Online Video Conference Recovery Meetings

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Over at the Matt Talbot Way of Recovery Yahoo email discussion Group, I had floated the idea of having online video conference recovery meetings.

There seems to be some interest, and if any readers are also interested, kindly sign up as a member of the Matt Talbot Way of Recovery. Instructions on how to do that are in this post. Once approved, you can either start a post, or search for the “Online video conference meetings” thread and add your interest there.

If you’re not interested in joining, declare your interest in the comments section of this post, or on the Sober Catholic Facebook Page or Google+ Page.

Thank you!

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!!)

St. Joseph

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Today is the Solemnity of St. Joseph, the Patron and Protector of the Universal Church. In his role as husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary and foster father of Our Lord Jesus Christ, he is an excellent role model for us alcoholics.

Stjoseph
While not directly related to alcoholism and addiction, many of us grew up in dysfunctional families. I can exclude myself from this, my parents weren’t perfect, no one’s are, but I have no major complaints. Many were raised in trying circumstances and in varying methods of parental compassion and effectiveness. As a result many alcoholics and addicts do not know what it means to be raised in a good home, where everything is provided, including love and other emotional needs.

In 1964 Pope Paul VI gave a talk while in Nazareth in which he described the village where Jesus was raised by Joseph and Mary as a “school” by which we can gain much knowledge of an ideal family life merely by reflecting on how Jesus, Mary and Joseph lived. You can read his reflections here: Reflections on Nazareth.

(Via Papal Encyclicals.)

Those who have had less that stellar parenting while growing up can turn to Joseph and Mary. Page 86 of AA’s basic text, Alcoholics Anonymous offers a suggestion that as we go about our day, we may pause a while when faced with difficulty and ask God for help and direction. As the Church teaches that saints can have an intercessory role (much like when we ask each other to “please pray for me”) we can always quietly ask Joseph and Mary, “Please be a parent to me now, Joseph and Mary. The road I am on right now is difficult, I need the guidance that only a Mom and Dad can give.”

You can read more about St. Joseph at Catholic Online.

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!!)

Parish WebStore

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I have added a new service to Sober Catholic, and that is adding affiliate links from the Parish Webstore to the sidebars. You can see them as you scroll down along each side, the nice blue on white logo.

I have replaced my old Amazon affiliate links with these. I have done this for several reasons: Parish WebStore is Catholic and Amazon isn’t; I make a greater commission on PWS sale versus Amazon; and I was selling diddlium squattum (Latin for “not much”) with Amazon.

Doug Venne, Sr., the founder of PWS bills the Parish WebStore as a Catholic alternative to Amazon. Whereas with Amazon you could look up Catholic subjects (like Mary and the Saints) there is no guarantee as to the authenticity of the Catholic work. It might not be orthodox, and it may even be a non-Catholic work with the intent on deceiving Catholics. One never knows. But with Parish WebStore, every book has to have a Nihil Obstat and an Imprimatur, thus certifying that it is authentic Catholic material.

I have several PWS affiliate links: those along the right-hand sidebar are linked to the “Addictions” section of PWS, those along the left: to the general store or specific subjects related to the block of links right around that affiliate link. So, right by the section of links on “The Catholic Church and the Bible,” there is an affiliate link that should take you to that section of the Parish WebStore that sells Catholic Bibles!

I’ll be tweaking the links today, as well as adding them to my other blogs: Paul Sofranko Dot Net and The Four Last Things. Every affiliate link should have something identifying it, but otherwise it should be related to the block of links above or below it. Nevertheless, once in the Parish WebStore, you can travel all about it.

Parish WebStore sells many things besides books and CDs. They also sell jewelry related to the Sacraments, such as First Holy Communion and Marriage. So, if you know anyone getting married within the next year, stop on in at the Parish WebStore through any of my affiliate links, make your way over to the jewelry section, and buy buy buy!!! 🙂

I would greatly appreciate it that when you do patronize the Parish WebStore, you do so through the links on any one of my blogs. It is an attempt to raise money for me. Most, if not all funds received will go to my site-hosting fees. If I can raise much more than what I need to keep these sites hosted and online, then the excess may go to other needs. It is a good way for Catholic bloggers to raise money for themselves.

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!!)

Matt Talbot Facebook Page

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For those of you on Facebook, someone has created a Matt Talbot Facebook Page, about life of Venerable Matt Talbot.

Go and “Like” it!

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!!)

Pope Francis washes, kisses feet of drug addict

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I haven’t blogged yet regarding our new Holy Father, Pope Francis. Mainly because I want to get a perspective and a feel for him. So far, I really, really like what I see and I do believe that the Church is in good hands with our new Papa.

I saw a picture this morning while reviewing the Catholic news that, along with other similar ones that depict this man’s humility and service. He’s kissing the feet of a drug-addicted young man. That speaks for itself.

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POPE FRANCIS: 30 Photos and Memes to Love and Share | St. Peter’s List

(Via St. Peter’s List.)

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!!)

Hour of Mercy Blogger

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In the latest in my never ending and so far futile attempts to blog daily (or at least 3-4 times a week) I’ve decided to become an “Hour of Mercy Blogger.” That is not a formal designation for any group of Catholic bloggers out there, at least not as far as I know, so maybe I’m starting a new Catholic blogging movement. Hey, cool.

What is an “Hour of Mercy Blogger?” It is a blogger who attends or posts to their blog at 3PM, local. Why 3PM? Because that is the “Hour of Divine Mercy.” Jesus died on the Cross at 3PM and that is a time of importance for some Catholics. As best as my schedule permits, I will say The Chaplet of Divine Mercy at 3PM, and then do a blog post. I may only get a draft in and not published, but that’s OK. God in His infinite mercy decided to pluck me from the wastes of alcoholism, and so perhaps during the Hour of Mercy I can get and maintain the inspiration to blog.

And so far, so good. Just finished the Chaplet 20 minutes ago and I figured announcing this plan is a good way to cheat and get Day 1 in. 😉

Divine Mercy is a Catholic devotion and theology that should be of immense interest and use to Catholics recovering from addictions. If there is anything outside the Gospels that can provide the hope and inspiration that God can and will forgive you of the sins of your past, Divine Mercy is it!

NOTE: I have 3 blogs, aside from this one, there is Paul Sofranko Dot Net and The Four Last Things. This “Hour of Mercy Blogging” could be on any of the three.

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!!)

Living Sober through the Psalms

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Regina, a/k/a Number 9, over at Catholic Alcoholic has ANOTHER blog that she posts to EVERY DAY! Living Sober through the Psalms is the name and daily blogging through the Psalms is its game!

I previously recommended her primary blog in this post. If that isn’t enough, she is also on Twitter as drunkcatholic.

So, PLEASE read her stuff, subscribe to her blogs by whatever means you do that sort of thing, and if you are on Twitter, follow her there, too! Speaking of Twitter, I’m also there as sobercatholic.

EVERY DAY she blogs! I shake my head in amazement! 😉

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!!)

Book Review: Recovery Rosary for Alcoholics and Addicts on Catholic Alcoholic

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Just a heads up to readers that there is a book review of The Recovery Rosary: Reflections for Alcoholics and Addicts over at Catholic Alcoholic.

Go here: Book Review: Recovery Rosary for Alcoholics and Addicts

Thanks, Number 9!

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!!)

Catholic Alcoholic | 4 out of 5 of her personalities recommend this blog

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I found a new blog on alcoholism recovery, WRITTEN BY A CATHOLIC!!! There ain’t many out there, and as far as I can tell, most of them are dormant, have folded, or post only sporadically. I discovered Regina’s blog, “Catholic Alcoholic” while trying to figure out what Google Analytics was telling me about my readership.

I added a new link category, a blogroll called “Blogs Worth Your Time.” It is currently way down along the right-hand sidebar. Some of the blogs are on addiction recovery, some are not. All are good reading. “Catholic Alcoholic” is on there!

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!!)