I have published a fitness blog for over a year, and in that time I have learned a few important lessons. First, speak directly to your audience. Second, use personal experiences whenever possible. Finally, have an impact - don't waste people's time with drivel just to fill up your self-imposed word quota.
So now with all that said, let's get to my first Catholic blog post, and it has to do with the "trials of men". I try to follow the "daily Mass-or-daily-Rosary" format for my daily devotional period. Most days it's the Rosary, first because I love praying it but also because I can head right into the chapel at my church and have total silence in front of the Blessed Sacrament. That makes a huge difference n my ability to concentrate.
Each day when I pray the Rosary I dedicate it to the "trials of men". So what does that mean, exactly? This list may not be exhaustive, but the "trials" include lust, pornography, adultery, masturbation and all the like. I simply ask Mary to intervene and to allow men to think about her prior to engaging in any of these behaviors. Since I'm a man, I ask for me, too.
Tuesdays and Fridays are especially important days in this process because the "Sorrowful Mysteries" are contemplated on those days. To me, these mysteries refer to the trials of men almost directly.
The Agony in the Garden: Jesus knew what was going to happen once he was discovered in Garden and betrayed by Judas, and he was certainly apprehensive: “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet, not as I will, but as you will.”(MT 26:39,NAB). If we men did a similar examination of our conscience, I suspect that we, too, would do what God wills and not want we want to do.
The Scourging at the Pillar: Jesus chose the path of MOST resistance and suffered for it. Men facing the trial should also face the trials and resist, even when it is much easier to submit to temptation.
The Crowning with Thorns: To add insult to injury, the Roman soldiers made a crown of thorns for the "King of the Jews". Will you experience insults for not going to strip clubs, not participating in office gossip about female employees, not watching porn? Absolutely, but, like, Jesus, you should wear the crown and carry on.
Jesus Carries His Cross: If a man does, in fact, give in to temptation and engage in one of the trials, it's his cross to bear. But Jesus saw three people along the way that helped him through his trial of carrying the cross, and we men also have help. Jesus had Simon the Cyrene - we have priests to assist us in taking a load off the cross my hearing us confess our sins; we have Mary, the Mother of God, who we can appeal for support in our trials; and "the women" - our women - our wives and daughters who want us to be devout and faithful.
Jesus is Crucified: Jesus accepted the sins of all men when he was baptized by John in the Jordan. That means that we have someone who has accepted that we are sinners and died for our sins. We should offer not only our successes, but also our failure and trials to him as well. He died so we could do just that.
The trials of men are not unique and neither are responses: be reconciled for your sins, pray the Rosary and look to your Blessed Mother as the image of the women you never want to disappoint.
"Remember, oh compassionate Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your assistance, or sought your intercession was left unaided." (The Memorare)
God bless you, my friends.
So now with all that said, let's get to my first Catholic blog post, and it has to do with the "trials of men". I try to follow the "daily Mass-or-daily-Rosary" format for my daily devotional period. Most days it's the Rosary, first because I love praying it but also because I can head right into the chapel at my church and have total silence in front of the Blessed Sacrament. That makes a huge difference n my ability to concentrate.
Each day when I pray the Rosary I dedicate it to the "trials of men". So what does that mean, exactly? This list may not be exhaustive, but the "trials" include lust, pornography, adultery, masturbation and all the like. I simply ask Mary to intervene and to allow men to think about her prior to engaging in any of these behaviors. Since I'm a man, I ask for me, too.
Tuesdays and Fridays are especially important days in this process because the "Sorrowful Mysteries" are contemplated on those days. To me, these mysteries refer to the trials of men almost directly.
The Agony in the Garden: Jesus knew what was going to happen once he was discovered in Garden and betrayed by Judas, and he was certainly apprehensive: “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet, not as I will, but as you will.”(MT 26:39,NAB). If we men did a similar examination of our conscience, I suspect that we, too, would do what God wills and not want we want to do.
The Scourging at the Pillar: Jesus chose the path of MOST resistance and suffered for it. Men facing the trial should also face the trials and resist, even when it is much easier to submit to temptation.
The Crowning with Thorns: To add insult to injury, the Roman soldiers made a crown of thorns for the "King of the Jews". Will you experience insults for not going to strip clubs, not participating in office gossip about female employees, not watching porn? Absolutely, but, like, Jesus, you should wear the crown and carry on.
Jesus Carries His Cross: If a man does, in fact, give in to temptation and engage in one of the trials, it's his cross to bear. But Jesus saw three people along the way that helped him through his trial of carrying the cross, and we men also have help. Jesus had Simon the Cyrene - we have priests to assist us in taking a load off the cross my hearing us confess our sins; we have Mary, the Mother of God, who we can appeal for support in our trials; and "the women" - our women - our wives and daughters who want us to be devout and faithful.
Jesus is Crucified: Jesus accepted the sins of all men when he was baptized by John in the Jordan. That means that we have someone who has accepted that we are sinners and died for our sins. We should offer not only our successes, but also our failure and trials to him as well. He died so we could do just that.
The trials of men are not unique and neither are responses: be reconciled for your sins, pray the Rosary and look to your Blessed Mother as the image of the women you never want to disappoint.
"Remember, oh compassionate Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your assistance, or sought your intercession was left unaided." (The Memorare)
God bless you, my friends.
Comments
Post a Comment