Category Archives: Lent

He got up and followed him

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The Gospel reading from today’s Mass is from Luke. In this excerpt (Luke 5:27-28), we read about the call of Levi, the tax collector:

After this he went out and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the customs post. He said to him, “Follow me.” And leaving everything behind, he got up and followed him.

via USCCB.

So, just like that? Jesus wanders past, sees the guy, asks him to abandon his job to follow him? Much to ponder here on our readiness to “follow him.”

It isn’t that we would just leave our jobs; for perhaps 90+% of you that is just impractical, to just abandon your regular life and join a religious order or some lay apostolate and “follow him” that way.

But there are a myriad of other ways to show evidence of your being a follower of Jesus. The First Reading from today’s Mass as well as yesterday’s are from Isaiah, and selections within help form the Church’s teachings on the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy. Be of service to others.

Other ways are to simply live as Jesus would have you. Spend extra time during Lent studying the Gospels; pray to the Holy Spirit to guide you and direct your reading accordingly.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

A heart contrite and humbled

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The response for the Psalm (Psalm 51:9) for today’s Mass is: “a contrite, humbled heart, O God, you will not scorn.”

As this is Lent, chances are that if you are taking it seriously as a means of spiritual progression in the rejecting of sin and self-will, as well as in the casting off of character defects, then you might be taking advantage of the Sacrament of Confession more so than during the rest of the year.

The Responsorial Psalm today is from Psalm 51. It is an excellent Psalm to pray and meditate upon before going to Confession. I have written a series of meditations before on it, found here: Psalm 51.

Pray for the humility to be truly contrite, and make a good Confession.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Denying yourself and taking up the Cross

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An excerpt from the Gospel Reading for today’s Mass:

Luke 9:23-25: “Then he said to all, “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. What profit is there for one to gain the whole world yet lose or forfeit himself?”

via USCCB.

Lent is a time of penance, of fasting from certain things and denying… the self? Are you using Lent as a means of denying your self-will, of choosing your will over God’s, in placing yourself above other people? Is God first, other people second, and yourself third on the list of priorities?

In the Gospel passage, Jesus lays down the conditions of discipleship. If you are to be a follower of Christ, you must place yourself at the service of others, serve them and their needs (to the best of your ability) and “take up the Cross.”

And what does that mean, to “take up the Cross?” As Jesus accepted the Cross on His way to Calvary, so to must we as we trudge along the road of happy destiny. The Cross symbolizes our willing acceptance of what it means to be Christian, as well as to accept and endure the daily trials and tribulations that come into our lives. We don’t shirk from them, we “offer them up” (donate spiritually) for our sins and those of others.

So, as you start Lent, take a look at how you are “denying yourself,” and how well you “take up the Cross.”

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Lent begins today!

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From the Second Reading of today’s Mass for Ash Wednesday:

2 Corinthians 6:1-2 “Working together, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For he says: In an acceptable time I heard you,and on the day of salvation I helped you. Behold, now is a very acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”

Courtesy: USCCB.

It is often said that Lent is a time of repentance and being penitent. But I also think it is also for renewal, for we are preparing for the suffering, death and Resurrection of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Good Friday and Easter Sunday.

Why “renewal?” For we are sinners and Jesus died for our sins. And so we use this time to repent of them, to make serious and sincere attempts to amend our lives. In essence, we end up being “renewed.”

So, now is the “acceptable time,” repent of your sins.

Mark 1:15: “For the time has been fulfilled and the kingdom of God has drawn near. Repent and believe in the Gospel.”

via Catholic Public Domain Version of the Sacred Bible.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Second Lent” is upon us again!

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“Second Lent” is upon us again!”

For the past few years I have been announcing what I like to call “Second Lent,” an highly unadvertised and unannounced additional penitential period that the Church offers. It begins on the Feast of the Transfiguration (August 6th) and end on the Feast of the Exaltation (or Triumph) of the Cross on September 15th.

The link in the first sentence takes you to an earlier blogpost that talks about it more; that post itself has links about ANOTHER penitential period that is a Franciscan devotion, known as “St. Michael’s Lent.”

I love the Church. She gives us so many opportunities to find our way down the narrow path.

So, as always, if your regular Lent wasn’t satisfying, you have TWO opportunities coming to make up for it!

I plan to blog a lot through Psalm 119. Not sure how successful I’ll be, but that is the plan.

 

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

The Seven Penitential Psalms and the Songs of the Suffering Servant

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The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has an excellent resource on their website for the final day of Lent, as well as for Good Friday meditations. The Seven Penitential Psalms and the Songs of the Suffering Servant are taken from their New American Bible translation.

I frequently use these in preparation for when I really need to make a good Act of Contrition; I say them all though in succession. They do take a lot out of me. Nevertheless they are very efficacious in helping me get in the right “frame of mind,” and increase my willingness to go through with the Sacrament of Confession.

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Growing in holiness during Lent

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Lent began today. Traditionally, people give up stuff for Lent as a sign of repentance. That’s nice but it may be a downer, especially if it isn’t combined with something that may help you grow in holiness. Giving up something to achieve something is tough. Ask an athlete, especially an Olympian or a champion.

Another option to giving up something is to take up something. Adding something to help you achieve something, like holiness, may be easier. Increase your virtue. This link: Virtues and Vices has a list of the seven deadly vices and the virtues that can help you overcome them.

Serve and volunteer.

Increase your prayer life. Read Sacred Scripture, daily. Attend Daily Mass, if possible. If not, then maybe catch it online at a more convenient time.

And then perhaps maybe someday you can deprive yourself of something, because with the increased holiness, you’re more apt to select a deprivation and combine it with growing in holiness. This can merit itself at other times of the year when you suffer, now you know better how to “offer it up.” 😉

Joel: 2:13:

“Rend your hearts, not your garments,

and return to the LORD, your God,

For he is gracious and merciful,

slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love,

and relenting in punishment.”

(Via USCCB.)

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

August: A Month for TWO Lenten disciplines

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Today is August 6th, the Feast of the Transfiguration of Our Lord. It also marks the beginning of what I call “Second Chance Lent.” The Transfiguration is when Jesus went up Mt. Tabor with three of His disciples and revealed Himself in His Glorified Body and also conferred with Moses and Elijah concerning His upcoming Passion. Forty days after today is the Feast of the Triumph of the Cross (or Exaltation of the Cross). Jesus’ “Triumph” was the original Good Friday, the Exaltation is another reminder by the Church of the central importance the Cross has. Without the Cross, there is no Resurrection.

For us alcoholics, there’s no recovery without the painful path of learning not to drink and how to handle sobriety.

I wrote about “Second Chance Lent” right here:

“Second Chance Lent” is Coming Up!

In the middle of the month, a Franciscan tradition starts, known as “St. Michael’s Lent.” More about that here:

St. Michael’s Lent

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics now available IN PRINT EDiTION

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As of today, my new ebook Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics is now available IN PRINT edition for those who either cannot use the ebook version, or who prefer books in the traditional paper format.

Please click on the link in the first paragraph, and that will take you to the CreateSpace eStore.

The book should also be available in the Amazon.com store within a week or so.

Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics for Kindle is also available through Amazon at their Kindle Store at the link in this sentence.

As before, it can still be purchased through the publisher’s site: Smashwords.

It is also available through Apple’s
iTunes store for the iPad and also through BARNES & NOBLE for their “NOOK” reader and app.

Two additional ebookstores are:

Kobobooks and Diesel eBooks.

Also be kindly aware: we are now in the season of Lent, and it makes a great gift: Lent and a gift opportunity!!!

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)

Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics now on Amazon through the Kindle Store

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Just an update that my new ebook, the Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics is NOW AVAILABLE through Amazon at their Kindle Store!

Just follow that link in the first sentence and you can purchase the book for your Kindle device or Kindle app for the Mac or PC.

It is still available for purchase through other venues, and if you go to this link: Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics is now available in lots of ebookstores you can see the list of online store (Barnes & Noble for the Nook, Apple iTunes for the iPad, iPhone and whatever other iThingie they have, as well as other fine online book distributors.) I will probably update that blogpost to reflect this new development!

Perhaps coincidental, but this book has become available on Amazon (the biggest online bookseller) just in time for Lent! As I have suggested before, although Lent is not associated with giving gifts, this would make a fine gift for yourself, or some other alcoholic or addict that you know.

To all those who have already purchase the book, THANK YOU! I appreciate every one of you.

The book should also be available in a PRINT EDITION, perhaps by later this week. There will be another announcement when that happens.

I would like to take the time and offer my gratitude to my wife and photographer, Rose. She was invaluable in figuring out the whole file conversion and uploading thing. She took care of the technical end. If it was up to me, well, let’s just say that despite nearly 10 years of sobriety, patience is still sometimes elusive. 😉

Rose is a creator of beautiful things. She takes pictures and runs some online shops to sell her graphic designs. Her photography can be found here: ARTIST4GOD: Rose Santuci-Sofranko. Her shops, where she markets her photography and graphic designs can be found here: Artist4God: Zazzle.com Store and Rose Santuci-Sofranko – Fine Art.

Visit her sites and see what is available!

I have a new book! "The Sober Catholic Way" is a handbook on how anyone can live a sober life, drawn from over 17 years of SoberCatholic posts! It's out now on "Amazon," "Apple Books," "B&N" and and others!"!

My two other books are still available! "The Stations of the Cross for Alcoholics" and "The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts" (Thank you!!)