This is Urgent

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March_2008_009Do you feel sometimes as if it's all too much? I don't mean the clutter this time, or at least I don't mean only the clutter. Do you feel as if there is just so much that's expected of you and not enough you to cover it all? Are the burdens of your daily life bearing down on you with a heaviness that is nearly crushing? How could that be? You live your faith. At least, you try to live your faith. And you know that God says His grace is sufficient. No matter what the suffering, He has graces abundant enough for you. He knows you better than you know yourself. He knows exactly what you need. So why? Why is it all too much? Why does it feel like there's plugged duct in the strength and grace supply line?

What if  the exact amount of grace that you need right now is ready and waiting for you? What if whatever strength you are lacking could be yours?  What if you could have right away?

You can. In nearly every town, there are numerous confession times for the next few days. You walk into that confessional and you dump. You dump all the gunk that is blocking the channel of grace. You lose all the muck and you gain all the grace you need. You come out feeling loads lighter. Then, you receive our Lord in Communion and suddenly, it's not too much at all. You have more than enough.
Go now. Get yourself some grace. God is waiting to give it to you in abundance.

Lent Day 36

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Fast: Do you have talent? Remember to give God theglory. “The sole thing in myself in which I glory is that I see in myself nothing in which I can glory.” – St. Catherine of Genoa

Pray: Repeat a short prayer while you do the dishes today: “O Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make my heart like yours!”

Give: Invite a friend for lunch. Don’t worry about making the house look perfect or cooking fancy food. Be truly present to her.

Donuts in the Desert

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I went looking for Holy Water to take home today after Mass. I couldn't find any at all. I asked in the sacristy and they told me that holy water will not be available until the Easter Vigil. They said it's supposed to be like the desert. I returned to the parish hall where my children were enjoying post-Mass donuts and juice. I told them about the holy water, since I'd never heard this was a Catholic custom. Christian listened to my tale and replied, "Well, I'm glad they kept their heads and allowed donuts and coffee in the desert." Indeed, no holy water, but plenty of donuts. Apparently, someone is confused.  Father Z makes the case that we're not supposed to abstain from sacraments and sacramentals. (HT: Rebecca)

I'm sure I will find Holy Water at a different church and I'll use it after we're finished with the Holy Week cleaning that is integral to Catholic homemaking. We clean, we shine, we bless as we go. It's still Lent. There is still time. We still need to be washed clean. Father Mark writes:

God has put at our disposal everything we need to recover our baptismal innocence and to become again like little children. Frequent confession. Frequent use of Holy Water. Make use of the sacramental means given us by God and by the Church, and then trust Him to do all that we, of ourselves and by ourselves, cannot do. There is a verse in the hymn at Lauds during Lent that, I think, sums it all up:

The hidden wound whence flow our sins,
Wash clean by bathing in the tide;
Remove the things that, of ourselves,
We cannot reach, or put aside.