What would Jesus blog or tweet?

By Anabelle Hazard

If you’ve been on social media long enough, you’re familiar with expert tips on what makes for popular blog posts and most clicked or re-tweeted topics.  Such as: create lists; offer relationship advice; post popular #hashtags; draft helpful “how-tos” on hobbies or health tips; use humor, ask questions and make interesting headlines; link to articles, photos and videos; comment on current events, interact with celebrities; reward your followers… etc, etc

If you’ve done your scriptural homework long enough, you probably have an idea of what Jesus were to tweet/blog if he joined the online community and took the advice of the so-called experts. In fact, you’d probably also realize He was way ahead of his time and those so-called experts pocketed their tips off the New Testament.

1.  Create lists:  “Blessed are the poor in spirit, the meek, those who mourn, those who hunger and thirst for justice, merciful, pure of heart, peacemakers, those who are persecuted in my name…” (Matt 5:3-11)

2.  #Relationshipadvice.  “Do unto others what you would have them do unto you.” (Matthew 7:12) No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.”  (John 15:13)


Continue reading at Anabelle's blog  Written by the Finger of God.

Frankie Award: Vote for the year's best Catholic spirituality post

It's time to vote for the 2013 Frankie Award!

One of the things I love about Catholic Spirituality Blogs Network is the variety of blogs and posts. This contest introduced me to some new writers--some witty, some deep, and all promoting the Gospel  About half are not currently members of CSBN. I enjoyed reading all the entries. Now it's your turn.

Pleas vote for just one post--your favorite. I am going to post each one on Facebook and Twitter as well, to involve as many people as possible. That should also make them easy for you to share. I encourage you to do so.

Don't forget to invite you readers (and friends and family, and fan club) to visit this page and vote for you. Feel free to copy the badge above and link back here from your blog.

 Voting ends on December 3 at Midnight PST.

Here are the nominees, in the order that I received them. You might be surprised to see that someone else nominated you. Please be courteous enough to read as many of the posts as you can, even if you plan to vote for yourself or your friend! You have two weeks to do this--that's just one or two posts a day.

1. Rosarium: a reflection by Carlos X of Super Martyrio.
2. Interior Disposition: Why Fix Your Hair If You're Wearing a Veil? by Birgit Jones of Designs by Birgit.
3.  The Sigh. Compassion. Pilgrimage Spirituality by John Fletcher of Blog at the Raft.
4.  I Wouldn't Have Gone Back Either by Jane Lebak of Seven Angels, Four Kids, One Family.
5.  A Big Enough Sin by Christian LeBlanc of Smaller Manhattans.
6. Perils of Digging Potatoes by Margaret Rose Realy of Morning Rose Prayer Gardens.
7. What the Dying Can Teach Us by Lori Chaplin of Lori Hedacek Chaplin.
8. New Year's Day and the Blessed Virgin Mary by Larry Peterson of it Makes Sense to Me.
9.  For Praying Out Loud by Monica McConkey of I blog Jesus.
10. St. Anthony, Find Me Seven Quick Takes by Kelly Mantoan of This Ain't The Lyceum.
11. Are You more Demanding than God? By Dennis McGeehan of warriorsworlddad.
12. Go through the motions by Nancy Shuman of The Breadbox Letters.
13. Mary is Living in my Heart? Help! by Melanie Jean Juneau of Joy of Nine9.
14. Can we say the Hail Mary together? by Caroline of Bell of the Wanderer.
15. What Type of Spiritual Poverty Do You Suffer From? by Anabelle Hazard of Written By the Finger of God.
16. Happy Lent! by Annemarie Thimons of A. Thimons.
17. Imagine Touching Jesus by Elizabeth Tichvon of click-elizabeth.
18. Be a Saint by Michael Incorvia of To Love And Truth.
19. Why Are You Still Sleeping? A Palm Sunday Reflection by Heidi Knofczynski of Journey to Wisdom. 
20.  When You Forget How to Pray by Amanda Rose of Little Steps Along The Way.

Let's make this award really mean something for our winner!

You are on the honor system. Please vote only once. (And don't just vote for the current frontrunner if it's not really your favorite.)


It's 11:15 p.m. CST, and I'm calling it a day. If you haven't had a chance to vote yet, send me an email with your vote in the next 105 minutes to cspirituality@gmail.com.

Can we remember the love story?

by Colleen Spiro

The Works of Mercy by David Teniers (photo in Public Domain).

I love this recent quote from Pope Francis in an April homily -

"We, the women and men of the Church, we are in the middle of a love story: each of us is a link in this chain of love. And if we do not understand this, we have understood nothing of what the Church is.”

Do we understand what the Church is? Do we remember that we are in the "middle of a love story"?

Some comments and questions don’t sound like it:
"The Church needs to come into the 21st century."
"We should allow birth control."
"When are women going to be ordained?"

I actually read a comment from a woman who said that she was going to leave the Church if it did not start ordaining women. I think she missed the love story part.

The Church is not a democracy. Majority does not rule here. We don’t get to vote on changing the Ten Commandments, for heaven's sake.

Have we forgotten who is in charge here?

"Christ said, 'I am the Truth'; he did not say 'I am the custom.'" -St. Toribio (1538-1606)

And then there is the infighting that has really driven me crazy. Disagreements are one thing, but some people are very uncharitable. Even Pope Francis, in a speech to the cardinals before his election as pope, referred to the harsh comments and "hypercriticism" being found in blogs and comment boxes.


Continue reading at Colleen's blog  Thoughts on Grace

Find your spiritual idiolect at Catholic Spirituality Blogs Network

by Connie Rossini
 

John Writes to Sardis and Philadelphia from the Bamberg Apocalypse (Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons)

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Everyone has an idiolect--a collection of personal speech habits that is different from anyone else's. Have you ever thought about your spiritual idiolect? Since your soul is unique, you have a personal way of speaking to God that no one else completely shares. Today I am announcing the creation of a new blog that will help you find and fine-tune your spiritual idiolect.

Catholic Spirituality Blogs Network is a community of Catholic bloggers who have come together to promote growth in Christ. Each of us has his or her own blog on authentic Catholic spirituality. Some of us are Carmelites. Others are Benedictines. Some practice Ignatian spirituality. Others' blog posts are more eclectic. We hope that by sharing our spiritual idiolects, you will find yours.

You have a secret name known only to God

 

Jesus told the Apostle John, "To him who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone which no one knows except him who receives it" (Revelation 2:17). Your relationship with Jesus is different from anyone else's in the history of the world. Your temperament, upbringing, talents, and life experiences make you a unique individual.  When you were reborn in baptism, God granted you this "secret name"--your personal identity in Christ. No one else can relate to Him in just the same way you do. You can give God a gift that no one else ever can--yourself!

God has a specific plan for your spiritual life. He will always lead you in accordance with the teachings of the Church. But the Church gives us wide berth in spiritual matters. There have been saints from nearly every walk of life. Reading their teachings and life stories, you may find a kindred spirit. Encountering the spirituality of a religious order, your heart may answer, "Yes!" Or you might weave together Catholic wisdom from many sources to create a new pattern.

The members of Catholic Spirituality Blogs Network are committed to helping you develop your spiritual idiolect--your secret language for heart-to-heart talks with God.

Please re-blog this post to help us spread the word about our new venture. God reward you!

Share with us: What is your spiritual idiolect and how did you discover or develop it?

This post was simultaneously published at Contemplative Homeschool.