predication.net

Jesus came to Nazareth, where he grew up. According to his custom, he entered the synagogue on Saturday and got up to read. They gave him the book of the prophet Isaiah. As he unfolded the book, he found a place where it was written: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor. He sent me to declare to the captives that they would be released, and to the blind that they would see; Then he rolled up the book, returned it to the servant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And they all convinced him, and marveled at the kind words that proceeded out of his mouth, and said, Is not this Joseph’s son? in Capernaum; do this also in your own country. ” He added: “Verily I say unto you, No prophet is precious in his own country. But I tell you the truth: Many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up for three years and six months, and there was a great famine throughout the land. And Elijah was not sent unto any of them, but unto the widow to Zarephat of Sidon. And many lepers were in Israel in the days of Elisha the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, but Naaman the Syrian: and when they heard it, all the people of the synagogue were wroth: and they rose up, and drove him out of the city, and led him unto the brook. Their city was built, and from thence they sought to overthrow him: but he passed by, and departed.
What is our experience of witnessing to the faith? Has it not happened to you that even “Christians” are ashamed to profess the faith? The man was talking about his co-worker. One day this collaborator visited me. As I spoke, I asked him, “Have you ever heard the gospel?” “No,” he replied, “but I have seen it. I know a man who was scared of the whole neighborhood. He was an alcoholic, he was as dangerous as a wild beast. But under the influence of the gospel, he changed completely. Now he is kind and good and has given up all alcohol. “

In today’s Gospel of Jesus, the natives did not accept that the words came out of his mouth: “If you will remind me of the words: Doctor, heal yourself! We heard what had happened in Capernaum; do it here, too, in your homeland “(Luke 4:23). The Lord Jesus comes to his own, and they know him: for he is the son of Joseph. They do not recognize him as their native – but not as the Messiah, and just as such, he wants to introduce himself to them when he reads a messianic passage from the prophet Isaiah, the prophet clearly points to him, but they do not accept it with their minds or hearts. When we look at the example of those Nazarene’s, we can understand what it means to know Christ, it means to come out of darkness, from the darkness of error, deception, dishonesty, to know Christ is to free oneself from one’s selfishness, greed, pride, sensuality, comfort; to allow ourselves to tell the truth – especially the truth about ourselves, it means to accept the truth – even if it is unpleasant, difficult, uncomfortable.

Christ, when he became man, found his homeland among us; may he be a precious prophet in this country, even though he reveals difficult truths to us; for these truths, for our deliverance from darkness, he sacrifices his life. No one is a prophet in his homeland. The proverb can be misused. All Jesus asks of us is to bear witness to the truth in this world, in the environment where we live and work. That is, simply to resist the false currents of the present, showing in one’s own life that one can live differently, more beautifully and more perfectly. This will force many around us to ask about the meaning of life.

Our testimonies of the release of faith may be different. We need to look closely at our lives first. We don’t want from others what we don’t do. The father says: My son drank, he also struck me … I once shouted at him, “Did they teach you in religion and in the church?” He replied, “You are silent! I have never seen you be a Christian.” That day I entered my conscience and changed my life. “I need to live a testimony of faith from each other and from each other. Amen.

According to Aristotle’s well-known definition, he pursues virtue the golden mean between two extremes. However, it is not easy to find this center. Parents must have a gentle feeling in order to they knew what goodness is that a child must not lack, and what we are already pampering them. Unreasonable frugality becomes greed. No wonder Aristotle declared it the first and necessary condition of all other virtues prudence, common sense, wisdom. He repeats his words
St. Thomas Aquinas: «Prudence to all others virtues helps, it is in all. ”
Even Christian authors praise wisdom and prudence. St. Ambrose compares it to a spring of water, which irrigates garden and allows other virtues to grow and bloom. According to st. Basil, without reason, resembles a ship without a helmsman. The wind also throws the vessel here and there. For that reminds St. Basil of the Asceticism, to be sane in piety: it seems good if it is done x the wrong time or without measure. ”St. Cassian talks about the discussion of monks in the presence of St. Anton the Hermit. Some argued that the most important thing they are all able to deny themselves, others have exalted above all love of neighbor. St. Anton did not want to oppose them directly. Nevertheless, he recalls that he knew many enthusiasts, who zealously began and ended badly. They lacked prudence, which is like the eye of the soul. I st,. Ignatius of Loyola he feared the unreasonable zealots and said that the candle with prudence is better than a great fire without reason.

Definition of prudence
According to Gaudier, prudence is a fundamental virtue or primary; if we have a desire and a real intention to pursue the last, supernatural goal, our mind is given the light to make the right choices about the choice of means (for this goal) … By this practical judgment our will to use those means will also move ». It follows from this definition that a reasonable person, then know mainly by three qualities: 1. can find resources for the goal it seeks to achieve; 2. can deduce practical from general and abstract principles concrete consequences for life; 3. anticipate the difficulties he may encounter and assess his strengths to know whether he can overcome obstacles or avoid them.
We often meet zealots who burn with enthusiasm and tear down many. Later it turns out that they were “fantasies”. They look like a stack of straw that burns huge flame and for a moment only the ashes of disappointment remain. In Florence Academy has four unfinished statues of Michelangelo, so-called seasons. Here you can see how a great artist came out of a specific piece of stone and how he slowly pressed the forms of his ideas into it. Inflamed idealists with a stone
facts do not count. Unfortunately, even very prudent people are very learned. It seems as if their mental energy has been depleted in the study excellent principles and as if they no longer have the strength and time to brought good principles to life. There they are often overtaken by those who are (as they jokingly say about St. Ignatius from Loyola) «people of small principles». If any truth they understand, they immediately see all the consequences that follow from it and the real possibilities for realization Those who conduct, performances, in particular where it can be assumed that subordinates will listen to the word. In this sense, Aristotle writes: “Prudence is the virtue of a superior. Others are common to superiors and subordinates; however, prudence does not suit the listener. ” In this context, the humorous reasoning of St. Bernard about who has
be introduced. Saint? Let him pray! A scholar? Let him study! An ordinary but reasonable person! He is the best! The Jesuits jokingly said they were superior he should not be very holy, nor very learned, nor very healthy. People who excel often fail to lead sensibly ordinary people, they cannot understand the difficulties of the ordinary of life.
Prudence certainly has an innate basis. However, many will learn life and experience. Reasonability presupposes a certain thing properties that can be acquired or at least strengthened. Understandably, the light of faith is the most important thing for Christian prudence. There is not one who tries deeper and to penetrate deeper into the spirit of the Gospel, into the spirit of the universal Church, which has a two-thousand-year tradition and help of the Holy Spirit.

It seems to someone that two different ones contradict each other
attitudes. One wants to believe firmly and the other would like everything he understood, he examined everything, he considered. It is true that they were in history saints who wanted to become fools in the eyes of the world, who considered the wisdom of the murers as vanity and deception (cf. 1 Cor 1:19). They despised caution, prudence, common sense. In Russia, they were called “iopoÄHBbie XpiicTa pajiH” and the people liked to worship them. While we can admire the power of the Spirit in these special cases, however, we do not consider the «juror» to be normal, and the less ideal type of Christian perfection.  The deity of Christ united with perfect humanity. The gift of God’s wisdom should ideally be combined with healthy and a keen ability to reason. Therefore, in a series of canonized saints, most people are very talented and astute.

The Stoics sought to unite all virtues into one. Others, on the contrary, were concerned with this unified image they decomposed, described its parts, formed a system of virtues. That’s right it happened that some went into playful details. Others are they preferred to be satisfied only with the main features of the image.
The division into four basic virtues is old. It is based on the psychological structure of man. Plato developed this division in his State. He noticed that the mentality of different nations is different. The Greeks value knowledge wisdom, warrior Scythians or Thracians praise theirs Courage, Phoenician buyers are chasing money and light
life. This diversity of natures is possible because of the humanaccording to Plato, the soul has three abilities: 1. knowledge, 2. flammability, 3. capability, indulgence. Goodman uses these skills correctly. If used proper reason cultivates the virtue of wisdom. If he can do it the right place to apply your flammability, manifests courage. If he controls his enjoyment, he performs moderation. However, it is not easy to know when and how has which of these virtues come to the fore. That’s why the fourth fundamental virtue is necessary, justice. Her job is to balance all proceedings. Just as justice is the foundation of the state, so is the principle of harmony the foundation in the mental life of the individual.
The division into four basic virtues is generally adopted in the Christian literature of East and West. Some authors, e.g. st. Thomas Aquinas, built on this based on the whole developed system. The four basic virtues were assigned virtues similar, related, subordinate.
These systems can be different, so one writer is different from another.
A different division of virtues
Aristotle divided the virtues into intellectual and political. The Neoplatonists added a third group: «virtues clean ». They are based on the assumption that a person first does good on the outside, works honestly in society political). But then he will understand that true perfection lies in the purity of the heart. So he begins to purify his soul
(cleansing virtues). The peak of mental life then is in the knowledge of the real good (intellectual virtues). The division is too schematic, it did not happen. His response in Christianity is varied only in the fact that the spiritual life is divided into practice and contemplation. St. John of Damascus divides virtues into “mental” and «physical». The mental virtue is e.g. moderation. We have to fast to get to it. Fasting is a bodily virtue. Western authors have not adopted this division. They talk rather about the virtues themselves (eg moderation) and the means to achieve them (instrumental virtue, e.g. fasting). Origenes tried to interpret Christian virtues according to a schedule of eight beatitudes. It would certainly be nice but even this attempt becomes violent if we put too much theoretical knowledge into the simple speech of Jesus “on top” considerations.

22. Sunday through year A
Is God good?

Introduction

When we see so much evil, moral detachment, suffering and hatred around us, a torturous and burning question often comes to mind: Is God good at all? Have you ever been interested in us, O God? When did God even care about us? Desperate humanity, stuck in wars, environmental problems, famines, incurable diseases, or devastating floods, asks: Why does God allow it? Or worse: If he were God, he still couldn’t look at so much evil! And we can ask: How come people suddenly ask about God and blame him when they get into itching? When we think about it honestly and humbly, we must recognize that wars are not started by God, that God has not set up a concentration camp, killed anyone, sold any child, does not rebel against immigrants, or ravages the country. But it is we – the people – yes, we humans HAVE emerged from God’s guidance!

Sermon

The German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche has long since opened his view to the future without God. And what he saw scared him. He writes: “Is there any” up “and” down “? Don’t we have any infinite NOTHING? Doesn’t emptiness breathe on us? Didn’t it get cold? Isn’t it getting more and more dark? ” It seems very cramped when Nietzsche described our situation more than a hundred years ago. It was also clear to him why people themselves wanted to become independent and get rid of God. And now we look with horror at the 20th century, which has shown the true face of brutal evil. And now let us go on and ask, Even if a person bears the guilt of evil and sin, what does a good God do so that a person does not remain in the clutches of the Evil One? The answer to this burning question can be found in today’s good news. And at first glance, we can realize that God’s action and thinking is diametrically opposed to human action and thinking.

We humans most often approach evil, as the Apostle Peter showed us. We try to avoid evil, we try to deny evil. When we hear about the suffering that is needed to redeem guilt, we are immediately afraid. We are afraid of sacrifice, we are afraid for our little human life. Simon Peter took the Lord Jesus aside and began to tell him, “This must not happen to you, Lord!” To put it in other words, it means: no obstacles, no suffering, no loss of your family, your friends, your possibilities. Or your popularity. Simon Peter did not know at the time, as many people do not know to this day, that the path to happiness and the saving of life leads only through VICTIMS, through suffering. This is the only way to overcome evil. But why is that so? Mankind could have everything for free, without pain, without suffering and without problems, if in the beginning of humanity there was no unbelief and disobedience to God. If there was no original sin, there would be no pain. But let’s not say it’s just Adam and Eve’s fault. Even in the era of Christian redemption, knowing the Ten Commandments of God, God’s love and goodness, mankind chooses consciously and voluntarily the path of unbelief, disobedience, and complete independence from God. And the consequences are terrible.

When we ask why this is so, why God does not remove evil once and for all, the answer is obvious. This is because God the Creator gave man FREEDOM. And even the gift of freedom cannot be bypassed by man. God in His infinite goodness and wisdom opened the way to the destruction of evil. We enter this path by faith in God. Sure, faith cannot escape evil, but faith can do something much higher and more perfect: Faith can pass evil. Christ the Lord has set out on this path, but Simon Peter – like us humans – would like to stop this path of evil passage for the Lord Jesus. And so these hard words came from the mouth of Christ the Lord: “Get out of my way, Satan! . You don’t know what’s good and what’s saving your life. Get out of the way! ”

Only when Christ the Lord first walked this path alone, until he himself became that WAY, can we follow him. And it is the faith in Jesus Christ that can be evil. For two thousand years in Christianity, people have been crossing the barrier of evil. How many martyrs and martyrs who went through suffering and death to a happy eternal life! How many millions and millions of Christians did not have hope because of their faith in Christ! Faith in God and the power of God’s love will not save us from pain and suffering, but in the power of God’s love we can go through every suffering. Yes, you will pass evil, and then you will achieve absolute good. This is possible only because of our faith in Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns from this time to the ages. Amen.

St. Augustine is the most important representative of ancient philosophy and theology. Undoubtedly, one of his most important writings is the autobiographical work “Confessiones”, . So far, no book has been written that would capture the human heart as powerfully as the Confession of St. Augustine. You will also not find a book that could be read with greater spiritual benefit. In other works of this genius – such as the dogmatic treatise on the Holy Trinity “De Trinitate” or the great work of Christian apologetics “De civitate Dei”, or “About the Community of God” – we find the depth of philosophy and theology, the irresistibility of its eloquence, the boldness of poetic images, the reliability of the doctrine and the fervent love of knowing the truth. All this can be found in his Confessiones. But what does the Confession of St. Augustine, completely unique and exceptional, is that St. Augustine here confesses his most shameful destinies and paths, when in his youth he became burnt with the desire to be satisfied with the pleasures of this world. In Augustine’s pains and joys, in his hopes and disappointments, in his falls and rebirth, generations of Christians found their own joys and pains, their own hopes and disappointments, their own falls – and also their own rebirth.

We can say that the work of this genius and pardoned saint, characterized by a burning heart for Christ and sacrificial love and boundless goodness to the entrusted sheep, dominated the theology and philosophy of many centuries to come. Until the time of St. Thomas Aquinas, there was no thinker who could even approach St. Augustine. And even when we read carefully the supreme theological work of St. Thomas Aquinas Summa Theologiae, in addition to the evidence from the Holy Scriptures, we find here a huge number of quotations from the most important works of St. Augustine. St. Augustine is the most prolific ecclesiastical writer in the history of the Catholic Church. He is often called the honorary title “Doctor gratiae” or “Doctor of Grace” and theologians around the world worship him as their patron.

The whole extremely captivating life story of St. Augustine is based on his extraordinary spiritual journey. St. Augustine is a typical example of a man who has turned completely to Christ the Lord. He can be a great role model for each of us in this regard. It shows us that it is never too late to abandon our evil way of life and turn to God, in whom we will find peace that this world cannot give. And so we cannot end our reflection other than with the magnificent hymn of St. Augustine from the first chapter of his Confession: And man wants to praise you – that tiny part of your creation! A man moaning under the burden of mortality, moaning under the burden of his sin. And yet man wants to praise you, that little part of your creation! You encourage man to praise you with joy, because you have created us for yourself, and our hearts are dissatisfied until they rest in you, O Lord! ”Saint Augustine, pray for us! Amen.

In addition to Augustine, Monika also had two other children – a son Navigia and a daughter Perpet. Both children led a godly and orderly life. But it was harder with Augustine. Although his mother tried to lead him to a living faith, Augustine did not like Christianity very much. He was not even baptized, which was not unusual at the time. It may sound strange today, but at that time it was assumed that sin committed after baptism was more serious than before baptism. Therefore, many postponed baptism until adulthood. The same was true of Augustine.

Young Augustine was very talented and counted. His parents were proud of him and spent a lot of effort and money to provide the young man with studies. The reasons why they put him to study are interesting: “Patricia thought more about the honor of his family and human glory, while Monika had in mind the religious goal. She was convinced that true science was not an obstacle, but rather a help to get to God. ”Augustine began studying in Carthage at the age of sixteen, and this environment did not only give him an intellectual outlook and career opportunities. He set out on the bad sidewalks, which were captivated by the immoral surroundings. After the death of her husband, Monika wanted to get Augustín on the right path, but the young man is deaf to her care. Moreover, Carthage was far and beyond the care of caring Monica.

Augustine was extremely hurt by Augustine’s persistent resistance and disorderly way of life. But she never forgot who to run to when she was at her worst. She constantly entrusted her son to God’s protection and help, asking for the grace of conversion and the power of the Holy Spirit. Although she prayed intensely for her son and fasted, it seemed that Augustine would not move. Monica continued to trust God, but at the same time she was tempted by anxiety and anxiety. She often cried during prayers and prayers … and often just cried. Monica was comforted by Jesus’ words “Ask and you will receive! Search and you will find! Knock and they will open to you! ”(Mt 7: 7) This gave her strength. But it seemed as if God was silent on supplications.

Your son will not perish

We could also look for the roots of Monika’s determination and perseverance in her ancestors. Her parents and grandparents maintained a strong Catholic faith even in times of various divisions. They remained faithful to the Church despite the fact that the area was under the influence of various sects. Montans in particular had a great influence. Augustine successfully completed his studies in Carthage and returned to Tagaste. However, Monika’s joy at his success was overshadowed by bad news, and plans with her son were thwarted again. Augustine brought his mistress, with whom he later had a son. He lived in an extramarital “free” relationship for 14 years. Monika would still be able to bite that anyway. A particularly severe blow was that her son joined the Manichean sect, which was known for its anti-Christian attitudes.

Augustine made it clear to his mother that he had nothing but ridicule and contempt for her faith. Monica was very worried about Augustine’s salvation and intensified her already intense prayers. In addition, she was looking for people to help her with her son’s delusions. But discussing with the excellent and confident rhetorus Augustine was not easy at all. He later wrote: “I have almost always won. Especially in discussions with Christians who were less practical but zealously defended their faith as best they could. ”But Monica did not fight for Augustine only through prayer, fasting, almsgiving, and other acts of religion. She was simple but intelligent and could contradict Augustine’s anti-Christian views. Sometimes she even became involved in the challenging philosophical disputes that Augustine led with his friends. This knowledge of Monica contrasts sharply with the common notion of the saint as an extraordinarily religious, but “not very rational” man.

However, Monika’s wisdom did not result from the addition and knowledge of a large number of facts, but from her obedience to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. However, Augustine often made it clear to his mother that he had nothing but ridicule and contempt for her faith. Monika finally fired Augustine from the house. It was perhaps out of desperation and boiling out of rage that her son was insulting Christianity wherever he could. Monika regrets this radical step and seeks help from the local bishop, who was a Manichean when he was young and knew their teachings. Monica described his difficult situation to him. The bishop advised her to continue to pray. Monica asked him to meet Augustine and convince him of the delusions of Manicheanism, but he refused. However, Monica insisted on a meeting, to which the bishop responded with a familiar sentence: “Go away, for it is not possible for a son to die, for whom the mother sheds so many tears.”

Augustine changes his attitude

Monika was extremely encouraged by these words. At the same time, however, she realized that she would achieve nothing by constant persuasion, so she continued to pray. Again, however, God did not seem to change her situation. From a human point of view, it looked as if God was “powerless” and not omnipotent. However, God also sees beyond the horizon of our thinking and acts even where we are unable to see.

Peter Kuruc (Brotherhood of Baptists): “While thinking about the meaning of life, I realized that I was missing something. So I started looking for it in many things in this world. I was looking for it in friendship with my friends with whom we weren’t very nice flowers and sometimes we did what they did. And indeed, there was a time when these childish mischiefs filled me. Over time, however, I had the opportunity to begin to take faith as a little more seriously with my parents. My grandmother and I sometimes went to church, but it was just a forced sermon for me to hear the sermon, and it didn’t mean anything to me at the time. It wasn’t until one Sunday that we got to the Evangelism in Nesvad, which was in the local  church. During the sermon, as always, I played with something and I was not at all interested in what the gentleman up there wanted to tell me by his story. But during the sermon he mentioned one thought: “Only in Jesus Christ will I find the seeker of the meaning of my life !!!” And this was the thought I needed to hear, these were the words exactly for me. This was what fascinated me and I started I was wonderfully lucky to find the meaning of my life in God and slowly show me over time what the main mission is for my life, never more than I can endure, but it approaches me quite patiently and with love and I have the opportunity to learn new things. things, to rejoice, to have peace and to come to what I was made for, so I no longer need to ask what is the meaning of my life, because God has shown me this meaning a long time ago. mission, it may be a discovery of God, but that’s not it, the meaning of my life is not that I learned about God and then showed me what my mission is, I believe that man was created to survive a personal and deep relationship with God, to be honest with Him and allow Him to help Him . To fall before Him and say, Father, I give up. Man was created for a personal relationship with God. And in this I found the greatest meaning of my life. In the fact that I realized that God is not just somewhere, but that He is beside me and is interested in me and I no longer need to ask – Father, why this, why hento, why you committed this or hento, I just want to humble oneself in front of him and accept what he gives me. To accept what he thinks I am ready to know and I do not need more. The purpose of my life is a relationship with God. “
• Mark, a Catholic: “At the request of my parents, I received sacraments such as baptism, communion, and confirmation. But the further I went, the more I became disgusted with what my parents wanted, and with that came the obligation to attend Holy Mass. And so, during puberty, my successful weightlifting began, and since my parents did not have time for me, especially for work responsibilities, I began to live as much as I could. The first night parties, discos, smoking, alcohol, the first sexual experience, theft and lies. At the age of nineteen, I managed to find a job with housing, where I decided to quit drugs, because I was already beginning to experience feelings of anxiety and loneliness, but there was an even bigger spread associated with trips to various rock festivals, … Here I felt that I no longer control myself and I tried to change my life through Hinduism, Buddhism, magic and the like. Well, it all drew me even more into the darkness, and I often experienced the urge to leave this world – to kill myself. When I returned home, my parents and siblings noticed that I was different and we often had sharp exchanges. The nightmare broke through that night, and the yoga exercises did not help, so I also began to pray and ask Jesus that if he existed, he would help me. The next day I left for drug treatment, where I began to pray here and there. Sadness began to permeate me for what I had caused my family. A friend suggested I go to confession. I went to the priest and said that I would just talk. Eventually, I confessed everything I could think of at that moment. After the confession, it seemed to me as if everything had fallen off me, all the things I was worried about, as if someone had taken away and filled with the joy of living, breathing, that I could walk, that there were people around me. I was overwhelmed by unspeakable happiness that could not be described. For repentance, the priest commanded me to pray a certain prayer. During it, I felt like a voice in my heart, as Jesus was telling me, “You called me that night, so I came.” And that’s when I first experienced that God exists, that Jesus is real and alive even now. I sensed his closeness that he cared about me, understood me, and seeing into my heart he knew everything I was experiencing. Whenever possible, I prayed, asked Jesus what to do, and asked for help. Things began to change gradually. After two weeks, the doctor wrote in a report that I did not show any withdrawal symptoms after the drugs. But my parents also took me for a special treatment to the second center in Košice, where patients usually spend six weeks. I was told after two weeks that I could go home if I wanted, but that I would definitely be back. I still felt God’s power and wisdom in all actions and daily prayer.• Immediately upon returning from healing, I began to go to Holy Mass on my own to listen to God’s word, pray, and partake of the sacraments. The relationship with the girls gradually changed (no relationships due to sex and enjoyment – it was a long process of transformation and purification, which in part still takes place). We started a community of young people in our city who had a desire to live a relationship with God together. Gradually, God led me through various missions – the Missionary School in Podolínec, from there to Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, again a missionary school to a bachelor’s degree in higher education at the Department of Misiology. “(In redemptoristi.sk)
• Bernardone, a Catholic: “Once during the summer holidays, when my girlfriend was abroad, I decided to pray every day. Hello, may the Lord show me, despite Mary’s intercession, what to change or what is wrong. Not a week has passed, and I am beginning to pray again. Taking my grandmother’s book, which just died a few months ago. And a little miracle came. It fell out of my hand when it was opened. I noticed that something else had fallen out of it, some tiny piece of paper, so I cut it under the table that to put it back there, but when I picked it up and looked at it, I was stopped by the words on it. Somewhere in the middle of that little text it was written: Are you a real man? Do you respect your girlfriend if you want her to be as clean as you want your wife to be? ”It was exactly after I prayed and asked God to show me what was wrong with my life. I have been afraid to answer this question for a long time, and without this event I do not know when I would have answered it. I always felt reluctant to acknowledge this mistake and sin, so to actually give it up. But on this day, strengthened by prayer and this “accident”, I only felt a chill on my body, and at that moment I knelt and started praying again. I don’t know if it was a prayer again, or really for the first time in my life. The prayer also lasted. more than an hour, I don’t know exactly, I didn’t perceive the time. but then there was another crying out of joy, feeling detached from all chains, it was crying from happiness, it seemed to me as if God was embracing me, and prayer was no longer Father or Hail, but I whispered and repeated to God he professed love, or just knelt without words, and as if he didn’t even think about anything, I don’t know if I went to confession the next or the third day And he was born again From that weeping night my whole life started from the very beginning change, not from day to day, but from hour to hour lo, I started smiling, slowly overcoming obstacles that seemed difficult to me before, and especially my two main sins against purity (masturbation and premarital sex) completely disappeared, even though many friends and media articles told me that it was it’s natural and you can’t get rid of it. The temptations have indeed come, and even stronger, but also their smooth handling. Of course, many other sins arose that I hadn’t even noticed before, but even that began to slowly fade and improve. Since then, I have been filled with a desire for God, a desire to believe and to prove the impossible. Words from the Gospel have been etched in my heart forever, which give me great strength and courage: “If you have faith like a mustard seed and say to this mountain,” Get out of here! “- it will pass. And nothing will be impossible for you. ”(Mt 17:20)“ (redemptoristi.sk)
Richard Čanaky, bodybuilder, Catholic: “I was not raised by my parents in the faith, but through my extended family I still had the opportunity to learn something about God. My big scarecrow was school. It was my endless match. Elementary school was like a nightmare. At school, I worked my way up to three out of behavior, which at the time was like a crime. Looking in the mirror, I knew I had to do something with my character. I started dancing folk dances. My great role model was and is my brother. He knew how to work very hard on himself and that motivated me to perform. When I was about sixteen, I made 3,620 clicks, which was an unofficial world record at the time. That also held me back for a few days. Later, I started bodybuilding, even competitively, and my character suddenly began to take on different shapes. This was also noticed by peers – which aroused respect in them, as well as by girls, which I noticed very much again. Gradually, I wrapped it up and ended up in a kind of consumer style, where there was normal untied sex, alcohol, cigarettes, bars, discos, simply in quotes “normal” life. Suddenly, in addition to sports, I started jumping headlong into relationships with girls. In addition to everything, I also practiced martial arts. Jet-Kune-Do – this style enchanted me. I devoted myself intensively to it, as well as meditations and especially Silva’s method. I had my own homemade battle altar and also my black kimono, in which I spent a Christmas and ate rice with chopsticks at the Christmas table. I gave myself to it in body and soul. Since my school landed at freezing and my education ended up in an apprentice without a high school diploma, I worked as a plumber-maintenance worker. I was proud of that job. My future wife, however, motivated me to go to evening studies, so in addition to work, I spent the evening again at the school desk three times a week. I thought it would be boring, but that’s where my life story began to be written. I sometimes showed my classmates a blow to the wall or chairs, and one guy noticed. We started talking and started asking me about Christianity. He started talking about Jesus. He spoke of himself meeting him, what he is going through now, and what Jesus has for every person who accepts him into his heart. At first I successfully opposed it, but something inside began to erode me. My evening meditations at the “altar” became chaotic. Something was driving me to the people who led the prayer communities at the rectory. At the first meeting, we knelt and prayed. We didn’t know how. We did not want to pray classical prayers. We felt a special atmosphere. The presence of someone invisible but strongly present. We wept, and today I know we were touched by the Holy Spirit. My friend also came to our next meeting and prayed with us. He had previously asked us if we would like to know Jesus Christ personally and if we were willing to accept him as our Lord and Savior. My answer was clear, and in this prayer I already knew that my life was just beginning. That prayer was beautiful in what was coming, but terrible in what I was leaving. While praying, I fell to the ground and struggled terribly. At one point, time seemed to stop and I had to decide between darkness and light. However, my decision for Jesus was not easy. As if darkness was pulling me back. It was difficult for me to say the name Jesus. I tried, but it didn’t work. My friends kept praying and gradually I got it out of me. At that moment, an indescribable peace filled my interior. My decision was clear. Jesus became my only Lord and Savior. From that moment on, a boulder left my heart and my shell broke. I started living in the light. Our community has started. I graduated successfully and we started serving. The music became mine, not a hiding place, but like a terrace, a roof from which I can scream and sing about what God has done for me. The fear of school disappeared and I went to college. After five years of full-time study, I held a diploma in my hand. That’s when I realized that nothing is impossible for God. Prayer, fasting, family, and fellowship have become my new values, and I have begun to live the life that God has long prepared for me. Today I am married, have a great wife and two wonderful children, a daughter and a boy. I know that Christianity is not a rosy story from a fairy tale, but a real reality worth living in. You may say that there are many paths to God. Yes, but only one leads to the supreme – heavenly Father, the one God. That way is Jesus Christ. The Bible speaks of our lives and of our many promises in this age and the future. It is a guide to living your life here on earth and building your relationship with God. We are looking forward to heaven, but our time is right here and today. God has a way out for every wandering and uncertainty. Age and the number of sins are not decisive. All you need is your decision and your life can change. You may say that you do not need a change, that you are satisfied, but then you do not know the adventure that awaits you with Jesus. An adventure with lasting consequences – eternal life. You can decide today. Tomorrow is uncertain.

What does the term virtue mean?
Before Socrates, they praised the power and wealth of the Persians king. However, the ancestor of European philosophy just said:«And how much wisdom and virtue does he have? Only she, as far as I know, does a man blissful. ” The Christian life is a virtuous life. All the manuals of asceticism, the doctrine of perfection, speak of virtues. from four-part Theological Summit of St. Thomas Aquinas is one volume devoted to the doctrine of virtues. And yet in the Scriptures the word virtue is almost non-existent,or in another sense. In the New Testament we meet him only four times, once at St. Paul (Hp 4, 8) and three times in the letters of St. Peter (1 Pt 2, 9; 2 Pt 1,3; 1,5). To the tongue Christians, however, the word penetrated very soon. It belonged to the dictionary of common speech at the end of antiquity. But words too they have their history. The Slovak word virtue is related to the word honor. Latin virtue is from the word vir, so man originally means masculinity, qualities that we admire in men. Greek andreia, bravery, has the same etymology. However, virtue is generally called arete in Greek, something that likes, that excels is astonishing. It is understandable that primitive nations they most admired and honored the strength, the bravery of war. It means virtue in Homer. In Latin translations in the Old Testament, the word virtue simply means power. However, Jewish writers do not forget to remind at every opportunity that only Yahweh is strong and that all power man comes from God (. Ps 45). However, intellectual Greeks almost began to admire more dexterity and mental ability than physical strength. Word virtue has been transferred to the realm of spirit. But the spirit excels in two ways: knowledge and goodness, morality. Therefore, Aristotle divided the virtues into two: the intellectual and moral. However, this division did not take much. Stoics, from whom s he also received many Christian ants, for you arethey no longer valued knowledge so much. Between knowledge and action, theory  , there is often a big difference. You are then we should weigh according to good conduct. That’s the word practical and moral significance, as it h as in modern languages.Scripture still emphasizes good deeds action. Scripture, therefore, encourages us to live a virtuous life. The Alexandrian Jewish has already reached this conclusion philosopher Philon. He therefore confused the expressions of Scripture with Stoicism morality. “Only virtue,” as he says, “will free us from all evil.” For virtue, as the Stoics say, is the power of the spirit, who overcomes o bstacles, over uncontrollable passions.Here, however, the devout Jew Philon realized, at least in part, that the Scriptures differed from Stoic morality. It is not the power of man that leads to the victory of  good, it is rather the power of God. This is further emphasized in the New Testament more often. Christ’s fight against Pharisaism illuminates this. No one becomes a saint by his own power. The only one God is holy and just. It penetrates through baptism and grace God’s holiness and power into man, too, he also becomes holy and righteous to a limited extent. This difference between pagan, secular morality and the message of the gospel, Christians were well aware of. Perhaps that is why they were initially careful in their use of the word.It reminded them of conceited moral self-sufficiency.As this distrust subsided over time, Clement of Alexandriahe replaced the biblical expression of justice with the philosophical notion of virtue, which he defines as “the inclination of the soul corresponding to reason (rational action) for life”. To feelthere is also the dryness and clumsiness of abstract school speech.It was necessary to be more accessible for a practical Christian life definition, as we read it in St. Basil: “Virtue is the use of the things that God has given us, with a good conscience and according to God’s command.” Vice is, on the contrary,misuse of God’s gifts. Yet we do not speak to every good deed virtue. Virtue is something always, the ability of the soul to do good,
whenever the opportunity arises. She was accepted acquaintance Aristotle’s definition that virtue is the habit of good conduct is “the habit of free will.” We will learn through practice ride a horse, sing in a choir, speak a foreign language.So we can also learn to speak politely, truthfully, spend money sparingly, work for ourselves and for others. It is, of course, supposed to be God’s help from the beginning. Therefore, the time before the so-called the moral virtue was built by the “divine” virtues, the “acquired” virtues are preceded by the “cast”. However, these are all later concepts that prove that the word virtue has gained a firm foothold in Christian language and became identical with the perfection of the gospel.” Among all human things,” writes St. Cassian, “Nothing can be considered real good unless virtue. » Aphorisms about  virtues shchooling in European antiquity did not forget to encourage young people to live virtuously. It was happening also in the form of short principles. Some are known.