Pope Benedict XVI on Suffering

Another "Dead Soul" Signs On With Satan

Pathetic human being is a result of our idiotic education system, secular views on morality, and greedy society and she wants to be a marital therapist!

Discerning God

Three things are necessary for the individual to begin discernment. Discernment is really understanding what God wants you to do. The three things that in my opinion are necessary are:

1. belief in God ( recognize that their is a Creator, an all knowing, omnipotent Being , who always was, always is and always will be.)
2. you are not God ( you are His creation and in that you have meaning and a purpose)
3. Heaven is the result of following God's will, Hell is the result of not following God's will.
Those three beliefs are the foundation of beginning to walk the path of meeting up with God. There are a number of means towards the practice of discernment. I favor the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. I would say the the overwhelming ingredient necessary is time in solitude and prayer. Without the time given to understanding God and getting to know Him and His will for you, it is virtually impossible to grow spiritually. Prayer is the process by which we communicate with God. The Catholic Church states: " Prayer is a vital necessity. Proof from the contrary is no less convincing: if we do not allow the Spirit to lead us, we fall back into the slavery of sin. How can the Holy Spirit be our life if our heart is far from him? Nothing is equal to prayer; for what is impossible it makes possible, what is difficult, easy.... For it is impossible, utterly impossible, for the man who prays eagerly and invokes God ceaselessly ever to sin. Those who pray are certainly saved; those who do not pray are certainly damned” CCC2744 Finally the three most important items in testing the truth versus error is to: 1. Examine everything 2. Cling to what is good 3. Avoid evil. Of course we are incapable of doing these things without God's grace.

St. Robert Bellarmine's 15 Marks' of the Church

St. Robert Bellarmine (Roberto Bellarmino, 1542-1621) was a scholar, theologian and intrepid defender of the Faith during the controversies of the Reformation. As a cardinal he served three popes who counted on his wisdom and scholarly advice. From the Creed we have the Four Marks of the Church: One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic. He developed the 15 Marks of the Church:

1. Catholicity The Church's Name, Catholic, Universal, and world wide, and not confined to any particular nation or people. 2. Antiquity In tracing her ancestry directly to Jesus Christ. 3. Constant Duration In lasting substantially unchanged for so many centuries. 4. Extensiveness In the number of her loyal members. 5. Episcopal Succession Of her Bishops from the first Apostles at the Last Supper to the present hierarchy. 6. Doctrinal Agreement Of her doctrine with the teaching of the ancient Church. 7. Unity Of her members among themselves, and with their visible head, the Roman Pontiff. 8. Holiness Of doctrine in reflecting the holiness of God. 9. Efficacy of Doctrine In its power to sanctify believers, and inspire them to great moral achievement. 10. Holiness of Life Of the Church's representative writers and defenders. 11. Miracles Worked in the Church and under the Church's auspices.

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12. The gift of Prophecy
Found among the Church's saints and spokesmen.

13. Opposition Aroused On the Same Ground As Christ Was Opposed

14. The Unhappy End of the Church's Enemies

15. The Temporal Peace and Earthly Happiness
Of those who live by the Church's teaching and defend her interests.

The Mass

Is it really just enough to show up at Mass? Often while at Mass I see people fidgeting. They look uncomfortable, as though they are not really content in being there and anxious to reach the point when they can leave. Just an observation...I don't know what is in the hearts and minds of individuals, God did not bless me with that gift. I do not desire or pretend that I am so pious that I am in any position to judge others. Jesus warned about that on numerous occasions. The Catholic Church states "the Eucharist is the source and summit of the Christian life" here is some food for thought...are we participants or observers at Mass?...is Jesus Christ the 2nd Person of the Holy Trinity present in the Holy Eucharist or not? Is the Nicene Creed by which we profess our faith true or not? Is the Mass sacred? Is the Mass a special time when the events at Calvary are reoccurring? After we receive the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, God in flesh, Creator of the Universe, omnipotent Being, is something going on with us, or is it not a big deal, just another obligatory thing part of my religion? These are questions every Catholic must ultimately ask themselves. They are the most important questions about our faith that we have to accept. If you do accept them as being true, then it must follow that this is the most important time that you can spend, of all the things you do in your life. You wouldn't show up at a wedding of a good friend, or you child's birthday party, or any special occasion bored disinterested and ready to leave. That would be rude, wouldn't it? In my humble opinion, if we truly believed that Jesus Christ, the Only Son of the Father was present in each of those churches and chapels throughout the world where the Mass is being said, we would kick the door down to be there....

A Love That Surpasses All Love

Upon returning from the hospital today I heard a song on the oldies station. I had borrowed my wife's car and it was on that station. The song is called "I Never Knew Love Like This Before" it was recorded 1980 by Stephanie Mills. That is exactly how I feel about the love of Christ. It completely overwhelms me and is working ever so slowly changing my heart. I have the wonderful fortune of bringing the Blessed Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist to those who have been hospitalized. I go from trauma units to cancer units and everywhere else in between. I could go on and on about incredible encounters of faith and love. I see Christ every time I enter a room. I have hugged and cried, laughed and prayed and witnessed the love of God in our greatest time of human need, while suffering. I guess what I am trying to say is that the Holy Spirit guided me to a place I needed to go. It never ceases to amaze how God works in our lives, we need to be quiet observers and to be patient. I have noticed that He always answers my prayers, though not as I would necessarily want Him to. As the song goes I never knew love like this before.

Pange Lingua

Some Images to Reflect On

Great Presentation on Early Church

Anybody in the Baton Rouge area that would like to hear an excellent presentation on the Early Church Fathers :

Church Fathers (March 19th) 7pm Immaculate Conception Church, Denham Springs

Presented by: Dr. Durwin Walker

Come explore the lives of the early Fathers of the Church. From St. Ignatius of Antioch to St. Augustine of Hippo, we will explore the life, the times, and the teachings of those who contributed to the foundation of the faith.

Prayer to St. Joseph over 1900 years old

O St. Joseph whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the Throne of God, I place in you all my interests and desires. O St. Joseph do assist me by your powerful intercession and obtain for me from your Divine Son all spiritual blessings through Jesus Christ, Our Lord; so that having engaged here below your Heavenly power I may offer my Thanksgiving and Homage to the most Loving of Fathers. O St. Joseph, I never weary contemplating you and Jesus asleep in your arms. I dare not approach while He reposes near your heart. Press him in my name and kiss His fine Head for me, and ask Him to return the Kiss when I draw my dying breath. St. Joseph, Patron of departing souls, pray for us. Amen

This prayer was found in the fiftieth year of Our Lord Jesus Christ. In 1500's it was sent by the Pope to Emperor Charles when he was going into battle. Whoever reads this prayer or hears it or carries it, will never die a sudden death, nor be drowned, nor will poison take effect on them. They will not fall into the hands of the enemy nor be burned in any fire, nor will they be defeated in battle. Make this prayer known everywhere.

courtesy of Et Cum Spiritu Tu

Psalm 119

Your word, LORD, stands forever; it is firm as the heavens.

Through all generations your truth endures; fixed to stand firm like the earth.

By your edicts they stand firm to this day, for all things are your servants.

Had your teaching not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction.I will never forget your precepts; through them you give me life.I am yours; save me, for I cherish your precepts.

The wicked hope to destroy me, but I pay heed to your decrees. I have seen the limits of all perfection, but your command is without bounds.

Pope Benedict XVI in Africa

We know that the secular media and the pagans out there will complain but of course the Pope is right. Condoms are not the answer.

Cardinal George On Conscience Protection

Live As Christ Would Have Us Live

There are different paths we find our selves walking down each new day. One such path is the world of politics and current events. When I started blogging back last December it was out of a need to speak the Gospel to anyone who would listen. There are a variety of blogs that deal with politics and their effect and relationship to Catholic life. I have commented from time to time on them and have made known the fact that I do not like the present administration for a variety of reasons. The greater picture though is this; I don't believe in governments period. I don't think that governments purpose is to take care of an individual from the time of their birth (if they are allowed to be born) to the time of their death (which in some cases is sooner that they would like). This life we lead is not about being comfortable, owning things, being secure, not having to worry, or sitting back and letting the powers to be, control everything. I have repeatedly stated that Jesus Christ was not working to change the Roman government, He was working to change the hearts of men and women. The miracles He performed were to demonstrate that sins are forgiven, and that we could attain everlasting life through Him, the Bread of Life. We as a nation of people are off the track. We have chosen the life that does not lead to the Father. Not only that but trust me when I say this; the government in the United States will, within the next generation restrict, condemn, and even outlaw parts, or all of Christianity. Christianity will be seen as an intolerant opposition to a sinful life style. Speaking out against homosexuality for instance will be seen as violating the law and promoting intolerance. The secular opposition to the Catholic Church will swell and the media will assist in attempting to marginalize it. THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN. Also trust me when I say that in the Kingdom of God those things don't matter. Jesus said "my Kingdom is not of this world." Our focus should be on living as Christ would have us live, following His commandments, loving Him and our neighbor, living the Beatitudes, growing spiritually, repenting , living a sacramental life and daily conversion. As St. Paul wrote "More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ"

For St. Paddy's Day Delight

Finally A Man With Common Sense in America Justice Clarence Thomas

Justice Thomas speaks at VMI

He says while most Americans appreciate the constitution they don't exactly know what's in it.

"It is at least as easy to understand that great document as it is to understand a cell phone contract," says Thomas.

Justice Thomas also believes too many Americans expect too much from their government.

"The message today seems more like ask not what you can do for yourselves or your country, but what your country must do for you," says Thomas.

Prayer of St. Ambrose

Lord Jesus Christ, I approach your banquet table in fear and trembling, for I am a sinner, and dare not rely on my own worth but only on your goodness and mercy. I am defiled by many sins in body and soul, and by my unguarded thoughts and words. Gracious God of majesty and awe, I seek your protection, I look for your healing. Poor troubled sinner that I am, I appeal to you, the fountain of all mercy. I cannot bear your judgment, but I trust your salvation. Lord, I show my wounds to you and uncover my shame before you. I know my sins are many and great, and they fill me with fear, but I hope in your mercies, for they cannot be numbered. Lord Jesus Christ, eternal king, God and man, crucified for mankind, look upon me with mercy and hear my prayer, for I trust in you. Have mercy on me, full of sorrow and sin, for the depth of your compassion never ends. Praise to you, saving sacrifice, offered on the wood of the cross for me and for all mankind. Praise to the noble and precious blood, flowing from the wounds of my crucified Lord Jesus Christ and washing away the sins of the whole world. Remember, Lord, your creature, whom you have redeemed with your blood. I repent my sins, and I long to put right what I have done. Merciful Father, take away all my offenses and sins; purify me in body and soul, and make me worthy to taste the holy of holies. May your body and blood, which I intend to receive, although I am unworthy, be for me the remission of my sins, the washing away of my guilt, th end of my evil thoughts, and the rebirth of my better instincts. May it incite me to do the works pleasing to you and profitable to my health in body and soul, and be a firm defense against the wiles of my enemies. Amen.

Pope Benedict XVI in Africa

Live Feed Via EWTN

Emulating the Government's Foolish Stimulus Package

Here's a suggestion - Buy something stupid on Ebay to help the economy

A Return to Fatherhood

After attending a talk by Father Bryce Sibley at LSU last night I have some observations. That children 2 or 3 years old would have an idea or construct about God does not surprise me at all. The fact that there is some kind of research that backs it up is reassuring but it was already one of those things I took for granted. I recall an exercise where toddlers were asked to draw pictures of God and it was amazing the conceptual images being drawn. I would like to give you my personal observation being a father and parenting four children over last 28 years or so. I think this would lend itself to the more practical side of the issue rather than the philosophical side. Children have an awe and wonder of the world. That would seem to be a logical, genetically programed characteristic of children since one must learn to survive and at that point in life practically every experience is a new experience. So how does that wonder and awe get sapped out by the time kids are teens and preteens? Three areas I will point to: parents, schools and the secular culture. There is a natural maturation process as one's ego (Freudian term for those not familiar) begins to form and a child reasons that they are an entity unto themselves not merely a child of their parents. There is a propensity to turn inward and to recognize that one has certain abilities, beliefs, and identities. The first problem that arises in sapping the wonder and awe is poor parenting. This is understandable since this current generation of parents have been trained and educated by the secular culture that has everything backwards. The culture portrays dads as bumbling idiots and to further the problem we have metro sexual males who join in on the feel good nurture nonsense. A father's role is a unique role. He stands as the pillar of morality, security, strength, and learning. He is the complement to a mothers loving, nurturing, and gentle ways. A father has some of these characteristics but they are tempered and reserved. One of the greatest insights that I have as a father is recognizing how God the Father may think about me, his child. I know what children do. I know children are the greatest joy in the world. Children can make you angry, they can bring frustration. They can also take you to the height of happiness. They can disappoint you, they can make you proud. They can seem as though you're not there, they can also be the most loving presence in your day. I often have a good laugh over how I must be behaving in the eyes of God the Father. Some times I sheepishly approach Him about something stupid I have been doing. Sometimes I think He's the greatest Dad in the universe. Sometimes I forget about Him. Sometimes I need Him badly. I always know He's there. He is the pillar of morality (as Jesus says to be perfect as the Father is perfect), security (my Refuge), strength, (my Rock) and learning( the Eternal Wisdom). The second problem we have is the education system. I will limit my rant, but here is the problem in a nutshell - God has been removed from the classroom. Unless you understand all the wonderful knowledge of the unfolding universe is from God, who is the source of all truth, goodness, beauty and wisdom, then you are left with an antiseptic view, a cold and one dimensional view, and in which this void has been replaced by the new Religion of Science. Finally, there is the secular culture. The best description I can give is this; a large rotary sander that is used to strip the paint off a car. That is what the secular culture does day after day. It strips away any of that the joy, wonder, and awe of of our child-like view of the universe. It is really like a multitude of sanders coming at us from all sides. So what can we do? We can start with parenting and retraining as to what the role of a father is. Parenting should always be the first and foremost responsibility of a father. More important than work and career. More important than recreation. More important than anything else besides God and your spiritual life. The responsibility of raising a child is an enormous one, but the rewards are beyond any description I have. The only other thing I can add is this. We need to preach, and preach it loud and clear: YOUR LIFE IS NOT ABOUT YOU. We are God's creation. Our purpose is to know, love and serve Him period. When we grasp that concept, we begin to reinstate the child awe and wonder which is already in us. We can do all philosophizing we want but we have return to that precept that HE IS GOD AND WE ARE NOT. We are not orphans but heirs to His Kingdom.

St. Patrick's Prayer

I arise today
Through the strength of heaven;
Light of the sun,
Splendor of fire,
Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of the wind,
Depth of the sea,
Stability of the earth,
Firmness of the rock.

I arise today
Through God's strength to pilot me;
God's might to uphold me,
God's wisdom to guide me,
God's eye to look before me,
God's ear to hear me,
God's word to speak for me,
God's hand to guard me,
God's way to lie before me,
God's shield to protect me,
God's hosts to save me
Afar and anear,
Alone or in a multitude.

Christ shield me today
Against wounding
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down,
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in the eye that sees me,
Christ in the ear that hears me.

I arise today
Through the mighty strength
Of the Lord of creation

Thomas A. Kempis Imitation of Christ - A Humble Opinion of Yourself

Bus Stations of the Cross

Become Empty Vessels of Humility

God has called us to be Holy. Are we doing the the things necessary to be a worthy vessel of God's grace? Have we removed the junk that impedes us from doing His work? Are we focusing on other things besides using the gifts and talents that God has given us. Remember that we can always do more. "Be perfect therefore as your Heavenly Father is perfect" Matthew5:48 Our attempts at being perfect should not be at best haphazard. Rather in all earnest, through prayer we must become first and foremost empty vessels of humility desiring God's graces. This Lent as we have ventured to this point, God urges us to do more. More prayer, more reflection, more quiet time with Him, more times at the table of the Eucharist, more self-denial, more outward selfless thinking. It could be that we need just that much more to make that lasting impression on someone, that enables them to see Christ in all we do and thus through our very being give glory to God the Father.

Saint Finnian Lobhar ("The Leper")

Tomorrow we will be wearing green and we all become Irish for a day (my mother is a Reilly) but I would like to tell you about another Irish saint of whom we celebrate today. A native of Ireland, Finnian was ordained to priesthood in the south of the country by Bishop Fathlad. Finnians's holiness and the miracles wrought through his prayers drew many of the faithful to seek his assistance. When the mother of a leprous boy came to Finnian in hope of a cure, the priest prayed intently for him. He then experienced a revelation that he could only obtain the child's healing by consenting to take the leprosy upon himself. Finnian readily accepted this sacrifice, and the boy was cured, while he himself became leprous from head to foot. On one occasion Finnian was enjoying a boook beside a lake, he inadvertently dropped it. The book plunged into the watery depths, and seem irretrievable, but amazingly it resurfaced. Finnian found the book undamaged by the water. It was at this site that he subsequently erected a church and established a cemetery. He spent his later years as abbot of an Irish monastery. (courtesy of the Magnificat)
Ad maiorem Dei gloriam - For the Greater Glory of God

Jesus Knows Us All Too Well

"While he was in Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, many began to believe in his name when they saw the signs he was doing. But Jesus would not trust himself to them because he knew them all, and did not need anyone to testify about human nature. He himself understood it well." This is for me a most interesting passage. Jesus has just gone into the temple and railed against the money changers who were making a mockery of His Father's House. What John is saying is that those same people who turned God's house into a market were unlikely to understand what Jesus' real plan was and of course Jesus knew that. The event here was to remind everyone that we need to make a total conversion to follow Christ's footsteps and that all too often we resist that kind of change. We fall into the same temptations, the same bad habits, the same lack of motivation, the same depth of our spiritual well. Christ is asking us for more. He is showing us while hanging on that cross what He is willing to do. This Lenten journey that we have been on, let us remind ourselves that we want to die too. We want to depart our old life and rise to a life of Christ. United with Him in grace we can shed our old life and be converted. Place the Cross in the center of your heart. Allow the love of God to guide, direct, and move you towards humility, unselfishness and servanthood. Jesus knows us well, we need His grace to deepen the journey.

Bishop Sheen on Wasting Your Life

Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa

Pretty Awesome Youth Group Video

Hats Off to Phat Catholic Apologetics for this video from Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church Youth Group, Owensboro, Kentucky

It's Time to Dump the Republican Party

I am first and foremost a Catholic, neither conservative nor liberal but one who is obedient to the Church's Teachings. The Liberal Democrats in power have an open agenda against the Catholic Church and Her teachings. It is riddled with phony Catholics like Pelosi, Biden, Sebelius, and the like. The Republican Party is no better with it's new Chairman Michael Steele check out this interview posted on Ignatius Insights.

Given Birth To Failure

Consider that perhaps we as a nation are the Prodigal son that Jesus describes in the Gospel of Luke Chapter 15. Have Catholics taken their inheritance and run off to the pagan land of secularism? Have we squandered our faith, spending our time on the immorality of the modern world? Is Our Father left behind while we are succumbing to every temptation and hollow promises of our present day society? Will this global economic crash leave us with feeling like the pigs eat better than we do? Will we become so morally bankrupt that we will "come to our senses" and return home? This Lent pray for our Nation, who in many areas has abandoned God, left him for distant lands and squandered our faith on the prostitutes of wealth, pleasures, and indifference. Our Father is waiting on us. The famine will come and we will be left in the wake. The only choice is to return to Him. The alternative is to cave in and surrender to the evils of our pagan society and that will lead to ultimate doom and eternal damnation.
Psalm 7

LORD my God, in you I take refuge; rescue me; save me from all who pursue me,

Lest they maul me like lions, tear me to pieces with none to save.

LORD my God, if I am at fault in this, if there is guilt on my hands,

If I have repaid my friend with evil-- I spared even those who hated me without cause--

Then let my enemy pursue and overtake me, trample my life to the ground, and leave me dishonored in the dust. Selah

Rise up, LORD, in your anger; rise against the fury of my foes. Wake to judge as you have decreed.

Have the assembly of the peoples gather about you; sit on your throne high above them,

O LORD, judge of the nations. Grant me justice, LORD, for I am blameless, free of any guilt.

Bring the malice of the wicked to an end; uphold the innocent, O God of justice, who tries hearts and minds.

A shield before me is God who saves the honest heart.

God is a just judge, who rebukes in anger every day.

If sinners do not repent, God sharpens his sword, strings and readies the bow,

Prepares his deadly shafts, makes arrows blazing thunderbolts.

Sinners conceive iniquity; pregnant with mischief, they give birth to failure.

They open a hole and dig it deep, but fall into the pit they have dug.

Their mischief comes back upon themselves; their violence falls on their own heads.

I praise the justice of the LORD; I celebrate the name of the LORD Most High.

Father Longenecker on A Personal Relationship With Jesus

This an excellent post by Father Logenecker. and an excellent blog I may add. I remember once discussing the aspect of an altar call with a Protestant friend, when I told him the we have an altar call every time we go to Mass.

The Assault Has Begun

There are signs that the secular world here in America is moving towards diminishing the Catholic Church and its presence in the public arena. The current administration is forcing it's ideology and culture of death and an ignorant public is standing by idly. I have said it before and I will repeat it here. There will come a time, maybe not in my lifetime but soon thereafter when Catholics will be hunted down, imprisoned, and every power will seek to silence and destroy the Church. If you can't see that you are not looking at the world correctly. Catholics put this current administration in power and they will have to live with that fact. Catechesis has been so poor in the last few generations that we have many ignorant or indifferent Catholics who do not either know their faith nor recognized that things happening will jeopardize the practice of it in the future. Now, Jesus said that the gates of hell would not prevail against the Church and I believe that. I also believe that hell is about to unleash its power. The Catholic Church will be the last obstacle to the total occupation of the hearts and minds of men which is the goal of secularism. The only thing that can change this is the laity and a concerted effort to better catechize future generations. back in 1851 John Henry Newman wrote "What I desiderate in Catholics is the gift of bringing out what their religion is — I want a laity, not arrogant, not rash in speech, not disputatious, but men who know their religion, who enter into it, who know just where they stand, who know what they hold and what they do not, who know their creed so well that they can give an account of it, who know so much of history that they can defend it. I want an intelligent, well-instructed laity — I wish you to enlarge your knowledge, to cultivate your reason, to get an insight into the relation of truth to truth, to learn to view things as they are, to understand how faith and reason stand to each other, what are the bases and principles of Catholicism and where lies the main inconsistencies and absurdities of the Protestant theory. I have no apprehension you will be the worse Catholics for familiarity with these subjects, provided you cherish a vivid sense of God above and keep in mind that you have souls to be judged and saved. In all times the laity have been the measure of the Catholic spirit; they saved the Irish Church three centuries ago and they betrayed the Church in England. You ought to be able to bring out what you feel and what you mean, as well as to feel and mean it; to expose to the comprehension of others the fictions and fallacies of your opponents; to explain the charges brought against the Church, to the satisfaction, not, indeed, of bigots, but of men of sense, of whatever cast of opinion" Catholic men and women have to restore to the next generation what it means to have this great Faith and to safeguard it against the daily pounding from the secular world. That in itself will not prevent the impending persecution but will allow the seeds for the future revival that will assuredly happen.

Intensify Eucharist Adoration

Pray For The Little Spiritual Gifts

The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom do I fear? The LORD is my life's refuge; of whom am I afraid? Psalm 27:1 We can take refuge and peace in God whose love is far greater than we have ever imagined. During Lent and throughout the year, when you receive Holy Eucharist consider praying for God's grace when you return to your pew. First consider where God is present in you. Consider the inner thoughts and workings of your heart and how when God is present He works to perfect you. He takes the rough edges and smooths them. He quiets the impatient heart and calms the angry one. In recognizing God's presence and His works, consider praying for God's little packages of spiritual gifts that he has waiting for you. We need only ask and at the time when we have come back from communion there exist an abundance of grace within us. At that moment it is good to seek God's attention to ask for your spiritual gifts, He is more than happy to accommodate you. Those gifts should be the things that you are lacking that will make you follow more in Christ's footsteps and more ever so slowly towards the perfection which is God the Father.