Toxins are
poisons that can cause disease if absorbed into our bodies. In the spiritual world, the poison of evil has been absorbed by our culture.
poisons that can cause disease if absorbed into our bodies. In the spiritual world, the poison of evil has been absorbed by our culture.
Christians are
hunkering down for the spiritual battle that is intensifying and sometimes, are
feeling overwhelmed. I know the feeling. But three things have lifted my spirit
recently and have given me a plan to detoxify my soul this Lent
hunkering down for the spiritual battle that is intensifying and sometimes, are
feeling overwhelmed. I know the feeling. But three things have lifted my spirit
recently and have given me a plan to detoxify my soul this Lent
Interview with an Exorcist
While working on
an exorcism
story, I interviewed Father Vincent Lampert, the designated exorcist for
the archdiocese of Indiana. He consulted
on the bizarre case of a demonic
attack on a family in Indiana. I
found Fr. Lampert to be like the other exorcists I’ve interviewed over the
years–spiritually uplifting. Consider
that exorcists go head-to-head with evil, and then afterwards, can enjoy a good
night’s sleep. That’s the kind of peace I want.
an exorcism
story, I interviewed Father Vincent Lampert, the designated exorcist for
the archdiocese of Indiana. He consulted
on the bizarre case of a demonic
attack on a family in Indiana. I
found Fr. Lampert to be like the other exorcists I’ve interviewed over the
years–spiritually uplifting. Consider
that exorcists go head-to-head with evil, and then afterwards, can enjoy a good
night’s sleep. That’s the kind of peace I want.
Fr. Lampert learned to be an exorcist in 2006 at the North American College
in Rome. While studying there for three months, he assisted
on over 40 exorcisms with longtime Italian exorcist Father Carmine De Filippis. Fr. Lampert trained alongside Fr. Gary
Thomas, whose experiences became a book by Matt Baglio called “The Rite:
The Making of a Modern Exorcist,” and inspired the fictionalized movie.
in Rome. While studying there for three months, he assisted
on over 40 exorcisms with longtime Italian exorcist Father Carmine De Filippis. Fr. Lampert trained alongside Fr. Gary
Thomas, whose experiences became a book by Matt Baglio called “The Rite:
The Making of a Modern Exorcist,” and inspired the fictionalized movie.
Fr. Lampert
emphasized faith as the key to life and according to him, with faith, we need
not fear evil. “The power of God is greater than the power of evil,” he said.
“I don’t carry a bag of tricks with me, I bring the power and authority of
Jesus Christ that he has given to his Church.”
emphasized faith as the key to life and according to him, with faith, we need
not fear evil. “The power of God is greater than the power of evil,” he said.
“I don’t carry a bag of tricks with me, I bring the power and authority of
Jesus Christ that he has given to his Church.”
If we stay away
from the occult, go to Mass, have faith in God, and pray, Fr. Lampert says we
are protected. “The focus is on faith of
Jesus Christ and it’s going to be reinforced by going to church,” he said. “The devil is already on the run if you are going
to church and especially if you are receiving Communion.”
from the occult, go to Mass, have faith in God, and pray, Fr. Lampert says we
are protected. “The focus is on faith of
Jesus Christ and it’s going to be reinforced by going to church,” he said. “The devil is already on the run if you are going
to church and especially if you are receiving Communion.”
 |
| Fr. Vincent Lampert |
Fr. Lampert is confident
and upbeat. One of his secrets for peace
is that he stopped watching the news six years ago. “ I choose to be a positive
person,” he said. “I can’t be a Christian and walk around with a long face
because no one with a long face is going to bring someone to Christ.” He said that rather than letting the world
change us, we should tune out the negative as much as possible and do what we
can to change the world. “I believe the Gospel has the power to change the
world, and that is what I choose to focus on,” Lampert said.
Raise the Soul through the Mind
With Lampert’s message in mind, I am keenly aware that
what I let into my brain, affects my spirit. I don’t plan to stop watching the
news (not yet anyways) but during Lent I will fill my mind with holy thoughts.
I have selected writings assembled in Meditations
for Lent for daily reading. Bossuet
was a Seventh Century, French bishop, theologian, a brilliant orator, and a
student of St. Vincent DePaul. His
writings are compared to those of St. Augustine and St. John Chrysostom, and
reported to have been at the bedside of Pope Pius XII.
what I let into my brain, affects my spirit. I don’t plan to stop watching the
news (not yet anyways) but during Lent I will fill my mind with holy thoughts.
I have selected writings assembled in Meditations
for Lent for daily reading. Bossuet
was a Seventh Century, French bishop, theologian, a brilliant orator, and a
student of St. Vincent DePaul. His
writings are compared to those of St. Augustine and St. John Chrysostom, and
reported to have been at the bedside of Pope Pius XII.
 |
| Jacque-Benigne Bossuet |
“The whole of the Christian life consists in making
this journey [to Heaven] well,” Bossuet writes, “and it was to that end that
our Lord directed all his deeds.”
this journey [to Heaven] well,” Bossuet writes, “and it was to that end that
our Lord directed all his deeds.”
The first day of meditations state, “”We will come to
him and make our home with him” (John 14:23). “Desire that he should be in you
in this way. Offer yourself to him as his dwelling and temple.”
Bossuet encourages us to look at Jesus in heaven waiting for us so that we will
break the chains that holds us down. With such a vision, we are drawn to our
Lord who awaits us.
him and make our home with him” (John 14:23). “Desire that he should be in you
in this way. Offer yourself to him as his dwelling and temple.”
Bossuet encourages us to look at Jesus in heaven waiting for us so that we will
break the chains that holds us down. With such a vision, we are drawn to our
Lord who awaits us.
By celebrating the nearness of Jesus, I will distance
myself from the craziness of the world. At least that will be how my day
begins.
myself from the craziness of the world. At least that will be how my day
begins.
Heavenly
Music
Music
Better than a cup of coffee to start the
day, is filling up on angelic music that lifts one’s heart towards heaven. The
music of Lent at Ephesus soothes the soul in a mystical way. Ironically, it is from
a group of women who have separated from the world to answer God’s call. The Benedictines
of Mary, Queen of Apostles live
a monastic life in the country in the Diocese of Kansas City-Saint Joseph. Hidden
from the world, they sow, tend crops, and farm animals. Yet, their voices ring out.
day, is filling up on angelic music that lifts one’s heart towards heaven. The
music of Lent at Ephesus soothes the soul in a mystical way. Ironically, it is from
a group of women who have separated from the world to answer God’s call. The Benedictines
of Mary, Queen of Apostles live
a monastic life in the country in the Diocese of Kansas City-Saint Joseph. Hidden
from the world, they sow, tend crops, and farm animals. Yet, their voices ring out.
A young, classically trained Prioress Cecilia and her
sisters use music to worship God eight times a day. It is surely his sense of
humor that these cloistered nuns have an international recording deal and two other
albums that have topped the charts.
sisters use music to worship God eight times a day. It is surely his sense of
humor that these cloistered nuns have an international recording deal and two other
albums that have topped the charts.
Their album, Advent at Ephesus, was #1 on the Billboard’s Classical
Traditional Music chart for 6 weeks in 2012. Last year, the sisters’
bestselling album, Angels and Saints at Ephesus topped
the chart for thirteen weeks.
Traditional Music chart for 6 weeks in 2012. Last year, the sisters’
bestselling album, Angels and Saints at Ephesus topped
the chart for thirteen weeks.
 |
| Photo by Mark Armstrong |
They have just
released Lent at Ephesus, a
collection of 23 songs. Three are
original compositions inspired from the Diary of St. Faustina. “Lent is the
time for us to meditate deeply on the love of God for Man,” Sr. Cecilia
explained. “Forty days have been lovingly given to the church to prepare her
members for the greatest mysteries of our faith.”
released Lent at Ephesus, a
collection of 23 songs. Three are
original compositions inspired from the Diary of St. Faustina. “Lent is the
time for us to meditate deeply on the love of God for Man,” Sr. Cecilia
explained. “Forty days have been lovingly given to the church to prepare her
members for the greatest mysteries of our faith.”
I can’t
control the world or much of anything really, but I can start the day lifting
my mind, heart, and soul to heaven. Regardless of what else you have planned for
Lent, it’s never too late to add holy reading and inspirational music. I imagine that it’s the kind of daily activity
that will become addicting.
___________________________________________________________________________
For more inspiration, check out Big Hearted: Inspiring Stories From Everyday Families uplifting stories on love and life. Children’s books, Dear God, I Don’t Get It and Dear God, You Can’t Be Serious are fiction that present faith through fun and adventuresome stories. Follow Patti at Twitter and like her Facebook pages at Dear God Books, Big Hearted Families.
control the world or much of anything really, but I can start the day lifting
my mind, heart, and soul to heaven. Regardless of what else you have planned for
Lent, it’s never too late to add holy reading and inspirational music. I imagine that it’s the kind of daily activity
that will become addicting.
___________________________________________________________________________
For more inspiration, check out Big Hearted: Inspiring Stories From Everyday Families uplifting stories on love and life. Children’s books, Dear God, I Don’t Get It and Dear God, You Can’t Be Serious are fiction that present faith through fun and adventuresome stories. Follow Patti at Twitter and like her Facebook pages at Dear God Books, Big Hearted Families.
