Novena to St. Michael the Archangel, Day 6

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On this sixth day of the Novena, we petition the Lord for protection against evil and temptation.

Evil exists. Just read the news. Evil is the absence of good and the pursuit of power, control and influence for selfish gain. It is the pursuit of our will in opposition to God’s. God is not responsible for the evil in the world, humans are. The greater the human pursuit of self-interest, the greater the evil. That may not be fully descriptive or an all-encompassing explanation, but it will do.

Evil is seductive and can convince us of the greatness of our own power and invincibility. How often when you drank you believed anything was possible? How often did you drink to fortify yourself against the day?

Succumbing to temptation is like a release against the tension and struggle of self-control. It can seem liberating and easier to do. “Why fight it?”

It is surrendering to the convenience and false happiness of the short-term gain as opposed to the lasting and satisfying long-term benefits of sobriety, chastity and self-control. Animals succumb to their passions, humans can control them, with the help of God’s grace.

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 Virtues may the Lord preserve us from evil and falling into temptation. Amen.

[Say one Our Father and three Hail Marys after your intentions for the protection against evil and temptation.]

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!!)

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!!)

Novena to St. Michael the Archangel, Day 4

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On this fourth day of the Novena, the petition is for us to increase our self-control, specifically “to govern our senses and overcome any unruly passions.”

“What goes in, must come out.” To govern our senses requires discipline and a certain amount of detachment. Not easy, considering the World’s constant attempts to shove garbage in our faces. From foul music to immoral fashions, television programs and movies, there is a lot of stuff out there paving the pathways to Hell.

We can avoid “people, places and things” as much as we can to help ourselves. Not all of us can become hermits and completely block out the World. We can seek to limit our exposure as much as possible. We can train ourselves to “see, but not notice” when presented with objectionable material. You seen someone with immoral attire, you look away. You ignore objectionable music (it’s “just noise.” It isn’t perfect, but it helps.

We train ourselves to filter it all out.

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 Dominions may the Lord give us grace to govern our senses and overcome any unruly passions. Amen.

[Say one Our Father and three Hail Marys after your intentions concerning where you may be lacking in self-control.]

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!!)

Novena to St. Michael the Archangel, Day 3

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On this third day of the Novena, the petition is for us to grow in humility.

Humility is the second most-written about category for this blog (after “Prayer.”)

Humility, it is said in 12 Step meeting rooms is “accepting reality for what it is, adjusting your life to fit that reality, and being content with the results.”

It is seeing that there is a God, and you are not Him. (And similarly that you are not the Pope or a Bishop, either.)

It is seeing that we are creatures of sin, and only with God’s help can we escape sin and clean up our behavior.

It is seeing ourselves as we really are, and not through the World’s delusions.

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 Thrones may the Lord infuse into our hearts a true and sincere spirit of humility. Amen.

[Say one Our Father and three Hail Marys after your intentions concerning where you may be lacking in humility.]

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!!)

Novena to St. Michael the Archangel, Day 2

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On this second day of the Novena, the petition is for us to spiritually progress and grow in holiness.

We cannot resist sin and temptation on our own efforts. We may have moderate success, but our own wills can carry us only so far. We need the grace of God and our own cooperation with that grace (our humble admission of our weakness and inability and subsequent surrender to God’s will) to resist sin and temptation.

We can leave the pathways of sin and grow in holiness by prayer, meditation and examining our consciences and our daily actions. We then take it to Confession and strive to “do better.”

We never give up. Despite repeated falls, we continually get up resolve to continue to trudge our road of happy destiny.

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 Cherubim may the Lord grant us the grace to leave the ways of sin and run in the paths of Christian perfection. Amen.

[Say one Our Father and three Hail Marys after your intentions concerning where you may be persistent in sin.]

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!!)

Novena to St. Michael the Archangel, Day 1

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On this first day of the Novena, the petition is for us to increase our charity.

Where are you lacking in charity? Charity means more than merely dropping a few coins or bills in the collection plate at Mass or writing a check for some missionary organization doing God’s work overseas.

It also is empathizing with other people, with trying to see them not as merely external objects within your vision, but as persons like yourself with thoughts, feelings and sufferings.

You have no certain idea as to what is going on within a person. Rather than being quick to judge that person for what they are doing, empathize and put yourself in their place. From that vantage point you may still admonish them for an action, but in trying to feel as they do, to realize that you are seeing them at a snapshot in their life journey, you may soften your admonishment with the sweetness of charity. Much more can be accomplished in converting hearts and minds.

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 Seraphim may the Lord make us worthy to burn with the fire of perfect charity. Amen.

[Say one Our Father and three Hail Marys after your intentions concerning where you may be negligent in charity.]

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!!)

Defend Us In Battle’s Blog Novena to the Holy Angels

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In addition to my own Novena to St. Michael the Archangel, Joseph K., over at Defend Us in Battle is having a Blog Novena to the Holy Angels starting tomorrow.

Here is a video announcing the event:

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!!)

Chaplet of St. Michael the Archangel

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The Feast to the Three Archangels is coming up on September 29th, and to that end I am starting a Novena to one of them, St. Michael. I will be basing it on the “Chaplet of St. Michael.”

Here is a link on how to say the Chaplet: Chaplet of St. Michael

(Via EWTN.)

The Novena will start tomorrow the 21st, and end on the Feast day, the 29th.

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!!)

Stanley Seagull

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Tribute Books has asked me to review another offering of theirs, and this time it is a children’s story involving “Stanley Seagull.”

“Meet a young seagull named Stanley. Follow him as he wanders far from home and tries to find his way back. Join Stanley on his journey as he learns how humans affect the balance of nature.” (From the publisher’s book summary.)

Stanley lives by the beach along the Atlantic Ocean. He loves living by the beach, flying around with his gull friends and eating seafood all day long. Stanley and company display an unhealthy appetite for the human food that people toss at them, not to mention the weekly feast at the garbage trucks parked on the pier that contains tons of food scraps.

This is a wide-eyed feast that Stanley and his friends just live for!

However, there is a warning: do not stay too long or there will be problems! But Stanley is too busy feasting to pay attention to this and gets trapped in the garbage truck and winds up in a landfill hundreds of miles from his beach home.

I won’t spoil the plot but Stanley learns a couple of important lessons, especially one that factors into the purpose of this blog.

One: the point of the book was how humans affect the balance of nature. I’m assuming the gulls’ overt dependence on human garbage for their nutritional sustenance illustrates this. The authors quite subtly weave this into the tale by juxtaposing the gull’s idyllic life with the images of a garbage feast, leading to Stanley’s journey.

Two: said journey leads to how the book ties in with this blog’s purpose (an addiction and recovery moral tale was more than likely not the author’s intention).

Stanley is “addicted” to human food. The garbage truck and all the food scraps represent the ultimate for him: all the free food he can eat, seemingly forever. He ignores his friends’ warnings and gets lost, far from home.

His attempts to return home represent a type of recovery, with failed attempts, wisdom and advice gained, and a journey based on a plan.

Nice story! A good way to introduce children to the importance of respecting nature, along with a subtle hint at paying attention to advice about seemingly “good stuff.”

Stanley Seagull’s website (With info on how to to buy it)

Stanley on YouTube:

Tribute Books’ website

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!!)

Blog appearance

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This blog may look “off” for a day or so, I am in the midst of redesigning the layout.

I plan to re-introduce advertising to the blog, in the form of “affiliate links” to good online Catholic stores and services. They will appear in the left sidebar, where all the Catholic links are now situated. Those links will be moved to link-dedicated Pages, probably on the right sidebar.

I hope to earn a modest income from this blog, so when my account with the publisher is approved and I can start placing links there, I hope you all patronize the advertisers.

I have not decided as to whether or not I will run Google AdSense. Probably not as as far as I know, you cannot control what is run.

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!!)