Category Archives: Saints

Year of St. Paul

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Pope Benedict XVI has declared that the following year, from today June 28th through June 29th, 2009 to be the Year of St. Paul .

St. Paul is important, not the least of which being that he was the Apostle to the Gentiles. It was as a result of his efforts that Christianity spread around the Mediterranean and therefore to the rest of the world. Secondly, I was named after him. :-). But also to anyone who has undergone a conversion process, whether of a religious kind, or just the conversion of one’s interior life such as stopping drinking and drugging, St. Paul is the model. Not that he was an alcoholic or addict (he wasn’t), but his life underwent a radical conversion and as a result of that conversion lived his life to the fullest in pursuit of souls for Jesus. No compromiser, he. Whatever his interests and loves were prior to his conversion, they were set aside for the love of Christ.

There are a number of sites that you can visit to learn more about the Year of St. Paul. The Catholic News Agency has a nice introductory page, as does the Catholic Educator’s Resource Center. Catholic Culture has another guide to the whole year.

He took the message of Christ and proclaimed it to the world. We are called to do that as well, at least in our own way in the manner best suited to us.

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!!)

Trusting in God

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A prayer by St. Francis DeSales:

Do not look forward to the changes and chances of this life with fear. Rather, look to them with full confidence that, as they arise, God to whom you belong will in His love enable you to profit by them. He has guided you thus far in life. Do you but hold fast to His dear hand, and He will lead you safely through all trials. Whenever you cannot stand, He will carry you lovingly in His arms.

Do not look forward to what may happen tomorrow. The same Eternal Father who takes care of you today will take care of you tomorrow, and every day of your life. Either He will shield you from suffering or He will give you unfailing strength to bear it.

Be at peace then, and put aside all useless thoughts, all vain dreads and all anxious imaginations.

From the Gospel according to Matthew;

Matthew 6:25-34;

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat (or drink), or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?
Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they?
Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span?
Why are you anxious about clothes? Learn from the way the wild flowers grow. They do not work or spin. But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them.
If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith?
So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear?’ All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.
But seek first the kingdom (of God) and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides.
Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil.

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 Devout Life

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There is a Saint that should become familiar to Sober Catholic readers. This is St. Francis DeSales. He wrote a classic text on spiritual development entitled “The Introduction to the Devout Life”. I admit to not having read it (yet) and therefore only know it by its eminent reputation.

An excerpt on this text and St. Francis from “The Catholic Encyclopedia” in the New Advent website:

We may give here a brief résumé of the spiritual teaching contained in these works, of which the Church has said: “The writings of Francis de Sales, filled with celestial doctrine are a bright light in the Church, pointing out to souls an easy and safe way to arrive at the perfection of a Christian life.” (Breviarium Romanum, 29 January, lect. VI.)

There are two elements in the spiritual life: first, a struggle against our lower nature; secondly, union of our wills with God, in other words, penance and love. St. Francis de Sales looks chiefly to love. Not that he neglects penance, which is absolutely necessary, but he wishes it to be practised from a motive of love. He requires mortification of the senses, but he relies first on mortification of the mind, the will, and the heart. This interior mortification he requires to be unceasing and always accompanied by love. The end to be realized is a life of loving, simple, generous, and constant fidelity to the will of God, which is nothing else than our present duty. The model proposed is Christ, whom we must ever keep before our eyes. “You will study His countenance, and perform your actions as He did” (Introd., 2nd part, ch. i). The practical means of arriving at this perfection are: remembrance of the presence of God, filial prayer, a right intention in all our actions, and frequent recourse to God by pious and confiding ejaculations and interior aspirations.

St. Francis DeSales‘ feast day is celebrated on January 24th (I know, I’m 2 days late in writing about it, so what else is new).

Additional material can be found here and here

The classic text can be read for free, online here . More modern translations can be found in bookstores.

I’ve included “Daily With DeSales“ a daily meditation using excerpts from his writings and the “Devout Life” sites in the Catholic Resources for Alcoholics links section in the sidebar.

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 Matt Talbot site!

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There is a new site, actually a blog, dedicated to Matt Talbot. A Sober Catholic reader is the creator of the site, called “The Venerable Matt Talbot Resource Center”, and it can be found here:

http://venerablematttalbotresourcecenter.blogspot.com/

Matt Talbot was an Irishman and alcoholic who died in 1925. He will probably be the Patron Saint of Alcoholics if he ever gets around to being canonized by the Church. He was declared “Venerable” in 1975, meaning his life is worthy of study and emulation. All he needs are two miracles attributed to his intercession and canonization is a done deal.

Go to this site, I highly recommend it. Online Catholic resources for alcoholics are few (which is why I started Sober Catholic) and Matt Talbot is a sure guide and model for us Catholic alcoholics and this new site fills a void. I have also added the link in my sidebar.

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!!)

Consecration Anniversary

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Today marks the fifth anniversary of my consecration to the Blessed Virgin Mary as a member of St. Maximilian Kolbe’s apostolate, the “Militia of the Immaculata”. An apostolate is a Catholic organization, or the work of one Catholic, to spread the Gospel of Jesus. In the sidebar, if you scroll way down you’ll see a collection of links under “Militia of the Immaculata – St. Maximilian Kolbe” that can tell you anything that you want to know about the MI and St. Max.

Being consecrated to Mary means that you’ve given yourself to her, or sworn yourself to live for her honor. This may be a little hard or strange to comprehend if you’re new to the Catholic Faith, either as a convert, a revert (one who went away and then came back), or you’re just exploring Catholicism. Don’t stress out about it, just put it in the back of your mind for future reference or consideration.

I’ve often wondered as to the effect or impact on my life that my consecration has. I do believe that it has been important to my sobriety. I struggled very hard with my sobriety early on. It took 7 months of AA meetings before I sobered up and even then it was due more to a physical inability to get to a liquor store than any 12-Step living. Even after I stopped, I relapsed after 3 1/2 months, and after that my sobriety was wobbly. Yeah, I was not a model member of AA.

Perhaps it ended up as a result of just an evolving clear headedness or sustained sobriety, but my sobriety (sober date 22 May 2002) has survived a considerable number of shocks to it. And through it all I have felt a steady, guiding hand. Perhaps the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and my receptivity to its promptings, or maybe also the guidance and maternal protection of the Spirit’s spouse: Mary. Throughout these shocks, from my own Earthly mother’s decline in health and subsequent death, to job and financial struggles and also familial rifts, there has been this soft, loving presence in along with the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit.

Mothers are usually the glue that holds a family together. Everything revolves around Mom. Mom provides the healing touch, the kiss on the boo-boo or the unconditional understanding and love when you mess up. Mom is always there for you, no matter what you do.

Mary, it is often mentioned in Catholic devotional literature, often makes up for what we are lacking in our prayer life. At least for those devoted to her. Whether we are distracted in prayer, or our prayer is stumbling and flawed, she corrects it for us on its way to God.

If those devoted to her are themselves stumbling and flawed (and who amongst us isn’t?) then her maternal protection and correction helps us along.

My consecration to her 5 years ago I do believe strengthened my sobriety for the tougher times I was going to face in the next 5 years (and long into the future). This is my belief, and I have no empirical data to support it. Such is the way of faith. But there is a strong part of me that shudders to think of what the last 5 years would have been like for me without my consecration to Our Lady.

Now, the Militia of the Immaculata is NOT a recovery organization, nor is it a rehabilitation or treatment center. But I think it was important enough for my sobriety that I included all those links to it in the sidebar to my blog. Visit them when you can.

Oh Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee, for all those who do not have recourse to thee, for enemies of the Catholic Church, and for those recommended to you. St, Maximilian Kolbe, pray for us. Amen.

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!!)

Feast of the Three Archangels

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On September 29th the Church celebrates the Feast of the Three Archangels, St. Michael, St. Raphael, and St. Gabriel.

Belief in angels is required by the Church. Please see paragraphs 328-336 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church .

St. Michael is a patron and defender of the Church and the chief angelic nemesis of Satan. His intercession can be invoked when you need to counter the “cunning, baffling, powerful” allure of alcohol. Not to blame Satan for your alcoholism, but it is a tool that he can use to keep you away from God.

St. Raphael is God’s Healer. He is also the Patron Saint of Happy Meetings (such as finding a spouse). His healing abilities are detailed in the Old Testament Book of Tobit. His intercession can be invoked in your constant battle against alcohol.

St. Gabriel is the Angel of the Incarnation. He told the Blessed Virgin Mary that she was to be the Mother of Jesus, the Messiah. He also told old Zechariah that he was to become the father of John the Baptist, Jesus’ cousin and the precursor to the Messiah. His intercession can be invoked to better perceive and understand God’s will.

Angels are one of the coolest things about the Catholic Faith and Her spirituality. Some may regard belief in them to be silly and superstitious, or at least reserved for children. But all the Saints and great theologians and thinkers of the Church believed in their existence and in their ability to come to the aid of humans.

We are not alone. We have the Saints to intercede for us, and also these special beings, the Angels that were created by God to serve as His messengers and tools of His will and Divine plan. Use them.

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 through St. Maximilian Kolbe – Day 1

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St. Maximilian Kolbe was a Polish Franciscan priest who was executed at the Nazi concentration camp at Auschwitz in 1941. He offered himself up in place of another man, who survived the death camp and lived to see Fr. Kolbe’s canonization. More about him can be found at the Consecration and Marytown websites.

St. Kolbe also founded the “Militia of the Immaculata” a Catholic organization dedicated to evangelizing the world. It is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. All of its members are consecrated (sworn ‘by blood’ to belong to) the Virgin. I am a member. The Consecration site in the previous paragraph is its webpage in the USA. The international site is here .

St. Kolbe, due to the nature of his execution, is one of the patron saints of addicts. Although he was not an alcoholic or an addict, he died by lethal injection in a cell.

The following prayer is a novena for those suffering from an addiction, and is from the MI site above. It should be prayed for nine consecutive days on behalf of anyone suffering from addiction or alcoholism. It doesn’t matter when you pray it, just do it for nine days. Now is a good time as St. Kolbe’s Feast day is August 14th, and your prayers are united with all the other people praying it. (Once an hour for nine consecutive hours in emergency situations is good.)

St. Maximilian Kolbe, your life of love and labor for souls was sacrificed amid the horrors of a concentration camp and hastened to its end by an injection of a deadly drug.

Look with compassion upon (name of person) who is now entrapped in addiction to drugs or alcohol and whom we now recommend to your powerful intercession. Having offered your own life to preserve that of a family man, we turn to you with trust, confident that you will understand and help.

Obtain for us the grace never to withhold our love and understanding, nor to fail in persevering prayer that the enslaving bonds of addiction may be broken and that full health may be restored to him/her whom we love.

We will never cease to be grateful to God who has helped us and heard your prayer for us. Amen.

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!!)

"I look at Him, and He looks at Me"

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One of the things that I have seriously overlooked on Sober Catholic is talking about the lives of the Saints. I think I mentioned that in my introductory post, or in some other “About this Blog” post that I would do that. As this blog concerns itself with using the Catholic Faith and spirituality in maintaining one’s sobriety, talking about the saints is a crucial aspect in this regard. After all, saints Made It. They’re in Heaven, and they were once Down Here, like us. So, they did something right, against whatever odds and personal failings they struggled with.

So, I will attempt to be more attentive to the saints as the appear on the Church calendar. I may even discuss saints not on the calendar, along with probable future saints.

Anyway, today, August 4th, is the feast of St. John Mary Vianney. He is as good a saint as any to start with. He was known as the “Cure of Ars” and you can read more about him here. Ars is the small town in France where he was assigned as priest. “Cure” (pronounced kyoo-ray) means “Pastor”. So, he was the pastor of a church in a small town in France.

One day, or so the story goes, St. Vianney saw a little French farmer visit his chapel daily, about noon. The Cure was curious as to what the farmer was doing in there, as he was alone. Not worried, I guess, just concerned. Anyway, one day he decided to ask him. And so he did. The little farmer said that he comes in to visit Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament (The Eucharist reposed in the Tabernacle).

The little farmer’s style of prayer was simple. He told the future saint, “I just look at Him, and He looks back at me.”

A simple, yet profound declaration. Take a look at this passage from St. Paul’s 2nd Letter to the Corinthians:

2 Corinthians 3:18;

All of us, gazing with unveiled face on the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, as from the Lord who is the Spirit.

This is what the little French guy was doing, gazing upon the Lord and being transformed. We are no longer the same person when we partake of the Eucharist, whether it is receiving it at Mass, or gazing upon it in an Adoration chapel. This is what Jesus, in His Real Presence in the Holy Eucharist, does for us. And if this is focused on our efforts to remain sober and clean, how successful we will become! Ask Jesus, in faith, next time you receive Him in Communion, or pray before the Tabernacle to help you strengthen your sobriety. No matter how long you’ve been sober. Ask Him to help you. Ask Him for what you need to know to accomplish this.

Read from the Gospel of Matthew 7:7-8;

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”
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!!)