TKC!
I contributed to this recent Fox News article concerning the North Korean conflict.
Inspirational thoughts
Hypocritical?
TKC!
“Just going to church doesn’t make you a Christian any more than standing in your garage makes you a car.” GK Chesterton
A common complaint I hear from people on the streets are the “holier than thou Catholics who let you how devout they are and how often they attend Mass, but are often more prideful and hypocritical than your average secular person.” I am always happy to see full churches, rosary groups, long lines for Confession, etc…but we do all of this so we can be holier, kinder, and better reflect God’s love in our lives. In the words of St. John of the Cross, “At the end of our lives, we will be judged our love.”
God bless,
Fr. Michael Sliney, LC
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Self-absorbed?
TKC!
“Dear Sir: Regarding your article ‘What’s Wrong with the World,’ I am. Yours truly.” GK Chesterton
If we are honest, we could all be a little less self-absorbed and a little more focused on serving the needs of those around us…and our world, our pond, will be a much happier place.
God bless,
Fr. Michael Sliney, LC
All for love
Thy Kingdom Come!
Dear Friends, in Christ,
“We have to do everything for love, not out of force.” St. Francis de Sales
I am always edified when my brother priests roll up their sleeves and tackle a pile of pots and pans with a smile, and even crack a few jokes to make it enjoyable. There is a lot of enthusiasm and love for Christ driving this effort, and this sure makes community life more pleasant.
God bless,
Fr. Michael Sliney, LC
Envy
Thy Kingdom Come!
Dear Friends, in Christ,
“Each person’s pride is in competition with every one else’s pride. It is because I wanted to be the big noise at the party that I am so annoyed at someone else being the big noise…Pride is essentially competitive.” CS Lewis
My spiritual director in the seminary told me many years ago, “Br. Michael, instead of being jealous of other people’s qualities and virtues, why not try to learn from them? Study what they are doing right and try to follow their good example…but don’t bring them down out of envy.” Sound advice that had a huge and immediate impact on my personal and spiritual life both then and now.
God bless,
Fr. Michael Sliney, LC
Mission trip
TKC!
A special thanks to Jen Arena, a young professional from NYC, who contributed to my recent LifeZette article: http://www.lifezette.com/faithzette/young-professional-learned-about-god-on-trip-haiti/
Birthday poem for my mom
My most magnificent, marvelous mom:
Acute, artsy…amazingly aplomb,
Caring, colorful, contemplative…calm!
Incredible intuition,
Powerful premonition,
Exceptional erudition,
Delightful disposition!
Christ-centeredness? Communicated!
Daily devotions? Demonstrated!
Awesomeness? Appreciated!
My most magnificent, marvelous mom:
Ninety one years old and still going strong!!
Spiritual garden
Thy Kingdom Come!
Dear Friends, in Christ,
“Ponder the fact that God has made you a gardener to root out vice and plant virtue.” St. Catherine of Sienna
A beautiful garden, like a beautiful soul is always something special to contemplate and enjoy. The greater the variety of flowers (virtues) and the less number of weeds (vices), make it even more appealing to the eye of the beholder. Physical beauty attracts…but virtue INSPIRES! What virtue have you planted recently in your “soul” garden? Is Christ asking you to add a few new additions?
God bless,
Fr. Michael Sliney, LC
2nd chance
Thy Kingdom Come!
Dear Friends, in Christ,
“Divine gift-love in the man enables him to love what is not naturally lovable: lepers, criminals, enemies, morons, the sulky, the superior and the sneering.” CS Lewis
I know a “Grease Monkey” owner who goes out of this way to hire ex-convicts to give them a second chance. Several of these guys have come up to me during an oil change, to ask me about my Faith, to talk “Jesus” and simply to receive a little love. I don’t know their backgrounds or their past crimes, but thanks to this shop owner, their dignity is clearly being restored and I noticed sincere smiles on their faces.
God bless,
Fr. Michael Sliney, LC
Divorce
Thy Kingdom Come!
Dear Friends, in Christ,
“When, however, this leaving one’s father and mother, and joining oneself to a woman, and going forward… when this love fails – because many times it fails – we have to feel the pain of the failure, [we must] accompany those people who have had this failure in their love. Do not condemn. Walk with them – and don’t practice casuistry on their situation.” Pope Francis
We have all been touched in some way by the ravages of divorce. There is a lot of hurt and deep pain in the hearts and minds of these souls…and what they most need is our kindness and our accompaniment.
God bless,
Fr. Michael Sliney, LC