Not-So-Ordinary Time

It feels like only moments since Christmas ended and at the same time Lent is less than a month away! And here we are, in the midst of everyone's favorite Liturgical season (*can you hear my sarcasm*)

I have to admit, whenever I think about Ordinary Time, a part of me slumps down and sighs deeply.
Why?
Because all my life I've had the mindset that if we aren't fasting or feasting, then it must be boring.
This is a trap that a lot of us Catholics can easily fall into.

I really want to change the way I see this season, but it's a long process.
But I've got to start somewhere.

The whole point of the Liturgical Year is that we may repeatedly walk in the footsteps of Christ's life.
We normally just think about His birth and His death, but what about everything in between?

What about the days when he got up and ate breakfast and went to Joseph's workshop and helped Mary set the table and fell asleep gazing out His window at the stars?
What about the days when He wandered the dusty roads, talking His (most sacred) heart out to His disciples and laughing at the little children coming to greet Him?

What about the days in Jesus' life that were ordinary?

There was a time before His ministry that we forget about a lot because we don't know a lot about it. But Jesus once had a day-to-day life that was less than exciting but that was beautiful at the same
time.

During Ordinary Time, we are called to fall into the rhythmic patterns of life that ultimately are most important when it comes to truly devoting yourself to God.
It's really hard to love Him when life seemings to be empty and dragging on and there's nothing to look forward to.
But in these quiet and (sometimes) peaceful days, we must seek our Lord in the silence. In those around us. And within ourselves.

It is during these times that God most gently and patiently guides us towards Himself- towards loving Him more and towards eternal rest.

P.S.

I want to share a quote from my prayer journal (video on that coming up relatively soon on my Youtube channel)

"This is life.

This is what we get, and it's kind of the best thing ever, every moment of every day.

If I can't comprehend how amazingly beautiful this life is, then I can't even think about the next.

So here's to a life well- courageously, boldy, lovingly lived."

These wonderful pictures have been brought to you from the wonderful world of Pintrest

Nun baby procrastination

Almost 9 o'clock.
No homework done.
Pajamas, tea, and a stack of (Catholic) books I want to read.
And a major test tomorrow that I haven't even though about.
Perfect time to blog.

But then again, I feel like a lot of my posts lately have been a bit lengthy.
And being the lazy person I am, I don't like reading paragraphs and paragraphs.

So instead, here's a picture of some adorable nun babies.

Adorable nun babies are adorable.

If I have children, this will be them.

I should go be a productive person now.

Like the cool sign off?

Idk if it will stay but it's worth a try.

And if you are as much of a procrastinator as me, why don't you go check out this awesome youtube video by SheIsCatholic (who is now a Dominican sister) singing "Girls Just Want to be Nuns". Which is the truth.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Udqjs_wBp5A

I watch it approximately one million times a day.

Dallas March for Life 2015

Yesterday I was lucky to be able to go to the Dallas March for Life with a group from my school.

The biggest March for Life is this Wednesday in Washington D.C., but Dallas is a lot closer to me.

Hopefully one day I'll be able to travel to D.C. for the event, but the one in Dallas still has thousands of people attend and makes a big impact.

Dallas is where it all began.

And by it, I mean the silent halocaust taking place in our country and around the whole world. 

Abortion.

Since January 22nd, 1973, almost 56 million babies have been aborted in America alone.

Sweet, innocent children who were murdered by no fault of their own.

Children who by now could have families, who could have experienced all the joys and sorrows life has to offer.

This is the truth.

The truth that a baby is not a choice and abortion is not a right.

A baby is a human being, and no one has the right to take the life of another, no matter how inconvenient they are.

The only reason that the devil has been able to cause so much evil through abortion is because he convinces us to forget our humanity.

It is human instinct that killing others is wrong.

It is human instinct to protect the vulnerable.

And through history we can see that the way mass genocides go unnoticed is by de-humanizing the victims.

In this case, reducing the tiny babies to the scientific term fetus.

(At mass)

I am the same person I was at the moment of conception and first few. weeks following.

I am the same person I was when I was born.

Yes, I look a lot different than when I was born.

When I was born I also looked a lot different than when I was a "fetus".

But I am me, and I have been me since the first moment I existed.

At the end of the march there were a few fantastic speakers and I would like to share a couple points I learned.

1. Abortion is not a matter of diplomacy. It isn't a fight between conservatives and liberals. It isn't a matter of whether it is legal or not.

It is a matter of life and death.

Between what is right and what is wrong. 

2. The battle is already won.

When Jesus said "I have come that you might have life and have it to the fullest", He meant it.

He died on Calvary to defeat evil and forgive all sin.

We March not just hoping for victory, but knowing that it is right around the corner.

And even though abortion is perhaps the greatest evil of our time, it is forgivable if we plead for forgiveness.

3. Abortion hurts women.

It does.

This one needs a whole lot more explanation, which I'll probably address in a future post.

But one thing I want to say about this is that abortion is a temporary solution.

It will give you temporary relief, temporary support, temporary acceptance. 

But it will give you permanent pain.

(The reflection of the crowds in the glass)

This is a pretty heavy topic.

If you think I was harsh, don't worry.

When I get around to it I'll do a post about compassion and forgiveness when it comes to abortion.

But first, I wanted you to know the truth.

I made a video of the March which I will post a link to below.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ohEyEUY0ghY

Keep praying and never give up!

Love,

A Catholic Teen

Apps, Rosaries, and Novenas oh my!

This past week I've been trying to think of things to write about because school isn't super interesting (in spiritual growth terms). But I figured that I would share with you something I discovered a couple months ago that is absolutely amazing.

Yes, an app.
Not just any app though, the best Catholic app out there today (that's just my opinion though). If you're a devout Catholic with an iPhone, or any smart phone, there's a good chance you have this app. However, you never know. There is always going to be someone who doesn't have it.

Laudate. Just search the name in the App Store.

It has everything. And I mean everything. The daily readings, all of the daily hours for the Liturgy of the Hours (the universal daily prayers of the Church, mainly prayed by religious), hundreds of prayers, reflections, podcasts, a confession guide, and so many other awesome things.

My favorite by far, which I use on almost a daily basis, is the Year of Faith rosary podcast. It's a bunch of people praying the rosary with a leader and beautiful meditations on the mysteries. You can listen and pray along when it's the groups response turn. Sometimes I need a day to pray the rosary by myself, just one on one with Jesus and Mary.
But most days this podcast is a big help to keep me focused and in a prayerful state of mind.

Speaking of rosaries, I want to mentions something that a lot of people, me included, just assume is something that people do. I mean, doesn't everyone do it?
I should be saying that. I didn't even make an effort to start praying the rosary daily until a year ago. I wasn't taught to do that as a child (BIG mistake). And occasionally I have a day where the temptations to be lazy get to me.

But seriously, the rosary works wonders for the soul. It performs unbelievable miracles.
In fact, the only people within one mile to survive the Hiroshima atomic bomb were 8 guys who prayed the rosary every single day. Their house and bodies were left completely untouched by any trace of radiation, and no scientist on earth had an explanation.
Amazing, right?

School can kind of suck all the holiness out of me sometimes. The everyday routine can trick me into thinking that I can just live an ordinary (and worthless) life and that I only need to be holy during Christmas or Easter and stuff. This is a lie. We as Catholics, and especially young Catholics are called to be saints in our day to day lives- to live out our universal vocations of LOVE (creds to St. Therese) here and now, every moment of every day.

I highly encourage anyone reading this to join me on a perilous and terrifying journey, one that will lead to the certain death of the people we presently are.
That's right. A 54 day novena (duh, duh, DUH!!!)

I know, 54  days is a long time. That's 54 days of saying the rosary faithfully and reverently every single day.
But I know that I will come out the other side looking more like the person God made me to be, with a heart more conformed to His Sacred Heart, and with a desire to live my life even more radically (and awesomely).

Prayers are much appreciated.
And I will be praying for you :)

Love,
A Catholic Teen

Today's First Reading

Reflections on Bible passages aren't my expertise, and there are plenty of blogs and websites out there that can give you a far more superior spiritual and intellectual summary of today's first reading (the first one, not the Gospel), but after reflecting on it I couldn't help but share it with all of you. It's beautiful... And not too long.

1 John 4: 7-10
(Take notice of the 1 John. Not the Gospel of John. They can be easily confused).

Beloved,
Let us love one another, because love is of God;
Everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God.
Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love.
In this way the love of God was revealed to us:
God sent his only Son into the world so that we might have life through him.
In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as expiation for our sins.

Doesn't that just send chills down your spine?
I love how lately the first readings have been starting with "beloved". So romantic.

So obviously the main message of this passage is love.

Not just any love, but Love Himself (Jesus). When I think of how He loved, I can clearly see the perfect love of the Nativity. The love and obedience to His parents as a young boy. The love as He kissed Mama Mary goodbye to go start  His ministry. The brotherly love He felt for John the Baptist and His beloved apostles. The love for the crowds of people who flocked to Him, desperate for healing and truth. The love when He took each child by the hand and in a loving glance showed them the simple wonder of the universe. The love in the face of the worse suffering known to man, more painful than all other suffering combined (in all of history). His loving embrace as He welcomes us with the joy of knowing that He is no longer dead, that we are saved. And finally, the love he feels for us right now, at this very moment, which is so great that we can't even wrap our minds around it without them exploding.

This love is so pure, so perfect, and it is all we need to sustain us in this life.

"In this way the love of God was revealed to us:
God sent his only Son into the world so that we might have life through him.
In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us."

We can do nothing to deserve this love, but we don't have to. It's freely given to us. 

Jesus Christ is the perfect sign of God's love. It is through Him we live, through Him we love, and through Him that we will achieve eternal happiness when we die.

It doesn't matter if we love God or not (although, this is the only way to be happy in this life and the next.)

No, it doesn't matter, because He loves us. And that's enough.

Love,

A Catholic Teen

Monthversary and other news

So today is officially my one-monthversary of starting this account!
Jk actually that was 3 days ago I'm just lazy...

So a lot has happened over this past month. Or maybe it just seems like it because I've posted so much. School is starting again soon (like in a day) and I won't have quite as much free time on my hands. Don't worry, I'll try to post about once a week. That's fair, right?

I did something completely on a whim yesterday, and I'm still in shock. I posted a video on my youtube account! I'll post the link below. Watch it if you want to...or don't if you'd prefer I remain anonymous

https://m.youtube.com/channel/UCC2akWGKRI1B7BP8q0VutUA

Also, I have wonderful news!!!
Cheyenne Paradiso, twin sister to Phoenix Paradiso (both featured on the youtube account RoseofChrist, link below) entered the Poor Clare monastery in Barhamsville, Virginia yesterday!!!
I never knew either of them personally, but after watching their videos, reading Phoenix's blog, and seeing pictures of them on the Poor Clare's blog, Heart Ponderings, I fell in love with them! Both sisters are now on their way to becoming Poor Clare nuns, and I hope to visit them one day!

Their youtube channel:
https://m.youtube.com/user/carmelitegirl789
Phoenix's pre-convent blog:
http://vocationjourney.blogspot.com/?m=1
The Poor Clare's blog:
http://www.pcheartponderings.blogspot.com/?m=1

Aren't they BEAUTIFUL?!?

So I figured that in honor of my official one-monthversary, I would gift you all with some wonderful quotes from my new favorite quotable author, C.S. Lewis!

Enjoy :)

 

This last one is one of my personal favorites.

All images are from Pintrest.

There were too many to narrow in down, but I hope you like them as much as I do.

Have a blessed day 

I'm praying for you!

Love, 

A Catholic Teen