Foraged from: You Tube Series : 1 of 11 ~ Fr James Martin, S J Laughing with the SaintsJoy, Humor and Laughter in the Spiritual Life
Merry Christmas! Your Child is Autistic! When my son was a toddler I remember looking at my husband and saying, “You know, if I didn’t initiate interaction with Max, I don’t think he would ever try and talk to me.” It was true. Lomax, my son, could sit for hours stacking a line of blocks across our hallway or drawing letters endlessly on sheets and sheets of paper and be perfectly happy without ever saying a word to me. He was, and is, an amazingly happy kid – especially when left in his own world. This made life easy for us as parents until we had to take him into THE world — which wasn’t nearly as fun. “The” world was filled with noises…
I have a confession to make… back in the day I thought believing in God was silly. Actually, not only silly but seriously uncool. I used to make fun of this man I worked with for wearing a, “What Would Jesus Do?” bracelet. Given the guy most days wanted to use my head as a bowling ball, I was definitely looking for something to sneer at him for. As a practical joke my coworker in crime even stuck the slogan to my keyboard along with a OMGWTFBBQWWJD? sticker across my screen. O.K., I’m still laughing at that one. I think I may have to thank this co-worker for starting me on my road to belief because everyday I looked at my computer I read…
Recently I read a post which expressed a deep longing for a return to past Catholic rituals — one being Gregorian chant. I agreed and realized I had come full circle as long before I came to God, or the Catholic faith, I loved listening to Gregorian Chants. Like many other people in the 90′s I became acquainted with it through the popular “Chant” album by the Benedictine Monks of Santo Domingo de Silos. Their deep resonating voices hauntingly singing spoke to my soul. I listened to it while I meditated and while I created art. The chants inspired and moved me even though I did not understand the language or origins. I often lit a candle while I listened and eventually I started…
Last night I had the privilege of listening to my eight year old daughter try to explain to her cousins what was going to happen to her sister and brother tomorrow at their baptism, “Well,” she said, “It is like making a friendship bracelet with God, you have all your beads on a string but you just need one more to finish it off and make it complete. So Baptism is like the final bead on the bracelet. Once you have it, then you can tie up the bracelet and always have a friendship with God.” No wonder God wants us to be like “little children”! Since going through my conversion process, the baptism of my children is a moment I have long-awaited. Last…
I want to tell you a dark little secret of mine: about half way through the week I get excited that Sunday is coming when I get to attend Mass and eat the flesh and drink the blood… of Christ. What do you think about that morose vampire loving, all black wearing, twilight reading goths hooked on black eyeliner? I used to be just like you until I found something better —something REAL! It’s called the holy freaking Eucharist ya’ll and it is the bright side of the dark side. And cradle Catholics I ask you, do you believe in miracles because one takes place before your eyes at every single mass! Can I hear an Amen? Amen! Now, my RCIA instructor might not…
Amen Praise The Lord Hallelujah! My internet is working again! I have spent the last day and a half trying to make posts from my iPhone and it was a big fail! I felt lonely without a voice to talk to you all. I realized how much I look forward to sharing my faith with you. Today I am sending out a big THANK YOU to all of my FS readers! I love talking to you but what makes me even happier is when a reader responds back to me! The comment below was made in response to my post “Me, You, and That Other Guy In The Pew”. It is chock-full of powerful points and inspiration. Thank You FS reader for taking the…
I may be a little late to the party but I just found out about Father Stan and he is amazing! I invite you to explore his inspirational music and messages further!
More links to Father Stan:
http://www.youtube.com/user/frstantv?feature=results_main
http://www.francescoproductions.com/
Father Stan Fortuna, C.F.R., (born June 9, 1957) is a Catholic priest notable for his evangelical musical contributions of various genres, primarily Catholic-based jazz and hip hop.
He is an United States citizen of Italian and Greek heritage. His lifelong interest in music began in the second grade when he received an electric guitar for Christmas. He spent his formative years playing improvisational sessions in and around New York City. Father Stan studied, at one point, with the legendary jazz musician, Lennie Tristano, and was an accomplished, professional bass player before becoming a priest.
He is one of the eight original members of the Community of Franciscan Friars of the Renewal, a Franciscan order established by Cardinal John Joseph O’Connor in 1987. Father Stan was ordained as a priest in the Bronx in 1990.
Father Fortuna established the non-profit Francesco Productions in 1987 as a means to record and distribute evangelical music, video productions and books as well as handle his speaking and concert engagements; all proceeds benefit the Community’s work with the poor of the South Bronx where he lives. Recently, Francesco International Love Outreach, was started to assist in working with the poverty-stricken outside of the US, including the underprivileged in Uganda and Poland. via Fr. Stan Fortuna.
“Angels are not cute, cuddly, comfortable, chummy, or “cool”. They are fearsome and formidable. They are huge. They are warriors.” — Angels by Peter Kreeft I think our modern culture has done a real disservice to Angels. Tell me, when you think of Angels do you hear tinkling chimes, think of puffy clouds and picture naked babies with wings? Do you cringe, puff up your chest and say “I’m a man —man! I can’t talk about Angels!”? Or maybe you think of new age fairs or even Victoria Secret models (o.k. maybe you men would want to talk about those Angels). Similar to how the Rosary has been defamed by celebrities and gangs, Angels have gone from being an army of God complete with…
First, for those of us who don’t know: Few practices of the Catholic Church are so misunderstood today as devotion to patron saints. From the earliest days of the Church, groups of the faithful (families, parishes, regions, countries) have chosen a particularly holy person who has passed on to intercede for them with God. Seeking the intercession of a patron saint does not mean that one cannot approach God directly in prayer; rather, it’s like asking a friend to pray for you to God, while you also pray—except, in this case, the friend is already in Heaven, and can pray to God for us without ceasing. It’s the communion of saints, in actual practice. via Patron Saints – The History of Patron Saints –…
