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Friday, March 27, 2020
I’ve encountered many people these days struggling with depression and anxiety. These are normal, healthy reactions to the upheaval of their world. What is not healthy is to become anxious about being anxious or to be become depressed about being depressed. The difference is one healthy mental vitamin A - ACCEPTANCE. It’s ok that you feel bad. That’s alright. Don’t worry about being worried. It’s normal to feel like you’re going a little crazy when the world is going a little crazy. That’s why we need to stop, drop, and pray. Prayer is founded on ACCEPTANCE. Mary said, “Fiat” or “Let it be done unto me according to Thy Word.” Jesus taught us how to pray, “Thy Will be done”. When you accept reality the way it is you also are able to accept yourself for being the way you are and find it ok to be not ok. God is with you when you’re not ok and that’s why EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE OK. I invite you. Right now. Stop. Pray. Take one moment to acknowledge that God, who is infinite Love and Mercy, Loves you right exactly where you are right now. Allow God to be with you and give you peace and acceptance. Then get up and choose joy. Choose joy not because it’s all figured out, but because God is with you now and he’s going to help you get through this. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” John 14:27
Thursday, March 26, 2020
I’m discovering more places where I like to hear confessions by appointment on our fair grounds.
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Wednesday, March 25, 2020
You can either look at the beauty that is around you or get consumed by that which consumes beauty.
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My favorite place to hear confessions by appointment with social distancing.
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Saturday, February 1, 2020
Saturday, January 11, 2020
Sunday, December 22, 2019
Wednesday, August 14, 2019
All the rest and refreshment you need flows from the Sacred and Eucharistic Heart of Jesus Christ. Why do you seek water from cisterns that are dry when you can have living water? Come to me all you who are weary and find life burdensome and I will give you rest.
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Monday, July 1, 2019
Take refuge in the hidden Eucharistic Heart of Jesus whose Heart beats for you in the joy of silence.
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Saturday, June 8, 2019
Please pray for the soul of dear friend who suffered with depression and last night took his own life. He wrote me last Thanksgiving, offering me a place to go when I am away from my family: “I want you to count me as your friend. You are my friend, and, anything you need, please ask. I would like you to feel free to call me anytime just to chat. My house is always open to you. Just text or call. Besides your job as a priest. I enjoy a lot my time with you. I guess I just wanted to tell you that I’m here for you my friend.”
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Saturday, June 1, 2019
Today we pruned our roses. For a while they will look like ugly stubble and smell like manure fertilizer. Life is like that. We clipped off each flower but in time three more will take its place. In order to be beautiful you first have to go through the stink of ugliness. Be patient. God is working. “Every branch that does bear fruit God prunes, that it may bear more fruit” John 15:2
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Friday, May 10, 2019
“This one has a chalice!” said the man at the X-ray machine at the airport. All five security guards suddenly looked up at me in terror. The head guard, with a trembling voice, said, “sir, may I ask you to come to our back room. We have a few questions for you.” “I don’t understand, it’s just a chalice! It’s not a bomb.” Just a chalice? Not dangerous? I reviewed in my mind the words I just said. Wait a minute! There is nothing more dangerous, nothing more likely to change the face of the earth, to rock the world, than the blood of Christ outpoured. It most certainly is a weapon. It is the source, summit, and center of accessing and diffusing across all time and space THE HOLY LOVE OF GOD!!! “Excuse me?” I was momentarily awakened out of my interior sermon. The guard was asking me where and when I got it. Suddenly I realized they weren’t stopping me because they thought I was dangerous but because they thought I might be stealing precious artifacts, although my chalice is only three years old and obviously not ancient. There had been some precious artifacts stolen recently in Peru, and the ministry of culture had a most wanted list with pictures of things stolen. Mine was not on the list. Nonetheless I have to say I was tempted when they asked me my name to say, “Me? My name is Fr Samuel Medley, but they call me Indiana Jones!” They took some pictures, asked more questions, and eventually told me I could go. But wow, what a homily my heart told me in the meantime. Never under estimate the Blood of the Lamb.
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Monday, May 6, 2019
Wednesday, May 1, 2019
Sunday, April 28, 2019
Jesus to St Faustina: “Whoever approaches the Fountain of Life on this day will be granted complete forgiveness of sins and punishment.” (Diary, No. 300) “I want the image solemnly blessed on the first Sunday after Easter, and I want it to be venerated publicly so that every soul may know about it.” (Diary, No. 341) “This Feast emerged from the very depths of My mercy, and it is confirmed in the vast depths of my tender mercies.” (Diary, No. 420)
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Sunday, April 7, 2019
Saturday, April 6, 2019
Happy Lent! Pretend your fast is a steak! #humorhelpsthemedicinegodown
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Friday, April 5, 2019
Friday, March 29, 2019
Growing in holiness and holes: got my holey shirt and holy St Joseph socks.
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Tuesday, March 26, 2019
Sunday, March 17, 2019
Mighty Women: Fr Sam Medley, our director, just finished serving as retreat master for these amazing consecrated women from the Apostles of the Interior Life. Book your retreat with us. There are accommodations, sumptuous cuisine, and priests for offering Mass, confession, spiritual direction, and giving reflections. Contact us for more information.
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Friday, March 8, 2019
Always seek the blessing of the poor Today a beggar prayed over me and gave me his blessing. What a grace to receive the blessing of a poor man. I have always felt that even if I give some meager charity to those in need that their prayers for me would unlock the floodgates of the Lord, and thereby obtain blessings I could not with my own weak petitions. In these moments I feel the words of Tobit 12:9, “for almsgiving saves from death, and purges all sin.” Alms works away at the miserly selfishness lurking in our hearts, opens new paths of purity and truth, cleanses us of ‘entitled’ grumblings, and inspires deep in our hearts joyful gratitude at the gift of Life. It is not only prayer and fasting that casts out demons, but heartfelt almsgiving that saves us from the fires and hardened curses of hell.
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God Our Loving Father uses Lent to take us by the hand and guide us back to the right path. For each of these respond: Lord, guide us back to you+ When we use good and healthy pleasures too much that they become dominant or excessive... When we seek comfort from passing things forgetting our eternal destination... When we seek our own pursuits, forsaking the needs of the poor members of our family or community... When instead of merely keeping up with friends and family, we spend too much time on social media, forgetting prayer... When instead of just enjoying a show for evening relaxation we binge watch, keeping us from living life or needful rest... When things don't go our way and instead of waiting patiently we react with irritation or guile... When legitimate authority in our life directs us toward the common good yet we rebel or resist correction... When we turn from gratitude and joy to slump into complaining or self-pity... When we lose sight of God's hand failing to trust him, lapsing into vain anxiety and worry... When we forget God is in charge and needlessly brood over human politics and divisive rancor... When the Holy Spirit inspires us to intercede for others yet we procrastinate in obstinacy... O God Our Loving Father, guide us always in your merciful path, help us to trust in your ways and always seek your face, that when this earthly life is over we may rejoice with you in eternal life, through Christ Our Lord. Mary Mother of Jesus be a mother to us now+
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Thursday, March 7, 2019
“Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep, And say, “Spare, O LORD, your people!”
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Ash Wednesday fasting: For members of the Latin Catholic Church, the norms on fasting are obligatory from age 18 until age 59. When fasting, a person is permitted to eat one full meal, as well as two smaller meals that together are not equal to a full meal. The norms concerning abstinence from meat are binding upon members of the Latin Catholic Church from age 14 onwards.
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Wednesday, March 6, 2019
Giving up for Lent? You certainly will give up if you attempt something that is too difficult. Don’t hate thyself. You don’t go into the gym after staying away for a while and attempt to lift some weight too heavy you never could lift before. You would injure yourself and have to recover and would be discouraged in the future to get in shape. Out of guilt some people line up big and heavy penances for Lent, things they might not really be ready for, and then when they fail because it was too much to begin with, they feel a failure and more guilty when they started. Instead I find it is better to look at your state in life at what you should be doing anyway and to do it if it is close enough for you to try. Like a physical weight your body can lift while still being a challenge, spiritually this will not only make you stronger but be an encouragement because of the little victories you will have. This way you’re planning not only to succeed incrementally but permanently change your habits. Good pointers for penances that could permanently change you? Be S.M.A.R.T. Make sure it is: S - specific - don’t say you’ll “give up negativity” or “be holier” for Lent. What exact practices are you going to do? M - measurable - how many more minutes will you pray? How many acts of kindness will you do for your family? A - attainable - don’t attempt something you can’t do. Be realistic about what you’re capable of. If you’ve never been able to do it before there might be a step in between point A and C that you are missing - B. R - relevant - it should be something that helps you be a better you, not turn a businessman into a monk, not take you away from charity toward your family but enkindle it. If you are committing habitual sin you shouldn’t focus on something else but stop what you shouldn’t be doing anyway. T - time sensitive - daily, weekly, monthly, at least once during Lent (like confession) etc. putting a time limit on it makes you accountable.
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Friday, February 22, 2019
Monday, February 18, 2019
I’m not sure why (I really wish I knew) but after a deep healing retreat, after I feel totally poured out, after walking with people through the deep valleys of their pains and sorrows, I find I have to come here and water the grass a bit with my eye’s waters. It is a strange joy. Empty and full and the same time. Like I’m dying and being born at the same time. May God be glorified in all of it.
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