Category: Faith

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The Litany of the Armor of God

Since the Rosary Congress Family Night Mass in 2018, which my family was asked to represent St. Joan of Arc Parish, I have begun to delve deeper into the prayers, litanies, and devotions of our faith.  The literature and prayer handouts that were made available were an invaluable tool and provided a wealth of knowledge.  Since then, I started a journal/prayer book to compile these prayers, as opposed to having numerous flyers, papers, and prayer cards to carry around or cluttering up my desk.  It was during this process, copying over the prayers and litanies that I was moved to compose the Litany of the Armor of God that I am sharing with you now.  I feel that this litany will be beneficial to all who pray it, both young and old.  Like the Armor of God Septet, it was inspired by and derived from Ephesians 6:10-20.  It can be prayed as a stand-alone litany, or used as a follow up to the septet.  It touches upon each aspect of the Armor of God passage, imploring the strength, help, and wisdom of God our Father, as we face the daily battles we must go through.  There are more dangers and evil in the world than today than ever before, and the need for increase in prayer has never been greater.  I also feel that this is something that the youth of today would benefit from greatly, not that there is anything wrong with traditional prayers, but this would be something new, a rejuvenation into the joy and love of being a soldier of Christ.  I am hoping it would stir up their interest in turning up their prayer life, be an aid in their defense of our faith, and create a willingness to share their faith with others. As with the Septet, this is also part of my way of continuing to honor my son, Evan, by doing what I know he would have done were he still here with us on earth.  I have tried to take on his mission of spreading the word of God and our faith with others, which by doing so, also aids in my grieving and healing process.

I have again been blessed and graced to be granted permission to share this publicly by Archbishop Gregory Aymond of New Orleans, who has been a tremendous source of help and inspiration to me since Evan’s passing. After reading the original draft of the litany, Archbishop Aymond provided me with the corrections needed before making it official. Below is the Rescript granting permission to publish.

Below, I offer to you, The Litany of the Armor of God, with the hopes that as you pray it you may feel the power of God’s love and protection, appreciate the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross, and be inspired by the Holy Spirit during your daily battles against the evils and temptations that continually bombard from all directions. May this serve as another weapon in your arsenal to fight the good fight as you travel the path to your eternal home with Our Lord above.


Litany of the Armor of God
 
Lord, have mercy.   Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.   Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.   Lord, have mercy.
Christ, hear us.   Christ, graciously hear us.
 
God, the Father of Heaven,   Have mercy on us.
God, the Son, Redeemer of the world,   Have mercy on us.
God, the Holy Spirit,   Have mercy on us.
Holy Trinity, One God,   Have mercy on us.
 
Armor of God, strength in the Lord,   Protect us O Lord.
Armor of God, strength of Your power,   Protect us O Lord.
Armor of God, resistance of evil,   Protect us O Lord.
Armor of God, assistance in our struggles,   Protect us O Lord.
Armor of God, the light above the darkness,   Protect us O Lord.
Armor of God, defense against wickedness,   Protect us O Lord.
Armor of God, hold our ground in battle,  Protect us O Lord.
 
Belt of Truth, hold fast around our waist,   Protect us O Lord.
Belt of Truth, gird our loins,  Protect us O Lord.
Belt of Truth, secure our armor in place,   Protect us O Lord.
Belt of Truth, secure the sheath of our sword,   Protect us O Lord.
Belt of Truth, encompass our body and heart,   Protect us O Lord.
Belt of Truth, encompass our mind and soul,   Protect us O Lord.
Belt of Truth, Thy Word is Truth Lord,   Protect us O Lord.
 
Breastplate of Righteousness, honesty, goodness and humbleness,   Protect us O Lord.
Breastplate of Righteousness, fairness to others,   Protect us O Lord.
Breastplate of Righteousness, defense of the weak,   Protect us O Lord.
Breastplate of Righteousness, deliver us from death,   Protect us O Lord.
Breastplate of Righteousness, peace, quietness and love forever,   Protect us O Lord.
Breastplate of Righteousness, Thy commandments are righteousness,   Protect us O Lord.
Breastplate of Righteousness, the Lord, our righteousness,   Protect us O Lord.
 
Shoes of Readiness, the Gospel of Peace,   Protect us O Lord.
Shoes of Readiness, protection on uneven ground,   Protect us O Lord.
Shoes of Readiness, sureness in troubled times,   Protect us O Lord.
Shoes of Readiness, eagerness to spread Thy Word,   Protect us O Lord.
Shoes of Readiness, testify to Thy Love and Grace,   Protect us O Lord.
Shoes of Readiness, walk the path of Thy Son,   Protect us O Lord.
Shoes of Readiness, finish the race set before us,   Protect us O Lord.
 
Shield of Faith, quench the burning arrows of Satan,   Protect us O Lord.
Shield of Faith, first line of defense,   Protect us O Lord.
Shield of Faith, guard against temptation,   Protect us O Lord.
Shield of Faith, defend against fear and worry,   Protect us O Lord.
Shield of Faith, block against trouble and doubt,   Protect us O Lord.
Shield of Faith, push back the attacks of evil,   Protect us O Lord.
Shield of Faith, joined with others, an unstoppable force,   Protect us O Lord.
 
Helmet of Salvation, headgear for the Soldiers of Christ,   Protect us O Lord.
Helmet of Salvation, protect us from cares of this world,   Protect us O Lord.
Helmet of Salvation, whom shall we fear,   Protect us O Lord.
Helmet of Salvation, Thy blessing to all,   Protect us O Lord.
Helmet of Salvation, the sacrifice of Christ to save us,   Protect us O Lord.
Helmet of Salvation, the Power of God over evil and death,   Protect us O Lord.
Helmet of Salvation, help us endure to the end,   Protect us O Lord.
 
Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God,   Protect us O Lord.
Sword of the Spirit, the Holy Bible,   Protect us O Lord.
Sword of the Spirit, lamp to our feet,   Protect us O Lord.
Sword of the Spirit, light to our path,   Protect us O Lord.
Sword of the Spirit, guidance through darkness,   Protect us O Lord.
Sword of the Spirit, the strength of our offense,   Protect us O Lord.
Sword of the Spirit, knowledge of God to share with others,   Protect us O Lord.
 
Power of Prayer, communicating with God,   Protect us O Lord.
Power of Prayer, our training for battle,   Protect us O Lord.
Power of Prayer, testament to our faith,   Protect us O Lord.
Power of Prayer, in times of need or distress,   Protect us O Lord.
Power of Prayer, do not lose heart,   Protect us O Lord.
Power of Prayer, be anxious of nothing,   Protect us O Lord.
Power of Prayer, all thanks and praise to our Lord,   Protect us O Lord.
 
Supplication of the Spirit, help in times of weakness,   Protect us O Lord.
Supplication of the Spirit, intercede on our behalf,   Protect us O Lord.
Supplication of the Spirit, guard our hearts and minds,   Protect us O Lord.
Supplication of the Spirit, aid us in our spiritual battle,   Protect us O Lord.
Supplication of the Spirit, keep us ever vigilant,   Protect us O Lord.
Supplication of the Spirit, dwell within us always,   Protect us O Lord.
Supplication of the Spirit, Your will be done Lord,   Protect us O Lord.
 
Armor of God, let us not grow weary in our fight,   Protect us O Lord.
Armor of God, grant us opportunities to share,   Protect us O Lord.
Armor of God, open our mouths to speak fearlessly,   Protect us O Lord.
Armor of God, make known to us the mystery of the Gospel,   Protect us O Lord.
Armor of God, grant peace, love, and faith to all who seek You,   Protect us O Lord.
Armor of God, provide grace to all who love our Lord,   Protect us O Lord.
Armor of God, our strength until the end,   Protect us O Lord.
 
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world,   Spare us O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world,   Graciously hear us O Lord.
Lamb of God, Who takes away the sins of the world,   Have mercy on us O Lord.
 
You are the Way, the Truth, and the Light,   With Your Armor, we shall not lose the fight.
 
Let us Pray.  Father, through the sacrifice of Your Son, Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, by His Death and Resurrection from the dead, you have mercifully granted us Salvation.  By sending down Your Holy Spirit to dwell within us, You have strengthened our faith.  By your words, You have given us the Truth.  Keep strong our Armor during this fight and grant that we do not fail in our daily battles against the army of evil that threatens to harm us.  Fill our hearts and souls with the courage to spread the Gospel to others, bringing forth more followers of Your Son, and adding to the number of Soldiers of Christ.  In the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, we pray.  AMEN.
 

Within the next few weeks, I hope to have the pamphlets prepared and made available to hand out. As always, thank you for taking the time to read and share in my journey as I navigate the waters of grief while seeking the grace of God through prayer and reflection.

You are in my prayers,

Scott

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2 Years Since You Were Called Home

2 years ago, you were called home. Not your home on earth, but the home we all strive for and hope to obtain. In the days that followed, I came across this song below which helped me somewhat understand your being called from us. It was a revelation to me that we are not here for what is here on earth, but for what we look forward to being a part of in the next life with Christ. I realized then that you knew this already, and you had prepared yourself for what was to come.

Building 429 – “Where I Belong”

Not long after Christmas, I purchased “Day by Day with St. Francis”, short, daily meditations with a quote about St. Francis by St. Bonaventure, a reflection on that quote, and a prayer from scripture pertaining to it. Evan loved St. Francis so I decided to get it. As God would have it, March 31st meditation brought me back to reflecting on Evan’s life. His devotion to Christ and the Eucharist that he practiced as an Altar Server for many years, his devotion to the Blessed Mother through praying the Rosary, his devotion through the Chaplet of St. Michael the Archangel, as well as his devotions to St. Stephen (his confirmation Saint) and St. Francis.

From “Day by Day with St. Francis” March 31st

The above meditation, coupled with the meditation for today, April 2nd, tied up everything in a perfect package for me. I know he was prepared for his untimely death. I did not see that until after he was gone, but I knew he had been taking the steps needed to become closer to Christ. It became even more evident when I read some of his journal entries, as well as some of his essays for school. He was more prepared at 17 than I have ever been in my 50 years. I am not saying that he was a martyr, but I know he would have been without any hesitation. That was how strong his faith in and love of Christ was. I pray that I still have enough time left to reach the levels that he did in my own faith, before my time comes.


From “Day by Day with St. Francis” April 2nd

We do not know the day or the hour, but we must always be ready. Preparation is the key to being ready when we are called home. Thank you Evan, for showing that to me. I was truly blessed to be chosen as your father on earth. It is an honor to call you son.

Let us pray. Father, grant us the strength each day, to live our lives in Your honor, to follow Your path to the best of our ability, and to be prepared when our time may come. Help us to stand firm in our faith for You and not be swayed, so that we may be greeted with arms wide open into Your House for all eternity. In Your Name we pray. AMEN.

You Are in My Prayers,

Scott

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Quite Possibly Our Last-First

It is hard to believe that 2 years have passed since you were called home. Not a day goes by that you are not in my thoughts. All I can say is that it has not been an easy road to travel. The days are still good and bad. Thankfully, the bad days are now fewer and far between. Those selfish feelings still arise from time to time. I want you to still be here with us on earth. There have been many “Firsts” during those 2 years. We may have finally had the last of those firsts. I knew this one was going to be a somewhat difficult one to handle and I struggled with it from the first moment we booked the trip. There were mixed emotions, excitement and sorrow, good memories and feelings of emptiness. All of that leading up to the day we left. I had some rough moments at Disney in March, our first trip there without you, but I do know you are still with us in spirit and continue to show us that you are.

There were 3 signs from you that I witnessed during the trip. The first being while sitting in the car on a Saturday morning at the urgent care in Tallahassee, waiting to find out if we would be moving on to Disney, or heading back home. After the chaotic and time consuming exit from Louisiana (wrecks and rain), to the not being able to find a room until the 4th try (1/2 hour past Tallahassee), to your sister’s migraine and nausea that first night on the road, to the 1/2 hour drive back to Tallahassee the next morning to reach the nearest urgent care, I was feeling we were definitely heading back home. So, I decided to say a rosary while waiting, asking that things would go right and fall into place so we could enjoy this vacation. I no sooner finished the rosary when you showed up at the back window of the car, sitting on the wiper, tapping against the glass. I did not realize it was you at first. The second time you came back, tapping even harder and staying longer. That is when I saw you were a cardinal. That was when my mood started to change back to a positive outlook. I tried to get your picture, but you flew away. The third time you came, I was ready, and was barely able to snap a shot of you before you left, and those feelings of negativity were almost completely gone. Within minutes of your last visit, your mom texted saying your sister was doing so much better and they would be out in a minute and we would be on our way.

The second sign was the day later in the week when I was feeling tired and aggravated at Magic Kingdom (the reason being now escapes me). But any way, as I stood there waiting for the bus to arrive with 3 or 4 others, there was a skywriter starting to draw letters off in the distance. What would have been a boring situation, standing there doing nothing, turned into another sign of hope and happiness. As he finished spelling out “JESUS”, the bus showed up. The second part to this sign was while on the bus. As those of you who have been to Disney know, they don’t just pick up 3 or 4 people and head back to the resort. They wait a few minutes to see if others are coming or not. So as we waited, the driver stood up and was handing out stickers to the kids while other riders were getting on. As he came back to the front, where I was sitting, he looked at me and said with a smile, “One left, guess it’s your lucky day.” As I took the sticker, laughing, a wonderful feeling came over me. Evan’s favorite Disney Character was Sorcerer Mickey, and that just happened to be the sticker I received from the driver. Joy and sadness overtook my feelings of aggravation and the rest of the day turned out to be wonderful because I knew you played a part in my receiving that sticker.

The third sign was our last night in the Magic Kingdom, after eating dinner, by all means your mom wanted to be able to get a lantern picture of us by Rapunzel’s Tower. So we headed there as soon as we finished eating. For those who don’t know, this is a difficult thing to do because there is really no “X” marks the spot, stand here for pictures thing going on. The photographer doesn’t come out there until right before dusk so it is up to them as to where they want to start the line. We get there about 45 minutes before dusk and pick a spot to sit and wait, and hope that we can get a decent spot in line when they start. Before long, more people start to show up in the area, and you could tell they were all looking for the same thing. A couple of girls asked if we were waiting for the pictures and we told them yes. Apparently others had started forming a line along the wall with us behind the girls who inquired about it. The photographer comes out about 20 minutes before dusk and walks right up to us and asks if we are where the line starts for the Lantern Pictures. She talked with us for a while before going back in to get her camera. We were blessed once again and were first in line for the pictures that night.

Our Lantern picture…slightly modified.

As I have said on more than one occasion, there are no longer coincidences for me. There are only signs from a higher power. It is up to us to open our eyes and see Those signs when they are plainly right in front of us.

Let us pray. Lord, thank you for allowing our loved ones that You have called home to reveal their presence to us in our everyday lives. Thank you for making Yourself known to us through them as well, lifting our spirits and strengthening our faith in you, making the difficulty of losing a loved one somewhat easier to deal with. Although the road remains one of tremendous heartache to travel, it is through You that we are able to continue living out our days, until You finally call us home to be reunited in Christ. Grant all those who have lost loved ones a moment of peace in their heart and place a smile on their face today as we pray to You, for through You, all things are possible. In Your Name we pray. AMEN.

God Bless You All,

You Are in My Prayers,

Scott

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What Troubles You?

(Excerpt from the movie “David and Goliath : Battle of Faith” — Samuel in bold type, David in normal type)

“What troubles you?”

“What troubles me is God chose me for a greater purpose. Why did God choose me?”

“God teaches us not to judge a man by his height or his appearance. Man looks at these external qualities, but…God judges man by that which cannot be seen. The truth within his heart.“

“How am I to measure up to God’s standard if I am not the best?”

“A warrior is not a sword, nor a shield. Nor is he the sum of his strength or training. You want to be perfect. But you never will be. Every warrior inevitably faces defeat. You will fight and you will lose. It’s what’s inside a warrior’s heart that makes him fierce and makes him powerful. While God desires us to be perfect…He does not expect it. All He asks is that we keep on trying…to always keep going, to be strong…to be forged like iron. We are meant for so much more than this existence. What He has promised is glory beyond imagination. Even though we are not perfect, even though we are undeserving of His grace. So what does God want for you? He wants you to answer those questions that burn inside of you. Am I prepared for the next battle? Do I have what it will take? When the answer to those questions is yes, and you have faith in your heart, then it’s time to boldly face the enemy. And life will be filled with dangers. At times it will seem like you’re alone in a field of lions, all hungry to spot your weakness, prowling, waiting to attack. At that moment, when all is against you and you begin to doubt yourself and you fear that you are not ready, that you’re not prepared, listen for that voice inside of you, inside your heart, the voice that says you are ready, you are prepared, you have given everything…for that is the voice of God. Abandon your…your fears and doubts, for when God is with you, no one can stand against you.”

Inspirations and signs come in many forms. Today, for me, it came while watching the movie above. Maybe it started the night before while watching the movie “Samson” which ended leading up to David facing Goliath. It actually may have started the night before while watching “Jesus:His Life”. The past 2 months have been very busy for me. I was making excuses about not having time to write. In actuality, I was starting to feel that I had taken on too great a task by trying to handle this blog and being caught up in my own selfishness. This excerpt from the movie was the kick that I needed to get myself back on track again, to have faith that God is with me and will give me the strength and provide me with the words to share. He let me know that even when I stumble, for I am nowhere near perfect, He still loves me and forgives me. He wants me to continue to strive toward that ultimate goal.

Forgive me for being away for the past couple of months, and pray for me that I may continue to push away those doubts and fears, and keep my trust in Him.

Let us pray. Father, You are our rock and our salvation. In times of weakness, it is Your strength that carries us. It is through you that all we seek can be found. You are the answer to all of our questions, as we seek to do your will and live our lives for Your greater glory. In Your Name we pray. AMEN.

God Bless You All,

You Are in My Prayers,

Scott

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Filling an Empty Vessel

“God gives His gifts where He finds the vessel empty enough to receive them.”—C. S. Lewis

My soul was becoming empty. I was going through the motions of life, thinking that everything was fine, when in actuality, I was distancing myself from Christ. I was living a lie, lying to myself and to my God. I strayed from the path I was originally set upon and deviated my course to one that was centered around me. By doing so, I continued to empty my vessel, and as a result there was much room for God to give gifts to me. My vessel had become empty enough to receive them. I am grateful and thankful that I have been given the opportunity to see that now. It took being at my lowest to be able to accept and realize how much I needed God in my life. Don’t wait for that day to come, for it may be to late. Let God fill your vessel. Accept Him into your heart and into your life.

“In times of desolation, God conceals Himself from us so that we can discover for ourselves what we are without Him.”—St. Margaret of Cortona

Don’t wait for those times of desperation to manifest themselves into your life. The Lord is there, always, waiting patiently for us to accept Him into our lives.

Let us pray. God, our Father, help us to accept the gifts that you offer to us openly and willingly. Let us see that we are nothing without you as a part of our lives. Fill our vessels to the point of overflow with Your love and grace. We are thankful for this, and for all the gifts that You graciously share with us, especially the gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ, Whose Precious Blood has redeemed the world. In Your Name Always. AMEN.

God Bless You All.

You are in my prayers.

Scott

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St. Michael the Archangel, The Thirsting, and Evan’s Birthday (8/30/2018)

” Miracles occur all around us, signs from God show us the way, angels plead to be heard, but we pay little attention to them. “—Paulo Coelho

For those who do not know, I have always felt a closeness to St. Michael the Archangel. I chose him as my confirmation Saint. I used to pray the Chaplet of St. Michael regularly and shared it with my family (I do still work it into my prayer rotation). I have always felt like he was my Guardian Angel. On August 30th of 2018, I happened to be scrolling through Facebook after visiting with Evan and the first non-friend post that popped up was a link to the video ” Michael” by The Thirsting. I was immediately touched to find this and broke down in tears. I so needed this at that moment to lift my spirits and it worked. I commented on the video and also sent a message and email to the lead singer, Daniel Oberreuter, explaining to him the significance of seeing the post when I did and also telling him that I wanted to share a little more about it with him. He took the time to talk with me and I was able to share Evan’s story and my story since his passing, along with the story of the Septet.

The Thirsting is a Catholic Rock Band. Their sound is very diverse, hitting different genres and styles, providing songs for a variety of musical tastes. I think they are more geared to the younger generation, but those between teen years and their 50’s should find their music enjoyable, refreshing, and rewarding. Their songs are very inspirational and moving, borrowing from scripture, the mass, the sacraments, and everyday life events that we all go through and can relate to. Check them out. Give them a listen. Share them with your family. You won’t be disappointed. I will include the link to the video “Michael” as well as the link to their website. They have a Facebook page also. (Personal favorites are “Michael”, “Oceans of Mercy”, “Stepping Into the Day”, “Running”, and ” Come Hold My Son”)

I also highly recommend the Rosary recorded by Daniel and his wife. It is very beautiful and well done, spiritually relaxing while being prayed with gentle guitar playing in the background. This is what I use to pray along with in my car to and from work. You can find this as well as all their music on the website. You can also listen to the songs as well as the Rosary before purchase, and they also offer free downloads and offers of their music. (Click on the “STORE” tab on their web page to listen/try some selections). So, again, check them out. I don’t think you will be disappointed.

http://www.thethirstingcatholic.com/welcome

“Look to the future with commitment to a New Evangelization, one that is new in its ardor, new in its methods, and new in its expression.”—St. John Paul II.

This is a new day and age in which we live. Satan is coming at us from all angles and directions. Our faith as Christians is constantly under attack. Trials, temptations, and tribulations abound. This is just another weapon to add to our arsenal in the defense of our faith, our lives, and our very souls. Prayer and worship to the Lord in whatever way possible is what we must strive to do. Sing out to the Lord. Spread His message to all who will listen. Keep strong in the faith and keep your eyes and ears open for the signs that God is sending to you. I know it has made a difference in my life.

God Bless You All,

You are in my Prayers,

Scott

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God’s Plan

“God’s plan is like a beautiful tapestry, and the tragedy of being human is that we only get to see it from the back, with all the ragged threads and the muddy colors and we only get a hint at the true beauty that would be revealed if we could see the whole pattern on the other side…as God does.”— Daredevil, (from Season Three of the series “Daredevil” on Netflix

One of three or four quotes that will appear here from the Daredevil Series, spoken either by Daredevil himself or Father Lantom. Daredevil, the blind Marvel Superhero who watches over Hell’s Kitchen, was raised in a Catholic Orphanage and constantly seeks counsel from Fr. Lantom. This quote was a sign to me. Evan and I used to watch Daredevil together, as well as Arrow, Gotham, and the Flash (the last 3 named I have not been able to watch since his passing). It just so happened that the night I was watching this episode, everyone else was in bed, so I had the volume down and captions on (something I hate doing, but wanted to finish watching the episode). Any way, without the captions on, I probably would not have caught the quote, or paid as much attention to it. I immediately stopped it, grabbed a notebook and pen, and proceeded to play it back, frame by frame to ensure that I could write down the quote exactly. What you read below is the inspiration that followed shortly after.

November 21, 2018—So there it is. God’s plan, in all its beauty is not made visible to us until the day we join Him and are called home to Him. All we are allowed to see are the various parts that make up the plan. It is beyond our comprehension. And these parts that we see, or live out, or are a part of, are just that…parts and pieces that come together to make the whole thing that is our life here. That is why at times we may question the events in our lives, our heartaches, loss of loved ones, or any other misfortune that we may encounter throughout our lives. That is when our free will becomes a major part in the roles of our existence. It is through these rough patches that our faith and beliefs are called into play, to make the decisions that we must, to choose how we are going to handle each situation. To have the belief that our Father is with us, right beside us, every step of the way. To have the faith that these occurrences are part of the plan laid out for us by God. To pray that we make the right decisions, to carry forth and live our lives for Him, with the help of the Trinity, Mother Mary, and all the angels and saints. To stand firm and accept our sufferings and offer them up to Christ. To move forward as we strive for our eternal rewards.

He holds the strands of thread and weaves them a certain way. We are part of that weaving process as well, altering His placement into the tapestry with our decisions and actions. We will not see the beauty of the whole picture until the work is complete.

Let us pray. Lord, as you weave the tapestries of our life, grant us the patience to accept the designs you add to it and accept that you are weaving it in a certain way, for the betterment of our soul. Grant us the strength that we need to remain in Your light and make the decisions that will continue to beautify Your work of art. Strengthen our faith through the Holy Spirit that we may continue to grow and mature in our love for You. In Your Name we pray. AMEN.

God Bless You All,

You are in my prayers

Scott

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The Greatest Gift Ever

“The Son of God became man to enable men to become sons of God.” — C. S. Lewis

A SAVIOR UNTO US WAS BORN

On that first Christmas morn,
His coming, by a star, foretold
A Savior unto us was born!

His birthplace, a stable forlorn,
A cave cut from rocks of old
On that first Christmas morn...

Swaddling clothes, tattered and torn,
Wrapped His body from the cold
A Savior unto us was born!

His crib, from wood pieces shorn,
The King of Kings it did hold
On that first Christmas morn...

No crown of gold on His head worn,
No stately palace or riches bold,
A Savior unto us was born!

He came to remove sin’s thorn...
His life for ours, to be sold...
On that first Christmas morn...
A Savior unto us was born!


SMS 2007

I have had a few favorite gifts over the years for Christmas.  There have been too many toys to list, so Star Wars Action Figures will have to take the top spot in the toy category.  There was the ” Mumford Phys. Ed. Dept.” T-Shirt (like Eddie Murphy wore in Beverly Hills Cop).  There was a green Russell Athletic sweatshirt that I wore until it no longer fit.  There was the Chicago Bulls Starter Jacket and Red, White, and Black golf bag to match.  There is my white Nike cap autographed by the greatest ever to play the game, Michael Jordan.  The best of all was the gift of being able to see my children’s faces light up on Christmas morning as they walked into the living room, seeing what Santa brought for them, reliving that feeling of awe and amazement that comes with the faith and belief in Santa from childhood mornings long gone.  All of those gifts pale in comparison to the gift given to us so many years ago by our Father through the Holy Family.

As Advent comes to and end with the Birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, we should take a moment to reflect upon how truly blessed we are that He accepted to become man for us: The Greatest Gift of All.  He did not have to do it.  He could have refused, but He did not.  He became man to regain what was lost to us in the Garden of Eden.  He had to become man, to suffer death on the cross and rise again on the third day.  He overcame death so that one day, we too may be with Him in all His Glory.

So as we celebrate Christmas, remember the true reason we celebrate; the gift that  our Father gave to us by becoming a man in order to die for our sins.  The gift of Himself to us, His Body and Blood, to save our souls from the damnation of Hell, thus enabling us to share in a life eternal with Him.  Our gift in return should be the giving of ourselves to Him.  We can look to His life of service to others and attempt to do the same by giving of our time and assistance to help out those in need.  What better way is there to pay homage to the Lord for sending His Son?  Live by His examples and try to live a life just as He did.

Let us pray.  Lord, we thank You for the gift that You gave to us. The Greatest Gift of All. The gift of Your most precious Son, who by His Life, Death, and Resurrection redeemed the world.  Help us to live as Your Son, freely giving of ourselves to others, living as Thy will us to.  Help us to spread the love to others, that You chose to share with us, so that one day, we may all sit at Your table and give You thanks eternally.  Grant us Your Salvation so we too may become sons of God. In Your Name we pray.  AMEN.

May God Bless You and Your Loved Ones,

Have a Blessed and Merry Christmas, 

You Are In My Prayers,

Scott

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“Feux de Joie” (Fire of Joy)

“You go to pray: to become a bonfire, a living flame, giving light and heat.” —St. Josemaria Escriva

As Christmas Eve draws ever closer, and being born and raised in the River Parishes, this quote caught my eye and birthed inspiration.  For those of you who don’t know, or may not be from the area, the tradition of building bonfires along the levee of the Mississippi River to light on Christmas Eve has been going on since the late 1800’s.  Generally starting around the week of thanksgiving, friends get together to begin the cutting and hauling of wood to the levee in order to start construction of the bonfires.  As the weeks lead up to Christmas, the hard work and fun continues until the completion of the pyre to be lit that night.  

On Christmas Eve, family and friends gather together along the river.  It is a festive time of sharing food and drink with others, opening up and welcoming visitors from neighboring parishes.  Once darkness overtakes the light of the sun completely, the bonfires are lit with much celebration, fireworks, and cheer.  In French, the term for bonfire is, “feux de joie” or “fire of joy“.  A joyous occasion continues into the wee hours of the morning until the fires die out, celebrating Christmas, spending time together, reminiscing about old times, and enjoying the warmth of the fire.  (If we are lucky enough, the heat is welcomed and not a cause of excessive sweating.  South Louisiana Christmas Eve temperatures can range from the 80’s to the 20’s.) 

This sharing with family and friends, the building and lighting of the bonfires, and the celebration that follows, works hand in hand with our faith.  We begin around Thanksgiving with increased prayer and awareness of the coming of the celebration of Christ’s Birth.  We begin the Advent Season preparing ourselves for the joyous time, building our spiritual bonfires so they will be ready to light.  We share that light and warmth that we have been working on throughout Advent with friends, loved ones, and strangers during the Holiday Season, culminating on Christmas.  

The bonfires eventually die out.  The light fades as the warmth turns cold until nothing remains but the ashy, charred remnants of the once beautiful structure.  The Challenge: How can we keep our spiritual bonfire lit so that we may be living flames, sources of light and warmth to others year round and not just burn out and fade away until next year?

Let us pray.  Father, as we prepare for the upcoming birth of Your Son, Jesus, help us to be “feux de joie”, fires of joy for our love and faith in You through our daily prayers, devotions, and acts of kindness.  We implore You to send Your Holy Spirit to help us make the time we need to get away from our every day activities and give You thanks and praise for all You have given us, and  the strength to persevere throughout the year to maintain our relationship with you.  Let Your Spirit aid and assist us in keeping our living flame lit, being a source of light and heat to those around us, all for Your Greater Glory.  In Your Name we pray. AMEN.

God Bless You All,

You are in my prayers,

Scott

Posted on

The Power of Prayer

“I pray because I can’t help myself.  I pray because I am helpless.  It doesn’t change God–it changes me.”—-C. S. Lewis

 

Nothing is more self-evident than this quote by C. S. Lewis.  Prayer does not change God.  He is, was, and always will be the same…the Alpha and the Omega, the same loving Father, unchanged.  His love for us remains the same always, sinner or saint.  He loves us as we are.  The thing that changes, or makes a difference is our love for Him.  Our love for Him changes through our prayer habits.  Our devotion to God the Father, His Son, the Holy Spirit, and our Blessed Mother brings about the changes inside of us.  In prayer, we get to talk with the Lord one on one.  We have the chance to open our hearts and soul to Him.  We can develop a greater relationship with our Father, who only asks 2 things of us–Love Him above all others, and love our neighbors.

Since the passing of Evan, I definitely learned that I could not survive on my own.  I could not help myself.  I was truly helpless.  It was only through Him that I saw the way out of the darkness.  There was no other solution.  The grief and depression would have swallowed me whole, consumed me from the inside until all that was left would have been an empty shell.  Prayer is what changed me.  Prayer is what brought me back from being dead to Christ.  My faith in our Father was the only thing holding me here.  It was prayer that ensured I would be saved.  Not only my own prayers, but the prayers of all my family and friends, our community, and their friends.  You must remember, even if you are not praying yourself, someone, somewhere, here or gone, is praying for you.  It is unfathomable to realize the number of those who are praying for you that you are totally unaware of.  Always be mindful and thankful of that fact.

Developing a better prayer life is much easier than you might imagine.  After my first retreat at Manresa, I realized how easy it was to make time for prayer, or should I say find time to pray.  I found that time driving home from the retreat that weekend.  No radio.  Just prayers the whole way home.  I incorporated that into my drive to and from work every day, and have been doing so since August of 2017.  Basically a 40 minute round trip.  At first I would just pray and meditate on common prayers, (Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be), but it evolved into adding more prayers into the mix, which led to the creation of a whole new devotional which I will explain in a future post.  I also learned that a complete Rosary can be said in that 20 minute time frame and that has made a huge difference in my mood getting to and arriving home each day.

All I am trying to say is that it’s not hard to slip prayers in throughout the day.  Like myself, I found numerous chances with idle time on my hands and mind to slip in a prayer here or there.  Any quiet time you find will do.  An Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be, St. Michael’s Prayer, whatever your favorite prayer may be.  Even something as simple as “Jesus, I Trust in You” works well, especially if you meditate on those words and truly put your trust in the hands of Jesus.  There truly is no right or wrong way to pray.  Give the Lord some of the precious time He has graciously given to you.  Thank Him for allowing you to partake in the glory that awaits you, the room in His house, and the feast at his table.

Since this rejuvenation of my prayer life, I am more at peace with myself and others, my road rage has become a thing of the past…(for the most part), because I am in prayer mode and don’t let petty inconveniences on the road get to me like they used to.  So, all I ask of you is this-give it a try.  Make time for prayer throughout the day.  Talk with the Lord for help to get through the day.  Thank Him for all He has blessed you with.  You won’t be disappointed.  And when you start to see that change, you will realize, as Mr. Lewis said, God is not changed by prayer, but we as believers are.

God Bless You Brothers and Sisters,

You are in my prayers,

Scott