PathToHoliness

Today’s feast of the Baptism of the Lord reminds us of our own baptism into the family of God and our call to grow in holiness: “You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Mt. 5:48).

We may not all be called to the same level of spiritual or intellectual insight as the likes of Augustine or Aquinas and we may never be martyred like St. Paul or St. Thomas Moore, but we are certainly all called to be saints. What I love about Opus Dei is that it encourages the sanctity of the ordinary Christian life:

“It doesn’t matter what age you are; it doesn’t matter what your position is or what your circumstances are or who you are: you have to convince yourself, commit yourself, and desire holiness. You well know that holiness does not consist in extraordinary graces received in prayer, or unbearable mortification and penance; nor is it the inheritance only of those who live in lonely oases, far from the world. Holiness consists in faithful and loving fulfillment of one’s desires, in joyful and humble acceptance of God’s will, in union with him in your everyday work, in knowing how to fuse religion and life into a fruitful and harmonious unity, and in all sorts of other ordinary little things you know so well.”

From Jesus as Friend by Fr. Salvatore Canals

Helpful resources:
The Bible (obviously)
The Way, Furrow, Forge (here is a combined set)
Passionately Loving the World
Story of a Soul

Ben Stein’s back in the movies. This time he’s taking a look at Creationism and the scientists who have risked their careers defending it, or at least attempting to explore it. Ben is convinced that the rabid attempt to stifle the idea of Creationism is due to a certain amount of fear and even uncertainty on the part of neoDarwinists. What I really can’t figure out is why Creationism is equated with Christianity by those who condemn it. There are many non Christian religions who believe in the existence of a higher power. Teaching Creationism does not mean teaching the Bible.

Anyway, look for this movie in theaters next month:

h/t: Regular Guy Paul

Resources:
Reasons to Believe – I’m reading this right now and it’s excellent
Faith and Reason

I have been reading the Pope’s latest encyclical, Spe Salvi. If you haven’t yet found any good Advent spiritual reading, I highly suggest this reflection on Christian hope. Here is an example.

“To come to know God – the true God – means to receive hope…we possess the hope that ensues form a real encounter with this God.” At this point (paragraph 3) the Pope relates the story of the African Saint Josephine Bakhita who was once a slave under the harshest conditions. After being bought by an Italian merchant she came to know a new master – the master “above all masters, the Lord of all lords, and that this Lord is good, goodness in person. She came to know that this Lord even knew her, that he had created her—that he actually loved her.”

This encounter gave her real hope, to which she proclaimed, “I am definitively loved and whatever happens to me—I am awaited by this Love. And so my life is good.”

This Advent we await the joyful coming of this Lord and master who, though he has not yet “come in Glory”, is surely a living reality today. He died to prepare a place for us in in heaven (see John 14), where he too waits for us at the right hand of His Father.

This is a cute video from That Catholic Show on the intimidating Catholic Catechism.

As I’ve been surfing through SQPN, the Catholic podcast network and finding many cheap online viagra other good things. My favorite is the Secrets of Harry Potter podcast by Brother Giles Baker. Mark Shea has called Harry Potter the, greatest Christian fantasy epic of our generation. I typically just enjoy Harry Potter as a good story with characters I really care about, not thinking a whole lot about religious imagery, but this podcast brings a lot of that imagery to light.

There are also podcasts for the secrets of The Lord of the Rings, Narnia, Star Wars and even The Pirates of the Carribean.

Previous HP posts:
Catholics and Harry Potter
To Rowling’s Credit
A Pro-Life Harry Potter?
Harry Potter, Magic and Contraception

Since I have written a few times about Mother Teresa and her spiritual darkness, I thought I’d also share this video of Stephen Colbert interviewing Fr. James Martin about just that.

Previous posts:
Blinded by the Light
Darkness Within Faith

Mother Teresa’s darkness, highlighted in a recent book of her letters, has been criticized by many in the secular world, like this article in Newsweek by atheist author Christopher Hitchens.

The recent edition of the Catholic World Report contains an article on the Missionaries of Charity and the 10th anniversary of Mother’s death with a sidebar on the controversy of her “anguished faith.” There is no link available but here are some of the highlights. Archbishop Henry D’Sousa of Calcutta says,

“The book shows that the Mother was an ordinary human being and went through difficulties like others. Despite her doubts and problems, she always committed herself to God and service to the poor. That’s the model of a great soul.”

Archbishop Lucas Sirkar, Abp. D’Sousa’s successor adds,

“Those who are questioning the faith of the Mother have no idea of what spiritual life is. The more you move forward in the path to saintliness or holiness, the more you have to struggle against that which is not holy

From Sister Nirmala, Mother Teresa’s successor,

“This is a trial only few souls go through. It happens when God enters their hearts in a very powerful way. The light is so strong and the human capacity is so small. What happens when you look at the blazing sun? You are blinded. It is like that.”

I am pretty sure this trial happens to more souls than we think and indeed may perhaps enter the soul of every believer at some point in their spiritual journey. But we should not fear in time of trial for our Reasons to Believe are more than mere feelings.

In this you rejoice, although now for a little while you may have to suffer through various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that is perishable even though tested by fire, may prove to be for praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Although you have not seen him you love him; even though you do not see him now yet believe in him, you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, as you attain the goal of (your) faith, the salvation of your souls (1 Peter 1:6-9).