Sliney Central

Fr. Michael Sliney, LC

Inspirational thoughts

At the end of our lives

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TKC!

“It is not possible to understand man on the basis of economics alone, nor to define him simply on the basis of class membership. Man is understood in a more complete way when he is situated within the sphere of culture through his language, history, and the position he takes towards the fundamental events of life, such as birth, love, work and death.” St. John Paul II

      At the end of our lives, we will all be judged on our love.  Not on our bank accounts or the prestige and fame we had on earth.  Did you take time to pray and get to know Christ, and did you allow his love to touch many people through you? Did you use your position of influence to evangelize those around you and below you?

God bless,

Fr. Michael Sliney, LC

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God’s providence

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TKC!

“God is eternal, not perpetual. Strictly speaking, He never foresees; He simply sees. Your ‘future’ is only an area … of His infinite Now.” CS Lewis

     God respects our freedom but he also intervenes.  He sees our future in his infinite now, but we are still totally free in our daily lives to choose the path.  All a mystery, with God’s love in the background!

God bless,

Fr. Michael Sliney, LC

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Dying to ourselves

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TKC!

“The Christian life is simply a process of having your natural self changed into a Christ self, and that this process goes on very far inside. One’s most private wishes, one’s point of view, are the things that have to be changed.” CS Lewis

    For this transformation to take place, we need to die to ourselves…in very particular and very personal ways, so that Christ can fully live in us.

God bless,

Fr. Michael Sliney, LC

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Allow Christ to challenge you!

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Thy Kingdom Come!

Dear Friends in Christ,

     “Do not be afraid of Christ!…He does not take away your identity; he does not dishonor, debase, or affront your reason; he does not oppress your freedom!”  (St. Pope John Paul II, May 21, 1983)

     My High School Cross Country coach worked us hard.  Long runs through the city of Birmingham, hard training sessions up and down rugged and mountainous paths…always demanding and focusing on details of technique.  Our team was consistently one of the best in the State, and we all knew our coach was the key to our success.  Don’t be afraid of Christ!  He will challenge you, and show you a more difficult path at times, because he wants you to win the battle against your passions and the temptations of the world.  He wants you to experience the peace and fulfillment that come from a generous surrender to God’s plan. In short, he wants to bring out the best in you!

God bless,

Fr. Michael Sliney, LC

Clear language

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TKC!

“Always try to use the language so as to make quite clear what you mean and make sure your sentence couldn’t mean anything else.” ~ C.S. Lewis

     In our daily communication with each other and especially, parents with their kids, we need to find a language that will make sense and be easily understood.  This takes effort and this is a very real tangible way of loving.

God bless,

Fr. Michael Sliney, LC

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Praying together

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TKC!

“The space which each of the spouses makes exclusively for their personal relationship with God not only helps heal the hurts of life in common, but also enables the spouses to find in the love of God the deepest source of meaning in their own lives.” Pope Francis

    One of the most powerful images for me as a priest is to see a couple kneeling down, praying together in a Catholic Church.  Christ notices and blesses this effort in a big way!  Why not bake this into your weekly date night out?

God bless,

Fr. Michael Sliney, LC

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America needs Saints

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Thy Kingdom Come!

Dear Friends in Christ,

     “The nation doesn’t simply need what we have. It needs what we are.”  St. Edith Stein

     Does America need more incredible athletes?  Does America need more attractive models and movie stars?  Does America need more “Tech Gurus”?  America needs Saints!!  We need men and women who know and love Christ and transmit this love in spite of personal, heavy crosses.  I think of the 10 moms I know who are currently supporting a downs syndrome, autistic or special needs child (including my sister in law!), all with a great spirit of Faith and huge generosity.  I think of a 13 year old boy who is suffering from a displaced jaw and is constant pain 24/7 (unable to take pain medication) but he is not complaining and he is praying for strength.  I think of a mother of 4 children was been bed ridden in a dark room for a month due to a serious concussion sustained from a car accident (she is prayed rosary and quietly tried to offer this up).  I think of the countless people with cancer and health problems, “tough marriages” and really difficult human relation issues, who are patiently enduring this with love.  As a priest, I see a lot of suffering and this list is just a small sampling.  These are the Saints, these are the modern day martyrs, these are the ones who radiate the peace and joy of Christ!  It is incredible how much good just one holy person can do!

Christian joy

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TKC!

“Joy is distinct not only from pleasure in general but even from aesthetic pleasure. It must have the stab, the pang, the inconsolable longing.” –C.S. Lewis

    Happiness is often a momentary sensation resulting from material or physical pleasure.  Joy runs deep, and brings a peaceful calm, the fruit of a sincere friendship with Jesus,…yet the obstacles and difficulties in life still remain.

God bless,

Fr. Michael Sliney, LC

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