An opportunity to share thought and ideas in an informed, respectful forum. This blog seeks to promote authentic Catholic thought and welcomes people of all faiths. All posts and comments are at the discretion of the editor and can be deleted at any time.
It's only the fifth day of school and already two incidences of sexual assault or misconduct have occurred. Stand up, speak out, respect others,and help make our campus and surrounding community a safe home for everyone. This is a prayer for an end to the violence:
Dear God, Please bless every young man and woman on our college campus, that we respect human life and the integrity of our fellow man. May those who are hurt find courage and hope in Your love and peace. And may those who work with people healing from sexual assault and abuse find strength in You. We ask this in your name, Amen
If you need a safe place to talk the Campus Ministry Office (top floor of Regina Complex) and Counseling Center (South Hall) are always here for you.
As it nears the end of the semester, stress typically runs high on a college campus. Students are eager to finish for Winter Break, but finishing comes with the dreaded final exams. Back in my day, six months ago, I know that was the case for me. I would get really stressed out with all the pressure that was put upon me and it always seemed that Winter & Summer Break always came with an awful price, FINALS. I would second guess myself and usually worry over nothing!
Over time, I have tried to deal with my stress and anxiety better, sometimes with Yoga, a funny movie, or talking to someone, but most often, I used a little prayer. Below is one of my favorite prayers, it helps me “untie.” When things are getting tough and you have lost all hope in yourself, let the Lord “untie” you, let Him take all of your worries upon His shoulders. He has very large shoulders, don’t worry, He can handle it.
The Knots Prayer
Dear God:
Please untie the knots that are in my mind, my heart and my life. Remove the have nots, the can nots and the do nots that I have in my mind.
Erase the will nots, may nots, might nots that may find a home in my heart. Release me from the could nots, would nots and should nots that obstruct my life.
And most of all, Dear God, I ask that you remove from my mind, my heart and my life all of the ‘am nots’ that I have allowed to hold me back, Especially the thought that I am not good enough.
Since I was privileged to witness a baptism this weekend, I've been thinking about the power of being baptized. What has baptism done for me or better...to me? The word that comes to mind is freedom. Because I'm baptized, I ought to be free to live my life for Christ. I ought to recognize the opportunities to stand against the injustices around me and then actually stand against them. I ought to recgonize the opportunities to offer the love of Christ to another and then actually offer something.
Far from being a static moment in my history, baptism ought to be a dynamic, energy-filled reality that rattles my cage everyday.
How can I start living my baptism with more authority? What would that look like?
I’ve grown so much closer to both Christ and the church than I’ve ever had and it’s all thanks to what Campus Ministry has brought to me. Coming to college I never would have realized that I’d be involved in the Leadership team. It’s quite an honor and I’m so pleased with everything the CM office has to offer. Just this past Tuesday, on my Grandpa’s 80th birthday, not only was I praying and praising God that he has made it this far in life and is still active and healthy, but just like last year I found time to go to the All Souls Day Mass. My thoughts and prayers went out to each and every one on that long list of names for the people who have gone before us within the last year. To me, and I’m certainly hoping it’s the same for everyone else, those aren’t just names on a list. Those names mean something and are on there for a reason. I remember last year how I asked Anthony if he can include my Mom even though she hadn’t died within the year span. I was so blessed and grateful to him for doing that. Everyone knows it’s difficult to lose a loved one whether a friend, relative, neighbor, co worker, etc you name it and believe me I’ve been there. November 17th would’ve been my Mom’s 49th Birthday. She’s celebrating 12 of those years with the Lord. Throughout the years it’s been extremely hard knowing all the milestones and celebrations she never got and will never get to see starting with my first communion and probably ending with having a family with lots of various in betweens. People really applaud me if doing as well as I am the loss of a parent as a young age. I didn’t expect coming into this world that I would only get to know her for the first 7 years of my life but I couldn’t have asked for a better Mom. As I always say God places each and every one of us is a family with great values and beliefs and the family you’re born into is the family you’ll grow to love, worship, and adore and no one else’s. I owe so much thanks to my grandparents for raising me for the past 12 years after she passed on and continue to do so. Without them I can’t imagine how my life would be like it is now. My family, friends, and my faith have made me the person that I am today to which I'm very thankful for. I Love and miss you Mom always and forever.
-Kelly Medved
“Angel of God, my guardian dear,
To whom God’s love commits me here
Every this day, be at my side,
To light and guard, Rule and guide. Amen.”
Great talk last night at Notre Dame College with John Allen, Jr. Clearly, the future of the Church lies in the hands of the faithful; the prophets leading us to renewal are rising from the bottom, from the places where the Spirit of God is vibrant and active. Our leadership is faithful to its role of protecting and maintaining the faith; expecting renewal from this place is both unrealistic and unlikely.
I am regularly inspired by the powerful, courageous voices of those calling for nonviolence and an end to war. Most inspirational is the personal commitment to living a nonviolent lifestyle. True peace radiates from within, and those I admire most radiate peace. There is no more powerful witness. Check out Voices for Creative Nonviolence:
A prayer that I’ve grown incredibly fond of in recent years is the Litany of Humility. It’s a prayer that I often find incredibly difficult to say and really mean. If I had a dollar for every time in a week that I find myself desiring praise…or approval…or consultation… or acted out of fear of embarrassment or being wronged… then I could pay my (and probably your) college tuition for the year.
Humility is not easy, but is so necessary. We are called to humility, to cast out our sins of pride and selfishness. Christ was the essence of humility – God took the form of a human to bear our sins, was born in a stable, and died a humiliating death on a cross between two criminals…. all for us. There is quite the link between holiness and humility.
My favorite line in this prayer is “That others become holier than I, provided that I become as holy as I should”. Such a beautiful, selfless statement – to pray that all those around you become holier than you, yet still asking to become as holy as God wants. I hope I never lose that desire. Reflect on your own desires and fears as you pray this prayer. Add it to your daily prayers and check out the youtube video below to hear it sung beautifully by Danielle Rose.
Peace of Christ, Meghan
O Jesus! meek and humble of heart, Hear me.
From the desire of being esteemed, Deliver me, Jesus. (repeat after each line)
From the desire of being loved,
From the desire of being extolled,
From the desire of being honored,
From the desire of being praised,
From the desire of being preferred to others,
From the desire of being consulted,
From the desire of being approved,
From the fear of being humiliated,
From the fear of being despised,
From the fear of suffering rebukes,
From the fear of being calumniated,
From the fear of being forgotten,
From the fear of being ridiculed,
From the fear of being wronged,
From the fear of being suspected,
That others may be loved more than I, Jesus, grant me the grace to desire it. (repeat after each line)
That others may be esteemed more than I ,
That, in the opinion of the world,
others may increase and I may decrease,
That others may be chosen and I set aside,
That others may be praised and I unnoticed,
That others may be preferred to me in everything,
That others may become holier than I, provided that I may become as holy as I should.
