Reminder for upcoming St. Maximilian Kolbe Novena for Alcoholics and Addicts

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On August 6th readers and subscribers can start the St. Maximilian Kolbe Novena for Alcoholics and Addicts.

Although you can say a novena at anytime, the customary practice is to start it 9 days before the feast day, basically so that all the petitioners can be united in prayer as a community.

Just go to the link highlighted in the first sentence, and further links to all novena prayers are given there for all nine days.

St.Maximilian Kolbe is regarded as a patron saint of addicts and alcoholics as he was executed by the Nazis via lethal injection. There are links in the sidebar where you can find more information of one of my favorite patrons.

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!!)

More on St. Ignatius, including an online retreat

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Adrienne, over at Adrienne’s Catholic Corner has a post on St.Ignatius: “St. Ignatius and Some Linky Love…”

(Via Adrienne’s Catholic Corner.)

One of her lovely links is to Creighton University’s Collaborative Ministry. They have an online version of the Spiritual Exercises. This retreat can take 34 weeks, at your own pace. Please see: Online Retreat in Everyday Life.

(Via Creighton University.)

I may try that at some point after the 30+ day version I shall attempt. Or sooner, if the attempt fails. 😉

Adrienne also points out that Jean, over at Catholic Fire has an excellent post on St. Ignatius of Loyola “Brief Biography, Favorite Quotes, Prayers, and Works.”

(Via Catholic Fire.)

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. Ignatius of Loyola and the Spiritual Exercises

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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 behavior through prayer, meditation, examination of conscience and the use of the Mass and the sacraments. When Bill Wilson, the co-founder of Alcoholics Anonymous wrote the Twelve Steps, it was remarked that they bore a striking similarity to St.Ignatius’ Spiritual Exercises.

I shall be starting the Spiritual Exercise myself this weekend. There are various methods of doing this, I will be using the classic English translation published by Tan Books. It takes about 30 days to complete, but with allowances for the state of life one is in, and your progress, it’ll probably take longer.

I shall blog about the experience while doing them. The reason for that is that the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius should form the cornerstone of any program of recovery for a Catholic. The application of the Spiritual Exercises along with a good sacramental life may be all that one needs to maintain sobriety. Not having done these until now, and making them a part of this blog is long overdue.

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!!)

Double Portion

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When life seems especially trying just ask for greater strength.

2 Kings 2:9: “When they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, ‘Ask for whatever I may do for you, before I am taken from you.’ Elisha answered, ‘May I receive a double portion of your spirit.’“

(Via USCCB.)

Sometimes it seems as if we need a “double portion” sometimes.

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!!)

Being wary of diversions

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There is an excellent article (yet again!)in Spirit Daily about the various ways in which we are diverted from following God’s will in daily living and in various point in our lives.

(Via Spirit Daily.)

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!!)

Template issues

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There seems to be a problem with the template (the way the blog is laid out). I haven’t done anything to the template, but for some reason it appears that the items in the sidebar are showing up below all the blogposts instead of along the right hand side where they belong.

I am not sure why this is so, but it is probably a Blogger (Google) issue. I shall investigate, not that I can do anything about it. 🙁

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!!)

Catholics in Recovery Changes

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The Catholics in Recovery forums have been “redesigned”. I basically combined a few to tidy things up and make them seem less unwieldy.

The “Twelve Steps” forum was moved to the “Recovery Meeting Room” forum, “Devotion Discussion” has been combined with “Saints”. “Food Addictions” and “Gambling Addictions” were eliminated due to historical inactivity, any discussions were moved to different forums.

The “Member’s Blog’s” forum was also eliminated, with the posts moved elsewhere, also because of inactivity. In its place I created a new Group, entitled “Online Community”. I did this because a Group may be a better and more targeted venue for those members who have Catholic and recovery-related blogs.

Some other minor tweaks, but the above are the only major ones. If you started a discussion or replied to any that had been moved, you can see where they are now when you go to your Profile Page and look under “My Discussions”.

Stop by sometime soon and participate! Click here: 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!!)

Scapular of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel

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The Scapular of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel is a devotional article worn by Catholics. Back in the day Catholic schoolchildren were enrolled in the Confraternity (i.e. fraternal organization) of the scapular when they attended Catholic schools or otherwise done so in their parish.

Further detailed information on the scapular can be found at this site of the Brown Scapular of Our Lady of Mount Carmel .

Why am I writing about this? One of the promises of Our Lady is that they who die wearing the scapular will not suffer eternal damnation. This sort of thing can get certain types in an uproar, as it can seem to some to be a license to sin (because I won’t go to Hell anyway, so why not?) It may also be likened to the Protestant and Evangelical heresy of “once saved, always saved.”

But I think not. If you wear your scapular, it is rather conspicuous. Not like the crosses that people wear, seemingly mostly for decoration rather than conviction. To wear the scapular is more a public witness. It is cloth. It peeks out from the shirt your wearing. Not a lot of people wear it. It isn’t fashionable. It hangs down the front as well as the back. It is sometimes annoying and inconvenient. It is also distinctly Catholic, assuming you’ve ever seen one being worn.

As a result of all these points, to wear the scapular is a conscious effort, as distinct from wearing the cross (kind of sad, actually. More of a commentary on the devaluation of the cross’ meaning.) Anyone wears the cross, so few wear the scapular.

So, instead of being a guarantee of instant Heaven after death, it is a guarantee that you will not go to Hell. So, what’s the difference? Purgatory is the difference. It is a visible reminder to the wearer that they are still accountable for their sins, and will still suffer for them.

Not a bad idea, a constant reminder of your mortality and the resulting effects of the decisions of one’s life.

“Remember that you are dust, and unto dust you shall return,” the priest says this or something close when he spreads ashes on your forehead on Ash Wednesday.

So, you might not go to Hell, but you might spend much time in Purgatory. Makes you want to start your Purgatory now, rather than later. At least now you can merit from accepting the suffering that enters your life, and possibly start amending it.

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 Courage to be Chaste

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Catholics in Recovery member Chris L (aka “kjunlandr”) has started a new website for those struggling with lust called: Courage to be Chaste.

It so far consists of a discussion forum where members can discretely share their daily struggles with sex addiction, lust and pornography. Catholics in Recovery has a discussion forum for this, but as a general site for Catholics struggling with addiction, it cannot meet the specific needs of this particular community.

I like to think that Courage to be Chaste and Catholics in Recovery will complement each other. Catholic addicts can join both if they struggle with lust and something else, and participate in whichever community best serves their particular need.

Chris has plans to further develop Courage to be Chaste, so it is a work in progress. Pray for its success.

Join up if you need support in dealing with these issues. We are all in this together.

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 Medal of St. Benedict

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Today is the Feast of St. Benedict, and as a part of the celebration I shall introduce to readers a devotional object, known as The Medal of St. Benedict .

(Via EWTN.)

Please check out the link to the EWTN article in the previous paragraph for much useful info on the wearing and history of the medal.

I find it interesting that this medal would be of great use to alcoholics and addicts, you will know what I mean when you read the prayers associated with it. (especially the lines: The cup you offer is evil; drink the poison yourself!)

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!!)