Sunday

Since it's Lent we usually try to add more church related activities to our routine. We went to Adoration at St. Mary's in Old Town, Alexandria. The priest there said the Divine Mercy chaplet so fast I could barely keep up. Since he didn't leap up to run to the bathroom afterwards I assume he's just speedy.

Last night we went to our own parish and attended a lecture given by the PV, Fr. Scalia on the beatitudes. That was quite good. I confess that I've always had a tiny bit of a problem with the beatitudes cause I've never fully understood what poor in spirit means, I don't want to be meek, and I'd hate for anyone to describe me as docile but Fr. Scalia carefully explained to us all that poor in spirit means quite simply to acknowlege that we are nothing without God. Our next breath, the car, the house, the 6 figure job---all that comes from God. The devil would not own up to his dependence on God and so today do the proud and haughty who food themselves by thinking they have it all together and don't need God or that God should be pleased to have such a prize as them.

Fr. then went on to explain that meekness is not mealey mouthed mascochism. Meekness is the ability to realize that you don't know everything about God and the Faith and that you need to be taught. Fr. talked about "Blessed are those who mourn" and reminded us that we should be able to mourn for our sins and those of the whole world. The person who can't even bring themselves to be sorry for their sins will never ask for forgiveness. The person who proudly states that yeah he made some mistakes but heck, he lives his life HIS way is the same guy who leaves wives, children and a slew of emotional wreckage behind him as he moves through life. We could all do with a little bit more "Catholic guilt" and a lot less of "I'm okay, you're okay."


We always enjoy Father's lectures and we're both looking forward to next week.