Sacrifice: How far do you go?

My wife and I have had some discussions recently about sacrifice. Nothing major, just little side conversations about how far we are to go in sacrificing for our spouses, our children, etc.

Christ calls us to "love one another as I have loved you." Christ loved us by dying, sacrificing everything for us. So how far are we to go? St. Paul says that husbands must love their wives as Christ loved the Church, laying down his life for us (cf. Eph 5).

I know in my own marriage, family that I am willing to die for my wife and children. Truthfully I believe I'm willing to die for most people I care about, but especially my family. I feel extremely confident that it is my responsibility to be willing to sacrifice my life for my wife and children.

But what about sacrifice that does not require actual death? What about sacrificing my wants, my desires, my career if it came to that? How far am I willing to go to sacrifice for my wife and children - my primary vocation? If it came down to it would I give up my career in youth ministry to in turn spend more time with them or to make more money so they could be more comfortable? (Just so you know this is not something we're discerning now - those of you at St. Leo's don't start thinking I'm planning to leave, this is not an issue at this point.)

There are so many aspects to this question and so many areas of our lives that we could be called to sacrifice. In fact I think that in our society today if more husbands and wives would consider that sacrifice is a part of their marriage we probably would have less divorcees our there. Marriage is about more than "compromise" or "give and take" it is about laying down your life for the other.

Sacrifice plays a role in all of our relationships, dealings - not just marriage. So the question I pose for discussion here is how far are we to go in sacrificing for our spouses, our children, or others that we love?

I do believe it is a discussion worth having. Please post your thoughts in the comments section and share this post with others who you think ought to share.

May we all learn to love as Christ loved us, laying down his life.

In Christ,
Chris Faddis
Husband, father, youth minister, blogger, goofball

Read my Youth Ministry Blog at ym.lifeteen.com

I'm excited to have been asked to share my thoughts on Youth Ministry at Life Teen Inc's site for Youth Ministers, ym.lifeteen.com. Currently you can find two blogs: 1st one is called "Set Apart" and is on creating environment for your nights, and the second is called "Responsive" and is about leading a responsive youth ministry. I'm currently working on more submissions as well.

You can also check out the site for our parish youth ministry www.stleoyouth.com for more. Projects in the works: I'm writing a feature for Life Teen's Spotlight publication which will come out later in the spring or early summer and I have a few other projects brewing.

In Christ,
Chris Faddis

FUS Portiuncula Named Site to Obtain Plenary Indulgence

I was very excited to receive this in an email from an old friend from Steubenville... the Portiuncula also known as "The Port" is a very beautiful and holy place to pray. It deserves distinction as it is a place where many people have converted, received their call to Priesthood, been engaged, received a message or calling from God, or been healed. It truly is a place "set apart".

Father Terence Henry, TOR, is pleased to share with you the wonderful news received from the Holy See regarding our very holy site, the Portiuncula, which has meant so much to our students, our grads, families, and friends of the University.

We have just received a decree from J. Francis Cardinal Stafford, Apostolic Penitentiary, naming the Portiuncula as a site to obtain a plenary indulgence. The decree reads in part:

The Apostolic Penitentiary, by the power of the most special faculty granted by Benedict XVI, graciously grants from the heavenly treasure of the Church a plenary Indulgence to be gained by each and every one of the Christian faithful, who devoutly visit the chapel called Portiuncula found at the Franciscan University of Steubenville. There they pray to God the prayers for the intentions of the Holy Father including the Our Father and the Creed. The visit should take place on (a) August 2, on which the Indulgence of the Portiuncula occurs; (b) October 4, on the feast of St. Francis of Assisi; (c) January 23, on the dedication of the tomb of the unborn; (d) one day in the year, which day each individual may freely choose; (e) as often as in a group they make a holy pilgrimage which is completed at this place (the Portiuncula).This will be in effect for seven years; nothing to the contrary withstanding.

Given at Rome from the Apostolic Penitentiary on the 11th day of February in the year of the Incarnate Lord, 2009 on this feast day remembering Our Lady of Lourdes.

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Wondering what a plenary indulgence is? http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07783a.htm

All is Well in 2009

The reports are in. It is only going to get worse. The sky is falling and the boy is crying wolf. I've been amazed at how gloomy the already despairing news media has gotten. Pull up any popular news site or web portal and you'll see the reports.

Here we are entering into a new year, a new opportunity, a fresh start, and we've already gone and dumped on it. Why? Because our blessed stocks aren't going to perform well? Because we are in fear for our jobs? Our retirement fund? Our savings accounts? Look, I understand those concerns. Perhaps you are someone who has lost your job recently and for you I pray. All of these concerns are valid and I completely get our worry when things don't look so great.

However, we seem to forget one thing. GOD HAS A GREATER PLAN THAN THIS. That's right, it may be that you lose your job this year, it may be that your stocks don't perform well and your 401k dumps more than it saves. I don't know what will happen for you this year but I do know that God is calling us to trust in HIM... not in our finances or our careers, or our material possessions.

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat [or drink], or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Matthew 6:25 - 26

2009 can be the best year of your life. Even if you lose your job or if you do by some good fortune make a million dollars. However, it will not be the best year because of what you gain, earn, or save. It will only be the best year of your life if you make it an opportunity to trust in God more. To let him show you His plan for your life. It may be a different plan than yours, but I can promise you that it will be a greater plan then you could ever have imagined. So, give your finances, your marriage, your possessions, your children, your future over to Him and let Him do the worrying (Which by the way he doesn't worry, but you get the point.)

After all:

Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly father feeds them. Are not you more important than they? Matthew 6:26

Here's to a great 2009 for all those who place their trust in the Lord!