Five Faith Friday

Here is this week's installment of "Five Faith Friday" which contains five, faith-based things I found interesting and am sharing on Friday.

What Moment Inspired Me --
I was visiting the local FSSP church for Mass (St. Stephen's) with a buddy and was inspired when I arrived 30 minutes early and saw the pastor, Father Pendergraft, kneeling in the sanctuary while praying. He continued praying right up until Mass, and it wasn't even a Mass that he was celebrating! God bless him.

Sometimes we need to see our fathers (both our spiritual ones and our biological ones) humbling themselves before the Lord in prayer. "Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he grows older he will not abandon it" (Proverbs 22:6 NASB). Sometimes that training is audibly and other times it is through actions. If a father only speaks of prayer but does not demonstrate his commitment to the Lord, it doesn't set an example for others to follow. Here's my challenge to all of the fathers out there... let your children catch you in prayer.

What Statement I Read --
The USCCB Statement on the Inauguration. Take some time to read it as it is very refreshing to hear from the USCCB (for once). This segment particularly stood out to me:

"[A]s pastors, the nation’s bishops are given the duty of proclaiming the Gospel in all its truth and power, in season and out of season, even when that teaching is inconvenient or when the Gospel’s truths run contrary to the directions of the wider society and culture. So, I must point out that our new President has pledged to pursue certain policies that would advance moral evils and threaten human life and dignity, most seriously in the areas of abortion, contraception, marriage, and gender. Of deep concern is the liberty of the Church and the freedom of believers to live according to their consciences."

Bishop Schlert also had some great comments that he shared: “On this Inauguration Day, I offer my prayers for our new President and his Administration. It is my fervent hope that they will work diligently and courageously in respecting the rights and dignity of the Human Person from conception through natural death.”

What Short Story I Enjoyed --
Another very humble man was saying his rosary as he traveled by train decades ago. A college student occupied the same coach and thought the man a well-to-do peasant but out of touch with reality since he was praying the rosary. The student interrupted the man saying, "Sir, do you still believe in such outdated things?" "Yes, I do. Do you not?" asked the man. Laughing, the student replied, "I do not believe in such silly things. Take my advice. Throw the rosary out through this window, and learn what science has to say about it." "Science? I do not understand this science? Perhaps you can explain it to me," the man said humbly with some tears in his eyes. The student saw that the man was deeply moved. So to avoid further hurting the feelings of this man, he said: "Please give me your address and I will send you some literature to help you on this matter." The man fumbled in the inside pocket of his coat and gave the boy his visiting card. On glancing at the card, the student bowed his head in shame and became silent. On the card he read: Louis Pasteur. Director of the Institute of Scientific Research, Paris.

What Motivational Video I Watched --
Surrender Is Not An Option. You are going to have your great days and your bad days. But even your bad days are great days if you take a step back and reflect on all of the blessings that were bestowed on you. Remember that the devil is trying to get us down and make us feel discouraged. Discouragement is one of the four common tactics of the devil. He doesn't want us to proceed. He wants us to surrender and succumb to trust in ourselves and not in Christ. I'm sharing this 6 minute motivational video with you to help reinforce that surrender is not an option.

What Book I Read --
Many Are Called: Rediscovering the Glory of the Priesthood by Scott Hahn. If you don't know Scott Hahn, you should. The man is an absolute theological guru of modern times and each of his 50+ books are pure genius. This book continues to match that standard as it evaluates the Biblical roots of the priesthood as the backbone of the Church. "He brings reinvigorated attention to the many roles of the priest—provider, mediator, protector, teacher, judge, and more—all of which are united in the priest's place as spiritual father to God's people, and ultimately he shows that it is through the priest, empowered by God, that the continuing presence of Jesus Christ makes itself known to our world."

Have a wonderful weekend and may God bless you and your family!



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