Jan
27
Reflection on Bede
Filed Under Chastity, Franciscan University, History, Marriage, Reflection | Leave a Comment
Even as an historical text, Bede had moments that absolutely fascinated me, especially in ways I couldn’t have expected it to. I was absolutely thrilled to see so many references to Sacred Music and to gain new insights on how the earliest English church. Of particular interest was Augustine’s correspondence with Pope Gregory I in Book I, Chapter 27. It is fascinating to observe Augustine’s questions, particularly those concerning marriage and sexuality, given his background and his less-than-optimistic approach to human sexuality. It is equally fascinating to see how some of his questions, particularly his eighth question about Baptism and menstruation, seem to already have somewhat more “progressive” answers in the mind of the Church as embodied in Gregory’s writing. Some do not.
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Sep
14
After the 500 Men Challenge
Filed Under Blessed Mother, Chastity, Men, Prayer | Leave a Comment
Most Blessed Mother,
In so many ways, tonight was the first time I ever thought of you. Tonight, you became more to me than the historical woman I have always understood you to be. Tonight, you were more than devotion, more than the Rosary, more than Church Doctrine. Tonight, O most Blessed Lady, you became real to me in a way I never even dreamed was possible.
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Jul
24
In the Lesser Things
Filed Under Chastity, Prayer | Leave a Comment
My God,
I’m sorry. I’ve done it again. I’ve fallen again. That one thing I despise myself for, I’ve given in to it again.
Dearest Father, it frustrates me so, that even after countless outpourings of grace, I still allow myself to lose control. It amazes me, Father, just how consumed I am in those moments of sin, how blind I become to your all-merciful and loving face. Now, in the wake of my sin; now that I can see clearly and without passionate disregard, I gather up the courage to look at you. I fear condemnation, I fear sorrow, I fear my own future weakness, but I know that what I do now is of the utmost importance, not only to you but to me as well. To live this moment in fear would be to waste it.
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Jul
20
A Tribute
Filed Under Chastity, Men, Reflection | Leave a Comment
Life isn’t easy for young men today. Expectations and pressures lurk around every corner. It’s hard to be oneself; to take a stand when such hostility is waged from every side. Most don’t stand for long. Most give up. Most choose to follow suit – to live in a culture where lust and selfishness drive them not only to destroy themselves but others as well. But there are those few who choose to take a stand; who continue standing when opposition arises; who discipline themselves in order to keep others from harm; who deny themselves good things to uphold their moral character; who seek meaning in their lives. This is my tribute to them.
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Jun
27
The Consequences Don’t Cut It
Filed Under Chastity, Reflection | Leave a Comment
Reading the paper last night, I came across this interesting article in the health section:
“Study finds condoms useful in preventing HPV”
Curious, I read through the very biased and drawn-out article which talked about a new three-year study scientists have performed on young women starting out college as virgins. Obviously, they did not stay virgins. Monitoring use, they found that 70% of those that always used condoms were less likely to become infected with HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) than those who used a condom 5% of the time.
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Jun
16
A Day to Retreat
Filed Under Chastity, High School, Reflection, Retreat, Witness | Leave a Comment
On Tuesday, I had the great privilege to help put on a retreat at my parish for its eighth grade class. I think back 2 years ago to my eighth grade retreat when my pastor ominously said, “Who knows, once you’re a bit into high school, perhaps one of you might help out on this retreat.” Two years later, I was privileged enough to make such a statement a reality.
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Jun
3
“The Room” by Joshua Harris
Filed Under Chastity, Guest Writer, Reflection | Leave a Comment
In that place between wakefulness and dreams, I found myself in the room. There were no distinguishing features save for the one wall covered with small index-card files. They were like the ones in libraries that list titles by author or subject in alphabetical order. But these files, which stretched from floor to ceiling and seemingly endlessly in either direction, had very different headings. As I drew near the wall of files, the first to catch my attention was one that read “Girls I Have Liked.” I opened it and began flipping through the cards. I quickly shut it, shocked to realize that I recognized the names written on each one.And then without being told, I knew exactly where I was. This lifeless room with its small files was a crude catalog system for my life. Here were written the actions of my every moment, big and small, in a detail my memory couldn’t match.
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May
13
The Belt of Truth Against an Enemy of Contradiction
Filed Under Chastity, High School, Reflection, Spiritual Warfare | Leave a Comment
Yesterday, at school, I was sitting in my health II class as a guest speaker was talking about different laws regarding sexual behavior. As he reviewed the three levels of sexual assault, he alerted the class to the fact that fornication is indeed illegal, and although an offender probably wouldn’t get locked up for it, there would be consequences if his/her actions were brought to court. The room became dead silent, and a heartbeat after he had made this statement, a young women raised her hand and asked, “I don’t understand. I thought that the Catholic Church was the only religion that forbade sex before marriage. How can the government impose morals on us like that?” The speaker was equally confused at the question, “Uh… It’s the law. It’s there to protect you. Morality has nothing to do with it.” This was followed by a string of disagreements from the rest of the class, and we literally could not progress with the conversation because everyone would keep coming back to this.
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May
11
In Defense of Abstinence
Filed Under Chastity, Open Letter | Leave a Comment
This is a letter I am sending to Glamour after being asked by a friend to write a response to the article “New Lies about Women’s Health”. You can find the referenced article in the May 2006 issue.
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Dec
12
Passion
Filed Under Catholic Catechism, Chastity, Kolbe Academy | Leave a Comment
An essay written while studying the Aeneid.
He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth.
Isaiah 53:7
These prophetic words from Isaiah foretell the Passion of Christ. The very Son of God would be oppressed, stricken, and would suffer death, and although he had the power to save himself, he would not open his mouth against it. This, Christ’s perseverance through suffering and death, was the result of a most holy passion; a passion complete with the most unconditional and freely given love. It is therefore quite appropriate that we hail these events “The Passion”, for indeed it was the very model of what our passions should be directed toward, namely, the Good.
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