Superbowl Sunday

Carmel Again!

I still feel the call of Carmel in my soul! How beautiful a vocation! Carmel is "a desert place" as St. Therese so eloquently put it.
After having sopken to a very holy priest in confession, I believe that I may be sure of my vocation! I asked him if it were ok for me to want to enter Carmel to be seperated from this world and its immorality or if this was a selfish trick of Satan. He then asked me if I did it out of love for God. I said with all my heart YES! This has strengthened my desire for Carmel. Although I am still open to Gods will, this had become a very strong desire in my soul! I think about Carmel day and night and I try to conform my life as it is now to that of these holy brothers and sisters.
The idea of neverending prayer in a community of others who share the same love of our Jesus attracts me so much!
Also, this dive into Carmelite spirituality has deepened my devotion to the Child Jesus! What simplicity he lived his life in Nazereth! How out of the way and unnoticed he went! For surely, if he would have done something great during these holy years of his life, the evangelists would surely have recorded them. My great-grandmother gifted me with a beautiful holy card of the Child Jesus in payment for cleaning up her apartment. I will have to scan it and upload it soon. I take much joy in looking at this very old Holy Card of the Divine Child! I keep it in my pocket and never get tired of pulling it out when I finish my schoolwork and gaze lovingly at the Child. For Christmas if I only recieved one small picture or Holy Card of another Child Jesus, I would be more overjoyed than if I recieved all the riches of the world!

O miraculous Infant Jesus, we beseech You to cast a merciful look on our troubled hearts. Let Your tender Heart, so inclined to pity, be softened at our prayers, and grant us that grace which we so ardently implore.

Take from us the affliction and trials with which we are laden. For the sake of Your sacred Infancy, hear our prayers and send us consolation and aid, that we may praise You with the Father and the Holy Spirit forever and ever.

Amen.

Pax Christi!
Jude Graham

The Struggle in St. Louis

I'm not one for politics, but this is ridiculous and un-heard of!
http://www.catholic.org/politics/story.php?id=34942&page=1

Sacred and Immaculate Hearts

Called By Name: Fr. Gregory Boquet O.S.B

This is the "Called By Name" vocations program that my Diocese has put starting at the Abbey Youth Festival in April of 2009. You can find out more about the Called By Name program here. Or you can check out the USCCB's "Year for Priests" website here.

Pro-Life Day of Silent Solidarity!

This is an event that I push every year!!! Please join us this Tuesday by signing up at www.silentday.org

-Jude

Back Again!

Hello all! I would like to start back out on my blog with a reflection.

Sometimes in our lives, we fall away from God. We think he's not there, we think he doesn't love us, we think he just doesn't give a care. We fall away from our true friends to hang with the "cool" people. We begin to conform to the "mold" of the world. We try to fit in. We lose sight of the things that were once important in our lives. Then we stress out. We wonder where we went worng, we wonder why we do what we do, we question our very selves. The thing we must remember is thats its a long hard road. Jesus fell on his road, three times actaully. He always got back up. Thats whats important.

Starting high school in August dramatically changed my life. I was thrown into the rush of things as a freshman. High school is a different world. People begin to realize who they are. There are many more "gay" people, dating people, theater dorks, band geeks, Mu Alpha Theata, hippies, red-necks, football players, cheerleaders, etc. High school hits you. It hit me hard.

I fell away from God, from family, from friends, and from church activities. I fell into this deep dispair. I didn;t know who I was, I didn't know what was going on. I was lost. Well I'm tired of that. I want my life back. I want God back. I take after my "father". I'm a jealous lover! ;)

Love,

Jude

A Little Suggestion.......

Although I normally write about my life or spirituality, I do like to share small things that I believe will help my readers on their path to holiness. This is a great book on the life and spirituality of St. Therese of Lisieux. You can get it on Amazon. This book has helped me tremendously and I hope it can also encourage you on the "Little Way"

Pax Christi!

Jude Graham