Category Archives: Meditations

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!!)

September with St. Francis DeSales

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I will be reposting some messages from the Oblates of St. Francis DeSales’ Facebook Page on the Sober Catholic blog’s FB page. If any of you are on Facebook, please go to Sober Catholic Blog on Facebook and “Like” it, and you’ll see the daily postings. If you are fearful that liking that Page may harm your anonymity, then go to Oblates of St. Francis de Sales Facebook Page and “Like” the Oblate’s own Page. Or you can do both, as they also post other stuff on his writings.

The Oblates are, I guess, trying to introduce a larger audience to his writings, and are using September as a means.

I missed it when it started on September 1st, I will post the ones I missed through today’s to get caught up. St. Francis DeSales’ writings, especially his “Introduction to the Devout Life,” is good reading for anyone wanting spiritual development.

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!!)

Daily Disconnect

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I have long been attracted to Carmelite spirituality. The Carmelites are a Catholic religious order nearly 800 years old, although they trace their spiritual roots all they way back to the Old Testament Prophet Elijah. Carmel means “Garden of God” in Hebrew, and for a recovering alcoholic who strives to “cultivate” spiritual progression by “growing” closer to Him and “rooting” oneself in Scripture and prayer, it is an attractive Catholic spirituality. Many Carmelite saints, like St. Teresa of Avila, St. John of the Cross and St. Therese of Lisieux have written about the soul’s union with God (a union of a mystical love). Very beautiful imagery, and beyond the scope of this post. 😉

I ran across this on a major Carmelite website:

Daily Disconnect

(Via Order of Carmelites.)

It is the “Daily Disconnect”, a special section on their site where you can stop, pray and meditate. The link above takes you to the “About” section of the DD, and from there you can just go to the daily meditation.

While I generally do not regularly use online prayer and meditation aids, aside from this Adoration site and the Daily Mass Readings I will try this during my morning review of things. It should help keep me from going bonkers over current events.

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!!)

Judging your Path along the Road of Happy Destiny

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“Trudging the Road of Happy Destiny” is a phrase from AA’s “Big Book” and is referenced a lot in meetings. It basically means your program of recovery.

Today’s Second Reading from the Mass for Pentecost Sunday offers a quick guide as to how you’re doing. Read the following excerpt and judge yourself as to how well you are resisting the allure and temptation of your addiction

Gal 5:16-23 : “So then, I say: Walk in the spirit, and you will not fulfill the desires of the flesh.

For the flesh desires against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh. And since these are against one another, you may not do whatever you want.

But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

Now the works of the flesh are manifest; they are: fornication, lust, homosexuality, self-indulgence, the serving of idols, drug use, hostility, contentiousness, jealousy, wrath, quarrels, dissensions, divisions, envy, murder, inebriation, carousing, and similar things. About these things, I continue to preach to you, as I have preached to you: that those who act in this way shall not obtain the kingdom of God.

But the fruit of the Spirit is charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, forbearance,meekness, faith, modesty, abstinence, chastity. There is no law against such things.”

(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!!)

New eBook: The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts

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A new ebook I have written for Catholics and other Christians suffering from alcoholism and addiction is out:

The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts. The book helps people to reflect on their recovery and relationships with others, and ultimately with Jesus Himself. Whether people are still struggling with their addictions, or have been clean and sober for a few weeks, months, or years, the reflections will lead them to meditate on the spiritual growth they have achieved so far.

So far, it is available only through Smashwords, but print editions from CreateSpace and Amazon will be out perhaps this week, as well as an ebook version for Kindle.

The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts takes a time-honored prayer and brings it into a useful format for people to pause and reflect on their recovery, their relationships with others, and ultimately with Jesus Himself. Whether people are still struggling with their addictions, or have been clean and sober for a few weeks or months, or many years, the reflections for each Mystery of the Rosary will help them meditate on the spiritual growth they have achieved so far. Over the years, their thoughts on each meditation may change, depending on “where they’re at” in their recovery journey.

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!!)

Recovery Daily Meditations

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For 2012 I started re-reading some 12 Step daily devotionals, namely AA’s “Daily Reflections” and Hazelden’s “Walk in Dry Places”. The latter is designed mainly for people with more than a year or two of sobriety. The former is excellent for the newly recovering, or anyone who wants a “refresher.”

Although not a recovery book, per se, I also started again (not sure if I’ll continue) “Daily Affirmations for Forgiving and Moving On.” by Tian Dayton, Ph. D. It is basically about what the title suggests, getting over resentments and hurts. Whether you have hurt others or not is beside the point, chances are that if you are recovering from alcoholism and other addictions, you have been whacked upside the head by other people’s actions towards you. Real or imagined, we all have been deeply hurt by others. It is a good daily read to help get over hurts. It would seem to me that in doing so, one could also address the hurts YOU have caused.

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!!)

Agony in the Garden

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We all experience our own Garden of Gethsemane:

Matthew 26:36-42: “Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, ‘Sit here while I go over there and pray.’

He took along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to feel sorrow and distress.

Then he said to them, ‘My soul is sorrowful even to death. Remain here and keep watch with me.’

He advanced a little and fell prostrate in prayer, saying, ‘My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet, not as I will, but as you will.’

When he returned to his disciples he found them asleep. He said to Peter, ‘So you could not keep watch with me for one hour?

Watch and pray that you may not undergo the test. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.’

Withdrawing a second time, he prayed again, ‘My Father, if it is not possible that this cup pass without my drinking it, your will be done!'”

(Via USCCB.)

We can only imagine the suffering that goes into “My soul is sorrowful even to death.” And this is Jesus who is going through this pain, on the eve of His Crucifixion and death.

Our wills resist doing what needs to be done if it involves the least amount of pain and anguish. Our trials come and we feel so alone during them. We beg and pray that God would relieve us of the burden. Even when we have someone to share the pain with, the sorrow over enduring the trial is like a shadow enveloping us. The burden might be eased, but the trial of enduring still darkens our soul.

I am currently undergoing a trial at my day job. I cannot go into details but it keeps dragging on, seemingly without end, although it has only been a few weeks.

One thing that I have noticed more during this period than I have in previous trials in my life is the work of grace in my soul, and the mercy of God. I cannot explain, but whereas in the past I would be seriously stressing out, I am not so much now. Quite a lot has to do with my lovely wife’s support and her deep and abiding faith, but there have been other things coinciding during this time. It is almost as if God is telling me that He knew all along that this would be happening (of course He does, being omniscient) and has arranged certain things to help me not only cope, but spiritually grow and strengthen during this period.

Perhaps this all doesn’t make much sense as I have not written about what is happening. There will be a few blogposts coming up that will relate some of the “spiritual” events that have happened that have given me courage. And perhaps you, as well. For we are truly not alone when we suffer trials. Jesus is there awaiting our prayers. While we might not have the burdens lifted, we can know that He is there, shepherding us through (if we see with the eyes of faith).

Suffering is hardly ever desired (an understatement if there ever was one), but with a strong faith and friends to assist, people can learn and emerge stronger for it. It is a natural part of human existence. If that is accepted then perhaps it can actually bear fruit in one’s life.

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 Four Last Thing’s Rosary for the Suffering Souls in Purgatory

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Today I am posting a series of meditations for the Solemnity of the Commemoration of All Souls over at my other blog: The Four Last Things. It is based on the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary (Agony in the Garden, Scourging at the Pillar, The Crowning with Thorns, The Carrying of the Cross, and the Death on the Cross.)

It does not depict what I actually think happens in Purgatory, although Catholics familiar with the Church’s teachings on Purgatory should recognize where I got this or that concept.

It should not be interpreted as a chronological timeline of what happens after a soul enters Purgatory, just how each of the Suffering Mysteries may reflect why souls end up there.

I hope you enjoy reading them. Perhaps “enjoy” isn’t the right word, but I did feel rather creative while writing them. I may take these meditations and adapt them somewhat for a work of fiction. I’ve long wanted to write a novel based on Purgatory and these meditations may provide a sort of structure or basis for one. We shall see.

The Rosary for the Suffering Souls in Purgatory: Agony in the Garden

The Rosary for the Suffering Souls in Purgatory: Scourging at the Pillar

The Rosary for the Suffering Souls in Purgatory: Crowning with Thorns

The Rosary for the Suffering Souls in Purgatory: Carrying the Cross

The Rosary for the Suffering Souls in Purgatory: Dying on the Cross

For how to say the Rosary:

How to Pray the Rosary

(Via Rosary Center.)

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!!)

Novena to St. Michael the Archangel, Day 5

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On this fifth day of the Novena, we petition
the Lord for protection against Satan.

Alcoholism is called “cunning, baffling and powerful.” Indeed it is, since it is also a weapon use by Satan to trap us and keep us from the path God intended for us to trudge.

It is stronger than we are, if we battle it alone. Joining with others to help maintain sobriety has been a huge success, whether it is through actual 12 Step membership, or even more informal camaraderie with good friends who help keep each other clean and sober (made easier nowadays with social networking like Facebook, Plurk and Google+).

Alone we are vulnerable to attack. With others, especially strengthened by prayer and meditation, we can put it behind us and recover the life we were meant to lead.

Matthew 18:20
For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

(Via USCCB.)

Now, to the Novena:

Begin the prayer with: O God, come to my assistance. O Lord, make haste to help me. Glory be to the Father…, etc.

By the intercession of St. Michael and the celestial Choir of Powers may the Lord protect our souls against the snares and temptations of the devil. Amen.

[Say one Our Father and three Hail Marys after your intentions for the protection of your soul.]

To say the entire Chaplet, click here:
Chaplet of St. Michael

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!!)