2012 In Review
WordPress prepared this report for my blog. I started this blog not long ago. The stats are surprising. Thank you everyone. Hopefully in 2013 I’ll continue to write interesting posts that will inspire people.
The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2012 annual report for this blog.
Here’s an excerpt:
600 people reached the top of Mt. Everest in 2012. This blog got about 2,100 views in 2012. If every person who reached the top of Mt. Everest viewed this blog, it would have taken 4 years to get that many views.
God’s Perfect Planning
Today we celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. I recently read Pope Benedict’s new book Jesus of Nazareth: The Infancy Narratives. In his commentary about the birth of Jesus, Pope Benedict XVI comments on the perfect timing of Jesus coming into the world. In chapter 3, he talks about the historical framework of the Nativity story in Luke’s Gospel. He says
” For the first time there is a government and an empire that spans the globe. For the first time, there is a great expanse of peace in which everyone’s property can be registered and placed at the service of the wider community. Only now, when there is a commonality of law and property on a large scale, and when a universal language has made it possible for a cultural community to trade in ideas and goods, only now can a message of universal salvation, a universal Saviour, enter the world…”
Pope Benedict XVI, The Infancy Narratives, pg. 59
Before reading this book, I never considered the timing of Jesus coming into the world. It was one of those moments when you stop reading and let the words sink in. The quote above gave me a bigger picture on how much care God puts into His plans. I thought about the timing of events in my own life. I realized God has the same kind of timing in my life, and I think it’s true for everyone’s life. One example from my life is the blessing of being born and baptized on the same day. It makes me smile and chuckle a bit to think that God loves me so much he couldn’t wait for me to become part of His family. As I spend time reflecting on my life I continue to find moments when God’s timing has been perfect. This has helped me grow in joy and draws me into a deeper relationship with God.
Today lets celebrate the coming of our Lord Jesus and the perfect planning that God put into our salvation. I hope this Christmas that you can recognize the perfect planning that God has for you and your life.
Have a Merry Christmas and I know you will have a perfectly planned new year.
Related articles
- Pope Benedict’s New Book on Jesus’ Infancy Narratives (iseekhim.com)
- 9 things you need to know about Pope Benedict’s new book about Baby Jesus (ncregister.com)
- Pope’s childhood letter to Baby Jesus shows his faith (catholicnewsagency.com)
Signs of Life is a perfect Christmas gift
Cover via Amazon
“Being Catholic never means never having to say we have nothing left to do. Our prayer is enriched by sacred images and incense, votive candles and rosary beads, waters and oils, gestures and postures, blessings and medals, customs and ceremonies.”
Scott Hahn - Signs of Life, pg. 7
When I packed for my parents house a few days ago to spend Christmas with them, I spent more time looking at a small stack of books than actually packing clothes. I narrowed it down to Scott Hahn‘s book Signs of Life: 40 Catholic Customs and Their Biblical Roots.
I picked this book because I was flipping through it and noticed it covered a lot of customs I’ve done for years and never considered their biblical roots. Customs like indulgences, novenas, spiritual reading, and the catholic calendar.
The book is broken up into 40 short chapters and can be read little by little over the course of a month. I took it all in over the course of 3 days (I had a hard time putting it down while on a plane and a road trip) and I’ll definitely have to read it again over a longer period of time. Every chapter ends with a “Ponder in your Heart” and contains a refection relating to the chapter’s topic. The many reflections come from the wisdom of various Popes, Saints, and Monks.
This would be the perfect book to go through for a month during the Year of Faith, or if you’re part of a church group it would be perfect for that too. This is a terrific reference book. I recommend this book for anyone who wants to give biblical answers to their Non-Catholic friends or
any catholic, like myself, who never thought about where in the bible do we find the customs that make our faith fully active in mind, body, and soul. You can find Signs of Life at your local catholic book store.
Related articles
- Book Review: Walking With Bilbo (thewritelife2.wordpress.com)
- A Royal Truth: Scott Hahn reflects on the Solemnity of Christ the King (salvationhistory.com)
- Heads Up: Scott Hahn reflects on the 1st Sunday in Advent (salvationhistory.com)
Marian wisdom from a few Saints
“From Mary we learn to surrender to God’s Will in all things. From Mary we learn to trust even when all hope seems gone. From Mary we learn to love Christ her Son and the Son of God!”
“Never be afraid of loving the Blessed Virgin too much. You can never love her more than Jesus did.”
St. Louis De Montfort
“We never give more honour to Jesus than when we honour his Mother, and we honour her simply and solely to honour him all the more perfectly. We go to her only as a way leading to the goal we seek Jesus, her Son.”
Related articles
- Our Lady of Guadalupe procession draws thousands in celebration of faith (deaconjohnspace.wordpress.com)
- a year of prayer: 365 Rosaries: August 22: The Queenship of Mary (ladyphilosopher.wordpress.com)
- The Virgin Mary is an Intrinsic Element of Christianity (cantuar.blogspot.com)
- Our Lady of Lourdes – “I AM THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION” (intostillness.wordpress.com)
