Tag: Death

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God is God

It’s so hard living in this world sometimes because nothing in this world is truly certain.

Well, yes -we hear “taxes and death” are – but then again – how much taxes? And when we will die? – still no true certainty in either of those.

Even when we fool ourselves into thinking our life is certain, it can change in a heartbeat.

The only thing that is certain in this world is that this world is uncertain.

And then – there is God.

He is what keeps up certain in all this uncertainty.

Our God who never changes.

Our God who knows the end from the beginning and the beginning from the end.

Our God who is Ruler over all things, even when it might appear He isn’t.

Disasters. Wars. Elections.

It’s often hard to see God here. And yet, we have to know and believe that while man has freedom of choice and free will, ultimately, God is still sovereignly in control.

We may not understand it.

We may not be able to see it.

We may not have words to explain it or even truly comprehend it.

But faith believes it. God is God.

Always.

In all ways.

His ways – higher than ours.

No doubt, we are living in uncertain times, but never forget we are in the sovereign care of God in who we can be absolutely certain.

He is our hope.

He is our strength.

He is our victory.

He is our peace.

Certainty isn’t found in this world.

It is found in the One who causes the sun to rise and the sun to set – the very One who holds the world in His hands.

It is found in the One who holds our very next breath.

We find our certainty not in this world, precious one – but in the God who is over it.

Of this I am absolutely certain.~❤

~Stacy L. Sanchez / Heartprints of God

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Saint of the Day – September 29 – Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael

Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael’s Story

Angels—messengers from God—appear frequently in Scripture, but only Michael, Gabriel and Raphael are named.

Michael appears in Daniel’s vision as “the great prince” who defends Israel against its enemies; in the Book of Revelation, he leads God’s armies to final victory over the forces of evil. Devotion to Michael is the oldest angelic devotion, rising in the East in the fourth century. The Church in the West began to observe a feast honoring Michael and the angels in the fifth century.

Gabriel also makes an appearance in Daniel’s visions, announcing Michael’s role in God’s plan. His best-known appearance is an encounter with a young Jewish girl named Mary, who consents to bear the Messiah.

Raphael’s activity is confined to the Old Testament story of Tobit. There he appears to guide Tobit’s son Tobiah through a series of fantastic adventures which lead to a threefold happy ending: Tobiah’s marriage to Sarah, the healing of Tobit’s blindness, and the restoration of the family fortune.

The memorials of Gabriel and Raphael were added to the Roman calendar in 1921. The 1970 revision of the calendar joined their individual feasts to Michael’s.

Reflection

Each of the archangels performs a different mission in Scripture: Michael protects; Gabriel announces; Raphael guides. Earlier belief that inexplicable events were due to the actions of spiritual beings has given way to a scientific world-view and a different sense of cause and effect. Yet believers still experience God’s protection, communication, and guidance in ways which defy description. We cannot dismiss angels too lightly.

Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael are the Patron Saints of:

Death
Germany
Grocers
Police Officers/First Responders
Radiologists

Saint Gabriel is the Patron Saint of: Broadcasters/Communicators

Saint Raphael is the Patron Saint of: The Blind, Travelers

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In the Face of Death

Everyone you know and love is going to die someday. You will too, but… the thought of losing everyone else can sometimes be all the more frightening. This is a natural response to the ugly, “unnatural” reality of death, and those feelings of fear are not “wrong” to feel.

But, today, Fr. Mike implores you to take heart. There is yet one person who will never leave you.

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The Catechism in a Year – Day 143 – Amen

Congratulations, we have come to the conclusion of Part One of the Catechism! Fr. Mike reviews the last “nugget” section on death and judgment, inviting us to regularly ponder the moment of our own death and judgment before our Lord. We conclude today with an explanation of the meaning of the word “amen” and the significance it has for our belief in God. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1051-1065.

Click on link to play video: https://youtu.be/T7BRPkg1BAY

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The Catechism in a Year – Day 139 – I Believe in Life Everlasting


Together, with Fr. Mike, we explore what happens to us at and after the moment of our death. We examine the importance of understanding that the Christian, who unites his death with Christ Jesus, takes a step towards Christ in everlasting life. Fr. Mike emphasizes that we have an active choice in our journey to our Father in heaven. We should not simply desire Heaven, but actively choose it. Today’s readings are Catechism paragraphs 1020-1029.

Click on link to play video: https://youtu.be/9Fr6t_l6cE4

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The Key to a Happy Death

The key to a happy death is not a long and fulfilled life—it’s a life of gratitude for the time given.

We often forget that this life isn’t owed to us. Every breath we take is a gift from God, who is holding us in existence at this very moment. Once we start to think that this life is owed to us, that in some way we deserve it, we will become ungrateful for the time that is given, even if we’ve lived a long and happy life.

Today, Father Mike explains how to fill your life with gratitude, and how that will prepare you for a happy death.

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The Key to a Happy Death

The key to a happy death is not a long and fulfilled life—it’s a life of gratitude for the time given.

If these videos have been a blessing to you, please consider helping us offset the costs of production and keep our free Catholic media flowin’ (https://tinyurl.com/ygl8ajld​). Thank you!

We often forget that this life isn’t owed to us. Every breath we take is a gift from God, who is holding us in existence at this very moment. Once we start to think that this life is owed to us, that in some way we deserve it, we will become ungrateful for the time that is given, even if we’ve lived a long and happy life.

Today, Father Mike explains how to fill your life with gratitude, and how that will prepare you for a happy death.

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Saint of the Day – March 7th

(d. 203)

Audio file

Saints Perpetua and Felicity’s Story

“When my father in his affection for me was trying to turn me from my purpose by arguments and thus weaken my faith, I said to him, ‘Do you see this vessel—waterpot or whatever it may be? Can it be called by any other name than what it is?’ ‘No,’ he replied. ‘So also I cannot call myself by any other name than what I am—a Christian.’”

So writes Perpetua: young, beautiful, well-educated, a noblewoman of Carthage in North Africa, mother of an infant son and chronicler of the persecution of the Christians by Emperor Septimius Severus.

Perpetua’s mother was a Christian and her father a pagan. He continually pleaded with her to deny her faith. She refused and was imprisoned at 22.

In her diary, Perpetua describes her period of captivity: “What a day of horror! Terrible heat, owing to the crowds! Rough treatment by the soldiers! To crown all, I was tormented with anxiety for my baby…. Such anxieties I suffered for many days, but I obtained leave for my baby to remain in the prison with me, and being relieved of my trouble and anxiety for him, I at once recovered my health, and my prison became a palace to me and I would rather have been there than anywhere else.”

Despite threats of persecution and death, Perpetua, Felicity–a slavewoman and expectant mother–and three companions, Revocatus, Secundulus and Saturninus, refused to renounce their Christian faith. For their unwillingness, all were sent to the public games in the amphitheater. There Perpetua and Felicity were beheaded, and the others killed by beasts.

Felicity gave birth to a girl a few days before the games commenced.

Perpetua’s record of her trial and imprisonment ends the day before the games. “Of what was done in the games themselves, let him write who will.” The diary was finished by an eyewitness.

Reflection

Persecution for religious beliefs is not confined to Christians in ancient times. Consider Anne Frank, the Jewish girl who with her family, was forced into hiding and later died in Bergen-Belsen, one of Hitler’s death camps during World War II. Anne, like Perpetua and Felicity, endured hardship and suffering and finally death because she committed herself to God. In her diary, Anne writes, “It’s twice as hard for us young ones to hold our ground, and maintain our opinions, in a time when all ideals are being shattered and destroyed, when people are showing their worst side, and do not know whether to believe in truth and right and God.”

Saint Felicity is the Patron Saint of:

Widows
Mothers of Deceased Sons