I wanted to turn you on to the most amazing priest especially in the Year of the Priest. I caught his TV show last night and was so inspired. His name is Fr. Cedric and you can find him at FrCedric. He is headquartered in Houston but apparently makes trips around the U.S. to talk. His show was focused on spiritual, Biblical-based prayer and he was using all of St. Paul's epistles. Very inspiring. We can certainly learn how to pray from one of our greatest saints. In a conversation earlier this week, there was a misguided person who said that they do not believe in the concept of Hell. Rather than argue with this person, I shared the passage in Matthew 41-42 that says, "The Son of man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all evildoers, and throw them into the furnace of fire; there men will weep and gnash their teeth." I am not sure if this person changed their mind but I did plant a seed and I am sure that the Holy Spirit will draw this person to read the scripture and who knows. I found Pope Benedict's comments about his guardian angel and God's will to be amusing. If you have not seen it, look here: http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=16698
I am just beginning to dive into the beautiful, ancient devotion to the Five Wounds of Jesus, and I wanted to share a bit of the journey with you. It can feel a little overwhelming at first to look at the Crucifix this closely, but I’ve found such a gentle guide in St. Bernard of Clairvaux . In his Jubilee Rhythm on the Passion, Bernard doesn't treat the wounds of Jesus as distant historical facts or sights to be avoided. Instead, he approaches them with the tenderness of a friend, speaking directly to the feet, hands, side, and face of our Lord. For someone like me who is just starting out, his rhythm teaches that prayer isn't just about reciting words; it’s a holy hide-and-seek. Bernard invites us to literally hide ourselves within these wounds, seeing them as clefts in the rock where we can find shelter when our own lives feel turbulent or heavy. As I start this process, I’ve been practicing what I call gazing and greeting. Following Bernard’s lead, I look at the Crucifix an...
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