Sliney Central

Fr. Michael Sliney, LC

Inspirational thoughts

Forming youth

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Thy Kingdom Come!

Dear Friends in Christ,

     “Youth is wild, and requires many governors, teachers, directors, attendants, and tutors; and after all these, it is a happiness if it be restrained. For as a horse not broken in, or a wild beast untamed, such is youth. But if from the beginning, from the earliest age, we fix it in good rules, much pains will not be required afterwards; for good habits formed will be to them as a law.”

St. John Chrysostom

     It started with strict bedtimes that were enforced in grade school and this evolved into a strict curfew in High School on week-ends.  My dad would always be at the door at 1130 PM to analyze my state of mind and ask a few questions to see my level of coherency.  There was a deep Faith, and a loving discipline in our home and I am really grateful to my parents for going the extra mile in “forming” us!  They taught me to respect them and God, and this foundation was fundamental and transformational for my adult life.

God bless,

Fr. Michael Sliney, LC

Selflessness

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Thy Kingdom Come!

Dear Friends in Christ,

     “The truly patient man neither complains of his hard lot nor desires to be pitied by others. He speaks of his sufferings in a natural, true, and sincere way, without murmuring, complaining, or exaggerating them.” St. Francis de Sales

     Several years ago, I had the privilege of traveling with one of our priests in Guadalajara, Mexico.  His name was Fr. Morales, and he was dying of throat cancer.  I asked him how he was sleeping at night and he said, “It can be a little difficult with only one lung, but I try my best to get through the night.” Then he asked us to pull over at a snack shop on the road, and he picked out some great Mexican candies, chips and sodas and paid for them…I asked him what he liked best and he said, “Oh no, this is all for you (there were 2 other priests in the car), I cannot each much now, but I thought you would like these snacks.”  Powerful testimony of love and patient suffering…and all with a gentle and kind smile!!

God bless,

Fr. Michael Sliney, LC

Taming the tongue

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Thy Kingdom Come!

Dear Friends in Christ,

     “Violence of the tongue is very real- sharper than any knife, wounding and creating bitterness that only the grace of God can heal.”  Blessed Mother Teresa

     When your passions are boiling, when you have just suffered a terrible injustice, when you “feel” you need to get it all off your chest…stop and ask Jesus for help!  Silence is the better option and “prayerfully” waiting a bit will allow a “calmer” mind to choose “wiser” words.

God bless,

Fr. Michael Sliney, LC

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Swimming upstream

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Thy Kingdom Come!

Dear Friends in Christ,

     “It is necessary to swim against the stream. Faith is no longer taken for granted, as it might have been in other times.  It is a decision in which each of us is required to invest himself with his personal convictions, defying the surrounding environment.”  (Blessed Pope John Paul II)

   During my seminary days in Spain, I made the mistake of jumping into the “Rio Tormes”,  thinking that I could muscle my way upstream with my buddies.  After 20 minutes without progress, I realized the current was simply too strong and I needed to get out.  This is the reality of our culture today, and we need to be prepared for constant battle.  Without daily prayer, frequent Mass and Confession, you simply will not last long.  “Lean into” Christ!  Stand up for your core convictions with prudence and charity, but don’t back down!  Christ needs our help to fight back!

God bless,

Fr. Michael Sliney, LC

Read Scripture daily

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Thy Kingdom Come!

Dear Friends in Christ,

     “Amid our questions and difficulties, and even our bitter disappointments, the divine wayfarer continues to walk at our side, opening to us the Scriptures and leading us to a deeper understanding of the mysteries of God.”  (St. John Paul II)

     Christ knows you inside and out.  He made you, and he has a full understanding of your past and your particular circumstances.  When you read his word in Sacred Scripture, he tries to whisper inspiration that applies directly to your current reality.  Read Scripture daily and be attentive to his voice!

Motherly love

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Thy Kingdom Come!

Dear Friends, in Christ,

     “A sign that we love truly love God is that we love Him the same in all occasions.”  St. Francis de Sales

    Cold, winter, dark days with a little cough and a little cold…I have seen so many moms slug through these difficulties with great fortitude and a gentle smile on their face.  I know this meant so much to me as a kid…it really helped to see a happy and peaceful mom as I was eating my oatmeal at 7 AM before walking to school.  Good times and bad…all for Christ!  A shout out to all of the moms out there who selflessly give of themselves everyday with a smile and lots of love!

God bless,

Fr. Michael Sliney, LC

Embrace your cross

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Thy Kingdom Come!

Dear Friends in Christ,

     “It is a lesson we all need – to let alone the things that do not concern us. He has other ways for others to follow Him; all do not go by the same path. It is for each of us to learn the path by which He requires us to follow Him, and to follow Him in that path.” (St. Katharine Drexel)

     One night, our whole family was driving back from a Christmas party, and my dad made a comment as we entered our neighborhood, “Behind every one of these doors, there is a lot of suffering.  You may not see it, but trust me, it is there.”  I have heard so many spouses tell me how they wish they were like so and so, “if only”,…etc.  After nearly 19 years of priesthood, I could not agree more with the wisdom of my dad’s comments.  We all have our path and we need to lovingly embrace the cross as an essential part of that path.

God bless,

Fr. Michael Sliney, LC