Aspire .

You want me to sit and do what?

2010-05-19T13:10:00.000-07:00

The anticipation is building, can you feel it? No? Any idea what I'm talking about?

Many of us forget that the Church has a liturgical calendar that we celebrate not only at church on Sunday, but hopefully in our daily lives. So what time are we in right now? It's that kind of limbo of waiting that most of us can't stand today. We are in between the Ascension and Pentecost. Take a minute to picture it as it would have been back then. Jesus just ascended into heaven, had promised them a helper that would come. The excitement of the Resurrection was probably wearing off and there must have been a temptation to fear that this was it. I can imagine Peter turning to John and asking him "so what do you think this Holy Spirit is going to look like?" They had no idea, they only knew that they had to wait.

So did they sit around in the upper room and get board? There wasn't facebook, video games or even books really to entertain themselves. You can only play tic tac toe in the sand so many times. But they didn't just sit there. They sought the Lord in prayer.

I can only imagine in those nine days how many times they asked for the Holy Spirit to come. Have you ever asked for something more than once? Ten times? A hundred? They waited in that room for nine days and prayed. To us today, that seems boring. Praying for the same thing over and over is exhausting, draining and discouraging at times. Ever struggled with committing the same sin over and over? Have you prayed for a bad situation to change and it hasn't happened right away? In the midst of the waiting, the disciples had hope. They knew who Jesus was and trusted that if he promised something that it would happen.

From these nine days that the disciples spent in prayer we get what we know today as the novena. Today many people set aside a similar time period for a special prayer intention and ask for the Lord to come and work in their lives. Sometimes it is through the intercession of another saint as well. So during this time between the Ascension and Pentecost what are you asking God for? What is the one thing that you are begging the Lord to do in your life right now? Are you looking forward to Pentecost with the hope of the disciples knowing that God can work in your life in a new way?

If you haven't thought about it yet, now's the time.... It's never too late!

This made me think

2010-05-12T10:32:00.000-07:00

How often do we argue that it's important to have the flash of new music, lights and more when the whole point is to come into an encounter with Christ. Even more importantly, we as Catholics have the EUCHARIST! If we really realize what is going on at the mass, how much would we be really be critiquing the music? Don't get me wrong, the music is a vital and important part of the liturgy, but this made me stop and think...

New Video of the Week

2010-04-27T13:24:00.001-07:00

Is this guy praying in tongues or something?

What does the Pope have to say about love and life?

2010-04-21T13:45:00.000-07:00

In his address to the youth of Malta, the Holy Father said the following:

"God loves every one of us with a depth and intensity that we can hardly begin to imagine. And He knows us intimately, He knows all our strengths and all our faults. Because He loves us so much, He wants to purify us of our faults and build up our virtues so that we can have life in abundance. When He challenges us because something in our lives is displeasing to Him, He is not rejecting us, but He is asking us to change and become more perfect. That is what He asked of St. Paul on the road to Damascus. God rejects no-one. And the Church rejects no one. Yet in His great love, God challenges all of us to change and to become more perfect.

"St. John tells us that perfect love casts out fear", the Holy Father added, and he called on the young people who wish to bring the Gospel to the world not to be afraid. "You may well encounter opposition to the Gospel message. Today's culture, like every culture, promotes ideas and values that are sometimes at variance with those lived and preached by our Lord Jesus Christ. Often they are presented with great persuasive power, reinforced by the media and by social pressure from groups hostile to the Christian faith.

"It is easy, when we are young and impressionable, to be swayed by our peers to accept ideas and values that we know are not what the Lord truly wants for us. That is why I say to you: do not be afraid, but rejoice in His love for you; trust Him, answer His call to discipleship, and find nourishment and spiritual healing in the Sacraments of the Church".

How can we take this into our own lives and use it?

funny video

2010-04-20T10:13:00.001-07:00

Technology & Catechesis (Religious Ed)

2010-04-20T10:02:00.000-07:00

In our workshop today, youth ministers and DRE's have been discussing the importance of the use of technology when we share our faith. We've been talking about how a website would be more than just an online brochure, but something that draws us into closer relationships with one another. What are some ways that we could change our website(s) to make them more like this? What would you change? Be creative!!

Diet or Sacrifice?

2010-03-10T13:35:00.000-08:00

We are in the thick of Lent now and it may seem like there's no end in sight, but there is!! Easter will come! Have you messed up on what you've given up? Did you accidentally eat meat on a Friday? Don't worry! The beauty of Lent is that we are able to get right back on track and try again, so if you have messed up, keep trying!
Recently on Twitter someone made the comment that "fasting without prayer is just a diet". This really made me think, how often do I just fast without letting it bring me closer to God? So my question for all of us this week is to think about what we've given up for Lent, have we replaced it with something else? Or are we allowing the sacrifice to draw us closer to God through prayer? For example, if you gave up television for Lent, what is replacing the time that was once spent watching television? Are you playing video games or spending time on the internet instead? How about spending a little of that time praying, even if it is just 15 minutes more a day? Did you give up some kind of food? What if every time you craved that food you said a simple little prayer and offer that little sacrifice for someone who you know that needs it. (Don't forget both Haiti and Chile who are still dealing with the enormous after effects of major earthquakes)

Want another simple extra thing to do this Lent? Come to youth group! Spend some time learning about the gift of the Bible with our high school team. If you're in 8th-12th grades, join us every other Sunday. We've got great food and it's Sunday so you can eat it :) This Sunday we're talking about the kings in the Old Testament, there's some juicy stuff in there...

What I'm listening to right now: We are the Beggars, by Ike Ndolo
What I ate for lunch? Jambalaya (yumm!)

Steubie 2010: Will you be there?

2010-02-12T11:46:00.001-08:00

Fav Youtube of the Week

2010-01-26T13:14:00.000-08:00

runner up for video of the week

2009-12-09T16:19:00.000-08:00

Fav Youtube of the Week

2009-12-09T11:59:00.000-08:00

Benedict's Prayer Intentions for December

2009-12-02T13:32:00.000-08:00

Pope Benedict's general prayer intention for December is: "That children may be respected and loved and never be the victims of exploitation in its various forms".
His mission intention is: "That at Christmas the peoples of the earth may recognise in the Word Incarnate the light which illuminates every man, and that the nations may open their doors to Christ, the Saviour of the world".

latest fav video - where is God calling you to go?

2009-12-02T13:25:00.000-08:00

BENEDICT XVI'S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR NOVEMBER

2009-10-31T13:02:00.001-07:00

VATICAN CITY, 30 OCT 2009 (VIS) - Pope Benedict's general prayer intention for November is: "That all the men and women in the world, especially those who have responsibilities in the field of politics and economics, may never fail in their commitment to safeguard creation".

His mission intention is: "That believers in the different religions, through the testimony of their lives and fraternal dialogue, may clearly demonstrate that the name of God is a bearer of peace".

Finally, we're back!

2009-10-22T13:42:00.000-07:00

Okay..... So we finally have found a place, day and time to meet :) It'll be during prayer meeting. We'll start with worship in the gym and then move to our own sessions a few times a month. We'll have more info for you soon, but start getting your homework done now!

Has the Lord broken through in your life?

2009-10-13T11:01:00.000-07:00

Mixed Messages: Untangling the myths about sex & love.

2009-10-07T12:13:00.000-07:00

For teens and their parents, the archdiocese is hosting a series on the theology of the body. There are several local events taking place, feel free to choose the one that best fits your schedule. I’ll plan on being at the one at St. Patricks in Rockville, on October 21st from 7-8:30pm if people would like to attend. There are similar sessions happening all week if that night does not work. Email me for more information, bio of the speaker, or to RSVP for the 21st. (youthmin@motherofgod.org)

If you liked Bella's actor...

2009-09-30T14:28:00.000-07:00

check this short story out!!!

http://www.thedoorpost.com/hope/The%20Butterfly%20Circus/

You are the HOPE of the Church!

2009-09-30T13:55:00.000-07:00

Check out what the Holy Father said last week to the youth and young adults in the Czech Republic:

POPE TELLS YOUNG PEOPLE: YOU ARE THE HOPE OF THE CHURCH

VATICAN CITY, 28 SEP 2009 (VIS) - At the end of today's Eucharistic celebration the Holy Father addressed a Message to the 10,000 young pilgrims gathered on the esplanade of Melnik near the site of St. Wenceslas' martyrdom. Many of them had spent the night in tents to attend the Mass presided by Benedict XVI.
"Being with you makes the Pope feel young!" the Holy Father told the pilgrims, thanking them for their "enthusiasm" and "generosity". He went on: "In every young person there is an aspiration towards happiness, sometimes tinged with anxiety: an aspiration that is often exploited, however, by present-day consumerist society in false and alienating ways. Instead, that longing for happiness must be taken seriously, it demands a true and comprehensive response. At your age, the first major choices are made, choices that can set your lives on a particular course, for better or worse".
Benedict XVI reminded his audience of "the experience of St. Augustine, who said that the heart of every person is restless until it finds what it truly seeks. He discovered that Jesus Christ alone is the answer that can satisfy his and every person's desire for a life of happiness, filled with meaning and value.
"As he did with Augustine", the Pope added, "so the Lord comes to meet each one of you. He knocks at the door of your freedom and asks to be welcomed as a friend. He wants to make you happy, to fill you with humanity and dignity. The Christian faith is this: encounter with Christ, the living Person Who gives life a new horizon and thereby a definitive direction".
"The Lord calls each of us by name, and entrusts to us a specific mission in the Church and in society". He "constantly renews His invitation to you to be His disciples and His witnesses. Many of you He calls to marriage, and the preparation for this Sacrament constitutes a real vocational journey. Consider seriously the divine call to raise a Christian family, and let your youth be the time in which to build your future with a sense of responsibility. Society needs Christian families, saintly families!"
Pope Benedict continued his Message: "And if the Lord is calling you to follow Him in the ministerial priesthood or in the consecrated life, do not hesitate to respond to His invitation. In particular, in this Year for Priests, I appeal to you, young men. ... The Church in every country, including this one, needs many holy priests and also persons fully consecrated to the service of Christ, Hope of the world.
"Hope! This word, to which I often return, sits well with youth. You, my dear young people, are the hope of the Church! She expects you to become messengers of hope".
The Holy Father then called on his youthful listeners to participate in the next World Youth Day, due to take place in the Spanish capital city of Madrid in August 2011, and he asked them "to live your faith with joy and enthusiasm; to grow in unity among yourselves and with Christ; to pray and to be diligent in frequenting the Sacraments, especially the Eucharist and Confession".

Pope's Prayer Intentions for Oct.

2009-09-30T13:20:00.000-07:00

VATICAN CITY, 30 SEP 2009 (VIS) - Pope Benedict's general prayer intention for October is: "That Sunday may be lived as the day on which Christians gather to celebrate the risen Lord, participating in the Eucharist".

His mission intention is: "That the entire People of God, to whom Christ entrusted the mandate to go and preach the Gospel to every creature, may eagerly assume their own missionary responsibility and consider it the highest service they can offer humanity".

Worship

2009-09-15T15:58:00.000-07:00

I know that a lot of us have been around worship, especially through music, for a long time. Check out this reflection by an artist name Jackie Francois about the difference between giving God the nod, and truly seeking him.

Good stuff!

http://www.jackiefrancois.com/page2/files/bce9ff9557cb4bc471c8b9723b5c6e82-8.html

Wanna listen to Matt Maher's new album before it comes out & for free?

2009-09-10T08:41:00.003-07:00

Check it out! His best yet...
http://www.mattmahermusic.com/listennow/

New Switchfoot!

2009-09-10T08:38:00.000-07:00

Save your Monday nights!

2009-09-02T14:24:00.000-07:00

Hey all! This month we are taking some time to get things set up for the coming year etc. We have a team in the works and hopefully a new location. Keep the team in your prayers as we meet and discern together what to do this next year.

We will do at least one FUN activity in September so make sure you vote early and often for your fav choice.

Look for our weekly small group to start up the first week in October

For those who like David Crowder Band and Twitter

2009-09-02T12:19:00.001-07:00

Pray for this little girl

2009-09-02T12:16:00.000-07:00

She's a friend of a friend of a friend... and can use your prayers!

Just for fun :)

2009-09-02T12:09:00.000-07:00

Holy Father's Intentions for September

2009-09-02T11:56:00.000-07:00

VATICAN CITY, 1 SEP 2009 (VIS) - Pope Benedict XVI's general prayer intention for September is: "That the word of God may be better known, welcomed and lived as the source of freedom and joy".

His mission intention is: "That Christians in Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar, who often meet with great difficulties, may not be discouraged from announcing the Gospel to their brothers, trusting in the strength of the Holy Spirit".

New movie to check out about Abortion

2009-09-02T11:49:00.001-07:00

See the "Bloodmoney" trailer on youtube...

World Youth Day Sunday - April 5th

2009-03-31T11:52:00.000-07:00

Every year there is a world youth day. This is different from the WYD's that we see hundreds of thousands of youth attending events with the Pope. Each year the Church takes a moment to honor the youth (meaning teens & young adults). This year's theme is centered around Hope. The Holy Father speaks to teens in this theme "We have set our hope on the living God" saying;

"We are all aware of the need for hope, not just any kind of hope, but a firm and reliable hope. ... Youth is a special time of hope because it looks to the future with a whole range of expectations. When we are young we cherish ideals, dreams and plans. Youth is the time when decisive choices concerning the rest of our lives come to fruition. Perhaps this is why it is the time of life when fundamental questions assert themselves strongly. ... These are questions that become insistent when we are faced with obstacles that sometimes seem insurmountable. ... We then ask ourselves: where can I obtain and how can I keep alive the flame of hope burning in my heart?"

He tells us that this hope can not come from the things of this world, from governments, societies or ideas, but it comes from God. As long as we depend on things other than God, we will increase a sense of lonliness, or even dispair. The Pope's response to this was to say "...rediscover the true face of God, Who is Love. To you young people, who are in search of a firm hope, I address the very words that St. Paul wrote to the persecuted Christians in Rome at that time: 'May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit'". And even more, he says "...hope is not simply an ideal or sentiment, but a living person: Jesus Christ, the Son of God. ... If we are not alone, if He is with us, even more, if He is our present and our future, why be afraid?"

How then do we seek after hope he asks?
1. "Make space for prayer in your lives!"
2. "Pray together"
3. "Take part in your parish liturgies"
4. "Be nourished by the Word of God."
5. "Participate in the sacraments."

Once you have this hope!!!

"If Jesus has become your hope, communicate this to others with your joy and your spiritual, apostolic and social engagement. ... Make choices that demonstrate your faith. Show that you understand the risks of idolising money, material goods, career and success, and do not allow yourselves to be attracted by these false illusions. Do not yield to the rationale of selfish interests. Cultivate love of neighbour and try to put yourselves and your human talents and professional abilities at the service of the common good and of truth, always prepared to 'make your defence to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you'. True Christians are never sad, even if they have to face trials of various kinds, because the presence of Jesus is the secret of their joy and peace.

WOW!
Mother Mary, who is our model of hope, pray for us that we too might know the source of hope which is your son. Amen!

Pope's intentions for April

2009-03-31T11:17:00.000-07:00

Check em out ladies and gentlemen.

VATICAN CITY, 31 MAR 2009 (VIS) - Pope Benedict's general prayer intention for April is: "That the Lord may bless farmers' work with an abundant harvest and sensitise the richer populations to the drama of hunger in the world".

His mission intention is: "That the Christians who operate in the territories where the conditions of the poor, the weak and the women and children are most tragic, may be signs of hope, thanks to their courageous testimony to the Gospel of solidarity and love".

you need to see this

2009-03-31T11:16:00.000-07:00

Not sure what to do for lent?

2009-02-25T15:13:00.000-08:00

Check this out!

Copy and paste this:
http://www.bustedhalo.com/features/fast-pray-give

Lent

2009-02-03T12:54:00.000-08:00

So, I know that my brain has started drifting in the direction again of what I am going to be giving up for Lent this year. For one of the first times, I'm looking at what I've really been holding onto, or something that I use a lot and giving those up. It may sound crazy, but I'm really looking forward to Lent. Last year I had an amazing time of spiritual growth personally, and I want the same to happen again. So bring on the lack of chocolate, television and video games. Okay so maybe not the last one for me... As we begin to think about Lent, I wanted to post the Pope's thoughts and get us all thinking about how God want's us to grow in the next 2 months.
God bless!

PAPAL MESSAGE FOR LENT 2009

VATICAN CITY, 3 FEB 2009 (VIS) - Made public today was the 2009 Lenten Message of the Holy Father Benedict XVI. The text, dated 11 December 2008, has as its title a verse from the Gospel of St. Matthew: "He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was hungry". The full English-language translation of the document is given below:

"At the beginning of Lent, which constitutes an itinerary of more intense spiritual training, the Liturgy sets before us again three penitential practices that are very dear to the biblical and Christian tradition - prayer, almsgiving, fasting - to prepare us to better celebrate Easter and thus experience God's power that, as we shall hear in the Paschal Vigil, 'dispels all evil, washes guilt away, restores lost innocence, brings mourners joy, casts out hatred, brings us peace and humbles earthly pride'. For this year's Lenten Message, I wish to focus my reflections especially on the value and meaning of fasting. Indeed, Lent recalls the forty days of our Lord's fasting in the desert, which He undertook before entering into His public ministry. We read in the Gospel: 'Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was hungry'. Like Moses, who fasted before receiving the tablets of the Law and Elijah's fast before meeting the Lord on Mount Horeb, Jesus, too, through prayer and fasting, prepared Himself for the mission that lay before Him, marked at the start by a serious battle with the tempter.

"We might wonder what value and meaning there is for us Christians in depriving ourselves of something that in itself is good and useful for our bodily sustenance. The Sacred Scriptures and the entire Christian tradition teach that fasting is a great help to avoid sin and all that leads to it. For this reason, the history of salvation is replete with occasions that invite fasting. In the very first pages of Sacred Scripture, the Lord commands man to abstain from partaking of the prohibited fruit: 'You may freely eat of every tree of the garden; 17but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall die'. Commenting on the divine injunction, St. Basil observes that 'fasting was ordained in Paradise', and 'the first commandment in this sense was delivered to Adam'. He thus concludes: ' 'You shall not eat' is a law of fasting and abstinence'. Since all of us are weighed down by sin and its consequences, fasting is proposed to us as an instrument to restore friendship with God. Such was the case with Ezra, who, in preparation for the journey from exile back to the Promised Land, calls upon the assembled people to fast so that 'we might humble ourselves before our God'. The Almighty heard their prayer and assured them of His favour and protection. In the same way, the people of Nineveh, responding to Jonah's call to repentance, proclaimed a fast, as a sign of their sincerity, saying: 'Who knows, God may yet repent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we perish not?' In this instance, too, God saw their works and spared them.

'In the New Testament, Jesus brings to light the profound motive for fasting, condemning the attitude of the Pharisees, who scrupulously observed the prescriptions of the law, but whose hearts were far from God. True fasting, as the divine Master repeats elsewhere, is rather to do the will of the Heavenly Father, who 'sees in secret, and will reward you'. He Himself sets the example, answering Satan, at the end of the forty days spent in the desert that 'man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God'. The true fast is thus directed to eating the 'true food', which is to do the Father's will. If, therefore, Adam disobeyed the Lord's command 'of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat', the believer, through fasting, intends to submit himself humbly to God, trusting in His goodness and mercy.

"The practice of fasting is very present in the first Christian community. The Church Fathers, too, speak of the force of fasting to bridle sin, especially the lusts of the 'old Adam', and open in the heart of the believer a path to God. Moreover, fasting is a practice that is encountered frequently and recommended by the saints of every age. St. Peter Chrysologus writes: 'Fasting is the soul of prayer, mercy is the lifeblood of fasting. So if you pray, fast; if you fast, show mercy; if you want your petition to be heard, hear the petition of others. If you do not close your ear to others, you open God's ear to yourself'.

"In our own day, fasting seems to have lost something of its spiritual meaning, and has taken on, in a culture characterised by the search for material well-being, a therapeutic value for the care of one's body. Fasting certainly bring benefits to physical wellbeing, but for believers, it is, in the first place, a 'therapy' to heal all that prevents them from conformity to the will of God. In the Apostolic Constitution 'Paenitemini' of 1966, Servant of God Paul VI saw the need to present fasting within the call of every Christian to 'no longer live for himself, but for Him who loves him and gave Himself for him ... he will also have to live for his brethren'. Lent could be a propitious time to present again the norms contained in the Apostolic Constitution, so that the authentic and perennial significance of this long held practice may be rediscovered, and thus assist us to mortify our egoism and open our heart to love of God and neighbour, the first and greatest Commandment of the new Law and compendium of the entire Gospel.

"The faithful practice of fasting contributes, moreover, to conferring unity to the whole person, body and soul, helping to avoid sin and grow in intimacy with the Lord. St. Augustine, who knew all too well his own negative impulses, defining them as 'twisted and tangled knottiness', writes: 'I will certainly impose privation, but it is so that he will forgive me, to be pleasing in his eyes, that I may enjoy his delightfulness'. Denying material food, which nourishes our body, nurtures an interior disposition to listen to Christ and be fed by His saving word. Through fasting and praying, we allow Him to come and satisfy the deepest hunger that we experience in the depths of our being: the hunger and thirst for God.

"At the same time, fasting is an aid to open our eyes to the situation in which so many of our brothers and sisters live. In his First Letter, St. John admonishes: 'If anyone has the world's goods, and sees his brother in need, yet shuts up his bowels of compassion from him - how does the love of God abide in him?' Voluntary fasting enables us to grow in the spirit of the Good Samaritan, who bends low and goes to the help of his suffering brother. By freely embracing an act of self-denial for the sake of another, we make a statement that our brother or sister in need is not a stranger. It is precisely to keep alive this welcoming and attentive attitude towards our brothers and sisters that I encourage the parishes and every other community to intensify in Lent the custom of private and communal fasts, joined to the reading of the Word of God, prayer and almsgiving. From the beginning, this has been the hallmark of the Christian community, in which special collections were taken up, the faithful being invited to give to the poor what had been set aside from their fast. This practice needs to be rediscovered and encouraged again in our day, especially during the liturgical season of Lent.

"From what I have said thus far, it seems abundantly clear that fasting represents an important ascetic practice, a spiritual arm to do battle against every possible disordered attachment to ourselves. Freely chosen detachment from the pleasure of food and other material goods helps the disciple of Christ to control the appetites of nature, weakened by original sin, whose negative effects impact the entire human person. Quite opportunely, an ancient hymn of the Lenten liturgy exhorts: 'Utamur ergo parcius, / verbis cibis et potibus, / somno, iocis et arctius / perstemus in custodia' - Let us use sparingly words, food and drink, sleep and amusements. May we be more alert in the custody of our senses.

"Dear brothers and sisters, it is good to see how the ultimate goal of fasting is to help each one of us, as Servant of God Pope John Paul II wrote, to make the complete gift of self to God. May every family and Christian community use well this time of Lent, therefore, in order to cast aside all that distracts the spirit and grow in whatever nourishes the soul, moving it to love of God and neighbour. I am thinking especially of a greater commitment to prayer, 'lectio divina', recourse to the Sacrament of Reconciliation and active participation in the Eucharist, especially the Holy Sunday Mass. With this interior disposition, let us enter the penitential spirit of Lent. May the Blessed Virgin Mary, 'Causa nostrae laetitiae', accompany and support us in the effort to free our heart from slavery to sin, making it evermore a 'living tabernacle of God.' With these wishes, while assuring every believer and ecclesial community of my prayer for a fruitful Lenten journey, I cordially impart to all of you my Apostolic Blessing".

Prayer Intentions for January

2009-01-06T10:41:00.001-08:00

VATICAN CITY, 30 DEC 2008 (VIS) - Pope Benedict XVI's general prayer intention for January is: "That the family ma become more and more a place of training in charity, personal growth and transmission of the faith".

His mission intention is: "That the different Christian confessions, aware of the need for a new evangelization in this period of profound transformations, may be committed to announcing the Good News and moving towards the full unity of all Christians in order to offer a more credible testimony of the Gospel".

Pope's prayer intentions for November

2008-10-31T12:00:00.000-07:00

BENEDICT XVI'S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR NOVEMBER

VATICAN CITY, 31 OCT 2008 (VIS) - Benedict's general prayer intention for November is: "That the testimony of love offered by the saints may fortify Christians in their devotion to God and their neighbor, imitating Christ who came to serve and not to be served".
His mission intention is: "That the Christian communities of Asia, contemplating the face of Christ, may know how to find the most suitable ways to announce Him, in full faithfulness to the Gospel, to the people of that vast continent so rich in culture and ancient forms of spirituality".

The Pope's prayer intentions for October

2008-10-01T10:41:00.000-07:00

Pope Benedict XVI's general prayer intention for October is: "That the Synod of Bishops may help the pastors and theologians, the catechists and promoters who are engaged in the service of the Word of God to courageously transmit the truth of faith in communion with the entire Church".

His mission intention is: "That in this month dedicated to the missions, through the promotional activities of the Pontifical Missionary Works and other organisms, every Christian community may feel the need to participate in the Church's universal mission with prayer, sacrifice and concrete help".

Pope + Youth + Holy Spirit = Amazing

2008-09-13T08:19:00.000-07:00

THE CHURCH HAS CONFIDENCE IN THE YOUNG

VATICAN CITY, 12 SEP 2008 (VIS) - Following the celebration of Vespers this evening in the cathedral of Notre-Dame, the Pope greeted young people participating in a prayer vigil in preparation for tomorrow's Mass, which is due to be celebrated on the esplanade of Les Invalides in Paris.

In his remarks to them Benedict XVI recalled how at the recent 23rd World Youth Day "many young people rediscovered the importance of the Holy Spirit for the life of every Christian. The Spirit gives us a deep relationship with God, Who is the source of all authentic human good.

"All of you desire to love and to be loved! It is to God that you must turn, if you want to learn how to love, and to find the strength to love", he added.

The Pope then went on to invite the young "to meditate on the importance of the Sacrament of Confirmation ... which leads you into a mature faith life. It is vital for you to understand this Sacrament more and more in order to evaluate the quality and depth of your faith and to reinforce it. The Holy Spirit enables you to approach the mystery of God; He makes you understand Who God is. He invites you to see in your neighbours the brothers and sisters whom God has given you, in order to live with them in human and spiritual fellowship - in other words, to live within the Church. By revealing Who the crucified and risen Lord is for us, He impels you to bear witness to Christ".

"You need to speak about Christ to all around you, to your families and friends, wherever you study, work and relax. Do not be afraid! Have 'the courage to live the Gospel and the boldness to proclaim it'. ... Bring the Good News to the young people of your age, and to others as well. They know what it means to experience difficulty in relationships, worry and uncertainty in the face of work and study. They have experienced suffering, but they have also known unique moments of joy. Be witnesses of God, for, as young people, you are fully a part of the Catholic community. ... The Church has confidence in you, and I want to tell you so!"

The Holy Father then drew the young people's attention to another subject: "the mystery of the Cross".

"Many of you", he said, "wear a cross on a chain around your neck. I too wear one. ... It is not a mere decoration or a piece of jewellery. It is the precious symbol of our faith, the visible and material sign that we belong to Christ".

"For Christians, the Cross signifies God's wisdom and His infinite love revealed in the saving gift of Christ, crucified and risen for the life of the world, and in particular for the life of each and every one of you".

The cross "is not only the symbol of your life in God and your salvation, but also ... the silent witness of human suffering and the unique and priceless expression of all our hopes".

"The Cross in some way seems to threaten our human security, yet above all else, it also proclaims God's grace and confirms our salvation. This evening, I entrust you with the Cross of Christ. ... Paul understood the seemingly paradoxical words of Jesus, Who taught that it is only by giving ('losing') one's life that one finds it, and Paul concluded from this that the Cross expresses the fundamental law of love, the perfect formula for real life".

Having concluded his meeting with the young people, the Pope travelled to the apostolic nunciature where, having had dinner, he appeared at the balcony to greet the faithful gathered below.

"Your warm welcome is most moving for the Pope!" he told them. "Thank you for waiting for me here with such enthusiasm, despite the lateness of the hour!"

"I am glad to be joining the great throng of Lourdes pilgrims tomorrow to celebrate the Jubilee of the apparitions of the Virgin. Catholics in France have greater need than ever to renew their trust in Mary, recognising in her the model of their commitment to the service of the Gospel. ... I am counting on you and on your prayers for this visit to bear fruit. May the Virgin Mary keep you safe!"

Want more from your relationship with God?

2008-09-02T12:12:00.000-07:00

Interested in a relationship with God that is filled with the gifts of the Spirit and even miracles?

Here are 10 things you'll need:

1) Conviction - believe that God can work in your life and through you to others

2) Hope - with God all things are possible, and this is not just a saying that we hear all the time, He really can do anything if we believe it.

3)Faith - pray daily for deeper faith that God can move mountains - believe in the promises of Christ that we hear about in the Scriptures

4) A life of prayer - everyone needs extended time with God (we're so thick headed that it takes time for Him to get through), and try to continue to pray throughout the day - every 20 minutes or so say something like the Hail Mary or the Jesus prayer (Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on me a sinner) This helps us to remain in God's presence throughout the day, and it's awesome!!!!

5) A life of purity -more than just in your relationships with the opposite sex, it's in the movies you watch, the television shows, music and video games. Here's something to think about, "if it doesn't build you up, you shouldn't be watching/listening to it"

6)Family - make sure that you are spending time with your family - Have fun with them!

7) Humility - always remain open to growing more, and allowing others to help you. We are all sinners, and it helps to remember where we would be without God in our lives.

8) Detachment - keep yourself from getting too attached to stuff - i.e. cell phones, games, movies, etc... Jesus didn't promise that we wouldn't suffer, but He did promise to be with us at all times.

9) Community - make sure you have a solid support group - good friends who will lead you to Christ, not towards things like gossip, drugs, alcohol or pornography (This is not the time to only have friends whom you are evangelizing! You'll need good Christian friends to help keep you accountable)

10) Love -think about small ways that you can serve others around you!

The Pope's intentions for September

2008-09-02T12:09:00.000-07:00

BENEDICT XVI'S PRAYER INTENTIONS FOR SEPTEMBER

VATICAN CITY, 1 SEP 2008 (VIS) - Pope Benedict XVI's general prayer intention for September is: "That those who, because of wars or oppressive regimes, are forced to leave their homes and country may be supported by Christians in the defence and protection of their rights."

His mission intention is: "That, faithful to the sacrament of matrimony, every Christian family may cultivate the values of love and communion in order to be a small evangelising community, sensitive and open to the material and spiritual needs of its brothers."