What to do when going on a Holy Door Pilgrimage?

The Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy started last December 8, 2015 when Pope Francis opened the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica.  What does this mean to you in your life in Christ or the spiritual life?

Penitent in Advent?

By Ramon FVelasquez (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons

At mass last Sunday, I was reminded in the homily why we don't say (or sing) the "Gloria" during Advent.  We are being penitent and getting ready for the Lord's Nativity that's why we do not say (or sing) the Gloria.  Just like during Lent when we remind ourselves of sins we did or our capability to do sin, we reflect and stand before our Lord with more contrition and appreciation for His coming.  It's an opportunity to sit down quicker, as I lean on one leg then to the next to ease the stress of standing, but we're getting close to Christmas.  After Christmas, Glorias will come back.

J & C Evert 2013

The plenary hall was full, most of whom were teenagers, who are at the point in their lives where they are looking for what matters most.  They came up and despite the quiet way the Everts' entered, they got a semi-rockstar welcome.  

You can get the books, the audio, visit their new apostolate, but their spirit, love and message comes from a source, where faith, hope and love come from.  May they be showered with graces.

From Browsing Links to Humbling Joy

I was reading Simcha Fisher's piece Should We Burden Priests with Our Sins which followed up her post Ten Reasons You Should Get to Confession this Weekend, and it was about the other side of the confessional - what some priests felt when people go to them for the sacrament.  She recommended a link and it was an article by Fr. Mike Schmitz.

It was in contrast to what we as penitents do feel when we go to confession, being ashamed is one, oh and the feeling of relinquishing yourself as the center of the everybody because of the realization that there is truly the center of the universe and its not you.  However, it was humbling too that, as the conduit of God's grace in the sacrament, priests often see the bowed-head humility of people who have had their last confession just a few days ago or maybe in decades.  He said,

If they are seeking the Sacrament of Reconciliation, it means that they are trying. That’s all that I care about. This thought is worth considering: going to Confession is a sign that you haven’t given up on Jesus.