Articles of the Month
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How to get out of a bad mood
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     Heaven knows that most people can end up in a bad mood sometime or another.  When that happens, it is important that you not linger in this mood for a long time.  Otherwise, it can ruin your relationships with other people around you.  Pope Francis said that Catholics should set themselves apart from the society around us.  He said that Catholics should not look angry or depressed.   Hopefully, if we have Christ in our lives, we should look like happy and joyful people.  After all, if single Catholics are going to Church every week and are receiving Holy Communion, we literally have Christ within us and should, therefore, be happy and should extend that happiness to others.
      On the contrary, I have personally met some unhappy single Catholics. They never smile and when you look at them, they give sort of a smirk rather than a full-fledged smile.   What is wrong with them?  I once asked a single Catholic why he never smiles and he answered, "Because it looks ridiculous to always smile.  It looks unmanly."  I responded, "That's really ridiculous.  Who ever heard of smiling as being anything else but nice?"  There are people who refuse to smile in life, possibly because they are unhappy with their present personal circumstances.  Whatever the case may be, all Catholics should show to the world that they are different than everyone else.  We all have heard the Good News of Jesus Christ and He is the Savior of the world and our personal Savior.
      Sometimes, people become disillusioned with their life and seem to take it out on everyone around them.  Some female single Catholics have asked, "Why can't I find a husband?"  Well, it could be because many single Catholics never smile.  They're afraid to get to know people, even the parishioners at their own Church.  They come to Mass and race for the exits after Mass.  Whatever happened to shaking a person's hand and asking them how they are doing or telling them "Hello"?  It seems like some Catholic people are afraid of any personal contact these days, even a simple handshake.
      The best solution for getting out of a bad mood is to train yourself to be nice to others, even when you do not necessarily want to.  It helps to start your day with prayer, to say the Rosary in the afternoon and to end the day with your evening prayers.  Prayer is one of the best ways to help you maintain a good relationship with the Almighty Father, with Jesus, with the Blessed Mother and with others around you.  Many single Catholics never pray and, as a result, are living their lives without any faith, without grace, and without any spirituality in their lives.  They live empty lives because they do not want to pray or even go to Church or even receive Holy Communion.  As Jesus said, "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His Blood, you do not have life within you.  Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life and I will raise him on the last day...Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. " (John 6:53-56)  And He also said, "Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without Me, you can do nothing." (John 15:5  These are powerful words and we should listen to Him.  
     If you haven't personally been receiving Holy Communion, it probably means you haven't gone to Confession.  So, please go to Confession and start going to Church and receive Holy Communion often because once you keep going to Church and receiving Holy Communion, you will feel different.  You will begin to feel happier about your life and perhaps not get into too many bad moods.  Never forget that you are a Catholic first and foremost and as such, we should be a light among the darkness in today's harsh and sometimes non-Christian society.  As Catholics, we should learn how to greet everyone we meet with a smile and with a kind handshake.  God bless you and your family.
     

Jesus, Master of our lives
and of our homes​

     In Jesus' time, His disciples often referred to Jesus as Master. Jesus is truly the Divine Master of the Universe and of Humanity.  Therefore, Jesus is also our Master and Savior as well.  Many single Catholics who live alone have expressed that since they are not yet married or perhaps have chosen not to marry, they often want protection and guidance by a male presence.  Single Catholics can be sure that when they ask Jesus to be the Master of their lives and of their home, He will truly be there for them whenever they need Him.
     Jesus is the only Master and Savior who is available 24/7 when we need Him to help, protect and guide us.  We can feel secure that we can count on Jesus to always watch out for us in any situation.  When we feel lost, He will place us on His shoulder and bring us to safety, just as He told the disciples about the parable of the lost sheep.  Jesus will leave the ninety-nine sheep and go after the one that is lost and bring it to safety.  We should take Jesus at His word.
     Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus?  Do you look for male companionship in all of the wrong places?  Do you ever welcome Jesus into your home and tell Him that He is the Master of your life?  Once single Catholics begin to have a personal relationship with Jesus and ask Him to become the Master of their lives and of their homes, single Catholics will begin to not feel so lonely because they will discover that Jesus will be there for them and will be a part of their lives from that moment on.  It is also a good idea to place a blessed picture of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and Sacred Heart of Jesus in your home and a blessed crucifix on your living room wall so that Jesus will have a true place in your lives and in your home.  
     Jesus told St. Faustina that He asks for people to trust in Him.  That is the reason St. Faustina told the artist, who painted the image of the Divine Mercy, to paint the phrase, "Jesus, I trust in You" at the bottom of the image.  Jesus is waiting for every person to come to the knowledge that they need Him and that He truly loves all of us.  Jesus wants all people to become closer to Him and to count on Him in their daily life.  Will you now make Jesus the Master and Savior of your life and of your home right now?  If not, what are you waiting for?  Some single Catholics say that they feel a void in their lives that nothing can seem to fill.  Often times, they feel that way because they do not have a close relationship with Jesus or with their Catholic faith.  Jesus said, "Without Me, you can do nothing."  Therefore, that emptiness that singles feel, will not be filled until they acknowledge that they need to have Jesus in their lives.
     So, pray today and tell Our Lord that He is the number One Person in your life, above family, work and other relationships and truly make Him the Master and Savior of your life and of your home today.  You will become much more happier and fulfilled when you do so.  Take care and may Jesus and Our Almighty bless you on your road to salvation now and always and help you to avoid temptations in all of its forms.
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