What's Your Preoccupation?

Found this article about a survey of children and how the survey results indicate that materialistic society is "damaging" to children.

Materialistic society is 'damaging' children: poll

Well, what's my preoccupation?  Am I preoccupied with rest?  Am I preoccupied with isolating myself from my family, spouse, children?  How does what I do reflect on my children?  What example of preoccupation do I set for my family?  Where is Christ and His Church among my other "obligations"?

I tend to get a bit jaded by surveys because a passionate college professor trained me to question survey motives and procedures for gathering the data.  Needless to say, no matter the manner in which this survey was conducted or who they selected -- it certainly provides an important reminder for us to constantly evaluate not only our priorities, but also our behaviors.

One of my Dad's favorite expressions is "listen to what people say, but watch what they do."  What are you saying?  What are you doing?

Upcoming MMJ Meeting - The Fourth Cup

Gents – MMJ is on for this Friday at my house from 7-9PM.  The topic is “The Fourth Cup – Understanding The Christian Passover” and is being led by Greg.  This is a fascinating topic about how Jesus takes the Passover of the Jews and brings it to its ultimate conclusion by inserting himself.  You will have a better understanding of why Jesus is called the “Lamb of God” – which honestly took me until my mid-30’s before I know what the heck that meant.  This is an awesome teaching that will make your Holy Week and Easter much more meaningful, so don’t miss it!

If you haven’t already, please let me know if you are coming.  Looks like momentum is building for another awesome turnout, so let’s break another record! 

In Christ,

Tony

Nightly Retreat with Fr. Todd

Men – if you are interested the next Night of Formation Retreat is Monday, March 10^th, 6:30-8:30PM at St. Andrews Catholic Church in Roswell.  The evening starts with Mass and then Father gives two talks.  I encourage you to attend.  Please let me know if you are interested as several men from MMJ usually go each month.

In Christ,

Tony

P.S.  Mark your calendars as they are the 2^nd Monday of every month, same place and time.  There is also a similar on at Holy Spirit on the 3^rd Monday of every month.

Record Attendance at MMJ

Gents – we broke another attendance record at our last MMJ meeting, February 15^th with 21 men in attendance!  And even with the sell-out crowd Vinny came through with an awesome look at the Church’s position on work.  Overall the evening was an outstanding success.

Won’t you join us for our next MMJ on Friday, February 29^th?  The excellent teaching topics continue to roll in.  Greg will be leading us in a look at the Christian Passover based on Scott Hahn’s teaching of the “4^th cup”.  This will be another very informative and interesting night so please join us!

Let me know if you plan on attending so I can plan for the pizza and more chairs!  Let’s break another record gents!

2008 Feb/Mar/Apr/May/Jun Calendar

Date	Topic	Presenter
Feb. 15	Take This Job and @$%! -- A Christian Look at Work	Vince
Feb. 29	The Fourth Cup -- Understanding the Christian Passover	Greg
Mar. 14	Understanding Sacrifice -- The Stations of the Cross	Phil
Mar. 28	What Really Matters -- Leaving a Legacy for Your Children	Kris
Apr. 11	Me, a Saint? -- Understanding Our Call to Holiness	Mike
Apr. 25	Homosexuality -- A Cause for Christian Confusion	Jack
May 9	Faith, Hope, Love.  Building Theological Virtue	Vince
May 23	HELP! -- Conquering Addiction	Rob
Jun. 6	Get with the Program -- Achieving Spiritual Excellence	Tony
Jun. 20	Personal Demons -- Removing the Thorn	TBD

Saint of the Day - Our Lady of Lourdes - February 11th is the 150th Anniversary

Excerpt from American Catholic - Saint of the Day

On December 8, 1854, Pope Pius IX proclaimed the dogma of the Immaculate Conception in the apostolic constitution Ineffabilis Deus. A little more than three years later, on February 11, 1858, a young lady appeared to Bernadette Soubirous. This began a series of visions. During the apparition on March 25, the lady identified herself with the words: “I am the Immaculate Conception.”

Bernadette was a sickly child of poor parents. Their practice of the Catholic faith was scarcely more than lukewarm. Bernadette could pray the Our Father, the Hail Mary and the Creed. She also knew the prayer of the Miraculous Medal: “O Mary conceived without sin.”

Full Article: Our Lady of Lourdes - Saint of the Day - American Catholic

Day by Day Through Lent: Fasting From Our Clutter - Catholic Update January©2008

This is another great resource for maintaining your focus through Lent.  The author of this "Catholic Update", Susan K. Rowland, provides very short -- pointed reflections of the daily readings through every day of Lent.

Here are the reflections from Ash Wednesday through this first Sunday of Lent. 

Find the link at the bottom of this post for the full text.

ASH WEDNESDAY
GETTING READY TO CLEAR MY CLUTTER

Jl 2:12-18; 2 Cor 5:20—6:2; Mt 6:1-6, 16-18 Today’s readings give me basic instructions for the next 40 days. As a first step to clearing my heart and mind of clutter, I arrange a quiet prayer corner in which to talk to God. I find a suitable place in my home and stock it with a Bible, a notebook, pens (and this Update!). Today, and every day this Lent, I will spend time with God, reading over the Scriptures for the day, listening to what God is saying to me, and writing down what I hear.

THURSDAY: WHAT AM I GAINING—AND LOSING?

Dt 30:15-20; Lk 9:22-25 This culture urges me to do so much. In what ways is the rush and busy-ness of my life not truly necessary, but an effort to win the approval of others—in other words, to “gain the whole world”?

FRIDAY: REACH OUT TO OTHERS

Is 58:1-9a; Mt 9:14-15 Before I can reach out to those in need, I must be able to reach out. I talk to God today about areas of life where I neglect myself and compromise my health. Am I eating the wrong foods? Not getting enough sleep? Constantly stressed? Any of these habits will make me less able to serve God and God’s people.

SATURDAY: BE KIND TO MYSELF

Is 58:9b-14; Lk 5:27-32 The tax collector Levi’s change of heart came about because Jesus showed him kindness and friendship. I talk to God about any changes I should make in my self care in order to do as Jesus did. I ask for God’s help in making these changes in order to be able to do God’s will.

FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT: CLEARING MY SURROUNDINGS OF CLUTTER

Mt 4:1-11; Mk 1:12-15; Lk 4:1-13 I do not live “by bread alone.” If the only meaning of life was food, clothes or work, how meaningless it would be. Lent is a wonderful time to remind myself that God’s presence is what gives life meaning. I begin Lent by starting a “give away” box and praying about what I have that could be used by someone in need.

Full text here:

Day by Day Through Lent: Fasting From Our Clutter - Catholic Update January©2008

Message of His Holiness Benedict XVI for Lent 2008

"Chris made Himself poor for you" (2 Cor 8,9)

Dear Brothers and Sisters!

1. Each year, Lent offers us a providential opportunity to deepen the meaning and value of our Christian lives, and it stimulates us to rediscover the mercy of God so that we, in turn, become more merciful toward our brothers and sisters. In the Lenten period, the Church makes it her duty to propose some specific tasks that accompany the faithful concretely in this process of interior renewal: these are prayer, fasting and almsgiving. For this year’s Lenten Message, I wish to spend some time reflecting on the practice of almsgiving, which represents a specific way to assist those in need and, at the same time, an exercise in self-denial to free us from attachment to worldly goods. The force of attraction to material riches and just how categorical our decision must be not to make of them an idol, Jesus confirms in a resolute way: “You cannot serve God and mammon” (Lk 16,13). Almsgiving helps us to overcome this constant temptation, teaching us to respond to our neighbor’s needs and to share with others whatever we possess through divine goodness. This is the aim of the special collections in favor of the poor, which are promoted during Lent in many parts of the world. In this way, inward cleansing is accompanied by a gesture of ecclesial communion, mirroring what already took place in the early Church. In his Letters, Saint Paul speaks of this in regard to the collection for the Jerusalem community (cf. 2 Cor 8-9; Rm 15, 25-27).

Full text here Message of His Holiness Benedict XVI for Lent 2008

Pope: Lent is a Great Spiritual retreat lasting Forty days

February 6, 2008

"The call to conversion is, then, an encouragement to return to the arms of God the tender and merciful Father." Pope Benedict XVI

VATICAN CITY (VIS) - In this morning's general audience, held in the Paul VI Hall, the Pope dedicated his catechesis to the subject of Lent, which begins today with the rite of the imposition of the ashes and which, he observed, "is like a great spiritual retreat lasting 40 days".
"Today, as every year, we recommence the Lenten journey, stimulated by a more intense spirit of prayer and reflection, of penance and fasting", he said.
Lent, Benedict XVI continued, "helps us to rediscover the gift of faith we received at Baptism and encourages us to approach the Sacrament of Reconciliation, placing our commitment to inner conversion under the protection of divine mercy".

For the complete article -- Catholic Online - Lent

YouTube - Father Greg Friedman - What Are Catholics Doing for Lent?

 

What Are Catholics Doing for Lent?

Lenten Resources at MMJ

Fellas,

 

Make this the most meaningful and memorable Lent to date.  In order to help do this, please find in the right side bar a list of resources about Lent.

 

This list includes meditations, prayers, information, family activities, and Papal speeches regarding Lent.

 

If you know of other resources not on this list, please comment back to this blog post.

 

Where's the Beef? MMJ Teaching on Lent

Lent is the great timeout during the Super Bowl of Life:

A period of 40 days, excluding Sundays, from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday when Christians reflect on Jesus' temptations in the desert. We are called to participate in the Lenten season through prayer, fasting, and alms giving.

According to Ted Olson, author of "The Beginning of Lent," lent is a time of "self-examination and patience demonstrated by self-denial." It is a season for reflection, which is supposed to imitate Jesus' withdrawal into the wilderness for 40 days.

According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, "540... "For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sinning" [Heb 4:15]. By the solemn forty days of Lent the Church unites herself each year to the mystery of Jesus in the desert." Pasted from <http://www.aloha.net/~mikesch/lent.htm>

Download the full teaching