Catholic Living · New Blog

The daily decalogue of Pope John XXIII

From http://www.vatican.va

1) Only for today, I will seek to live the livelong day positively without wishing to solve the problems of my life all at once.

2) Only for today, I will take the greatest care of my appearance: I will dress modestly; I will not raise my voice; I will be courteous in my behavior; I will not criticize anyone; I will not claim to improve or to discipline anyone except myself.

3) Only for today, I will be happy in the certainty that I was created to be happy, not only in the other world but also in this one.

4) Only for today, I will adapt to circumstances, without requiring all circumstances to be adapted to my own wishes.

5) Only for today, I will devote 10 minutes of my time to some good reading, remembering that just as food is necessary to the life of the body, so good reading is necessary to the life of the soul.

6) Only for today, I will do one good deed and not tell anyone about it.

7) Only for today, I will do at least one thing I do not like doing; and if my feelings are hurt, I will make sure that no one notices.

8) Only for today, I will make a plan for myself: I may not follow it to the letter, but I will make it. And I will be on guard against two evils: hastiness and indecision.

9) Only for today, I will firmly believe, despite appearances, that the good Providence of God cares for me as no one else who exists in this world.

10) Only for today, I will have no fears. In particular, I will not be afraid to enjoy what is beautiful and to believe in goodness. Indeed, for 12 hours I can certainly do what might cause me consternation were I to believe I had to do it all my life.

To conclude: here is an all-embracing resolution: “I want to be kind, today and always, to everyone”. In this way, we can put Pope John’s hope for every Christian into practice: “Every believer in this world must be a spark of light, a core of love, life-giving leaven in the mass: and the more he is so, the more he will live, in his innermost depths, in communion with God”.

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Digital Books and a Shocking Confession

I never would have imagined saying this, but I think a may prefer digital books now.   I have been reading the Dresden Files and some of these books we have in digital format and others we have in traditional paper book format.  The format I group up with,  with the smell and the texture and the dog-eared goodness that is a book.  But last night I realized that I missed having the table version of the book I am currently reading.    This may make me a heretic or something and I am sure my husband will be shocked and my mother might actually pass out if I admit it out loud.

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Christopher’s Confirmation

Christopher

It seems really hard to believe that he is that he is old enough, but here he is – suit and all, looking every bit the young man.   Of course yesterday was one of those days where we were all running around in seven different directions culminating in being at the parish at 6:30 pm.   One of those moments where God has a sense of humor.   I was sure I was praying for peace — I think He thought I was praying for patience because Lizzy was bound and determined to test mine all through the mass. 

 

 

christopher and the Bishop

The archbishop was gracious and warm — but somehow my camera just made them look fuzzy.  The homily was one of those where you are left with a total conviction of the faith.  The archbishop spoke so earnestly about how he could trace his ordination back to the 15th century where the church records were lost, but that he knew that the line went back to the Apostles.  He described how terrified the Apostles were after the Ascension, hiding in a room, fearing for  their very lives until the Holy Spirit descended on them. This transformed them instantly and permanently and led them all save one to martyrs deaths. This spirit was sacramentally passed down from those first Apostles to our Archbishop and to the young people last night.   It was one of those homilies where you want to jump up and say “lead on”,  a reminder that we need fear nothing ever for our God holds the universe in His hands.

It was a beautiful night.