SEEK A New Year With New Beginnings

"And he that sat upon the throne said, 'Behold, I make all things new.' And he said unto me, 'Write: for these words are true and faithful.'" - Revelation 21:5

Hello my dear friends in Christ! Today we celebrate the feast day of the Holy Family. As we approach a new year let us continue to bless our own families with constant love and support. At times we may hurt the ones we love most just because they are part of our family. With that being said, we need to begin again and renew the love of Christ between our family members or at least ignite the fire of love for them in a more passionate and selfless way.

Speaking of a new year with new beginnings I've decided to go to the SEEK conference in January held by FOCUS (The Fellowship of Catholic University Students). It's amazing how fast time flies. I registered for this event in October and the new year is almost here! Just a few more days before I'm off to visit with over 6,000 other Catholics from around the nation! I'm so excited to engage with my fellow peers in Jesus Christ. This should be a wonderful opportunity to make new friendships and foster old ones. It is a time for us to celebrate the presence of the living God in Holy Communion and Adoration. There will also be some wonderful speakers there, including Matthew Kelly, Leah Darrow, and Jason Evert. As you can tell, I'm really excited!

But in all honesty, I had no idea how this would all come together. In October I had registered without knowing if any of my friends were going. I had asked a bunch of people if they wanted to come with me, but unfortunately they were all going to be busy at the time. However, I was determined to go. So I signed up anyways. Since my school does not have a FOCUS group on campus I was worried that I would go and not know anyone! But God truly makes things work out for the best. After some time I heard that more and more of my friends were going to come too. So just by trusting in Him I signed up for something that seems like it's going to be a very enjoyable experience with some of my friends—even though I didn't know it at the time.

Besides hanging out with my fellow Catholic friends, this is an opportunity for me to discern my future in a more intimate way in the presence of God. For a while I have been constantly discerning what God's future plan is for me when I graduate college. I have some thoughts in mind, but every time I consider what I might want to do I become even more confused. I think going to an event like this will hopefully make my paths clearer in my discernment. So while I'm at this event I will be going to seek Him and keep you in my prayers. I greatly appreciate you for reading my blog. Thanks for your support. Please pray for me too as I embark on this journey soon!!! God bless you in the New Year of 2013. *Note: Also if you are going to SEEK hope to see you there!* ;)

SEEK2013 : what moves you from FOCUSNational on Vimeo.

There's A Glitch

"There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends." - John 15:13

Over the weekend I finally saw the new Disney movie called Wreck-It Ralph. It was so cute!!! I highly recommend it for a family movie night. It's most definitely enjoyable for all ages, very well done, and super entertaining!

*SPOILER ALERT!* Throughout the duration of the movie I noticed many good and valuable life lessons. Here are some just to name a few. One: the desire for conversion. Two: the true meaning of love and friendship. Three: to restore/mend what is broken—especially if you created the problem or mess in the fist place.

Initially, I noticed the expression of Ralph's desire for conversion. After a long life of continuously breaking things people began to hate him for it. Being a video-game character, Ralph was created as a "bad guy" for his game called Fix-It Felix, Jr. The "good guy" was Felix and everyone loved him. He was always getting medals for doing good deeds. He was praised and honored for being such an exemplary role model—always fixing what was broken. Ralph was tired of living like this. He decided he didn't want to be the "bad guy" anymore. He wanted to be good! He wanted to change his life for the better! And he wanted to be truly happy.

Although he had such a great desire in his heart, the task was not easy. Everyone kept telling him that "bad guys" don't win medals and can never be good. This was discouraging, but he did not give up. He realized he could not win a medal in his own game, so he decided game jump into Hero's Duty. In this game he found a way to win a medal. Everything was going just fine until some of the CY-Bugs started to attack him.

This relates very much to how to devil will try to discourage you and attack you for doing something that is good. Since his desire for conversion was so great no wonder why it was challenging! These obstacles that get in our way need to be acknowledged in our lives, but must not defeat us. We need to overcome evil when we are faced with it. We must continue to aim for the best—like Ralph did when he desired to win that shiny golden medal and become a "good guy."

As he was trying to get away from the bugs, Ralph was chased into a little girl's game called Sugar Rush. In the land made of candy Ralph met very spirited little rascal, Vanellope von Schweetz. Little Vanellope was known as "the glitch" because her programming code was messed up. In Sugar Rush all the other little girls could race cars, but Vanellope couldn't be a racer since she was a glitch and would mess up the game.

Both Ralph and Vanellope, two very unlikely friends, formed a bond relating to the fact that they were always unwanted by everyone else around them. The two misfits made a deal to help each other get what they want—Ralph's medal and Vanellope's race car. Fortunately, they found a way to achieve their desires. However, once Vanellope had her race car Ralph pulverized it to protect her from racing. He talked to King Candy and found out that Vanellope could destroy the game and herself if she were to race since she was a glitch. Ralph's intentions were good, but again he came across as the "bad guy." This made Vanellope very upset.

Eventually Ralph found out that King Candy had lied to him about Vanellope racing. In fact, King Candy was the one who messed up her code in the first place to make her a glitch. He was trying to prevent her from racing because if she did she would reset the game and her code would be fixed.

At this revelation Ralph got Felix to fix Vanellope's race car. This also helped in mending their friendship. After some training and getting her car back Vanellope was ready to race. She was admitted as a contestant and took off. But during the race thousands of CY-Bugs appeared and began to attack the game of Sugar Rush. If they didn't stop the bugs, Sugar Rush and the entire gaming arcade would be destroyed!

Ralph knew what he had to do. He wanted to save Vanellope, her game, and the arcade. The only way he could think of doing it would be to smash into the top of Coke Mountain and make all the mentos icicles fall into the soda. This would make a huge explosion and eliminate the CY-Bugs from the game. However, if Ralph died in the explosion outside his own game he would not regenerate—meaning he would be gone for good. But he took the risk in doing so to save Vanellope and everyone else.

This is a very Christ-like action he took. Ralph decided to sacrifice himself for his friend's life. If there is anything to take away from this movie, that would be it. What a great life lesson! And to top it off, his heroic deed screams "good guy"—which is far better then winning any medal, in my opinion. Even though he didn't die, because little Vanellope snatched him up in her race car just in time, he was most certainly willing to die for her.

Ralph also made an effort to fix Vanellope's race car. Although he could not do it himself, he found someone who could. Ralph realized that it was wrong to destroy her car and he should have let her race in the first place. Come to find out, King Candy was an impostor known as Turbo (who was another racer from a different game).

Once the CY-Bugs were gone Vanellope crossed the finish line and Sugar Rush was reset. All of the code was restored and the characters could remember what had happened before King Candy took over. Apparently, Vanellope wasn't just a racer—she was also known as "Princess Vanellope von Schweetz." All of the girls who used to make fun of her for being a glitch were now in awe of her royalty. Ralph was also recognized as a hero for saving the gaming community. 

In the end, Ralph was still the "bad guy" for his game because that's his role. However, he is now accepted as a friend among the other characters. In fact, there would be no Fix-It Felix game without Ralph...so he is definitely recognized as an important member. But the best thing that came out of this entire adventure was his friendship with Vanellope. Disney demonstrated a beautiful Christ-like love between these two crazy characters. Plus, the two misfits are now in there rightful place, are recognized as being important members of their own game, and there is peace among the communities. Talk about a real happily ever after! We, too, should strive for love and peace within our own world through prayer, fasting, and the demonstration of it in our own lives.

          

Facebook Friends In "Real Life"

"Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth." - 1 Corinthians 13:6

Ok... so admit it, we've all done things a little backwards before. For example; sometimes we go to the mall, pick out an outfit, buy it, take it home, and then try it on. However, it is usually better to try on the clothes at the mall first, before you buy them, just to make sure they fit and look good. When you take home the outfit first there is a big chance you might not like it and want to take it back---because from my shopping experience---the outfit almost always looks better in the store, on the rack, then when you take it home and try it on.

The same goes for meeting people online before you meet them in person. (Not that people are like clothes in any way, shape, or form. lol. But the example here seems to showcase my point.) This is sort of backwards to how you would normally meet a person. It is much better to meet them in person first and to connect with them online afterwards. When you meet someone online first you don't have the luxury of seeing who they truly are. They could easily hide behind a profile of what you think they are. From my recent experience, I found out this is truly the case. Even if you really really think you know them, you can never be 100% sure of anything about them until you see them face to face. When someone is dishonest with you in real life it is easy to see their body language and personal reaction. This makes it hard for them to deceive you. But through the internet, texting, and sometimes even in phone conversations being deceptive can become very easy.

For example, I met someone online through a Catholic dating website---let's call him Andrew (although that is not his real name). Andrew and I talked for several months on the phone. We seemed to have lots in common---from our faith, music, movies, books, all the way to taste in food. We had loads of fun chatting for hours at a time. I truly thought he was unlike anyone I ever knew. He made me feel so special. We connected on social networking sites and video called each other. He actually lived very far away from me, so this was as close as we could get to be "in person." Since I saw him on the video chat I thought, Yeah, see, he is who he says he is. It's fine. *ahhemm* ...Not really.

Little did I know that Andrew was not who I thought he was. Over time it became easier and easier to see the reality of the situation. I don't believe he was being completely honest with me and I find that unsettling. It's sad because Andrew and I never got to meet face to face, but it was his choice. Early on we arranged a way for us to meet up in person but it never worked out. I believe God was protecting me from getting my heart even more broken. I'm not going to go into anymore details, because it's over and doesn't need to be brought up again. The fact is, I was painting a picture in my head of who I wanted him to be which was different from his real character.

"The man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths will be found out." - Proverbs 10:9

This type of deception is very alarming. That is why I caution anyone who tries online dating, even on Catholic websites, because you never know who it is you are really talking to. Even one of my very good friends had the exact same thing happen to her! I honestly don't condom meeting people online. I actually know of some people who found their future spouse on the same Catholic website and it turned out to be completely fine! It was absolutely wonderful!!! But I'm just putting out a fair warning to anyone who wants to try it.

The good news is that God can, in fact, bring us holy Catholic people closer together through the internet. Like I said, meeting people online is not bad at all. There just needs to be a precaution taken into consideration. I've met many people online first and then in person. I actually met the Nolan family on YouTube. Eventually we met in person and took a pilgrimage to Medjugorje together. I've met several other classmates on Facebook first and now one of them is a really good friend of mine.

Furthermore, I've been talking to a Catholic girl on Facebook named Therese for a few years now. Somehow she found me and sent me a friend request with a sweet message. I accepted her and guess what!?! We are now actually friends in real life! I just met her a couple days ago. She is truly a remarkable person. For the longest time we've messaged each other, texted, phone called, and Skyped. But now, we finally got to meet in person. This is very unusual because she doesn't live anywhere near me at all. In fact she lives many states north of Florida, where I live. However, she decided to go to college in Florida and we were finally able to meet in person.

It was so surreal when we actually met. It was almost like seeing an old friend that you hadn't seen in a very very long time. Therese is a wonderful person! She is Catholic, devout, faithful, loyal, honest, trustworthy...and the great part is, she really is who she says she is. Therese encompasses all the qualities I actually imagined her to be. There was no fraudulent picture of her in my head. This confirms that our friendship was not fantasized, but it actually was and is real. It is so refreshing to know that since I recently had a not-so-good-experience online with Andrew. But after praying about it for some time now, I think I see why God allowed that experience to happen and why it didn't work out. It was a very good learning experience. It has made me wiser and more wary with people I meet over the internet.

I am grateful for knowing Therese and pray that we continue to be really good friends. Like I said before, meeting people online can be a very good thing since you can reach people of the same faith outside your local area.

But if you are trying online dating websites I suggest to match up with people within the same vicinity, or state, at least. Even if you find someone else outside your local area---who might be many states away---just make sure you don't get your heart too caught up emotionally right off the bat. You need to find out from them if you'll ever be able to meet them in person, otherwise it is a waste of time. If you're never going to see them why continue the relationship? So, my advice is to pray for that person. Pray a novena for you and for them if you feel called to meet them in real life. And if you are not currently online dating, but want to, I suggest to pray a novena for that too. Ask Mary in the rosary. I guarantee she will lead you to those who also hold her, as a mother, close to their heart.

May God bless you! †

Back to School

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." - Joshua 1:9

It's that time of year again! Time to head back to school for all of you young people out there. I know... a new semester can be daunting and a little frightening sometimes. You may have all new teachers and classmates. Maybe you are just finishing your last year of high school and starting to apply for universities. Some of you may be entering college for the first time, now. Maybe you're taking a new step and moving away from your parents. Going into college for the first time can be nerve-racking, but you should embrace the experience as an exciting new adventure that God has planned for you!

I remember my first day of college orientation. I was really nervous. I barley knew anyone. So many thoughts raced through my head, like, "Will I make any good friends here? Will I like my classes? Are my professors nice? Will I get good grades? Can I figure out this computer software? Do they have decent food here? Am I going to get lost? Does that cute boy over there even notice me?" ...etc. What I've learned is that life will throw crazy curve balls at you. So even when you think you know of everything to expect something will always surprise you.

If you're entering college as a freshman don't be discouraged when trying to make friends or figuring your way around campus. Even if things don't seem to be working out at first, don't give up. It's easy to let your emotions get the best of you when you are upset or scared about something. My advice is to take this new opportunity and learn from it. Grow to become more independent. Grow to become more holy by trusting God completly. He will provide for you. His heart is an endless ocean of mercy. No task is too big for Him to take on for you. If you are worried, just pray and pour out your sorrows to Him. He will comfort you, bless you, and console you throughout your college years.

If you are like me, entering your last year of college as a senior, I can relate to you very well. I feel very familiar with my campus, community, and friends. I love where I am at and I don't want it to change. However, I know that I only have a year left. I know this can't last forever. I'm seeking out what to do once I graduate college. I am looking into grad school programs, employment opportunities, and internships. There are so many paths to consider. The question is... which one do I choose? Which one is the right path that God desires me to take? I don't have all the answers now, but I'm hoping to find a clearer path of where I'm suppose to go and what I'm suppose to do closer to graduation.

Each new stage in life has a loveliness and growth that helps us to become the person we are meant to be. It is not always easy. In fact, it can be very difficult sometimes. Transitioning from one place to another can be very intimidating, wherever you are coming from. Going from middle school to high school has its challenges as do going from high school to college. The next transition for me is undergrad to grad school or some type of job in my field of study. Who knows what that will be at this moment? But I am going to lay it all in the hands of the Lord. I am going to give all my worries to him so I don't have to, as should you.

A Student's Prayer - by St. Thomas Aquinas 

Come, Holy Spirit, Divine Creator, true source of light and fountain of wisdom! Pour forth your brilliance upon my dense intellect, dissipate the darkness which covers me, that of sin and of ignorance. Grant me a penetrating mind to understand, a retentive memory, method and ease in learning, the lucidity to comprehend, and abundant grace in expressing myself. Guide the beginning of my work, direct its progress, and bring it to successful completion. This I ask through Jesus Christ, true God and true man, living and reigning with You and the Father, forever and ever. Amen.

Saintly Friendships

"A faithful friend is a sturdy shelter; he who finds one finds a treasure." - Sirach 6:14

Friendships are a big part of life! Whenever life brings us up or down it is usually our friends we turn to -- in both the good times and bad. We look to them for advice, comfort, companionship, peace, joy, love, hope, and guidance. They help transform our lives for the best in weakness, sorrow, and distress. They yearn for us to find truth, meaning, passion, and purpose.

Virtuous friends, filled with the light of the Holy Spirit, will pray for you, will pray with you, and will speak to you with the words of God. They will help show you what you cannot see. Christ-like friends will encourage you to stand up again when you are brought to your knees. These true and faithful friends will give their best effort to be there for you when you are in most need of their presence and consolation. In order for the friendship to sustain itself, you too must also be willing to hold out your hand to them in the times when they have fallen. Treat them as you would want them to treat you. The more you become their friend the more likely they will become a true friend to you.

However, be careful when forming friendships. Not everyone can be your friend and not everyone is going to be. Being friends with someone means you have to be able to trust them. Imagine confiding your deepest feelings to someone who doesn't have your best interest at heart? Real friends want to help you. They will not tear you down. They might tell you things you do not want to hear, but it is because they care about you ssssoooo much! If they purposely try to sabotage your dreams and continuously hurt you...then you should take a step back, reevaluate the situation, and reconsider having any type of relationship with them. A true friend will give you the joy you seek and will even help you to become the best version of yourself.

Finding these true friends can be difficult...and sometimes it is just a very simple solution. Go to God. In God you will be able to find your true friends. That means you might find them at church or in a Catholic/Christian group in your school or community. Friendship built on a sturdy foundation of the same faith (or very similar) will be able to withstand the test of time. These friendships have a common union in God, in morality, and in virtue.

Similarities are important, but a friendship rooted outside of God cannot bear good fruit. Since God is love, a friend who does not know God cannot love you the way a true friend should. It is nice for you and your friend to have similar tastes in music, fashion, art, books, hobbies, sports, food, culture, ...etc. But if the two of you can only base your friendship on materialistic things then it is not "true friendship" you are finding.

If you have a best friend now who does not believe in God, please pray for them and their conversion. However, it is up to them to choose God and you should not force them to. You may invite them to church or pray a rosary with you sometime, but if they reject the invitation don't feel like your prayers for them were in vain. We are all given free will. If they refuse God deliberately, then it is because they have freely chosen to do so. In that case, even though it may be extremely difficult, you should remove yourself from the friendship. In a friendship without God you cannot be led in the right direction with their help or guidance. Even if you feel that you can help them, you would be doing yourself a favor to end the relationship or at least dropping it down to an acquaintance level.

You may have heard the phrase "birds of a feather flock together." This means people who have the same beliefs, morals, or principals of life tend to hang around each other. Going back through the history of the church you may notice that many saints were friends with other saints. For example, St. Francis of Assisi was friends with both St. Clare and St. Anthony. The twin brother and sister duo, St. Benedict and St. Scholastica, were lifelong companions and both canonized by the Catholic Church. Even St. Ignatius of Loyola and St. Francis Xavier were great friends and Jesuit roommates. As you can see, Sainthood begets Sainthood. Finding friends who are saintly and love God will also help you to become saintly and to love God more deeply.

So in your quest for true, holy, pure, and "saintly" friends---seek God. Focus on deepening your relationship with Him. Don't worry. Just put your trust in Him. Don't even try to force friendships. Just let it happen naturally when you meet someone. I guarantee you that He will lead you close to those who also love Him. The church is a family united under the one God, and He wants you to know your beloved brothers and sisters in Christ.

If you have these wonderful saintly friends already, praise God that you do! You are so blest to have these people in your life. They help you throughout life's difficult moments and help you to not despair nor become despondent. For that reason, as it says in the Holy Bible, "Cherish your friend, keep faith in him." - Sirach 27:17