createdbyprayers

[createdbyprayers]

To those who are reading this post now, I wish endless love and God in the heart.

I want to thank from the bottom of my heart the people who were always there for me when it seemed like everything was over.

Who said: "You can do it because you are stronger than you seem".

And when I think about my life, delve into my problems, I don’t even notice how much these people have done for me.

Someone saved my life at the cost of their own, someone believed in me, but not in themselves.

Someone came to me at night despite feeling unwell because they wanted to support me.

Someone told me something absolutely stupid that turned out to be good advice in the future.

And someone simply asked: "Do you want to talk about something?"

Some of these real people are no longer alive, but their actions, their words live in my heart because they had pure intentions.

And now when I think: "You save everyone, but who will save you?" (of course, you can't do without pride here!)

But maybe it always seemed that way to me because I was looking not at their actions, but at my ego?

I am only now beginning to understand how much my loved ones have done for me, who saved me with whatever they could.

And I can now answer this question: "God will save me. Do you know why? Because it is wonderful when we look at the world through other people through the eyes of God, and when God answers others through our prayers."

Now I can help those who are no longer with me with my prayer.

This is how the Lord answers us when our heart is open.

Self-pity is not a bad thing, but there is a fine line between it and pride.

I love you, those who have left and those who are here now.

God bless, fratres in Fide

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Don’t be afraid to be different! We have always been individuals with our own styles and preferences, even when it comes to ensuring that Haroldus Rex interfectus est!

(In case you didn’t already know, I have a Patreon where I talk more about things and do art refs and tutorials)

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Good Friday

Christ on the Cross "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34)

Prints, plaques & holy cards available for purchase. (website)

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Fratres in Fide!

I'm telling a story:

Once I had the chance to go to a temple of another denomination and, accordingly, I crossed myself there as a Catholic.

When I turned around, I realized that a woman had been looking at me the whole time and said:

-You are crossing yourself incorrectly.

-Who told you that?

-The priest.

And she told me: "Read the Gospel and you will understand that you cannot do it, you are crossing yourself incorrectly, Christ said that it should be done differently, why did you, an infidel, come to our church?"

I told her: “Why do you look at the way a person crosses himself in church? Have you come to the temple to pray or to condemn your brothers?"

I really didn't want to start a fight, because there were a lot of people in the temple, and there was no point in arguing with this woman...

"For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother."

Matthew 12:50

People of different Christian denominations come to different churches just to pray alone or with friends. And we come first of all to God, to the Temple of God.

A person may be of a completely different faith, but go into a church just to look at the church's decoration.

There is no difference, especially if he is the same Christian as you, and came to church.

"If someone says, "I love God," but hates a fellow believer, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see?"

1John, 4:20

So we come to church to condemn, to pray, or to God, or we don’t even know why we are there?

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Irish Tesco worker nails church acoustics in work stairwell

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medievalfranks

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elaborate manicules

from the margins of an illustrated manuscript of le roman de renart. northern france, 14th c.

source: Paris, BnF, Français 12584

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Barry's Photography, Tiffauges 1371 : Le siège continue.

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About love?

Fratres in Fide.

"...aime-moi comme je t'aime et je t'aimerai comme tu m'aimes..."

"...love me as i love you and i will love you as you love me..."

Talking about me and you?

About our brother.

And the main - about God's love.

Recently, late at night, my loved one was sleeping (he worked all day and was very tired), and I also wanted to sleep.

I needed to clean up, but I had no strength, but suddenly a thought came to my mind: "If you still have strength, then you can still make his life easier so that he can rest peacefully at night."

It was a little hard for me, but I did it.

It all depends on what the person's goal and intentions are. if the intentions are weak, then the goal can be postponed for later. But if the goal is important, then no matter what happens, you will go towards the goal, because you value your intentions.

"Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." (6:2)

What is meant here is not the shortcoming of your neighbor, but in some way the suffering that you can alleviate for him, help with something.

And when you have a hard time with something, then your neighbor will help you with it, if you are tired, sick or suffering.

That's why it's said:

"And Jesus said to him: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind."

This is the great and first commandment.

And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets." Matthew (22:37-40).

This is how we fulfill the law of Christ.

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the servant of eternal wisdom kneeling before christ

illustration from a manuscript containing writings by german mystic henry suso (heinrich seuse), constance, c. 1490

source: Einsiedeln, Stiftsbibliothek, Codex 710, fol. 86r

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At least to pray is left is left,

Oh, Jesus in the Air,

I know not which thy chamber is

I’m knocking everywhere.

Thou settest Earthquake in the South,

And Maelstrom, in the Sea.

Say, Jesus Christ of Nazareth:

Hast thou no Arm for me?

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biblical & historical cities

miniatures from a manuscript of the sächsische weltchronik (saxon world chronicle), northern germany, early 14th c.

source: Berlin, SBB, Ms. germ. fol. 129

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Jan Štábl - Reenactment photography: Májový sněm 1315 (2021)

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Fratres in Fide!

We often think why nothing works out for us, why people are cruel to us when we live according to the commandments, when we observe everything, turning our souls inside out, and they turn away from us, and we cannot find the answer.

Because we are not looking for answer.

And it was before:

"You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart." Jer (29:13).

And we found God because we loved and live in the fullness of God, but we are still despised even by our brothers.

So what are we doing wrong?

The Gospel of Luke says about the crucifixion of Christ:

And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they "know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments." (23:34).

"And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, "He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!" (23:35)

So we, suffering, but knowing that we are doing good things and living in Christ, must know one extremely important aspect:

"If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you." John (15:18-19).

Yes, it is hard to bear your cross...

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ADVENT IS NOT THE CHRISTMAS SEASON!!!

Lots of people today refer to the period when Jingle Bells is playing in the CVS as “The Christmas Season” or (more frequently) “The Holiday Season.” It’s the time when we are supposed to be “festive.” There are so many parties and cookies and cakes that the average American adult gains one pound each year during the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas (and keeps it on the next year). It is the time of year when people spend so much money that it’s an essential part of the business model of many retailers.

   None of this is thinking the way the Church does. Rather, it serves to undermine the meaning of Christmas.

   The season of Advent is a time of preparation; the season of Christmas is the festive time. The season of Christmas begins...on Christmas, not before. There ought to be a marked contrast between the tone of Advent and the tone of Christmas:

The Season of Advent

Time to prepare for the Second Coming

Time of fasting

Liturgical color: violet (like Lent, funerals)

Don’t sing the Gloria at Mass

Time of Penance and Confession

Theme of readings: world is passing away

Time of almsgiving, sacrifice

Time of quiet prayer, meditation

The Season of Christmas

Time to celebrate the Birth of Jesus

Time of feasting

Liturgical color: white (like Easter)

Angels sang the first Gloria to the shepherds

Time to celebrate birth of our Savior 

Theme of readings: Peace on earth

Time of family, good cheer

Time of louder prayer, singing

Keep in mind that the preparation for Christmas is really limited to the novena before Christmas, starting on Dec. 17. The majority of Advent involves praying for Christ’s second coming, rather than remembering his first coming.

Some practical ways to celebrate Advent: 

Call it Advent. That’s the proper name for the liturgical season, so actually use it.

Choose a mortification for the season, a lesser version of what you choose during Lent. This coincides with the nickname of Advent--the “little Lent.” Perhaps you could give up alcohol or cookies or other sweets, so that when you go to “Christmas” parties, you maintain an appropriate mentality.

Do something special on Sundays. Light Advent candles, for example, or do something analogous that marks the progress of the season with your friends. 

Spend some extra time in prayer. Perhaps make the effort to go to daily Mass, and say the rosary.

Make a special effort to perform works of mercy, which in certain contexts might simply mean smiling more and sharing your Christian joy with those who are stressed.

And then, when Christmas comes around--really cut loose! The Octave of Christmas is 8 days of celebrating the great mystery of Jesus’ Incarnation, so celebrate it accordingly. The contrast between Advent and Christmas should help to make the Christmas season not just a continuation of a month of getting fatter, but a special season focusing on the fact that God became Man in order to save us from our sins. Rather than being exhausted because of weeks of excess, we are prepared to welcome the King of Kings with excitement.

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Fratres in Fide!

I just want to tell people to truly understand the Holy Scriptures and value their lives and the lives of their loved ones. If you find it difficult to understand the Bible yourself, ask someone who understands it. Never interpret the Bible yourself if you doubt its reliability.

If without loved ones we lose Faith in ourselves, then in God too. Always hold on to people who in difficult times did not step over their pride to stay with you and help you when you feel bad or you are in a critical situation, but did it because they love you sincerely, as the Lord God bequeathed to us. Many things can happen in our lives: but when we lose a loved one, then know that if there was a close connection with him here, in the world, then the connection will never be broken. Value those who refuse to sleep, come to you at night when you are in the hospital. Value them - such people are capable of sincere love and value. Because such a Person knows the price of life and the price of his suffering, and will never laugh at yours.

Do not be afraid to dedicate your heart to God further, when a dear person is no longer on earth. Sometimes I think and catch myself thinking that if you really comprehend the whole Gospel, then it is a source for the salvation of your soul. Do not idealize those who deliberately try to manipulate you and appreciate those who are waiting for your call like manna from heaven.

I want people to understand how important it is to connect with loved ones here, in earthly life, because it is in it that we prepare for eternal life. If the Lord has given us a new day, it means that we can still live. But we do not know who of our loved ones will be with us on this day, but God will be.

But know that love has always been, is and will be the truest, most faithful formula on earth for all diseases. Love each other. And appreciate every moment.