TKC!
A special thanks to Jen Roach who contributed to my recent LifeZette article below:
http://www.lifezette.com/momzette/help-kids-avoid-stress-crisis/
God bless,
Fr. Michael Sliney, LC
Inspirational thoughts
Just do it?
Thy Kingdom Come!
Dear Friends, in Christ,
“There are some desires that are not desirable.” G.K. Chesterton
This nike ad has done so much damage. If it feels good, you probably should really question if you should do it, question the consequences of the action, and ask yourself how Christ would “feel” about it. True peace and happiness actually comes from practicing a little self control…
God bless,
Fr. Michael Sliney, LC
What is love?
Thy Kingdom Come!
Dear Friends, in Christ,
“To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly be broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket – safe, dark, motionless, airless – it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable.” CS Lewis
Love is risky and almost always involves being hurt, it means a lot of bending and compromising…but it is much better than locking yourself up in yourself. Give your neediness to God….then you will find it easier to give your unconditional love to others.
God bless,
Fr. Michael Sliney, LC
Sibling Rivalries
Thy Kingdom Come!
Dear Friends in Christ,
”We must sometimes bear with little defects in others, as we have, against our will, to bear with natural defects in ourselves. If we wish to keep peace with our neighbor, we should never remind anyone of his natural defects.” –Saint Philip Neri
Siblings can be really tough on each other. A boy once told me, “Fr. Michael, my charity with my sister is going great, I haven’t spoke with her in 1 week, so we have had no problems at all!” I try to remind them that the home is truly a “training camp” of virtue and that Christ is their invisible brother who sees everything and blesses their efforts to live self control and kindness. Parents, please give your children this example!!
God bless,
Fr. Michael Sliney, LC
Not annoying
Thy Kingdom Come!
Dear Friends, in Christ,
“Everyone feels benevolent if nothing happens to be annoying him at the moment.” CS Lewis
True virtue is tested when your feelings and emotions are not going your way, when things simply go wrong, and you feel the world is against you…this is the time to say, “Christ, I love you, and I will be a kind person, even now, when it hurts, with the hope of offering a little consolation to your Sacred Heart.”
God bless,
Fr. Michael Sliney, LC
End abortions!
Thy Kingdom Come!
Dear Friends in Christ,
“Abortion destroys the image of God. It is the most terrible plague in our society, the greatest killer of love and peace. Those little children still unborn have been created for bigger things: to love and to be loved.” St. Mother Teresa
Let’s pray not only for an end to an abortion, but also for all women who have had abortions. Their darkness, pain and emotional suffering often runs very deep…”Lord, please heal their broken hearts with the healing power of your merciful love!”
God bless,
Fr. Michael Sliney, LC
Media usage
TKC!
Special thanks to Jay Hauck and Thomas Lloyd, my friends from Chevy Chase Maryland, who contributed to this article. http://www.lifezette.com/momzette/social-media-worries-for-kids-put-your-own-phone-down-first/
God bless,
Fr. Michael Sliney, LC
Gossip
Thy Kingdom Come!
Dear Friends, in Christ,
“Gossip can also kill, because it kills the reputation of the person! It is so terrible to gossip! At first it may seem like a nice thing, even amusing, like enjoying a candy. But in the end, it fills the heart with bitterness, and even poisons us.” (Pope Francis, Angelus, Feb. 16, 2014).
Before you say, spread or post a “lie”, try to separate yourself from the angry or jealous feelings that you may feel towards that particular person, and reflect on the damage that will be done. Even “stretching” the truth in a negative light can have extremely hurtful consequences…humility and magnanimity are a big part of being Christian. In the end, you are also hurting yourself as well…
God bless,
Fr. Michael Sliney, LC
Understanding others
Thy Kingdom Come!
Dear Friends, in Christ,
“If you do not understand a man you cannot crush him. And if you do understand him, very probably you will not.” G.K. Chesterton
As I listen and spend more time with people, my appreciation of them typically tends to grow. You begin to realize their personal struggles, their vulnerabilities and hurts, their anxieties and fears…and empathy becomes so much easier. When a homeless man in NYC asked me if I had ever spent two weeks on the street in the freezing cold, without a shower and rarely without a hot meal, and that even with 4 pairs of socks on, he could no longer feel his toes…it certainly changed my perspective!
God bless,
Fr. Michael Sliney, LC
Deep virtue
Thy Kingdom Come!
Dear Friends, in Christ,
“When I am incapable of praying or practicing virtue, then is the moment to look for small occasions, nothings, to give You pleasure. For example, a smile, a friendly word, when I should much prefer to say nothing at all or look bored…. When I find no occasions, at least I want to keep telling You that I love You; it is not difficult and it keeps the fire of love going.” (St. Thèrése of the Child Jesus, Letters, 122)
When your emotional and mental batteries are running low, when you are having a rough day and it seems like everything and everyone is against you, when you simply want to just shut down and go to bed…this is the golden time of deep virtue! Try to smile, say a friendly word and try your best to show Jesus that you really do love him.
God bless,
Fr. Michael Sliney, LC