Mary's soul magnifies the Lord.
December 8, 2025; Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception;
“Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you!” (Luke 1:28) The Greek word used, kecharitomene, implies a perfect and permanent state of grace.
From the Cross, Jesus looked down at the two people who loved Him most in the world: His Mother, standing in sorrow, and John, the disciple whom He loved.
And in that moment of supreme agony, He gave them (and all of us) the greatest gift after Himself:
“Woman, behold your son.”
Then to John: “Behold your Mother.”
(John 19:26–27)
Ave Maria. Blessed be God, forever.🙏
I'm having such a good time with life right now. Just thought I'd share how beautiful things are currently.
Wife and I expecting our first child.
Joining a beautiful local parish and approaching confirmation in Spring.
Reading and studying my Bible for the first time in over a decade.
Training BJJ and weightlifting.
Work is going well and it's been really enjoyable lately.
Friends consistently wanting to hang out, fish, camp, skate, play music or just spend time with each other.
The Lord has truly blessed me beyond what I could ever imagine or measure, and I don't deserve any of it. Thanks be to God.
It's easy to get stressed out. Sometimes I miss the feeling of boredom. So I'm just flexing a muscle here of appreciation and gratitude.
⚔️ 🙏
Happy Thanksgiving nostriches ⚔️
Thanks be to God
“I believe; help my unbelief!”
I seek to know and do your will, O God.. Let not my doubts disqualify me, Lord.
"Late have I loved you, O Beauty ever ancient, ever new, late have I loved you! … You called, you shouted, and you broke through my deafness. You flashed, you shone, and you dispelled my blindness."
Merely say the word, and my soul shall be healed.
Ignatius (disciple of John) referred to the "Catholic Church" (in ~107 AD) as the visible, unified body of believers under episcopal authority, distinguishing it from heretical groups lacking that structure. In his Letter to the Smyrnaeans, he equates its presence with Christ's, implying a concrete institution rather than a vague universal idea. The term functioned as a proper descriptor for the apostolic Church, not just an adjective.
The Epistle of Ignatius to the Smyrnaeans - Chapter 8. Let nothing be done without the bishop;
"See that you all follow the bishop, even as Jesus Christ does the Father, and the presbytery as you would the apostles; and reverence the deacons, as being the institution of God. Let no man do anything connected with the Church without the bishop. Let that be deemed a proper Eucharist, which is [administered] either by the bishop, or by one to whom he has entrusted it. Wherever the bishop shall appear, there let the multitude [of the people] also be; even as, wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church. It is not lawful without the bishop either to baptize or to celebrate a love-feast; but whatsoever he shall approve of, that is also pleasing to God, so that everything that is done may be secure and valid."
GM Nostr ⚔️
Bitchat feels like the /general and /local chat for the IRL MMO.
I can’t be there for everyone all the time, but I’ll try to help whenever and wherever I can.
I never want to ask anyone for anything, yet I’m humble enough to know that at times, I need to.
Thank you, Lord, for this day and this opportunity to work hard.
