Unchangeable

January 18
“Since the first century the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abortion. This teaching has not changed and remains unchangeable. Direct abortion, that is to say, abortion willed either as an end or a means, is gravely contrary to the moral law.”
-Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2271
Today’s Reflection:
Human life is sacred. How do we allow this Church teaching to move us forward with faith and confidence in the public square to proclaim this truth?
  

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The solution for restoring justice

January 17
“The ultimate solution for restoring and promoting justice at all levels
lies in the heart of each man.”
-Fr. Francis Fernandez
Today’s Reflection:
It is in the heart that injustice comes into existence. Examine your own heart in this regard. Seek the sacrament of penance and resolve to practice justice in the areas in which you have been remiss.
  

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Hunger and thirst for justice

January 16
“Blessed are those that hunger and thirst for justice,
for they shall have their fill.”
-Matthew 5:6
Today’s Reflection:
We must do more than agree with Church teaching on issues. We must form our conscience according to them, and we must let Church teaching move us forward with faith and confidence into the public square to proclaim the truth at every opportunity. How do your actions indicate your beliefs about the sanctity of life? How can you bring greater justice into the contemporary culture?
  

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Strength for all

January 15
“As long as matters are really hopeful, hope is a mere flattery or platitude; it is only when everything is hopeless that hope begins to be a strength at all. Like all the Christian virtues, it is as unreasonable as it is indispensable.”
-G.K. Chesterton
Today’s Reflection:
There is no hope without uncertainty. Perilous times, difficult circumstances, tenuous situations, and heartrending trials form the crucible in which hope is tested, refined, purified, and proven. Ponder this fact. How does it speak to you in your current circumstances?
  

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Love God in perfect liberty

January 14
“We have to uphold the right of all men to live, to own what is necessary to lead a dignified existence, to work and to rest, to choose a particular state in life, to form a home, to bring children into the world within marriage and to be allowed to educate them, to pass peacefully through times of sickness and old age, to have access to culture, to join with other citizens to achieve legitimate ends, and, above all, to enjoy the right to know and love God in perfect liberty.”
 -St. Josemaria Escriva
Today’s Reflection:
How are you actively participating in activities that speak for the poor, the weak, the disenfranchised, and the forgotten? How can you do more uphold the dignity of all human life?
  

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Heralds of the Gospel

January 13
“We need heralds of the Gospel who are experts in humanity, who know the depths of the heart of many today, who share in his hopes and joys, his worries and his sadness, and at the same time are contemplatives, in love with God. For this, new saints are needed.”
-St. John Paul II
Today’s Reflection:
God has given us life at this time to be the “new saints” and the “new evangelizers” who will proclaim His love to the world.
How is God calling you to fulfill this very mission in your own life?
  

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I have not stopped giving thanks for you.

 

Blessings in the New Year to you and your family!

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Christian life

January 12
“Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit… and the door that gives access to the other sacraments.”
-Catechism of the Catholic Church 1213
Today’s Reflection:
In what specific ways can you embrace the grace of your Baptism?
  

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When Satan Torments the Mind

                                                                                                      Photo by Anh Nguyen on Unsplash

By Monsignor Stephen Rossetti

I continued to be saddened by the number of people who suffer from mental torments (see Diary #164). I daily receive frantic emails from people who are at their wits end. They have been mentally tormented for years and are losing hope.

These mental obsessions typically begin with a “normal” psychological weakness: low self-esteem, depressive thinking, dark ruminations, anxiety and fear, frustrations and anger. However, Satan then takes advantage of this human weakness and exaggerates it. Our low self-esteem becomes self-hatred; our anxiety becomes despair; our dark rumination becomes suicidal ideation. What should have been a typical daily irritant now becomes a full blown crisis.

Satan’s denigrating messages to us center around six common themes (see Diary #156): “You are a terrible person”, “There is no hope for you”, “God doesn’t care about you”, “This torment will never end”, “You are going to hell”, “You should kill yourself.”

These demonic obsessions are doubly dangerous because Satan is usually able to hide behind a person’s psychic flaws. Individuals do not realize the demonic source and thus they are even more convinced of their hopeless wretchedness. They may sink further into despair.
I do not have a quick fix. Real progress is gradual. But I pass on the kinds of interventions we are giving to those in our ministry. Individuals can choose a combination of those which they find most helpful…

+Recognize the true source of your mental torments. Yes, you have underlying psychological weaknesses which makes you vulnerable to these negative ruminations. But Satan is tormenting you with them. Once people can recognize the action of the Evil One, they may feel less culpable and more emotionally distant from them.

+Let them come….and let them go. Many people find it difficult just to stop these mental obsessions. In fact, the more one tries to stop them, the stronger they often become. Rather, offer no resistance. Let them come in one ear, and let them go out the other ear. Try not to latch onto them. As one Saint said when seeing Satan at the foot of her bed, “Oh, it’s only you.”

+Breathe and relax. Our bodies tense up when we are stressed. Take long, slow deep breaths. Inhale slowly, exhale slowly. Breathe deeply. Exercise the body by walking or whatever exercise works for you. When the body relaxes, it helps the mind relax.

+Close the door to the demonic. Satan is taking advantage of a psychological weakness. There are hurts and traumas from the past which have given rise to this weakness. Seek to heal these inner psychic wounds. Psychotherapy, healing prayers, spiritual direction, rituals of forgiveness, and the sacraments can all be sources of inner healing.

+Deliverance prayers focused on the particular torment. For example, if the person suffers from self-hatred, then say often, “In the holy name of Jesus, I renounce the evil spirit of self-hatred and command it to leave me.” Or if the problem is anger: “In the holy name of Jesus, I renounce the evil spirit of anger and command it to leave me.”

+Turn to Jesus- repeatedly. Regularly using short exclamatory prayers can help focus the mind on Jesus. Typical prayers are: “Jesus I trust in you” or “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me a sinner” or “Jesus, Mary” or another short holy prayer of your own choosing.

+Offer your suffering for others. We all have our own sufferings. Some people have great physical sufferings. You have great mental sufferings. These mental torments, when given to Jesus in faith, can be a source of grace for others, and for you.

+Be at peace. You are flawed and broken. You are suffering. It is okay! That is precisely why the Son of God became flesh. He died for your sins. You will not save yourself; you will never be without suffering in this life. Trust in Jesus; he will save you.

This blog was originally published at he St. Michael Center for Spiritual Renewal and is reprinted here with their kind permission.