Happy New Year's Eve!

Here's a list of the books I read this year! :D

1. The Chesapeake Bay Retriever by Arthur S. Beaman

2. Poodles by Kerry Donnelly

3. Opossum by Tom Jackson (a kid's book)

4. Pocket Babies and Other Amazing Marsupials by Sneed B. Collard

5. Unplanned: The Dramatic True Story of a Former Planned Parenthood Leader's Eye-Opening Journey across the Life Line by Abby Johnson, with Cindy Lambert

6. Angels (and Demons) : What Do We Really Know About Them? by Peter Kreeft

7. Infinite Space, Infinite God - edited by Karina and Robert Fabian

8. Every Young Man's Battle: Strategies for Victory in the Real World of Sexual Temptation by Stephen Arterburn and Fred Stoeker with Mike Yorkey

9. Sex is Not the Problem (Lust is) : Sexual Purity in a Lust-Saturated World by Joshua Harris (formerly titled not even a hint)

10. Theology of the Body for Beginners by Christopher West

11. The Courage to be Chaste by Benedict J. Groeschel, C.F.R.

12. The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis

13. Ministry to Persons with a Homosexual Inclination: Guidelines for Pastoral Care by the USCCB

14. Why God Matters: How to Recognize Him in Daily Life by Karina Lumbert Fabian and Deacon Steven Lumbert

15. STAR WARS Last of the Jedi: Against the Empire by Jude Watson

16. STAR WARS Jedi Apprentice: The Dark Rival by Jude Watson

17. "...And you are Christ's" - The Charism of Virginity and the Celibate Life by Fr. Thomas Dubay, S.M.

18. Our Lady of the Lost and Found: A Novel of Mary, Faith, and Friendship by Diane Schoemperlen

19. Woodsong by Gary Paulsen

20. Homosexuality and the Catholic Church by Fr. John F. Harvey, OSFS

21. Judith: Captive to Conqueror by Gabrielle Gniewek and Sean Lam (graphic novel)

22. My Life in Dog Years by Gary Paulsen

23. Understanding the Catechism: Morality by Michael Pennock

Books I started, but haven't finished yet:

1. Memoirs of a Soldier, Nurse, and Spy: A Woman's Adventures in the Union Army by Sarah Emma Edmonds

2. The Rite: The Making of a Modern Exorcist by Matt Baglio

3. Compassion Fatigue in the Animal-Care Community by Charles R. Figley, PhD and Robert G. Roop, PhD

4. Mastering the Methods (All Church Training Teacher Certification) by D.V. Hurst and Dwayne Turner

My goal for next year is to read more, starting the books on the "not finished" list :)
I wish you all a happy and blessed New Year!

Mass, Nature Walk, and Youth on a Mission -- a perfect Wednesday ^_^

Sanctuary of St Peter's Catholic Church, Richmond, VA


Last Supper, stained glass window in St Peter's


Flowers behind the Religious Ed building


St Anthony


Youth on a Mission kids


Mario giving tonight's talk

Divine Mercy

(This is the talk I gave on Wednesday to my church's youth group, with Mario's helpful suggestions added in -- many thanks to him!)

Last Sunday was Divine Mercy Sunday, the first Sunday after Easter. It is the Feast of Mercy, requested by Jesus through Saint Faustina. It's purpose is to highlight the merciful love of God that's the whole point behind Easter -- and the Eucharist we celebrate at every Mass.



First, just a little bit about St. Faustina. She was a young, uneducated Polish nun who lived between 1905 and 1938. She was a modern woman -- not someone way back in ancient history. Jesus came to her in visions, and he gave her the prayers of the chaplet and urged her to share the message of Divine Mercy. She recorded all these things in her diary, and from then on she recited this form of prayer almost constantly, especially for the dying.



The Divine Mercy image is a painting St Faustina had commissioned that shows how Jesus appeared to her. It is an image of the Risen Lord, with rays of mercy coming from His heart. The red ray symbolizes blood and the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. The blue ray symbolizes water, Baptism, and the Holy Spirit. Both recall how when His side was pierced at the Crucifixion, blood and water flowed out, and we are redeemed by His merciful sacrifice for us.

Blessed Pope John Paul II said, "Right from the beginning of my ministry [...] I considered the message of Divine Mercy my special task." This Message of Divine Mercy is quite simple, but also an immense challenge -- Trust in Jesus, and be merciful as God your Father is merciful. "We are not only to receive the mercy of God, but to use it by being merciful to others" through the works of mercy (emphasis mine). As St. Paul said, "Faith without works is dead" (James 2:17). It does us no good to talk about Jesus all day long if we don't get out there and really live it.


What are the works of mercy? There are 14 -- 7 "corporal" (dealing with the body and physical life) and 7 "spiritual" (they deal with tending our souls and fostering eternal life).

Corporal Works
1. Feed the hungry
2. Give drink to the thirsty
3. Clothe the naked
4. Shelter the homeless
5. Comfort the prisoners
6. Visit the sick
7. Bury the dead

Spiritual Works
1. Teach the uninformed
2. Pray for the living and the dead
3. Correct sinners
4. Counsel those in doubt
5. Console the sorrowful
6. Bear wrongs patiently
7. Forgive wrongs willingly

Can anyone here give an example of when they did one of these works of mercy? Why did you do it?

All of this is integrally linked to the Divine Mercy Chaplet because in this devotion we beg God to have mercy on us and on the whole world, for we are all sinners. We're nothing without His mercy.

Now, let's pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.

For more information on St. Faustina and the message of Divine Mercy, check out The Divine Mercy, a website maintained by the Marians of the Immaculate Conception.