Justin's Blog

Beyond Basic Season 5 Episode 1 Here's the link if you want to watch the full episode.   Beyond Basic is back and better than ever. Season 5 premieres October 10 at 6pm with new episodes dropping every week! Grab your popcorn and your friends and dive deep with us into real conversations that matter. Catch us on our website, on YouTube and on Facebook for a season you won’t want to miss. Let’s be Beyond Basic 🙌 ✝️Subscribe to our channel! https://guadalupemedia.com/ / YT: @guadalupemediabelize / FB: guadalupemedia 🎥 Support the Channel https://guadalupemedia.com/donate/

An easy way of getting a blogpost in is giving an update on how my goals are coming along. Also, going back to the old post ( that you can read here ) is good way to reflect on these goals since I had forgotten some of them.  Finish The Catechism in a Year Podcast  I have not.  Even though I had a bit of a "headstart" I did not get too far into the episodes. I am at Day 30 (CCC #212-221) Get confirmed  I have not.  I did not get a sponsor (Godparent). I was supposed to be confirmed around Easter this year, but since I could not find one it had to be postponed until next year. My mom had suggested Deacon Cal, and a few other people were suggested to me by Ms. Anselma. I had read that it needed to be someone you can trust to seek advice from. Nobody I had been considering were close enough to me that I would seek them out to talk to. Weeks passed and I just hadn't been going to the OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation of Adults) classes. It wasn't until a few Sunda...

     I never thought the question would be on my mind for so long. Since I had my conversion in Mexico, I felt strongly that I should choose a Saint whose relic I saw in the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe. St. José Sánchez del Río's toe was in the basilica.  I had watched the movie about his life, and later I read the book about his life and fell deeper in love with his sacrifice. I was determined to have him be my patron Saint. Although, I had never asked for his intercession. Rarely had I ever asked for a Saint's intercession.      Around March 19 of this year, I went to confession. I had confessed a sin I was addicted to, and Fr. Mike had advised me to pray for the intercession of St. Joseph for help with fighting this addiction. I did ask for help after that confession but thought little of it. Looking back at it a few days I had realized I had not fallen into the same sin for some time. That intercession I felt had been the first time I re...

As we approach lent, we must think of three things: prayer, almsgiving, and fasting.  Prayer - According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC), prayer is "the raising of one's mind and heart to God" or "the petition of good things from God in accord with His will," With Ms. Anselma in an RCIA class we spoke of how prayer could feel like we are trying to go around God's will and make our own happen. This definition from the Catechism clarifies it "the petition of good things from God in accord with His will," This lent I will continue to pray the rosary daily, but I will pray one in the morning (6:00 a.m.) and one in the evening (3:00 p.m.). Almsgiving The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) defines almsgiving as giving to the poor or performing acts of charity. I always struggle with this. I had to google ideas for almsgiving. I feel like donating clothes but people my size aren't as common...or possibly needy. Spending time teaching...

I did not receive the Eucharist.  For some time I was struggling with sin. I still am, but I would try to punish myself by not receiving the Eucharist. I would not go to Mass many times because I felt it was pointless not to partake of the sacrament. One Sunday as I sat at the back of the church and saw the priest raise the Host I began crying because I could not receive Him because I knew our relationship was bad and I had not been to confession. I eventually went to confession and have been many times since.  I recently began trying to go to daily Mass and pray the Rosary daily. It has been strengthening and deepening my love for God. A few days ago, I went to evening Mass at Divine Mercy. I had begun going to Mass in Benque before I left for work, but that day I was so tired I decided to push it down to when I was already in Belize City. After communion I was praying and remembered that I had promised God many years back that I would give my life in service to Him. Tears fi...

I read it.  Fr. Antonio's book was great. It was an easy read, and it provided me with a lot of help when I was struggling to start praying again. I still need to work on the habit of daily prayer but through things in this book I have a deeper appreciation for my prayer life. Thank you, Fr. Tony, I only wish I read it sooner. If you want to watch a series on the book with the author himself, I put a link below.  10 Episode Series of Pray or Die