Catholic Fire

Esther tagged me for this meme about a week ago and I'm just now getting to it. 1. What’s been your best Lenten-effort-idea ever? Replacing my jewelry with medals. At one time, I wore a few rings on my fingers and at least one necklace or chain. Now the only jewelry I wear is my wedding ring and a pair of earrings. I wear a miraculous medal and a scapular medal around my neck now. 2. And your worst? Trying to go completely without TV -- I am able to cut down, but haven't been able to completely eliminate the habit. 3. What Lenten advice would you share? Try to select a goal that you are capable of achieving, for example, if you have trouble giving up chocolate or coffee completely and have caffeine withdrawl symptoms (like bad headaches and extreme grumpiness) then you're not doing yourself or anyone else a favor by totally eliminating it from your diet. Try reducing the number of cups of coffee or the amount of chocolate you are consuming. Also you don't always ha...

I have some meme catching up to do. First, I will start with the one Esther sent me. Thanks for the tag, Esther! The rules: List your four favorite saints, one favorite blessed and someone who think should have been a saint. This is difficult as there are so many saints I feel close to, but here goes. 1 . St. Therese of Lisieux Therese is like a sister to me - that is the kind of relationship we have. I can't explain it, but when I first read The Story of a Soul at age 15, I felt close to her in spirit. 2. St. Catherine of Siena is my confirmation saint. She was a gifted woman who taught, loved, and cared for others in such a compassionate way. 3. St. John, the Evangelist is my patron saint and the apostle who was closest to the Lord. He is known as "the beloved disciple" and the one to whom Jesus entrusted with the care of His mother. He was the only apostle to remain with Jesus until the end. His biblical writings inspire me in my love for God and for others and in my...

Thanks for the tag, Esther. What is your favorite Sorrowful Mystery? This is a tough one because I love all of the Sorrowful Mysteries, but it is probably the moment when Jesus says, "Into your hands I commend my spirit" and he dies on the cross because it is at that moment that amazing things begin to happen and the world is transformed by his great sacrifice of love. I also love it when Jesus gives us His Mother, who then becomes our Mother. Yes, it has to be the Fifth Mystery - the crucifixion and death of Our Lord Jesus Christ on the Cross. What is your favorite Station of the Cross? These are all so moving, but I think it has to be when Jesus dies on the cross for the reasons I mentioned above. In dying, he destroyed our death and is victorious over sin. Do you fast during Lent? Yes, I fast during Lent in various ways and try to incorporate my small victory over self-indulgence and sin into my daily life beyond the Lenten season. What is your Lenten Resolution(s)? To foc...