Power of Discipline- Video

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Celibacy Today?

How safe are celibates?

The new emphasis is on companionship and compatibility.

By Chhotebhai

Do celibate Catholic priests need a safety net? How different is safe sex from unsafe celibacy? A recent meeting of the Conference of Diocesan Priests of India, held in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, occasioned these thoughts.

The priests “pledged to safeguard their celibacy vow in the face of modern-day challenges, and treat it as a gift from God.” At the conference Fr. Francis Scaria said that priests in the West and in Africa were facing serious issues related to celibacy. What about India? If there was no problem, then why the concern?

Beauty of a Home

Building A Home

The walls of a house are not made of wood, brick or stone, but of truth and loyalty.

Unpleasant sounds, the friction of living, the clash of personalities are not deadened by Persian rugs or polished floors, but by conciliation, concession and self-control.

The house is not a structure where bodies meet, but a hearthstone upon which flames mingle separate flames of souls which, the more perfectly they unite, the more clearly they shine and the straighter they rise toward Heaven.

Your house is your fortress in a warring world, where a woman’s hand buckles on your armour in the morning and soothes your fatigue and wounds at night.

The beauty of a house is harmony.

The security of a house is loyalty.

The joy of a house is love.

The plenty of a house is in children.

The rule of a house is service.

The comfort of a house is in contented spirits.

The maker of a house, a real human house, is God Himself, the same One who made the stars and built the world.

- Emmanuel Baptist News

Lenten Activities For People

a) participating in the Mass daily or a few days in the week;

b) setting aside some part of my day for personal prayer;

c) reading some Scripture, alone or, better still, with others;

d) setting aside some money that I might spend on myself for meals, entertainment or clothes and giving it to an organization which takes care of the less fortunate in our society;

e) abstaining from smoking, alcohol and other evil addictions;

f) receiving the sacrament of reconciliation in Lent and participating in the “Stations of the Cross” on Fridays;

g) visiting the sick and those in nursing homes and doing some acts of charity, kindness and mercy every day in the Lent.

Attitudes for Faith

1) A lot of kneeling will keep you in good standing.

2) He who kneels before God can stand before anyone.

3) To be almost saved is to be totally lost.

4) When praying, don't give God instructions - just report for
duty.

5) Most people want to serve God, but only in an advisory
position.

6) Coincidences happen when God chooses to remain anonymous.

7) If God is your co-pilot - swap seats.

Call and Excuses

Call of God and Excuses

When God Sends People...They Make Excuses: Abraham was too old. Moses stuttered. Miriam was a gossip. Jacob was a liar. Gideon doubted. Elijah was burned out. First David's armor didn't fit, then he had an affair, and had someone killed. Solomon was too rich. Isaiah had unclean lips. Jeremiah was too young. Jonah didn't like the job. Amos's only training was in the school of fig-tree pruning. Naomi was a widow. Peter was afraid of death. Thomas was from Missouri (the "show-me" state) Paul was a murderer. Mark was rejected by Paul. Timothy had ulcers. Lazarus was dead. Martha was a worry-wart. ...or so they claimed, before God's Spirit empowered them to rise to the occasion and become some of the greatest heroes of our faith. ------- Another shorter version: Jacob was a cheater, Peter had a temper, David had an affair, Noah got drunk, Jonah ran away from God ,Paul was a murderer, Gideon was insecure, Miriam was gossiper, Martha was a nerve wreck, Thomas was a doubter, Sarah was impatient, Elijah was depressed, Moses stuttered, Zaccheus was short, Abraham was old and Lazarus was dead. God does not call the qualified, He qualifies the called.

Bamboo Seeds and Faith

Bamboo Seeds

The Power of the Seed Theme: Faith is a powerful seed.

One of the strangest seeds in the world is the seed of the Chinese bamboo tree. It lies buried in the soil for five years before any seedling or sprout appears above ground. Think of it! Five years! All during these five years the seed must be cultivated, that is, watered and fertilized regularly. Now comes the big surprise.

When the bamboo seedling finally emerges from the ground, it grows to a height of nine feet in just six weeks. Why does the seedling take so long to emerge? Why does it grow so fast once it emerges? Plant experts say that during its first five years in the soil the bamboo seed is busy building an elaborate root system. It's this root system that enables it to grow nine feet in six weeks.

Application: Does our faith have deep roots? How can we know? What is our root system that nourishes us spiritually every day?