Minute Meditations - Keep Smiling

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Keep Smiling

Remember that, even if you have serious health issues, your choices can have a profound effect on how you’ll live—even on how long you’ll live. Do what you can today that will make a positive impact. Much of the world spins far beyond our control, but we can control something—ourselves.

— from Live Simply: Wholly Healthy

Friday, September 14, 2012

Minute Meditation for 9/13/2012

Minute Meditation for 9/15/2012

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Matt Talbot: Matt can be considered the patron of men and women struggling with alcoholism.
<p>Matt was born in Dublin, where his father worked on the docks and had a difficult time supporting his family. After a few years of schooling, Matt obtained work as a messenger for some liquor merchants; there he began to drink excessively. For 15 years—until he was almost 30—Matt was an active alcoholic. </p><p>One day he decided to take "the pledge" for three months, make a general confession and begin to attend daily Mass. There is evidence that Matt’s first seven years after taking the pledge were especially difficult. Avoiding his former drinking places was hard. He began to pray as intensely as he used to drink. He also tried to pay back people from whom he had borrowed or stolen money while he was drinking. </p><p>Most of his life Matt worked as a builder’s laborer. He joined the Secular Franciscan Order and began a life of strict penance; he abstained from meat nine months a year. Matt spent hours every night avidly reading Scripture and the lives of the saints. He prayed the rosary conscientiously. Though his job did not make him rich, Matt contributed generously to the missions. </p><p>After 1923 his health failed, and Matt was forced to quit work. He died on his way to church on Trinity Sunday. Fifty years later Pope Paul VI gave him the title venerable.</p>

We are called to share in the infinite life and love of God. We are called by God to a relationship that is destined to transform us into his likeness, to “divinize” us. This is going to take some stretching, to say the least.

PICKS OF THE WEEK

	New book, Holding Jesus
	Reflections on Mary as a mother during the life of Jesus.

	New book
	Learn about the sacraments of reconciliation and the anointing of the sick—and why we need them.

	St. Francis: A Short Biography
	He is St. Francis of Assisi, and this is his story.

	New book
	Scripture comes alive with these stories of fools, liars, cheaters, and other Bible heroes!

	Catholic Update Guide
	This new book will answer your questions about choosing and living out a vocation.

CATHOLIC GREETINGS

	Triumph of the Cross
	Today’s feast commemorates the fourth-century establishment of the cross as an object of veneration.

	Catechetical Sunday 2012
	Send a Catholic Greetings e-card to the catechists who hand on the faith in your parish!

	Holy Name of Mary
	Mary always points us to God, reminding us of God’s infinite goodness.

	Remembering 9/11/01
	May we never stop praying for God's healing and God's peace.

	Happy Birthday
	Be a part of the birthday festivities by choosing and sending an e-card.

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