I have just eaten 3 shortcake biscuits, my they were good. Do you like biscuits?
Yes. :-) I hope those shortcake biscuits were very good. :-)
Ask @StephenInd
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Have you ever felt God punish you?
Yes, I certainly have felt this.
Does everyone who goes to heaven become a saint? I didn't know this. What would your saintly name be??
It is true that anyone who goes to heaven is a saint but I should also mention (now at least if not before) that we have to draw a distinction between all the saints in heaven and those saints who are canonized.
A canonized saint has gone through a process where the Church examines their life and has found that they have lived a life of great virtue. In addition the Church requires that there be at least one miracle performed through the intercession of the saint. This miracle must be performed after the saint's death. This is like a confirmation from heaven that the saint is indeed there and that God wants the person to be venerated by Christians.
Once these conditions have been fulfilled then the Holy Father will declare the person a saint. Very few saints are canonized and the Church recognizes this in her feast of All Saints which is dedicated to all the saints in heaven whether they are canonized or not.
A canonized saint has gone through a process where the Church examines their life and has found that they have lived a life of great virtue. In addition the Church requires that there be at least one miracle performed through the intercession of the saint. This miracle must be performed after the saint's death. This is like a confirmation from heaven that the saint is indeed there and that God wants the person to be venerated by Christians.
Once these conditions have been fulfilled then the Holy Father will declare the person a saint. Very few saints are canonized and the Church recognizes this in her feast of All Saints which is dedicated to all the saints in heaven whether they are canonized or not.
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Thanks for your advice, I will try to make my friend see sense about the skulls. To me, it is an insensitive and childish thing to collect so hopefully I can dissuade him from this silly collection. Much love x
Only a pleasure. Every success and much love in return.
I really want to become fully accept gods will but no matter how much I ask him for guidance he never replies. What am I doing wrong?
I am not sure that you are doing anything wrong. Could it be that you are expecting God to answer in a way that makes it clear that it is him? Something like hearing God's voice? It might be if you are asking for him to give you something that, that thing could be bad for you. It might be that God wants you to pray more, to be faithful in your prayers to him. It might also be that he wants you to take some steps towards getting the thing that you are asking for. It can also be that there is sin in your life that God wants you to sort out before he answers your prayers.
Whatever the reason may be, be sure that God hears your prayers. Keep praying to him while at the same time doing what you can to achieve your goal as well as striving to live how God wants you too. Remember always to ask God to forgive you your sins.
That last point made me remember that you should forgive those who have injured you. If we don't forgive others we cut ourselves off from God's forgiveness and that makes it less likely that he will answer our prayers.
Whatever the reason may be, be sure that God hears your prayers. Keep praying to him while at the same time doing what you can to achieve your goal as well as striving to live how God wants you too. Remember always to ask God to forgive you your sins.
That last point made me remember that you should forgive those who have injured you. If we don't forgive others we cut ourselves off from God's forgiveness and that makes it less likely that he will answer our prayers.
How does one become a saint? Do you think you will ever become one?
I must become a saint - by this I mean get to heaven.
Becoming a saint is the goal of every person and a vast subject but a saying of St. Alphonsus Liguori has stuck with me and that is that one can become a saint in an instant if one can completely accept the will of God.
Becoming a saint is the goal of every person and a vast subject but a saying of St. Alphonsus Liguori has stuck with me and that is that one can become a saint in an instant if one can completely accept the will of God.
Do you think you could cope with an intense life of prayer?
No. I think that I would need a physical outlet like manual work.
has it crossed your mind that God gave you a charismatic personality so that you would attract the attention of people and so should make the most of that and not hurt their feelings so to push them away?
Yes. I have grown to realize that we really need to be gentle with one another.
How can you tell whether what you are doing is pleasing God or not?
One must try to find out what pleases God and then you must examine your conscience on these matters.
As to what pleases God. I think that Christ, who is God came to earth to teach us this. While on earth he established a Church to continue this work. By finding this Church we will find out what pleases God.
Of course everyone must ask God to help us.
While finding out what is pleasing to God one must follow what one believes is right and examine one's conscience against that and ask God for forgiveness where one fails.
As to what pleases God. I think that Christ, who is God came to earth to teach us this. While on earth he established a Church to continue this work. By finding this Church we will find out what pleases God.
Of course everyone must ask God to help us.
While finding out what is pleasing to God one must follow what one believes is right and examine one's conscience against that and ask God for forgiveness where one fails.
Did you cut your own beard off or get it done at the barbers?
I cut it myself. I have a electric clippers.
What would you say to a friend who confessed to you that they had a collection of skulls and used them for decoration?
I don't think I would make an issue of it. I would try to sensitize him to the Christian beliefs which cause us to have respect for the bodies of the dead. Like that they will rise again and that the souls of the dead are still alive and it is charitable to pray for them.
If the person does not have any of these beliefs and others relating to the respect we should show the dead then he is doing nothing wrong in his eyes. If one were to make an issue of this you might lose the chance you have to bring them closer to Christ on more important issues. If he were to understand these more important issues he would naturally see he should not keep these skulls.
So I would see if there is any chance that using the skulls as a way to bring up Christian belief would help your friend draw closer to Christ. If there was resistance then I would try to influence him to draw closer to Christ on the bigger issues.
Hope this helps a bit.
Prayers.
If the person does not have any of these beliefs and others relating to the respect we should show the dead then he is doing nothing wrong in his eyes. If one were to make an issue of this you might lose the chance you have to bring them closer to Christ on more important issues. If he were to understand these more important issues he would naturally see he should not keep these skulls.
So I would see if there is any chance that using the skulls as a way to bring up Christian belief would help your friend draw closer to Christ. If there was resistance then I would try to influence him to draw closer to Christ on the bigger issues.
Hope this helps a bit.
Prayers.
I've noticed that poor people seem to be more generous than the rush. have you noticed this and if so do you have any idea why it is?
I certainly have noticed this. I am not sure why it is. I suppose they know how it is to be in true need and so that is sure to spur you on to give. They will be more likely to give to people who really need as being poor themselves they are less likely to be duped. But I think more important than these factors is that they do not put their trust in riches.
Do you sleep in the day?
I do on occasion and recently I have been doing that a lot, I seem to be suffering from some jet lag.
Are you afraid of anything?
I have had these fears of being drugged and molested...
Are there many people who go to your church daily like you do?
I attend daily Mass at different parishes. I am really bad at estimating numbers but the numbers at the different parishes vary from 30-60, roughly.
What is Benediction?
It is a religious ceremony in the Catholic Church in which the priest blesses the people with the Blessed Sacrament, which we believe is the body of Christ.
You say you try to fix yourself in prayer, how is that going? Any luck as yet?
Well I do not want to think of where I would be if I had not been praying.
There are some very jealous people on ask.fm. Lets pray for them! :-)
Okay. Let's pray. Please keep me in your prayers too. Thanks.
I agree with your sentiments that the 'powerful mistreat the weak' What can we do about it?
I think one thing we can do is support institutions and laws which protect the weak. We should also pray that this does not happen. I think a beautiful thing to do is to befriend the weak.
Are your siblings religious in the same way you are?
I am the only one who converted to Catholicism. One should be wary of judging others interior dispositions. My one sisters is attending services.
I think it's probably hormones not pride that makes you feel like you have the right to womens attention and bodies :p It's perfectly normal, don't beat yourself up about it!
I suppose this is true. This is a battle which most have to fight their whole lives.
Your new profile pic is awesome, do you miss the long hair?
Thank you, you are too kind. I don't miss the long hair. It was odd though for the first day or so on occasions I thought I had long hair.
Do you go to church every day steve?
Yes, I go virtually every day. During the month, or so, of touring I happily made it on Sundays and even a few days during the week which was very special.
Ig God wanted to give humanity one message, what do you think that message would be?
I think it must be the message of love.
Can you expand more about how pride is sinful and perhaps give some examples of how you have sinned through being proud?
Pride is thinking more of oneself than what one should. This prevents one from loving God as one ought and so hurts every aspect of one's life.
Through pride I think that I have a right to women's attention and their bodies. Through pride I have not respected my parents as I ought. The list is endless but I do not want to dwell on it.
Through pride I think that I have a right to women's attention and their bodies. Through pride I have not respected my parents as I ought. The list is endless but I do not want to dwell on it.
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