This blog is based on references in the Bible to fear. God wills that we “BE NOT AFRAID”. Many theologians state that the eighth deadly sin is fear. It is fear and its natural animal reaction to fight or flight that is the root cause of our failings to create a Kingdom of God on earth. By “the power of the Holy Spirit” we can be witnesses and “communicators” of a new and redeemed humanity “even to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:7 8). This blog is dedicated to Mary the Mother of God.
For
the Father loves his Son and shows him everything that he himself does,
and he will show him greater works than these, so that you may be amazed.
Jesus as the son of God has
received His power; the divine power of life-giving and judgment. These two
powers form a constant part of the Father’s life. Babies are born, even on the
Sabbath, and people die. God does not stop his life giving on the Sabbath and
neither should we. God the Father gives life and so too the Son which He demonstrated
by rising from the dead. Christ gives life and whoever hears and accepts him
receives eternal life and does not come under judgment for he who hears the Son
hears the Father. Whoever responds negatively judges himself or herself by that
very fact. Christ is loyal to those who trust in Him.[1]
Sir Ernest Shackleton like so many of his generation were ultimate
adventurers – part hero, part daredevil – fighting the elements and the odds,
too far from civilization to call for help – laying it all on the line purely
for the love of adventure. Shackleton led a doomed expedition to miraculous
survival through the sheer force of his motivational leadership. In 1914, he
set out with a crew of twenty-eight men on a quest to be the first to travel
across the entire Antarctic continent by way of the South Pole. His ship, Endurance,
became caught in ice and was crushed. After abandoning the ship, he and his men
faced incredible hardship from a variety of brutal Antarctic conditions – from
shifting weather to shifting ice, along with the trials of hunger, illness and
discouragement – for more than a year. Yet every man got home safely, when the
entire expedition would have perished under weaker leadership. Incredibly, the
only casualty was frostbitten toes on one man. He had passion for the adventure
of the mission but he also had passion for the men he led. When he was forced
to abandon his doomed ship and realized he would not achieve his goal of
reaching the South Pole en route to the other side, he kept his disappointment
to himself while he shifted his priorities to the well-being of his men. He
said to another leader, F.A. Worsley, “It is a pity [to miss the crossing], but
that cannot be helped. It is the men we have to think about. “He put his men
above himself. He understood that the survival of them all might well depend on
the quality of his leadership. He also realized that he could provide better
leadership if he served as well as led. “Shackleton shared the physical labors
as well as the watches…[He] would forego his own rations in order to feed the
undernourished or the ill. And he often did so without anyone knowing
it…Shackleton always put the needs of his men ahead of his personal comfort,
and as a result he saved them all.” He realized that in order to survive they
would have to stay healthy – mentally as well as physically. When we are trying
to survive, having fun is the farthest thing from our minds. It may even be seen
as trivializing the suffering. But during harsh tribulation it is more important than ever to find something to
enjoy. During hard times we need to find a source of joy in order to maintain a
healthy perspective. As a leader, Shackleton accepted responsibility for
maintaining the spirits as well as the health of his men. Yes, they were brave
adventurers just as Shackleton was, well able to take care of themselves.
Still, Shackleton knew that as a leader he could provide a unique kind of
influence that would be empowering, energizing and uplifting. He continually
sought out ways to boost morale. He set aside time for recreation. They
improvised various forms of entertainment. Several of the men had chosen books
among the possessions they salvaged, and they read aloud to each other. They
played soccer on the ice. “Humor…played a role, with Shackleton telling stories
or teasing his men. What Shackleton was doing was keeping his men alive inside;
by encouraging them to read or sing, he was keeping their spirits from sagging
or dwelling on the inhospitalities that in other circumstances might have overwhelmed
them.” He Inspired Loyalty. Shackleton’s passion for his mission and for his
men, his passion for leadership, and his passion for motivation were a source
of energy and courage during times of severe adversity. These virtues made him
a leader that people wanted to follow. Even when his men may not have wanted to
do something for themselves, they would do it for him. He inspired this kind of
loyalty because he gave it to his men. They respected and trusted him because
he respected and trusted them. They took care of him because he took care of
them. They put him first because he put them first. He was a wonderful example
of what a role model should be.
Shackleton dedicated South,
the book he wrote about their extraordinary exploits, “To My Comrades.” In
one especially moving passage he observed: “In memories we were rich. We had
pierced the veneer of outside things. We had suffered, starved and triumphed,
groveled down yet grasped at glory, grown bigger in the bigness of the whole.
We had seen God in His splendors, heard the text that natures renders. We had
reached the naked soul of man.” Sixty years after they had been rescued, the
expedition’s first officer, Lionel Greenstreet, was asked how they had done it,
how had they survived such a deadly misadventure. Greenstreet gave a one-word
response: “Shackleton.”
I have been to Antarctica, and with
Shackleton, I can voice I have seen the face of God through the power and
majesty of nature. As catholic’s we recognize this same power of God in nature
and celebrate it in our Ember Day observations.
Psalm 147:12, 16-17 "Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem: praise thy God, O
Sion. Who giveth snow like wool: scattereth mists like ashes. He sendeth his
crystal like morsels: who shall stand before the face of his cold?"
Winter is a time of reflection, when human activity is stilled and snow
blankets the world with silence. For the Christian, Winter symbolizes Hope:
though the world now appears lifeless and makes us think of our own mortality,
we hope in our resurrection because of the Resurrection of the One Whose
Nativity we await now. How providential that the Christ Child will be born at
the beginning of this icy season, bringing with Him all the hope of Spring!
Also among our Winter feasts are the Epiphany and Candlemas,
two of the loveliest days of the year, the first evoked by water, incense, and
gold; the latter by fire...Yes, despite the typical, unimaginative view of
Winter as a long bout with misery, the season is among the most beautiful and
filled with charms. The ephemeral beauty of a single snowflake... the pale blue
tint of sky reflected in snow that glitters, and gives way with a satisfying
crunch under foot... skeletal trees entombed in crystal, white as bones, cold
as death, creaking under the weight of their icy shrouds... the wonderful
feeling of being inside, next to a fire, while the winds whirl outside... the
smell of burning wood mingled with evergreen... warm hands embracing your
wind-bitten ones... the brilliant colors of certain winter birds, so shocking
against the ocean of white... the wonderfully long nights which lend themselves
to a sense of intimacy and quiet! Go outside and look at the clear Winter skies
ruled by Taurus, with the Pleiades on its shoulder and Orion nearby... Such
beauty! Even if you are not a "winter person," consider that
Shakespeare had the right idea when he wrote in "Love's Labours
Lost":
Why should proud summer boast
Before the birds have any cause to sing?
Why should I joy in an abortive birth?
At Christmas I no more desire a rose
Than wish a snow in May’s new-fangled mirth;
But like of each thing that in season grows.
It is nine days before Christmas. Today start a Christmas
novena with your family or someone you love.
30 Days of Women and Herbs – Frauendreissiger Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) 2 Maccabees, Chapter 15, Verse 8 He urged his men not to fear the attack of the Gentiles, but mindful of the help they had received in the past from Heaven, to expect now the victory that would be given them by the Almighty. As an old, retired military man it was common for us to say while we were loading our magazines with bullets, “Praise the Lord and pass the ammunition." We knew that without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. Optimists see steppingstones where pessimists see stumbling blocks. Heavenly Intercession [1] "Stretching out his right hand, Jeremiah presented a gold sword to Judas. As he gave it to him, he said 'Accept this holy sword as a gift from God; with it you shall crush your adversaries.' " —2 Maccabees 15:15-16 Nicanor planned to slaughte...
Switch of Manliness Legacy OUR LADY OF CZESTOCHOWA Acts, Chapter 10, verse 1-4 1 Now in Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of the Cohort called the Italica, 2 devout and God-fearing along with his whole household, who used to give alms generously to the Jewish people and pray to God constantly. 3 One afternoon about three o’clock, he saw plainly in a vision an angel of God come into him and say to him, “Cornelius.” 4 He looked intently at him and seized with FEAR , said, “What is it, sir?” He said to him, “Your prayers and almsgiving have ascended as a memorial offering before God. Cornelius’ Cohort was an auxiliary unit of archers, men who are expert at hitting a mark or target. Sin is the act of violating God's will. Sin can also be viewed as anything that violates the ideal relationship between an individual and God, or as any diversion from the ideal order for human living. To sin has been defined as "to miss the mark" to have a h...
📖 Introduction to Acts: A Catholic Perspective The Acts of the Apostles , written by St. Luke, is a continuation of his Gospel and serves as a bridge between the life of Christ and the life of the Church. It chronicles the birth and expansion of the early Christian community, empowered by the Holy Spirit and led by apostles like Peter and Paul. From a Catholic viewpoint, Acts is not merely historical—it’s theological and pastoral. It reveals how the Church, under divine guidance, confronts fear, persecution, and uncertainty with faith, courage, and communal strength. 😨 Lessons of Fear in Acts: Catholic Reflections Fear in Acts is not condemned—it’s transformed. Here are key episodes and their spiritual lessons: 1. Pentecost and the Fear of Speaking Truth (Acts 2) Context : The apostles, once timid and hiding, are emboldened by the Holy Spirit. Lesson : Fear is overcome through divine empowerment. Catholics see Pentecost as the birth of the Ch...
Claire’s Corner · Today in honor of the Holy Trinity do the Divine Office giving your day to God. To honor God REST: no shopping after 6 pm Saturday till Monday. Don’t forget the internet. · Bucket List Trip: Around the World “Perfect Weather” o Darjeeling , India. · Spirit Hour: St Lawrence cocktail · Foodie: Thukpa On Sundays Pray: Glorious Queen of Heaven and Earth, Virgin Most Powerful, thou who hast the power to crush the head of the ancient serpent with thy heel, come and exercise this power flowing from the grace of thine Immaculate Conception. Shield us under the mantle of thy purity and love, draw us into the sweet abode of thy heart and annihilate and render impotent the forces bent on destroying us....
feast of saint Anthony, abbot Sirach, Chapter 22, Verse 16 A wooden beam firmly bonded into a building is not loosened by an earthquake; So the mind firmly resolved after careful deliberation will not be afraid at any time. A prudent mind firmly resolved is undisturbed by violent and conflicting thoughts. Sometimes we all have senseless thoughts and feelings which shake us but faith is a firm anchor for our thoughts. We indeed do have the power within ourselves to choose not to react to impulsive thoughts. Sacredness [1] · Holiness consists in friendship with God. If we would be in any sense the friends of God, we must have at least that desire for holiness without which such friendship would be impossible; growth in the knowledge of God is the deepening of this friendship. · To know God is to know self and if we know ourselves well, we know have one or two prominent...
Judith, Chapter 10, Verse 16 When you stand before him, have no fear in your heart; give him the report you have given us, and he will treat you well.” Judith prepares for war with prayer and by the enhancement of her beauty. She is so strikingly beautiful that in this verse one of the guards of the Assyrian camp advises her to be confident in the presence of Holofernes. Beauty and the Beast [1] After bathing (during a drought) she uses all the human arts available to her to make herself beautiful and captivating: perfumed ointment, hair, clothing and jewelry. She understands the goodness of her body. She knows physical beauty is good and comes from God. She also knows that the power of her beauty comes from within her, from her holiness, from her faithfulness to God. Since both her exterior and interior beauty come from God, her beauty must be devoted to the service of God. God intends to use her beauty as a weapon to liberate the people. She will wield the weapon t...
Auxilium Christianorum - Praying for Persecuted Priests Monday, May 24 is the Feast of Mary Mother of the Church. It is also the Feast of Mary Help of Christians (Auxilium Christianorum). Please consider joining this Auxilium Christianorum family to pray daily for our holy and courageous persecuted priests. The Church teaches us that it is divided into the Church Triumphant (which includes the members of the Church in heaven), the Church Suffering (this includes the members of the Church in purgatory), and the Church Militant (this refers to those members of the Church who are alive in this world). Because we are part of the Church Militant, we are in a spiritual warfare and this spiritual warfare requires that we recognize, as Saint Paul teaches us "For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood; but against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the world of this darkness, against the spirits of wickedness in the high ...
Monday Night at the Movies Luis Bunuel, Simon of the Desert, 1965 SAINT MOTHER THEODORE GUERIN Hebrews, Chapter 12, Verse 21 Indeed, so FEARFUL was the spectacle that Moses said, “I am terrified and trembling.” Moses was the heir apparent to the throne of Egypt in his youth. As a member of the Egyptian court, he would have seen many fearful spectacles yet imagine what it must have been like to have been a witness of God descending on Mount Sinai to give the law. He was terrified and trembling. Again, now imagine if Moses was somehow resurrected and was able to walk into an ordinary catholic church that has a very modest Blessed Sacrament Chapel. Do you think his reaction would be any different than the first time he encountered the living God? Be Still and Know that I am God [1] On the evening of October 1995, John Paul II was scheduled to greet the seminarians at Saint Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore. It had been a very full day that began with a Mass at...
Wednesday after laetare Sunday: end of mid-lent [1] Jeremiah, Chapter 26, verse 19 Did Hezekiah, king of Judah, and all Judah condemn him to death? Did he not fear the LORD and entreat the favor of the LORD, so that the LORD had a change of heart regarding the evil he had spoken against them? We, however, are about to do great evil against ourselves.” Have you ever been around people who cannot handle the truth! Speaking the truth got Jeremiah in dire straits. Unmoving, the temple officials and elders trashed Jeremiah nonetheless they were too afraid to kill him. Dire Straits [2] · At the beginning of Jehoiakim's reign, God tells Jeremiah to stand in the court of the temple and speak to all the people and cities of Judah. They're getting another chance to repent. Maybe they'll actually listen this time. · If the people don't finally come to their senses, God's going t...
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