Encountering Socrates, the great Philosopher

Mmm... What are you thinking, Socrates? Oh well, you make me think deep too.

While reading on the Philosophy, the first person I found was Socrates, the eminent Philosopher although my main focus was on the saints such as Saint Thomas Aquinas and Saint Augustine of Hippo. His interesting concept, "The unexamined life is not worth living" reminded me of Saint Ignatius' Spiritual Exercise. It was amazingly incredible, I must fess up because everything I discovered was linked with each other. Praise God for imparting upon me the foundations of Spiritual Exercise, the remarkable and handy treasure of the Catholic Church. 

Yeah, that is veracious. For me, to know that we are nothing is the authentic insight and perception. Why? To recognize our fragile nothingness is to acknowledge the supreme perfection of God, the Most High. There is a permanent part of my memory: "To have knowledge, you must first have reverence for the Lord God" (Proverbs 1:7, Good News) We must have absolute reliance upon our God. This is the reason why the devil loathes us to the core. The devil does not abominate us directly because we are nothing at all! His exact scorn is only for God who loves us and lives within us. He is just mad at us because despite our nonentity, God redeemed us through the death of His Beloved Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, and enabled us to enter into Paradise. Have you heard that the devil also detests the dog? Because the latter is the man's best friend! The devil would hate anything that is related to God and man. It makes sense to know that I know nothing so that I can recognize the God fully. Praise God! 

Mm.. Perhaps he is dead-on. For it is not easy to fight the ancient demons due to our brittle human flesh. But with God's graces, we can overcome our temptations. We need to wait for God to send over His graces to assist us. However, we should focus on building the Kingdom of God. As Lord Jesus said, no one who looked back while ploughing forward, is fit for the Paradise. Because if one decides to return to old sinful life, how can he possibly think of God and even desire for Heaven? We do not have to worry on how much effort should we put to fight our past demons for God is there with us through His Holy Sacraments, the outer signs of inner graces. While fixing our eyes on Him, we are processing to change and becoming better persons with the help of God's graces. Brothers and sisters, do not be afraid but look forward and move on to Heaven! 

This one cracked me up till my stomach hurt. Well, I am already married in fact. Three years ago, I consented to my marriage with God, and got married to Him and His Catholic Church through the baptism and confirmation. Still can't get it? What is the marriage for you, may I ask? Generally, in the eyes of the Catholic Church and statement of the Bible, the husband and wife become one through the consummation in the holy matrimony, and give life like raising the children through the intimate union. That is the physical marriage. However, it is essential to be spiritual too. The Catholic couples must aim for the Heaven in their holy matrimony for this is the precise purpose of bringing the spouse and children to Heaven. Likewise, the Father and the Son love each other so much that the Holy Spirit came forth from their Union. In same way, I got baptized to join union with God and His Catholic Church to become one mystical Body of Christ. As the Catholic philosopher Peter Kreef stated, Christianity is God's wedding proposal to the soul. I wish Socrates would specific what kind of marriage he intended to say. In my belief, there are three kinds of marriages in the Catholic Church. One is Holy Matrimony between man and woman. Sorry, it would not work for the same sex marriage because it is an obligation of the Mother Church to give and raise life through the mutual union of man and woman as the fruits of the marriage. Our main duty is to receive God's Word, bear fruits and return them to God. We cannot go to Heaven empty handed. Another one is the priesthood and religious life, some special marriage consecrated to God. Finally, it is the singlehood that everyone automatically received through baptism, and where I am currently in. I do not know what kind of marriage I will achieve eventually but what matters is that I am following God closely, obeying His Holy Will and fulfilling His dehydrated desires because after all, He had suffered so much and got killed just for our salvation. Out of my gratitude for Him, I took the leap of faith and undertook the insanely impossible journey in order to satisfy Him through my miniature accomplishments.

As I end this post, let us praise God! Blessed be God forever and ever! Praised be Jesus and Mary now and forever! Alleluia! Ave Maria! 

A blurb for my blog

Yeah, I am INFJ.

I took the personality test and found myself as INFJ. Some times ago, I defined my life as the clandestine yet austere one as I was simply seeking the artistic evocation of my spiritual inspirations in Twitter profile of mine because I found everything about me was always associated with God. Why? Because God had found me and I found Him. Yes, I concede that I am merely the human being who easily enjoys the earthly life like watching movie, playing games, drinking, reading, chatting, idling and even falling in love. But with the guide of the wise teachers, I acknowledge that I love God more than everything, even the women. As if it was the previous day, I remembered the words of the religious priest I met, "Yes, I love women, but I love God more than women." I typed the word, "clandestine" because it was tough for me to disclose and gab heart-to-heart to anyone. There was no one who could apprehend my mind beyond my physical disability. Only God, Mama Mary, my Patron Saints and Guardian Angel can comprehend me. Consequently, I became the enigma. 

Sounds crazy, isn't it? That is how my mind works.

However, would it make it requisite and obligatory for me to become the priest? Not de rigueur. Apparently, my ultimate aspirations are the holiness, the love for God, and sainthood in whatever state I am to be because God already lives within me and I live within Him. I chose to crucify and murder my erstwhile life through baptism and confirmation, and become the adopted son of God and Mama Mary. I do not mind getting married if the girl really assists me to become holy and intimate with God. I do not mind being a lifetime bachelor if my freedom really ameliorate my relationship with God. Likewise, I do not mind being a priest or religious priest if this vocation ensures my divine progress. What matters is my lifetime happiness as it is related to God's holy Will. The secret I encountered is that the deepest place of our hearts is precisely where God wants of us, corresponding to the salvation of our souls. Although I favour and have made my choice, I would like to put it on the litmus test again to see if it is authentic wish of mine or not as I am taking the undergraduate course that may widen my perspectives. I anticipate to find answer on my vocation that may shoot me straight to Paradise where I can join Mama Mary, all the choirs of celestial beings and saints to praise God for eternity. 

Spiritual life in Catholic Church may look simple but is actually very deep if it's being pursued till perfection.

My apologizes if my mystification has puzzled you.

27th January 2014: Saint Angela Merici

Saint Angela Merici

"The servant of the Lord must not be quarrelsome but must be gentle toward all." - 2 Timothy 2:24

"Exercise pleasantness toward all, taking great care especially that what you have commanded may never be done by reason of force. For God has given free will to everyone, and therefore never forces anyone - but only indicates, calls, and persuades." - Saint Angela Merici

26th January 2014: Blessed John XXIII

Blessed John XXIII who is going to be canonized this April 2014 together with Blessed John Paul II.

"You are the light of the world.... Your light must shine so that it... will enable others to observe your good works and then give praise to your Father in Heaven." (Matthew 5:14, 16)

"It would scarcely be necessary to teach doctrine if our lives were radiant enough. If we behaved like true Christians, there would be no pagans." - Pope John XXIII

25th January 2014: Saint Francis of Assisi

Saint Francis of Assisi

"There, while we have time , let us do good to all men - especially to those who are of the household of faith." - Galatians 6:10

"Courtesy is one of the properties of God. Who sends His sun and rain to the just and the unjust through courtesy. Courtesy is the sister of charity, by which hatred is overcome and love is prized." - Saint Francis of Assisi

24th January 2014: Saint Francis de Sales

Saint Francis de Sales

"Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am meek and humble of heart." - Matthew 11:29

"If there was something better than meekness, God would certainly have told us. But He exhorts us above all to be meek and humble of heart." - Saint Francis de Sales

23rd January 2014: Vatican II

"There is a time for every matter under heaven... a time to weep, and a time to laugh, a time to mourn, and a time to dance." - Ecclesiastes 3:1, 4

"Leisure time should be put to proper use for relaxation of spirit and increased health of mind and body. Such benefits are available through spontaneous study and activity and through travel... These benefits are also obtained from physical exercise and sports events." - Vatican II: Church in the Modern World, 61

22nd January 2014: Saint Bernard of Clairvaux

Saint Bernard of Clairvaux

"Unless Your law had been my delight, I would already have perished in my affliction." 

- Psalms 119:92

"Mediation renders life honest and well-ordered and imparts knowledge of human and divine things." - Saint Bernard

21st January 2014: Saint Catherine of Siena

Saint Catherine of Siena

"Faith is the assurance of what we hope for, and the conviction of things we do not see." 

- Hebrews 11:1

"Unless we possess the light of faith, we will walk in the darkness. We will be like the blind for whom the day has become the night." - Saint Catherine of Siena

6th January 2014: Saint John Chrysostom

Saint John Chrysostom

"When they entered the house, they beheld the Child with Mary His Mother. Falling to their knees, they paid Him homage." (Matthew 2:9-11)

"If we approach with faith, we too will see Jesus...; for the Eucharistic table takes place of the crib. Here the Body of the Lord is present, wrapped not in swaddling clothes but in the rays of the Holy Spirit." - Saint John Chrysostom

5th January 2014: Epiphany of the Lord

Saint Claude de la Colombiere (left), Jesuit priest and confessor of Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque (right)

"God's grace is a seed that we must not snuff out. We must cooperate with it. This is especially true of those inspirations that lead us to make acts of virtue on some occasion. Such cooperation in grace is sometimes the very essence of our happiness." - Saint Claude de la Colombiere

4th January 2014: Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton

Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton

"You are children of eternity. Your immortal crown awaits you, and the best of Fathers waits there to reward your duty and love. You may indeed sow here in tears but you may be sure there to reap in joy." - Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton

3rd January 2014: The Most Holy Name of Jesus

Saint Alphonsus Liguori

"The name of Jesus is a name of joy when the memory of our sins weighs us down, this name brings back our joy. This mighty name reminds us that the Son of God became man to be our Savior." - Saint Alphonsus Liguori

2nd January 2014: Saints Basil and Gregory

Saint Gregory (left) and Saint Basil (right)

“Dearly beloved, what do you see in these events? Do you really believe that it was by chance that this chosen disciple was absent, then came and heard, heard and doubted, doubted and touched, touched and believed? It was not by chance but in God’s providence. In a marvelous way God’s mercy arranged that the disbelieving disciple, in touching the wounds of his master’s body, should heal our wounds of disbelief. The disbelief of Thomas has done more for our faith than the faith of the other disciples. As he touches Christ and is won over to belief, every doubt is cast aside and our faith is strengthened. So the disciple who doubted, then felt Christ’s wounds, becomes a witness to the reality of the resurrection.” - Saint Gregory the Great

"As we were baptized, so we profess our belief. As we profess our belief, so also we offer praise. As then baptism has been given us by the Savior, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, so, in accordance with our baptism, we make the confession of the creed, and our doxology in accordance with our creed." - Saint Basil

1st January 2014: Solemnity of our Mother Mary, Mother of God

Saint Bernard of Clairvaux

"Let Mary never be far from your lips or your heart. And to obtain the fruit of Her prayers, do not forget the example of Her life. With Her support, you will never fall. Under Her protection, you will never fear. Under Her guidance, you will never tire. And with Her Help, you will reach your Heavenly goal." - Saint Bernard