The Amazingness of Grace

Part of my journey as a Catholic has been to learn to open my eyes to Jesus in every person in my life.

In the beginning, I was not so 'enlightened'.  I had friends who had issues and yet each one said or did little things to help me in my spiritual journey.  One had the habit of tagging me in every Jesus or Mary picture that popped up on the net, even as he posted barbs about people in his office.  But the beautiful pictures had a way of touching my heart.  Another liked to encourage me to pare my life down, to stop being so materialistic... and yet she also liked to gossip about so-and-so who did this and that.  And yet another would pop into my life and pass me books & CDs, while others would whisper snippets of his scandalous private life.

Believe it or not, I wondered if the 'good' things they did would be tainted by the 'bad' things they indulged in.  I struggled with this for a long time.

Then I kept coming across stories or references to saints, among whom were harlots, tax collectors, even murderers.  How could gossiping be compared with murder?  And yet these people 'bore fruit' in ways that reverberated through the centuries.

Fruit such as the Gospels.  Wasn't St Paul once Saul, the persecuter of Christians?  He must've killed thousands of Christians.  Yet he went on to become St Paul, 'Apostle to the Gentiles'.  He was perhaps the most influential of all the apostles, spreading Christianity throughout varied lands, such as Cyprus, Asia Minor (modern Turkey), mainland Greece, Crete and Rome.  Paul's works contain the first written account of what it means to be a Christian and thus, the Christian spirituality.

And who could forget the song 'Amazing Grace'.  This song has touched so many people's hearts and I dare say that it has also helped to open many many hearts to God.  Yet John Newton spent many years, working as captain of a slaver ship.  He must have destroyed many lives.  But he repented and became a pastor.  And composed many hymns, among which was Amazing Grace.

One could say that these people became good after repenting their 'bad'.  But did they become perfect after that?  I don't think so.  Whatever it may be, I shall not be judge of my brothers and sisters.  And I shall remember that God always chooses the lowest of the low and the weakest of the weak to carry out His work. 

Reading The Lives Of The Saints

In the beginning, when I began seriously exploring the world of my faith, I kept coming across exhortations to read the lives of the saints.

At first, I was not very keen.  I did not relish the thought of reading someone's potted history or biography.  I had this idea that reading about a saint with high ideals and stratospheric levels of morality would dishearten my puny heart and pathetic efforts at getting myself out of the 'not hot, not cold' category.

Incidentally, I began having panic-stricken episodes of guilt when I found out that what hurt Jesus the most was the Christians who were lukewarm.  They had received His revelations and yet weren't doing much about it.  I knew very well that I was one of them.  But I couldn't understand why lukewarm Christians hurt Jesus so.  I wasn't hurting anybody and I wasn't on the side of the devil.  How could sitting on the fence hurt anybody?

Of course, the answer was simple.  I had received knowledge of Christ and yet sat tight on my little tuffet keeping my eyes off the spiritual mayhem going on around me.  Better if I had been born an ignorant uneducated savage living on twigs and leaves.

I reluctantly went online and began googling saints.  Incidentally many of the histories online are abbreviated (and sanitised!) ones.  I had to purchase books or download pdf's off Catholic sites like St Patrick's Basilica or forums such as Catholic.org to reall get to the meaty stuff.

Suddenly I found myself in a world of bilocation (being in two or more places at the same time), teleportation, mind-reading, telekinesis, angels, demons, mysteries and more stuff than even the world of fiction could contain!  I felt like hitting myself in the head... what took me so long??

And of course, once you get into Jesus' world, you're hooked for life.  Hang on to your ship for dear life because you're no longer at the wheel... Jesus is!  Praise GOD!

A Cure For Skin Troubles?

As I travel down the rocky path of spiritual improvement, I come across many puzzling things.

One of them is the curing of skin troubles.  In my case, it was athlete's foot.  I begun suffering from athlete's foot when I was fifteen years of age.  I have no idea how I got it but perhaps it was from the public swimming pool shower cubicles.  That was the year I began going for weekly swimming lessons.

Well, whatever the case may be, I had been struggling for many years with the problem.  If you have never had this problem, you would not understand how bad and how overwhelming the problem can be.  Sometimes the entire sole of my foot would be peeling and raw.  I actually reached the point where a bloody sock would not throw me.  I had to wear shoes that covered my foot and toes.  Sandals, especially those encrusted with crystals and stones, were just a dream that others could have but never me.  My parents dragged me from specialist to specialist.  I was on intimate terms with many types of steroids, such as Betnovate.  At one point, the doctor told me that I couldn't keep on using the steroids as they had an effect on my skin and collagen.  

Fast forward a few decades to 2009.  When I began doing my daily prayers, especially the Fifteen Prayers of St Bridget, the first thing I noticed were the 'aggressive' reactions around me.  I daren't put it down on this blog for fear others would think me crazy.  In my preoccupation with learning to handle the 'obvious' challenges, I didn't realise at first that I no longer had to to tend to my feet.  At that time, one of my most important monthly purchase was of 'Renew' a plantolin-based cream marketed by Cosway.  This cream kept my athlete's foot problem in control.  One day, my stockist asked me why I'd stopped buying.  That was when I realised my problem had cleared up.  After DECADES of pain and difficulties.  I was puzzled but too grateful to think more on it.

Then a colleague who I had been guiding in the Catholic religion shared something with me.  She too struggled with skin trouble on both hands and feet.  I too had the trouble on my palms and fingers but that had resolved itself years ago.  Her problems were so bad that sometimes she couldn't walk.  But her solution was to go up to the mountain to meet her uncle who would use questionable pagan methods to heal her.  I had told her that a Christian could not have other gods and she had cut down on visits to her uncle.  She too was using Renew and in 2010, she stopped asking me to buy the cream for her.  When I asked her, she told me that when she was baptised during Easter Vigil Mass 2010, she felt a wrenching out of her chest.  She suspected it had to do with her previous pagan practices and did not talk about it as she was too embarrassed. But within a week, her feet healed so perfectly that she was able to show off her pretty feet in sandals.

Some may say this is a coincidence.  But since I have stopped believing in coincidences, what else could it be? 

All I can say is, God is truly great.

"Get Us Out Of Here!"

I just finished reading a book so riveting that I couldn't put it down. 

"Get Us Out Of Here" is a record of interviews with Maria Simma which was written by Nicky Eltz.  For those who have never heard of Maria Simma, she was an Austrian mystic who had the charism of being visited by souls from purgatory who were allowed to make requests of her.  Most of the requests were of masses and prayers and some were for messages to be conveyed to family.

This book was given an imprimatur in its eighth printing (October, 2010).  Which means that there is nothing in the book that is against church teaching.

Here are some excerpts from the book:

Excerpt 1
Maria, what happened the first time a Poor Soul visited you?
             The very first time I woke up because someone was pacing back and forth in my room.  I was never scared easily and really wouldn't be unless someone actually jumped into my face.  So I thought,"Who's this?"  It was a complete stranger walking impatiently back and forth at the foot of my bed and I called out,"Hey! Who are you?"  No answer.  Then I jumped out of bed, ran at him and tried to grab him, calling,"Now see to it that you  get out of here.  Get lost!  There's nothing here of yours!"  But nothing was there!  Then I thought,"I wasn't dreaming.  I saw him, I heard him."
.......
The next day, I quickly went over to my Priest and told him what had happened.  "I don't know what happened to me last night.  Have I gone mad?"  To this he said,"Why should you have gone mad?  If it was to happen again, do not ask,'Who are you?', but rather ask,'What is it that you need from me?'  It could be a Poor Soul."
.......
The next night, there he was again!  This time I did ask,"What is it that you need of me?"  The fellow stopped, turned and looked at me, saying,"Have three Masses celebrated for me: then I will be delivered."  And he disappeared instantly.

Excerpt 2

Is there any official recognition by the Church when it comes to your particular experience?
            I am obedient to my Priest and to my Bishops who have said that as long as everything is theologically correct, as it has been so far, to continue with my apostolate.
            At first, Bishop Wechner did have problems with my being able to get answers for other people.  He called me in to see him and asked me from where these answers came, so I responded exactly the way I had found out myself when all this started.
           Very early on I asked a soul where it was getting the information.  I thought perhaps that it would go out into Purgatory to find the other soul and then ask the second what it needed to be delivered.  But the one in front of me instead answered,"No, all the information that we bring to you comes from and with the permission of the Mother of Mercy."  When the good Bishop heard this he said,"Well, in that case I cannot and will not say anything against it."

What do you mean by the mother of mercy?
           Oh, the Mother of Mercy is one of the many titles given to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus and therefore the mother of all of us.

Excerpt 3

What exactly is the difference between your experience and that of spiritists or so-called mediums or channelers?
           If the public believes only one thing that I say, I would want it to be this.  The difference is very simple and very clear, and we MUST hold to it with ALL SERIOUSNESS.  What happens with spiritists is that they THINK they are calling the souls of the deceased; but if there is any reaction to their calling them, it is ALWAYS and without exception SATAN and his agents who are responding.  Spiritists and channelers are doing something extremely dangerous both to themselves and to the people who go to them for advice.  They are living an enormous pack of lies.  We are NOT permitted to call the deceased!  That is STRICTLY FORBIDDEN!  In my case, I NEVER called them, NEVER do and NEVER will.  Jesus has permitted this through His Mother.
           But Satan, of course, can and does copy and fake anything and everything that comes from God.  He monkeys God and monkeys everything God does.  He can copy the souls' voices, and he can copy their looks, but whatever reaction there is, it's ALWAYS from the Evil One.  Don't forget, Satan can even heal, but these healings never last.

Excerpt 3 is supported by so many other sources, among which is the Bible.  Plus a book I read recently written by Father Jose Francisco C. Syquia of the Archdiocese of Manila, Philippines also mentions this very crucial difference.

If someone you know calls souls or spirits, that is a clear sign that what he is doing is NOT good.  It is a signal for all discerning people to quickly distance themselves from the person doing the calling.  It is not worth the risk to your soul.

I tried to find Nicky Eltz's book on local online bookstores but they didn't carry it.  I tried to locate ebook formats but no such luck.  All I have is a photocopy... sigh...

First Week Of Lent 2012

It's now the first week of Lent.  I need to reset priorities (focus more on God and realign time allocations).

Some of the things in my List Of Lenten Observances has got to be :
a) The Way of The Cross
b) Daily rosaries
c) Charity
d) St Bridget of Sweden's Fifteen Prayers

Yes, St Bridget remains one of my top favourites, if only because saying the prayer has such tangible effects on my life.
 

Hunting for Scapulars

First, a quick intro to the Brown Scapular.

The scapular is a small piece of cloth that is a part of the Carmelite Order, a religious community. Those who wear the scapular are sharing in the order's special devotion to the Mother of Christ. They who wear the scapular in a spirit of true devotion and love have a special claim to Mary's intercession and protection.

On the surface, some people may think scapulars are superstitious "good luck charms" that guarantee our entrance into heaven. They do not. Only living in a state of grace will guarantee us eternal salvation. However, scapulars are a special gift from God by which we attain protective graces.

The Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to St. Simon Stock in the year 1251. She promised that all who wear the brown scapular "shall not suffer eternal fire; if wearing it when they die, they shall be saved." This assumes, of course, that one does not deliberately lead a sinful life and make a mockery of God's law.

For me, the brown scapular has been a constant source of comfort.  I also believe that when I wear it, I am showing our blessed Mother my faith in Her intercession.

All these years, I've been buying countless pieces of scapulars.  Where I live, the pieces sold are of poor quality.  They fall apart so easily.  The cords are thin and the images on the felt pieces look weird.  One friend even said it reminded him of Chucky.  Brrrr.

This scapular is a better-looking version compared to the ones I can buy in my hometown. 

I tried searching in religious shops for better-looking and more durable scapulars.  Finally I gave up.  Today I ventured online and what a treasure trove of scapulars have I found.  Here are some of the available scapulars... gorgeous!

 The Brown Scapular of Mount Carmel
(the traditional scapular)

 The Scapular of Mount Carmel

 The Divine Mercy Scapular

 The Red Passion Scapular

 

Children's Scapular

 The Crusader Scapular

For more information about the Brown Scapular, read 'Garment of Grace'.

P/S : I have found an absolutely wonderful supplier of scapulars at Rosescapular.net.  I've been buying from them and shipments are prompt.  Requests via email have been handled well (and I've even made friends!).  The scapulars are also of good quality (I'm super satisfied!).  My favourites are the Mount of Carmel scapulars, the St Michael scapular, the Crusader Scapular and the Trinity Scapular.  Friends have been reporting that the scapulars have helped them a lot.  Some have reported better sleep (they had been troubled with restless dreams or nightmares... even actual disturbances in their rooms.).

The Heroic Act of Charity

From my previous post on Indulgences, I quoted from the Cathechism of the Catholic Church something about the Heroic Act.

This refers to the Heroic Act of Charity.

There may be some among us who feel sad for the neglected and forgotten Holy Souls in Purgatory and want to help as much as possible.  Besides the Prayer of St Gertrude, we can also offer all the satisfactory value of our prayers, alms, fasts, penances, and the suffrages given to us after our deaths, without reserving anything at all with which to discharge our own debts. We do not do this of our own, but instead deposit our offering with the Blessed Virgin Mary that she might distribute them, as the Mediatrix of All Graces, according to her good pleasure, to those souls she chooses to deliver from Purgatory.

Since by doing this, we forgo the lessening of our own time in Purgatory, hence the title Heroic Act.  St Gertrude and St Therese of Lisieux made this vow while still alive.

This vow is revocable at any time.

By making this vow, we greatly increase our merits in Heaven, especially because we put our total faith in God's Mercy on us.

The Heroic Act of Charity

O Holy and Adorable Trinity, desiring to aid in the relief and release of the Holy Souls in Purgatory, through my devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, I cede and renounce, on behalf of these souls, all the satisfactory part of my works, and all the suffrages which may be given to me after my death. In their entirety, I offer them to Mary, the Most Holy Mother of God, that she may use them, according to her good pleasure, for those souls of the faithful departed whom she desires to alleviate their suffering. O my God, deign to accept and bless my offering which I make to Thee through the most august Queen of Heaven and Earth. Amen.

For those who may argue against praying 'for the dead'.
II Maccabees 12:43-46 : "And making a gathering, he [Judas] sent twelve thousand drachms of silver to Jerusalem for sacrifice to be offered for the sins of the dead, thinking well and religiously concerning the resurrection, (For if he had not hoped that they that were slain should rise again, it would have seemed superfluous and vain to pray for the dead,) And because he considered that they who had fallen asleep with godliness, had great grace laid up for them. It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from sins."