I was taken aback that you called Father Fred “Fred” in a public forum. I recognize the length of friendship but I am particularly attentive to this because I have several priest friends. When one visits my home or when we are not in a position of being overhead I will call him by his name but otherwise my husband and I always try to call him “Father ….”

Anyway, I look forward to stopping by your blog now and then. May the Lord bless you and those you minister to through this blog.

I’m back home and quietly read on my computer your last post. I think it was just great. I prayed for you on the Tomb of St. Peter and during my time in the Eternal City. While I do not have the moral strength you have to support all your hardships, I marvel at how you shine, – to use our Blessed Lord’s words – “like a star in the midst of this depraved generation.” I wish I could shine like you in my missionary work ! May the good Lord bless our friendship and continue to bless your ASTOUNDING ministry.

Yet staying in the game and going to confession and starting over and over again. Thank you so much for sharing your struggles, It has helped me to see what is really important! Thank you. Thank you to Charlene and Suzanne too!

Thanks for this post. I needed to read it tonight, and if it’s any consolation, I’ve had a horrible week, there are knives sticking out of my back and I haven’t handled it well at all. I just went to Confession on Friday, but need to go again, and this time, with a LOT more to say.

The sad thing is that even though I KNOW I’m doing something wrong, I know my response to something is out of anger or frustration, which should be cause to make me back off, I will tend to go ahead with my response anyway. Knowing all the while it is a sin..multiple sins, even.

I do feel for you, though as your expletive happened in that moment of silence. But really, isn’t that the same thing? We all sin in a void of silence that God can always hear. In your case, your penance is coming from those around you. In my case, no one really “heard” yet I know my behavior “echoes” in a different way…and I’m not sure if the damage I did could be contained by the thickest prison walls.

Such is the nature of sin. No matter where we are, we are fallen, and we know we need a Savior. If we don’t come out of Lent realizing that foundational principle, Lent is for naught.

Ongoing thanks for Charlene and Suzanne, for their hard work in keeping your site going. Prayers for you all.

In my opinion, when you loose everything twice it’s the Holy Spirit trying to tell you to say something else. This post was great. Suzanne and Charlene do an incredible job. And yes, you are ministering to those of us who are beyond those stone walls.

I love your amnisty day idea. I’ll suggest that to our own priests for next year.

God bless you father.

You teach me how to trust in God’s will and surrender all to Him

This post was exceptional. just learning what all of you have to go through to get these posts out to us is very humbling.
When bad things happen to good people was so helpful.

I was so happy to see Jesus of Divine Mercy with the Polish inscription. I am blessed to have a miniature of the Polish one hanging in my prayer room. Jezu Ufam Tobie…..

I am still working on joyful hope this lent. Thank you to Charlene and Suzanne for bringing us your posts.
Patricia

These were read to me today, and I found them uplifting as I always do. I’m so glad you liked this post.

I agree, it was better than the dribble I had originally typed! To answer David’s question, Suzanne selects the graphics for each of my posts, and she does so masterfully! I have never seen TSW, but the posts are printed and mailed to me. I am always in awe of Suzanne’s graphics. She puts more work into this, I think, than I do into writing some of the posts.

Her job means that she has to read the post carefully and then research and find appropriate graphics, videos, and music. What she comes up with is really terrific and I hope she knows how much I appreciate it. And I agree, the video from “A Christmas Story” is hilarious! I can never look at “fudge” the same way again!

With Lenten blessings to you all,
Fr. Gordon

Perhaps it is providential that God allowed your original post to be thwarted, because the one that you’ve written here is wonderful. It is a perfect meditation for Lent.

Father, do you choose the video clips for your posts or does Suzanne? I ask because I love the clip from A Christmas Story — it is one of my favorite films of all time.

God bless you and keep the Faith!

In Jesu XPI Passio,
David

I don’t know what you had written originally, but this was far from boring. As a teacher, I know how humbling and not so fun those moments are when the teacher becomes the student, so to speak.

Thank you for the reminder to trust God in mishap and misfortune. Sometimes I am all too quick to say to God: “Where were you when all this was going down?” And then I remember that line from Job and it quickly puts me and things back into the perspective they should be in.

Continued prayers for you.
God Bless!
PS- I used to have a good old fashioned “cuss box” when I taught 7th and 8th grade. One year we raised enough money to adopt an endangered animal.