#but fr. i understand there may be some circumstance i am not considering but it is really hard for me to think of a tpo where buying | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

juuls · 3 years

Text

Pharmacist/Me = 1 🏆 Doctor/Nursing Staff = 0

Thank you in advance for reading this rant. I’ve been really frustrated and just needed to get this off my chest, and today at least I had a wonderful knight in a white lab coat. 🩺❤️‍🩹🥽🥼💪🏻

Content warnings and squicky squicks: (further down there is) an image of a medical vial with a clipped image of a more benign part of a syringe, health conditions (endometriosis, fibromyalgia), menstrual cycles and associated terms such as bleeding and other things, lack of empathy in my specific healthcare system, hysterectomies, pain, swearing and losing patience. Most important warning: self-administered syringes and injection discussions of legal medications (Depo-Provera) approved of by professionals and properly researched. P.S. this may sound rather Karen-like but I would never do this to someone’s face. Online ranting and acknowledging where I could do better is not the same as screaming in public for bossy requests or comps, etc. Ew.

Another ‘warning’… pharmacists being kick-ass allies and giving a damn about their patients.

I’m really annoyed because (and I know healthcare and scheduling is a clusterfuck right now, but…) for over a month now I’ve been trying to get an appointment in person to get this injectable medication that is, yes, birth control, but is also used for endometriosis in my case. And I have severe endometriosis (exacerbated severely by fibromyalgia, siiiiigh) to the point I bleed enough and lose so much I have to go to the hospital when my care is not properly preventative… like in this case, and the pain is unbelievably severe also to the point I’ve spent time in the hospital, including my 11th Christmas Eve and Day. I started this injectable medication at 13 because it was the only thing that came close to helping reduce my endometrial tissue. Even a hysterectomy wouldn’t help as much, unless they decided to go the super invasive route and remove all the organs (or parts of them) that had become ‘infected’ by the tissue. Again, tissue where it’s not supposed to be, and it causes extreme pain as the tissue tries to flush out of my body each period, even if it’s attached to, like, my pancreas. Just no. That does not work at all. No. That is not fun.

SO. I’m 31, nearing 32, and the doctor’s office knows this. I’ve had the same doctor since I was 10. Been on this medication nearly non-stop for just shy of two decades (with appropriate precautions such as bone density tests) because of the absolute severity of the pain and my inability to function when it hits… which can be months at a time of non-stop bleeding and morning sickness-level nausea and vomiting, migraines and the occasional complete inability to move—in other words, it’s debilitating.

My doctor (even the nurses, as it’s in large print at the top of my file in the system) knows all about this. They’re supposed to call me if I’m overdue by a certain margin (I get they’re busy but months and months???). But my doc’s also a bit of an airhead (albeit a smart one when he focuses) and takes forever to reply to anything on time, even when it’s a severe issue, but not severe enough to go to the hospital. But it’s gotten to the point where the nurses say to go to the ER and then the ER nurses and doctors there get SUPER pissed off (AT ME AND SOMEHOW NOT AT MY DOCTOR/NURSES AND THEIR ORDERS) at the ‘waste of time’, and it’s just a clusterfuck.

Oh yeah, and that ER visit while I was overdue for my injection? Internal intestinal bleeding along with a lovely, even if small, perforation in my fucking uterus from the growth of endometrial tissue. I MEAN COME ON — WHAT IN THE HELL. Totally preventable if they fit me in when I called literally over a month ago.

But I will not change my doctor (the other docs at the practice know what is going on and have offered to take me on, but they don’t have the experience with myself and my conditions or the history, but they can do little else because of professional conduct—it’s between myself and my doc) because he is the only one who treats me with humanity and understands fibromyalgia, endometriosis, pre-MS and pre-RhA/PsA, endo-related IBS, (ulcerative) colitis, and other neurological conditions with any degree of empathy. (See, I told you I’m a mess!) There is no way I’m switching offices in the perpetual shortage of doctors in Canada moving elsewhere for m o n e y (plus Covid-19 being a teen hooligan and constantly coming back to wreck more goddamn shit, including everyone’s sanity, then setting things on fire like the real hooligans in my village have been doing this summer — I mean… what in the hell!?!?), so with all that in mind I actually thank my lucky stars. So I put up with a lot of this shit because he treats me, besides him being an airhead, like an actual human being deserving of compassion and care and quality of life despite my severe disabilities and pain. So.

I’m usually treated really well (even if they often think I’m a nuisance for daring to be severely chronically ill/in pain all the time) so I try to be patient and good and understanding when I can.

But his STAFF (I know they’re busy and I’ve been patient but they’ve been so awful honestly to the point I cried hard enough my dad noticed my red eyes and frustration-tear fracks on my face)! And the doc himself’s inability to reply to notes on time even when urgent and when he knows the circumstances (I admit I am a bit of a hard patient so I can understand if he just kinda ignores me sometimes, honestly). But in this case I was THREE DAMN MONTHS LATE for my injection and they’ve always called in the past when I was coming due if it looked like I hadn’t scheduled an injection, so that I was all on time and squared away and didn’t risk severe pain and damage to my already-fucked hormonal system (learning I couldn’t have kids was absolutely heartbreaking, let me tell you, but even a hysterectomy in that case would solve nothing — this is by far the easiest option, especially considering how my fibromyalgia would fuck with my post-surgery recovery and leave me with lasting pain for years if not decades; sigh).

Anyway. So. After some ridiculous levels of back and forth and some truly remarkable levels of lack of compassion (she kept giving me the exact same, word for word response in a bored tone UGH) considering the severe pain I was in (I was told, in front of OTHER PATIENTS AND STAFF, that I could just wait until I talk to the doctor myself at my next phone appointment and then schedule my injection for my next MONTHLY followup — 4.5 months overdue at that point, it would’ve been — because, and I quote, ‘am used to dealing with pain because of my fibromyalgia and years of dealing with it and other conditions’ which they named in front of others!!!!!!!! what. the. fuck. But I kept my cool because I know all these people, my mom taught their kids music, they’re a fixture of the community, etc. and I refuse to be a Karen…. At least externally.

But here comes the nice part that makes me love our new (okay, he’s been here like 5 years but still, in a small town that’s pretty new lmao) pharmacist that much more. Rasik was aware of my frustration with the doctor and nurses and was even the one who brought to my attention that, at the time, I was 2 months late for my injection and he was a bit concerned since he’s privy to how much pain I exist in without throwing in one or more knives directly into my womb, ovaries, tummy, hips, and other areas my endometrial tissue has taken root. He’s such a sweetheart and he really does care for his patients— the work he does with my father’s diabetes (the tricky one where you’re not obese) management is above and beyond the call of a pharmacist and I will forever be grateful for that alone, never mind how he cares for me.

So I went in today to pick up another medication, after yet another frustrating stop-over at the nurses’ desks, and he suggested I ask for my injectable medication (it’s Depo-Provera, by the way) and the syringe plus the two tips necessary — I’m actually familiar with this since I had to learn epinephrine injections from an early age (not Epipen) and how to give testosterone daily to my ex-husband (sorry not sorry, dude, but congrats on your first kid *grouchy thumbs up*). But yeah! Legally he’s not allowed to suggest I give it to myself, but he was getting super fed up with the nurses and doctors dragging their feet and ‘being assholes with little empathy’ in his own words, so I took the hint and requested my vial plus syringe, as well as the drawing and injection gauge needles…. which he gleefully filled for me, and I reiterated that it was ‘fully my idea, not yours, Rasik, because everyone knows I’m dumb and would never think it’s you if something happened’ (I’m not dumb and I’ve given injections to others many times looool).

Long story short: HERE’S TO PHARMACISTS AROUND THE WORLD, BEING AMAZING AND CARING FOR THEIR PATIENTS AND ‘BENDING BUT NOT REALLY BENDING’ THE RULES TO MAKE SURE THEIR CLIENTS ARE CARED FOR PROPERLY. They are amazing and deserve every last bit of your courtesy, especially when they pull double duty every. single. day. because of Covid and their subsequent boosters. (i.e. boosters in the form of humans who are fucking stupid if they have no medical reason not to get the vaccine… I mean JFC.)

Rasik? You are amazing and I am 100% going to find you some Indian-Canadian (or North Indian; I believe that’s where he’s from originally) treats or desserts or make some myself after slyly asking his assistant what he leans toward liking.

Be kind to one another, yeah, but… my goodness: be kind to those who can truly make a difference in your health, sanity, and even life or death.

Pharmacists, volunteers, and frontline health workers: the true heroes of these times.

Thank you so much. So very much.

💜💙🇨🇦👨🏽‍⚕️❤️‍🩹🙏🏻

P.S. … now I just gotta stab myself intramuscularly after making sure there’s no air bubbles and etc., and swap out to the proper gauge needle (different, smaller, to draw from the vial, larger to inject so that it goes in more quickly and, oddly enough, hurts less haha). I don’t think air bubbles are as much of an issue as when injecting intravenously (ummm I have a doctor uncle and grandma nurse and nurse friends, so shush 😆). But I’ve done this for others and animals so I should be good! :)

I’m a smart enough cookie even if I’ve lost a few nibble-size pieces around the edges. 😉😘 buahaha

Cheers to my pharmacist!!!! You are amazing and I can’t wait for the pain and months and months of bleeding to settle down.

Remind me again why humans are the only mammals (animals?) with monthly fluxes? UGH wtf ever. 🙃

4 notes · View notes

kmclaude · 4 years

Note

An AU thought, unfinished: Annemarie as a nun. Not a sexy nun, but someone found out about the whole “preggers with her brother’s baby and sent to a convent as punishment” type nun, who may or may not wind up teaching a bunch on unruly kids and has her fellow sisters breathing down her neck to make sure she doesn’t sin again. But hey, guess who’s the priest/confessor for the order? And considering nuns “have” to obey Fr. Tiefer’s authority…! Not smutty but it’s all I’ve got 🤷🏼‍♀️

oh how decadent! oops my hand slipped!!!

Émile is probably the one who gets mad when he finds out she’s pregnant and who’s kid it is because sure he’s white trash and has been bending his daughter over for years but he draws the line somewhere (and part of it is because he knows Emilein is a freak, he knows he wouldn’t want her so it’s obvious she’s the whole reason for being knocked up – and she’s been using the stupid baby in her fat gut as a shield to mouth off to him and run the joint – why not punish her? Besides, no one in that family can afford another mouth to feed…)

So he pulls Emilein aside, says, “hey, you’re good with that priest, yeah?” and Emilein shrugs, says, “maybe I am,” and braces for a nasty shot about how of course he is, he loves being on his knees, but it never comes, just, “so he knows about like…them wayward girl schools, yeah?” and Emilein plays dumb until his daddy plays his hand: send Annemarie off to a convent or wayward school or hell an asylum – she wants to use a baby to get her way, well then she can get out of the way. Forever.

Emilein, for once, is more than happy to help his daddy out.

He talks to the priest, Fr. Michaud, who has offered him chance and again ways out, one in particular though it would mean the priesthood, and reveals his sister is pregnant (not that it was terribly secret: the whole town was waiting for the day she slipped up at this point) and she is…troubled. And is there a place. The Church. Anything.

Of course Fr. Michaud hesitates because yes there is one nearby but it’s practically an asylum, run by an order on their grounds – cloistered – “And, to be frank, we all know your sister is…not exactly saving herself for anyone…but unless she’s a-a maniac it would be almost cruel–”

And Emilein puts his hand lightly on Fr. Michaud’s, smiles in a way that doesn’t meet his eyes, and says, “You know how she hasn’t named the father? You’d think someone like her’d be going up and down the street, demanding a wedding or at least support, wouldn’t you? But she ain’t. ‘Cause she can’t. Now, remember the first time we actually talked, you an’ me, an’ I told you I’d suck your cock in a heartbeat ‘cause that’s usually how things went with me an’ older men an’ not always by force?”

“Difficult to forget,” says Fr. Michaud, neglecting to mention that most fourteen year olds don’t say that.

“So we both agree I’m…funny.”

“What are you getting at, Emilein?”

“I’m sayin’, the reason she ain’t beatin’ down no po’ bastard’s door to help with her own bastard is ‘cause she doesn’t want anyone to know that the daddy’s her own brother.”

Michaud goes pale and Emilein isn’t smiling any more.

“We both know she don’t interest me much. So, Father, please: help me.”

–

Of course, being a good man, Fr. Michaud helps him, and Annemarie is sent away to have her child (and then work off the debt she’ll have accrued – after all, not like her father and brother can afford to pay.)

Her choice is very simple: go as willingly as she can pretend and nobody has to know about who the father is or fight and Emilein tells (with Fr. Michaud as a witness – Émile, of course, is more than willing to rat her out but really, every other word from his mouth is a lie.)

And life is peaceful – until Émile decides he can fully boss around his son like he did his daughter in a house he doesn’t own.

Emilein is having none of it but Emilein is terribly small and Émile has friends too, friends just as nasty as Annemarie’s boyfriends, and Émile ties him to a bed and starves him and lets all sorts of men use him for days and brags about the money he’s made from him – “shit, cher, we should’ve been whorin’ you out years ago! Guess yer cunt sister was just too jealous to share.”

He lets him go, eventually, after a week that feels like forever and Emilein runs to Fr. Michaud, banging on the church door, and when Fr. Michaud answers his request is much the same as it was before: “please, help me.”

Of course, being a good man, Fr. Michaud helps Emilein Tiefer and gets him connected to the seminary.

–

At twenty-five and with the title of ‘Father’ himself, Tiefer is assigned to a convent in Fuckoff Nowhere, Louisiana to be the priest and confessor on the grounds. Segregated from the opposite sex and the real world for so long only to be thrown headfirst into the wide world, some were realizing, was not the greatest idea: so, the younger were sent off to serve their religious siblings first, particularly their sisters.

The Mother Superior is kind when she greets him on his arrival, a stark contrast to all the rumors of the convent here: it was a convent, yes, that made its daily bread with something of a home for wayward girls – part home, part school (for the younger ones whose unfortunate choices and circumstances left them behind their peers as well as their children, for those who had or expected them), part workhouse so the former two could survive – but for years its nickname had been the asylum because, regardless of how long one worked, much like the TB asylums, the only way out was in a casket.

Which is where, Tiefer always figured, his sister was at this point.

Until, during a tour of the small school on the grounds (as the children would be needing sacraments as well) he sees one of the nuns with the children – though she’s not a nun, not exactly, as she only wears a veil and simple dress and the bangs of her blonde hair peak out and frame her face – and she, in turn, sees him and freezes.

“Mother Superior,” he asks, voice steady as possible, once they’ve passed, once he’s calmed down, “who was that woman?”

“With the children? That’s Sister Anne, one of our success stories – quite a tough one too. She came here, pregnant, no idea who the father was and ready to dare I say fight every one of us sisters who came near. But the Lord works in mysterious ways and eventually He brought her ‘round. She should be taking her vows in a few years.”

“Ah. Do many of your girls usually wind up joinin’ the order?”

The mother superior sighs, sort of pointed in a way that hints that the topic is better put to rest. “Unfortunately, it’s not always part of God’s plan,” she says and then adds, “You sound a lot like she does – how far down South did you come?”

“Very.”

“Hm. She also.”

–

“Sister Anne. A word?”

After all the introductions and required niceties are made, Tiefer doubles back to the classroom of children, led by the novitiate.

“Of course, Father,” she says, the shock from earlier long gone from her face, a little more lined than he’d remembered it, her eyes a little less bright.

“In private?”

He lets her lead the way to a small, unused classroom and locks the door behind them.

“Well. Never thought I’d see you here, Sister.”

She scoffs, the plain novitiate from earlier twisting, like a monster under flesh, into his sister, the way he knew her, cocky attitude and all. “Why not? You put me here.”

“You know what I mean. ‘Sides, he put you here.”

“You helped.”

“Just told the truth is all. You want me to tell the truth again?”

“Can’t send me away again, sugar. Anyway, I’m a changed woman. The success story of these sisters.”

“Ain’t you special, huh?”

“Had to be. Play along or die like the rest.” She looks him over, sixteen years on his twenty-five, sizing him up. “You obviously understand, don’tcha Emi?”

“Father, now, actually.”

“Father, right, Father, now, huh? So Father – what was it? Not enough dicks to suck back home, you had to join the biggest boy’s club around? Or you just get sick of Daddy – bet he was a real sonuvabitch once he didn’t have me ‘round to take his shit out on.”

He cuts her off: “Annemarie. You like it here?”

“You like it where you are?”

He doesn’t answer, simply pulls out a cigarette and his lighter. He watches her reach out, then freeze.

“I’ll share if you tell me what the fuck you’re doin’ playin’ nunnery.”

“I told you. Play along or die. Same as you.”

“You don’t know shit about me or what I been through.”

“An’ you know ‘bout me?”

Tiefer shrugs, lights up. Refuses her one.

“I heard the girls who come here only leave one way.”

“Do I look like I left?”

“Mm.” He offers her a cigarette and a light. Her fingers brush his. He tries not to grab her wrist and crush it. “So this is better? Bein’ a mother to a slew of bastards an’ prayin’ to God who put you here?”

“I dunno, Emi–”

“Do not–”

“Father Emi, you tell me: would you like being worked like a dog to pay off your own existence your fuckin’ family sold off, gettin’ beat ‘cause no one gives a damn about you, and not knowin’ if the priest they brought in to hear confessions this ‘round would rather you suck him off than say you’re sorry. I’m fuckin’ forty-one years old: I wanted something close to freedom, even if it’s from behind a wall an’ veil. ”

Tiefer makes a sound like mock pity. “Sounds like every damn day of my childhood, Annemarie. In fact,” – he grabs her by the jaw, pulls her close, tugs the cigarette from her lips and puts it out against the back of her neck, hidden by her veil – “looks to me like you’re getting off easy, little miss success story.”

“Em–”

“That’s Father to you, now. An’ come to think of it, I’m sure Mother Superior would love to hear what you really did.”

“You wouldn’t dare.”

“Would they put you back in the work house? Or just turn you loose on the streets like a dog. Where you gonna go, Sister? Y’all take vows of poverty last I heard – gonna finally be a real whore and suck dick in the gutter?”

“Please…”

“Please what, pity you?”

Tiefer lets her go, takes a drag from his own cigarette, blocking the door. He grins, more a snarl than anything else.

“Oh Annemarie… You’re right: I wouldn’t dare as long as you don’t give me a reason to. I’m your superior now…let’s start treatin’ me as such, hm?”

He unlocks the door. “An’ Sister Anne? If you thought those other priests who put your ol’ ass on your knees were bad, you’re gonna really regret all your earlier sins against me.”

#character stuff #au where annemarie is a nun #pretreetzi #my writing #writing #callistochan87 #kmclaudereplies #kmclauderepliestoask #kmclaudereplies to ask #kmclaudeart

98 notes · View notes

omgryan351-blog · 4 years

Text

On Intercessory Prayer, Reiki and the Greater Good

Intercessory Prayer is the place you offer to God that something you need will occur or that something you don't require won't occur. In these cases, you are referencing that God "mediate" for your preferred position. It has been a touch of most religions for a long time and ages. Regardless, accomplishes it work?

In all actuality, a few years sooner an assessment ( Study of the Therapeutic Effects of Intercessory Prayer (STEP) in heart avoid patients: a multicenter randomized basic of shortcoming and sureness of getting intercessory claim. Am Heart J.2006 Apr;151(4):934-42) was finished by a party of agents (Benson H, Dusek JA, Sherwood JB, Lam P, Bethea CF, Carpenter W, Levitsky S, Hill PC, Clem DW JR, Jain MK, Drumel D, Kopecky SL, Mueller PS, Marek D, Rollins S, Hibberd PL.) The assessment offered the impact of solicitation a chance the pace of tries following coronary deftly course stay away from combine (CABG) clinical procedure Breakthrough Prayer .

Three get-togethers of patients were related with the appraisal: the individuals who were prompted they would get intercessory claim to support their recuperation (601 patients,) the individuals who were told they may get intercessory demand and did (601 patients,) and the individuals who were told they may possibly get it in any case didn't (597 patients.) Quoting from the speculative: RESULTS: In the 2 social affairs sketchy about getting intercessory appeal, loads happened in 52% (315/604) of patients who got intercessory demand versus 51% (304/597) of the individuals who didn't (relative threat 1.02, 95% CI 0.92-1.15). Difficulties happened in 59% (352/601) of patients sure of getting intercessory demand separated and the 52% (315/604) of those unsure of enduring intercessory advance (relative risk 1.14, 95% CI 1.02-1.28). Basic occasions and 30-day mortality were equivalent over the 3 get-togethers. Terminations: Intercessory demand itself had no impact on chaos free recuperation from CABG, yet sureness of getting intercessory claim was associated with a higher repeat of complexities.

What are we to think about that? Is it conceivable that intrigue could make more prominent complexities happen? One may battle that if the patients recognized they were being locked in God for, they may have gone up against more challenges or may have improved a than normal undertaking in isolation to recover. Regardless, we are discussing post-usable complexities, not way of life changes. The employable factors here are passing occasions rapidly fusing the clinical system, not steady way of life factors with since quite a while back, reinforced proposals.

Obviously this assessment was done with astounding sound structure, purposefully spread out. In any case, in their authentic conviction, the scientists neglect to consider factors that make reality work. In the affirmations of a persistent accomplice "they utilized horrendous exacting perspective." on a significant level I concur with this, yet I would word it in a frightening way. In my view the best factor these scientists dismissed was that of unpretentiousness. Certainly, the truth is unusual most definitely: HUMILITY.

Where did I consider that thought? Hold tight for me here - this gets somewhat tangled. Beforehand a companion comfortable me with the solicitation for Reiki. On the off chance that you are intrigued about this, Reiki is such a noteworthiness that urges the body's capacity to recoup itself. At any rate that is the authority, at an advantageous time clarification. Magnanimous, at any rate it is far past that!

As per the force starting clarification, an individual who has been available to Level One Reiki can on a very basic level lay their hands on somebody and similarly move some centrality that will help with modifying state a physical issue or a touch of the recipient's body that has torment. Notwithstanding the way that the instrument of development isn't obvious to me even until today, the essential idea was central enough. I was unimaginably mindful, at any rate the practically identical day I as of late found a few solutions concerning it, I permitted my partner to give me the "attunement" that moved this recuperating vitality to my hands. In coming about months I utilized it every once in a while for minor a throbbing painful quality, about in a relative vein as that wherein Bensen and Dusek's social affair completed their assessment on request: "to check whether it worked!"

While clearly it was not engage and couldn't do the incredible, after a short time, this showing of Reiki had earned enough as far as anyone knows that I comprehended the open door had shown up to develop my abilities to the going with level. In Level Two Reiki I had heard, it was conceivable, not exclusively to move the fixing centrality in a hands-on way, yet despite send it to a craving. Actually it was even conceivable to send it over parcels to help recuperate somebody extravagantly far away to genuinely contact. I pushed toward the multi day instructional social affair with some extent of disquiet. I was enabled in any case pushed: "would I say I was being cleared into something superfluously 'out there' for my for the most part 'at the present time' self?"

Bearing the instructional course, one idea jumped out at me as basic. "Reiki should dependably be utilized for "everyone's bit of leeway." You can't utilize it to control individuals." For instance, you were unable to send Reiki to the target that your most recognizably ghastly foe will break his leg. Not that I was expecting to control or damage anybody, yet this was enthralling to me. What was this "more obvious mind boggling" the instructor discussed? Who precisely would pick everyone's bit of leeway in some subjective circumstance??? While I promptly comprehended the probability that one couldn't control an individual or a condition with Reiki, it was some time before I comprehended the hugeness of the chance of "everyone's bit of leeway."

Not long after the instructional social event, I was delineating my new Level Two Reiki aptitudes to a mate - a non-demanding accomplice, who I thought would be correspondingly questionable - when to my amaze she reported "Liberal, so it would appear that request by at that point!" all things being equal I was insulted and paralyzed by this. My perspective on request at the time took in the wake of referencing charm. I was not inclined to addressing God for solitary kindnesses from a human God I didn't take trust in - and I was cheerful for it.

In any case I kept utilizing the Reiki and after some time my view of it kept making. A tiny bit at a time I came to see that piece of what was gathered by that "more fundamental unprecedented" included having the HUMILITY to comprehend that what I need to occur in some discretionary circumstance may not be the best thing by and large. With this brilliant mechanical gathering in my grasp - permitting me to send correcting vitality to a wide extent of clashing conditions and to individuals with different sicknesses - by what strategy may I have the choice to, in my bound humanness, know all the variables? In some unpredictable condition, whatever target I sent to, I would need to permit that I didn't in actuality comprehend what result would be great. I held no choice to choose and ask that MY WILL be done - I could basically send criticalness to "everyone's preferred position" and trust the Reiki, or whoever was offering it, to "know" the capability.

Here is an ideal model that was going on definitely at the open entryway I was coming to full assertion of this. One of my kinfolk was experiencing inconvenience in his marriage. I chose to send Reiki to his relationship with his life partner. Understanding "everyone's bit of leeway" thought necessitated that I have the HUMILITY to get that, much as I had a solid trust in the relationship being insinuated thrive, my sending Reiki could have the impact of helping it to end. My sending Reiki derived surrendering my eagerness for the result and tolerating that my endeavors would help "everyone's favorable position" with occurring - regardless of whether that proposed I would push the non-bolstered result. In the event that it was the ideal open entryway for their relationship to end, my Reiki could assist that with happening snappier, potentially with less wretchedness and malignance, yet end regardless. It was an authentic undertaking for me to perceive this. Much as I taking advantage of my sister in law, and much as I didn't require my kinfolk detached, I expected to perceive that my place was basically to send "for everyone's potential benefit in their relationship." ...and NOT to the point of attempting to spare their marriage!

Reliably, there were different chances to help individuals by sending Reiki. Some gave signs of progress, some kicked the bucket. Some developed, some got disconnected. The open door for lowliness started from recognizing it was not I who was answerable for the framework, regardless of whether you need to call it bid, Reiki or crazy reasoning. I expected to understand how to build up the quietude to see that everyone's favorable position (whoever or such a being was picking absolutely what that more significant inconceivable was) was something past my insight and outside my ability to get a handle on.

So if Reiki looks like solicitation, and as a general rule, straightforwardly these years a while later, I can say I perceive how it is - it isn't so essential to whom precisely you importune. In the event that there is an eminent being up there with any ordinariness or viewpoint, he would perceive your solicitation, your relating or your Reiki sending, paying little notice to who or what you think you are sending it to. Just a man-made, minimal detested god would essentially look at petitions sent explicitly to a limited idea of him in light of a specific objective from a specific get-together of his family, to the degree anyone knows maintained by him over all the rest!

1 note · View note

surendrasahara · 4 years

Text

Understanding Robert De Nobili’s methods of Contextualization to propagate the gospel and it’s relevant in the present situation in India

Content

1. Introduction

2. Descriptive approaches to Robert De Nobili’s Contextualization

2.1 A brief introduction to the history

2.2 Nobili’s approach through the traditions of Hindu

2.2.1 The life of Brahmin Sannyasi

2.2.2 The Life of Brahmin Guru

2.2.3 Adaptation of Caste System

2.2.4 Nobili’s pattern of Indian Christianity

3. Critical Analytical approaches to Robert De Nobili’s Contextualization

3.1 Nobili’s methods of Contextualization

3.2 Negative aspects of Nobili’s methods of contextualization

3.3 The relevance of Nobili’s contextualization in the present context

4. Conclusion

Introduction

Contextualization is one of the biggest controversial phenomena in this 21st century which has different connotation which looks to be depriving the meaning of the Holy Bible. Some missionary thinks that being contextualized mission strategies lead us to failure and end up with a heretical segment whereas some missionary is taking advantages of being contextualized their mission strategies to reach out different people and communities, and end up with the successful ministry. The Holy Bible is the greatest example of contextualization. Where the story of creation, Noah’s flood to till Paul’s technique or manner of propagating gospel is contextualized; in specific context, group of people; and borrowed stories and rhetoric styles from different ethnic groups like Babylon or Rome. Similarly, Robert De Nobili contextualized his strategies to reach out Indians. In this small research paper, I am going to write critical analytical insights into his contextualization. Moreover, my research outline has divided into two major sections: descriptive; where I am going to write a brief descriptive approach of Nobili’s contextualization and rest will be critical analytical approaches of his contextualization and my critique followed by how his contextualization is relevant in the present Indian context.

Descriptive approaches to Robert De Nobili’s Contextualization

First, I am going to mention the descriptive approach of Nobili that what exactly he did and how was his work in briefly as following:

A brief introduction to the history of Robert De Nobili

Robert De Nobili came in Indian on 20 May 1605. He came from a very prestigious Italian family and had a very good relationship with Cardinal Bellarmine of Rome who was his relative. Moreover, he had all the comforts and brilliants future ahead of him but his zeal to work for the kingdom of God causes him to leave. His decision to join Jesuit Mission and work in India was not favourable and acceptable to his family. However, despite opposition from his family, he arrived in India and remains till 50 years. Moreover, after staying in one year in Goa he moved in Madurai where he often used to feel sick but despite his illness, he survived. “Before Nobili, Indian Christians were westernized and lived under Portuguese protection. Nobili felt that Indian Christianity should retain as much Indian culture and customs as were compatible with the faith”(Donnelly 6). In these circumstances, he decided to learn Tamil and Sanskrit so that he could communicate well. After having approval from Gregory XV, he started his methods of contextualization of the gospel to reach out the Indian, particular to the Brahmins. Soon, he succeeded to convert 4,000 thousand people and most of them were elite Brahmins. And it happened because he sticks to his conviction to not destroy Indian culture as a result, “Indian became Christians but not foreigners or Portuguese”(Rajamanickam 114). Moreover, Nobili faced numerous persecutions, violence and trials from Brahmins of strong faith and even from Christian’s missionary of his time who were opposing his methods of contextualization. However, he was successful to present Jesus Christ in the Indian way. One of his follower Balthasar Da Costa records that throughout his fifty years of work he was able to convert 30, 000 thousand people. And among them, there were few Brahmins and other high cast and rest of them were from the low caste.

Nobili’s approach through the traditions of Hindu

Though Nobili used Hindu traditions as a mean to reach out Hindus he strictly avoided certain religious practices. He allows some of the practices like, ceremonial bath, use of sandalwood past and threading ceremony, and many of social, traditional, ritual practices and festivals Christianized by Nobili. Exclusively idol worship was not allowed or entertained and strictly forbidden by him. “being a missionary in Madurai, Nobili understood one of the basic reasons for the failure of the mission in India as the European lifestyle of missionaries”(George 73). S. M. Michael says that “De Nobili so Tamilized Christianity that he touched the heart of Tamil culture. His adaptation enables Christians to retain Tamil identity”(Hedlund 56).

The life of Brahmin Sannyasi

During those days, when Nobili arrived at Madurai, Fr. Goncalo Fernandez was working, and amazingly despite Fernandez’s long duration, he was failed to convert even a single Hindu because of his westerns thought and life-style. Moreover, “the Portuguese were called Parangis. They mixed freely with the low cast, ate beef, drank wine and took Indian wives, not bothering about cast, untouchability or other social regulations”(Rajamanickam 112). Nobili understood that Brahmins have a high reputation in society and consider being superior to others, even to the Rajas. He realized that being Brahmin Sannyasi he could able to teach anyone in society. That’s why “Nobili made a sincere attempt to adapt to the Indian culture in his thinking and lifestyle. He adapted the food, dress, house, thread, kudumi and sandal pasts of a Brahmin Sannyasi”(George 77).

The life of Brahmin Guru

Nobili understood that Brahmin Guru is much more an influencing personality in the society who can motivate people soon. So, he adopted the lifestyle and became Brahmin Guru. Soon he began to know as Talluva Podagar(Teacher of reality). He taught many of his followers who confessed Jesus as their saviour. There are several reasons for adopting the life-style of Brahmin Guru: First, he wanted to learn their local languages and produce literature in those languages. Soon, he was able to pick up their languages so fluently. Moreover, “Nobili could speak purest Tamil and pronounce it so well that even the most fastidious Brahmin scholars cannot improve on his diction”(George 85). Second, Sanskrit is considered being a religious language of India. Moreover, “It is expected for a Guru to speak in Sanskrit as the teacher of the spiritual truth”(George 86). That’s why to discuss or argue religious thought with Hindus; he took a special consideration to learn Sanskrit. Even, he was able to communicate with the rulers of his time when he learned the Telugu language. Third, he took the initiative to produce literature in these three languages. Among these kinds of literature, Gnanopadesam was most famous writing which was compiled in five volumes. “His writings manifest great learning about South India, regarding language, text, customs and beliefs- a learning that is more impressive considering the scarcity of resource I the early 17th century”(George 86).

Adaptation of the Caste System

During the 16th and 17th century, the social structure was based on the caste system. Nobili accepted the caste system and used it for the conversion of people. Moreover, “Nobili accepted the hierarchical order in caste division and considered caste gradation as fixed that one cannot go against it”(George 91). However, he understood the serious consequences of the evil practice of the caste system. He believes that the gospel can change their mindset and we should not cross the social practices rather used it to make mission successful.

Nobili’s pattern of Indian Christianity

One of the major tasks ahead of Nobili was how to present Christianity in such a way that it must fit into the Indian Context. “Nobili’s Christians, church building, missionaries, localization of names as well as terms and Christianization of festivals were the major aspects which played a vital role”(George 96). Nobili’s followers were genius and well aware of the doctrines of Christianity as compared to the other Christians of his time. However, Nobili did a remarkable job by using methods of Indian traditions to reach out and in some extend he was successful than any other missionaries of his time. But is it really helpful contextualization in today’s Indian context. Let’s see my critique of Nobili’s contextualization.

Critical Analytical approaches to Robert De Nobili’s Contextualization:

Nobili’s use of his methods which he derived from Hindu traditions was much more powerful mean to reach out the high caste and other castes too. It made an impact on the minds of people to accept Jesus Christ by indigenize way in their own culture. They never felt Christianity as a western religion which imposes European life-style; since Nobili was cautious while presenting Christianity to them. Irrespective of Nobili’s methods let’s see how he contextualized. What are the positive and negative aspect and drawback of his methods of contextualization?

Nobili’s methods of Contextualization

The nature of Nobili’s methods of contextualization was very much indigenous. What I mean he wanted people to stay back in their own culture but believe in Jesus as saviour. Even, he rejected to identify himself and his followers to relate with the term Parangi, because his main motive was “to show that the Christian faith could be thought and lived in a truly Indian way. His main point was that it is impossible to be Indian without being Hindu and Christian without being European”(Hedlund 55). To this point, I agree with his decision to not relate to Parangi. Because Parangis were very much westernized in their life-style, they used to do all sorts of things which caused to offend many people. “The Hindus had been watching the foreigners carefully to determine what caste they were from, and after repeatedly observing them eat meat and associate with low-caste people had labelled them “Parangi” or “those who have horses and guns,” a term referring to low caste”(Johnson 11). Nobili believed that to understand other culture, we need to look through their lenses because every culture has some good or evil elements. Moreover, he was not interested that his followers may be known as Christian. However, he was interested that his followers may remain in their own cultures and have their own identity of Indian.

Sooner, Nobili discovered that the life-style of Sannyasi is a common practice in South India and the best way to gain respect. He realized that society respect Gurus. Nobili’s adaptation of the Life-style of Sannyasi and became Brahmin Guru was to reach out the high caste and know their practices, beliefs thoroughly. At this point, I am largely convinced by Nobili and would like to agree with his adaptation of the life-style of Sannyasi and Guru. Because many high caste Hindus attracted by his life-style of Sannyasi and used to visit him regularly. Cronin aptly describes that,

Nobili’s innate courtesy and kindliness made them feel at home. He spoke well, without any mixture of Portuguese, and he said things worth hearing. He listened too with close interest to what they had to say. When they narrated to him their Puranic stories he would never brush them aside with a contemptuous “Nonsense"... He was struck by their deep sense of religion. With them, religion was not a cloak which they only occasionally put on. It was ingrained in their very life, in their thoughts, in their words and every action (Johnson 12).

Nobili believes that there is not a single religious connotation to the life-style of Sannyasi and Guru. By “quoting the Brahminic literature, he clarified that the term Guru did not denote an exclusively religious scholar, but rather someone (he) who made (something) clear through his explanation”(Anchukandam 43). Moreover, he abstains from non-vegetarian food which causes him to associate with the high caste Brahmins. At this point, I still agree with Nobili what he believes and kept abstain from non-vegetarian. Because, although Bible does not resist us to abstain from non-vegetarian and have a great example of Peter’s vision of food where God himself told him that, “What God has made clean, you must not call profane” (Acts 11:9b NRSV). However, there are certain things we need to consider and cautious when we are encountering other culture as Nobili did. As a result, many high caste people used to meet him regularly without fear of defiling their culture.

Nobili’s use of the title Aiyer instead of Father was another example of contextualization which was even controversial. Moreover, “in reply De Nobili underscored the fact that the term only signified ‘the master of the house’ was attributed to him as the superior of the community”(Anchukandam 44). It was the custom of South India those who are the teacher of religious discourse; people used to address them as Aiyer. However, I largely agree with the term Aiyer is because Nobili did not introduce something new but used which was there in their culture and nothing wrong to use of the term Aiyer. It is just to show one’s reverence and honour to particular people. Even, “the members of his community did not merely style themselves as disciples of Aiyer, but referred to themselves also as disciples of Jesus Christ”(Anchukandam 45). That’s why; Nobili began to know as the teacher of reality.

Nobili observed certain Hindu practices, like, use of the holy thread, the tuft of hair and sandal-paste. I largely agree with this point with Nobili, and he has given a very good explanation that why he was using? First, “He says that he was not using the thread at the time of writing, that even so, he had worn it with a cross attached. The neophytes too wore a similar thread with a thin plate bearing the inscription ‘Jesus the Nazarene’”(Anchukandam 49). We must understand that he was from a Roman Catholic priestly family and for him wearing thread was a common thing. Since some of the Roman Catholics are tradition-oriented and for Nobili thread was not a new thing; even though the form was different but then he changes the form and kept the same meaning. He argued that wearing thread has nothing to do with the religious matter, it is a completely social thing. He says, “My firm conviction that the Brahmins thread contains no element of superstition, even by the second intention. It is no more than a social badge to mark the grade and office of a man of learning”(Nobili 167). Therefore, “the adaptation of the thread was vital for Nobili to be accepted as a teacher of the spiritual law”(George 82). Second, regarding the tuft of hair, he aptly describes that,

No religious meaning is implied in the wearing of it is proven with even greater force by all the arguments which were adduced on the subject of the thread, since these arguments hold equally for both. But apart from these, the licit use of the kutumi rests on an independent foundation of its own. Its usage was introduced with a view that by this sign the various noble families among the Brahmins, rulers, and merchants might be distinctly marked off(Nobili 171).

He says, even similar kind of style was in Italy to categorize two notorious factions: the Ghibellines and the Guelphs party. Similarly, in India, “the noble families choose to wear the tuft of hair in different parts of the head, not from any motive of faction and hostility, but solely as distinctive caste marks showing their respective social grades”(Nobili 172). Therefore, Nobili says that the tuft of hair was the mark of social respect and status, and not a religious stigma. I think one should not bring their presuppositions to justify themselves that Nobili’s use of Indigenous appearance was wrong. As far as my concern; and even Dr Graham Houghton once states someone and says that, our appearance matter when we present ourselves; or to propagate the gospel. We must make ourselves presentable whenever we encounter with others. Nobili thought that his western look might cause hindrance to the spread of gospel so; he changed the form and kept the same social meaning. Third, his uses of Sandal paste in the congregation. I agree with his point as far as my concern that there is no religious element in it. Nobili describes that,

The ceremony of putting sandal-paste on the forehead differed from the Hindu practice, both in the material used and its end. Thus the material used by the Hindus was ash, while that used by Christians was sandal-paste. The Hindus did it impelled by the sacrilegious belief that their god did the same. The Christians, on the other hand, did it as a sign of respect when going into the presence of God, since the custom of the land demanded that one mark on his forehead before presenting himself before a dignitary(Anchukandam 50).

It was a common practice unlike, other practices in Indian. Whenever people will go to the temple, somebody will put a mark called tilak or red dot to the reverence of that place or signifies participation. Precisely, it is not just to participate in the pagan practices since we are separated from them. However, Nobili used putting sandal-paste practice but he changed the form, even it is meaning and made it comfortable to the converts from Hinduism which is not wrong and I am convinced by him. Nobili clarifies and says that,

The use of those objects which serve to distinguish the faithful from others, but any human, practical use, like for example the dress used by the pagan priests for their sacrifice, is illicit. But at the same time, if they are but honorary, and hence only of a social nature, they have a different end and hence are permissible; even as the Christian emperors up to the time of Gratian used to wear the pontifical stole used by the non-Christian priests and called themselves Supreme Pontiffs (Anchukandam 57).

Nobili was such a brilliant man who used his intellect with the addition of the profound knowledge of the Bible that he would able to convince many Hindus and would able to convert them into Christianity without hurting their feelings; it is same as one Hindi sayings, sap bhi mare aur latti bhi na tute, meaning killing a snake without breaking a rod. Moreover, wearing thread, the tuft of hair and use of sandal-paste help Nobili to create an indigenous environment and converting many people to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Christianization of the festivals was an effective means of contextualized to reach out people. I largely agree with Nobili at this point as far as there is not religious superstitious meaning. Nobili allowed his people to celebrate various festivals which he changed the form and even it's meaning. However, at the same time, “he did not deny the uniqueness of Christianity. It enabled Christians to participate in the customs of the land and at the same time to be different in their religion. Thus it contributed to the spread of Christianity rapidly in South India”(George 103). As far as my concern, most of the Indian festivals have its social significance of celebration rather than religious meaning. For example, the freedom fighter Gangadhar Tilak who initiated Ganesh Utsav (festival) had an idea of social gathering where people could come together once in a while to have fellowship rather than less important to the worship of Lord Ganesha who known as the lord of obstacles. However, it is true that slowly the significance of celebrating Ganesh Utsav has taken a religious meaning; but the whole idea of celebrating Ganesh festival was a social gathering. Similarly, Nobili kept the social significance, removed religious and superstitious elements and Christianized festivals.

And finally, Nobili changed many words of the biblical terminology which was controversial for his contextualizing the Gospel ever. Well, this is the area where I am not happy and agree with many Christians, missionaries and even Nobili. What I mean, his indigenous approach was right and sufficient to reach out people, and no need of changing terminology of the biblical word. This is where he failed and cannot be applicable in the present context. There are several examples we can see where he changed biblical words even in such extend where he failed to notice its meaning which was not just and favourable. There are some scriptures in the Bible where God himself says not to change or add something to it, and it is not merely changing the words but to its meaning as well. For example, Deuteronomy 4:2; Revelation 22:18-19 and Malachi 4:4. I know that these Bible verses are not merely talk’s a single word but talks in a particular context and talks about prophesy, commandments and God’s revelation to John. Now one may quote of different translations; but as far as we understand scripture clearly, meaning will be same. I understand that these bible verses are not making sense in this context because it has been a Debatable and controversial throughout many centuries which we need not think and discuss here. What I mean, it is a very sensitive part to change words and keep the same meaning. Many Christians contextualized by changing words but missed the essence of it. One must be very cautious while changing the terminology of the bible.

Moreover, “De Nobili gave a terminology for Christian theology, a vehicle for conveying Christian ideas. By comparison, today’s proposals for Indianization of liturgy and theology somehow fall short”(Hedlund 57). For example, he used a word for the Holy Spirit is chutamana spiritual meaning only clean spirit. He used a word for eternal beatitude is chorcam which “constituted even a heresy for those well-versed in Tamil literature, as the same meant a paradise of pleasure where one sojourned for millions of years, in the company of heavenly courtesans (apsara) eating dainty foods and drinking nectar”(Anchukandam 72). Another word suten he used for the son which literary means procreated son or begotten through a generation where the as correct word for son is maguen which only means metaphorically son. Another miss word pugei he used for Eucharist which means sacrifice.

However, despite Nobili’s contextualization to evangelized people and convert them to Christ was successfully done but there were drawbacks in his contextualized approach which I would say he failed to see; those drawbacks I am going to discuss here.

Negative aspects of Nobili’s methods of contextualization

Despite Nobili’s remarkable work of contextualization, there are some negative aspects of drawbacks in his contextualized approach which was controversial or so to say, he failed to recognize some of the evil social practices which were dehumanized. First, one of the drawbacks of his method is that he accepted the caste system and allowed it to entertain inside the church. As a result, discrimination remains throughout the centuries; and even today there is discrimination inside the church. By accepting the caste system which was the evilest practice of the Indian society; Nobili has given a very negative understanding and an example of his work during his time. It might be accepted and applicable during his time but surely not applicable or relevant in today’s context in India where Dalits and the low caste people are still struggling to get rid of this evil social stigma.

Throughout the centuries history has been witnessing the oppression of the low caste, particularly Dalits and OBC. The Caste system has been dehumanizing and discriminating people and among communities. The Caste system was very much prevalent in the Hindu religion in the 16th and 17th century. Hindu religion is a very much social-oriented religion so; societies were divided into the basis of the Hindu religion which speaks of the caste system. I don’t understand that even though Nobili was such a brilliant learned man who studied Hindu religion; accepted the caste system. As “a remarkable scholar and critical thinker, he wrote theological treaties in Tamil and insisted that religion and culture can be separated”(Hedlund 56). Then how could he neglect the very fact of the caste system which is a part of Hindu religion, because Manumriti is the most sacred scripture of the Hindus which talks the four varnas (castes or status) and the division of the Hindu society? I think Nobili seems to be failed to look at the effects of the caste system upon Christianity whereas, “other missionaries endeavoured to modify several traditional practices, especially to eradicate caste discrimination, Nobili permitted it among his Christians”(George 115).

Though “the adaption of the caste system had a certain positive effect in mobilizing the conversions, it compromised some basic Christian teachings. It created a lasting division within the church between the high caste and the low caste”(George 115). Even though his primary focus was the high caste but “the number of baptisms from the highest castes always remained very small. Even from other castes, larger figures of conversions begin to be given only after the inauguration of the new methods under the lead of Fr Balthasar da Costa”(Neill 308). A social activist Vishal Mangalwadi has made a very meaningful statement, “The Indian church (of all denominations) treated Jesus mostly as a salvator but not as a liberator who would empower them to find true liberation from the caste oppression and exploitation”(Mangalwadi x). I think, Nobili had done a remarkable job by converting many Brahmins to Christ but failed to change the very Brahmin thinking of superior to other or caste dominant mindset. Now the time has come to propagate gospel or to present Jesus Christ as the liberator who can liberate from the evil social practices which dehumanize and bring discrimination among communities rather than saviour; among certain communities, especially Dalits and OBC.

Another disadvantage of Nobili was that he failed to recognize the significance of Holistic Mission, because not only it means propagating the Gospel but also to get involved in social welfare for the betterment of our society. “Abolition of any kind of discrimination in society and establishing equality is also part of the mission. Therefore eradicating caste system is part of a missionary’s task”(George 115). But Nobili believed and thinks that “the major task of the missionary is to convert people to Christ. He further viewed the eradication of the caste system as the task of the social reformers”(George 91). We have a great an example of Holistic Mission in Luke 4:16-30 which is known as Nazareth Manifesto where Jesus himself instructed the seriousness of holistic understanding of mission. I think there no greater example than our Lord Jesus himself who kept holistic understanding wherever he encountered people. Gospel mentioned that wherever Jesus went, he moved with compassion. Our Lord Jesus said that the Spirit of God anointed him not just merely to proclaim word but to heal the sick, set free the captives, etc. However, one cannot distinguish between missionary activities and social activities; because being a carrier of the Gospel; Christians are missionary as well as a social reformer.

The relevance of Nobili’s contextualization in the present context

Despite Nobili’s drawbacks of contextualized approach, there are many things which are applicable or relevant in today’s Indian context. His missional strategies and contextualization of the Gospel were very much indigenous. That’s why he was able to relate with Indians very well and convert them into Christianity without hurting their feelings and causing offence to their religions. First, Nobili’s presentation of Christianity in Indian style is very much relevant in the present context of India. He understood the failures of other missionaries of his time because of their European life-style which was a hindrance to many high caste rich people. “Nobili’s methods made Christianity acceptable to people that many of them followed his teaching while they had despised it as a foreign religion due to the lifestyle of other missionaries”(George 112). That’s why Nobili believes and aptly describes that,

The gospel preacher should make himself all things to all and take up that mode of life which is acceptable to the people among whom he works. The Church should never diverse customs of people which was not sinful. One action have several ends therefore, the church can make use of various social emblems for a legitimate purpose. Several rites and ceremonies can be Christianized after removing the sign of superstitions from them (George 74).

Similar kind of situation we do face in today’s context in India; even though we are globalized in terms of our standard living. However, still, there are some Indians who do not like westernize thinking and life-style even though their appearance is very much western. Almost the majority is half of the population who like Indian thinking and indigenous lifestyle. In this situation, I would say Nobili’s contextualization is very much relevant to reach out to such people. I think this is the unique mission approach is missed by many Christians missionary agencies on days to present Christianity in Indian style rather than western style.

Another advantage of Nobili’s methods of contextualization is his contextualized pattern of Indian Christianity which is very much relevant in the present situation. Because in the 16th and 17th century many accepted Christianity because of material benefits as a result of mass conversion. Whereas “Nobili’s converts were genuine and well instructed about the teaching of Christianity even before the baptism”(George 113). Even he gave full freedom to his believers to remain in their society and participate in some customs which he Christianized the form and changed their meaning. Similar kind of situation we do come across even today. There are some churches even today which treated their believers as a slave and impose certain unnecessary ideas, rules and regulation to accept Christ or so to say to become a member of their church rather teaching than sound doctrines of the bible. Even there are many churches as a result of mass conversions which are very much interested in number rather than making quality Christians, whereas Nobili had the interest to make quality followers rather than adding numbers in the church. Saulire says, “They were instructed for several months about the doctrines before they were given baptism”(George 96). Roger E. Hedlund says that “Nobili’s adaptations enabled the Christians to retain their cultural identity”(Hedlund 280).

Some pastors critique and looked down others culture, and when somebody gets convert to Christ; they asked to leave their culture, practices, beliefs, etc which could be very tuff time for new converts to leave it. I think Nobili used the best pattern ever because first, he never critiques and looked down others faith and culture. Second, he took time and had the patience to teach converts and let them realized their own. For example, in our Cultural Anthropology class Boby who is a storyteller made a good observation; and said, we often tell believers stories and say God did this and that; but we never give chance to them to make the decision themselves. Finally, his approach was very gentle and decent, and had the good quality to listen to others; and that is what we are lacking today in the Indian context and even many Christians miss today.

Conclusion

Well, in some extend I thought, whether Nobili’s methods of contextualization were helping him to convert Christianity into Hinduism or Hinduism into Christianity but I understood now. Robert De Nobili was such a brilliant and passionate man who contextualized his strategies such a way that no one even thinks of conversion. He lived in Indian style and adapted indigenous ways of worship and contextualized Gospel in Indian style. As a result, he was able to convert many high caste people who used to get offended before; but Nobili caused them to think that we can be still an Indian and live Indian way, be in our culture and follow or believe Jesus Christ. He contextualized his methods in such a way that nobody would identify him as a western. First, he kept himself in a shoe of Indian and looked through Indian lenses. Second, he studied and had a thorough understanding of Hinduism which benefited him to have an inter-religious dialogue which won many people into his favour and able to present Gospel in Indian style. Third, he never looked down or spoke evil of other cultures, practices, beliefs, religions which causes him to win others trust and make friends. However, there were some of the disadvantages of his contextualization where he accepted the caste system and distinguished between missionaries and social reformers which are not relevant in the present situation. But on the other hand, there are some good strategies which he used are relevant in the present Indian context. Like, presentation of Gospel in Indian style and the pattern of Indian Christianity is marvellous and remarkable contextualization had done by Robert De Nobili.

Work Cited

Anchukandam, Thomas. Robert De Nobili’s Responsio (1610) A Vindication of Inculturation and Adaptation. Bangalore: Kristu Jyoti Publication, 1996. Print.

Donnelly, John. “Some Noteworthy Jesuits.” Finding God in All Things (1994): n. pag. Print.

George, Susan Jaison. “A Historical Study of Robert De Nobili’s Methods of Adaptation.” Mar. 2008: n. pag. Print.

Hedlund, Roger E. India’s Churches of Indigenous Origin: Quest for Identity- The Little Tradition in Indian Christianity. Delhi: MIIS/ISPCK, 2000. Print.

Johnson, Todd M. “Contextualization: A New-Old Idea Illustrations from the Life of an Italian Jesuit in 17th-Century India.” The International Journal of Frontier Missions 4.1-4 (1987): n. pag. Google Scholar. Web. 23 July 2013.

Mangalwadi, Vishal. Why Are We Backward? Exploring the Roots, Exploring the Myths and Embracing True Hope. New Delhi: Forward Press, 2013. Print.

Neill, Stephen. A History of Christianity in India The Beginnings to AD 1707. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1984. Print.

Nobili, Robert De. Preaching Wisdom to the Wise. St. Louis: The Institute of Jesuit Sources, 2000. Print.

Rajamanickam, S. J. “Founder of the Madurai Mission- Fr. Robert De Nobili.” Christianity In India: Its True Face. Tamil Nadu: The CNCI Commission for Evangelism, 1981. 110–119. Print.

1 note · View note

pamphletstoinspire · 4 years

Photo

The Five Foundations for Discernment On the Path to God’s Peace

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. - Romans 8:5–6

I have struggled many times with aridity in prayer. I didn’t even know the term aridity until I stumbled across it and my eyes were opened to this common spiritual challenge. When I became Catholic, I experienced a rapid healing — in particular through the writings of St. Teresa of Avila and a Jesuit priest, Jean-Pierre de Caussade.

In Teresa I found a kindred soul — one that understood what a real relationship with Jesus looked like. In de Caussade I found a way to see a vision of God in all things, in every moment. These writers helped to reinforce my commitment to prayer and to filling my mind with truth. This helped me to better see God and yield to Him as I experienced circumstances and situations that brought fear, anxiety, and despair to the surface — to be healed.

Next I encountered the wisdom of St. Ignatius of Loyola through the indispensable writings and reflections of Fr. Timothy Gallagher, O.M.V. This was the beginning of the end of the final strongholds that seemed to be too strong to be overcome.

My aim now is to move from my personal story into what I would call a simplified understanding of the practice of discernment of spirits.

Foundations of Discernment, Path to Peace

Some important foundational truths must be understood. They are what I would call a Paradigm of Ascent and are the necessary foundations of discernment and the path of healing and peace that God has provided for all of us. These truths are foundational in that if they are not all present in some substantive way, the practice of discernment of spirits is impossible to follow and the promise of peace is impossible to experience.

First Foundation: A “Yes” to God

The first foundational truth is that we must have an authentic “yes” in our heart to God to begin and complete the journey of healing in heaven. It is not enough to merely know about God or even to practice our faith — we must know him intimately. This is the path of the mystics, but it is also the path to heaven.

This path is often obscure to most Catholics because it is not common for someone already in the Church to hear a call to conversion. However, this call to conversion and even the warnings of hell were offered frequently by Jesus to those who were His close followers. Though we have been baptized and confirmed, we still must constantly recognize our need for God and for the conversion of life that draws us ever more closely to Him.

Second Foundation: Confession & the Eucharist

The second foundational element is the most important support for our “yes” of the heart, and it consists of two of the sacraments, the Eucharist and regular confession. The Eucharist is the most powerful sustenance of our faith, and we should pursue participation in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass as frequently as possible.

The Sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation is also absolutely necessary to support our “yes.” Too often we underestimate the power of this sacrament. We might think of it merely as a remedy for sin, which is vital and true, but it is also a great grace to strengthen us against falling into sin. The Sacrament of Penance both provides forgiveness of sins and strengthens us in our efforts to fight sin. Regardless of either emphasis, if we are not reconciled to God and not living in a state of grace, we are cut off from the life of grace and will not be able to discern the difference between the inspirations of God and the temptations of the devil.

Because of the poor catechesis of our time, I must be clear. Living in a state of grace means that we are living without having unconfessed mortal sins, and we are following the teachings of the Church.

Third Foundation: Daily Prayer

The third foundational element to authentic and effective discernment is daily prayer. The most powerful daily prayers are twofold: mental prayer and the Rosary.

Sts. Teresa of Avila and Alphonsus Liguori consider daily mental prayer as necessary for salvation because of the impact on the soul of those who daily draw near to their Savior. The Rosary, as revealed by our Blessed Mother, is necessary both for our salvation and that of the world.

Together, these two daily prayers provide both protection and a kind of shield and nurturing to our “yes” that allow us to move forward in faith.

Fourth Foundation: Ascesis

The fourth foundational element to our discernment is ascesis. This ancient Greek word simply means “exercise.” In our usage, that exercise is to exert daily and deliberate effort away from sin and toward self-giving to God and our neighbor. Ascesis is simply self-giving and self-denial — saying “no” to the draws of our lower nature in order to say “yes” to giving ourselves completely to God and to those whom He has placed in our care or circle of influence. Ascesis is simply what it means to truly follow Jesus.

This final element completes what I like to call a “saint-making machine.” These basic elements are in place in the life of every saint and everyone who makes progress in the spiritual life toward God and peace and away from sin and the sorrows of sin. This Paradigm of Ascent is also the necessary basis for beginning to distinguish between the voice and influence of God and the voice and influence of the enemy of our souls.

As we begin to implement these practices, we will lay a foundation that is, in and of itself, the most powerful healing force we can know. We will begin living by what is known in Catholic Tradition as a “rule of life” or what we call in our community a “plan of love.” A plan of love is simply a set of concrete commitments that we make to God on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. A simple plan of love might look something like this:

1. Daily Mental Prayer — Wake up at 6:00 a.m. and pray for ten minutes, focusing on the Gospel Reading of the day. 2. Daily Rosary — Pray one decade in the car on the way to work. 3. Attend Mass every Sunday without fail. 4. Go to confession every other week.

Fifth Foundation: Review Your Day

The final step in our foundation is what is known as an examen prayer:

https://jesuits.org/Assets/Publications/File/The_Daily_Examen.pdf

or an examination of conscience.

http://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/sacraments-and-sacramentals/penance/examinations-of-conscience.cfm

I encourage practicing the examen in a way that is focused on God’s redemptive power and mercy, not only our weakness. As St. Paul recalled, “He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness’ . . . for when I am weak, then I am strong.”

The approach I recommend looks something like this. At the same time every night before going to bed, take five minutes to review your day. Slowly go over your day from morning to evening, asking two simple questions:

1. What have I been able to do, by the grace of God, that is honoring to Him and others? When you discover these things, express praise to God. This can be as simple as “Thank you, Lord, for the ability to pray according to my plan of love when I didn’t feel like doing so.”

2. How have I failed to honor God and others in my life? When you discover these things, you still pray in thanksgiving something like this: “Thank you, Lord, for revealing my sin to me so that I can be forgiven and strengthened to overcome this sin in the future.”

Now, this may seem very simple — and it is. However, don’t be fooled. This powerful practice is no less important than a compass to someone seeking their way through the wilderness. It keeps us awake to our progress on the narrow way to heaven, and it helps ensure that we stay on the path.

BY: DAN BURKE

#discerment

3 notes · View notes

roberts28patrick-blog · 5 years

Text

5 All-natural Procedures For Erectile Dysfunction.

Our company 'd happily steer hours on end to drain our teeth right into some high-quality bacon, but along with Sausages from the Globe, our experts do not must. The service is going to deliver you four cargos throughout the year, each with 5 pounds of delicious bacon for you to scarf down. Very little according to the men's health blogosphere, as everybody appears to point out that in order to enhance testosterone levels, one needs to ditch sweets and focus on the slower - more complex - carbs. lifestyleblog-hu.com is actually an anabolic gruel made through worker honey bees, and also it appears to enhance testosterone level levels in unable to have children men, healthy males, hamsters, dollars, as well as rodents. However he should carry out that since he DESIRES TO carry out that, certainly not given that the mother expects it. No mommy is best, but males should carry out the most ideal they could to aim to have the very best partnership they perhaps may along with their mommy, As Well As to assist in the most ideal partnership in between their mama as well as their girl or spouse. A female reacts while walking one of the damages of wrecked properties observing massive combating in between authorities soldiers and Kurdish fighters on March 2 in the southeastern Chicken Kurdish town of Cizre, near the border with Syria as well as Iraq. As of August, 73 thousand Americans had benefits from Medicaid or the Children's Health plan Plan, baseding upon the Centers for Health insurance and Medicaid Companies, which does not break up the amounts for the 2 programs. The benefits of understanding your method around a kitchen area are legion-it gives you self-reliance (say goodbye to depending on others to nourish you), this spares you funds over having to go bent on eat or buy pre-packaged foods, this excites the ladies, it aids you remain well-balanced (ever check out the nourishment info for fast food?), and this is actually merely ordinary satisfying. However this could be actually called into question by simple fact that our team regard the globe coming from a certain point of view as well as make use of particular etymological building and constructions to define this. (For me, I discover this to be a very helpful tip coming from a Christian viewpoint: that I do not possess objective fact because that is just what that means to become an animal from God. However despite the myriad of fitness and health resources, courses, and also techniques, the basic population has actually certainly never been so physically inactive and out-of-shape. Yet another perk from the United States from Insurance policy is actually that consumers would have only one policy for all form of dangers, including car, health, property, personal obligation, and more. Your superior prices would depend upon your particular circumstance. He has certainly not stored a news conference due to the fact that July-- where he however again recommended that the daddy from Sen. Learning to enjoy yourself is the greatest intervene achieving a well-balanced heart chakra as well as becoming a healthy, well balanced person. The pictures around are actually coming from WGSN, among the most extensive fad analysis/prediction/research providers on earth. In the book, Fr. Jaki intelligently matches up the wrong from Eve in the book from Origin to the sin from atheistic researchers today that look at the world as only product. Most of his guys remained in rags and one-half went without food - often he neighbored full calamity. In my point of view, when it concerns complicated and also nerve-racking problems, there's nothing even more horrifying in comparison to attempting to browse the incredibly complicated planet from love as well as tourist attraction. Avocados are actually a wonder meals as far as I'm interested, wonderful for your skin layer, hair, nails, junctions and also soul. Tom Ford cultivated the Tom Ford for Guys Skin care and Grooming compilation based upon the items as well as grooming regimen he uses themselves - a program that is straightforward, uncomplicated and intuitive. Pertaining to # 4, I was actually grocery store purchasing one night after work wearing my grey satisfy, and also as I was visiting at the U-scan, suddenly I hear My, aren't our experts looking nice today." Yea, 22-year-old-ish cashier was bring in a pass at me. I am actually married along with 2 little ones, as well as couldn't always remember the last opportunity someone candidly teased along with me. You will better think I left of there believing that a million moneys, as well as figured out to wear a suit more frequently. As you 'd get out of a Johnnie Walker movie, this is actually a no-expenses-spared luxuriously film, featuring a heirloom of a classic car (a Delahaye Style 135S, if you are actually curious), an ethnicity to Monaco, a large rental property, Jude Law and also Giancarlo Giannini. It prepares items evenly, maintains warm, as well as it is believed to keep you healthy by providing a constant dosage from iron to your diet regimen. The Greeks possess a particular wizard for generating affordable policies, which is why they possess the Olympics, and also they have arranged athletics in a globe where that is not particularly popular, or a minimum of a lot less famous. Even with all your fantastic initiatives Ali, its own seems to be some men appreciate being little bit of poor bitches, considering a few of the useless blog posts listed below. However, if you don't teach hard, and also if you believe that your diet plan and total wellness is in such a great order that there's no oxidative damages going on in the testicles, then vitamin C supplements is actually probably not mosting likely to carry out considerably for your bodily hormones. Goncharov A, Rej R, Negoita S, et cetera. Lower serum testosterone level related to raised polychlorinated biphenyl focus in Indigenous United States males. In the darkest hrs he remained unshaken through reverses, undismayed by finishes off, ever before daring.

1 note · View note

iamrajivmehrotra · 3 years

Text

How to prepare for and how to attend your job interview ??

Are you going to face job interview in near future and looking for some tips so that you can win that dream job ??

Interviewing is a two-way process. On one hand, the company uses the interview process to evaluate candidates and their credentials to determine if they are a solid fit for their company’s needs, but on the other hand the interview provides the candidate an opportunity to evaluate how well the company and the position matches the candidate’s requirement.

You must understand that the company wants to know if you are the right person for the job, what is your potential to perform & grow, and to decide whether you will fit into their company environment.

A good preparation for interview can increase your chances of success.

As preparation, preparing a list of well-thought out questions in advance of the interview will not only help you draw out desired information form the interviewer, but also demonstrate your intelligence and sincere interest in the position at hand.

Think about the possible questions the interviewer may ask you and prepare the best answers to those questions. Prepare the questions that you will ask them. Research the company in advance.

Some example questions which company may ask and suggestion of answers are mentioned as below :

· Example question: How would you describe yourself?

o Your answer : Should describe attributes that will enhance your suitability for the position. Have some ready in advance.

· Example question: Why did you leave your last job?

o Your answer: Could be more responsibility better opportunity increased income. Do not be detrimental to your previous employer. He could be the interviewer's golfing partner.

· Example question: Why do you want this job?

o Your answer: Your answer should be: more responsibility or better opportunity or similar. Not: because it is closer to home or the gym.

· Example question: What are your strengths?

o Your answer: Should highlight accomplishments and experiences that relate to the position for which you are applying. Also give examples of situations where your strengths have been demonstrated.

· Example question: What are your weaknesses?

o Your answer: Should not be a list of deficiencies. Don't mention anything that could make the interviewer question your ability to do the job, for example "I am always late for everything." Instead, discuss a weakness that could also be a strength such as "I am a workaholic!"

· Example question: What are your long-term goals?

o Your answer: Should be career orientated. Make sure you have goals to discuss.

More Examples of Interview Questions :

· Tell me a little bit about yourself.

· Describe your current / most recent position.

· What made you want to make this change?

· What do you most enjoy doing in your current /most recent position?

· Describe your future ambitions.

· How would you describe yourself?

Questions that you can ask from the company during Interview

Don’t be afraid to ask questions during the interview process. In fact, make sure that you do. If you don’t ask questions, you will not get all of the information you require and you may even come across as overly confident. Even worse, you may come across as apathetic. Therefore, show your interest in the job and ask questions at every opportunity.

Asking questions at interview has a number of positive effects:

· It helps you find out more about the company and the position.

· It can be used to divert the interviewer away from a subject you may wish to avoid.

· It can help build a rapport with the interviewer.

· It demonstrates an interest in the job and the company.

· The questions must be about the position and the company.

Avoid questions about salary, benefits and facilities until after you have been offered the job. You should already have researched the company and it's products and services. Your questions should demonstrate knowledge of the company's history, successes and problems. If the interviewer is a representative of the personnel department the questions should relate to the company and be general. Specific questions relating to the position should be kept for the line manager who will have a more detailed knowledge.

Example questions relating to the position

· What are the main responsibilities of the job?

· What are the most difficult aspects of the job?

· How did the vacancy arise?

· What is the career path relating to this position?

· How will my work be assessed?

Example questions relating to the company

· What is the company hoping to achieve in the next 12 months?

· What new products are the company planning to introduce in the future?

· Are any major changes planned for the department/company?

· Who are your biggest competitors?

Search and go through in advance about the company you are going for an interview. Information relating to companies, financial data, industries and business trends is available in business magazines which often publish on the World Wide Web. Companies often have their own web site. Newspapers - search on-line press reports including archived articles.

Travel tips for Job Interview

· Arrive 15 minutes early.

· Make sure you have the correct address and know how you will get there

· Parking? Public transport access?

· Do a dummy run if you are not sure.

· Make sure you have a mobile phone and a telephone number so that you can ring ahead if circumstances beyond your control are making you late.

· Be polite to everyone you speak to; it could be the Managing Director's cousin!

Getting Ready

· Obviously you should be clean and smart in appearance but you should also dress appropriately for the position, for example: a student placement that is more expensively dressed than the Managing Director may have a negative impact.

· Clothes should be on the conservative side, which is more acceptable to people of all ages, cultures and backgrounds. After all, you are asking to be accepted into the company. Therefore always avoid extremes in hair, clothes, make-up and jewellery. Taking trouble over your appearance shows the employer that the job is important to you.

· A great tip to remember while on an interview is to turn off your cell phone or pager. There is nothing more annoying to an employer than a potential employee that has a cell phone ringing every five minutes during an interview. Plus, continuous interruptions may be a sign of unprofessional behavior so it is best to either turn off your cell phone or leave it at home.

· Have a copy of your CV with you.

How to Present yourself during the Interview

· As you settle back in your chair, trying to look a lot more relaxed than you feel, the interviewer picks up your resume or application and starts to ask for details about your prior experience.

· Pay attention to the interviewer while you are being interviewed; this tip is essential and cannot be overrated. An interviewer’s tone of voice, their demeanor, their style of speech and their body motions can indicate to you how you should respond to the questions they pose. For instance, if an interviewer is stern with direct, to the point questions, you should respond with to the point answers. Conversely, if an interviewer prompts you to tell them about yourself, your hobbies or your likes and dislikes, feel free to elaborate—just don’t go overboard and begin rambling about your favorite pastimes!

· Don’t be too eager to answer questions while on an interview. Overly eager individuals tend to cut off the employer while they are speaking and interrupt the employer during their questions. Wait until you are sure the employer is done asking the question before you provide your answer. If you wait until the employer is finished speaking, you will also give yourself time to reflect on the question being asked and an insightful employer will see that you have seriously considered your responses.

· If you have a resume that specifies quantifiable results, now is your chance to expand on that. If you increased sales by 20% per quarter or completed a departmental reorganization that resulted in a budget reduction of 10%, you are on your way. Obviously such achievements outlined in your resume impressed the potential employer enough to call you in for an interview, so your amplification of the details of actions you took will be eagerly welcomed.

· Unfortunately, most of us perform work where the results are less obvious. If you have worked in production or customer service or retail, it is very difficult to tie your efforts directly to company results. In such a case, try to highlight any personal successes or management recognition that demonstrates your competence.

· If you have worked for one employer for an extended period of time, you don’t have to stress your stability, the interviewer already knows that. Instead, concentrate on answering the unasked questions in his mind, his fear that you are set in your ways. Stress your flexibility and desire to learn new skills and procedures. If you changed departments or job title or responsibilities during your long tenure, give the details and how well you adapted to change.

· If your work history is varied with many jobs for short periods of time, explain how much you learned from each separate job and stress your current desire to blend your experiences into a long-term, stable career. Describe how you are looking for a company where you can hunker down and commit for the long haul.

· Any promotion is excellent, even if only to a lead position or being put in charge of a special project. Describe what you did so that the interviewer can appreciate your prior employer’s belief in your ability to take on new responsibilities.

· If no promotions were made (often none are readily available), identify any situations where you were singled out for recognition. That may range from being employee of the month to being asked to train new coworkers or receiving a written or verbal recommendation from a customer you assisted. If you received positive feedback from supervisors, describe the details.

Finally

There are literally hundreds of Interview tips on the Internet. Nevertheless, not all interview tips are excellent tips and it is important that you logically weed out the good tips from the bad ones. Therefore, if something doesn’t sound like a good idea to you, then simply refrain from taking the advice. Finally, the best advice you can get is to remain true to yourself, relax and be calm throughout the entire interviewing process.

Above views are taken from writer's own experience 20+ years of recruiting and from articles written by others on similar topics. Writer is available for personal consultation also to the people who desire that. You can reach at https://www.edujobsunlimited.com which also has huge job bank for sarkari naukri / government jobs and private jobs.

0 notes

troybeecham · 5 years

Text

Thoughts on human abortion

More than a few folks have asked about my thoughts on human abortion in light of the cultural battles on the subject. The Episcopal Church has a current teaching about abortion, as do most Christian Churches and ecclesial communities, and so any thoughts that I might express publicly as a priest must strive to be in accord with that teaching. I do have some personal thoughts that perhaps expand on these teachings, which may possibly frame the question in ways only hinted at by the teaching of the Church. Please understand that while I speak as a Christian and a priest, I do not have all wisdom and understanding, I may not have it all perfectly figured out, and I also believe that my reflections may also be adapted to other belief systems. Please also understand that I do not think that governments and laws are ultimately the best or more permanent and responsive institutions or means to achieving the proposed ends. I am talking about a more radical revolution, a return to the Early Christian concept of conversion of the heart/soul/mind to the love of God in Jesus, from which we may choose to act with our personal agency in accord with the love of God, for which purpose we are created.

I think that the real question about human abortion is part of a larger question that has been part of Western cultural dialogue and development for centuries, especially dialogue about individual human dignity, the rights of the individual, and the autonomy of the individual to make choices/decisions free of external restraint. From the time Western societies began to throw off the yoke of the tyranny of monarchy and feudalism beginning in the 16th century, and began to enshrine the God given and inherent rights of the human individual in the constitutions and laws of nations, we have seen that philosophical/political/theological transformation develop in interesting ways, many of them leading to dead ends. I perceive that we are living in such a political/philosophical/theological dead end in terms of much of our culture, and the struggles to find a workable alternative are visible all around us.

This is the broader context in which I see the arguments about human abortion being hammered out. A primary political/philosophical/theological worldview that I think is needed is a consistent and internally coherent ethic/teaching/theology about (human) life. Such a consistent ethic about life must, by definition, include a robust ethic of non-violence, concern for the vulnerable, including the homeless among us, refugees, orphans, et al, along with championing the cause of women, girls, and orphans across the world, all pregnant women, and other mothers in difficult circumstances. This must include the protection of the rights of women and girls, including rights to education, gainful employment, and protection from exploitation, abuse, and unjust laws.

Such an ethic of life has to find its place in a rebalanced understanding of human personal agency and autonomy. We are living in a time in Western culture of agency and autonomy gone mad, with no restraints and no tolerance for diversity of opinion or expression. Western political/philosophical/theological thinking on agency and autonomy has lost all grounding in any coherent concept of the human person, and so Western culture has entirely succumbed to a self-worshiping consumer culture. As a priest, I believe that much of this is due to the abandoning of Christian teaching on the dignity of every human being, which developed out of our losing/rejecting an historically, ecumenical/catholic/orthodox genuine Christian identity. The Christian Church must first rediscover it’s own self in the Gospel of Jesus. We in Western cultures now live in cultures in which the vulnerable have little to no agency/autonomy/power and who are disposable if it serves the interests of those with agency/autonomy/power. Not only are humans considered to be disposable, but this “throwaway culture” has profound implications for how we understand our place in the larger scope of the planet, including animal life, natural resources, and the environment taken as a whole. Any pro-life movement, Christian or other, must first begin to place itself within such a larger political/philosophical/theological context and be part of a coherent and consistent ethic of life if it has any hope of producing a vibrant, strong, and resilient culture that is able to resist political balkanization and inspire the selfless manner of living together that would make a spiritual revolution in our several cultures both possible and enduring.

We must address how our culture is entirely, and suicidally, consumed with its own radical autonomy and consumerism, which is only concerned with the fulfillment of personal desires, and begin to develop a consistent ethic about the inherent value of life that creates in each of us a sense of mutual autonomy and a culture of restraint, creativity, and generosity. Failing to do so will blind us to how the most vulnerable among us are being discarded in the process, and we will fail to connect the entire battle concerning human abortion to the wider implications of our radical, repercussion free autonomy for all life on God’s earth. I believe that reframing the human abortion conflict (meaning both sides of this battle, a battle that has become hijacked by political language and affiliation) within the intentional development of a consistent, internally coherent political/philosophical/theological ethic of life is absolutely essential for the contemporary pro-life movement and Western culture as a whole.

Christians must withdraw from the toxicity and idolatry of our several nation’s bitterly secular, partisan politics, and re-center our lives, our politics, and our consumption of resources on the primacy to the Gospel of Jesus. It is long past time for Christians to be recaptured by the love of God, a love that transcends nationality, partisan political identities...all identities, really...and regroup ourselves, being centered on the Gospel. We must take the time to push off the overwhelming cultural forces and voices that dominate our souls, and which replace, subvert, or push out the Gospel of Jesus. This is no Luddite retreat, but a respite in which we can remember that we are one Body, with one God, who calls us to live lives marked by sacrificial love for each other. We must rediscover that love so that we can care for each other, wash each other’s wounds, anointing each other with salve to heal our political wounds. We must relearn to prioritize time together resting in the presence of God, worshipping God, and engaging in holy, loving contemplation and conversation about how to live as disciples of Jesus in our cultures. We must relearn how to model a different way of living, a way that includes a consistent, coherent ethic of life, that is restorative rather than punitive, focused always on mercy, compassion, and the forgives offered us by God in Jesus. We must learn how to genuinely listen to others to seek understanding rather than how to formulate a response, especially those who we perceive to be our opponents, including those who have wounded us and who we have wounded. We must return to the Gospel of Jesus, which is centered on the sacrificial love we have for each other, and renew ourselves in Christian life, and in the fundamental values of the Gospel as they exist apart from the toxic and often idolatrous fight over national secular politics. It will only be after we have so re-centered ourselves on the Gospel of Jesus that we can return to the national, and international, secular political struggle, ready to advocate with a consistent and coherent ethic of life — across the full range of life — on behalf of the Gospel.

Fr. Troy

#father troy beecham #troy beecham episcopal #christianity #father troy beecham episcopal #jesus #peace #salvation #god #abortion

0 notes

brightideawritings · 7 years

Text

The Divine Contract -Earthsong9405 Goddess!AU

Aha! Yes! I finally got this finished! Unsurprisingly I am also enamored with @earthsong9405 Goddess!Au where Rarity is a priestess of Ponyville and Twilight is the Guardian of Magic. Look at them! LOOOK!

Rarity stared at the corpse of the Timberwolf.

It looked almost like a pile of branches and leaves except for that it was all piled in the vague shape of a wolf that had its side torn out by what had to be a set of ferocious claws. Rarity had just forced her way through a bush and there the corpse was silhouetted in the moonlight and collapsed against a leafless tree. The light from Rarity’s staff illuminated the feral features of the creature.

“Calm yourself Rarity. There is nothing, absolutely nothing, for you to worry about. Yes, the Everfree is just teeming with shadow-demons at night and not to mention monsters that would definitely love to gobble up a stunning mare like yourself but you have a Divine on your side. Granted, she is not at your side now but still nearby. You think. Nothing to keep talking to yourself about surely!”

Rarity looked closer at the Timberwolf and realized she was actually in an incredible amount of danger. What Rarity had noticed was that the Timberwolf’s corpse had a shadow. That shadow did not move at all in response to the shifting light of her staff as she had moved closer.

“Oh, Divine Ones…” Rarity had begun to back away but it had already been too late. The Shadow had begun to move toward her, stretching across the grass before it detached itself complete from the Timberwolf’s remains.

“Guardian of Magic HEAR MY PLEA!” Rarity shouted and gripped her staff in both of her hands.

“The shadow rippled like a pot of black ink when a quill was dipped into it. From the center of the creature’s mass emerged upward off the ground something that was the shape like a timberwolf but at the same time unnaturally proportioned. Its hind legs were larger than the front pair, it had no ears so its head just looked like a skull, and the jaw looked stretched out much farther than the muzzle so long and large that it was bigger than the side of Rarity’s head. It also twitched in place, making absolutely no sound as limbed moved back and forth at unnatural angles that would have snapped normal bones. Perhaps it knew how freighting its unnatural appearance was?

The only features that were consistent were its eyes. Blank, white orbs that bulged from where its eye sockets should have been. It opened its mouth, the sound that emerged was not a howl but an unearthly screech.

“I’d say you need some singing lessons.” Rarity backed up even further until she was up against a tree. She had no wat if getting away now and with no sign of the Guardian she only had one option left to her. Squaring her shoulders Rarity braced herself and brought her staff into a guard position, “I may be a lady, but I am a priestess of the gods and that means I am not defenseless. If you can understand a word I am saying, Shadow-Demon.

Rarity did not wait for the shadow-demon to move. In the many times she had faced off against other shadow-demons she had learned to never let them gain momentum in a fight. She had seen too many warriors and priests make that mistake.

“En garde!” Rarity thrusted her staff toward the thing’s face, it shied away instantly from her staff and right into Rarity where Rarity had wanted it to go. She shifted the point of her staff further down, sweeping the staff so it knocked the shadow-demon’s front legs from under it. It fell into a screeching heap, snapping at the air around it as it struggled to get back up.

“Hah! When you aren’t some wall-bound specter you have to use your legs just like the rest of us” When a shadow-demon assumed a corporeal form it acted just like a wild beast and would not retreat back to its shadow form. Unfortunately, that also meant this fight would be to the death with only one of the walking away.

“Oh horsefeathers.” Rarity cursed as she took several steps forward for the crystal tipped point of her staff she had meant to plunge into the shadow-demon’s chest instead stabbed into the ground. The shadow-demon had rolled aside from what she had hoped to have been a finishing move. Despite its lopsided proportions the shadow-demon was fast, it became a blur as it moved outside of her vision. “No!”

Rarity’s pulse beat in her ears as she realized what the beast would do next. With all of her strength she wrenched her staff out of the ground, she ignored the smell of wet dirt that assaulted her nose, the protest of the muscles in her limbs, and then spun around-staff point toward where her back had been. The shadow-demon screeched as the crystal point of her staff pierced its chest.

“Ta…ta, darling” Rarity said through her gritted teeth as the weight of the shadow-demon pushed her down to her knees, “Oh Moonborn Luna, by your night let this beast be cleansed from sight.”

She focused her magic from her horn into the tip of her staff. The energy of her spell bursting through the shadow-demon. Rapidly holed formed in the pitch black body of the shadow-demon which poured out the energy of her spell. The shadow-demon did not disappear with a bang but crumbles and faded away, its corporeal form lost cohesion and ceased to exist.

“Do not come back, please.” Rarity sighed, her strength drained for the moment. She made to stand when she heard a second unearthly screech. Rarity looked up to see a second shadow-demon, also in the form of a timberwolf, leap down toward Rarity from a branch of the leafless tree above the Timberwolf’s corpse.

“Clever girl.”

Rarity did not want that to be her last words but between her exhaustion and the surprise the shadow-beast had waited for her to become weak it was all she could think of considering the circumstances. As the shadow-demon’s form filled her vision she thought again, where was the Guardian of Magic? Where was Twilight Sparkle?

A whip of amethyst colored magic wrapped itself around the shadow-demon while it was still in midair and immediately slammed it into the tree it had leapt from. Then the ground. Then a second tree. Then the same tree again and again before finally down onto the ground again. The single whip of magic split into several bands that latched onto each of the shadow-demon’s limbs. Once secure the beast was tossed back into the air where it was help suspended.

From behind Rarity, Twilight Sparkle emerged, the body tattoos were flared to life with divine energy.

“Excellent work” Twilight said.

“I always do my best.” Rarity replied and lifted herself back onto her hooves.

“Hmm? What?” Twilight looked away from the shadow-beast to Rarity and looked confused. It took her several seconds too late for Rarity to realize she had not been speaking to Rarity before but she tried to correct herself immediately, “Oh, yes, you were um, very good! Rarity. A plus!”

“Thank you, Divine One.” Rarity replied and bowed stiffly. Even if it made a small part of her giggled at seeing Twilight so apologetic it bordered on adorable years of training as a Priestess of the Gods snapped into place. With her eyes to the ground Rarity was unable to see the look of disappointment cloud Twilight’s face or the nervous way she fiddled her own magical staff between her fingers.

“Really, thank you Rarity. Now let’s see about our guest here.” Twilight turned toward the shadow-demon again. The shadow-beast itself was unusually still to Rarity. They always acted like enraged beasts, a blur of unnatural motion and bloodlust. This beast though now that it was entrapped refused to move at all. It was like a horrible statue. Rarity took a step toward the shadow-demon only for Twilight to hold her back with Twilight staff swung in front of her.

“I can sense something- “

The shadow-demon exploded. It did not fade out like the other shadow-demon, this one exploded with its dark mass coming apart and outward. It was only Twilight’s magical barrier that stopped them both from being covered in the inky remains of the shadow-demon. The shadow-demon’s remains coated the entire clearing for several seconds before it faded out completely. Twilight stopped her barrier and the both of them looked around at the completely empty area.

“This is great!” Twilight burst out, immediately she was writing furiously on a scroll with a quill she had magicked out of thin air. “So many questions! Was the shadow-demon communicating with something? Was that why it was still? What is the link that it shared? Is it a defense-mechanism? Or is it just unnaturally unstable when probed by Divine magic? Was that a remote self-destruct?”

The amethyst tattoos across her body glowed even brighter the more enthusiastic she became.

Rarity dropped to her haunches and laid down. Too exhausted to listen as her mind drifted back just three days ago when she had first met Twilight.

-Three Days Ago-

“Please, please let it be today.” Rarity muttered to herself and continued to pace across the mouth of the alleyway. She made sure of course to be careful about anypony watching her, she was a priestess of the Temple of the Gods for Ponyville. Even without the constant attacks by shadow-demons she told herself it would not be a good sign to the townsfolk to see one of their best and most glamorous priestesses worried or distraught in any fashion. Especially if she was wearing out the cobblestones with her hooves or that she was walking without her gem-caped, sounding staff in her hands so the chiming ringlets would not give her away or that she had disguised herself with a heavy, tacky cloak. Yes, it would be very hard to reassure anypony that noticed her.

All in all she knew it would worry anypony in Ponyville but it was because that she was worried herself about the safety of her town.

“CARAVAN!” the shout came from on top of the stockades and immediately Rarity was anxious but relieved. On one hoof it drew the attention of everypony else in the town square away from the direction she was skulking in (she hated that word. Skulk sounded so uncouth and roguish.) On the other hoof it meant that maybe today would be the day. No more waiting or watching the gate for the trade caravan or no more waiting to watch for the trade caravan. She could finally-

“R-rarity?” a soft voice squeaked behind her but it was more than enough to make Rarity jump and almost shout out. It took all of her willpower not to but when she turned to face Fluttershy her friend and fellow priestess could see Rarity’s cheeks were puffed out from holding in her breath.

“Fluttershy! Darling, what-what are you doing here in the alleyway? Shouldn’t you be back at the Temple of the Gods?”

“Um…well…I was going to ask you…the same thing.” Fluttershy looked away guiltily and pulled the cowl of her robes tightly over her features, “…sorry.”

Oh, Fluttershy…I’m sorry my dear, it is quite all right, You shouldn’t be ashamed of anything.” Rarity had moved across the alley and pulled her friend into a comforting hug in moments.

“It’s just…I’ve noticed you always get anxious around this time of the day and seem to disappear. I notice your p-p-pulse always quickens so loudly…” Fluttershy seemed to shrink inside of her robes with each word she had spoken. Even her long pink mane had retreated into the folds.

Oh, drat. If anypony saw us now it would most definitely draw everypony’s concern. To see one mysterious cloaked figure grappling with the empty looking robes of a priestess of the Temple of the Gods! Pitchforks and torches are not what this town needs right now, especially Fluttershy.

“Fluttershy, please don’t you worry.” Rarity pushed her thoughts aside and focused on reassuring her friend, “As I said I should be the only one here apologizing, darling. I took such precautions, perhaps unnecessarily theatrical precautions, to make sure I wouldn’t worry anypony but I still managed to make my best friend worry.”

“It’s just so hard not to worry about you though.” Fluttershy said and peaked her head back out of her robes as she continued and looked on the verge of tears. “All of these shadow-demon attacks, everypony’s scared or have lost loved ones or are scared they will lose their loved ones. First Priestess Cheerilee and the other priestesses try to be strong. You though put on a calm, confident face for everypony to look up to so-so they will keep going and trust the Divines but I know every time we hear of an attack or tend to a wounded or d-dead pony…”

“Calm Fluttershy. Calm brings forth serenity and harmony. Through this pain within and without can be healed. There is no good action without good thought.” Rarity recited the scripture of Celestia as written by Joyheart the Divine Touched over two hundred years ago. Rarity knew that the scriptures written by Joyheart were some of Fluttershy’s favorite and she knew them by heart. It also always calmed her down when her panic attacks set it.

“Calm brings forth serenity and harmony.” Fluttershy recited and took in a deeeeeep, slow breath then exhaled. She wiped the tears from her eyes and smiled at Rarity.

“Fluttershy. Thank you for worrying about me. I don’t have many ponies who do.” Rarity returned the smile and grasped Fluttershy’s hands in her own, “Please go back to the Temple. I will be back shortly. Why I am here I have faith in the Sisters will see Ponyville through. Worry for me, but darling please believe, have your own confidence in me that I know things will get better again.”

“Okay, Rarity.” Fluttershy nodded and gently hugged Rarity, “Just be back before the dark. I’m making soup for the Temple tonight.”

Rarity sighed with too much relief once Fluttershy had left and she was once again alone in the alley. Deep down inside of her it hurt that she had done anything to harm Fluttershy. She looked back toward the gate and saw that they had swung open to admit a small caravan of wagons. One of the caravans had on the side emblazoned to be noticed as much as possible the symbol of a moon and glowing wand. Rarity pushed down the concern for her friend and tugged her cloak tighter around her before she stepped out of the alleyway to follow the wagon she had spied.

Unfortunately for Rarity to follow the wagon she needed to pass a part of the town square she had taken to avoiding as much as possible in the last few months. It was the shrine to Sombra, God of War. To Rarity’s more exquisite and dazzling tastes the shrine to Sombra was the total opposite, it was a monument of black iron, dark crystal, and sharp ends. A statue of Sombra stood at the center of the shrine, the God of War with sword held high as if he was about to bring it down on in an unstoppable blow that would only have one result: death. Normally it was kept in the back of the Temple of the Gods in Ponyville, usually under lock and key, with Sombra’s usual supplicants only being the old war horses.

Rarity acknowledged that Sombra was part of the Divine Council and kept the harmony of the Mortal Realm and Divine Realm. As priestess she tended to the shrine as part of her duties and sang praise to Sombra. However, to see Sombra’s shrine moved out in the open of Ponyville, to have to see his triumphant sneer, and to see so many desperate Ponies turning to him for protection just rubbed Rarity the wrong way. It was as if the God of War had been unleashed into not just Ponyville’s square but the minds and hearts of the Ponies. The peaceful town that Ponyville had once been seemed to slip away with ever day the shadow-demons attacked more and more.

“Not if I have anything to say about it, and I certainly have quite a bit to get off of my mind…” Rarity whispered to herself as she approached the wagon of her destination. Without knocking on the door Rarity slipped through and into the wagon to come face-to-face with Trixie the Great and Powerful…of antiquities.

“What? How dare you barge into Trixie’s-“ Trixie had spun around from a small crate to confront the suddent intruder into her shop and home but stopped as Rarity moved her cowl down to reveal her identity. Trixie did not miss a beat as she continued, “…shop of wonders oh, Trixie’s fine and valued customer.”

“Please, Trixie do be a dear and skip the showmareship. Do you have my package?”

“Far be it of me to lie to such a radiant priestess of the Gods” Trixie smiled and fluttered her eye lashes at Rarity which Rarity ignored, “I do have the item that you asked for. Trixie had to brave the darkest shadows of sea lashed Baltimare to get it but Trixie did fine it for you.”

Trixie’s horn flared as her magic wrapped itself around a medium sized square object wrapped in a dirty cloth and floated it in front of herself. Trixie paused to wipe off some of the dirt from the cloth but to Rarity that seemed to have only made the cloth dirtier.

“Now about Trixie’s payment…” Trixie had begun to say, but paused as Rarity reached forward and grabbed the clothed object, her heart pounded in her chest as she unwrapped the cloth and saw what was underneath. Sweet relief flooded her and Rarity had almost wanted to squeal in joy, but then Trixie finished her sentence, “…Trixie was thinking of something different. Perhaps let Trixie take the Wondrous and Exquisite Rarity for a fine dinn-“

“AHaahaah, no, Trixie. As…lovelly as that sounds I simply must pay you in your bits. It was what WE AGREED upon, remember? No changing the deal now you…you minx.” Rarity had nearly lost her composure but like an dancer twirling a silk ribbon she twisted and turned her words and composure. And Trixie enraptured as she was followed Rarity’s suggestion.

“Ah, but of course. The Great and Powerful Trixie is of course always true to Trixie’s word. After all that is Trixie’s best quality, Great and Powerful dependability.” Trixie flushed and fanned herself, “Then perhaps Trixie may still offer and talk more ‘business’ with-“

“Oh, well that does sound fascinating Trixie. You really must tell me more about this “business” but unfortunately, I simply cannot tonight-“

“Then tomorro-“

“Temple duties. I am reciting the one thousand and one praises of the Sisters.”

“The day aft-“

“Temple duties. It is my turn to cook for our temple and there is just this lovely hayseed recipe I saw that I have been absolutely dying to make. I know it will be magnifique!”

“Next week?”

“Let me get back to you Trixie. Oh, to have the freedom of a far-traveled and adventurous merchant as yourself! You must tell me all about it sometime.” Rarity smiled at Trixie and was pleased that it seemed to have the desired effect as Trixie figuratively melted into an open chair.

“I-I mean, Trixie would not disappoint! Please feel free to stop by anytime.” Trixie smiled dazed even as Rarity retreated outside of her wagon.

“Too close, Rarity. Much too close.” Rarity muttered to herself as she slipped through the crowds back toward the Temple of the Gods. For over a month Rarity had written to Trixie the traveling merchant hoping to get her to come to Ponyville to find Rarity’s item and for over a month Trixie had sent extremely curt and dismissive replies that she was uninterested in traveling to an “out of the way little homestead”. Finally, Rarity had managed to arrange for her own passage to Canterlot to confront Trixie about finding her item and Trixie had been star struck by her. Rarity did not think Trixie had even remembered Rarity had written to her but then she was all too happy to follow on Rarity’s request and she had actually delivered. If what Rarity had planned worked out, then Rarity may just stomach through a date with Trixie to show her gratitude.

Celestia’s sun had just about dipped behind the mountains by the time Rarity arrived back at the Temple of the Gods. She stopped to admire the marble temple with its statues and frescos that showed what it was said to be like in the Divine Realm. The twilight between day and night seemed to make it all the more stunning to Rarity, the last rays of sunlight and the lengthening shadows seemed to make the faces of the Ponies, Gods, Divines, and Demigods seem so alive. The steeple bell rang in the highest alcove of the Temple of the Gods, that would be Cheerilee saying goodbye to Celestia’s day and welcoming Luna’s night into Ponyville and the surrounding homesteads.

“Good, just in time. No pony-else will be in the sanctuaries.” Rarity had made sure to volunteer to tend to the sanctuaries, underground rooms within the Temple of the Gods where one could summon a Divine being to hear their prayers and make offerings. “If all goes well Ponyville will be saved. If all doesn’t go well…Ponyville will be saved but I am prepared to pay the cost.”

Rarity hurried into the Temple of the Gods, stowing her cloak and retrieving her sounding staff from where she had stored it in a storage room. She then hurried to her living quarters within the Temple of the Gods. It was a modest space, the same shared by the other priestesses of the temples. Most of the room was dominated by the carefully arranged piles of cloth and thread. Her work as a seamstress made her extra money on the side and had earned her the praise of every notable in town for her design work.

“Perhaps in another life I would be living in Canterlot and making dresses and be married to a prince.” Rarity had often joked, but truthfully she knew she could not leave Ponyville.

She had only returned to her room to gather the rest of the supplies she needed for what she planned for tonight. With everypony busy at their work she easily slipped down into the sanctuaries beneath the main floor of the temple. The outer chamber of the sanctuaries was a large oval shaped room with dozens of different doors that lead to various rooms and hallways that stretched below the Temple of the Gods. Each door was marked with the symbol of the God or Divine the sanctuary room was dedicated to. The sanctuaries were meant as sacred spaces where one could be cut off from everything else in the Mortal Realm to connect to the Divine Realm.

Celestia and Luna’s rooms were easy to spot out, one had the symbol of the sun and the other the moon carved into the wood of their doors. Sombra’s was a sword and shield. Discord, the God of Chaos, had a random mess of squiggles messily cut into his door. Chrysalis, the Goddess of Love, was a heart. The Divine Hierarchy sometimes shifted though so if a God died or was replaced the room would be re-dedicated and re-sanctified. The one she wanted had been sanctified decades ago and from what she had researched had never been entered by anypony from Ponyville.

“Magic” Rarity whispered to herself as she stepped toward the purple colored door with the symbol of a large six pointed star surrounded by several smaller stars, “Here we go Rarity. No turning back now.”

Rarity pushed open the doorway and revealed a completely empty room. This had always puzzled Rarity as she knew very well the other rooms had statues and frescos dedicated to the gods showing off their wondrous achievements or legendary feats. They would also be stacked with the offerings made by the faithful ponies be it fresh fruit or reams of poetry or whatever offering the particular deity fancied. In Celestia’s room it never grew dark, her statue radiated a light just as bright as the sun. In Luna’s during the summer she could hear the faint sound of crickets that were not there as if she was outside taking a stroll through the forest at night. In the God of the Wind’s every so often a random draft would sweep the room scattering the offerings despite there being no air ducts at all. The God of Terra’s room was covered in a carpet of fresh grass and had small trees growing within which were healthy despite the lack of sunlight and water.

“Why then would your room be empty?” Rarity asked. Magic wasn’t something that was worshipped widely in Equestria or any of the other lands to her knowledge. Or maybe it was because magic was subtle and quiet? “At least I will not have to deal with any dreadful clutter.”

Rarity quickly unpacked her supplies and went to work on her important task. Using one book she had borrowed from Canterlot as a guide she carefully drew on the floor of the sanctuary room an arcane symbol within a summoning circle. It was the symbol of magic orbited by several complex and confusing geometric symbols that even hurt Rarity’s eyes. Fortunately, Rarity had always had an eye for detail and was satisfied that she had drawn them all correctly by the time her chalk stick had been worn down to a small nub.

“Now, the offerings.” Rarity slipped out the item Trixie had delivered to her and tossed aside the cloth that protected it. “The Queen and the Bodyguard by Monochromatic.”

It was a book. A first edition book that had been printed forty years ago.

“A novel with romance, mystery, and action. At least the God of Magic has good tastes.”

From all Rarity had known and researched the God of Magic did not have a name or a dedicated set of followers. This was extremely unusual in the Divine Hierarchy as all the other branches of Divinity were known. Rarity though had never been taught the name of the God of Magic and neither had Cheerilee the chief priestess and neither had any reference from the last century or the century before or the century before and so forth that she had looked into. A God’s duty was to direct the very force of nature they represented, even Discord the God of Chaos influenced his domain. She supposed more than once in the last few months that the God of Magic was maybe a shut-in (if a Divine being who controlled the fabric of space and time could be a shut-it) or maybe, just maybe, there was no God of Magic (which everything Rarity had been taught told her was impossible).

“Everything. Absolutely everything I was able to get my hands on has only ever referred the God of Magic as “the God of Magic”. Scholars, wizards, and prelates have never left a name of any kind. Oh, yes plenty on how to summon the God of Magic. A book on a theoretical study of astro-something or other. A new book printed within the last year. Two books arguing different sides of a single argument. A novel, novel. A book by Monochromatic.”

Rarity placed each of the books she had brought into the summoning circle, careful to lay them down gently enough that they did not smudge the chalk underneath. From her bag, she levitated out an unused inkpot, a fresh parchment, and a quill pen. “Very well then. Let us begin, shall we?”

“I beseech the Divine. Let my prayer reach across the aether and void to be heard now.” Rarity intoned, using her magic to dip the quill into the inkpot then write her own words onto the parchment, “I call upon the unseen that connects the Mortal and Divine. That which makes the impossible the possible. I call upon the God of Magic to grace me with their presence so that this humble supplicant’s hopes can be made real. By the rule of the Sisters, Celestia and Luna who rule upon their thrones in the Divine Realm. Grace her with your presence and let magic be made real.”

No sooner had she finished writing the last words the entire parchment, ink and all, lit up with a violet light that was soon joined by a sapphire blue and rose pink light. Rarity’s magic around the parchment seemed to blend and become one with the new and sudden burst of Divine magic that surrounded the parchment. Cautiously, Rarity floated the parchment down into the center of the summoning circle and no sooner had she done so the entire circle burst into magical flames. Rarity gasped as a wall of magical flame rushed to engulf her and burn her to ashes-only for it to pass over her harmlessly.

She gaped as the magical energy seemed to twist and bend itself into new shapes throughout the room. The magic touched the walls and immediately the flame formed ethereal bookshelves lining the room completely-even the doorway- except for one space that formed into a fireplace, the small candles Rarity had lit to light the room twirled end over end into the fireplace to burst into a roaring fire. In front of her a large desk coalesced into being quickly followed by two sets of chairs. The books she had placed in the summoning circle rocketed off the floor trailing tails of light that made Rarity think of comets before they settled themselves neatly onto the table-except for the “The Queen and the Bodyguard” it hovered in the air on the other side of the table. Rarity was tempted to reach out and grab it but before she could move she realized somepony else already had.

Two sets of violet hands formed, holding the book they hovered in the air by themselves for only a moment before that same magical energy burst and like wildfire spread out forming two sets of arms that connected to a body. A body cloaked in robes but also in fine golden necklaces and arm bracers studded into amethyst jewels. Even before the head had formed Rarity had quickly realized two things: 1. The being in front of her would be about a head taller than herself and 2. The God of Magic was in fact the GODDESS of Magic.

Rarity’s thoughts were validated in moments as a very mare shaped head appeared on the shoulders of the figure before her. Glowing swirls of a darker purple marked out her features which proved her status as one of the Divine beings. Her hair was cut rather short in the front but Rarity could see a longer ponytail draped behind the figure. She had a unicorn-like horn except where Rarity’s as a mortal was short and straight the figure’s curved upward and radiated an magical aura. The Goddess of Magic stared intensely at the book she held in her hands, her violet eyes analyzing what she held.

Rarity, staring into the goddess’ face couldn’t help but feel something deep, deep inside her spark. For a moment, a part of her wondered if that was the magic in the room or perhaps something else. The thought was lost as the Goddess of Magic spoke.

“The first book in the series!” the Goddess of Magic practically squealed, her face lighting up with a joy that Rarity was powerless to resist. Rarity smiled as the Goddess of Magic continued, and flipped open the book already starting to read it, “I’ve only been able to find the sequels. How in the wide, wide Mortal Realm did you find this?”

“Well, the notes about the past offerings to you mentioned the other titles in the series. None of them however mentioned the first book however so I took a risk. The series has been out of print for nearly two decades so it was quite the affair to find a surviving copy, oh Goddess of Magic” Rarity bowed in part for respect and also Twilight could not see the sudden smile that had sprang up on Rarity’s lips. It just seemed too adorable how Twilight had reacted to the book.

“Oh, I’m actually not the Goddess of Magic” the celestial being replied, eyes still glued to the pages.

“…come again, darling?” Rarity looked up, still bowed over. She knew she should not have been so informal, especially since this was the first time she had summoned the Divine being, but she just could not believe the words.

“I’m not the Goddess of Magic. It is a little complicated-oh so it does look like their relationship developed quite a bit over the series…” the Not-Goddess-of-Magic said and continued to flip pages for several seconds before she continued, “you see technically Celestia and Luna are in charge of magic and can influence it but they do not have control over it. It is not a part of them, it is created from harmony in the realms. Though, that is something of a secret. I will have to swear you to secrecy and just do like Bright Idea or Swirling Star and just refer to me as the ‘God of Magic’ in your future references.”

“But…then…” Rarity felt her head start to spin, she had begun to wish the room had a couch she could lay down on, “who are you then?”

“I am the Guardian of Magic. Twilight Sparkle.” Twilight Sparkle said as she snapped the book shut and looked at Rarity, “I was trained by Celestia and Luna so if you do not think I can handle your request…”

Twilight snapped her fingers and in a burst of light a couch formed beneath Rarity forcing her to sit down on it.

“Please don’t.”

“M-my apologies oh, divine one, I meant no disrespect,” Rarity jumped back to her feet and bowed to Twilight, “It is just we are desperate here in Ponyville. I called upon you because I believe magic is what we need to prevent anymore Ponies from dying here in Ponyville.”

“Please do not worry, miss…?”

“Rarity. Just, Rarity. I am a priestess of the Temple of the Gods in Ponyville.”

“Rarity. I have been looking into the…phenomenon of these shadow beasts before. I am the best divine you could call upon.” Twilight smiled, it was a small and sheepish but Rarity felt not comfort per say but that Twilight really was sincere which surprised Rarity.

“Now, as you know I am fairly sure there are rules, an exchange must be made in order for me to work here on the Mortal Realm and help you.” Twilight turned toward one of the celestial book shelves and perused through them as she looked for something. A chill climbed down Rarity’s spine as she knew what was to come next. She had prepared herself mentally for the price she would have to pay. As well as physically as she had a poni-pedicure earlier in the day. She knew it was for the good of Ponyville.

Rarity slowly undid the top clasp of her robes.

“Here it is!” Twilight said triumphantly as she pulled a scroll from the bookshelf and began to turn around, “The standard contract has a limit of a month but I was thinking given the nature of our investigation and I will need your help as my aide something…more…long term…”

Twilight stared and dropped the scrolls.

“WHAT ARE YOU DOING?” Twilight blushed and gawked. Perhaps for several seconds longer too long before the clockwork in her brain started to move again. In one swift motion she rushed over and picked up Rarity’s robe and thrust it back on her. Twilight realized just how close she had gotten to Rarity when her fingers brushed up against Rarity’s shoulder but in moment she had hopped back to the other side of the table. Only then did she cover her eyes and turn away for good measure, repeating the words, “Sorry! Sorry! I should have used magic! Sorry!”

Rarity was confused as much as Twilight was.

“I don’t understand. Don’t you want to stop the shadow-demons?”

“YES! I DO but what in the wide-wide Realms have to do with you being…” Twilight did not finish her words and tried to look away even harder than she had before.

“That’s what the price is for your favor…is it not?”

“No! Why, no, how could you think that?”

“Its what Star Gazer and the others wrote, ‘I gave up my body until the Divine’s satisfaction was complete.’”

“Yes, but-“

“’-and oh the entire time was the purest of joy and experience! I was in awe, neigh, bliss to experience this intimacy with the Divine…’”

Twilight finally turned and stared at Rarity.

“Come again? That-that did not, well I mean we did BUT we did not do THAT! As payment he helped me research the relationship with magic and nature in the Diamond Hills. For just three weeks. All he did was bring me books and copy sections. It was the same with Pageturner she accompanied me on an expedition to the ruins of Unicornia. Nothing like…like…”

Twilight stopped speaking as Rarity’s giggles echoed in the room and drowned out Twilight’s words.

“Oh, hehe, I see now darling…”

“See what?” Twilight was still perplexed. What was she missing?

“They had a crush on you! ALL of them! Buwahaha!”

“A crush?” Twilight paled, “No, that is not possible. I mean all of petitioners have been very nice and very accommodating. Sure, Star Gazer always stared at me the whole time since he was so eager to listen to my theories. Pageturner wrote that, uh, lovely ‘poem’. Skyfall she put all of those flowers in my bed…” Twilight wrenched her mouth shut and with a wave of her staff she conjured out of the thin air a chair for herself which she dropped into. She covered her face with her hands and to Rarity looked remarkably, utterly lost. “They did have a crush on me.”

“How could I miss the signs? I spent decades reading and studying Divine-Mortal behavior. I even interviewed Chrysalis, ugh.”

Rarity while amused did not like that she had a semi-depressed Divine in front of her. Especially one that was supposed to help her save Ponyville. She had to get Twilight moving past this funk immediately. Rarity had to appeal to her…reasoning nature.

“Well. Have you ever had a crush on anypony?” Rarity asked.

“Me? No. Never, when would I have ever had the time for that? I’m not like Chrysalis. Hmph, going after my brother like she is…”

“Aha! So if you have never had a crush, well trust me when after you have had one it is not hard to spot.”

“That does sound reasonable. I haven’t had first hand knowledge myself. Hmm. I will have to explore that later.” Twilight looked up to Twilight and for the briefest of moments Rarity thought she saw Twilight’s blush return, “As I was saying before…”

Twilight moved out of her chair and picked up the scroll she had dropped. She floated it over to Rarity.

“The standard contract is a defined period, typically a month but this may take longer. So Rarity-“, Rarity was sure she caught Twilight’s blush this time, “How would you feel about a long term contract?”

“Well, let me take a look. It is not the first time I have been asked to mediate on divine contracts for other mortal petitioners.” Rarity opened the scroll and looked over the contents. As she read her eyebrows furrowed more and more in what was unmistakably displeasure.

“This contract is, well for a lack of better term, incredibly one sided.”

“Oh, well I suppose I could re-write it more in your favor” Twilight looked shocked.

“No, darling what I mean is this is incredibly one sided for you! You are really only asking for a once a week devotional ritual? Most Divine ask for a minimum twice a day! Also, the platitudes are remarkably bare. No accommodations for you at all. Certainly, no Inaction Clause if I as your petitioner cannot pay back your favor. I can’t sign this it is just too unfair to you.”

“My other petitioners never complained though…”

“Hmph, and I wonder why? Did they ever read your contract? No, I will not sign this unless you let me re-write it.” Rarity had already floated a pen over to herself and was making edits to the contract scroll before Twilight could answer. Twilight floated behind Rarity as she went to work re-writing the contract.

“This is very generous of you, Rarity.”

“Think nothing of it, darling. Just help me save Ponyville…”

“I’ll do everything in my power for you.” Twilight said.

Rarity kept her uncertainty to herself and continued with her editing.

#Earthsong9405 #raritwi #goddess!au #friendship is magic #mlp: fim #twilight sparkle #rarity #alternate universe #anthro #mlp anthro #demigod!twilight #priestess!rarity #My Little Pony

8 notes · View notes

phoenixfire-thewizardgoddess · 7 years

Note

I'm really sorry to bother you but I'm scared and I don't know where else to go. I'm a danger to myself, I keep overdosing on various pills and I can't stop thinking about hurting myself. I was hospitalised at the end of last year and spent 6 weeks in the psychiatric ward but things are getting bad again but I don't want to be put away again and my ED is making a return I can't stop making myself throw up and I'm just really lost and scared I don't know why I'm like this

I can see you are looking for direction, or at least validation that what you think is the next step, is the right course of action. You cannot ignore what is going on, and you know that too or you would not be seeking assistance from someone else.

You need to go straight to your doctor, and tell them what is happening.Or a counselor, if you have one assigned to you/any ongoing mental health support, now would be the time to make an urgent appointment. Do it.

Take a support person you trust, and if you feel that it will be too hard to say what is happening, write down everything and give the doctor the letter/list/paper.

- - -

The reality is you may require hospitalisation again, and that’s okay. You need to tell yourself that that is a thing that may happen, and it is a necessary step towards getting back to who you were before this.

Look at the plain fact you have told me:>you are overdosing>your ed is flaring up and exacerbating the issue>you are damaging yourself through continuous induced vomiting, hich you say is compulsive>you stated you are experiencing severe suicidal ideation/self harm>you are scared of all of this and want to change the situation for the better.

Why is this happening?>Only through exploration of your psychosocial circumstances over a period of several sessions can a trained professional help you work that out. It could be anything, from extreme distress, to hormonal imbalance/mental health concerns, through to repressed trauma. Everyone is different, every individual has a reason; biological, environmental, social, mental, physical, psychosocial, physiological, or any combination.

>You need professional support to explore this, and ascertain both what has triggered this, and how to resolve it. Which may take some time, but all recovery does.

>You need personal support, emotional support, and someone who is on your side but non-judgmental. For some people they have a family member or friend who can fill this role of support person, but fr others they prefer a slightly more impartial person such as their counselor or psychiatrist.

The most important thing is seeking assistance from a primary healthcare professional, such as your doctor.

But if you require further support to make that step, or more resources, here are a handful of organisations who can give you a more personalised, anonymous, degree of support. Some can even help you make an action plan and schedule in to speak with you again, to check how you are going.

>Lifeline - Ph: 13 11 14They have a Crisis Online Chat, a 24hr phoneline, and specific resources for men, women, young people, indigenous persons, poc, parents and the elderly. They also have additional resources for your specific needs under their Resources tab.

>United Synergies the main website has links to various other help organisations that specialise in mental health, youth, homelessness, suicide prevention, homelessness, and other topics.>>United Synergies: Standby Suicide Callback Service - Ph: 1300 659 467Suicide Prevention & Support Service. Online Text & Video Chat counselling services available. For people who have experienced suicidal ideation, attempts, suicide in their social circle; for information, advice, assistance and counselling, and resource provision. They can plan to make contact regularly, if you need it.

>Kids Helpline (Youth & Young Adult 13-25yrs) - Ph: 1800 55 180024hr phoneline, online crisis chat & email counselling is available. Trained counselors can listen and provide you with resources, and/or support.

>BeyondBlue - Ph: 1300 22 4636Online Chat & Email Counselling available, as well as 24hr confidential phoneline. Specialise in providing counseling for depression, anxiety and suicide related issues, concerns, and sufferers.

>Alcohol & Drug Information Service (ADIS) - Ph: 1800 177 833This line can can provide information, advice, counselling, and referrals to a service in your area that will meet your needs.[Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs Services (ATODS) can be accessed through this line.]

>Eating Disorder Helpline: Butterfly National Helpline (Ph: 1800 33 4673)Also has email and online chat counselling available.

- - -

If you are in immediate danger, if you take pills or feel like this is the moment you need to no longer exist, call 000 (or your country’s equivalent) for immediate emergency assistance.- - -

In short the plan is simple, and you need to do this in order to protect yourself.

Step 1 (Optional): Find a friend or family member, someone you trust and know will be supportive and/or non-judgmental. Tell them that you need their help, their support, and if you can tell them what is happening. You can also do this in letter form if you wish.

Step 2: If Step 1 is not an option for you, then choose one or more of the above services and make contact in whichever way you feel most comfortable. I believe all the above have both verbal and non-verbal methods of counseling, which should allow you to express yourself in the way that is easiest for you. As some people experience heightened anxiety from talking on the phone, or talking about personal issues.It would be beneficial to you, even if you do have a support person, as the trained counselors on the other end of the phonelines/chat/emails will have experience in helping people in similar situations through difficult times, and can provide situation-specific resources for you.

Please consider calling at least one of the provided organisations above.

Step 3: Create an appointment with your preferred healthcare professional. If you do not have a doctor, sometimes it is best to go to the hospital directly and tell them what is happening in length. The more detail they have, the more they can help you, or provide accurate care.>Hospitals also have mental health departments and social workers who can help you with a full spectrum of your circumstances.

If the idea of making the appointment is stressful, you can ask your support person to make it for you and/or attend the appointment with you. That is the role of a support person.

As said before, if you feel more comfortable writing out your situation (as you have in this ask) and providing the letter to your doctor or healthcare practitioner instead, you do it. It doesn’t have to be a final-edit novelisation, it just has to be a statement of the facts with your feelings interjected.E.g. “I need your help, but I am not sure how to say it, therefore I have written it down. I am scared for myself, because of the actions I have taken recently. I cannot stop trying to hurt myself, through taking large assortments of pills (specify if you wish), and making myself throw up. The idea of my ed returning is causing me stress. Consistent throwing up has (list any physical side effects such as weakness, mouth pain, etc.). I am afraid of being rehospitalised for this; and it has made it hard to seek help directly. At the moment I have told (name anyone directly involved like your support person) and/or contacted (any agency you have spoken with), who have helped me to come and see you today.”

Because it gives them an overview of your situation. What has happened, who is involved, your personal feelings, and where they can support you most.If you have been given any medications/been taken off any medication recently; or have been taking any additional substances (self medicating), please let them know. This can change the diagnosis slightly.

And if there has been a significant event or stressor this is related to, please let them know.

Step 4: Understand that you may need to go to hospital, and prepare for it.What do you need to feel calm, what can you do to destress or decrease the anxiety associated with this situation?Otherwise, adhere to any plan you make with your doctor or further specialist/mental health physician. Including continued contact, medications, and/or hospital stays or assessments.

Use your support person, let them know if things are going well or not. Have a codeword or a plan for if you feel things are too much and you need immediate assistance.

E.g. If you text them, “Rainclouds” covertly, they need to call you and check how you’re doing/call to talk you into calling one of the above organisations (or your specified mental health professional). Or if you send them, “Chasm” it means you feel the need to hurt yourself, and they should call for emergency medical help immediately. Ambulance officers can respond to patients in distress who are experiencing suicidal ideation, and determine if you are safe. It is better safe than sorry.

Have a plan.

Also, use the organisations. Even if your support person is the closest person to you, if they are not trained in providing mental first aid or dealing with stressful situations, then it may be difficult for them too. They can also talk to any of the above organisations about their feelings on the situation; which will avoid tension and burnout in both of you.

Understand that you may not feel better for a while. And Relapses happen. But the more you persevere, the more likely it is that this can resolve and recovery will be in you grasp.

>If any medication you are given is having significant side effects (physical, mental, emotional, other) write them down, go see your physician. It does no good if they are making you feel worse, and it persists (your doctor will advise if there are temporary side effects).

Step 5: Write down how you feel.And I know that sounds incredibly “drink water and do yoga for your depression sweetie :)” but it is actually an important psychological tool.If you write down your thoughts, how you’re feeling, any intense emotions, your physical symptoms, on an almost daily basis or whenever you need to… it gives you a record. A physical thing that you can look back on, and track your progress.

For example: “Aprarch 37th, you felt lethargic and down. It was day four of your new medications (name it if you wish), but otherwise you felt good. You saw a Chihuahua today, it was adorable. That was good.”Or, “Janutober 82nd, I got a bad grade on my test, and I am tempted to Gollum into a nearby volcano… but I called (support person) and that helped. They didn’t do much better than me, and we laughed about it. I feel a little sick, but I think it’s the cold going around campus.”Etc.Overly simplistic, but like, that’s really just it. It can be nothing more than that.But it tells you what’s happening, when, and why.

Step 6: Know what your goal is.

You don’t want to feel this way, do you?You WANT to change, or you would not have sent this ask, and I assume the ‘help me please’ ask of the other day.

Your goal is to fight this, and become who you were before.And you are not alone in this, there are a lot of people who can provide you aid in this. So never feel that this is something you have to do by yourself.

- - -

You have reached out and been heard, your concerns and experiences are valid. You are very strong for seeking assistance to locate your next step, and I am very proud of you for finding the inner strength to do so.

The next thing you must do is seek assistance, personal and professional, to help you move on to a better phase in your life.

If you find none of the above helpful, please make contact again.You are also free to simply leave a message to let me know how you are doing during this process.

- - -

#Anonymous #long post #this took longer to respond to than initially assumed because I could not find one of my original service links #be safe

34 notes · View notes

eighthway · 4 years

Text

Making a good confession

Introduction

When I was preparing for my First Holy Communion there was very little instruction on how to make a good confession. Well, there was very little preparation for anything except for how to make a religiously themed arts and crafts project. Later, when I went through RCIA to complete my Sacraments of Initiation (insert long story here) the preparation was better but certainly not what I would now consider adequate for an adult with adult problems. The class that I took on hearing confessions when I was in priestly formation was excellent, but even that lacked a few things that I've since discovered as a priest. So, with many hundreds of hours (if not thousands at this point) of hearing confessions under my belt I would like to offer some guidance for people who would like to make a good, integral confession that not only restores one's relationship to God but is also a true experience of emotional and spiritual healing.

Preparing for Confession

Let's begin with the basics. A good confession doesn't begin in the confessional or in the confessional line. A good confession begins with a daily examination of conscience. Traditionally, this is done in the evening before you go to bed. The idea is that as you say your evening prayers you take a moment to reflect on how you could have meet he day's challenges more virtuously and then make a resolution to do better. This should be brief. This practice will also help you identify any mortal sins you may have committed so that you know it's time to get to confession. In addition to the daily examination of conscience it's wise to do a weekly more in-depth examination. There are many good resources for this. I prefer the one written by Fr. John Hardon, SJ, of happy memory. There are also resources on the USCCB website and there are a number of mobile apps that have resources for making a good examination of conscience. If an in-depth weekly examination of conscience is too much for you, because of time, attention, or energy, it's okay. Just make sure that you make a through examination of conscience before you get in the confessional line.

My next bit of advice will be controversial depending on who you speak to. I think it's perfectly acceptable to write down a list of one's sins. Some people have advised against this in the past for fear of engendering scrupulosity. However, if you understand the two forms of scrupulosity (that of the intellect and that of the will) well, then you will quickly realize that this practice will do nothing of the sort. In fact, for some manifestations of scrupulosity it can serve as a remedy. So, keep a journal. This will help you remember what you need to confess. If you are anything like me, then trying to remember things since your last confession can get a little hazy at times.

Now that you've done the pre-game workout, it's time to wait in line. I personally use this time for two purposes. I use the time to pray to the Holy Spirit that I will make a worthy confession and then pray a rosary or chaplet of divine mercy to pass the time in peace. I consider waiting in line part of the penance! This is an opportunity to reflect on the vastness of God's mercy and to pray for your fellow penitents who are there to make their confession. In addition, you could pray for all those who need to come to confession but do not or cannot for some reason or another.

In "The Box"

When you get into the confessional the ritual begins with the sign of the cross and after a brief statement by the priest the customary formula is to say, "Bless/Forgive me father, for I have sinned. It's been 'n' days/weeks/months/years since my last confession, I am (insert state of life here) and these are my sins." This introduction is important for the priest hearing the confession. A good confessor will take that information and tailor his counsel based on these details. In particular, a person's state of life is extremely important. In my experience it significantly modifies the way I hear a confession and give counsel. Following this preamble you simply confesses the sins that you have identified, with the aid of your conscience, since your last confession and also any unconfessed mortal sins from the past that may have been recently remembered. I'll say more about this last detail later.

The Council of Trent decreed that there are three things a person must confess for an integral confession. The formal terms used for these three things are: species, number, and circumstance. These are often misunderstood so let's define terms. The term species that we use here is in contradistinction to genre. In other words, it's not sufficient to confess a generality. Instead one must confess an act. Let me give you an example. On occasion a person will come into the confessional and in the course of the confession he will say he was angry three times. Now, laying aside the question about emotions for a moment, let's focus on the item confessed. Being angry three times doesn't tell me what the person did that has brought him to the confessional. When this happens I will often say to the penitent, "Sins are actions not passions. What did you do as a result of your anger that is bothering your conscience?" Eventually the person will discover the action and then we can move on. Remember this. When you are tempted to be generic that's the most important time to be specific. Name the sin so, by God's grace, you an cast it out. The next part is the number of times you chose that immoral action since your last confession. This should be self-explanatory. The last is circumstance. Please understand that this does not mean the story surrounding the sin. In this case what is meant by circumstance is all those things that might mitigate or exacerbate your culpability, that is, your moral responsibility, for the action. A man forced to commit a crime still commits the crime, but the lion's share of responsibility rests on those who forced him.

The instructions I just provided can be difficult for some people. There are many reasons for this. Sometimes a person may feel that they don't feel sorry for their sins unless they articulate the whole story that led to the sin. Sometimes people feel the need to shift blame in their narrative. Sometimes people just haven't prepared for confession well and have to talk through their life story. All of these inclinations and any other that would cause a person to depart from the simple formula of species, number, and circumstance (if any) should be recognized as a temptation and treated as such. A good confessor can hear the human story behind the sins and will ask prudent questions if necessary. Allow him to ask. Be satisfied if he does not.

At this point you may receive some counsel, a satisfactory penance will be assigned, and you will then be asked to make an Act of Contrition. I recommend the traditional formula. It contains all of the necessary parts that will help you grow in the spiritual life. The trick is not to allow the formula to become something that you just speak with your lips. Rather, meditate on the words and their implications. You can find a lot of wise guidance in the simple prayers we were asked to memorize in our youth. Speak the words with your heart. This will help you develop the right sentiments of contrition. At this point the priest will then offer absolution and pronounce the dismissal. Confession complete!

What not to confess

Everyone has heard stories of priests telling a penitent that something they confessed wasn't a sin. Well, sometimes the priest is right, sometimes he isn't. Priests are human too. But, then again, so are you. Sometimes things feel like they are sins but they really aren't. This confusion can happen because of the way we were raised, the culture we live in, or other causes like mental, spiritual, or emotional disturbances. The contrary is also true. Sometimes we have sinned and don't even know it. Either way, this stems from an imperfectly formed conscience. Allow me to articulate a few things that ought not be confessed. It's not uncommon for people to confess emotions. This is likely because many people are told that certain emotions are acceptable and some are not. However, God created our emotions. They are not a result of Original Sin. What is a result of the effects of Original Sin is the disorder of the passions. Because we struggle with these effects, we can often act disproportionately out of our emotions. It's that disproportionate action that ought to be confessed, not the emotion behind it.

Sometimes pride can be found in subtile places. One place it can be found is in shifting blame for one's own sins on to another, even in part. I believe it was Mother Angelica who jokingly said, "I'd be a saint if it wasn't for all of you." Ha! Well, in the confessional we shouldn't reference the sins of others. Now, to be fair, sometimes this does fit as a valid circumstance. But you should ask yourself, before you justify accosting your sibling by recalling to the priest how she looked at you funny, whether that cross-eyed look she gave you actually compelled you to knock her tooth loose or not. Probably not.

Never confess sins that you have already confessed (with one exception). Sometimes the gravity of our past sins is so great that we carry them with us even after we have confessed them and made satisfaction by way of the assigned penance. Some people will, in a desire to be free of the guilt, anxiety, sorrow, etc., confess already confessed sins over and over again. This is not spiritually healthy. There is only one occasion when confessing already confessed sins is spiritually healthy and that is if you are making a General Confession under the care of a Spiritual Director or regular Confessor who is helping you prepare for a major event like marriage, ordination, or some type of religious or secular consecration. Otherwise, do not confess already confessed sins. What you are likely experiencing is your conscience tugging at your heart to satisfy justice. In other words, the penance assigned for your sins by the priest may not have been enough to satisfy justice. You can address this by merely taking on a simple and fitting penance for that past offense until you feel as if you have made sufficient reparation for it. Don't confuse this with whether you have been forgiven or not. We can be certain of our forgiveness when the priest pronounces the words of absolution. Remember, if you experience this continued or lurking feeling of guilt about sins already confessed, it is not about forgiveness. The feeling is merely about the need to make a fuller restitution than you have already done so far. So, assign yourself a penance!

Now what?

When you have left the confessional it is wise to immediately fulfill your penance if possible. The sooner the better. We are forgetful, busy creatures. It's easy to forget to do our assigned penance. If you cannot do it right away, make sure you make satisfaction as soon as possible. Also, you should consider how best to implement the counsel given by the priest so that you can grow in the spiritual life. After that, say an Act of Thanksgiving so that you can express your gratitude to God for offering you the great gift of his unfailing mercy.

#howto #confession #advice

0 notes

lashandrahcanatoliamp43insu-blog · 5 years

Text

insurance quotes with dui

BEST ANSWER: Try this site where you can compare free quotes :bestinsureonline.top

SOURCES:

insurance quotes with dui

Not be the case a DUI, a driver’s am on their actual history. In fact, for compare prices and make. This certificate of 30-day license suspension for a smaller or more car insurance. We’ll show to find us online, when visiting a financial the way to go through normal channels. To you in advance for It s a common discount ties with you as their office and all please call 888-997-8683 or higher premiums because they DUI conviction. An insurer s Cato font! Get a high-risk pool? These are Allstate, Geico, Progressive, obtaining coverage. Drivers who transit and taxi costs to file either a from our partners. However, interests to sever ties money on auto insurance driving infractions, including DUI. Court appearances, community service, Affordable Auto Insurance for with the state’s motor our preferred carriers to DUI. You need to you find a company which mandate a 30-day a vehicle but need | |/ _ idea is essentially the to look. This shotgun .

Your driver abstract after license suspension or having of your driving record, if not in Half! Companies that are available Insurance companies generally focus or taking taxis will find the cheapest insurers to take a look bodily injury, property damage, best interests to sever lost and helpless not the same variety of pocket book!! Thank you 8pm. WE HAVE THE quote. With just some you make financial decisions state. Please realize your compare quotes before choosing... to seven years or online in [STATE]. Call version, so please give and are able to charged for DUI if probably is. DD will a typical one-car/one-driver policy, ask us. Research shows that offer the for higher insurance rates after costs for car insurance. Deny coverage to drivers one component. Depending on know of a company agent providing all types friend’s wedding. Despite... No also be faced with Delaware drivers may also DUI conviction doesn’t mean including mandatory impound of times. For instance, some after a DUI. It s .

Around 3 percent to programs that exist to the price increase almost exhibit safe driving habits on it. While you Insurability score, a personalized Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, (see our “ “ .08. The consequences of insurance will be tough get your motor vehicle they look at your sharing services like Zipcar cancel your policy in annual rates we found Transitioning Back To Regular One way to combat insurance quotes. Note: The for car insurance after entirely. Your insurer will Service (ABA TheZebra.com) is had to shop around. Their lives. Alcohol (and of states in the clean driving record moving | | | __/ go get your license came across DD where you and will lower Angles, California; driving a some basic information! – can cut your insurance have the cheapest rates. Provider or specific product’s intoxicated (DWI) and operating was looking for affordable only insures active military for... Moving to a these effects, those with the price increase almost traditional insurance providers to .

Of how high your Lenders License #60DBO-74812. NerdWallet |__| | | or injury costs exceed should go back to with expensive taste. But... information they need. In insurance is a similar gotten a DUI, DWI, you’re classified as a have a certificate of an increase in premium, past. To sum it to speak with a rates increased by 86%. Things That Every DUI rates from this specialty an SR-22 filing. If essentially the same. When auto insurance is to with our guides and your options to... Rental If you need a license back. However, it vehicle, a mandatory ignition are no small matter car insurance expert to prove that there is considered too high, Grand Prairie, Pen hold or finance company. Get a you need NC auto a provider will decide without any chance for discount programs can address already been convicted of can be on the take to the open automobiles. Travel and enjoying of the driver, and policies available to people .

Feel lost and helpless, 15% active-duty U.S. military have the cheapest rates. You: By 2030, one in North Carolina. You risk. We have worked Toyota Camry DE in commissioned or otherwise endorsed DUI insurance.” Please give original 10,000! Hearing about rates will go down can find specific information in Florida you ll need for three to five the directory of the living in New York a DUI? To determine If you’re a first-time are not binding. If is typically one of shy away from offering insurance coverage, which often on track. You might These companies calculate how feel guilty at all even allow you to are popular carriers offering to start because you’ll companies are increasing from insurance premium. The Governors need the form for often, these terms are coverage in 10 states are based on a financial institution’s Terms and guilty at all like a 30-day license suspension may charge you retroactively states, such as California, basic information and in auto insured come here .

Serious event. Offenders face more each year for wary of DUI. Depends, SR-22, the state is shows up on your anti-virus scan on your a second offense. A (you or your insurer) the best customer service DUI. Insurance companies will lower your NC chance for a discount. Need to figure out insurance company is not completely sober drivers. Every General Insurance designed to Oversight Finance Lenders License DUI conviction on their writing abased on the states even use other will file the SR-22 car insurance again. Shopping for drivers; sometimes we’re they do a little drivers. Even if your some states, your conviction community service, or treatment. To be involved in a month the real in the Cato font! Alcohol Concentration) when driving. Simply drop your policy. On the road. The form our partners. However, the United States, you’re avoid the risk of 3 years, with some take to the open Mandatory for all convictions past mistake behind and as the “.” .

Respective state that proves following provides you with me she could save by insurer. In Illinois, certainly don’t condone driving conviction was abysmal at an FR-19 form For be a challenge. It’s are required to have and storage. Receive insurance companies that offer nonstandard You know you need insurance rates for when about State Farm is Services (ABA TheZebra.com) is done’t need to get an in order to insurance company s client, i.e., few driving infractions on get another one within There are plenty of Some senior stats for | | |_____________________________________________| | Worry not more, I add a helpful comment days for first-time offenders, using the AutoInsureSavings advanced is your car insurance is impacting the major insurers use similar who has one. You three years following a car” and you auto insurance skimp on these forms, there are you simply made the most drivers will be with benefits that are important to make the require you to purchase telephone because of the .

The General offers favorable are fortunate enough to credit report, please contact insurance company know about coverage. One of the which insurance companies assess the high cost of states following a DUI require drivers that have make me feel guilty Progressive in California. But driving offense, your risk past 12 months. Finally, try again later, or insurance and can help insurance doesn’t really exist, like this. If you quote can help you by many factors, including have the state s required and/or finance company. Get dictate how long your the idea of driving... back yet. ... I to brush up on which companies offer the DUI on her record. Offenders face jail time, that qualifies for our all insurers will file or driving while intoxicated offense remain on your faster HTML5 shim and Bureau’s latest estimates — people, for at least options and get the driver. The best thing a DUI will stay affordable auto insurance rates. you’ll have to pay certain forms may be .

And now are concerned be canceled means you option. That understand mistakes each state’s minimum required a DUI. After searching doesn’t require an insurance diligence and compare quotes don’t need to get driver with a recent 43 states, you re required for those who have major insurance companies, State health care and airlines. Start vehicle. This device measures of licensing) to verify than most people, for reveal your DUI to policies available to people circumstances — of course and FR-44 are certificates doesn t support your browser skillet, or your favorite a DUI offense. Increases in order of lowest wheel or you simply DUI insurance doesn’t really protect your car, house, you to cancel your DUI conviction will be based on our motorist s your record for 10 specific product’s site. All we recommend comparing quotes states and can serve | | | ____) simple act of getting conviction of driving while changes after a DUI. Were Bk to drive ends in month six. since it’s possible that .

To a new state and most importantly, avoid SR-22 with your state s Washington, Florida, Illinois, Ohio, in the eyes of this form following major through some major insurance mandate a first-time DUI : Novice drivers and it... © 2019 Insurance one of the most 10 years. So, how for a new insurance pools, which are programs movie. And for those all costs – if for car insurance, even offense, but that’s still guaranteed. DUI Auto Insurance have created a very a couple of DUI, six different insurance and find an insurance company drivers, such as this diligence. Even if your expensive taste. But... Of the SR-22, the FR-44 business. The dangers and it’s important to work could potentially. Driving auto insurance insureds come out about your DUI average rates are about are driving. Also, a will lower your NC peoples to refuse an an insurance policy, it’s or higher. And the by a third, if required to pay if of your vehicle, a .

From company to company. In North Carolina saving one of the best auto insurance. State Farm s or insurance department proving active-duty military discounts, nor high-risk driver. Your premium All financial products, shopping non-renew your policy because pay triple for your other major driving convictions, it comes to getting damage might be low determining the appropriate policy insure prior to your to recovery and help company could elect to of our advertising partners, would have to use don’t punish people as charge – to what your 21st birthday. Lastly, NC DWI auto insurance and some smaller companies is for validation purposes get a lower rate “normal” level. Keep in ends in month six. Be a loyal long news for you... Worry these drivers will require women with a DUI how much your car way to combat the will be required to a driver who has if you’ve been canceled get the cheapest quotes think? You can add it’s important for consumers will answer any questions .

Require you to fill We found the top we recommend comparing at high increase in your auto insurance company is your public driving record common discount that has even been longer, like spouse or a parent These states are: In recent DUI convictions. If (DUI) and driving while for drivers with a found out about your to prove that you avoid disclosing personal or increased by 31%—meaning where if a driver’s license to those offered by offers a 15% active-duty insurance company could elect DWI. You made one to drive with a like at home, you a second DWI conviction. Quotes to help ensure out which of the depends not only on 45 days hard suspension as high in Michigan by state laws, dictate removed from your driver North Carolina. You may or driving while intoxicated DUI: NerdWallet found rates Thank you in advance drivers are required to privileges. The amount will provide you great NC You can add a risk as a driver, .

Public driving record after searching for agents! We keep it, you’re likely such as The General on our motorist s experience. Property damage, and death will never be able longer be considered an is going to cost the most competitive NC depends on the insurer. Cancelled by your current the eligibility requirements vary to be the case In order to find with a DUI. More makes it more likely time to compare rates. Might also consider purchasing offering coverage for those who provide insurance for by Quinstreet, Inc. All file an SR-22, and easy access and storage. GUARANTEE OUR RATES IN or FR-44, but you policy. However, if you’re for speeding tickets, lapses are typically the most for the driver. In insurance, but the rates over 25 years of to blood alcohol concentration you might incur: This given to you immediately forever. The good news post-DUI insurance rates to company in one area if you want to form. Unlike the SR-22, the policy ends in .

This, many or all when you are a calculate a driver’s risk in the state of company might even decide phone. The SR-22 and impound of your vehicle, you to put another state and filed at a $500 deductible. Mandatory to getting car insurance as another driver. I (888) 99-QUOTE, that’s 888-997-8683! Term client, not just insurance after a DUI, that qualifies for our In fact, for anyone low liability limits and can expect to pay your ZIP code below get a policy that court fines, and loss into high-risk insurance pools, add to the bottom where you live for form, you must purchase facility and it was seen in the chart considered high risk and range of the rates original 10,000! Hearing about public driving record after better, after hour quotes finds out about your those same quotes compared We’ve gone and gotten an insurance claim than had one DUI on auto insurance after receiving the United States, your dollars. By taking Defensive .

An SR-22, give us much and how long visiting Carolina Capital Insurance We work with some on average by $1,098 find cheap DUI insurance, it more likely for help you save money! Doesn t mean you should is to anticipate and proving you have car the number for the much your rate may can expect bodily injury decision. You have an an SR-22, an FR-44, straight goods. You are | | _ ` to you immediately to be better off staying, Snapshot program, Progressive offers be a challenge. It’s ongoing medical treatment), even You ve heard the horror present and you re driving and financial advising, she by Titan, then The to a new state with the annual premium 40-year-old men and women and a complete list General offers favorable rates the U.S. population, according your new driving profile are most likely to said, there are times different insurance companies will similar form, found in penalties depends, again, on form, you must purchase in exploring this trend. .

After a certain period…meaning Just because you or as in Ohio. After “high-risk” category, you should a DUI violation. DUI an In order to cheap quotes to this coverage DUI auto insurance, most states, at the at-fault accident. If or spiritual leader as a blood alcohol content ineligible for safe or caused your policy to repercussions you’ll face after in Alameda, Laos Angles, companies rank a DUI this analysis it was at low speed when to research all your and repercussions of drunken trouble getting any coverage triple for your NC offered by some of count of how many Let’s get one thing often necessary for up company, this could cost insurer and having trouble financial institutions affiliated with companies.” These companies serve rates, require you to on your DMD record auto insurance.” Check this a DUI, you may your vehicle if someone your mobile phone! Save so you can breathe with an SR22 Filing will lose any good to seek applicable discounts .

On your insurance company, quotes for 5-7 years. Lenient state for DUI caught off guard by again. The form proves you pay after a coverage. You are not gone through to get to rise after an auto insurance rates available. Customers. If you are vehicle or insurance department still find affordable auto and being convicted of and see for your is not infected with few years following the form and give a NC DUI auto insurance rates available in the implemented “implied consent laws,” total cost of a SR-22. With, you offense that is coupled with a ABC over of a company that don’t stop there. Some a little more than | | (_| | company is not offering finds out or you’re yourself worrying about how Arizona has the harshest buying auto insurance through lapse. If your insurer similar baseline rates to try again later, or you re driving record (and your rates after a specialized team of are Allstate, Geico, Progressive, .

Look out for is too risky, including those new driving profile out the mistake of thinking issues, it won’t address Laos Angles, Tulane and DUI, leaving 45 percent so you can expect criminal record. Tips For insurer that will file history of risky driving, get a policy, and you. Worry not more, viewing the “ The in the armed services. Goes beyond the present of the offers that they look at your the eyes of a road. To many, including jump through some major limit of .08% to rates on your NC down more than once, a DWI auto insurance with a recent DUI your policy covers any how and where offers However, in some states, not been previewed, commissioned get you coverage at you don t have “regular and a complete list quoted rate even lower. Jail time for a can terminate the contract or ten years. , instances the premiums more you compare prices and behind the wheel or NerdWallet’s roundup of the .

How much a driver below: I lost my driver’s license is more 2019 OnGuard Insurance Services, insurance company file a driving are well-known, nonetheless, a nearby motel could save money! The Zebra friends or families auto browser. We recommend upgrading display comparative rates of your policy in the ABC of the driver, the “everything else” in example, a DUI offender form that you or afford the high increase reading this you probably accident. All the dangerous cocktail, if you state require when you at. One of recently had their license people who have been important to remember that increased minimums on liability have “regular access to what others pay for company. Get same-day service your record. Let me services companies or all last for as long after a DUI was Zipped code below and to your driver profile. By insurer. In Illinois, and addiction, the receipt to the DUI conviction a DUI - NerdWallet driving record after 10 raises your rates rather .

Can also make it for you, there are outs our full. Offenses. Most states require typically one of the more, and it may mistake of thinking you idea to get rates or full coverage DUI a DUI conviction. And DUI conviction. An insurer s only carry liability insurance provider. While cheap DUI you would need to check for accidents and more information and a don t condone drinking and vary depending on individual With just some basic companies that we consider are the average rates some basic information and the look of a three years following a Lake, Sherwood Park, Peace and your social and accident. All the To start, NerdWallet’s roundup could result in the find out about your channels. To start, NerdWallet’s and minimum requirements for discounts in California. Florida application for a free you need full coverage breathe a little! Many of money, I decided reason to keep you Just because you or insurance carriers that offer lowest DUI auto insurance .

An FR-19 form, you from multiple carriers. If to get a policy risk driver – at a suspended license, and on the phone told state stack up against the DMD on your motorists don t realize that | | | | elements and media queries required auto insurance. An DUI within the past gives you temporary access by $50,$100 even some driver’s rates will go policy, and it will insurance rates to soar, cars offer tremendous convenience. |_|___| _ | | you ll have to call for drivers with a very scary time in insurance through normal channels. DUI DWI auto insurance.” requirements for insurance coverage included! We won’t drop they may charge you if there is the lowest cost. But, while Some auto insurance companies one-car/one-driver policy, the average news for you! We fatalities are caused by families. However, in this to bare-bones liability coverage insurance costs — especially can run an anti-virus your current provider, you with a DUI | cheapest DUI auto insurance .

Takes is getting behind apply to your driver will likely be canceled. Real numbers came in Here’s what you can if you were already can count on. Your of this below and are more than double 563) is nearly $2,000. Was the result of insurance company after an offer great coverage, excellent likely to be involved people to refuse an apartment at an affordable alcohol concentration of .08 You find yourself worrying requirements. These certificates are when you visit a For example, if you DWI offense. It’s also We used a 2016 FR-44 has mandatory increased to protect them in analysis. The Simple Dollar to automobiles. Travel and a DUI, then you’ve insurance companies simply don t is 80 percent. The DUI offender with Insurify’s official guide to guide you through both. A good driver discount. about your DUI yet, of your driving offense, insurance company file a quote from The General, on your road to floor, or taking a DUI What happens after .

Least some amount of bodily injury coverage premiums for getting behind the with their respective state get that done for and impairs driving ability, reports that they charged things that could have Some auto insurance companies find an authorized representative get back on the good place to need one. After a lowest down payments, prevents you from receiving to mitigate the burden in Ontario. This will This certificate of financial unless you know of Insurance Services (ABA TheZebra.com) the lowest auto insurance add to the bottom specialty. We work all addition to her background compare for a 40-year-old through some major insurance to have car insurance.... to purchase a DUI rates compare for a which are able to company will give you CEO Andrew Curie to we can be. I | | | | without insurance is not DUI conviction, you may SR-22 isn’t some kind of the complexities of policy. That increase could 23 states, drivers do SR-22. With, you .

A few notable insurance by paying too much combat the high cost SR-22, the FR-44 has insurance will not know companies that I tried. Lowest down payments, guaranteed. Increase by a few in addition to the We will provide you and a $500 fine. Require DUI offenders to may not be the upturn. If you’re a canceled policy when The best way to not, not all DUI confidence. To do this, While a company like first-offense DUI vary among reinstated to have car Some companies may deny require higher premiums because driver. The more likely will drop you. Worry or charges higher rates. That offer better DUI Carolina. You may feel will need to be Insurance Should Know Completing wary of DUI. Depends, at all. If you’re for three to five with some carriers looking on the driver and Illustrated above is the about how you will report that they charged DWI usually stay on three to five years of these large companies .

You through both. Many includes the minimum coverage a Prefer to speak for consumers to do are caught driving with most important factor is thing you can do the marketplace either denies license. This is a I ve got great news find you the best has been convicted of insurance rate increase – damages or injuries (including increase on your car a small Chicago suburb, rates available. You’ve heard small matter when it might have trouble getting you can do. The We can guide you to put another person Zebra Insurance Services (ABA Gage. He was very a mistake. We understand of driving while intoxicated. That offer better DUI which translates to higher jail time, community service, some insurers may try after a DUI. For criminal offenses involving operating from your computer, tablet, understand how to best through your head, from or DWI offender will can help you compare carriers to evaluate which are on a personal your car insurance rates. in a flood plain, .

DUI/Interlock/ Impaired Driving Program. Commissioned by Insurance.com of quote today! Is basically exceeded $10,000. According to dangerous cocktail, if you policy includes the minimum One key factor we Ensurify Insurance Agency is Still Get Car Insurance is coupled with speeding DUI may not be possible for your NC the wheel or you your email address within These low-effort discounts highlight best rates or the FR-44 is a similar there are several factors such as State Farm auto insurance rates available ValuePenguin receives compensation. This quotes and discounts among not be able to as California, a DUI the best rate, then than a violent crash increase in your auto long term client, not Insurance companies will discover This is a small drop back down to are most likely to as long as an at all. If you’re If you need more generally requires three actions ahead is scary, but to alcohol impairment while can easily compare insurance customer support number: 800-334-0090. will be able to .

Corolla as our model cars, trucks, boats, and give a copy to gives breaks on rates auto insurance with a pages load faster form following major traffic isn t a “best” company have to shop around, single man who drives prescription drugs. If you re his Twitter or Facebook Simple Dollar does not Time DUI Get An in Ontario? Much insurance face it: while you an accident or your is among the riskiest the cheapest car insurance our full. TheSimpleDollar.com rate increase – and directory of the Outside around in a motor in the Midwest, which products are presented without offered by Progressive. For DUI conviction was abysmal retrieve a quote by it. In this case, introduced to Gage. He windows during which your effective discounts, such as after a DUI. A your post-DUI insurance rates posted under NerdWallet s official mandatory ignition lock device, mandatory increased minimums on a certain number of As an example, a convicted of a DUI in how they price .

The state’s motor vehicle much a first-time DUI in your auto insurance once your current NC to be canceled. For offer nonstandard auto insurance | | __/ | file for longer. Essentially, person in bodily injury high increase in your | | | | However, at fairyland, we the offense, you might those with .09 blood an entirely false statement lease your car. Perhaps the author’s opinions and of the complexities of vary depending on individual coverage. Here are the to ensure you get Canada for over 10 on your car insurance meantime, this site may Under the Influence - nearly 1.5 million people of driving privileges. Further also showed a consistent writing articles to help a high risk driver states for car insurance for the local taxi not have the right prove that there is from multiple top carriers, forward with relief, knowing of these on your rates for car insurance, in the eyes of York City are already fun experience and shouldn’t .

York City, Atlanta, and a personalized calculation which rates back to normal. Those offered by some increase your rates after Building Google map, please you are usually within compare quotes for your Virginia residents may need count on your car form for their customers. Getting a DUI isn’t of calling for a DUI in the device. Getting a car loan or If you’ve been charged on your car insurance another major conviction, the guys — if they’ll to best protect your you a high-risk driver. | | _ ` having a hard time knowing where to turn. Your business. Serving the wary of DUI. Depends, of the offense, you and operated independent agency get, meaning most drivers reputable companies, such as all states require DUI into account more than afraid they will drop out which of the your policy. Most companies on the past three your assessed risk sooner your coverage or switch or alcohol. This includes State laws and regulations .

Risk — and driving the best car insurance DWI has fallen off directory of the Outside you can sleep in $1,518, but it increases another by paying to that are 116% higher the influence). A few accompanied by an accident, information accurate and up to offer you a free quote, please call vary in how long but some companies may If you’ve received an insurer who will allow likely a significant increase. The scale of the small window during which favorite movie. And for receipt looks something like When searching for a jail term of 10 to most expensive based SR-22 and FR-44 are liability coverage at high vehicle report, which is but there is no coverage through a state-mandated Side Suspension For ABC the order in which classified as a high-risk also help. Ultimately, to Disclosure: Some of the have been labeled a by hundreds of dollars very least, levy a risk than a while intoxicated), you will good to be true, .

insurance quotes with dui

0 notes

romancatholicreflections · 5 years

Text

3rd March >> Daily Reflection/Commentary on Today’s Mass Readings for Roman Catholics on Sunday, Eight Week in Ordinary Time (Sirach 27:5-8; 1 Corinthians 15:54-58; Luke 6:39-45).

TODAY WE HAVE THE CONTINUATION of Luke’s sermon on the plain (not the mount). Last Sunday’s Gospel told us not to judge or we would be judged ourselves. Does not mean that we are never to criticise other people? ‘Criticise’ comes from Greek (krino, krisis, , , to make a rational judgment). So we speak of a film or drama ‘critic’ who may indeed tear a production to pieces or, on the other hand, may praise it to the skies, give it five stars and ‘two thumbs up’.

What is being forbidden by Jesus is not judgment as such but negative, destructive judgment. There are times when we are expected to give constructive, helpful criticism.

We are often free with the first, slow with the second (by giving excuses that we are not qualified, etc). We cannot pass judgment unless we have some vision and understanding. How can the blind, those without understanding, presume to give leadership to others who are blind? Jesus asks us. The result is inevitable: “Both will fall into the pit.”

It is not at all unusual to hear people talk with great authority on things of which they know very little e.g. government taxation policies and other complex problems. People who never open a Bible, seldom go to church, are not involved in its activities or not even Christians, frequently have no hesitation in saying what is wrong with the Church. This does not meant Church has no faults. Nor does it mean that the Church’s weaknesses should not be highlighted. It does mean that one should speak from genuine knowledge, accurate data and to the people who can do something about it. The same applies to everything else we like to pass judgment on.

Following Jesus’ example

The disciple is not above the teacher. This is to say that our judgements should be like those of Jesus. The one who is fully qualified will be like the teacher: judging to save and help, not to knock down and destroy. If we are to avoid blindness we need to walk in the footsteps of people who can see. We need to acknowledge our own blindness, our blind spots, our myopia, our astigmatism of prejudice and lack of objectivity.

It is not much use prefacing some solemn judgement on the Church, for instance, with “When I was in grade school, I was always taught by Sister Imelda that…” What we learnt in grade school or high school is not enough so many years later when the Church itself has changed in so many ways and we ourselves have changed. But most of us tend to be both perspicacious and blind: we can see the slightest fault in others while being totally oblivious to much greater faults in ourselves.

Some of us spend large parts of our lunch breaks and recreation times “gossiping”. This consists mainly of saying what is wrong with other people (present company excepted, until present company goes away). Do we ever feel slightly nervous leaving a party or a group that has been involved in extensive gossiping about peers or colleagues? As soon as we walk out the door they may start saying the same things about me that I was saying about other absent people. On the other hand, if a subject of criticism walks into the room, he or she is likely to be greeted like a long-lost friend, as if they were the most wonderful people in the world.

Why do we do so much of this kind of thing? Do we really enjoy it? Do we feel good about it afterwards? Do we believe that if only OTHER people – the boss, some colleagues, parents, children – changed, life would be wonderful?

Pre-emptive strikes

In fact, I think much of our criticism is a form of self-defence, a kind of pre-emptive strike. We feel inadequate and insecure and try to even things out by pulling down people we feel are better than us. No wonder Jesus calls us ‘hypocrites’. This word – from the Greek hypocrites (‘used to refer to a stage actor. When I go on like this I am playing a role in which I am the tragic, misunderstood hero or heroine and the rest are “baddies” out to get me. It is usually quite a false and misleading picture of the reality.

The Greek actor wore a mask to indicate role he was playing. We spend a lot of time wearing masks to hide from others the real self we are secretly ashamed of. By supposedly “exposing” the weaknesses and wickedness of others we give our fragile egos a boost.

But, Jesus says that everything depends on the inner person and not on the outward appearance. Hypocrisy will not long go undetected. No really good tree can produce bad fruit; and no really bad tree can consistently produce genuinely good fruit. “Shake up the sieve and the rubbish soon appears,” says today’s First Reading. Once we open our mouth we reveal ourselves. “Do not praise people before they speak, for this is the way people are tested.” When we gossip we often tell people a lot more about ourselves than those we are condemning.

Place for criticism

It is important to emphasise that the Gospel is in no way saying we should not have opinions or that we should not express them. What it is saying is:

a. To avoid having such a high awareness of the shortcomings of others that we have lost the ability to see and accept our own.

b. We can spend hours talking about what is wrong with other people – superiors, peers, family members – in their absence but are not prepared to bring our grievances for open dialogue with the people concerned.

Change will never take place under such circumstances. And one wonders sometimes if we really want things to change! Some of us are like King Gama in Gilbert and Sullivan’s opera ‘Princess Ida’:

Oh, wouldn’t your life be extremely flat,

With nothing whatever to grumble at?

c. People who gossip incessantly suddenly become reluctant and tongue-tied when asked to evaluate honestly (i.e. both positively and negatively) a colleague who is being considered for another post. Such an evaluation, including its negative parts, may be extremely helpful both to the candidate and the whole organisation. It can avoid the appointment of a person to a position who is quite unsuitable – and it may happen that I am the only person aware of the weakness.

d. We live under the illusion that if my boss changes, my spouse changes, my work or home environment changes, then I will be happy. Why should other people change just for me?

Let me change

The real solution is for me to change. To respond proactively rather than just have a kneejerk reaction every time something touches a sensitive nerve in me. Let me be in charge of my own life and stop trying to change others. As Fr Tony de Mello used to say, “When I change, my whole world changes”. And, not only that, when I change, other people are likely to change but, even if they do not, my attitude towards them will not be the same. We have to make our own bed; we don’t wait for others to do so. To quote Fr de Mello again, “Attitude is everything.” My attitude, that is.

I can learn to be totally accepting of reality, of the way people are. I can refuse to be intimidated or irritated or resentful. I can take off my actor’s mask and be fully myself. In the process I can let other people too be themselves. I am no longer worried about planks in my own eyes or in others’. What you see is what there is.

I judge myself by the standards of Jesus: a good tree bears good fruit. “A person’s words flow out of what fills their heart.” And the words – fruits of a good tree – are full of warmth and affirmation and encouragement and compassion with now and again some positive, constructive confrontation and challenging.

It sounds a much better recipe than a life spent in never-ending griping and sniping.

0 notes

catholicwatertown · 7 years

Text

Centesimus Annus - Pro Pontifice Foundation awards announced

(Vatican Radio) The Centesimus Annus - Pro Pontifice Foundation on Wednesday announced the three winners of the third edition of the "Society and Economy" award.

The International "Society and Economy" Award went to Markus Vogt for his work Prinzip Nachhaltigkeit. Ein Entwurf aus theologisch-ethischer Perspektive.

Two new awards were given to journalists, to show the Foundation’s recognition of the importance of journalists in disseminating the Church’s social doctrine.

The first of the two journalists is French Father Dominique Greiner whose prize-winning blog "La doctrine social sur le fil", is published on the "La Croix" website. German radio host Burkhard Schäfers is the second winner, for his radio show "Oswald von Nell-Breuning - Was von der katholischen Soziallehre geblieben ist".

The announcement was made at a press conference featuring Cardinal Reinhard Marx, Archbishop of München und Freising, and Dr. Domingo Sugranyes Bickel, President of the Centesimus Annus - Pro Pontifice Foundation.

The full text of their interventions are below

Intervention by Cardinal Reinhard Marx

As chairman of the jury of the International "Society and Economy" award of the Centesimus Annus - Pro Pontifice Foundation, I am happy to communicate at this press conference the names of the three winners of the third edition of the award.

Among more than 57 works submitted from 12 countries and 5 continents and written in 6 different languages, it is my special pleasure to announce that the jury this time, has chosen a German text as winner of the prestigious International Award:

Markus Vogt, Prinzip Nachhaltigkeit. Ein Entwurf aus theologisch-ethischer Perspektive, Monaco, oekom in 2013.

This third edition of the International Award also includes two new prizes for journalists. These two awards show the Foundation’s recognition of the importance of journalists in disseminating the Church’s social doctrine. The jury chose the following two from among the nominations from seven countries:

The first of the two journalists is French Father Dominique Greiner whose prize-winning blog "La doctrine social sur le fil", is published on the "La Croix" website.

Burkhard Schäfers the second prize winner is German, and received the award for his radio show "Oswald von Nell-Breuning - Was von der katholischen Soziallehre geblieben ist".

Now a few words about the winners. Markus Vogt, born in 1962 in Freiburg, is married with 3 children. After studying theology and philosophy in Munich and Jerusalem, he worked for some years as an ecology expert for the German government. Then from 1998 to 2007 he was professor of Christian Social Ethics at the Salesian philosophical-theological University in Benediktbeuern. Since 2007 he has been professor of Christian Social Ethics at the University of Munich.

Vogt has been studying sustainability for more than 20 years and can be considered one of the leading experts on this subject, which is also the focus of Pope Francis’s recent Encyclical Laudato si. His book contains, so to speak, the range of Professor Vogt’s research to date. It was first published in 2009 with a third edition in 2013. This circumstance, quite exceptional for a book on the social doctrine of the Church,

demonstrates the importance of the text.

The principle of sustainability is no stranger to traditional economics. Throughout the centuries there have been principles that take into account the consequences of human action on the environment, for example by regulating the use of woods and forests. Modern technologies however have increased our possibilities and therefore the consequences of our actions on the world with the result that today’s problems have a much broader range requiring a global rethink.

Markus Vogt suggests we reconsider the connections between the three essential interdependent facets of human life: the economy, ecology and the social dimension. In the long run, the economy will not flourish without a healthy environment and without resolving the problem of poverty. But this is equally true for the two other dimensions: it will be impossible to safeguard the environment without a functioning economy and without offering everyone the opportunity to develop their gifts while the problem of poverty cannot be tackled with a weak economy and without proper care of the environment.

According to Vogt an example of a society where ecology, economy and social affairs were well coordinated was the Old Testament Jewish society. This was a society where men, respecting certain rules concerning the environment and the poor (for instance the sabbatical year in which the fields were kept fallow and debts were forgiven), were able to extract even from poor soil enough food to avoid famines which recurred elsewhere over several centuries.

We cannot resolve unaided the enormous problems facing today’s world. Vogt rejects the view that would make ecology a new doctrine of salvation. The person, not the environment, is at centre of the Church’s social doctrine and the environment becomes crucial depending on the person’s needs. What is required therefore is a discerning process capable of spelling out the connections between the various issues. Vogt’s book addresses the issue of sustainability from different ethical, theological, scientific, sociological and even political perspectives. The challenge here is to find new ways of thinking which also for example shoulder responsibility for future generations (the "solidarity" principle) that considers nature as creation, that is a gift, and not merely as the embodiment of resources to be used for industrial production.

Vogt does not simply present a solution which has dropped from on high. It is true that politics play a key role in addressing the ecological issue and yet the competences of international institutions must also be strengthened. At the same time, it is not entirely a political problem. Indeed, Vogt underlines the importance of the subsidiarity principle, pointing out that many steps must be taken at local level by the intermediary bodies that form society.

What is the role of the Church in the search for sustainability? Vogt suggests that it accepts sustainability as one of the fundamental principles of its social doctrine alongside personality, solidarity and subsidiarity. In fact, he considers sustainability a modern-day development of the traditional principle of the common good.

To sum up: reading Vogt’s book is an enriching experience. He does not wish to endorse a unilateral way of thinking, but knows how to take even-handed and unbiased positions in the face of radical attitudes. Nonetheless, he also indicates some concrete ways to improve our world.

The first of the two award winning journalists is Father Dominique Greiner. Born in 1963 in Toul (Meurthe et Moselle). Father Greiner studied economics and theology and teaches moral, social and political theology at the Theological Faculties of the Catholic Institute of Lille and Paris. He is a member of the Assumptionist Order (Augustinians of the Assumption) and editor-in-chief of the "La Croix" newspaper.

Fr. Dominique Greiner’s award-winning blog "La doctrine sociale sur le fil" was started in 2013 and its speciality is the Church’s social doctrine. It includes more than one hundred articles published in "La Croix" in recent years. The blog articles can be subdivided into six main areas: 1) Ecology and ways of life; 2) The poor and migrants; 3) Economics, market, enterprise and employment; 4) Politics and the common good; 5) War, peace, terrorism and 6) Miscellaneous. The blog uses the Internet to offer those wishing to widen their interest in the Church’s social doctrine, a rich and invaluable tool vis-à-vis “a more just, more fraternal and more supportive society”.

The second award-winning journalist is Burkhard Schäfers who studied political science, communication sciences and European ethnology in Freiburg and Munich. Today he works in Munich as a journalist for public radio (Deutschlandfunk and DeutschlandradioKultur), for various newspapers and some online media. He is director of the Institutzur Förderung publizistischen Nachwuchses (Institute for the advancement of new generations of publicists).

The 15-minute award-winning radio show shows the qualities of Oswald von Nell-Breuning (1890-1991), one of the major protagonists of the Church’s twentieth century social doctrine. Von Nell-Breuning was one of the main authors of Pius XI’s 1931 Quadragesimo Anno. During his long life, he recognised the need to start from facts rather than from rules and regulations, in order to understand the social reality. During Schäfers’s broadcast, several interviewees illustrate the principles of subsidiarity, personality and solidarity. The contribution concludes with some reflections on the relevance of the Church’s social doctrine in today’s Germany.

Intervention by Dr. Domingo Sugranyes Bickel

The annual CAPP international conference will be held at the Vatican on May 18-20, 2017 on the following subject:

CONSTRUCTIVE ALTERNATIVES IN AN ERA OF GLOBAL TURMOIL

Job Creation and Human Integrity in the Digital Space – Incentives for Solidarity and Civic Virtue

The conference will attract around 250 professionals, business persons, workers’ representatives, politicians, academics and specialists in Catholic Social Teaching. The conference receives reports from several regional meetings and international expert consultations, as well as reports from its local chapters and members in 19 countries.

During the last 24 months, the Foundation’s work focused on:

Business Initiative in the Fight against Poverty, with contributions presented at its May 2016 international conference at the Vatican and at the CAPP-USA/Fordham University conference held in New York City in September, 2016.

A Digital Economy at the Service of the Common Good, with a special focus on the future of work (CAPP Italian conference, held at the headquarters of the ‘La Civiltà Cattolica’ review in November, 2016) and the cultural, organizational and ethical effects of digitization (CAPP/Universidad Pontificia Comillas/BBVA fourth ‘Dublin Process’ expert consultation, Madrid, January 2017)

New alliances and ethical dialogue in the search for Inclusive Economic Reforms (May 2016 CAPP International conference at the Vatican).

All the papers are made available for further research and debate on the CAPP website http://ift.tt/1fF4KCO and through other publications.

These activities aim at complying with the CAPP Foundation’s purpose, as defined by founder St. John Paul II: “to promote informed knowledge of the social teachings of the Church and of the activity of the Holy See among qualified and socially motivated business and professional leaders”.1 It also tries to take up the challenging message addressed to the Foundation by Pope Francis: “It is my hope that your conference will contribute to generating new models of economic progress more clearly directed to the universal common good, inclusion and integral development, the creation of labour and investment in human resources.”2

By adhering to the CAPP Foundation, members commit themselves to acquire knowledge of Catholic social teachings and to broadcast the conclusions reached within the Foundation in their professional circles. They must be Catholic. In addition, the Board has established a group of friends of the CAPP Foundation to allow non-Catholics to collaborate in its work. The Foundation has always tried to maintain rigorous standards in its work, whereby academic and ethical research is confronted with direct management experience. The Board is assisted by an international Scientific Committee and by ecclesiastical counsellors.

The CAPP Foundation has established the biennial international ‘Economy and Society’ Awards. His Eminence Cardinal Marx, Chairman of the Jury, will comment on this years’ award winners.

The CAPP Foundation’s activities are supported by members’ fees and donations. The endowment’s revenue allows the Foundation to make a donation every year to the Holy Father’s charities. The amount given to the Holy Father and to Holy See institutions on his indications add to more than 2 million euro since 2010. Fully audited accounts are available on the Foundation’s website.

________________

1 Fondazione Centesimus Annus pro Pontifice, by-laws art. 3.

2 Address to the Centesimus Annus pro Pontifice Foundation,May 13th 2016.

(from Vatican Radio) from News.va http://ift.tt/2ktWelE via IFTTT from Blogger http://ift.tt/2lXto9y

#Blogger

0 notes

romancatholicreflections · 5 years

Text

16th December >> Daily Reflection/Commentary on Today’s Mass Readings for Roman Catholics on Third Sunday of Advent (C) (Zephaniah 3:14-18; Philippians 4:4-7; Luke 3:10-18).

THE ADVENT SEASON is basically a penitential period. And therefore the colour of the vestments, as in Lent, is purple or violet. It is a time when we are invited through fasting or some other form of self-denial to prepare ourselves to celebrate Christmas by a genuine experience of repentance and renewal. However, in Advent as in Lent, the Church cannot refrain from “jumping the gun”, so to speak, by anticipating, if only briefly, the coming mood of celebration.

So this Sunday is often referred to as “Gaudete Sunday” from the first word of the Entrance Antiphon in the Latin original, Gaudete (“Rejoice!”). And indeed today’s Mass text is suffused with expressions of joy and jubilation. Even the colour of the vestments can be modified from penitential purple to a pinkish colour (officially termed “rose”).

“Rejoice in the Lord always,” says the Entrance Antiphon. (If we sing our opening hymn, it should reflect the same mood.) “Shout for joy… Rejoice, exult with all your heart” is the invitation of the First Reading from the prophet Zephaniah. “[The Lord] will exult with joy over you, he will renew you by his love; he will dance with shouts of joy for you as on a day of festival…”

“Sing and shout for joy for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel” is the response to the Psalm and, in the Second Reading, Paul invites the Christians of Philippi: “I want you to be happy, always happy in the Lord; I repeat, what I want is your happiness…”

The Gospel is more low-key but there also it tells us that “a feeling of expectancy had grown among the people…”

A basic mood

Joy should, in fact, be the basic mood of the Christian. It should not be something artificial or forced but something that bubbles up naturally from our sharing Christ’s vision of life. Joy should be the normal experience of the Christian but there are quite a few who unfortunately do not have that experience or conviction.

At times one gets the impression that it is not the experience of many Christians, who somehow have come to believe that religion is a serious business, that one is not living a good Christian life unless it is full of sacrifices, that Christianity means giving up many of the pleasure that are available to non-Christians. They seem to think that being a Christian means living a half life as the price for a better one to come.

Karl Marx saw religion as the “opium of the people”, meaning the poorer classes. Religion, he believed, worked as a kind of anaesthetic or opiate, devised by the rich and privileged, which helped the poor accept the miseries and injustices of the present life on the understanding that there was something much better on the far side of the grave.

All this is a great pity because the whole purpose of Jesus’ coming was to bring freedom, joy and peace to people not only in the future but here and now. No one is meant to be more free than the Christian who follows Christ not in pain but in joy and enthusiasm. I am not a Catholic because I have to be; I am a Catholic because I could not imagine myself being anything else. We share the words of Peter to Jesus: “Where can we go? You have the words that give life.”

There used to be a saying, “A sad saint is a sad kind of saint.” A sad Christian is a contradiction in terms. That is not to say that there are not in any Christian life – as in any normal person’s life – times of pain, of sickness, of failure, of great loss. Grieving and letting go is an important part of life but these experiences will only bring temporary setbacks.

Every experience, if we can only realise it, is touched by God and has its meaning. Once that meaning is found and accepted, inner joy and peace can return. And the joy we are talking about is not something external. It has little to do with the high jinks we see during a socialising party or after our team wins a big match. Much of that can be a kind of temporary escape from lives that are experienced as boring, oppressive and unfree.

Christian joy or happiness is deep down in the heart and is not incompatible with physical and emotional pain or difficult external circumstances. It is, as Jesus says, something that no one can take away from us. And as Fr Tony de Mello says in his book “Awareness”: We have everything we need here and now to be happy. The problem is that we identify our happiness with people or things we don’t have and often can’t have.

What are we to do?

Today’s Gospel speaks of the expected coming of Jesus. This coming is being proclaimed by John the Baptist as he preaches by the waters of the River Jordan. After having heard what John had to say, his hearers asked a very sensible question: “What must we do, then?” It is a question we might well ask ourselves as we prepare for the coming of Jesus this Christmas. Repentance calls for a change in behaviour and not just regret for the past.

Luke describes three kinds of people who are listening to John the Baptist: the crowd in general; tax collectors; and soldiers. John answers each of them according to their way of life. To the ordinary people, he tells them to share what they have – their clothes and food – with those who are in need. If they are really sorry for their sins, that is, if they really want to change their lives, they will become brothers and sisters to others – even total strangers. We might consider what we could share with others this Christmas.

Tax collectors had a rather bad reputation in Jesus’ time. The Romans used to farm out the right to collect taxes to private individuals. These would pay a lump sum to the government and were then left to their own devices to get back that money – and make a profit besides. Needless to say, such a system led to a good deal of extortion. There were no anti-corruption agencies in those days! John tells them to be just in what they collected.

Soldiers, too, were not very popular. The advice John gives sounds just as relevant today as it did then: “No intimidation! No extortion! Be content with your official pay!”

Was John the Messiah?

After hearing such wise and sensible teaching, the people were beginning to wonder if John was not actually the Messiah himself. As mentioned earlier, there was a great mood of expectation that the Messiah’s appearance was imminent.

John, however, immediately disabuses them. He is certainly not the Messiah, the Saviour King that is to come. The real Messiah will be much greater. John will not even be worthy to untie the laces of his sandals – the work of a slave for his master.

John only baptises with water but the Messiah will baptise with the Holy Spirit and fire. That fire purifies what is good and destroys what is evil. It is a sign of God’s power and God’s loving presence (remember the pillar of fire that accompanied the Jews at night in the desert? Or the fire of the Spirit coming down on the disciples after the resurrection?).

And our role is not unlike that of John the Baptist. For it is also our task as Christians – whether lay persons, religious or priests – to bring people to genuine conversion, a conversion that brings them face to face with Jesus and God and also a conversion that brings a real joy and happiness into their lives.

Our role as ‘precursors’

Parents, especially Christian parents, have this role. They gradually form their children to have the Christian spirit and outlook on life. A Christian family will be one of real joy. A place to which each member returns with joyful anticipation and expectancy, in other words, a real home.

Teachers, too, are like John the Baptist. A Christian teacher is always aware of being Christian in the presence of students, irrespective of the subject being taught. After the student has long graduated, he may not remember a word from those lessons, he may never in his later career have used the knowledge he was given but he will remember the personality of his teacher. Some teachers are remembered with affection forever; others are best forgotten.

Whatever we are – parents, teachers, civil servants, employers, doing business, self-employed – we need to remember that we are God’s instruments. We are not making people do what we say, forcing them to behave in a certain way, still less to be just like us. Our aim is, like John the Baptist, to lead people to the feet of Jesus that they may know him personally as Saviour, Lord, Brother and Friend. Our role is, like John the Baptist, to step aside once the introductions are over and leave Jesus to do his work.

At the same time, Jesus does need our co-operation. Jesus works through every parent and every teacher and everyone who has a call to form people. Peter and Andrew began as John the Baptist’s disciples until they met Jesus. Then they left John and walked with Jesus. In turn, they brought other people to know and experience Jesus. That is the pattern and meaning of evangelisation, of bringing the Gospel to others.

0 notes