Secret to Happiness

Being a friend, one who empathizes and supports, is the first step in helping people discover the secret to your happiness—an intimate union with Jesus Christ, your Lord and Savior.

— from Catholic Update Guide to the New Evangelization

Who would you like to be?

....A wise man once said, "Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but one who has a hasty temper exalts folly" (Proverbs 14:29).

And then this wise man compares patience with a strong city, saying that patience is even more secure than that - for patience is both an invincible weapon and a sort of impregnable tower, easily defeating all attackers. As a spark falling into the deep does not injure it but is easily quenched, so on a patient soul...whatever unexpected thing falls, it vanishes rapidly; the soul is not disturbed.

There is nothing as impenetrable as true patience. I pray for true patience...for you, and for me.

People talk about strong armies, having a lot of money, building high walls to protect them, or anything else whatsoever, but you will not name anything to compare with true patience.

The person who is encompassed with all these 'other things' will sometimes become overcome by anger, upset like a little child, fill the air with confusion and storminess... but the patient person enjoys a profound calm, like a boat settled quickly in a harbor. Even if you surround this person with turmoil and trouble (literally, 'all hell can break loose around them'...) you will not move the rock. Even if you hurl insults at them, you haven't shaken the tower. And even if you bruise them with wounds, you haven't bruised the strong person.

This sort of person is called long-suffering, because they have a kind of long and great soul. This patient excellence is born out of LOVE. Whoever possesses it and enjoys it owes it all to LOVE. These persons are gentle souls...who are abandoned in the arms of God (God is LOVE)...

Who would you like to be?

I prefer to abandon my will to God. I never wish for any harm to happen to you or anybody. Every single day, I pray to forgive and be forgiven (in the name of the Lord). Please pray for me...that I may love more and more each day...even when it means to be given to the long suffering for the sake of LOVE.

If only you knew (and can experience) true love for the sake of God...you will become a stronger and more patient person - who many will look to for their own strength and guidance. You must first forgive in your heart...really forgive....not just with words...God knows our hearts much better that we ourselves...

God bless you!!!

 

My prayer today

"My God and loving Father, grant me the wisdom to think, speak, and act as You want me to. May I never be so foolish as to disagree with Your supreme goodness and wisdom. Nothing on this earth can bring me lasting happiness. This is why I ask that you never let me sin for the sake of anything of temporal value. I want to live for the perfect happiness for which You created me. Amen."

Meaningful Goals

The most meaningful goals in life are those that can be accomplished with the help of God's graces. We should use those graces to give us confidence that, with God's guidance and help, our gifts are capable of being developed well beyond our imagined potential.

— from Answer Your Call

Leading by Example

You should lead by your example in family, among friends and neighbors, and with colleagues and coworkers or fellow students. Your examples should include putting family and community above self, placing respect for the dignity of each person ahead of self-gratification, and demonstrating love for others - above all.

— from Answer Your Call

Have you listened with your heart to your spouse, child, coworker today? Have you treated each person with equal respect and dignity? making no distinctions: whether the person is rich or poor, young or old? considered 'famous' or 'commoner'? Jesus said: "whatever you do to the least of these...you do to Me."  

Becoming Saints

Our flaws are part of his plan to bring forth holiness in us. He calls; we answer. By responding to his call with courage and faith, we can become saints.
— from Firmly On the Rock

I want to follow the way of Life...Do you?

Taste of Heaven

Sunday doesn't just prepare us for the week ahead—it prepares us for eternity.

— from Tweet Inspiration

We can taste a bit of heaven on earth...pray, pray, pray...as if your life depended on it!

Pray Without Ceasing

Maybe this idea of “praying without ceasing” is a novel one for you. Maybe the thought of offering God every moment of your day is overwhelming. But maybe you're also feeling the call to do exactly that—and you just don't know where to begin.

— from The Everyday Catholic's Guide to the Liturgy of the Hours

God's Love for You

Being born into a Catholic family isn't what makes you Catholic. Being Catholic, following Christ, is a decision of the heart. It is a relationship with Love Himself and a commitment to be faithful to the One who has faith in you.

— from A 40-Day Spiritual Workout For Catholics