Author: The Secular Catholic (Page 4 of 9)

New bible study

January 28, 2020 / The Secular Catholic / 0 Comments

open bible — Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

Hello All.

A couple weeks ago I started a new bible study. It’s a Catholic bible study by a company called Catholic productions by Dr. Brant Pitre.
It’s a good bible study that covers the readings of Sunday mass.
He usually has two videos an audio file and handouts for you to download.

It has helped me better at mass. I used to read the readings before mass but I kept forgetting. This is nice. You get the videos and everything on Monday. And they email you on Monday to remind you with a link for the week. The first video usually covers the Gospel and the first reading with handouts and then another video on the second reading. The reason I like it is Dr. Pitre gives you the history of the time and why they thought like they did and how it effects us.

God really has a plan and he makes everyone else’s plan work.
Just remember God loves you. Even if you don’t believe you are worthy of that gift. He will meet you where you are.

Spiritual assistant class update

January 9, 2020 / The Secular Catholic / 0 Comments

St.Francis — Photo by Grant Whitty on Unsplash

Hello All.

Well it has been 6 months since I have started my Spiritual assistant class, and I have learned a lot. Here is what I have learned about so far.

The role of a spiritual assistant
Franciscan theology / spirituality
The Trinity and us
SA’s and initial formation
SA’s and ongoing formation
Franciscan writers

That’s a lot in the first six months. I have learned so much and have grown closer to God and have started praying more.
This months chapter is on the influence of Vatican II.
I am reading all about it and the reading Lumen Gentium (_{DOGMATIC CONSTITUTION ON THE CHURCH)} and Gaudium et Spes. (_{PASTORAL CONSTITUTION ON THE CHURCH IN THE MODERN WORLD}) .

I have been asking much of the Holy Spirit to help me and still need the help and prayers. I am loving the class and when it’s done it’s my most fervent wish to be a great spiritual assistant to whatever fraternity I am sent to.

Happy New Years Day

January 1, 2020 / The Secular Catholic / 0 Comments

Hello All.
I hope your the new year is treating you well.
The plan for me on 2020 is to get myself together.
There are a few things I need to do.

My prayer life needs to be better.
I can be healthier. Not as much junk food and more fruits and veggies.
Budget, need to get my debt taken care of or at least follow a plan.
I really want to write more. Not just the blog but I have a few novel ideas bouncing in my head.
learn more design techniques and trends and start doing side work. That will help with number three, and give me more money.
I am going to Disney World in 2023 and need to save up for it. I just started a savings account and want to put away money for that.

That’s a lot and there may be more small things but That’s my idea.
My plan will be written formally today. It may change but we will see.
Have a great new year and make 2020 yours.

New Years Eve

December 31, 2019 / The Secular Catholic / 0 Comments

Happy New Year — Photo by Sincerely Media on Unsplash

Hello Everyone.
Tonight is new years eve.
I don’t do much anymore since I’m an old fart.
At 51 I’m lucky I can even stay awake. Man me and my buddy used to go to nightclubs and such on new years eve in the 80’s and 90’s.
The older I get the more I really just want to sleep.
I am a morning person and am in bed by 10:00 pm.
But tonight I am hoping to stay awake and greet the new year and then maybe crash and get up early so I can go to 9:00 am mass and I want to be an hour early so I can pray a rosary and liturgy of the hours at 8:00 am. I may make it to midnight. It’s 50/50 chances.
If I don’t I wont be hard on my self because I probably needed the sleep.

Right now I am reading Amy Landino’s Good Morning Good Life.
I am a member of Amy’s #ShineSquad and a supporter. She is really helping me get my mornings better. I plan on getting all my goals out tomorrow and start planning on making them happen.
But that’s for new years day and that’s a day away.

Catholic Books

December 26, 2019 / The Secular Catholic / 1 Comment

Hello Everyone.
I have been thinking about creating a Catholic library.
I have several books already. But I really want to make it bigger and better. I have also been buying more catholic audio books on audible.
I have been listening to Surrounded by love by Murray Bodd OFM
And I like it, but then I am a Franciscan.

When I started my Spiritual Assistant class I had to buy many books. Enough to fill one page. Here are some of the books I have. Some are Catholic and some are more specifically Franciscan.

The Lesson of St.Francis
Manual for men
Eucharistic Adoration
The Hidden power of the Gospels
Ritual of the Secular Franciscan Order
Pocket guide for the rosary
Vatican two in plain English
St.Francis and the third order
Paths of renewal
Armchair mystic
Salt and Light
Prayer Everywhere
To Light a fire on the earth
Rediscover saints
The Power of Silence
Your life is worth Living
Called

I have read the pocket guide for the rosary and also the Power of Silence. Both books are good but very different. the pocket guide is just that and the power of Silence is telling us to be silent again and turn down the noise of everyday life and get back to silent prayer.
I have been reading more Catholic / Franciscan books for class.
And I have been listening to most on my commute to and from work.
So if you can try to set up a small library of books to help you on your journey to God. I have one small laptop desk with a book shelf on it
It’s small buy growing and that’s all that matters.

Merry Christmas

December 25, 2019 / The Secular Catholic / 0 Comments

Hello Everyone.
I hope everyone has a great Christmas.
It’s Jesus’s birthday and I hope everyone has a good time and don’t forget the reason for the season. I will pray for everyone that reads this and their families.

Christmas isn’t the same when you get older. Christmas anticipation is very intense when your a kid. As the world takes it’s toll and you have more on your shoulders you don’t feel the same. You may not like Christmas or any holidays because of it.
For me I try to make the anticipation not about the gifts but for Jesus birth.

I also try to do a little more prayer and such also. Doesn’t always work but I try. This year my parish priest said Advent would be a good time to read Luke. So I have tried. I have been more bulk reading than doing it everyday because my memory isn’t so good.
But it is fun and I understand more every time.
On the prayer front I have not done as well. I am not doing to hot on formal prayer or stuff like that. I have been doing much better just thanking God through the day and asking me to do his will.
I am not perfect but only Jesus is the perfect man I am not.
Merry Christmas and may God Bless you all.

Christmas Eve

December 24, 2019 / The Secular Catholic / 0 Comments

Well It’s Christmas eve. It’s almost time.
My mom has the coolest old school nativity.
I believe it’s like clay or terracotta or something like that.
I have a friend that died this year that had an even older one. She died this year. She was in my Franciscan fraternity. She was a great lady and full of love for everyone. We have a meeting once a month and in December it is our Christmas party. She brings the old Nativity and the best spaghetti i have had in a long time. It’s a bit different. It has bacon in it and between the bacon and the sauce it brings a great flavor to it.
This year since she died we didn’t have her, her spaghetti or her nativity. Someone else bought their nativity and it was good just not the same. Once reason we have a nativity is St. Francis is credited with creating it. And some people don’t put out Jesus until Christmas morning and some put him out right away. I have no preference.
We had a great party but something is lost every time we lose someone in the fraternity. Change isn’t bad it’s just not easy when we are truly used to things and people.
Know that God loves you, even though you may not think you are worthy of his love. You are God can make you worthy.
I hope you all have a great Christmas eve and Christmas season.
Merry Christmas!

You are worthy of Gods love.

December 23, 2019 / The Secular Catholic / 0 Comments

Hello.
my message is short and sweet today.
God is love and he loves you.
He loves you so much that he sent his son to earth to help us know him and love him, and he also taught us to live how he wanted. Jesus is the best teacher. He is the savior and messiah.
Many even me have problems being worthy of Gods love. That was one of my bigger problems spiritually for a very long time. I didn’t figure it out until my 40’s. My Franciscan fraternity and a few priests helped me see that I am worthy of Gods love. God doesn’t just love us when we are perfect or good. He loves us when we fail and screw up and sin also. He is a doting father who is cheering for his kids.

I didn’t believe I was worthy of Gods love because I am broken.
I am broken in several ways. Physically I am 5 feet tall and 125 pounds and have several medical issues. I am broken because I am a sinner and keep screwing up. I am broken because I make grand plans, especially during advent and lent. Then none of them work out or I forget. I am broken because I have brain damage and have a horrible memory. Thank God for confession. But God loves me still even with all my problems. Thank God he gave me people in my life that make me better and keep me going.

He loves you too. Even with all your issues and such, he is always there waiting. Man I made him wait 3-4 decades to take my faith seriously. Even if you don’t believe you are worthy of Gods love. Guess what you don’t need to be. He can make you worthy. He is always waiting, he has all the time of eternity to wait for you.
Just know he loves you and wants you to know him.
My message was to be short but if I think of Gods love I guess I want everyone to know. Merry Christmas.

Winter is coming!

December 18, 2019 / The Secular Catholic / 0 Comments

red trees in winter — Photo by Andre Benz on Unsplash

Hello everyone. Here in Minnesota the weather is changing.
Fall was and we are what I like to call pre winter here and that means winter is on the way. Many years fall doesn’t last long. Only a month or so if we are lucky.

Last year winter lasted from October to May. This year people are saying it’s going to be as bad as last year or worse. This morning it was cold and rainy. I came into work and immediately had a cup of hot cider. It has been cold and rainy most of the week and it’s going to be much the same till the Sunday. I really don’t like the cold weather.

I have an hour 55 mile drive one way to work and it usually takes an hour to an hour and a half. But in the winter it may double or triple or more. I have had a couple 4 hour commutes in the morning. And several on the way home. You may think dude get a job closer to you.
I would but graphic design is competitive and I also like where I work. The people are great. I usually go into winter with three days of vacation to use on days I can’t get out of my driveway or that the trip is just to dangerous. My boss is really good about me not coming in when it’s treacherous.

But the cold is bad and the driving is bad but the fact that I go to work in the dark and go home in the dark is very dreary. Thank God for the weekends. Where i can just stay home and stay warm.

Christmas is coming.

December 10, 2019 / The Secular Catholic / 0 Comments

small nativity — Photo by Gareth Harper on Unsplash

We are only two weeks away from Christmas. I am excited. I had grand plans to start on Advent. Things didn’t go as I wanted them to. I originally wanted to read a chapter of Luke a day for Advent. I have not done it yet. But maybe I will start tonight and read ten chapters and end strong. I also wanted to be praying more. And I am failing.

But hope is not lost. Advent may be half over but we have two weeks left to get it done. Either today or tomorrow I plan on catching up on my bible reading and I am praying more but just not the way I wanted. I am doing more praying like I am just talking to God in my head and thanking him. But I wanted to do more formal rosary like prayers. Last Saturday I had a bunch of fun learning about the bible, in a bible boot camp my local arch diocese puts on. They used the Jeff Cavins bible timeline method. I learned a lot about what happened from the old testament to the new testament. I want to go deeper and learn more but it will have to wait till after Christmas. I am supposed to be reading Luke now. I will finish strongly this year. I will get what I wanted to do this year done. Oh and get my Christmas shopping done.