PathToHoliness

I may have seen this sometime ago but only recently said it carefully and daily. It can be easily found. The author is Rafael Cardinal Merry del Val y Zulueta. He was the Secretary of State to Pope Saint Pius X (1903-1914). I first found it in the book, Deliverance Prayers, For use by the Laity, by Fr. Chad Ripperberger, PhD. I’m posting it here from EWTN since it is easy to post it.

After turning 65 this year and looking ahead to that next life phase which might be a sort of retirement, this prayer has made me feel much more calm and less anxious. I’ve always been a competitor, in sports or in business. I don’t mind saying my goal was to become a millionaire. That didn’t go so well on the first business. Now Cindy and I are 20 years into a small business with a goal of not only doing good work but just being able to pay bills and raise a family of three daughters. We’re now 43 years after college, with 40 in the agricultural communications field. It has been rewarding, educational, fun, and I’ve been able to travel as see so many things that most people will never see. And as proud of I am of meeting a Pope, seeing Guadalupe, seeing the Shroud and many more, I cherish the memories but I don’t want to be honored/praised/preferred/approved. I want to love Jesus and be a good disciple. That is enough and that is a lot. So, whatever happens in the next little while, I want it to be for God only.

O Jesus, meek and humble of heart,

Hear me.

From the desire of being esteemed,

Deliver me, O Jesus.

From the desire of being loved,

Deliver me, O Jesus.

From the desire of being extolled,

Deliver me, O Jesus.

From the desire of being honored,

Deliver me, O Jesus.

From the desire of being praised,

Deliver me, O Jesus.

From the desire of being preferred to others,

Deliver me, O Jesus.

From the desire of being consulted,

Deliver me, O Jesus.

From the desire of being approved,

Deliver me, O Jesus.

From the fear of being humiliated,

Deliver me, O Jesus.

From the fear of being despised,

Deliver me, O Jesus.

From the fear of suffering rebukes,

Deliver me, O Jesus.

From the fear of being calumniated,

Deliver me, O Jesus.

From the fear of being forgotten,

Deliver me, O Jesus.

From the fear of being ridiculed,

Deliver me, O Jesus.

From the fear of being wronged,

Deliver me, O Jesus.

From the fear of being suspected,

Deliver me, O Jesus.

That others may be loved more than I,

Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

That others may be esteemed more than I,

Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

That, in the opinion of the world, others may increase and I may decrease,

Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

That others may be chosen and I set aside,

Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

That others may be praised and I go unnoticed,

Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

That others may be preferred to me in everything,

Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should,

Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it.

Charity

Charity is patient, is kind; charity does not envy, is not pretentious, is not puffed up, is not ambitious, is not self-seeking, is not provoked; thinks no evil, does not rejoice over wickedness, but rejoices with the truth, bears with all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. (1 Cor. 13:4-7).

To have Charity is to love God above all things for Himself and be ready to renounce all created things rather than offend Him by serious sin. ( Matt. 22:36-40)

I recently returned from a 9 day trip to back to back conferences in Calgary and Olds, Alberta, Canada. The first one was primarily in Olds at the university there. So, I have added to my collection of churches I have been blessed to visit for Mass. This one is St. Stephen’s. I got a cab ride to Mass and found one of the attendees at the conference there at the end of Mass. We shared a ride back to the conference venue. I wish we could have had more attending but I am so glad for that opportunity. I couldn’t go to daily Mass but was able to do so for Sunday vigil Mass.

The St. Michael Chapter of the Knights of Columbus, #8589, held its officer installation on May 30, 2023 at V. Paul’s restaurant in Pensacola, FL. Not all officers were able to be present but most of them were. Officers were able to have their wives join them as well as a few guests.

We have often had the installation prior to a business meeting. However, this provided for a special ceremony which included not only having wives and some friends but some good social time without having to conduct business with reports and voting on activities.

Members of Council 8589, Basilica of St. Michael the Archangel, in Pensacola, FL donated the money collected through the annual Tootsie Roll campaign to The Arc Gateway. The council presented a check for over $540. The Arc Gateway provides life changing programs and services for more than 1,200 children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Pictured are (l-r): The Arc Gateway: Stephen Rampersad, Chief Advancement Officer, Jenni Perkins, Marketing and Public Relations Director and Knights of Columbus Council 8589: Fred Myers, Deputy Grand Knight, Myself, Lecturer, Bob Clipper, Chancellor.

Afters making the presentation we were given a tour of the facilities that include classrooms for children with different disabilities and areas for adults to have a quiet, safe place to relax. Of real interest are the products that are produced to provide a work environment that will help people with disabilities find employment with local businesses. Some of those products include shredding paper and other materials, creating artwork for sale, concrete products and more.

Mother’s Day is past but Cindy and I visited my Mother and other local family where she lives that weekend. It’s a long drive but well worth the effort. Mother took us all to LongHorn Steakhouse after morning Mass. She insisted it was her treat although we were all ready to take care of the meal. We not only had a good time going to Mass and lunch but spending time at Mother’s house and my brother/sister-n-law’s house with some of their children. We don’t know what the future holds and after losing my Father it really made me think a lot about finding time to visit family. Cindy and I have family scattered in 4 states so it’s not easy or inexpensive to make trips multiple times of the year. But we believe God will take care of all that as long as we talk to Him and use the treasures we are blessed with.

For Father’s Day we will be making a trip to Nashville to see our children and 1st year old grand baby. And we will have more plans to see family during the rest of the year.

It is still Easter season and I was able to make my annual retreat. This was held at the Villa Maria Catholic Life Center near Springfield, IL. The retreat was put on by the Wespine Center in St. Louis, MO. Pictured is the chapel where we listened to talks from our priest, Fr. Mike Giesler, and held Mass and Adoration as well as just being able to sit in the presence of Jesus in the Tabernacle.

I always take a lot of notes during the talks and meditations. I’m sharing many of these on my Twitter account: @PathToHoliness. Feel free to follow and thank you.

I had not been able to go to an Opus Dei retreat for a couple of years and it was greatly missed. I needed it because it “recharges my spiritual batteries.” The biggest and pleasant surprise was that Fr. Giesler was here. He was the priest at my first retreat back in 1997! He has written several books that you can find easily online. I purchased “How Christ Saves Souls – With Us: The Mystery of Co-Redemption, which was published last year by Emmaus Road Publishing.

I hope you had a wonderful Easter as we celebrate the risen Christ. Hopefully you know that the Easter season continues for 50 days! It is a time of celebration and hope.

I’m looking at the last time I posted here and am finding it hard to believe. This year so far we have seen a significant increase in business for our little company. That is a good thing and something that I have prayed a lot about for the last 3+ years. The work we do requires me to do significant travel and I can’t say it excites me any more. I have been in many countries and almost all the states in the USA. And some, many, many times. But if this is what God wants me to do then I will do it with the best of my ability and with joy, not boredom/laziness/anxiety/indecision.

At the same time I am feeling called to put my talents to more use in helping others come to Jesus or have conversions that bring them closer. I want to become a saint and to do that I have to help others do the same. It starts with me, my family and the many people I interact with in my business.

Now, if the technology we have today would be more reliable, simple . . .

It has been a challenging year for many non-profits as inflation has taken made it difficult for people to continue regular donations. My Knights council did a great job though in collecting donations for our support for life.

Knights of Columbus council 8589, Basilica of St. Michael the Archangel, raised a record $5721.41 in the annual Baby Bottle Drive this year. The Council presented a check to the Alpha Center, a pregnancy support service offering alternatives to abortion. Pictured is Fr. Joe Fowler, Rector and Pastor and left to right, Chuck Zimmerman, Council Lecturer/Program Director, Mary Thomas, Alpha Center and Mark Fanfalone, Council Financial Secretary.

Last week I spent 4 days working in Chicago. On Thursday, the Solemnity of The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, I used Uber to and from Assumption Catholic Church. Which, of course, was well worth it. It was cold and I really don’t have any desire to walk around the streets of a city like Chicago has become. I overheard attendees asking the hotel staff if it was safe to walk even just a couple blocks.

But all was well and we had a wonderful Mass where I renewed my Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary prayer. It’s actually several weeks of meditation and prayer and I highly recommend it.

The next trip I have to make for work isn’t until January 10 in New Orleans. It is shaping up to be a busy 1st quarter of 2023, just like it was this year. I don’t really relish the travel anymore but it is work and I offer it all up to God. I am hoping to see some family members before then, especially my Mother. In six weeks it will be the anniversary of my Dad’s funeral and I’d like to see her before then.

It was a happy family Thanksgiving at our house. Pictured with Cindy and me are the kids and grandkids, almost all with names that start with C. Chuck, Caitlin and Clint, Case and Cruz, Chelsea and Cove, Cindy, Carly, Charli, … and Doug. Not pictured: Pets – Croix, Chiara, Calypso and Limu Emu.

I am very thankful first and foremost for my faith in God and love of Jesus. But my wonderful wife, Cindy, is right at the top. We’ve celebrated our 42nd wedding anniversary this year and hope to have many more. With Cindy we have three daughters that we love dearly and the grand kids as well. We’re scattered around the country along with other family members and friends so it makes it difficult for us all to get together. But we put in the effort and don’t regret it.

And, as you might imagine, we’re looking ahead to when we can visit again. Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, pray for us.

It doesn’t often work out but last week I had to go to Clearwater Beach, FL for a business conference and had enough time to see some family and friends. It was cheaper to fly into Sarasota and rent a car than flying into Tampa. I was born and raised in Sarasota, which was only an hour or so away for Clearwater Beach. On the way to the hotel I saw my mother’s sister and my father’s brother-in-law and various cousins, as well as my college roommate and best friend from high school. Had not seen any of them in many years, so it was a nice treat.

But most important to me was seeing where Dad was buried after passing away early this year. We had the funeral in Georgia where he lived with Mother who is still living there. We were able to fly him to the cemetery where they had purchased grave sites. The grave stone has not been finished and placed there but I was able to find the spot where it will be. That’s why there is an open area in the photo. I am so glad to have been able to stop and say some prayers for him and my grandparents who are buried there too. And especially during this month when we remember our departed ones. BTW. I can’t thank my uncle enough who made the transportation and internment details for us.

My Knights of Columbus Council 8589 received the Columbian & Founders Award at our last meeting. Presenting the award was our District Deputy Roger Avery and receiving was our just past Grand Knight Fred Myers.

The Columbian Award is presented for excellence in sponsoring programs that serve the church, community, families, culture of life, and youth organizations, as well as council members.

The Founders’ Award recognizes excellence in your council’s promotion of our top-rated insurance products.

Our council is embarking on some changes to help attract new members. We’re especially hopeful to have some of our younger parishioners join and get involved. Here are the requirements: Membership in the Knights of Columbus is open to practical Catholic men in union with the Holy See, who are at least 18 years old.

If you are interested you can join online here.

Just in case no one has reminded you to get out and vote on Tuesday then please exercise your right to do so. I know many have voted early. I just like to go into my precinct vote and see my vote gets handed in to the people who work there.

I’m not writing to tell you who to vote for. I can tell you what I look for in someone who is running for office though. The respect for all lives is first up for me, especially those conceived in their mother’s womb. I can’t comprehend how many babies have been killed for convenience. Hopefully you know that is the primary reason for abortions, regardless of what anyone wants to tell you. The statistics don’t lie. But besides abortion I think we should all respect life in all its stages and that includes elderly, disabled and unemployed. So I look for a candidate who respects life.

Another big issue for me is how our governments are handling immigrants who legally want to come to America. It is heart breaking to see what is happening on our country’s borders. The crime, drugs and trafficking in people can be stopped. But we need help from our government to do that and none is happening.

There are a lot of issues to take note of and to think hard about what you really want for yourself and your family and friends, not to mention your workplace. Inflation, supply chain disruptions, health care that is becoming a shadow of what it used to be and don’t forget the immense amount of mental illness everywhere in our country. I wish is was just as easy as turning off the “news,” don’t spend much of any time on your phone/tablet/computer for social media and texting. Pick up the phone and call someone instead. Make an appointment to see your priest or church leader who can listen and help you.

And I’ll end with the need to pray more often. Ask God what He wants you to do before you make a decision. He will always listen and wants to hear you. Just spend some quiet time listening (not talking) to God. You probably won’t hear Him audibly but your soul will.

May all your Guardian Angels look over and help you overcome all the things that bother you or that you need serious help with.

I don’t know why it is so difficult to “find my voice” with this website. My original purpose was to just share the journey of faith that I’ve been on, especially after a very incredible conversion experience that changed my life. There are so many facets to this that I think I should be able to at least share my thoughts on these things for the rest of my life.

So, I’ll keep trying.

Over 2 weeks ago someone accessed my Facebook account via my AgWired.com business page. I got a notice from FB and immediately logged in and saw that it was someone on a computer in Chicago. I was in Minneapolis at the time. Before I could cancel them out, FB blocked my whole account. Although I went through their disagreement process I still do not know why they did this other than that “someone reported to them that I had violated FB standards.” I have never done that in any way. So, I don’t know who, how, why. And there is no way to communicate with FB.

This has bothered me more than I would have expected. I have been on FB since the moment you could create an account. I have used it to communicate with family, friends and business associates. I created two business pages to provide more value to my customers who want the audience I can offer. FB was the only way I could communicate with a lot of people since I didn’t have any other contact information for them.

But, besides being a valuable communications platform I found that you can become “addicted” to spending too much time on it. For the first several days after this happened I felt like I was missing something and feeling anxiety as the result. Not good.

So, as of writing this, I am blocked by FB. Do I want it back? Yes. Do I care if I never do? No, I can live without it.

I’ll update this post if anything changes. But for now, I’m considering how the time I’m not spending on FB is allowing me to do other things that are of much greater value. This includes more prayer time, working on my to-do list, communicating more directly with other people. And that’s not a bad thing.

So, Memento Mori.

This past Saturday morning the Basilica of St. Michael the Archangel, Pensacola, hosted a Knights of Columbus display and ceremony of the Silver Rose program. There are several silver roses that travel around the country. In this case, our Florida member hands off the silver rose to a member in Alabama who will take it to the next stop.

The Silver Rose program demonstrates the unity between Knights of Columbus in Canada, the United States and Mexico, through a series of prayer services promoting the dignity of all human life and honoring Our Lady.

Each year, from early March through mid-December, Silver Roses are stewarded by Knights of Columbus councils along routes from Canada to Mexico. Every stop the Silver Rose makes throughout the pilgrimage is a rosary-centered occasion for Knights, parishioners and community members to pray for respect for life, for the spiritual renewal of each nation, and for the advancement of the message of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

The Silver Rose Program began in 1960, when the first rose – a real, live one – was blessed by a bishop in Ontario. The rose then traveled to New York and then to Texas where it was taken across the border into Mexico. The rose ended its pilgrimage at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Monterrey on Dec. 12, the Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe. To better ensure future annual trips, a silver rose was ultimately made. Today, due to the popularity of the program throughout the North American continent, eight silver roses travel unique routes.

You can find more information here. Perhaps your local council can be selected for a stop on the annual pilgrimage. Thanks to Bob Pappas we have lots of photos of this event you can find here.