Praying through the mud...

Today, we are just days away from our Tough Mudder Challenge on Saturday! I figured we could get you all involved in this challenge for Salesian vocations by allowing you to pray this prayer with us every day leading up to Saturday:

Tough Mudder Prayer
Mary, our Mother and Help of Christians,
You who brought forth Love into this world
and led Him by the hand until the day of His death,
look unceasingly upon those whom your Son is calling
to serve the Salesian Congregation.
May our hearts be ever turned to you
at the finish line for the sake of vocations.

As we fall and pull ourselves up from the muck,
grasp the hands of those straying from their call
and bring them out of their muddy states of sin.
As we persevere through bitter cold,
inspire their hearts with the warmth of your Spouse, the Holy Spirit,
that they might overcome the bitterness of this world
in your Son’s holy name.

Mary, our Mother, send us priests and brothers.
Mary, our Mother, send us many priests and brothers.
Mary, our Mother, send us many holy priests and brothers.

Remain with us and in our hearts as we pray:
Hail Mary…

Mary, Help of Christians, pray for us.

May we be reminded this day and always that we are in a battle for souls, a battle that can only be won with prayer, holiness, and joy. Arm yourself with the gifts of the Holy Spirit and join the fight! The Lord needs you!

O I said the C word!

After logging onto Facebook, the following video showed up on my feed:

I couldn't help but rejoice over the beauty of this couple's decision. As future shepherds, spiritually or physically, all of us have a vocation of chastity. But what is chastity, you may ask?

Chastity means the successful integration of sexuality within the person and thus the inner unity of man in his bodily and spiritual being. Sexuality, in which man's belonging to the bodily and biological world is expressed, becomes personal and truly human when it is integrated into the relationship of one person to another, in the complete and lifelongmutual gift of a man and a woman. The virtue of chastity therefore involves the integrity of the person and the integrality of the gift.              Catechism of the Catholic Church, no.2337

And it is also part of our vocations as Catholic Christians to evangelize this chastity to others, not only with our words but with our actions. We must live out chastity to the fulness in whatever state of life that may be. And this will move mountains. This will change relationships. This will change the world! Are we ready?

Hold Fast!

    We recognize that many who read this blog may be called to the Married Life or the Single Life. Below is a link to a beautiful practice of marriage. It should not only encourage those called to Married life to more fully commit themselves to the cross, but encourage those called to priestly and religious life to hold firm to their vocations as well in order to build up the sacrament of marriage. It is the family that we serve. And it is family that our vocations exist. Heaven itself is the family. May we never forget that.

http://catholic.net/index.php?option=dedestaca&id=2888

Let's Get Thankful

Whether you had a good, great, excellent, horrible, beautiful, wonderful, excruciating, ok, perfect, or downright miserable Thanksgiving experience, there is yet so much to be thankful for. 


I think one thing we do not thank the Lord for enough is His calling in our lives--our vocations. Whether that be married or single or consecrated or clergy, doctor or lawyer or teacher or cashier--whatever He has called us to, He has done so for a reason. And such gratitude we should have at such a thought...that He would love us so intimately and personally that He would let us know what He wants of us, what He wants for our lives.


May this video be a blessing to you this day, however belated it may be from Thanksgiving.

FRIDAYS!

Today was a very busy day for most!

1. The Vocations Discernment Retreat began this evening.
2. Friday Apostolates (Elizabeth, Port Chester, Our Lady of the Valley)
3. The Visitation
4. The ill-health rapidly increasing in Salesian confrere Father Clem.

This is a truly beautiful thing to witness--the great outreach of the Salesian family to the surrounding areas. We are constantly busy with the Lord's work. But this is more reason for us to keep on guard. We must not let our prayers fall weak or stagnant! The Lord calls us, rather, to make our lives a living prayer--to lift up our hearts to Him in every moment of our days! This is something we must constantly remind ourselves of. We live not for ourselves but for the glory of the Lord and His Kingdom, which is among us NOW!

Thanks to all who attended the Salesian Visitation tonight. It was truly blessed by the Holy Spirit.
Stay tuned via this blog and YouTube for clips, videos, and recordings of Visitation songs!

St. Cecilia, Patron Saint of Musicians, pray for us.