We are grit

Which is a better way of saying we are all hair shirts to those around us. As Fr. Corapi was saying today, "Good morning hair shirt. How scratchy are you going to be today?"

Sounds a bit rough, but he makes his point quite well. To become the precious gems in the Kingdom of God, we are given our family to help us become holy. Just as grit is added to the tumbler to smooth the rough edges of the stones; our spouse, children and family in all their annoying faults are there to smooth our rough edges. Learning to love them despite their faults is how we become holy. And we must remember, they may be grit to us, but what grain of grit are we to others? For those who have listened to my complaining, just remember, I am polishing you.

Or in other words, to roughly paraphrase Mother Angelica, holiness is listening to someone complain about all their problems over and over. Or listening patiently to a joke you have heard 25 times and laughing at the punch line for the 26th time.

Boy, all that holiness I am missing as my children tell joke after joke.

So, have you hugged your grit today?

In season and out of season

The following link is about ways to grow in holiness during Advent. But it is relevant for every season. via Bettnet.

A Catholic Mom in Hawaii: Easy Ways to Evangelize During Advent

30 Days, 30 Ways. Evangelization Made Easy

1 Pray every time a siren sounds.

3 Say grace before meals

4 Place a cross or sacred-art item in every room.

5 Have your house blessed.

19 Say the Angelus every day.

Those are a few that we tend to do as a family. I try to remember the Angelus (if I am in my car at noon, I usually do.)

A Friday night special.

Angus Daily has a topic that came to my mind recently. And does quite a good job explaining it if you can get through the St. Thomas Aquinas.

Agnus Daily: How drunk is too drunk?
i.e., where does enjoying adult beverages turn into mortal sin.

I am not too concerned about crossing between venial and mortal sin because once you willingly head down the venial road, mortal is just a step or two away.

But this touches on something else I was pondering. Drunkeness is a sin because it takes away the free will. And as Fr. Fernando states, willingly handing over the free will to Satan is definitely a serious sin.

And why? Because where else are we "made in His image" other than our will? So we set aside the most holy thing God has given us. The only thing we can freely give to Him, we hand down to Satan.

hmm... that will put pause in my next beverage or three.