Vivat Agnus Dei

"Confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed" (James 5:16).  I was at an Advent communal penance service, and to my shock, the building was sturdy enough to hold up. I, naturally, saw a priest and said, "Imagine seeing you here!" Still, to my shock, he said, "Imagine seeing YOU here! One might say you are a sinner." To which, I understandably and truthfully responded, "I am just here for the prayer." Another priest behind him laughed for some reason. Anyway, if you can handle all of this shock, and you might not, please keep reading. If not, just take a break here, and go for a walk, this is going to be a lot to unpack, and you may find yourself gritting your teeth, or developing migraine symptoms. Just do what you can. I am not talking about a literal shoe, I am talking about the classic person-to-description analogy, "If the shoe fits, wear it." If the truth hurts and others seem to condemn someo...

The proposed course of correction to  Carter Carruthers, "Chronic Pursuit of Instant Gratification", Vivat Agnus Dei, November 24, 2024 . If you have ever had an in-depth spiritual conversation with a spiritual director, minister, a friend who is reading the saints, or even a recovering addict, odds are you have/will have heard the word "surrender" at least 5 times in the course of that conversation. Given the fact this word can begin to seem like vocal clutter solution more than a real term or concept or an opportunity to be dismissive of your trials (or effects of the sins others have committed against you), and how essential this concept appears to be in such conversations, it is well worth presenting at least an attempt at defining surrender. In consulting Scripture, the Magisterium, and 12-step group texts, it seems that surrender is best understood as the following sentences delimit: Surrender is the grace-filled act of aligning one’s will with God’s, born of ...

  Psychological and Moral Implications of Chronic Pursuit of Instant Gratification on Self-Control and Ethical Decision-Making in Adolescents “In a society that, for various reasons, fosters doubt and cynicism, fear and helplessness, immaturity and childishness, some young people tend to stay at the level of primary gratification.”[1] It is well known that chronic pursuit of instant, primary gratification (CPIG for short) is a constant between our phones, social media accounts, and spending habits. What exactly is instant gratification? This immediate desire for gratification is characterized by a shallow focus on oneself, not through (often at the expense of) thoughtful introspection, reflective prayer, or long-term foresight and benefit, but an attempt at satisfying the fickle and fleeting physiological/primary desires born of perceived need, often inspired by a negative emotional state.[2] It leads individuals to neglect deeper or more arduous pursuits such as willing the good o...