If you don't know Christopher West, he is an awesome Catholic speaker and author who is best known for helping us to better understand the great and prolific work of Pope John Paul II, Theology of the Body. Check out this clip of one of his speeches where he helps us to understand the introduction of Playboy into our society and the beauty of our bodies.

If you want an excellent book that will totally change your view on sex and marriage (in a good way), check out Christopher West's book Good News About Sex and Marriage

|

You are a Catholic Nerd when you get excited by things such as this...

This may be a time of recession, but if you are feeling generous or frivolous, I could use $150,000. Yes, this is the starting bid on eBay for this 18"x18" tile that appears to depict Christ's crucifixion. If you do actually visit the eBay page it says "The more you look at it, the more you see." Is it my mind playing tricks on me, or is God showing me something?

Here is what I saw: (you can play along at home)

• Jesus looking down


• Holy Spirit (dove)


• Angel/ghost


• 2 more possible faces (on on Jesus' chest and one to the right of him)

Ok, yes I am a nerd and I actually love this type of stuff. Yes, I loved Mary in the grill cheese too.

But seriously, what if this was real? What if this was purposely made by God? Who was it made for, and why? What would a miracle be worth?

Hoax or not, coincidence or not, if it brings us to think of Jesus and his suffering and sacrifice for us, isn't it worth it?

|

It is May, the month of Our Lady and what would please her more than to draw closer to her son by praying the rosary. It is such a beautiful prayer. Simple, yet profound. Life changing. Miracle working. My life would not be the same without it. Here are 2 short videos to help motivate you.



This second video has a slow start, and a few strange translations, but please don't let this discourage you. It is profound.

|

One of my biggest devotions is to Our Lady of Sorrows. Yes, I am talking about Mary, the first Christian, the mother of Our Lord. I know that many of you will be busy this day of Our Lord's death, so I will keep this short and to the point.

God gave us a perfect human example to help lead our life. She was not divine, but she helps to lead us to the Divine.

Mary had Seven Sorrows, seven incidents in her life with immense sadness. No sorrow that we could ever experience in our lives could compare to Mary's sorrow. Here is a quick rundown of each of her sorrows:

1. The Prophecy of Simeon over the Infant Jesus. (Luke 2:34)


2. The Flight into Egypt of the Holy Family. (Matthew 2:13)


3. The Loss of the Child Jesus for Three Days. (Luke 2:43)


4. The Meeting of Jesus and Mary along the Way of the Cross. (Luke 23:26)


5. The Crucifixion where Mary stands at the foot of the cross. (John 19:25)


6. The Descent from the Cross where Mary receives the dead body of Jesus in her arms. (Matthew 27:57)


7. The Burial of Jesus. (John 19:40)

Here are some great devotions and prayers to Our Lady of Sorrows. Here are the 7 sorrows and their bible verses with pictures.

Mary kept her faith through all of her pain, she did not complain, she did not doubt God. God gave us the perfect example (person) to show us not only how to deal with our pain, but how to embrace it, how to help it bring us closer to Christ.

If we love, we will suffer for others willingly and gratefully. Where were all of Jesus' thousands of disciples when he was on the cross, where were his 12 apostles as he lay dying? Did they run away, did they hide, did they deny Christ as Peter did, or did they just chose to save themselves some pain from watching their savior die? God's mother was there, she wanted to be there, she wanted to participate in Christ's suffering.

Our Lady of Sorrows, pray for us.

Ok, great, go to Seven Sorrows Catholic band.

|

Someday I will add my favorite Catholic books here, because you know that nerds love books. I even love sniffing books. Yes, I am a book sniffer as well as a bookworm.

I promise not to have the world's longest book list. This is a concise list with a short explanation.

Our Lady of Kibeho: Mary Speaks to the World from the Heart of Africa by Immaculee Ilibagiza + amazing Church approved Marian apparition of Mary (Our Lady of Sorrows), and how the millions slaughtered by genocide in Rwanda could have been prevented.

An Exorcist Tells His Story and An Exorcist: More Stories (this is part 2) by Father Gabriele Amorth + Incredible first hand story of exorcisms and the power of the devil. Your eyes will be opened and you will never see sin or the devil the same again.

Pierced by a Sword, Conceived Without Sin, House of Gold by Bud Mcfarlane + These 3 novels are Catholic Fiction, yes it does exist. These are not only well written compelling stories, but they will bring you closer in your faith and walk with Christ. You can get all 3 novels for free, yes seriously, but you should donate :-)

Interview With an Exorcist: An Insider's Look at the Devil, Demonic Possession, and the Path to Deliverance by Fr. Jose Antonio Fortea + A question answer format from a world renound (Catholic of course) exorcist who has done hundreds of exorcisms. I actually was blessed enough to have seen him speak a few years ago at Petrus.

Good News About Sex and Marriage by Christopher West

This book will totally open your eyes and change your mind (in a good way) about sex and marriage. It is very easy to read, very understandable, yet very good explanations. No matter how much you already know about the Church's teachings you are bound to come out with a richer understanding which helps you love your spouse and God even more.

More to come, but seriously, how many books can you read at once. If you run out, bug me.

|

Happy Saint Patrick's Day!

I post today not to be a killjoy, but to keep our eyes on Christ. I know that our American culture has taught us that today is a day to to get drunk...but why must we do so?

This is a day to remember a great saint. Saint Patrick grew up in 5th century Britain. At age 16 he was captured and made a slave in Ireland. Six years later he escaped and returned to Britain. He became a priest and later a bishop. He felt God was calling him to return to Ireland, so he did just that and was a missionary there for over 30 years, where he built churches, monestaries and helped to spread the faith to tens of thousands of people.

Living as a slave helped him to return to prayer. It had helped his faith to grow. It helped him to appreciate and love Christ even more. Let us take his example during lent to help us reflect on our own lives. Let us not hate the people who have wronged and offended us, but let us show them the love and forgiveness that Christ has shown us. Let us show them how to be the better person. Let us take a situation that seems bleak and show the world what can be done out of love.

Let us remember what the bible teaches us. The Letter to the Galatianstells us: "Now the works of the flesh are plain: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness, dissension, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God."

So today, as everyday, let us honor God and fulfill the plan he has made for us. Let this not be a day that we commit each of those sins in the name of a good time.

Saint Patrick...pray for us.

|

I had a short conversation the other day with a Christian who didn't know what a Protestant was, much less know that they are a Protestant.

Quick Lesson: Protestant means protesting. Who are these Christians protesting? The Catholic Church. Martin Luther is one of the main reasons for the Protestant Reformation. He left the Catholic Church, the Lutheran religion was formed.

So if people are still protesting the Catholic Church, do they know what they are protesting? Martin Luther had his 95 theses. Take a minute to read through and see how you line up.

It seems to me that each year Christians are protesting more and more. It seems that protestants are even protesting protestants. Our society teaches us to reject things we don't like and to find something we do like.

Is this what God wanted? Is this what Jesus planned when he chose his 12 apostles and started the first church? Jesus was a Jew, a perfect Jew. He did not rebel against his religion, he embraced it, he fulfilled it. When we are protesting...who are we really protesting?

Are people protesting people, religion, institutions, or are we merely justifying our disobidience against God?

|