The Hour of Grace, December 8th, Noon to 1PM local time

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This is from an approved apparition (see: Green light for devotion to Our Lady Mystical Rose, plus, you can just look up stuff yourself on Our Lady of the Mystical Rose/Mary, Mystical Rose/Our Lady of Montichiari/ or the seer Pierina Gilli)

Image courtesy: Luisa Piccarreta

The Hour Of Grace is on December 8th, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary

From 12 Noon To 1 PM, (your local time, so this should cover the Earth with graces for a 24 hour period.)

THE REQUEST OF OUR BLESSED MOTHER FOR THE HOUR OF GRACE:

1. The Hour of Grace is to be one full hour of prayer, beginning at 12:00 Noon and continuing until 1:00 PM, on December 8th, Feast of the Immaculate Conception.

2. During this hour, the person making the “Hour of Grace” either at home, church, the grotto, must put away all distractions (do not answer the phones or answer any doors or do anything but totally concentrate on your union with God during this special Hour of Grace).

3. Begin the Hour of Grace by praying Psalm 51 three times with out-stretched arms.

4. The rest of the Hour of Grace may be spent in silent communication with God meditating upon the Passion of Jesus, saying the Holy Rosary, Precious Blood Chaplet, Divine Mercy Chaplet, Chaplet of St. Michael, Sorrowful Mother Chaplet, etc.

The Blessed Virgin has requested that Her important message be sent throughout the entire world. Please help Her Mission: “that all souls be drawn to God and that Jesus will be loved in every heart.”

If the children cannot recite Psalm 51 between 12 noon and 1:00 p.m., because they may be in school, say it in the evening as a family.

The Blessed Virgin Mary promised that whatever a person asked Her for during this Hour of Grace (even in impossible cases) would be granted to them, in accordance with the Will of the Eternal Father.

Here’s more info on the Devotion to Mary, Mystical Rose: Devotions to honor Our Lady, the Mystical Rose

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!!)

Meditations on the Nicene Creed

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The year 2025 marks the 1700th anniversary of the Council of Nicea, where the Nicene Creed was composed and approved by the bishops of the Latin and Greek Rites of the Catholic Church. 

Pope Leo XIV recently traveled during November 27-30th to Iznik, Turkey (modern day Nicea) to honor this anniversary. The thought occurred to me to try come up with some thoughtful meditations for Sober Catholics. We say this Creed often (usually at Mass) and with anything said repeatedly, we might lose the meaning or impact of the words.

Here it goes (the Creed is in bold  typeface, my meditations are in italics.)

The Nicene Creed

I believe in one God,
the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible.

I think we overlook the  impact or significance of this first stanza; we are literally declaring belief that there is one God Who created everything and there is nothing in existence that was made without His making it. And when we read the opening lines of the Gospel of John, we realize that God the Father did all that through His Son, Jesus Christ. This is mind-boggling. A simple statement of faith and belief, and yet enormous in its meaning. Just dwell on that for a few moments. How does this place things in context? I would think that our petty Earthly concerns, like battles over politics and economics (and the ideological and partisan fighting over them) can best be seen in a different light.

I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the Only Begotten Son of God,
born of the Father before all ages.
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father;
through him all things were made.

I think we often become too familiar with Jesus; again, for the reasons I mentioned above regarding anything said repeatedly often loses its impact. If this stanza is read “with fresh eyes,” that is, if you try to read it as if for the first time, you become reconnected to Whom (and What) Jesus is. He isn’t just some nice person who lived long ago with nice teachings. He wasn’t just born in time like everyone else. He is eternal, without beginning or end, and once again, we are reminded that it was He through Whom all of Creation came into being. Quite an awesome (in the original sense of the word) thought. 

For us men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary,
and became man.

And now we come to His mission on Earth; that this Person Who existed from all Eternity and through Whom all creation was made, became one of us. And not in the manner you’d naturally think: that of an already grown adult, perhaps mighty in appearance and stature. No, He decided that it was fitting and necessary to become this through a woman; just like every other human who ever lived. Just think a bout that for a few more minutes. God Eternal became just like one of us (excepting that He couldn’t sin.) How’s that for identification? He. the Lord of the Universe, decided that it was right and proper to join in our humanity as an infant. His self-identication screams ‘humility,’ quite unlike contemporary 21st  Century identity politics. 

For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate,
he suffered death and was buried,
and rose again on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures.
He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.

And here we come to the core reason for His mission on Earth: that of suffering and dying for us to redeem us for our sins. I often think it is unfair for Pontius Pilate to be constantly recalled for his role in Jesus’ death; after all, it was the Jews who demanded His crucifixion and the Romans who executed Him (not ignoring at all that all this was done on account of our sins.) Pilate was merely the political coward who failed to honor his original conviction that Jesus was innocent and just caved in to public pressure (political expediency.) Perhaps he is commemorated in the Creed to be that constant reminder to political leaders (and regular folk) that their actions have repercussions long after death.

He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead
and his kingdom will have no end.

The great promise for all who believe in Him who is our brother. He will return one day and set all things right. Justice will reign forever. Things are bad today? Fear not, have faith and persevere to the end and you will receive your just reward: an everlasting life of peace and love with the Trinity and the saints.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.

It is often said that the Holy Spirit is the forgotten member of the Trinity; that the Father and the Son get almost all of the attention and devotion, except perhaps when we are nearing Pentecost and are reminded of the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives and in the Church. This entire stanza focuses our attention on the Third Person of the Trinity and reminds us just who and what the Spirit is. Each section is worthy of  some focus during meditation. Do we really ever dwell much on the Holy Spirit as the “Lord, the giver of life?” As sober Catholics we should pay special care to this aspect of the Spirit. We had “lost or life” to our drug of choice and only regained it through an action of  the Holy Spirit: something happened which redirected our lives away from the drug or drink; someone reached out to us and got past our defenses….. This stanza reminds us that we really need to include the Holy Spirit in our spiritual life, along with the Father and the Son.

I believe in one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church.
I confess one Baptism for the forgiveness of sins
and I look forward to the resurrection of the dead
and the life of the world to come.

Now comes the Really Important Stuff that you are committing to. Just like people forget the significance of the final petitions of the Our Father (“…forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us…” ) and what that all implies, with the final stanza of the Nicene Creed we are attesting our assent to certain things we declare and agree to be True. And we may not realize that God will hold us to it when the time comes for us to stand before Him in Judgment. Do you really believe in the “one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church,” and that unity, holiness, universality, and apostolic Church is the Catholic Church; that all others are schismatic or heretic? Do you assent to the efficacy of the sacraments in the role they play for salvation? 

Amen.

I hope that when you recite the Nicene Creed, it come alive to you and you see it like you’ve not seen it before. 

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 St. Andrew’s Christmas Novena begins November 30th!

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Annual post: The St. Andrew’s Christmas Novena begins November 30th. It is piously believed that if you say this prayer fifteen times a day from November 30th (The Feast Day of St. Andrew, the Apostle) until December 24th, you will obtain what you prayed for. I think that the usual conditions apply: that it be in accordance with God’s will, that it not be detrimental to your salvation, and if it requires some effort on your part, that you do that (i.e. job hunting, finding a spouse, etc.) It is believed to have originated in Ireland in the late 19th Century.

 

You might think that fifteen times a day is difficult. I break it up: five times with my Morning Prayers, five times with my Evening Prayers, and perhaps five times during the 3 PM Hour of Mercy or at bedtime. Another schedule is 5 times at breakfast, 5 times at lunch, and 5 times at dinnertime.

Here it is:

St. Andrew Christmas Novena
Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in the piercing cold. In that hour vouchsafe, I beseech Thee, O my God, to hear my prayer and grant my desires through the merits of Our Savior Jesus Christ, and of His blessed Mother. Amen.

[Pray this prayer 15 times daily from November 30-December 24 for your special intention]

I just remembered that I blogged about it before.

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!!)

Martinmas: beginning a penitential period of atoning for alcohol abuse

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Tomorrow is Martinmas, the Feast Day of St. Martin of Tours. Three years ago I posted about him being the patron saint of reformed alcoholics. I am updating that post with reasonable speculation on why such a patronage is attributed to him.

St. Martin of Tours was a Roman soldier who renounced military service and became a monk whose act of charity, that of cutting his cloak in two to clothe a freezing beggar, became one of the most recognizable scenes associated with him.

Anthony van Dyck - Saint Martin sharing his cloak with a beggar.

In my research of the post of three years ago, I saw his patronage of reformed alcoholics mentioned in multiple Catholic sources, but none really explained why. There are no stories of St. Martin struggling with alcohol, nor any recorded miracles specifically involving alcoholics.

Catholics often have an odd manner by which they attribute patronages to saints. For example, St. Gerard Majella is the patron saint of pregnant women due to a miracle where he gave a young woman a handkerchief, telling her to keep it for future use. Years later, she was in a life-threatening childbirth, but when she pressed the handkerchief to her stomach, the danger passed, and she gave birth to a healthy baby. This and other stories of his intercession for mothers and the unborn led to this patronage. You might think that this patronage should belong to a woman, perhaps a medieval midwife known for piety and miracles. But no. It’s a man. St. Cecilia is the patroness of musicians, despite there being no record of her being one. (Miraculous angelic music was heard being sung at her wedding.) St. Catherine of Siena is the patroness of fire prevention, supposedly due to a quote of hers: “Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire.” St. Lawrence is the patron of cooks, because he was barbecued to death. St. Clare of Assisi is the patroness of television, because she had a vision of a faraway Mass. There are others, but you get the idea. So, why might St. Martin of Tours follow this pattern of being attributed to something he was never associated with, or because of some odd connection?

St. Martin is the patron of vintners and wine-makers. When he became bishop of Tours (located in a wine-rich region of Gaul, modern-day France) vineyards were flourishing. Wine was important to the economy,  so he was adopted as a saintly benefactor by the winemaking industry. It would be natural, then, that when the product of this industry is abused, that he would be invoked to intercede for those doing the abusing.

It isn’t all that surprising that his feast day became a major celebration of the wine harvest in many regions of Europe, especially given the coincidental falling of that date soon after the harvest. The new wine was sampled, there was much feasting  and… there was much drinking. So, like I said three years ago: 

(November 11th) is like a Carnival (Shrove Tuesday, or the day before Ash Wednesday and the start of traditional Lent in February or March) and people celebrated like crazies and did all sorts of naughty things before settling down to a rigorous, penitential fast to atone for that.

People, perhaps because of exhortations by the clergy, were inclined to atone for the excesses committed on November 11th. Those who overindulged on Martinmas entered into a season of restraint, penance, and prayer; and given that Christmas was coming up in over a month, this may have also joined with preparation for commemorating the Nativity of Christ. Forty is a penitential number in Christianity (it rained 40 days and 40 nights after Noah built the ark; the Hebrews wandered for 40 years before finding the Promised Land; Jesus was lead into the desert for 40 days to endure temptation…) and so a 40 day period of fasting and penitence was prescribed and gradually spread throughout European Christianity. This is known as “St. Martin’s Lent,” and eventually evolved into the liturgical season of Advent.

Therefore, he was gradually over time accorded the title of “patron of reformed alcoholics.” He himself never abused alcohol (no record of anyone charging him with that;) nor any record of him exhorting people to abhor drink (there is no scriptural basis for avoiding alcohol, except passages about taking all things in moderation.) So, although I could not find anything specific, like a homily about him, or some biographer suggesting it, one could make a logical leap and connect him to reformed alcoholics in a manner similar to the above examples of a saint being given patronage over something they might not have had anything to do with during their temporal sojourn on Earth.

St. Martin of Tours is also the patron saint of soldiers (easy to see where that came from,) of the poor (he was known for acts of charity, like giving a beggar half of his cloak,) and of …. tailors! See, there’s another example like the Sts. Cecilia, Gerard Majella, and Clare. His patronage of tailors comes from his act of cutting his cloak in half!  

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!!)

‘Mater Populi Fidelis’: the new doctrinal document from the Vatican and how it might be a good read for sober Catholics

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I just finished reading the “Doctrinal Note on Some Marian Titles Regarding Mary’s Cooperation in the Work of Salvation.” It isn’t always that I recommend a Doctrinal Note from the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith for recovered/recovering alcoholics to read, especially when at first glance it seems to have absolutely nothing to do with sobriety.
 
I began reading it with some fear and trepidation, (because, you know, the contemporary Church hasn’t inspired tons of confidence in certain matters,) but after finishing it, the document makes a lot of sense.
 
Well-written with copious footnoted references (22 pages of text with 12 pages of footnotes) it definitively places in the proper context the role of Mary in salvation, as well as clarifying certain popular, pious titles of Mary (“Co-redemptrix,” and “Mediatrix of All Graces.”)
 
It spends far more verbiage on the latter title than the former; pretty much negating future use of that title by the faithful. Basically, that Mary is NOT the “Mediator” of all Graces,” and as I said, the document spends quite a lot of pages on that, citing extensive Scripture passages, along with Church Fathers, Doctors and Popes. I had always accepted that title given how many great spiritual writers of the past have taught that, and I figured they must know what they’re talking about and so I never questioned it. She is the “Mother of Grace,” and that is defined in its proper relationship to the salvific work of the Trinity. It makes sense, when you think of it: If you were to pray to St. Maximilian Kolbe for his intercession in some matter, and you were granted whatever it was you asked, was the grace received routed through Mary? Or, was your prayer heard in Heaven by St. Maximilian (by whatever manner saints receive these requests) and answered by God through St. Max? Same can be said for when a miracle is received through the intercession of a person on the path to beatification or canonization: Rome has made it clear that when it investigates a miracle, it determines if any other saint might possibly have been involved. So, is Mary somehow in this channel of grace in the Cause for someone’s path to sainthood?
 
It doesn’t go quite that far in negating the “Co-Redeemer” title, but warns against emphasizing it to the point of obscuring Christ’s role (He is the sole Redeemer, Mary’s role was a very subordinate one in support of His. That’s a bit simplistic, you should read the text yourself. Link at the end.
 
I do think that it makes an effective tool to use in evangelizing Protestants and Evangelicals. It might help them to overcome their “Mariphobia.” They’ll learn that they do not ‘have to go to Mary’ but in their journey through the text, they’ll uncover many, many, reasons why cultivating a Marian devotion is supremely beneficial and ‘going to Mary’ is often a great good. The extensive citations will help them better understand the Scriptural roots of Mariology and they should come away with a greater appreciation and understanding of why Catholics have, for 2,000 years, been basically crazy nuts for Mary.  

If your initial response to this was one of rebellion or resistance, and you actually think that St. Maximilian Kolbe would have publicly spoken out against this document, then you lack an appropriate understanding of humility and obedience to legitimate religious authority, even when you think it is wrong. St. Maximilian Kolbe was a model of obedience to the Church, as anyone who has read his writings can attest to.

Many Catholics online of the traditional sort are sounding the alarm against it. While their concerns are noted, I do believe their reading if it was too influenced by their bias against anything coming out of Rome since Pope Benedict XVI. (An understandable concern which I implied in the second paragraph.) However, these same people, who laud the past (as do I) also fail to recall the obedience of the saints to Rome and her pronouncements, even when they might have opposed them. I recall the shepherd children at Fatima obeying the local church as regards to the Apparition of Our Lady in 1917, even though they knew the Church was wrong. St. Padre Pio likewise obeyed the restrictions placed upon him for many years. Today, priests who are censured by Rome of their local bishop often go rogue, their pride overcoming their good sense and humility. Going father back, indeed, back to the beginning: Jesus obeyed the legitimate religious authorities in submitting to their judgment of Him, despite His being their God and their Master. Joseph and Mary also obeyed the religious laws of the time in having Jesus circumcised; and Mary, herself ritually purified. There was no reason for them to do so, given who Jesus is. Yet, they obeyed.

Now, back to the title of this post; why am I recommending this document to you? For the same reasons why I think it makes a great evangelical tool for use in tying to bring Protestants into the Catholic fold. It might go a long way towards clarifying in their minds just exactly who Mary is and what her role in the Church precisely is. That, along with the copious footnoted references to Scripture may just be the thing to overcome Mariphobia. Also, many Catholics, either new to the faith by reversion or conversion, as well as lifelong cradle Catholics, may have “Mommy issues” and this translates to problems identifying with the Blessed Virgin and seeking her help; especially in accepting her role as our spiritual Mother and intercessor. Even if there does not exist any such thing in you, you might still not be drawing close enough to your spiritual Mama. This document might assist in overcoming that.

Read the document (it’s not really all that intimidating, honest!) and after being exposed to 22 pages of reason why Mary is our Mother and what her role actually is, you may come away with a clearer view.


Here is the document, so that you can read it for yourself: Mater Populi Fidelis:’ Doctrinal Note on Some Marian Titles Regarding Mary’s Cooperation in the Work of Salvation..

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!!)

Indulgenced Cemetery Visits Devotion for November 1-8

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This is an annual post on a fruitful pious devotion for November:

Catholic Culture has an excellent article regarding a very beneficial pious activity that can aid in your own spiritual progression. It also is a good reminder of where we’ll end up someday. (A grave. Morbid, true, but you wouldn’t be here unless you’re more aware than most people that you will die someday.)

Praying for the Dead and Gaining Indulgences During November is something I blog about here annually. It is about the act of visiting a cemetery during the first 8 days of November.

To summarize from the “Catholic Culture” site: “Indulgenced Acts for the Poor Souls: A partial indulgence can be obtained by devoutly visiting a cemetery and praying for the departed, even if the prayer is only mental. One can gain a plenary indulgence visiting a cemetery each day between November 1 and November 8. These indulgences are applicable only to the Souls in Purgatory.

A plenary indulgence, again applicable only the Souls in Purgatory, is also granted when the faithful piously visit a church or a public oratory on November 2. In visiting the church or oratory, it is required, that one Our Father and the Creed be recited. A partial indulgence, applicable only to the Souls in Purgatory, can be obtained when the Eternal Rest  is prayed. This is a good prayer to recite especially during the month of November:  ‘Eternal rest grant to them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.'”

The article explains the differences between plenary and partial indulgences.

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!!)

Not a destructive drug among them

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From the Office of Readings for the Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time in the Divine Office:

For he fashioned all things that they might have being;
and the creatures of the world are wholesome,
And there is not a destructive drug among them
nor any domain of the nether world on earth,
For justice is undying.

Courtesy of Divine Office – Liturgy of the Hours of the Roman Catholic Church (Breviary)

The phrase “not a destructive drug among them” popped right out at me; I’m surprised I never noticed it before (perhaps I did, but don’t recall.) Anyway, the phrase is connected to ‘justice,’ which I consider to be significant. Whether ‘destructive drug’ is associated with alcohol or addictive substances, I doin’t know, but I’m associating it for the purposes of this blog! 

This is what the CATHOLIC ENCYCLOPEDIA has to say on Justice:

Justice is here taken in its ordinary and proper sense to signify the most important of the cardinal virtues. It is a moral quality or habit which perfects the will and inclines it to render to each and to all what belongs to them. Of the other cardinal virtues, prudence perfects the intellect and inclines the prudent man to act in all things according to right reason. Fortitude controls the irascible passions; and temperance moderates the appetites according as reason dictates. While fortitude and temperance are self-regarding virtues, justice has reference to others. Together with charity it regulates man’s intercourse with his fellow men. But charity leads us to help our neighbour in his need out of our own stores, while justice teaches us to give to another what belongs to him.

Ok, we see that justice is that ”moral quality or habit which perfects the will.’ We alcoholics and addicts hardly had a ‘perfected will,’ we were driven at great lenghts to support our habits and our wills were aligned to that, which often involved behaviour what was immoral, disorded and often criminal. We lacked the sense of justice in our lives. Our definition of what is ‘just’ was whatever was orderd to satisfy our needs and desires and we lacked consideration or compassion for anyone else.

From this arose the behaviour for which we had to make amends upon recovery.

Have we cultivated a sense of justice? Do we place God first, others second and ourselves third? Do we grant others that which is their due (“render to each and to all what belongs to them.”)? Once we have cultivated this sense of justice, when we seek only which is rightfully ours (and not so based on pride, vanity, ego, and selfishness) and we grant others the same right, could we reasonably claim to be “recovered” (or steadfastly “recovering”) from our addictions. 

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!!)

Hindering God’s Love: self-love as a bad choice

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I went to Confession tonight before Vigil Mass and we had a different priest (a visiting priest from somewhere as ours is in Rome on pilgrimage.) 

This priest was one of those who talked a little after you finished reciting your sins and how many times you committed them. He said something that will remain with me until the day I die. I’ll paraphrase as I don’t remember his exact wording:

“God loves you, despite whatever sins you’ve committed; remember that: God loves you despite everything. However, (and this is the part that’s going to ‘remain with me until the day I die’) our sins hinder our experience of God’s love.”

Wow. I never thought of it that way. I know that sins block or inhibit God’s graces (mortal sins cut you off completely from Divine grace; venial sins clog up the channels of grace like cholesterol does in the bloodstream) but I never really viewed it in the manner of “hindering our experience” of God’s love. I mean, I know that God always loves me no matter what, but I think I conceived of that in a more abstract way, like He loves me but when in deep sin His love is still there, but not a very active way. Sort of like when you love your spouse or child or friend or whoever but when they really tick you off  you’re  a little cool towards them for a while, even though you still love still them.

God is better than that. He’s bigger than your sins and while it is true that sin blocks the flow of grace (that free gift of spiritual help, succor, and support from God) His love is still present and ready to manifest itself when you repent and turn back. God is unchanging. God’s love for you is eternal: even if you were damned and you find yourself in Hell, God still loves you (as shown by His respecting your free will choices in life of rejecting Him and His will and law. True, real, love does not force itself on anyone who doesn’t want it. You avoid God, avoid Church, avoid praying, adopt a purely secular life and viewpoint, mock religion and belief, then the consequences of your decisions land you in Hell. You didn’t want to pay any attention to God during your lifetime, you expect to send eternity with Him in Heaven? Many saints have written that the pains of Hell is the pain of Loss of God: that at the moment of death you experience God face-to-face and that marks your soul somehow; and if you merit Hell, the sudden loss of that vision of God and “what could have been yours forever, the possession and knowledge and vision of God” is the pain, like fire, of Hell. 

Anyway, this “hindering our experience” of God’s love is an important point for us sober Catholics to consider. I’ve written numerous times and you must have read it countless times elsewhere in your spiritual reading that addiction is a “hole in the soul” that we addicts and alcoholics fill with the wrong stuff. Drugs, liquor, pornography, whatever: we seek God but in all the wrong places. God loves us through all of this, but the actions of that love is missed by us. Sometimes when we are in a rally dark place we finally see it and then our recovery begins.

But when we try to fill that hole in our soul with something other than God, or when we persist in a chronic, repeated sin (which may or may not be an addiction, but is an inordinate desire for something contrary to our good) we experience not God’s love, but our own self-love. By ‘self-love’ I do not refer to the healthy kind that is a positive, well-balanced self-assessment; the decent, well-ordered self-esteem kind. I mean that love which puts self-gratification and self-will first; it could be narcissistic; at any rate, it is inward directed as opposed to “other directed,” the “other” being other people. 

Think about that. Imagine how transformed our lives could become if we just made a “fearless and searching” examination of conscience, took a long, hard look at our sins, especially those we routinely confess every time we go, and saw how those sins are a search for God’s love but in the wrong places. We can then petition the Holy Spirit to help us turn to God whenever we seek something other than Him.

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!!)

Back in the office

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In Out of Office, I said:

Due to a variety of reasons I’ll get to later, I had to reset my laptop to factory settings and then reinstall the OS.

Well, it’s later and I’ll explain (not that it’s important, but for the few that might have interested:

The Admin account to my Mac laptop needed repairs. The Mission Control and Launchpad functions randomly launched when I type ever since I upgraded to Mac OS Sonoma in Sept 2023.

What I’d done from quite dilegent searching and taking suggestions from people seemingky more knowledgeable than I was:

  • gone into System Settings and unticked every keyboard and trackpad option that controls those and other functions. (when I say “every,” I mean “every.”)
  • rebooted in Safe Mode
  • deleted cleaning, AntiVirus and optimization apps
  • reinstalled MacOS Sequoia (yes, it continued with the OS upgrade in 2024. Didn’t exist in Monterey or Ventura.)

The problem remains. Except:

  • When I created a test user account. Hence, the only remaining culprit is the admin account.

The problem seemingly disappeared when I upgraded to the most recent MacOS, “Tahoe.” Until it reappeared 5 days later. I went back to searching and found nothing I hadn’t already tried and so I finally resolved the issue this way:

  • Did a Time Machine backup
  • Reset the laptop to factory settings and then downloaded Tahoe all over again.

That was October 2nd. It’s been 21 days since then and the thing hasn’t happened since. I declare the problem soved. Don’t know what caused it, but I don’t care. 

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!!)

“Out of Office”

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Due to a variety of reasons I’ll get to later, I had to reset my laptop to factory settings and then reinstall the OS. I’m in the process of setting up my “new” (old) laptop and I haven’t gotten around to setting up its email yet (I can still access email on my phone, but I hate typing on my phone.) So if anyone emails me, please be patient. Thanks.

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!!)

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