Easter Changes Everything

James Martin, SJ provides an excellent reflection on the importance of Easter: Click Here

Spirituality in Your Daily Life

A very nice interview of Father James Martin discussing spirituality in your daily life.

Some Lenten Resources

A fun Lenten Calendar that is worth a try: Busted Halo - Pray, Fast, Give

Some Good Articles:
Ash Wednesday: Leaving the Guided Tour

Priest Lets His Jewish Friend Pick His Lenten Sacrifice

10 Things to Remember for Lent

Five Pieces of Advice for Lent

Pope on Ash Wednesday




Your Assignment is one post below.

Lent Assignment

Why do I have to fast during Lent?

Lent is less than a week away and it is time to start preparing ourselves for the Lenten traditions:

-          Meatless Fridays

-          Fasting on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday

-          Giving up something

Every Lent I get asked the customary questions:

-          Why do I have to fast during Lent?

-          Why does Jesus care if I eat meat on Friday?  

-          Who even came up with the idea of fasting?

Let’s turn to some people better versed in theology than us for the answers.

History of Fasting

“Fasting originated as a way of saving money on food, so that Christians could give it to the poor. It had a practical end: no meat for you meant more money for those who couldn't afford meat. Giving things up also reminds you that you don't always have to give into your appetites. It reminds you of your ability to exert self-control. And it reminds you of the poor, who go without every day.”

Father James Martin, S.J.

Catholic Author

Why We Fast

“Fasting is a powerful way to stand in solidarity with those who suffer … and to imitate the suffering of Jesus Christ. Fasting also provides an opportunity to seriously examine our own hearts and seek conversion.”

Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap.
Archbishop of Philadelphia

Who, When, and How do We Fast

Ash Wednesday (2/22) and Good Friday (4/6) are days of fasting and abstinence for Catholics. According to Church law, Catholics older than the age of 14 are supposed to abstain from meat. In addition, those between the ages of 18 and 59, not including pregnant or nursing mothers, should eat only one full meal. Smaller amounts of food—not as much as a full meal—may be eaten in the morning and either at lunchtime or dinner, depending on when you eat your full meal.

Summary of the Catechism of the Catholic Church

Assignment can be found here.

CNN: Reclaiming Jesus’ sense of humor

A nice article and video done by CNN and James Martin, SJ on Jesus's sense of humor.

Article

Tim Tebow and Faith

Two great articles about the recent "excitement"surrounding Tim Tebow.

What Tim Tebow is Not

Is God Answering Tim Tebow's Prayers?

St. Francis of Assisi

Directions: Watch the video and take notes for a quiz on Monday.  The link below is A Great Excerpt from "Between Heaven and Mirth" by James Martin, SJ on the humor of St. Francis, while note required, it is recommended. 


Who Cares About the Saints? (St. Francis) from Loyola Productions on Vimeo.

Link: A Great Excerpt from "Between Heaven and Mirth" by James Martin, SJ on the humor of St. Francis

Is There a Connection Between Halloween and All Saints Day?

Mr. Foley's Classes should watch the video and take notes for a quiz.

Do find joy in your spiritual life?

How did I miss the Feast of St. Francis??

St. Francis is one of my favorite Saints, but school and life have been so busy lately that I completely forget to blog on his feast day - October 4th.  So today you get extra St. Francis stuff.

A Great Excerpt from "Between Heaven and Mirth" by James Martin, SJ on the humor of St. Francis

A St. Francis Bio 

And since St. Francis was known for his love of animals and many parishes often have an animal blessing as part of the celebration of his feast, you get a picture of my pets.  Pray for yours!

The Surprisingly Joyful Theology of 1 Thessalonians

This is a combination of many of my favorite spiritual subjects: James Martin, SJ, St. Paul, and Joy...check it this except from James Martin, SJ's new book.  I've already pre-ordered the book.

Rejoice Always!!

A Reflection on 9/11 by Fr. James Martin, SJ

and a well done reflection - Click Here

Liking Catholicism on Facebook

Many Catholic Bishops, authors, and groups utilize facebook as a means of communication.  If you go to their facebook page and “like” them you will receive information and news in your facebook news feed as it becomes available.

Some examples of people or groups you could friend:

United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)

Diocese of Rockville Centre

Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York

James Martin, SJ (Catholic Author)

Who Cares About the Saints?

Last week I posted about a recommended book for the summer, My Life with the Saints by James Martin, SJ.  As a companion to the book, Loyola Productions and James Martin, SJ have created a video series entitled Who Cares About the Saints?.  The series is incredibly well done and highlights the life of each one of the saints in the book.

Here are some of the videos:

Introduction



St. Francis


Who Cares About the Saints? (St. Francis) from Loyola Productions on Vimeo.

St. Peter


Who Cares About the Saints? (St. Peter) from Loyola Productions on Vimeo.

Mary


Who Cares About the Saints? - Mary from Loyola Productions on Vimeo.

St. Ignatius


Who Cares About the Saints?...Ignatius from Loyola Productions on Vimeo.

Therese of Lisieux


Who Cares About the Saints? (Therese of Lisieux) from Loyola Productions on Vimeo.

Thomas Merton


Who Cares about the Saints? (Thomas Merton) from Loyola Productions on Vimeo.

A Summer Reading Recommendation

If you are looking for something to read over the summer (and you should be), I strongly recommend My Life with the Saints by James Martin, SJ.  I purchased it awhile ago and only recently sat down to read it.  I enjoyed it immensely.  It is a well written and easy-to-read book that does a wonderful job of weaving together material from our class (saints lives) with modern-day life.

The book can found in your library or can be purchased at amazon.com or anywhere else books are sold.

Here is a review from Booklist: 

"It is one thing to read the lives of the saints, quite another to read about somebody who lives with the saints, who thinks about, researches, and calls upon certain saints regularly. Such a person is, today, a rarity. Such a person is GE-exec-turned-Jesuit James Martin, associate editor of the national Catholic weekly America, who details his introduction to and relationship with more than a dozen of his favorite haloed heroes in this book. They include Jude, patron saint of lost causes, whom Martin refers to as "the saint of the sock drawer" because that's where, when a young man, Martin kept a statuette of Jude; Ignatius Loyola, who inspired Martin to look for God in his daily life; and St. Joseph, whose quiet service to Christ motivates Martin. With wit and candor, Martin brings those and his other seemingly distant role models down to earth, citing instances from their biographies and, with deepest effectiveness, revealing his personal connection to each and how each has assisted his life." Donna Chavez - Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved.

Catholic Saint Selection: It's Complicated

In preparation for the Beatification of John Paul II on May 1st, Kim Lawton of Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly has written an article entitled "Catholic Saint Selection: It's Complicated" that summarizes the very selective canonization process used by our Church.  A link to the article is below - I promise it is short.

Catholic Saint Selection: It's Complicated






Here is a short PBS video that goes with the article

Easter Sunday: It’s not about the bunnies

Two good articles by James Martin, SJ about why Easter has resisted the commercialism that has affected Christmas.

Easter Sunday: It’s not about the bunnies

Happy Crossmas! Why Easter stubbornly resists the commercialism that swallowed Christmas.

A Palm Sunday Meditation: Take Up My Cross?

Rev. James Martin, SJ writes a great reflection for Palm Sunday and Holy Week.  He touches upon many of the topics we studied at the end of the trimester: crosses, suffering, resurrection, etc.   Here is an excerpt:

"God's gift of resurrection is usually a complete surprise, just like it was for the Apostles. And just as the Apostles discovered on Easter Sunday, the resurrection does not come when you expect it. It sometimes takes a long time to come at all. 

And when it does come, it's often not what you would expect it to look like.

Most of all, it's often hard to describe, because it's personal -- it's your resurrection."

Click Here for Full Text

Put St. Patrick Back In St. Patrick's Day!

Thursday, March 17^th, is Saint Patrick’s Day; one of two Catholic Saints whose feast day appear on all secular calendars (St. Valentine is the other).  In Ireland, celebrations of St. Patrick’s life date back over a thousand years.  The Church officially recognized March 17^th as St. Patrick’s feast day in the early 1600s.

The St. Patrick's Day custom came to America in 1737, with the city of Boston hosting the first public celebration.  However, New York City claims that Boston’s celebration did not count because it lacked a parade; New York hosted the first St. Patrick’s Day Parade in 1762 (have those two cities ever liked each other).  

Over time, St. Patrick’s Day has become less about the man and more about a celebration of Irish culture with people wearing green, displaying shamrocks, and eating cornbeef.

This St. Patrick’s Day let’s stop for a minute and remember what we are celebrating on March 17^th – a man, a priest, a missionary – St. Patrick.

Here is a link to an article about why we should Put St. Patrick Back In St. Patrick's Day!

For Mr. Foley’s class, there is a short reflection at the end; it is due Wednesday, March 23rd (FYI: the Vatican Council II assignment is a couple blogposts down).

Why Do I Have to Fast During Lent?

Lent is less than a week away and it is time to start preparing ourselves for the Lenten traditions:

-          Meatless Fridays

-          Fasting on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday

-          Giving up something

Every Lent I get asked the customary questions:

-          Why do I have to fast during Lent?

-          Why does Jesus care if I eat meat on Friday?  

-          Who even came up with the idea of fasting?

Let’s turn to some people smarter than us for the answers.

History of Fasting

“Fasting originated as a way of saving money on food, so that Christians could give it to the poor. It had a practical end: no meat for you meant more money for those who couldn't afford meat. Giving things up also reminds you that you don't always have to give into your appetites. It reminds you of your ability to exert self-control. And it reminds you of the poor, who go without every day.”

Father James Martin, S.J.

Catholic Author

Why We Fast

“Fasting is a powerful way to stand in solidarity with those who suffer … and to imitate the suffering of Jesus Christ. Fasting also provides an opportunity to seriously examine our own hearts and seek conversion.”

Charles J. Chaput, O.F.M. Cap.
Archbishop of Denver

Who, When, and How do We Fast

Ash Wednesday (3/9) and Good Friday (4/22) are days of fasting and abstinence for Catholics. According to Church law, Catholics older than the age of 14 are supposed to abstain from meat. In addition, those between the ages of 18 and 59, not including pregnant or nursing mothers, should eat only one full meal. Smaller amounts of food—not as much as a full meal—may be eaten in the morning and either at lunchtime or dinner, depending on when you eat your full meal.

Summary of the Catechism of the Catholic Church

In-class Assignment for those absent on March 4th (I fixed the link on Sat. morning -- It should work now)