Our Hearts Are Restless

Being at Christendom for the election of the Supreme Pontiff was possibly one of the best experiences of my life!  When the conclave began, that Tuesday afternoon I had a "conclave party" - since I didn't have classes in the afternoon, I just set up the live feed of the smokestack, and people came in and out as they could stay to keep an eye on the smoke.  That  first day brought only black smoke, but the next day we had another conclave party.  The expectation was heightened as the probability of white smoke rose. Throughout the afternoon I kept checking the feed to make sure it hadn't frozen; I was also connected to half-a-dozen Twitter feeds.  A few minutes before the white smoke came out, the video must have frozen, because I received text after text telling me of white smoke!  I finally got the webpage to refresh and we saw the white smoke pouring out of the Sistine Chapel!  We told all the professors who were having class nearby, then hightailed it to the chapel...

There's an awesome site out there, adoptacardinal.org .  You are assigned a cardinal "who you will support through your prayer and intercession during the coming weeks before and during the conclave and for three days following the election."  I think it's a great idea, and ought to be spread around!  So here you are.  I've adopted a cardinal, who I'm going to go find out everything I can about, and then offer my daily rosary and communion for him.  Go check it out and pray for a cardinal! V./ Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. R./ Send forth your Spirit and they shall be created. And You shall renew the face of the earth.  Let us pray. O, God, who by the light of the Holy Spirit, did instruct the hearts of the faithful, grant that by the same Holy Spirit we may be truly wise and ever rejoice in His consolations, Through Christ Our Lord, Amen. Prayer of St. Augustine to the Holy Spirit (with the pronou...

My usual method of procrastination consists of writing a blog post.  Now, don't think that just because I have not blogged recently, I have not been procrastinating.  That would not be true.  I just haven't been procrastinating around the internet. I either cannot or do not want to believe that my second year of college is three-quarters of the way over!  It has been quite the ride.  This semester I learned, the hard way, that distancing myself from other people's stress can be a good thing.  I will always be there for my friends, and I always try to help when there is something I can concretely help with, whether it is listening to a friend vent, providing a shoulder for tears, or giving advice.  But I cannot allow myself to be drained of all emotional energy and used as nothing but an emotional babysitter.  So, after talking to several people who helped me come to the realization that I have to be able to say "no", set boundaries, and not feel guilty, I have don...

I have to thank a good friend of mine for this list.  In honor of the coming feast of St. Joseph, I thought it would be a good post to share! 20 Ways for Young Men to Become REAL Men These 20 suggestions were written by the  Christian Life Men’s Group  of Dayton, Ohio. Originally published in  One More Soul .  "There is need for a crusade of manliness and purity to counteract and nullify the savage work of those who think man is a beast. And that crusade is your work.” – St. Josemaría Escrivá 1. Tell cool, funny jokes, not the kind that would make a pure woman blush—or be offended! 2. Find saints that you relate to and ask them to pray for you as you imitate their virtues. Some awesome real men include St. Joseph, St. Augustine, St. Maximilian Kolbe, Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, and St. Josemaría Escrivá. 3. Keep your standards high; only date women who have the qualities you want in a future wife and mother of your children. Pray for your bride, that she will have the love and ...