THREE MINUTES A DAY - June 12, 2009

It’s Never Too Late—or Too Soon

Kendra Kline was 14 years old when she first heard about the North Country Mission of Hope, a multi-dimensional charity group headquartered in upstate New York.

She was intrigued by the group’s work, providing health care, education and community development to Nicaraguan towns and cities. And she enlisted her optometrist father’s involvement: “You can be the eye doctor, and I can help you,” she prompted.

Since then, Kendra Kline has built houses, painted an orphanage and helped to help purify local water sources. She also served as a translator for some of the mission’s doctors. Kline now sees herself going into medicine and continuing to help people through medical mission trips.

Young people have so much to offer. Have you encouraged or inspired a young person lately?

When He was twelve years old, they went up as usual for the festival. ... After three days, they found Him ... sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all ... were amazed at His understanding and His answers. (Luke 2:42,46-47)

Jesus, You respect and love little children and tell us to emulate their childlikeness. Protect and inspire them.

TIME LINE: St. Paul's Epistles and Journeys

ZOOM

Timeline of the Life and Writings of St. Paul

THREE MINUTES A DAY - June 9, 2009

Putting the Wheels of Change in Motion

It was a scene unimaginable just a decade ago: a hundred wooden bicycles clambering across Rwanda’s rocky hillsides as cyclists participated in a race – for fun. The riders were neither fleeing danger, nor running for their lives. Instead, they were celebrating a renewed sense of hope.

In 1995, things were different. The country’s Karongi Stadium was a place of tragedy and suffering where 800,000 Rwandas were slaughtered in a genocidal war led by the government’s armed forces.

Today, Project Rwanda, a U.S.-based nonprofit organization, organizes events like the bike race to raise awareness of the country’s past while pointing toward a happier future by attracting investment and tourism.

Even out of the deepest human suffering, hope can emerge. With God, all things are possible.

Hope does not disappoint us. (Romans 5:5)

Alleviate suffering, God of mercy.

TRINITY SUNDAY

In Honor of Trinity Sunday

Since today is Trinity Sunday, I thought I would repost my Topical Index page on our Triune God. I pray this will prove a worthy offering. Have a blessed Sunday!

Pax Christi,
phatcatholic

- - - - -

Our Triune God

• How Many Times Does God Forgive?
• Can God Be Hateful?
• The Truth about Religion: Parts One -- Two
• God and Science: Parts One -- Two
• Creation and Evil
• Worshipping the Holy Spirit
• On Various Kinds of Tongues
• On the Inner Life of the Trinity
• God's Will and Our Rejection of Him
• What Is Trinitarian Procession?
• Sinning Against the Holy Spirit: Parts One --Two

Jesus Christ

• The Body and Soul of Christ: Parts One --Two
• Jesus in Hell: Parts One -- Two -- Three -- 4a -- 4b
• "My Hour Has Not Yet Come": Did Jesus Rebuke Mary?
• The True Nature of Jesus and His Church
• Is Jesus the Symbol of God?
• "Haight"-ing God's Son: Parts One -- Two -- Three -- Four
• Christological Heresy and the Council of Chalcedon
• Jesus' Descent Into Hell: Debate (Parts One and Two) and Q&A
• Jesus: The Anointed Priest, Prophet, and King
• The Way of the Cross
• The "Once for All" Sacrifice of Christ
• Did Jesus Have Brothers?
• Did Christ Die for the Unforgiveable Sin?
• Is There Something Lacking in the Afflictions of Christ? A Look at Col 1:24-25: Parts One -- Two -- Three -- Four -- Five
• Jesus Christ and the Salvation of Non-Christians
• The Highs and the Lows of Christology
• Did the Catholic Church Kill Jesus?
• The Brothers of Jesus Don't Scare Me: Parts One -- Two

THREE MINUTES A DAY - June 8, 2009

The More the Merrier – or Not

Many people pride themselves on being multitaskers, performing several activities at a time. Scientists are not so sure this is wise.

“Multitasking is going to slow you down, increasing the chances of mistakes,” says David Meyer, a cognitive scientist at the University of Michigan. “Disruptions and interruptions are a bad deal from the standpoint of our ability to process information.”

In one Vanderbilt University study, participants given two simple tasks had a one second delay in responding to the second task. That doesn’t seem very important unless you are talking on your cellphone while you’re driving your car. Then a second’s delay could prove fatal. Neuroscientist Rene Marois says, “We are under the impression that we have this brain that can do more than it often can.” He now turns off his cellphone while driving.

Exercise reason – and caution – when you’re trying to do more than one thing at a time.

Commit your work to the Lord. (Proverbs 16:3)

Spirit of Counsel, keep me from trying to extend myself too much when I’d be better off taking one thing at a time.

How to Study Catholic Teachings

Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me,

for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.

Psalm 25:4-5

Jesus Christ proclaimed that “the truth will set you free” (John 8:32). The hard thing for many of us is to be willing to embrace the truth once we've discovered it. Often, that takes a lot of courage and patience, especially when we must first overcome our own prejudices and pre-conceived notions before we can lay hold of the truth.

We all need to seek the truth, and God has provided a special way to help us find it in its entirety. The Catholic Church, in spite of its problems and sinful members, comprised of saints and sinners and everyone in between, has been established by God to help us get to heaven. Part of its mission is to teach the truth to everyone.

When Christ had finished His earthly ministry, He did not leave us orphans (John 14:18). He sent the Holy Spirit to guide His Church into all truth (John 16:13). This mission of receiving the truth and then faithfully handing it on to future generations was entrusted to the Church by Jesus Christ. He declared:

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age” (Matthew 28:18-20).

The popular TV personality, Archbishop Fulton Sheen, once said, “It is easy to find truth; it is hard to face it, and harder still to follow it.”

This is because, in addition to discovering the truth, we also must be willing to accept God's gift of the grace of faith (c.f., Ephesians 2:8-9), so that we can embrace the truth.

In other words, we can have all the information at our fingertips, but unless we sincerely ask the Lord to enlighten our hearts with the gift of faith, that information can remain just a pile of useless facts.

“You have exactly the same eyes at night as you have in the day, but you cannot see at night, because you lack the additional light of the sun. So, too, let two minds with identically the same education, the same mental capacities, and the same judgment, look on a Host enthroned on an altar. The one sees bread, the other sees Christ, not, of course, with the eyes of the flesh, but with the eyes of faith . . . The reason for the difference is: one has a light which the other lacks, namely, the light of faith.”

— Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen

This site is dedicated to helping you get the facts you want with regard to Catholic teaching and history, as well as to help you find the “eyes of faith” with which to better understand and process those facts.

Of course, the best places to start your study of Catholic teachings (in addition to the many free and easy-to-use resources right here on CatholicsComeHome.org) are Sacred Scripture — we suggest the Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition, and the Catechism of the Catholic Church, or The Apostolate's Family Catechism™.

Keep in mind that part of the journey toward the fullness of the truth, as God has revealed it, is asking Him to strengthen your faith. As the father of an afflicted boy once cried out to Jesus, “Lord, I believe! Help, thou, my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24).

As you study the Catholic Church's teachings, practices, and history, you may very well find (as many others have) that there's a lot more there than meets the eye!

Liturgical Elements of the Catechumenate

Download and read the PDF article titled: Grace Elevating Nature: Liturgical Elements of the RCIA Catechumenate Period to discover the liturgical elements of the Christian initiation process.

A quote from the above article:

“The Christian initiation process is intended to be fundamentally liturgical. Participants need and have a right to the grace that flows from the font of the Church’s liturgy as it is made available to them as catechumens and candidates prior to full communion. This grace is an indispensable aid to conversion and the means by which they inter into intimate union with Christ and his Church. The steps towards this intimate union can be referred to as the major rites of the RCIA process - the gateways through which participants knowingly and freely decide to pass in their journey towards the divine consummation of the holy Eucharist. Supporting these major rites are various minor rites, some belonging to the period of the catechumenate and others to the period of purification and enlightenment.”

THREE MINUTES A DAY - June 7, 2009

Heaven’s Doors

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. And art is one great expression of beauty.

Consider the bronze “Gates of Paradise” panels crafted by Lorenzo Ghiberti for the Baptistry of St. John attached to Florence’s Duomo. He created them using the lost wax method in the first half of the 15^th century. They depict such Biblical stories as Adam and Eve, Isaac and his sons, and King David.

Writer Thomas J. Craughwell wrote, “Michelangelo gave them their name – the ‘Gates of Paradise’ – because if heaven ever needed or wanted physical doors, these massive gilt bronze masterpieces would be perfect.”

Such beauty was inspired by the Bible. We, too, can be inspired by the Bible to create beauty in our own lives and the lives of others.

The Lord has given skill and understanding to know how to do any work in the construction of the sanctuary. (Exodus 36:1)

Holy Spirit, who daily paints the heavens at morn and evening with awe-inspiring beauty, bless and inspire artists.

What Is the RCIA Supposed to Be?

Download and read the PDF article titled: To the Threshold and to the Fullness: What Is the RCIA Supposed to Be? to read a general introduction to the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults.

A quote from the above article:

“The intention of the following paragraphs is to open a discussion on the nature of catechumenal ministry - that work of God and his people which seeks to invite and initiate new members into the Mystical Body of Christ… In this article, the RCIA process will be examined from three distinct aspects: liturgical, catechetical, and pastoral. It is useful to discuss the nature and scope of each period of the process in light of these three aspects. All three are equally important. It is an injustice to those considering or seeking union with Holy Mother Church to be unambiguously catechetical to the detriment of the liturgical aspect, or be wonderfully pastoral despite poor catechesis. In order for the catechumenate to be what it has the potential to be, RCIA leaders can benefit greatly from understanding the implications of its liturgical, catechetical, and pastoral dimensions to make available the fullness of the process as intended by the Church.”

THREE MINUTES A DAY - June 6, 2009

A Chaplain of all Orders

A hospital chaplain prays with the sick and their families and loved ones as well as with the hospital staff. That’s what the Rev. Margaret Muncie, the only full-time chaplain at Manhattan’s St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital and one of the first women ordained an Episcopal priest, does now.

But in 1996, doctors removed a benign tumor from her brain. The day after the surgery she had a stroke. Today Rev. Muncie walks with a “lurching limp” thanks to a neurostimulator on her right leg. She says her experience informs her ministry, and adds, “Well doesn’t mean perfect. But wholeness and healing can happen, even when there is still brokenness on the outside.”

No one of us is perfect, physically, mentally, spiritually, or emotionally. But we can listen to and pray with and for everyone we know – and those we only hear about.

The Lord... will not let your foot be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber... The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all evil; He will keep your life. (Psalm 121:2,3,6-7)

Don’t let us be afraid to minister to others out of our brokenness and weakness, Holy God.

POPE JOHN PAUL II

Pope Benedict XVI, Shepherd of Truth

Notable quotations from Pope Benedict XVI and official
teachings of the Roman Catholic Church

"HEAR HIS APPEAL"

On the fourth anniversary of the death of Pope John Paul II, hear his appeal: "Have no fear of entrusting yourselves to [Christ]! He will guide you, He will grant you the strength to follow Him every day and in every situation."

"AN INCENTIVE TO ALL"

His memory is an incentive to all of us ... to let ourselves be illuminated and called into question by the word of God ...

"DARING AND ARDENT"

John Paul II ... from his youth showed himself to be a daring and ardent champion of Christ: He did not hesitate to expend all his energy in order to spread Christ's light everywhere, he never stooped to compromises when it was a matter of proclaiming and defending His truth; He never tired of radiating His love.

JESUS ALONE SAVES

From the beginning of his Pontificate until April 2, 2005, John Paul II was never afraid to proclaim, to everyone and always, that Jesus alone is the Savior and true liberator of humankind and of the whole human being.

"MANY SONS AND DAUGHTERS"

... Especially in the years of his long Pontificate, he brought forth to faith many sons and daughters ... How many vocations to the priesthood and to the consecrated life, how many young families determined top live the Gospel ideal and to strive for holiness are bound to the witness and preaching of my venerable Predecessor! How many teenagers converted or persevered on their Christian journey thanks to his prayers, his encouragement, his support and his example!

"A STRONG CHARGE OF HOPE"

John Paul II succeeded in communicating a strong charge of hope founded on faith in Jesus Christ, Who "is the same yesterday and today and for ever" (Heb 13:8) ...

FATHER AND EDUCATOR

As an affectionate father and an attentive educator, he pointed out firm and reliable reference points, indispensable to all and especially to the young.

(Source: Homily at Mass to commemorate the fourth anniversary of the death of Pope John Paul II, April 2, 2009)

Published by: Presentation Ministries, 3230 McHenry, Cincinnati, Ohio 45211, (513) 662-5378, www.presentationministries.com

THREE MINUTES A DAY - June 5, 2009

The Gift of Time

“Five minutes: a small price to pay for discovering that only those who are giving of their time have ever owned it in the first place,” said Jeffrey Blout after learning a lesson at his local Stop & Shop.

Blout had a tightly timed shopping routine. One day it was different. Blout came upon an elderly couple who delayed him twice while slowly picking out items and blocking the aisles. He became annoyed at them.

At the checkout counter, the elderly couple who were ahead of him on line saw that he had a few items and asked if he wanted to go ahead of them. Blout thanked them, but refused. On arriving home, Blout realized that being in a rush isn’t always the best way. Time is precious and should be treasured as such.

Slow down. Live life now.

Every matter has its time and way, although the troubles of mortals lie heavy upon them. (Ecclesiastes 8:6)

God, help us live in the present, neither mulling over the past nor worrying about the future. Remind us that our days and years are in Your care.

BLESSED ARE THE MEEK

Today's Beatitude -- "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth" (Mt 5:5) -- continues Jesus' tradition of transmuting lead into gold. Just as nobody wants to be poor and nobody wants to mourn, so nobody wants to be "meek." That's because we think of the meek as doormats and dartboards. We assume the meek are timid little people who scatter like mice when somebody of consequence clears his throat. But our Lord does not say "Blessed are the weenies." St. Joan of Arc was neither a weenie nor a wimp. Nor was St. Paul. Nor, of course, was Jesus. That should be our first clue that to be meek is not to be a wimp. It is to be filled with the awesome power of the Holy Spirit; and to not be defined by earthly power. It is to know who you are, where you are coming from, and where you are going; as Jesus did. It is to be at home in your own skin and not to be afflicted with the itching envy of somebody else's life. It is to be free enough inside that lowliness is as easy as power since you are not defined by what you or anybody else owns or does or is. To be meek, in short, is to be free. And to be free is to find that the whole world is yours already, freely given by the Lord of heaven and earth -- as St. Francis knew. <<< continue reading >>>

THREE MINUTES A DAY - June 3, 2009

Books on Tour

What do book lovers in some of New Mexico’s out-of-the-way places do when they want to browse library shelves?

Well, if they can’t get to the library then the library will get to them. Many people look forward to visits from librarian Betty Palmer and her bookmobile. The bookmobile is one of four operated by the New Mexico State Library.

A few times a month, Palmer and colleagues from the Cimarron Library take turns driving the library-on-wheels. They stop at school yards, post offices and church parking lots. The readers are always grateful. One says simply, “When you’re alone, you read a lot.”

What are your community’s challenging problems that call for thoughtful solutions?

Get wisdom; get insight. (Proverbs 4:5)

Holy Spirit, give me the courage to face my problems and the wisdom to resolve them creatively.

POPE2YOU

Pope2You

by Friar Rick

The Holy See has launched a new website pope2you.net (probably would have been better as Pope2U) which provides a portal for people on the internet and works with Facebook and includes links to the Vatican channel on YouTube and the special apps for the iphone and itouch. It also connects to H2O which is an International news source. It’s is being presented as part of the celebration of World Day of Communications in the Church.

CATECHESIS by the most Reverend Luis Antonio G. Tagle, Bishop of Imus

THREE MINUTES A DAY - June 2, 2009

Travel with a Mission

If you have enough time, money and motivation, you might be interested in volunteering on your next vacation.

AARP Magazine notes an increase in the “older Americans who have the passion, adventurous spirit, and life experience to empower indigent communities, and the money to travel to often far-flung places,” Judith Reitman writes.

She volunteers at a Romanian orphanage two weeks a year through Global Volunteers. The work is difficult, but it’s also rewarding.

One volunteer said, “I feel joyous. I’m part of a continuum of care, a human chain of interaction, touching, caring, and playing. Just think what it would be like if the volunteers were not there.”

Another says, “People go because they know they make a difference.” She adds, “I thought I was going for the children, but I found out I went for me.”

God appreciates our gifts of hope and help.

It is well with those who deal generously. (Psalm 112:5)

Jesus, help us offer our time, talents and hearts to our needy sisters and brothers.

IHS - June 2009

IN HIS STEPS

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JUNE

TOUCH

In June, we celebrate the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It is a reminder of the most divine love of God, a heart crowned with thorns and bleeding with compassion and pity for all of us. The same heart burns with a deep desire to deliver us from our imprisonment to sin.

Thomas touched Christ's wounded side and came to believe. "My Lord and my God," he says in amazing faith.

We too touched the Sacred Heart, every time we waste great opportunities for loving that we are presented with each day. We too touch that Sacred Heart every time we hesitate to follow God's voice in dictates of our conscience, when we need to decide for God. We too touch the Sacred Heart, every time we doubt if God is with us, sees us, hears us, knows what we're going through, and feels what we feel - especially when burdened by life's crosses.

Our prayer is that as we touch His Sacred Heart, and feel the rush of His warm love, He will also cause us to believe.

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THREE MINUTES A DAY - June 1, 2009

Girls Wish to Look Like Princesses

Most girls dream of owning that special dress for their senior proms. But for some, that dream never becomes a reality.

St. Fidelis Parish in College Point, New York, though, is doing what it can to help them. It seems that parishioner Donna Finn, who is the principal of Frank Sinatra School of Arts, was told that five seniors were not going to attend the prom because they couldn’t afford to buy dresses. Using her own resources, she helped those students.

Then she asked Father Arthur Minichello to put a notice in the parish bulletin. Clean prom dresses and accessories in good condition are now collected for girls who otherwise could not afford them. Father Minichello and Finn are asking local tailors and seamstress to alter the dresses.

Collecting special dresses for a special night is one way to help needy high school girls. How else could you help?

Stretch out your hand to the poor. (Sirach 7:32)

Inspire our efforts to help needy children and teens, Holy Wisdom.

Day 9 - Saturday Before Pentecost

Pentecost Novena

The Pentecost Novena is the first of all novenas, nine days of prayer. After Jesus' Ascension into heaven, He commanded His disciples to come together in the upper room to devote themselves to constant prayer (Acts 1:14). They prayed for nine days before receiving the Holy Spirit on Pentecost.

Netherlandish Master, The Spirit, c. 1500.

Pray: Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Your faithful, and enkindle in them the fire of Your love.

V. Send forth Your Spirit, and they shall be created,

R. And You shall renew the face of the earth.

Let us pray.

O God, Who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of Your faithful, grant that by that same Holy Spirit, we may be truly wise and ever rejoice in His consolation, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Read:

Acts 28:16-20, 30-31
John 21:20-25

Be silent

Pray: Father, renew my Baptism and Confirmation. Stir into flame the gifts of the Spirit in my life (see 2 Timothy 1:6-7).

On or near Pentecost, ask another Christian to lay hands on you (see Acts 19:6) and pray for you to receive the Holy Spirit. After receiving these prayers, thank the Holy Spirit for coming to you, go to Mass as often as possible, and share your faith in Jesus. Come, Holy Spirit!