Vanity is an easy vice to warn against, but what about ambition? That’s commonly considered positive in our day and age. Why does St. Francis see it as negative?What makes vanity a defect of courage?What is vanity, precisely? Is it just about a concern for our looks?St. Francis encourages frequent communion. Since we receive all of Jesus (Body, Blood, Soul, Divinity), why is receiving communion more than once necessary?Back in the 1500s, when books were only beginning to be widely disseminated by the advent of the printing press, St. Francis warns in this letter of “bad books.” In our age, we have a proliferation of bad books, and more so we are inundated with endless words from the internet and social media. If St. Francis saw bad books as a danger back then, how so more do we need to be on guard today. What constitutes a bad book, image, or written piece in our world, and how do we guard against it? 

ec 3, 7:39 PM

Rhodylyn (Guest): Makes one illogical.

Dec 3, 7:39 PM

Simone (Guest): interesting Rhodylyn.. very interesting definition. Thank you

Dec 3, 7:39 PM

Simone (Guest): you mean “glory of man”?

Dec 3, 7:39 PM

Simone (Guest): or do you mean that we become “careless” when we are ambitious?

Dec 3, 7:39 PM

Rhodylyn (Guest): That’s what St Frances said about Ambition

Dec 3, 7:39 PM

Paula (Guest): Ambition goes after something as if it belonged to you already

Dec 3, 7:39 PM

Simone (Guest): LOLLL.. I should have read it more careful 

Dec 3, 7:40 PM

Simone (Guest): In all fairness I thought I might not make it tonight

Dec 3, 7:40 PM

Simone (Guest): Paula.. that is a great insight too.

Dec 3, 7:40 PM

Simone (Guest): Paula.. would you be able to give an example

Dec 3, 7:40 PM

Simone (Guest): ?

Dec 3, 7:41 PM

Paula (Guest): It seeks to attain something in the worst way, quickly, without putting

Dec 3, 7:41 PM

Rhodylyn (Guest): When one tries to pursue a high position in a company.

Dec 3, 7:41 PM

Simone (Guest): so…. can someone write a “holy” example.. when we pursue a goal

Dec 3, 7:41 PM

Paula (Guest): forth effort or work

Dec 3, 7:42 PM

Rhodylyn (Guest): It’s good but the way to do it is the question.

Dec 3, 7:43 PM

Paula (Guest): like people who say yes…i want to be CEO of a major company by age 28 or 30

Dec 3, 7:43 PM

Simone (Guest): I wonder if the difference would be – the way it is “received”. If we receive something. .and out of that we put all our effort it.. because we received the call from GOD.. Like St. Francis of Assisi— rebuild my church….

Dec 3, 7:43 PM

Paula (Guest): and they just got out of a Masters or PHd program with not work experience

Dec 3, 7:43 PM

Simone (Guest): that would be a “holy ambition”

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Dec 3, 7:44 PM

Simone (Guest): but if St. Francis would think.. “Let me see.. what can I do to be remembered for centuries? oh I know.. I rebuild this church”… then it would be false ambition… is that right? What do you all think?

Dec 3, 7:45 PM

Simone (Guest): PhD’s are usually only good for those who want to teach at the university

Dec 3, 7:45 PM

Paula (Guest): or going to extremes in the rebuilding

Dec 3, 7:45 PM

Simone (Guest): well.. you cannot generalize.. it is hard to put the full worth on an education

Dec 3, 7:45 PM

SrSusan (Guest): Sorry to be late

Dec 3, 7:46 PM

Simone (Guest): yes… extremes are also often a fruit of “human ambition”.

Dec 3, 7:46 PM

Simone (Guest): Oh.. Sister Susan.. welcome!

Dec 3, 7:46 PM

Paula (Guest): better late thannever

Dec 3, 7:46 PM

Rhodylyn (Guest): If the “holy ambition ” is guided by discernment then it is following God’s will if discerned well.

Dec 3, 7:46 PM

Simone (Guest): well said

Dec 3, 7:47 PM

Simone (Guest): Sister.. I post the second question now.. and do you want to take over?

Dec 3, 7:47 PM

Simone (Guest): Q2) What makes vanity a defect of courage?

Dec 3, 7:47 PM

SrSusan (Guest): not yet just geting ready

ec 3, 7:48 PM

Simone (Guest): ok.. no stress Sister

Dec 3, 7:49 PM

Rhodylyn (Guest): If one is not vain but courageous will not mind criticisms

Dec 3, 7:49 PM

SrSusan (Guest): courage to be who we are and be that well and not make ourselves out to be what we are not

Dec 3, 7:49 PM

Paula (Guest): well said

Dec 3, 7:50 PM

Simone (Guest): also.. we might not be courageous enough – to “face reality”.. that reality that mirrors our faults… so we escape into vanity

Simone (Guest): maybe we should look at this question in combination with Q3)

Dec 3, 7:51 PM

Simone (Guest): Q3) What is vanity, precisely? Is it just about a concern for our looks?

Dec 3, 7:51 PM

Rhodylyn (Guest): It is also corned about how others perceive you

Dec 3, 7:51 PM

Rhodylyn (Guest): concerned

ec 3, 7:51 PM

Simone (Guest): I agree

Dec 3, 7:52 PM

Simone (Guest): It is a “filter” that makes everything on you look better

Dec 3, 7:53 PM

Paula (Guest): According to St Francis it is not putting for the effort to be courageous

ec 3, 7:53 PMRhodylyn (Guest): Yes, it is like choosing the easy way.

Dec 3, 7:54 PMPaula (Guest): yes, or if you know you can’t muster the courage still acting as if you can

Dec 3, 7:55 PM

Paula (Guest): it’s almost like a funny cartoon

Dec 3, 7:56 PM

Simone (Guest): so.. I throw in a personal question.. what do you do, if you discovered vanity in an area of your life? what would be the steps getting out of it for you?

Dec 3, 7:56 PM

Simone (Guest): the question if for everyone

Dec 3, 7:56 PM

Paula (Guest): where one character tries to beat up on another character but never does

Dec 3, 7:56 PM

Rhodylyn (Guest): Vanity and ambition truly can make one lose his way to holiness.

Dec 3, 7:56 PM

Simone (Guest): that sounds scary Rhodylyn

Dec 3, 7:56 PM

Simone (Guest): but I agree

ec 3, 7:57 PM

Rhodylyn (Guest): That is why frequent confession and communion is advised.

Dec 3, 7:57 PM

Paula (Guest): do not put on false misleading airs

Dec 3, 7:57 PM

SrSusan (Guest): since we are in the Eucharistic revival time designated by the Bishops, this next question is pertinent:St. Francis encourages frequent communion. Since we receive all of Jesus (Body, Blood, Soul, Divinity), why is receiving communion more than once necessary?

Dec 3, 7:58 PM

Paula (Guest): Because as one Priest I know put it …it is having Jesus for breakfast…

Dec 3, 7:58 PM

Simone (Guest): but at St. Francis’ time.. didn’t they have not a lot of access to communion?

Dec 3, 7:59 PM

Paula (Guest): and we get Jesus’s courage

Dec 3, 7:59 PM

Simone (Guest): I think I remember that even St. Jane de Chantal did not have a chance to get communion regularly

Dec 3, 7:59 PM

SrSusan (Guest): that is so Simone

Dec 3, 7:59 PM

Paula (Guest): we get Jesus Wheaties…so to speak

Dec 3, 7:59 PM

Ruth same person (Guest): We. Ed to. E constantly and continuouslyunitred to Jesus. Holy. O union is

ec 3, 7:59 PM

Rhodylyn (Guest): To strengthen our faith.

Dec 3, 7:59 PM

SrSusan (Guest): to be with our BelovedRhodylyn (Guest): Give the Holy Spirit room in our soul.

Dec 3, 8:00 PM

Paula (Guest): Jesus has all the courage I need

Dec 3, 8:00 PM

Simone (Guest): to offer myself up and go with HIS love and grace through the day then

ec 3, 8:01 PMSrSusan (Guest): Awful today found 2 consecrated hosts under the pews in our Chapel

ec 3, 8:01 PM

Rhodylyn (Guest): In communion we become one with the Triune God.

Dec 3, 8:01 PM

Paula (Guest): I get all that I need from Jesus….even in Spiritual Communion

Dec 3, 8:01 PM

Simone (Guest): oh no. I am so sorry to read this

Dec 3, 8:01 PMRuth same person (Guest): we need to be constantly and continuously, united to Jesus and holy communion is his gift to us, knowing of what we are made to enable that union.

Dec 3, 8:01 PMRhodylyn (Guest): That hurts.

ec 3, 8:02 PM

Simone (Guest): Do you have a big church Sister Susan? Lots of people?

Dec 3, 8:02 PM

SrSusan (Guest): I think Jansenism was the heresy that did not encourage Communion but Pope Pius X was the one who allowed children at 7 to receive

Dec 3, 8:02 PM

Rhodylyn (Guest): I mean about the Consecrated Host desecrated.

Dec 3, 8:02 PM

Paula (Guest): I wish I was there to Consume the Host….even ones that fall to the ground

Dec 3, 8:02 PM

SrSusan (Guest): Today we did big event we can hold 33

Dec 3, 8:02 PM

SrSusan (Guest): 300

Dec 3, 8:03 PM

Rhodylyn (Guest): Parishioners?

Dec 3, 8:03 PM

Simone (Guest): it is hard to oversee with that many people. Still – may peace rule your heart.

Dec 3, 8:03 PM

SrSusan (Guest): neighbors

Dec 3, 8:04 PM

SrSusan (Guest): they should go to their parish church but we are closer to the facility for the elderly- shrter walk and some of our school families come here

Dec 3, 8:04 PMRhodylyn (Guest): They are very fortunate to have been able to celebrate with you.

Dec 3, 8:04 PM

Paula (Guest): they need to here the Bishop Sheen story of a Little Girl in China

Dec 3, 8:05 PM

Simone (Guest): was that the one with the pig in the church?

Dec 3, 8:05 PM

Ruth same person (Guest): Oh, how awful! sister what did you do? Perhaps one more reason to offer Communion only on the tongue — it even that would not stop a person bent upon desecrating the host.

Dec 3, 8:05 PM

Paula (Guest): hear

Dec 3, 8:05 PM

SrSusan (Guest): I heard that story- yes you are right

Dec 3, 8:05 PM

SrSusan (Guest): The priest consumed in this case here

ec 3, 8:06 PMPaula (Guest): When I was a Eucharistic Minister I made sure that they said Amen & Comsumed

Dec 3, 8:06 PMPaula (Guest): consumed

Dec 3, 8:06 PMRhodylyn (Guest): At our church, I once followed a lady who just clasped the host in her hands. I begged her to consume the host.

Dec 3, 8:07 PMSrSusan (Guest): yes a Ive seen ministers or M priests run after persons on occasion

ec 3, 8:08 PM

SrSusan (Guest): Back in the 1500s, when books were only beginning to be widely disseminated by the advent of the printing press, St. Francis warns in this letter of “bad books.” In our age, we have a proliferation of bad books, and more so we are inundated with endless words from the internet and social media. If St. Francis saw bad books as a danger back then, how so more do we need to be on guard today. What constitutes a bad book, image, or written piece in our world, and how do we guard against it?

Dec 3, 8:08 PM

Paula (Guest): At our Cathedral, ushers are stationed and check people as they receive communion.

Dec 3, 8:08 PM

SrSusan (Guest): good practice!

Dec 3, 8:08 PM

Rhodylyn (Guest): I consider New Age books bad books.

Dec 3, 8:09 PM

Rhodylyn (Guest): Takes away our belief in the works of the Holy Spirit.

Dec 3, 8:09 PM

SrSusan (Guest): Cant think of a title there

ec 3, 8:09 PM

SrSusan (Guest): Cant think of a title there

Dec 3, 8:10 PM

Paula (Guest): I consider bad books as those that sow doubts and challenge what a person know to be right and the truth

Dec 3, 8:10 PM

SrSusan (Guest): I have to make a phone call Be back

Dec 3, 8:10 PM

Rhodylyn (Guest): Those that promote healing through transcendental meditations.

Dec 3, 8:11 PM

Paula (Guest): yoga

Dec 3, 8:11 PM

Rhodylyn (Guest): Jesus is our Great Healer.

Dec 3, 8:12 PM

Simone (Guest): I find the books that “sound” Catholic – but actually do not promote a holy life – the most dangerous

Dec 3, 8:13 PM

Paula (Guest): yes…even what seems to be good Christian shows

Dec 3, 8:14 PM

Rhodylyn (Guest): Yes those shows that justifies pursuing weather.

Dec 3, 8:14 PM

Rhodylyn (Guest): Earth

Dec 3, 8:14 PM

Rhodylyn (Guest): Wealth

Dec 3, 8:14 PM

Rhodylyn (Guest): Sorry, doing that word prediction.

Dec 3, 8:15 PM

Paula (Guest): yes, even some of these Christian Revival shows on TV….

Dec 3, 8:15 PM

SrSusan (Guest): If you stick to St Francis de Sales, St Jane and St Margaret Mary one can’t go wrong! They all wrote

c 3, 8:16 PM

Simone (Guest): I just wanted to say .. I stick to writings of Saints mostly.. or books from good apostolates

Dec 3, 8:16 PM

Rhodylyn (Guest): The writings of the Saints

Dec 3, 8:16 PM

Ruth same person (Guest): Simone, that is why until fairly recently while o stat and imprimatur were requested by serious Catholic authors, and we were expected to avoid religious books without that “ certification.”

Dec 3, 8:16 PM

Paula (Guest): yep….we need a Salesian Network TV Satation

Dec 3, 8:16 PM

Simone (Guest): It is a language of love from Mother Church

Dec 3, 8:17 PMSimone (Guest): oh PAULA.. what an idea! Now I could become wrongly ambitious with that idea

Dec 3, 8:18 PM

SrSusan (Guest): Great idea!!!

Dec 3, 8:18 PM

Paula (Guest): Mother Angelica did it! We need Devotion to the Sacred Heart!

ec 3, 8:18 PM

Simone (Guest): We need holiness promoted

Dec 3, 8:18 PM

Paula (Guest): And the Eucharist!

ec 3, 8:18 PM

Ruth same person (Guest): Seri changed N Obstate now 7 times!

Dec 3, 8:19 PM

SrSusan (Guest): we are having a special prayer service for Sacred Heart Dec 27

Dec 3, 8:19 PM

Paula (Guest): A friend of mine showed me a picture of Our Lady appearing in the Eucharist

Dec 3, 8:19 PM

Rhodylyn (Guest): Is it online?

ec 3, 8:19 PM

Paula (Guest): in a Monstrance

Dec 3, 8:19 PM

SrSusan (Guest): What online?

Dec 3, 8:19 PM

SrSusan (Guest): Prayer service may be taped if someone offers

Dec 3, 8:19 PM

Rhodylyn (Guest): Sr your prayer service.

ec 3, 8:21 PM

Rhodylyn (Guest): It would be nice if it will be recorded.

Dec 3, 8:21 PM

SrSusan (Guest): yes someone may but Srs dont have the ability Someone is asking another to volunteer to do that

ec 3, 8:21 PMRuth same person (Guest): The monstrance at the prayer chapel for the Rachel’s Vinyard retreat is a carving of art holding the host in her loving arms.

ec 3, 8:22 PM

Paula (Guest): I have a picture of it in an email

Dec 3, 8:22 PM

Simone (Guest): oh Ruth.. that sounds beautiful..

Dec 3, 8:22 PM

Ruth same person (Guest): Of MARY!

Dec 3, 8:22 PMSimone (Guest): yes.. I was assuming Mary

Dec 3, 8:24 PMRuth same person (Guest): I don’t know why it is so hard to NOT get what I write or dictate clearly changed to something else!

Dec 3, 8:24 PM

Simone (Guest): Ladies.. it was a joy and privilege to listen to your thoughts tonight.. I am joining my family decorating the Christmas tree now.. Have a truly blessed first week of Advent.

Dec 3, 8:24 PM

SrSusan (Guest): God bless and have a blessed week!

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