou wast minded to put away privately thine inviolate Spouse, yet thy joy was unspeakable, when the surpassing mystery of the Incarnation was made known to thee by the Angel!

By this thy sorrow and this thy joy we beseech thee to comfort our souls, both now and in the sorrows of our final hour, with the joy of a good life and a holy death after the pattern of thine own in the arms of Jesus and Mary.

Now recite the “Our Father”; the “Hail Mary”, and the “Glory be”.

(Prayer courtesy of: Inter Mirifica.)

If you recall from Sacred Scripture, when Joseph learned that Mary was pregnant with Jesus, he was going to divorce her according to Jewish custom. It is beyond the scope of this blog and this novena to go into that here. It is sufficient to say that he was troubled by the perceived scandal of her “unwed pregnancy”, and that her child was not his. The fact that there was nothing wrong with the pregnancy, as the Angel informed him of its propriety, does not get in the way of the prayer intention of the first day of this novena, which is:

For all who have “unwanted pregnancies” or all those who are experiencing fear and aloneness as they face their pregnancy without a spouse (or responsible partner). May they receive the help and encouragement they need to bring their child into the world. We ask this through Christ, Our Lord, Amen.

What does this have to do with this blog? Easy. If you have been to any number of 12 Step meetings, you are aware that sexual impropriety and misconduct is not an uncommon event in many a member’s past. Single parenthood is common today even way outside of the meeting rooms, but within them there is quite often a tragedy as addiction may have taken its toll on the parent or child. A tragedy may have even been the cause of the pregnancy. Whether by rape, or prostituting oneself for drugs or alcohol, or a lack of discipline caused by the addiction, not all pregnancies are happy and joyous ones.

Often abortion was the “final solution” to the problem, but some had the courage to bring the baby to term rather than commit the abortion.

Some, for whatever reason, chose the abortion out of fear or coercion, or a misguided sense of “inconvenience.” We pray for these people, as well. There is often a subsequent psychological cost to abortion. Many eventually seek out healing for the immense regret over their lost child. We pray for their healing, also. These people are not to be condemned for their act if they have come to regret it and have remorse.

The point of all this praying is that this issue of “illicit” or “unwanted” or “out of wedlock” pregnancy and single parenthood is a work of mercy in need of action. As I’ve said or hinted at before, it is not merely that we stop drinking and develop our sobriety. We need to use our sobriety to grow closer to God and experience His love and forgiveness and to lead others to it. Too many people are hurt and wounded by a number of things. This novena is going to address a whole bunch of those things.

In 12 Step movements we are told to “practice these principles in all our affairs.” Jesus commissions us to live according to His teachings. We don’t just take care of ourselves. We grow in sobriety, therefore we must grow in our responsibility to others.

Sexual sin, even when addressed by repentance and contrition, is painful, even years later. We try to see past the emotions and issues that often cloud our vision and judgment of why people do things. It is in the past and hopefully they’ve reconciled to God.If they haven’t, we pray that they do.

Everyone is broken and wounded. All of us need healing.

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!!)

To be great, serve

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The Gospel Reading for the Mass for Wednesday of the Second Week of Lent is a curious one:

Matthew 20:17-28: “As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem,
he took the Twelve disciples aside by themselves,
and said to them on the way,
‘Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem,
and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests
and the scribes,
and they will condemn him to death,
and hand him over to the Gentiles
to be mocked and scourged and crucified,
and he will be raised on the third day.’

Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee approached Jesus with her sons
and did him homage, wishing to ask him for something.
He said to her, ‘What do you wish?’
She answered him,
‘Command that these two sons of mine sit,
one at your right and the other at your left, in your kingdom.’
Jesus said in reply,
‘You do not know what you are asking.
Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?’
They said to him, ‘We can.’
He replied,
‘My chalice you will indeed drink,
but to sit at my right and at my left,
this is not mine to give
but is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.’
When the ten heard this,
they became indignant at the two brothers.
But Jesus summoned them and said,
‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them,
and the great ones make their authority over them felt.
But it shall not be so among you.
Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant;
whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave.
Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve
and to give his life as a ransom for many.'”

(Via USCCB.)

It has been a while since I had written about serving. (Please click on the “Service and Volunteering” label in the sidebar and review past posts at your pleasure.)

Service is humility in action. It helps you “get outside” yourself. You are doing something for another person or group of people and are not expecting to get any payment in return. If you do it well, you are honestly contributing to the betterment of humanity, no matter how small the work.

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!!)

Nun helps Bolivia's street kids build future from past of addiction

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Nice, uplifting story about hope in a Catholic News Service story: “Nun helps Bolivia’s street kids build future from past of addiction”

(Via CNS.)

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!!)

To suffer with

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According to the Oxford American Dictionary that is installed on my Mac, the word compassion means:

compassion |kəmˈpa sh ən| noun
sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others : the victims should be treated with compassion.

ORIGIN Middle English : via Old French from ecclesiastical Latin compassio(n-), from compati ‘suffer with.’

Take note of the origin of the word: “to suffer with”.

We suffer. We are all wounded and broken in some way. For you reading this blog and the others on the recovery and conversion blogrolls, you understand this. You wouldn’t be here unless you’ve been wounded and hurt in your past. Whether it is by others or most likely yourself (because of your addictions), you know suffering.

To me, it doesn’t matter whether the suffering is self-inflicted or bestowed upon you by others, suffering is suffering.

Suffering tends to isolate us. We think we are alone and this is reinforced by the resistance of others to be near us when we hurt. It sometimes feels as if we are like the lepers of old who had to wear signs identifying them as “unclean”, and thus to be avoided. Sometimes we push people away when we hurt as if contact with others will increase our pain. “Leave me alone” we shout, either with words or a “keep away, keep far away” attitude and demeanor.

We are Christians and as such we are taught by Jesus that we must accept suffering.

Matthew 16:24-25: “Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”

(Via USCCB.)

This does not necessarily mean that we are just to deal with our own suffering. We must also bear one another’s burdens.

Galatians 6:2: “Bear one another’s burdens, and so you will fulfill the law of Christ.”

(Via USCCB.)

Just as others are resistant to bear our burdens when we hurt, we are sometimes just as guilty when we see others hurting. We do not wish to be burned by whatever is afflicting them, or we are too distracted by our own concerns, or we selfishly prefer our own distractions and do not see and reach out when we can.

This takes us away from others and we become self-absorbed. We get carried away in our own interests and situations. We leave other people to their own suffering and we do not suffer with them. We lack compassion. We temporarily lack the ability to suffer with others. I say “temporarily” because if you possess a well-formed conscience you eventually notice this and wonder what is disturbing you. You discover that you have become too caught up in yourself and there is a world out there, or maybe just a small group of people that you work with or are related to who have been caught up in troubles of their own and have needed you. At least some small attention by you.

So you pick yourself up and resolve to do better. You try to sense what is going on in the lives of others and to tend to them. You hopefully consign your bout of self-absorption to the past (knowing it’ll return from time to time as we are sinners) and allow the experience to sensitize you to other people’s pain.

I chose that word carefully, sensitize. For in the cacophony of the World, we are oftentimes desensitized to other people’s sufferings. There’s just so much and we become numb to it all. And as we are addicts and alcoholics, we indulge ourselves in some distraction that fills us up. We may even rationalize the distraction as being something beneficial to us in the long run, calling it an “experience” or a mental health escape. This is all good, if it can be useful to others down the road.

As long as we remain focused on what is essential, that being:

Matthew 6:33: “…seek first the kingdom (of God)…“

(Via USCCB.)</p

This is New Year’s Day, 2009. We are all “supposed” to make resolutions for the year. In one of my other blogs I write about that: Resolution: One Day at a Time

(Via Trudging Paulcoholic’s Road.)

This may be one resolution that we might be capable of keeping the entire year, if we renew ourselves through prayer and meditation. That is: to try to stay attuned to the suffering that is about us, and to reach out and help in whatever manner we are able.

See you often throughout the year, both here and over at Catholics in Recovery .

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!!)

St. Benedict's Ladder of Humility: Step 7

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The Seventh Step of the Ladder of Humility is that a person not only admit outwardly but is also inwardly convinced that one is inferior to all and of less value.

This is rather similar to the previous Sixth Step. The two go hand-in-hand, it seems to me. If you accept the lowest and most menial treatment, it stands to reason that you would consider yourself inferior.

This is a Step which takes us closer to God. When you consider that Jesus was executed for crimes He didn’t commit, and was treated like the lowest of the low of common criminals, we see that this Step takes us closer to His Cross.

It is a Step which is sacrificial in nature. It is the one which says “Nothing is beneath me, not even assuming that others are better than I.” Who are we to say that any one of us is better or superior to another person? To some homeless person on the street? To some drunk dead in an alley? “But for the grace of God, go I,” a common saying in the rooms of 12 Step recovery movements.

As lunatic that this Step may seem to secular psychologists, I think that this Step helps to keep us sane. It prevents us from believing all sorts of nonsense about ourselves, either stuff foisted upon us by someone else, or fantasies of our own making. It keeps our egos in check. It enable us to be of service to others because it clears away false conceptions of ourselves, as long as we have a reasonable and rational assessment of our skills and talents. Like in the Sixth Step, we have to do a balancing act between this rational assessment and this matter of faith.

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!!)

God's Merciful Love

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I am posting about another blogging project that I am involved with. The new blog is God’s Merciful Love and it was started by my wife, Rose S., yesterday.

As the title suggests, it is about God’s love and mercy. Specifically, it is on the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy. They are:

The Spiritual Works of Mercy

Correct the sinner.
Instruct the ignorant.
Counsel the doubting.
Comfort the sorrowful.
Be patient with those in error.
Forgive offenses.
Pray for the living and the dead.

The Corporal Works of Mercy

Feed the hungry.
Give drink to the thirsty.
Shelter the homeless.
Clothe the naked.
Visit the sick.
Visit the imprisoned.
Bury the dead.

The blog is Rose’s baby, but I will be a contributor. “God’s Merciful Love” will hope to instruct and involve people in the various works of mercy, either online or wherever they are. There may be “Events” or “Meetups” in various parts of the world where people can engage in these works.

For those readers who feel that we are saved only by professing a belief in Jesus Christ and that works are “bribing God”, this is utter nonsense and unsupported by Scripture. We as Christians are called to respond to the Gospel and build the Kingdom of God on Earth, we will not do that by just saying “Jesus, Jesus.” Faith and works go hand-in-hand, by faith we profess in Jesus and by works we demonstrate that Faith. Works do not get us into Heaven, we can never earn or merit our way in. But by our works we prove our faith in Jesus.

Email me or go visit the blog and support my wife’s endeavor!

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!!)

Encourage each other daily

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From the Letter to the Hebrews:

Hebrews 3:13;

Encourage yourselves daily while it is still “today,” so that none of you may grow hardened by the deceit of sin.

We do not live in isolation. We Christians of any denomination are supposed to be a community of believers, praying and worshipping together. Although there is ample acceptable room within Christianity for isolated practice of the Faith (i.e. hermits), Christians are a community.

Therefore we must encourage and support one another not just in the practice of the Faith but in our daily struggles as well. This is a great antidote to a sense of isolation, that no one understands what any one of us is going through or that our struggles are worse than anybody else’s. This is called “terminal uniqueness” in 12 Step circles.

See if there are parish other faith based organizations that you can join to help you out. Either actual support groups or general parish groups organized for whatever purpose or even a volunteering thing. “Go outside to get outside” is a 12-step slogan. To get outside yourself and connect with others you have to reach out beyond yourself.

Easier said than done sometimes. So think about it and warm up to the idea.

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!!)

Day 9 of the Novena to the Holy Spirit for Alcoholism and Recovery

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All 7 Gifts of the Holy Spirit have been prayed for: Wisdom, Understanding, Knowledge, Counsel, Fortitude, Piety, and Fear of the Lord.

To round out the last day of the Pentecost novena for alcoholism I decided to petition for sobriety. It isn’t a gift of the Holy Spirit, but if you live according to the Spirit, it is a natural result.

Like in the previous days, we start with the prayer:

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful and rekindle 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.

Sobriety means much more than not drinking. Just like “peace” doesn’t mean “no war”. Sobriety means clear-headedness, a cool and balanced view of things. Faith going hand-in-hand with reason.

It is an emotional balance. As alcoholics we had a warped emotional interpretation of events and situations and our response was therefore as warped and imbalanced as our perceptions. Sobriety means that we have taught ourselves how to handle these situations. We retrained ourselves how to properly respond to stuff. A goodly dose of sincere humility, that there is a God and we’re not Him mixed with an ability to choose those things that we can change from those we can’t, and we have the beginnings of sobriety.

We maintain this sobriety through prayer, religious devotion, and spiritual growth; a balanced and respectful attitude towards people and things; and service to others. Twelve Step or alternative recovery programs may supplement these.

From 1 Peter 5: 8-9;

Be sober and vigilant. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for (someone) to devour.
Resist him, steadfast in faith, knowing that your fellow believers throughout the world undergo the same sufferings.

Resist the alluring call of the drink, know that others are going through the same sufferings as you, regardless of the length of sobriety.

Oh, Holy Spirit, grant me sobriety. I ask you this in the name of Jesus, the Lord.

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!!)

Trials Permitted to Happen for a Reason

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While randomly flipping through the Douay-Rheims translation of the Bible last night while in Eucharistic Adoration, I chanced upon this passage from Tobias (Tobit in the NAB. Please note that the translation in the NAB is very different from the D-R. If you don’t have a copy of the D-R, there’s a link to it in the blog’s sidebar in the “For all things Catholic” section).

Tobias 2:12-14

Now this trial the Lord therefore permitted to happen to him, that an example might be given to posterity of his patience, as also of holy Job. For whereas he had always feared God from his infancy, and kept his commandments, he repined not against God because the evil of blindness had befallen him, but continued immoveable in the fear of God, giving thanks to God all the days of his life.

Tobias had become blind, despite having led a virtuous and faithful life in very trying circumstances. (Why do bad things happen to good people?)

Note that the passage says that the Lord permitted this trial to happen to him, meaning perhaps that God could have prevented it.

But the passage also states that there was a reason for the trial’s happening, “so that an example might be given to posterity for his patience.”

OK, so a bad thing happened to a good person. And perhaps such things fit in with God’s overall plan for your life, that a bad thing occurs so that something good is drawn out of it. In Tobias’ case, it was so that others would benefit from his patient endurance.

How do you react to your alcoholism or addiction? Are you angry and resentful that you cannot drink like normal people? (You might know the joke told in AA meetings: “If I could drink like a normal person, I’d drink all day.”) Or do you accept your addiction, deal with it, incorporate the principles of your recovery program into your life and seek to determine how you can learn from your experience and apply it to other people and situations?

In my cessation from drinking, I learned I needed more that what AA’s spirituality offered. I returned to the Catholic Faith, feeling that only a 2,000 year-old religion with its breadth and depth can truly keep me sober and alive. AND I eventually started this blog, with the idea that there are other Catholics and spiritual seekers who need to dive into deep waters to sustain them, because other spiritual solutions are unsatisfying.

So, what are YOU doing with your sobriety? If your sobriety is a private affair, that is wonderful, you are still an example to others in a little way. But if you feel called to do something more than just not drink, that is wonderful also, as you are seeking to reach out to others and bring the Gospel message to those who need it.

Do whatever is within your abilities and don’t apologize for not doing more, if more is beyond your reach. As long as you end up viewing your sobriety as a gift, and your recovery as something that brought you closer to God. We are not all called to start Catholic sobriety blogs, or whatever else. We are meant to stay sober and draw closer to God. Whether in small ways or big ways, you’re doing God’s work. This is more than most.

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!!)