Life and Death

"Contemporary jazz pianist Paul Cardall was born April 24, 1973; suffering from a congenital heart defect, he was given only days to live but defied medical expectations...[Later in life,] tragedy struck...a grieving Cardall spontaneously composed a musical tribute, going on to write a dozen more songs..." - Pandora

Painting: All Souls Day by Aladar Korosfoi-Kriesch

“My God, I know this place. I am home.” — A Reflection for All Souls Day - Fr. T. Rosica, Salt and Light

Resources

• Comforting a Grieving Friend - AmericanCatholic.org
• Death and Grieving - This "website will provide you with some spiritual and practical resources to help you better understand the Christian view of death and moral teachings regarding end of life issues, as well as help guide you through the process of grieving for a loved one you’ve lost through death." - CatholicsComeHome.org
• Grief and Depression - "[W]hen grief encompasses your life and you begin to feel hopeless, helpless, and worthless, then it's time to talk..." - WebMD
• Grief and Bereavement - "There is no right way to grieve. It is an individual process and a natural part of life. Life won’t be the same after a loss, but experiencing your grief will allow you to adjust to life after loss." - National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization

"[P]rayer is a battle. Against whom? Against ourselves and against the wiles of the tempter who does all he can to turn man away from prayer, away from union with God." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, para. 2725).

Recovery, Restoration, Edification and Transformation

• Divine Office - “The Office is... the prayer not only of the clergy but of the whole People of God.” – Apostolic Constitution, Canticum Laudis
• Finding Your Way Through Grief: Steps for Managing Loss (10 Episodes) - CatholicTV.com
• Liturgical Calendar
• Missionary Olates of Mary Immaculate - This site provides suggestions on how to honor your deceased loved ones on All Souls Day. - Fr. John Madigan, O.M.I.
• Prayer Request - Catholic.org
• Rosary Stars: Praying the Gospel Trailer

Divine Office

"We are pilgrims for Eternal Life…" - ChurchInNeed.org

Reflections of Faith

Catholic Dads Headquarters: Reflections of Faith: The soul of the Blessed Virgin Mary was the space from which God was able to gain access into humanity (Pope Benedict XVI). Today God welcomes on earth the holy throne which he had prepared for himself.  He who established the heavens in wisdom has fashioned a living heaven(Byzantine Liturgy, Adapted from Magnificat, The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, September 8, 2010).


On this special occasion, I am mindful of the interior disposition that gives rise to the beauty found in artistic expression, which is a simple, powerful, and yet an imperfect reflection of our Creator.  The images provided here (Reflections of Faith) have been a blessing in my life and I hope they will provide some enjoyment for you, and an encouragement to take note of all the beauty found in our respective places of worship and the places we share with each other.

Advent, Listening and a Call to Prayer

During the course of my “ministry” there has been little time for listening and deep prayer over this past year, as I continue to actively spread the word “Faith formation is job #1” in the lives of Catholic dads and those of their children. Especially, since there have been over 15,000 page views to CatholicDads.org since November 2008. With that, I have felt the continued passion to encourage dads of all ages (and on any social networking platform I can post on) to be mindful of our important role in the faith formation of our children. Oh, I pray all the time like most faithful dads, but not in a way where I am disposed to even a deeper conversion of the type that causes a wonderful fear of God's obvious actions in one's life. Lately, I know in my core, this is something I am longing for. It may well be the same experience I felt when I took a one day personal / silent retreat at Prince of Peace Abbey, where I found myself “captivated by my Lord” in January 2008. That retreat was the catalyst for becoming a novice oblate and for all events and challenges (painful and not) I now find myself engaged in, and ultimately for the better of my soul and and the souls of others.

As Advent approaches tomorrow, I am listening for Jesus and I have purchased A Companion to the Liturgy of the Hours: Morning and Evening Prayer, along with my first copy of Christian Prayer.

I'm listening....and concurrently shedding many distractions in my life that I have come to realize have been nothing more than chatter to leave me unfulfilled by not acutely hearing what the Lord has to say; the distractions are of the type you find yourself competing with in a nice restaurant where the patrons maintain a dull roar preventing one and a dear friend from connecting on a deeper level that both know is there, but find themselves dissatisfied as the circumstance need to be willfully changed. It is only when one or both say, “Let's get out of here” do they create an opportunity to embark on a stroll to discover what it is they long to connect on.

And, that is where I find myself. Listening in anticipation of connecting with my Savior and wonderfully fearful of what it is that will unfold and the deep prayer that is likely to follow. How do you prepare for Advent? Is your prayer life what you would like it to be?