To Bury the Dead

Posted on February 1, 2013 by paulcoholic

To bury the dead is the last of the Corporal Works of Mercy. It is an act of kindness, and of hope in the resurrection of all when Jesus return to judge the living and the dead.

The graves remind us always of our last end, and that there is an eternity afterwards. Time spent in a cemetery is time well spent both honoring those buried there, as well as reminding ourselves of our own mortality.

Bury the dead. In a metaphorical context applied to this blog, it can also mean to bury our past. Our past is back there, dead, but not forgotten. We no longer live back there, but we can remember the pain.

What do we do with the time remaining? As alcoholics and addicts we had lost considerable time to our addiction. Time can be redeemed by learning from our mistakes and applying that knowledge to the future. It is called “experience.” We can take what we know and teach it to others.

If you click on the image below, you’ll be taken to the “Works of Mercy” store at Artist4God (my wife’s online shop.) Buy anything from the “Works of Mercy” store and a portion of the proceeds go to life-affirming charities.

Bury The Dead Refrigerator Magnets by WorksOfMercy

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!!)

Prayer for Virtue

Posted on January 28, 2013 by paulcoholic

Prayer for Virtue (St. Thomas Aquinas, Feast Day: 28 January)

O Almighty and all-knowing God, without beginning or end, who art the giver, preserver, and rewarder of all virtue:

Grant me to stand firm on the solid foundation of faith, be protected by the invincible shield of hope, and be adorned by the nuptial garment of charity;

Grant me by justice to obey thee, by prudence to resist the crafts of the Devil, by temperance to hold to moderation, by fortitude to bear adversity with patience;

Grant that the goods that I have I may share liberally with those who have not, and the good that I do not have I may seek with humility from those who have;

Grant that I may truly recognise the guilt of the evil I have done, and bear with equanimity the punishments I have deserved; that I may never lust after the goods of my neighbour, but always give thanks to thee for all thy good gifts…

Plant in me, O Lord, all thy virtues, that in divine matters I might be devout, in human affairs wise, and in the proper needs of the flesh onerous to no one…

And grant that I may never rush to do things hastily, nor balk to do things demanding, so that I neither yearn for things too soon, nor desert things before they are finished.

Amen

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!!)

Dying, One Day at a Time

Posted on January 23, 2013 by paulcoholic

Quite often you read or hear about how we Christians are supposed to keep our “eyes on the prize.” In other words, be mindful of death. (In Latin, that is “Memento Mori.”)

We should try to keep our minds on our ultimate goal, Heaven, and remember that we will be judged upon our death. Doing this may help us become focused and get our act together concerning whatever it is that God placed us here for.

We all probably fall into the trap of thinking that death is far off. And so the urgency to “become focused and get our act together” may not always be there. There is a way, however, to keep it in mind every day. Borrow a powerful tool from the Twelve Step movements and combine it with the realization that death may come at a moment’s notice.

Any day may be our last. Today, even.

So, taking the “powerful tool from the Twelve Step movements,” which is the philosophy of “One Day at a Time” and merging it with the possibility that each day may be our last, may help us to realize that sense of urgency. We each have a specific mission that God placed us here for, a mission that we are each uniquely qualified to do. We do not have all the time in the world to do it. “One day at a time” helps us cope with that falsely satisfying feeling that we have years ahead of us. We may only have today. This sort of turns around the 12 Step basis of “one day at a time,” which is intended to help people in recovery with the idea that they have to be clean and sober for the rest of their lives, which may be for a long time. That may be hard to fathom, but just focusing on today is do-able. “Just for today, I can stay away from the drinking or the drugging.” So, “Just for today,” is all that I may have left. What can I do?”

So, each day when we wake up, we should think, “Today may be my last day alive. What must I do today in case that were to become true? What can I do to mitigate any accounting I may have to make before the Lord?”

And then we should, to borrow a phrase from Pope Blessed John Paul II, “Arise, and let us be on our way,” and set out to achieve something.

NOTE: This was originally published at The Four Last Things: “Dying, One Day at a Time”

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!!)

Visit the Imprisoned

Posted on January 22, 2013 by paulcoholic

Matthew 25:36: “…in prison and you visited me.’”

“Imprisoned” can mean many things. It may oftentimes mean the literal imprisonment of those who have committed crimes. “You do the crime, you do the time.” And so people regard with indifference or contempt those who are in jail.

While by no means suggesting that those in prison do not deserve their punishment, many in jail have repented of their crimes and corresponding sins. The intransigent and unrepentant, well, their place is deserved. But for those who have come to terms with the reality of what they did and why they are in prison, their spiritual needs must be met. There are plenty of opportunities for people in communities all over to visit those in prison and minister to them. Participate in a prayer group or Bible or Catechism Study. Whatever, just show them that there are people on the “outside” who haven’t forgotten them. One good organization is “Kairos Prison Ministry International”:

There are other forms of imprisonment. Addiction is a prime example and perhaps the reason why you are reading this blog.

I wrote a poem, it was triggered by an old AA friend from my old hometown who was picked up for DWI for the umteenth time:

Alone in Jail

I sit in the cell, trapped.

Trapped in the prison of my mind.

I wish to scream “Let me out!”

But the mind has no voice, silenced by shame.

My prison, and I am my jailer, and I have lost the key.

Perhaps you can be the key to let the prisoner of addiction out of their jail cell. Reach out and extend help. If they take the help, follow through! If they reject it, wait and offer it again when they are ready.

Although it may not seem like it, another way for people to be imprisoned is overt attraction to the things of “the world.” Be it money, power, lust, fine clothes and an outward appearance (at the expense of the inward appearance), such things imprison you as they get in the way of your true self. They are hardly satisfying. Do they help you in your relationship with God?

Visit the imprisoned key chains by WorksOfMercy

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!!)

Visit the Sick

Posted on January 21, 2013 by paulcoholic

Matthew 25:36 “…ill and you cared for me…”

I feel that one of the tenderest and kindest things that you can do for another is to care for them when they are vulnerable, such as when they are suffering an illness. You’re putting your own health at risk from whatever they have, so in a way it is almost like the passage from the Gospel of Jesus Christ, According to John:

John 15:13: ” No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. “

For people to do this for a living, such as physicians and nurses, to home heath aides and the like, is a life of tremendous dedication to the vulnerable. For someone to do this without expecting anything in return, is love and sacrifice. Then again, love and sacrifice are quite often linked.

Visit the sick bag by WorksOfMercy

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!!)

Clothe the Naked

Posted on January 20, 2013 by paulcoholic

Matthew 25:36 “…naked and you clothed me.”

I volunteer in a thrift store. While I haven’t done all that much as there seems to be an abundance of volunteers that coincided with my beginning there, I have learned a few things.

One nice thing is that they just don’t accept any kind of clothing for the store. It has to be in good condition, and perhaps not way out of date. There explanation is that there is a “dignity concern.” The people that shop there must not feel like they are getting cast-off junk. You may feel that “beggars can’t be choosy,” but essentially even if people are at the low end of the economic spectrum, they shouldn’t have to meekly accept junk just because they are poor. It may not be the finest clothing, nor the latest style, but they look decent.

That caused me to think about when people are vain about their appearance, declare that they must wear the finest clothing, that sort of thing. Is that really necessary? Vanity in regards to clothing is dressing inappropriately, to draw attention to yourself and to flaunt your wealth and physical attributes. Pride may also play a part. Does that make you a better person, looking better than others? How is your internal appearance? The appearance of your soul?

How will you look when you stand before God and are judged?

Clothe The Naked Sweatshirts by WorksOfMercy

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!!)

Shelter the Homeless

Posted on January 16, 2013 by paulcoholic

Matthew 25:35 “…a stranger and you welcomed me…”

This is difficult to write, never having been homeless. Came close at least once or twice, but that is not the same.

I cannot wrap my mind around the concept of being without a home. A warm bed, a roof over my head, a place to keep my stuff, I have always had these.

The very idea of this happening, the last day in one’s own home before being evicted or kicked out… facing the streets for the first time without the knowledge that there is some PLACE to go back to.

There are shelters, and people who dedicate their lives to caring for the homeless. Whether the homeless are “that way” because of financial difficulties or drug and alcohol addiction, it is little matter. People are out on the street and suffer for it.

As a society, we are less than hospitable. We turn our heads away from the beggars in the street. I have done that, out of guilt or shame or revulsion.

How we treat some of the most vulnerable of our society tells a lot.

If you click on the image of the mug below, you’ll be taken to the “Works of Mercy” store at Artist4God (my wife’s online shop.) Buy anything from the “Works of Mercy” store and a portion of the proceeds go to life-affirming charities.

Shelter The Homeless Buttons by WorksOfMercy

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!!)

Give Drink to the Thirsty

Posted on January 16, 2013 by paulcoholic

Matthew 25:35 “…I was thirsty and you gave me drink…”

Going hand in hand with “Feed the Hungry,” we are called upon to satisfy those who thirst. There is the literal, physical thirst that needs quenching. But there is also the spiritual thirst very much like the spiritual hunger I described in the ***last post***

People are more than cogs in a machine. People have dignity, no matter what their state in life, what they do for a living, how much they earn and whatever else that the World quantifies human existence. People are made in the image and likeness of God and are deserving of fulfillment. In addition to the physical needs being met, their spiritual needs are taken care of as well.

This is important for a host of reasons, but namely to remind people of their personhood, their humanity. People are not trash, disposable things to be gotten rid of when inconvenient. Too often today this happens. Abortion, euthanasia, job layoffs… the list goes on for the many ways society dictates that people serve secular gods. The economic system, a political philosophy, the corporate balance sheet. Personal choices by other individuals, at times.

People need to be taught that they were made for something more. More than just for whatever piece of society they find themselves in. They need the reminder that they were made by God to know Him, love Him and serve Him in this life, so as to be forever happy in Heaven (to paraphrase the old Baltimore Catechism.)

Give Drink To The Thirsty Mug by WorksOfMercy

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!!)

Feed the Hungry (UPDATED)

Posted on January 14, 2013 by paulcoholic

Matthew 25:35 “For I was hungry and you gave me food…”

We have many ways to satiate hunger. Physical hunger is a harsh reality anywhere on this planet. Even in the so-called “rich” countries of North America and Europe people starve.

There is also a hunger apart from the physical. There is a spiritual hunger, too. People have holes in their souls that are not filled by the secular world, or by do-it-your-own spiritualities. They hunger for the Kingdom of God to be manifested in their lives by way of justice, righteousness and the freedom to be the people they were meant to be.

Learn Scripture, learn the Catechism, read the lives of the Saints and discover ways to bring the Kingdom of God to people in a manner that they can understand and appreciate. Fill the hunger, that hole in their souls that is now only fed by secular junk food and shallow spiritualities. Preach the Gospel, perhaps by words, perhaps by actions.

There is no excuse for the physical hunger. Do not wait for the government to feed those who hunger. Get busy now, yourselves. Act! In many areas there are food pantries that accept donations of food and money, as well as volunteers to do the work. Churches and other charitable organization offer the hungry a dignified alternative to state-sponsored charity. They are names, not a numbers.

Be a part of the solution and do not wait for others to fix the problem. Remember this, the next time you are “hungry.” For many of you, that is a temporary situation easily addressed and solved by wandering into your kitchen and grabbing something, or going off to the market and stocking up on food. But for many, and often through no fault of their own, that is the daily norm. The next time you hunger for something for your soul, grab your Bible. It is the food that does not perish.

Thank you!

Feed The Hungry Mugs by WorksOfMercy

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!!)

Works of Mercy

Posted on January 14, 2013 by paulcoholic

Catholic social teaching centers on the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy. They are derived from the Gospel of Jesus According to Matthew, Chapter 25 verses 31-46, “The Last Judgment;” and Matthew Chapter 5, verses 1-12, “The Beatitudes;” as well as other parts of Scripture.

I have blogged about these before when I speak about “Service and Volunteering.”

Today I am going to start a series of posts in which I will write a little about each of them. There are seven of each, and they are listed below:

Corporal Works of Mercy

Feed the hungry
Give drink to the thirsty
Shelter the Homeless
Clothe the naked
Visit the Sick
Visit the imprisoned
Bury the dead

Spiritual Works of Mercy

Correct the sinner
Instruct the ignorant
Counsel the doubting
Comfort the sorrowful
Be patient with those in error
Forgive offenses
Pray for the living and the dead

(This list is courtesy of St. Luke’s mission of Mercy.)

Anyone familiar with alcoholism and addiction should know of these. Many of us have been on the receiving end of them. Perhaps we should think about being on the giving end?

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!!)

Sober Catholic

Catholicism, Recovery, Sobriety, Conversion, Prayer, Fasting, Repentance, Penance

To Bury the Dead

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Prayer for Virtue

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Dying, One Day at a Time

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Visit the Imprisoned

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Visit the Sick

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Clothe the Naked

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Shelter the Homeless

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Give Drink to the Thirsty

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Feed the Hungry (UPDATED)

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Works of Mercy

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