The CatholiCity Message
Volume IV, Number 15 – August 2, 2000
Dear CatholiCity Citizen,
Today's message is going to be chock full of the usual stuff; that is, it will contain surprises. Our last message really touched a cord and we've been swamped with reactions. Don't get us wrong, we don't mind hearing from you. We can't respond to everyone because of the sheer volume. Let's go...
1. WHY WAIT, PART ONE
Your response to our idea of combining the Year 2000 CatholiCity Tax Drive and the exclusive premier worldwide release of the new free Mary Foundation Rosary CD was overwhelmingly positive. We're mere days away from being ready with the changes we're making to our shipping and computer operations to accommodate CDs, so we asked ourself, "Self, why wait?" We'll get underway before the middle of August. As just a prelude, the whole idea here is not the amount you decide to donate but rather the participation level. 22,000+ families all over the world receive this message, and if many thousands respond with small donations, we'll be just fine. As always, we'll let you know what our salaries and fixed costs are for running the website, what improvements we'll make (if the response is as generous as last year), and what it costs us to produce and ship the Rosary CD so you'll know how much of your contribution will go directly to the support of CatholiCity. (Of course, you don't have to get a Rosary CD to pay your taxes if you don't want the CD.) As always, for those who are not in a position to donate taxes, we'll happily accept the priceless contribution of your daily prayers.
2. WHY WAIT, PART TWO
We usually save the Joke of the Week for last, but we asked ourself, "Self, why wait?"
THE CONFESSION
A new convert to Catholicism went to Father Duffy for confession. "Bless me, Father, for I have sinned." "Tell me your transgression, my son," said Father Duffy. "I stole some lumber, Father." "How much lumber did you steal?" asked the priest. "Well, I was able to build my collie a doghouse with it." The priest began to reply, "Well, that doesn't seem so bad--" but the penitent interrupted him. "Father, I also built a garage..." "Well my son," said Father Duffy, "that's a bit more serious." "Father! I have to get this off my chest. I built a doghouse, a four-car garage, and...a five bedroom, three bath house with the lumber I stole!" A look of shock came to Father Duffy's face. "That is most serious indeed, my son! I'm afraid that I'm going to have to have you make a novena!" A perplexed look came over the penitent's face before he responded. "Father, I don't have any idea how to make a novena, but if you've got the blueprints, I've got the lumber!"
3. TAKE THIS ONE IN. TAKE THIS IN DEEP.
We're going to ask you to read and then reread the following quote from Saint John Chrysostom, Doctor of the Church, especially with the upcoming Tax Drive in mind. This is one to send to all your friends:
"Zeal for the salvation of souls is of so great a merit before God that to give up all our goods to the poor or to spend our whole life in the exercises of all sorts of austerities cannot equal the merit of it. There is no service more agreeable to God than this one. To employ life in this blessed labor is more pleasing to the Divine Majesty than to suffer martyrdom."
4. CATHOLIC SLEEP STUFF
When we were young, our father taught us about an interesting bonus for Catholics. He told us that if you don't have an alarm clock (or, if you're deep sleepers like we are–we "sleep through" alarms) and you really need to wake up at a certain hour, you can pray one Our Father and three Hail Marys and let Our Lady know what time you need to awake. When the hours comes, your guardian angel will wake you up. While we still use an alarm clock, this spiritual alarm never fails. Ever. Sometimes, even if we're dog tired and our labors only allow us a few hours (or less) of sleep and we have to catch a plane, our angel will wake us up precisely one minute before the alarm goes off. Wide awake. If you need it, try it. As long as we're on the topic of sleep, if you find yourself waking up in the middle of night for no reason, start praying, especially the Rosary. It's very likely a soul you know needs grace.
5. PRAYING WITH AL
A longtime CatholiCity Citizen sent us the following prayer. Let's all 22,000 of us pray it together, from the heart. (Making the Sign of the Cross...)
"In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Eternal Father, for the love of Jesus Christ, let me never fail to call upon you whenever I am tempted. I know you always help me when I have recourse to you, but my fear is that I may forget to call upon you, and so my negligence will become my ruin. By the merits of Jesus Christ, give me the grace to pray to you. Even more, grant me such abundant grace that I may always pray, and pray as I ought! Amen."
From the selected prayers of Saint Alphonsus
[Editorial Comment: Thanks for praying. Among the many reasons to keep CatholiCity alive, none is better than the fact that this message helps 22,000 Catholic families pray together on a regular basis.]
6. TRY THIS INSTEAD
While at the NACHE homeschooling conference in Virginia a couple of weeks ago, we ran into a handsome young priest from the diocese of Arlington. He gave us a practical method that is so effective for fighting a certain kind of temptation that we just had to share it with you. Guys, let's be frank. It's even harder for us in the summer months because the styles that women wear in our secular society are designed to arouse, not to suppress, our indulgence in selfish behavior. Anyway, what Father told us was this. When you feel the temptation coming on, almost like the dim light of an oncoming car far ahead on the highway, instead of saying a prayer, which is a spiritual act, Father suggested that we employ a physical action to counteract the physical temptation. Just reach into your pocket and touch your rosary beads (and guys, it's time to start carrying your rosary beads with you everywhere, including to bed). We've also found it easy to tap our brown scapular through our shirt. A short, simple mental prayer such as "Jesus, I love you" or "Mary, I love you" or "Saint Michael, protect me" can be added as you make the tap. It's simple. It works.
Thanks for being a part of CatholiCity.
Yours in Christ,
Your Spot-on Sports Fans at CatholiCity
