by Father. Bill McCarthy, M.Ss.A.
from Hearts Aflame - Catholic Youth Magazine
1. PRAYER
Realize that you are a child of God, fearfully and wonderfully made, created in God's image and for a distinct purpose here on earth. Therefore, prayer should be an important part of your life.
2. SACRAMENTS
Realize that the Spirit of Jesus lives in your heart. He is there to inspire you, console you, and guide you each step of the way. Try to receive Him in Holy Communion at least every Sunday and to go to Confession at least once a month.
3. HOLY SPIRIT
Be open to the Holy Spirit, especially as He guides you through your parents, priests, and teachers. They are God's instruments for love, direction, and protection.
4. ENTERTAINMENT
Be careful of the kind of music you listen to and the TV programs you watch. So much of both is filled with violence, immorality, arrogance, and selfishness. As one young person said, "Garbage in, garbage out. Jesus in, Jesus out."
5. PURITY
Realize that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit and that your sexuality is a great gift from God. Pray to our Blessed Mother to keep you pure and loving. Be modest in the way you act and dress. Be careful about the language you use.
6. PARENTS
Often tell your mother and father how much you love and appreciate them. Try not to take them for granted. As you grow older, you will appreciate how much they sacrificed for you.
7. SIBLINGS
Be loving and kind to your brothers and sisters. Remember how sensitive you are when someone hurts your feelings. Treat members of your family the way you would like them to treat you.
8. FRIENDS
Be selective of your friends. "Birds of a feather flock together." Choose friends who have good character and high morals.
9. EDUCATION
Set aside an hour or so for study each evening and enlist the aid of your parents and older brothers and sisters. Education is a lifelong process. We are always learning. In this sense, every family is a home school. Home schooling, by the way, is a wonderful opportunity.
10. VOCATION
Ask God to show you what He wants you to be as you grow older, your vocation in life. Trust God to put this in your mind and heart for that's the way He works.
The Bible says, "...if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and he will be given it. But he should ask in faith, not doubting..." (James 1:5).
From the 1999 issue.
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
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2 comments:
This really helped me. I'm a 16 year old Catholic girl and sometimes it seems really hard to keep up with your friends, and stay faithfull at the same time. I can totally relate to the "Garbage in, Garbage out, Jesus in, Jesus out" quote. When I was going into Highschool, My Youth Minister told me that we will all go through tough times, but staying connected with God will make those times much easier. I'm only a sophmore, and I have experienced that so many times already. God will push you through the storm.
I'm glad that you have been able to recognize God supporting you in the trials of life!
There's so many things in the world that push people away from God that it sometimes becomes difficult to stick with Him ourselves! Communicating with God through prayer and following these tips definitely helps us all!
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