Fr. John's Corner — Holy Spirit Catholic Church

Father John’s Corner

October 15, 2024

Do you recall a few weeks ago when I spoke about RFK Jr. and his conversion experience? One interesting detail of his story involved a number of different examples about what a conversion experience just might practically look like in the life of any person. I’d like to share some of his examples because they apply to all of us. He said that each of us faces quite a number of moral decisions that we have to make every day where we are often called to suppress our pride and increase our humility. Some of his examples include getting out of bed in the morning without hitting the snooze alarm. This is self-discipline and it’s an important virtue for all of us to practice. The anti-virtue here is laziness. Next is making one’s bed every morning (and maybe even starting the day with a prayer.)

How about returning the shopping cart to its station there in the parking lot at Kroger’s? How about putting the pants back on the hanger after you try them on in the fitting room at Kohl’s? How about picking up that piece of garbage off the floor even though you didn’t put it there? Along with this example he provided a story that I think is hilarious. He was running through an airport to catch a flight. He was chewing gum as he ran and took it out of his mouth and wrapped it in foil and threw it into the garbage can as he ran by. ( he’s doing pretty good so far) It was an accurate shot but it bounced out onto the floor. His conscience began to bother him as he continued to run and he argued with God, “Hey, I made the shot. But some “unseen” force threw it back out on the floor.” The argument didn’t work. His conscience overruled him and he stopped after about 50 feet and came back and threw the gum in the garbage can. And he didn’t miss his flight.

At the end of our lives, we will hold our life in our hands as we stand before the throne of God. No words will need to be spoken but we will know how we did because our conscience will remind us. Let’s get in the habit of responding to that inner voice that tells us what we should do (or say) in any given moment, with any moral decision (big or small) we are called upon to make during our day.

(So then, if you see your mom carrying groceries into the house, offer to help her.)

~Fr. John

The following is information and links to articles, and blogs, and YouTube videos that Fr. Rocus thinks might be helpful to you in your search for truth.

Subverted. How I Helped the Sexual Revolution Hijack the Women’s Movement, by Sue Ellen Browder. Fr. John mentioned this book from the pulpit a few weeks ago, having learned about it from the Al Kresta radio talk-show at Ave Maria Radio in Domino’s Farms. He is really enjoying this book – it’s been a real eye-opener. One point that he made in his homily that day is key – that she admitted to being a propagandist for the sexual revolution by writing articles for Cosmopolitan Magazine which were essentially lies. She and her fellow writers, therefore, extended a great negative influence on a whole generation of young women who were more than willing to buy into the lie. And the sad consequences are apparent as we look out over America’s moral landscape, much of which has been built on lies. Remember, it all began in the Garden of Eden. We have several copies of this book in our Book & Gift Shop.

Daniel O’Connor is an Internet blogger and a theologian who has some strong opinions about that document that has come out of the Vatican regarding the blessing of same-sex marriages. I think he has some great insights.

(See video right)

On Fr. John’s wishlist…. a “Lawn-ba” (Automated Lawnmower)

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