Catholic Guys Need Encouragement

Catholic ladies, I’d like to make an appeal to you.  We, the Catholic men of the world, need encouragement.  Fewer and fewer of us understand the great weight that is placed upon our shoulders to be the men that God has called us to be.  Those of us who do understand the gravity of our vocation are often overwhelmed.  We feel as though it is us against the entire world and that the odds are steeply stacked against us.  These men need to be reminded that we are not alone and that we have our women to support and love us, whether you are our spouse, our friend, our sibling, our parent, or our child.  We so appreciate prayer and a word of encouragement.  Don’t stop praying.

Those who do not understand what it means to be a man called by God are living in ignorant bliss, like little boys with their toys.  Well, these men also need your prayers and support.  Without a nudge here and there and a challenge to better ourselves, we might otherwise hang on to childish ways and self-centered living, even within the sacrament of matrimony.  Men respond to a challenge, so challenge us.  Show us that you love us regardless, but give us a challenge to step up our game.  Bring us to a couples conference, challenge us to a scripture reading showdown (I can show you how to do this one), see who can out love the other.  Get us moving in the right direction.  And pray pray pray pray for our ongoing conversion.

Whether we are called to the sacrament of matrimony, holy orders, religious life, or the call to live as a single person in the world, women and men are designed to compliment one another.  We work best when we work together.  So consider this a challenge from us.  Love us fiercely, and refuse to let us slack off.  Do not let us sit idly while others grow in their faith and love.  Never cease to pray for us, and always ask the intercession of our Blessed Mother.

Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope….

Do It Again (and Again and Again)

Human beings are creatures of habit. We tend to eat the same foods, listen to the same music, and hang out with the same people. I am willing to bet you have a morning routine.