vitaconsecrata - live consecrated

Gen X: 4 Marks of the Church and 4 Last Things

vitaconsecrata — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 15:27:35 +0000

In the Generation X article posted back in August of last year (have I really been that slow on working on this?) the list of items to be discussed were:

Sacred Tradition
Sanctifying Grace
Sacramental
Corporeal Works of Mercy
Spiritual Works of Mercy
Indulgences
Mass Cards
Having a Mass said for a deceased relative and/or significance
Act of Contrition
Scapular
Pentecost
4 Marks of the Church
4 Last Things
Mortal and/or Venial Sin
Communion of Saints
Purgatory
Transubstantiation
Immaculate Conception (or you believe incorrectly it was when Jesus was conceived)
Papal Infallibility

Today I will lump two of them together: 4 Marks of the Church and 4 Last Things.

And I’ll be honest with you. I had never heard of either of them before this article.

I had discussed them with a friend of mine and she happened to have just read an article about them. She sent me an email with all the information and I stored it away for this post.

Only problem with that – I decided a couple of weeks ago to migrate all my email to Outlook. When all the email filtered through to Outlook, I didn’t realize that it was going to delete all the email I had saved on gmail – and all that excess email dating back to 2007 was deleted. Along with the article on this topic.

Fail.

So here is the research that I have done – and what I have learned.

The 4 Marks of the Catholic church are: One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic. [maybe I knew that after all...] They are also sometimes referred to as the attributes of the Church.

One: We are one body. We follow one Lord. We believe in one baptism, one God. In scriptures, Jesus promised us that there would be “one flock, one shepherd” (John 10:16) The church is one because of her source: the Trinity. (CCC 813)

We are united as one in bonds of unity. “Charity binds everything together in perfect harmony” (Col: 3:14), but the unity of the Church also comes from the visible bonds of communion:

Profession of one faith received from the Apostles (Nicene Creed)
Common celebration of divine worship – especially the sacraments
apostolic succession through the sacrament of Holy Orders – maintaining the fraternal connection of God’s family (CCC 815)

Holy: The word holy here does not mean that the members of the Church are holy – it means that the author of the Church – God Himself – is holy. The people who are apart of the Church – past, present and future – are sinners. We are defiled humans who sin greatly. There are times where the wrong decisions are made by people in authority – for whatever reason – but God always rights them. [One would lead to believe that in a place of authority where things are being decided that are not following the will of God, that they were not listening to His voice/word and heeding his own judgement. Could be argued that decisions are also made in an act of pride and power.]

It is through the grace of God that we acquire holiness. The Church is united with Christ – and sanctified by Him, through Him and with Him. (CCC 824)

The Church is therefore holy, though having sinners in her midst, because she herself has no other life but the life of grace. If they live her life, her members are sanctified; if they move away from her life, they fall into sins and disorders that prevent the radiation of her sanctity. This why she suffers and does penance for those offenses, of which she has the power to free her children through the blood of Christ and the gift of the Holy Spirit. (CCC 827)

Catholic: The word catholic (small c) means universal. The Church is catholic because Christ is present in her. (CCC 830) We are called as missionaries to go out and preach the gospel to the world.

All men are called to belong to the new People of God. This People, therefore, while remaining one and only one, is to be spread througout the whole world and to all ages in order that the design of God’s will may be fulfilled: he made human nature one in the beginning and has decreed that all his children who were scattered should be finally gathered together as one…The character of universality which adorns the People of God is a gift from the Lord himself whereby the Catholic Church ceaselessly and efficaciously seeks for the retun of all humanity and all it’s goods, under Christ the Head in the unity of his Spirit. (CCC 831)

Apostolic: The Church is apostolic because she was founded on the apostles:

She was and remains built on “the foundation of the Apostles,”the witnesses chosen and sent on mission by Christ himself
With the help of the Spirit dwelling in her, the church keeps and hands on the teaching, the “good deposit,” the salutary words she has heard from the apostles
She continues to be taught, sanctified, and guided by the apostles until Christ’s return, through their successors in pastoral office: the college of bishops, “assisted by priests, in union with the successor of Peter, the Church’s supreme pastor” (CCC 857)

Four Last Things

The Four Last Things are: Death, Judgement, Hell and Heaven. I did not find much for information on the last things – though I think they are pretty explainable on their own. There are numerous sites one could go to if more information is liked. Here are a few:

http://www.ewtn.com/faith/teachings/lastmenu.htm

http://www.catholictradition.org/Classics/4last-things.htm

http://catholicism.org/category/four-last-things

Tagged: Catholic, Catholic Church, Catholicism, Generation X

March for Life

vitaconsecrata — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:55:37 +0000

March for life 2012

This was the second march I have attended for the March for Life at our nation’s capital. This march has been going on for 39 years now.

That is sad.

39 years of marching to protect the rights of all life – from the unborn to the elderly and all in between – and yet year after year we still have to continue to hold this march.

The whole reason March for Life started was because of the Roe v. Wade trial in 1973. Ever since, there has been a March in Washington D.C. in peaceful protest to gain back the rights of those who can’t fight for themselves.

My experience at the march was very much like my first experience: it was cold, wet and muddy. My favorite part of the march is seeing all the people who are there in solidarity to fight for human rights. It is estimated that a half a million people were in attendance this year.

Everywhere you looked, you saw this mob of never ending people – majority of them being teens. It was so refreshing to see the teenagers there fighting to put an end to this undemocratic decision that was made in 1973.

The lack of media coverage though disturbs me. It grates me to my core. An event of this magnitude goes unreported year after year. It just goes to show how much our government controls. It’s sickening.

People deserve better.
People deserve to hear the truth.
People deserve to stop being deceived.
Babies deserve a chance to LIVE.
Elderly deserve their right to LIVE as well.

Often times when thinking about the pro-life movement, people think that it’s strictly about abortion. It is not. It is the right to ALL life. For ALL humans. Black, White, Asian, Middle Eastern – from the youngest to the oldest and all in between. When will we all wake up? When will we realize that we are killing each other?

NO ONE has the right to determine anothers worth in this world.
NO ONE has the right to kill a baby in utero.
NO ONE has the right to end a persons life in any circumstance.

Only GOD has the right to determine when someone is going to live, or someone is going to die. If this world wasn’t so full of humans trying to play God, then maybe we wouldn’t have half the problems we do today.

Friendship

vitaconsecrata — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 12:52:54 +0000

I have been blessed in my life with various people who have helped to guide me and lead me closer to Christ.

I’ve also been blessed with those who are just silly, fun friends.

With this world of online technology, I have made numerous friends online. I’ve only had the privilege of meeting a few of them, but those few are extra special to me.

I will again get to meet up with a few of my online friends this weekend as I go to the March for Life. While the cause isn’t one we should HAVE to march for (since none of us are God and have no right to take anothers’ life), I am overly excited at being able to see these wonderful ladies.

I am leaving tonight (Saturday) after work and will return Wednesday night. There will be lots of pictures taken and a whole entry dedicated to my take on the march. While this will be the second time I’ve attended the march, I’m sure each time is a bit different.

I ask for prayers for safe travels – for travels to go smoothly without missing any connections.

Don’t forget to pray for the babies, and all those who’s life is at the mercy of others – that their care takers chose life.

Lauren, Hollie, Erica, Josh and Sam – I am so overly excited to be able to see you – and to be able to make more memories together. Lets help save dem babies!

Command over Unclean Spirits

vitaconsecrata — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 12:56:45 +0000

“I am begging you, since it is so delightful, never let any trouble or temptation the devil might give you make you look back; never let your soul give in to sadness or discouragement, for the devil would like nothing better. He likes to give us lots of annoyances and different sort of struggles, and suggest false judgments against what we are commanded in obedience. He doesn’t do this thinking we will fall at the first stroke, but only to lead us to unreasonable sadness and spiritual discouragement. For once he has brought us to sadness and discouragement, we become frustrated with ourselves and abandon our spiritual practices, thinking God must not be pleased or satisfied with what we have been doing, since we are experiencing so much darkness and coldheartedness. We seem to have lost the warmth of charity, and so we think it better to let go of these practices than to keep them up. Then the devil is happy, because he sees we are ready to be led into despair – and this is the one way he can get us.
For if all the sins there are were collected in my one body, and I still had true hope and lively faith in infinite mercy, nobody would be able to keep me from receiving and sharing in the fruit of the blood of God’s Son”

St. Catherine of Siena

We have a winner!!

vitaconsecrata — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 16:26:14 +0000

I’m excited for today!

Today on this epiphany day – when the wise men came and saw the greatest gift of all – our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we have a winner of the book Rediscover Catholicism!

And I have pictures of the picking process (minus pictures of the picker and the actual picking since I’m at work and received a phone call just as I had my boss pick the name).

First – the entrants:

Actually this is minus one. The winner one had already been selected at this point. I took my pictures after. :p

Then there was them all in the pretty Jesus-y mug.

(I realize these pictures look like crap – at least in my eyes they do. The lighting in here sucks and I had to take them with my phone camera which makes them even worse. I’m such a perfectionist when it comes to taking pictures but these are far from that point!)

And finally, we have the winner!

Do you wanna know who?

Well, this person has been such a great resource for me as of late. She (yes – sorry Josh it was a she!) has been so supportive and has directed me to all the right things to read or has said all the right things. She’s a fairly new blog reader of mine and I’m really glad our paths crossed!

The winner is…..

Our paths crossed when she posted all about the Generation X article that I have been featuring (yeah, I still have to finish that. Maybe that will be tomorrow’s post). She’s got a little nifty blog if you want to check her out! She even featured me on it the other day – I was so honored!

Congratulations Mrs. O!! I will be contacting you shortly for contact information.

Thank you all for your participation! May you be blessed this year – and always!

Last day to enter!

vitaconsecrata — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 17:37:25 +0000

Just a reminder – if you want to get in on my giveaway, today is your last day! Click on the word giveaway to be brought to all the details!

You wouldn’t understand

vitaconsecrata — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 13:02:09 +0000

You wouldn’t understand how incredibly difficult the process of discernment to religious life is – unless you’ve gone through the process yourself.

One cannot even begin to fathom the amount of growth, stretching, perseverance and commitment it requires to continue on the journey of religious life.

You are literally giving up EVERYTHING and EVERYONE. Do you know what it’s like to have to tear yourself away from those who have supported and loved you the most? It’s such a frightening thought.

Over the past few days, I have learned that I am nowhere near where I need to be if I’m ever going to enter an order. There is so much that one has to go through – physically, mentally, emotionally and definitely spiritually. The “I am not worthy” thoughts have been coming on a constant basis as of late. This. is. hard. And I don’t know if I will make it. Actually I KNOW I won’t make it on my own – I need to rely on God for help – to carry me through.

It’s easier said than done though. I feel as though my relationship with God is so wishy-washy – totally on my part of course – and I’m not sure how to fix it. My major problem is that I lack any discipline – which is definitely not something that will help me with religious life.

Maybe I’m not cut out for this after all?

Maybe I’m reaching for something that isn’t meant to happen?

Have I been fooling myself all along?

Spur of the moment

vitaconsecrata — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 13:26:03 +0000

In the spirit of the new year and trying to better myself and my relationship with God, I made a spur of the moment decision last night.

I started a bible study on Revelations.

At my old church.

My friend Dina had a starring role in all this – she is the one running the bible study and convinced me to come knowing we’d get to see each other every week for the next 10.

Whatever gets me there right?

Except as I was there, I felt such sadness. Sitting in that classroom where I used to teach religious education – two seats away from the person who has caused me to have to leave the church.

It still is a difficult process. Tying up loose ends at that church all the while, grieving relationships that have changed. I don’t do well with change that I have no control over!

During the next 10 weeks, I’m sure to come out of this bible study with a new appreciation of God, the bible, but also come to terms with the situation that I am currently going through. I will be okay. I will make it through this. It just takes time – and lots of time with God.

______________________________________

Don’t forget to enter my giveaway! It’s here

New year – GIVEAWAY!!

vitaconsecrata — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 21:16:04 +0000

I’m sure most of my Catholic friends have heard of the book Rediscover Catholicism by Matthew Kelly. I haven’t read a lot of this book yet – on chapter 8 – but I love what I have read so far. I have taken to highlighting certain parts that I feel need to be re-read over and over and over. Below you will find a handful of quotes that have spoken to my soul. All quotes are taken from this book and are copy written to Matthew Kelly

Jesus came to comfort the afflicted, but he also came to afflict the comfortable.

He didn’t come to solve all our problems; he came to show us the way. He came to show us that when we cooperate with God and with each other we become vessels of light and love.

The saints remind us of Christ’s call to break with “the spirit of the world” and challenge us to reject the glamor and allure of sin and selfishness.

God has placed you here for some purpose, but without discipline, you will never discover that purpose.

Holiness is allowing God to fill every corner of your being; that is when we truly become the-best-version-of-ourselves. Holiness is being set apart for God. It is a desire to do the will of God, and yet, the desire for holiness is itself a gift from God. Holiness is as simple as knowing when to say yes and when to say no, but like so many things in this life, we complicate the pursuit of holiness unnecessarily.

Without discipline, we are confined to soulless living and must content ourselves with work, food, momentary pleasures and anything that can help distract us from the misery of purposeless living. Without discipline, the soul dies. Slowly, perhaps, but surely.

The saints show us that it is possible for a human person to be fully transformed in Christ.

Each task, each our offered to God is transformed into prayer.

The surest signs of holiness are an insatiable desire to become all God created us to be, an unwavering commitment to the will of God, and an unquenchable concern for unholy people.

Holiness is surrendering to the will of God, and at the same time, it is grasping each moment and making it all it can be.

The Church is to proclaim the Gospel to the people of every nation in every age. As we live out this mission, it can and should impact the social, political, and economic order of the societies in which Christians live – every aspect of our lives

There is no word, thought, or action in our lives that is beyond the reach of the Gospel.

The desire for God is written in the human heart, because man is created by God and for God; and God never ceases to draw man to himself. Only in god will man find the truth and happiness he never stops yearning for.

It is easy to be a follower, but to be a disciple means to be a student – to be humble, docile, and teachable, and to listen. All this requires discipline.

Because I feel every Catholic should read this book – and every non-Catholic should read it as well as it helps understand Catholicism in a whole new way, I will be giving away 1 (one) copy of this book. To enter this giveaway, simply leave a comment on this post. For an additional entry, copy the following into a tweet:
I have just entered to win a copy of “Rediscover Catholicism” thanks to @vitaconsecrata!
The winner for Rediscover Catholicism will be drawn on Friday, January 6th (the epiphany!).

If you have this book already – enter anyway! I’m sure you can find someone to give it to!

Peaks and Valleys

vitaconsecrata — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 18:12:01 +0000

I haven’t been writing much – though I’m sure you didn’t need me to state that.

I just haven’t been “feeling” it lately. Nor have I been feeling myself.

I’m currently in the process of transition. This Saturday, Christmas Eve, is my last mass at my current church. Later on in the night I will be going to my “new” church for midnight mass. And just like that, it will be all over.

I feel like I’ve been talking about this transition forever. It’s been two long months of agonizing, discernment, praying and discussions.

The peace about the decision has not gone away, but I’m not happy with the decision either. I don’t want to leave my family.

Like it or not, it’s coming though. And while Christmas is a time of celebration and joy, I feel like I’m putting a damper on the holiday mood.

Throughout all this process though, I’ve realized that I really, REALLY need to stop dragging my feet and just get the ball rolling for religious life. I really need to be more disciplined. I really need to just – move and stop sitting around waiting for things to happen.

My heart belongs to God. I belong to God. No matter what I do. There are always going to be disappointments in life – people will fail you, loves will be lost, things will happen – but God has always, and will always be.

I apologize for not writing much lately. I’d appreciate if you could keep me in prayer. I’ll do the same for you.

Have a Blessed, Merry Christmas. Take time for Christ this weekend, but do enjoy your time with your loved ones. Cherish every moment – you know not where you will be next year…