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	<title>The Electronic Voice of Nativity &#187; Chris Steffan</title>
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	<link>http://www.nativitycatholicchurch.net/electronic_voice</link>
	<description>Nativity Church of Fargo, 1825 11th St S, Fargo ND 58103  - (701)232-2414</description>
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		<title>What do we mean by a vocation?</title>
		<link>http://www.nativitycatholicchurch.net/electronic_voice/2011/05/03/faithlife/what-do-we-mean-by-a-vocation/</link>
		<comments>http://www.nativitycatholicchurch.net/electronic_voice/2011/05/03/faithlife/what-do-we-mean-by-a-vocation/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 03 May 2011 18:00:54 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Chris Steffan</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Faith Life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Baptismal Commitment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Closeness Of God]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Confidence]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Conversion]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Coworkers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Different Contexts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[God Grace]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[God S Grace]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Gospel Message]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hearing God]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hurry]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Liturgical Publications Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Personal Interests]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Realization]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Redemption]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Religious Life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Religious Vocation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Spiritual Experience]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Spiritual Insight]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Willing Spirit]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.nativitycatholicchurch.net/electronic_voice/?p=3207</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[  Can you explain what we mean by a vocation or calling? I have heard this term used in many different contexts and am not sure what it means. Does it apply to religious life? A vocation or calling refers to a spiritual experience whereby a person senses within oneself the closeness of God and what he is asking in one&#8217;s life. It is a realization of what one&#8217;s part in God&#8217;s plan could be. Vocation comes in all kinds of ways. Some are as dramatic as St. Paul&#8217;s, being knocked off his horse, blinded, and hearing God&#8217;s voice. Others are less dramatic, often occurring over time through little events and personal interests. Others happen in a hurry, accompanied by great spiritual insight or conversion. We often think that this applies to religious vocation, but in fact, every Christian has a vocation, a calling to serve others in and through the church. Whether married or single, religious or lay, we are all called to live out our baptismal commitment to preach and teach the Gospel message. Each of us has our role to play in God&#8217;s plan, and we become coworkers with God in the work of redemption. With a [...]]]></description>
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		<item>
		<title>Origins and Significance of Easter Celebration</title>
		<link>http://www.nativitycatholicchurch.net/electronic_voice/2011/04/23/faithlife/origins-and-significance-of-easter-celebration/</link>
		<comments>http://www.nativitycatholicchurch.net/electronic_voice/2011/04/23/faithlife/origins-and-significance-of-easter-celebration/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 23 Apr 2011 06:11:19 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Chris Steffan</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Faith Life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Feasts / Holy Days]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Baptismal Waters]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Easter Celebration]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Easter Vigil]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Egyptian Slavery]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[First Feast]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Freedom And Liberation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Glorious Event]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Holy Saturday]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jesus Died On The Cross]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jesus Resurrection]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jewish Passover]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Joyous Celebration]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Last Supper]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Light Of Christ]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Little Easter]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Liturgical Publications Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Matthew Mark]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[New Berlin Wi]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Passover Meal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sakes]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.nativitycatholicchurch.net/electronic_voice/?p=3161</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[What are the origins and significance of the Easter celebration? Easter was the first feast celebrated by the early church, commemorating Jesus&#8217; resurrection. This rich and glorious event celebrated the reality that Jesus, who had been killed, was experienced as alive. Sunday was chosen as the day of communal gathering and celebration because, according to the Gospels, it was on Sunday that Jesus rose from the dead. Easter was the primary feast, reenacted each Sunday, which traditionally became known as a &#8220;little Easter.&#8221; The Easter celebration is associated with the Jewish Passover, the commemoration of the freedom experienced by the Hebrew people when they were released from Egyptian slavery. Jesus&#8217; last supper is recounted as a Passover meal by Matthew, Mark and Luke. The Jewish Passover backdrop of liberation from slavery provided the context for understanding Easter as the liberation of Christians from slavery due to sin. Jesus died on the cross for our sakes so that we might no longer be slaves to sin. The Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday night is the joyous celebration of that resurrection reality in our lives. The community immerses itself in darkness, only to have the darkness shattered by the light of Christ [...]]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Reconciliation= Deeper relationship with God</title>
		<link>http://www.nativitycatholicchurch.net/electronic_voice/2011/04/13/faithlife/reconciliation-deeper-relationship-with-god/</link>
		<comments>http://www.nativitycatholicchurch.net/electronic_voice/2011/04/13/faithlife/reconciliation-deeper-relationship-with-god/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 13 Apr 2011 15:34:52 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Chris Steffan</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Faith Life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[April 14]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Catechism Of The Catholic Church]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Catholics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Communal Reconciliation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Confession]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Exercise]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[faith]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Formation Of Conscience]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Habit]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Liturgical Publications Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nativity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Obligation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Paragraph]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Physical Therapy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Precepts Of The Church]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Regularity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Relationship With God]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sacrament Of Penance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sacraments]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Struggle]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.nativitycatholicchurch.net/electronic_voice/?p=3120</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Nativity will have a Communal Reconciliation Thursday, April 14 at 7:00 PM. Do Catholics have to go to confession at least once a year? Paragraph #1457 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches us &#8220;each of the faithful is bound by an obligation faithfully to confess serious sins at least once a year.&#8221; This is part of the minimum requirements to practice faith as found in the precepts of the church. The obligation to confess applies to serious sin. If one practices one&#8217;s faith sincerely, receives the sacraments, prays daily, strives to be holy, and is unaware of any serious sin, one would not be obligated to go to confession. Paragraph #1458 encourages people, however, to confess venial sin and to view the sacrament as another tool in the struggle to grow in faith through the formation of conscience. Like any exercise, when we get out of the habit, it is more difficult to return to the practice. Athletes understand how important daily practice is. It is the same for those who do physical therapy to recover from an injury. The regularity helps more than just occasional activity. In the same way, the regular practice of one&#8217;s faith makes [...]]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>What is the Easter Triduum?</title>
		<link>http://www.nativitycatholicchurch.net/electronic_voice/2011/04/12/faithlife/what-is-the-easter-triduum/</link>
		<comments>http://www.nativitycatholicchurch.net/electronic_voice/2011/04/12/faithlife/what-is-the-easter-triduum/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 12 Apr 2011 21:59:49 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Chris Steffan</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Faith Life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Beginning Of Time]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Christ In The Garden]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Commemoration]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Death And Resurrection]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Easter Feast]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Easter Sunday]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Easter Triduum]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Easter Vigil]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Eucharistic Table]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Evening Prayer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Good Friday]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Holy Saturday]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Holy Thursday]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Holy Thursday Liturgy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Liturgical Publications Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[New Berlin Wi]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Quiet Reflection]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Scripture Readings]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sundown]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Veneration Of The Cross]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.nativitycatholicchurch.net/electronic_voice/?p=3115</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[  &#60;At church, they keep inviting us to celebrate the Easter Triduum. What is this? Triduum means &#8220;three days,&#8221; usually referring to Christ&#8217;s resurrection from the dead &#8220;on the third day.&#8221; The Easter Triduum refers to the three days beginning with sundown on Holy Thursday and ending with evening prayer on Easter Sunday. Reckoning days from sundown to sundown is still evident in both Jewish and Christian practice. The Easter Triduum celebrates one continuous feast spread over three days. That feast centers on the commemoration of Christ&#8217;s passion, death and resurrection, beginning with the Mass of the Lord&#8217;s Supper on Holy Thursday evening. The Holy Thursday liturgy flows into a vigil experience with Christ in the Garden. The vigil continues to follow Christ through the Good Friday events of his arrest, trial, scourging and nailing to the cross, leading to his death. Good Friday ends with a veneration of the cross on which Jesus died, as we commemorate his death and burial. Holy Saturday is spent in quiet reflection on Christ entombed as we anticipate the resurrection joy fully celebrated at sundown during the Easter Vigil. Nine Scripture readings recount God&#8217;s constant love from the beginning of time, culminating in [...]]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Raising Lazarus</title>
		<link>http://www.nativitycatholicchurch.net/electronic_voice/2011/04/04/faithlife/raising-lazarus/</link>
		<comments>http://www.nativitycatholicchurch.net/electronic_voice/2011/04/04/faithlife/raising-lazarus/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 04 Apr 2011 19:18:36 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Chris Steffan</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Faith Life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Affirmations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Blind Man]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Darkness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Easter Vigil]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Eternal Life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Everyday Life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Faith Journey]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Giver Of Life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jesus As The Light Of The World]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jesus Is The Lord]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[John 11]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Life Over Death]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Liturgical Publications Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Midst]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Narrative]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[New Berlin Wi]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Raising Lazarus]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Raising Of Lazarus]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Resurrection]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sting]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.nativitycatholicchurch.net/electronic_voice/?p=3082</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[What does John&#8217;s account of raising Lazarus from the dead say concerning our Lenten faith journey? The raising of Lazarus, unique to John&#8217;s Gospel, is the narrative proclaimed on the fifth Sunday of Lent in Year A. The account is rich in affirmations concerning who Jesus is and what his ministry is all about. The structure and purpose of John 11 is similar to the healing of the blind man in John 9. The former focuses on Jesus as the giver of life in the midst of death, while the latter highlights Jesus as the light of the world in the midst of darkness. Both accounts offer illuminatingi nsights into the Lenten faith journey. The &#8220;I am&#8221; statement that Jesus asserts as he raises Lazarus from the dead is rich with Lenten meaning. Jesus proclaims, &#8220;I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die&#8221; (John 11:25-26) Death, the ultimate boundary to be crossed, is now, through Jesus, removed of all its sting and darkness. Jesus is the Lord of life for all who believe. No matter what death brings, it [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.nativitycatholicchurch.net/electronic_voice/2011/04/04/faithlife/raising-lazarus/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Sacramentals: tools of faith</title>
		<link>http://www.nativitycatholicchurch.net/electronic_voice/2011/03/28/faithlife/sacramentals-tools-of-faith/</link>
		<comments>http://www.nativitycatholicchurch.net/electronic_voice/2011/03/28/faithlife/sacramentals-tools-of-faith/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 28 Mar 2011 19:14:20 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Chris Steffan</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Faith Life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Clocks]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[faith]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Family Heirlooms]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Flashlights]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Holy Water]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Homilies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Incense]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Liturgical Publications Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Material Objects]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pencils]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Prayer Cards]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Props]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Rosaries]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Spiritual Things]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Spiritual Work]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Toolbox]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Treasure Chests]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Visual Aids]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Water Baptism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Water Candles]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.nativitycatholicchurch.net/electronic_voice/?p=3083</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[What is the significance of all the sacramentals-holy water, candles, incense? When the younger children in grade school come to Mass, they understand the homilies best when there are lots of visual aids. Clocks, treasure chests, oversize pencils, flashlights and props of all kinds help them grasp the meaning of the Gospel and how it applies to them. Their attention is focused and they understand what they can see, feel, and hear. Sacramentals help us connect with the spiritual things we do. They help us focus our attention as well as give us the tools we need to do the spiritual work we want to do. Candles are symbols as well as instruments of prayer; incense directs our thoughts heavenward as well as invoke God&#8217;s blessing; holy water reminds us of our baptism; rosaries help us pray; prayer cards do the same. These become the &#8220;little tools&#8221; of faith, material objects that point to a reality far greater. Lots of things can become sacramentals. Like family heirlooms, objects can take on meaning and purpose which connects us with God, the church and each other. Some are universally known while others are personal. When we use something to turn our minds [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.nativitycatholicchurch.net/electronic_voice/2011/03/28/faithlife/sacramentals-tools-of-faith/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Taking Up Our Cross</title>
		<link>http://www.nativitycatholicchurch.net/electronic_voice/2011/03/15/faithlife/taking-up-our-cross/</link>
		<comments>http://www.nativitycatholicchurch.net/electronic_voice/2011/03/15/faithlife/taking-up-our-cross/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 15 Mar 2011 16:23:41 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Chris Steffan</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Faith Life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Baptism]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cross Jesus]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Eternal Life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[God]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Journey Of Faith]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Joys And Sorrows]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Liturgical Publications Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Parents And Grandparents]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Patience]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Redemptive Mission]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Resurrection]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sacrifice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Stubbornness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sufferings]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ups]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.nativitycatholicchurch.net/electronic_voice/?p=2970</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[What does Jesus mean when he talks about taking up our cross? Our parents and grandparents used to say to us, &#8220;Nothing worthwhile is ever easy. You have to work at it.&#8221; Anything of substance and value requires patience, effort, and careful planning. If it were easy to do, there would not be much value in it. Maybe it took years to learn, but there comes a point where experience teaches what our stubbornness refused. Easy come, easy go! Jesus says the same thing about faith. Our journey of faith begins in baptism. When we are faithful to it, we find God&#8217;s plan for us, his way of allowing us to participate in his saving work, which in turn becomes for us our own salvation. Stated simply, we share in the mission of Jesus each day. We live our life with all of its ups, downs, joys and sorrows in union with the mission of Jesus. Our work then is holy. It is joined to the cross, God&#8217;s will for Jesus, the way in which he destroys sin and death and makes eternal life possible. His sacrifice accomplishes what we ourselves cannot do. To take up the cross, then, means [...]]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.nativitycatholicchurch.net/electronic_voice/2011/03/15/faithlife/taking-up-our-cross/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Matthew&#8217;s Gospel</title>
		<link>http://www.nativitycatholicchurch.net/electronic_voice/2011/02/21/faithlife/matthews-gospel/</link>
		<comments>http://www.nativitycatholicchurch.net/electronic_voice/2011/02/21/faithlife/matthews-gospel/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 21 Feb 2011 19:27:42 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Chris Steffan</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Faith Life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Belief]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Boundaries]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Christian Jews]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Conflict]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Failure]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Gentiles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[God]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Gospel Of Matthew]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jesus]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jewish Scriptures]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lawgiver]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lectionary]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Liturgical Publications Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Messiah]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Moses]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Myriad]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[New Berlin Wi]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Scripture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tension]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.nativitycatholicchurch.net/electronic_voice/?p=2916</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Lectionary Year A focuses on the Gospel of Matthew. What are the Gospel&#8217;s key concerns and messages? The community that produced Matthew&#8217;s Gospel faced a myriad of issues. The Gospel, probably written around 85 AD, addresses a community consisting primarily of Christian Jews who accepted Jesus as their Messiah. This places them in conflict with the majority of Jews in their locale who did not accept Jesus as Messiah. This creates a significant amount of tension. The Matthean community addresses this tension by seeking to clarify its identity. They are still Jews. Yet fellow Jews seem to reject them because of their acceptance of Jesus. How are these Christian Jews to live in light of this conflict? Matthew asserts that their belief in Jesus as the Messiah is correct and had been predicted clearly in the Jewish Scriptures. Those Jews who choose not to see or believe are mistaken. Matthew eventually refers to them as false Jews because of their failure to see, understand and interpret Scripture correctly. Matthew consistently affirms for his community the reality that they are to follow Jesus, who is the new Moses, the new lawgiver, who has challenged them to break boundaries and reach out [...]]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>A Valentine&#8217;s Blessing</title>
		<link>http://www.nativitycatholicchurch.net/electronic_voice/2011/02/14/faithlife/a-valentines-blessing/</link>
		<comments>http://www.nativitycatholicchurch.net/electronic_voice/2011/02/14/faithlife/a-valentines-blessing/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 14 Feb 2011 16:21:21 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Chris Steffan</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Faith Life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Affection]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bible]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Christ Loved The Church]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Encouragement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Love God]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Masterpiece]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Temper]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Trophy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Valentine Day]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Valentine Love]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Valentine S Day]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.nativitycatholicchurch.net/electronic_voice/?p=2903</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[A Valentine&#8217;s Day Blessing Love, the Bible says, is patient. May you never lose your temper with the one you love, but be patient as God was with his people. Love, the Bible says, is never boastful. May you cherish your love as a masterpiece of God, and not as a trophy to be displayed. Love, the Bible says, is never selfish. May you always be generous to your love, with time, with affection, with encouragement and assistance. For as Christ loved the Church, so we should love our beloved. As Mary was devoted to her Son, so we should be devoted to those we love. And as God loved and sacrificed for the world, so may we always be to those we love. Amen.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.nativitycatholicchurch.net/electronic_voice/2011/02/14/faithlife/a-valentines-blessing/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
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		<title>Confession: Reconciliation with God and Church</title>
		<link>http://www.nativitycatholicchurch.net/electronic_voice/2011/02/07/faithlife/confession-reconciliation-with-god-and-church/</link>
		<comments>http://www.nativitycatholicchurch.net/electronic_voice/2011/02/07/faithlife/confession-reconciliation-with-god-and-church/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 07 Feb 2011 16:43:26 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Chris Steffan</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Faith Life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Advice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Apology]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bad Act]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Confession]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Confessor]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Direction]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[faith]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Family Friends]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fast Cash]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Friends Community]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[God]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Liturgical Publications Inc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Members Of The Same Body]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Middle Man]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Parishioners]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Priests]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Reconciliation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sacrament]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sin]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Time Place]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.nativitycatholicchurch.net/electronic_voice/?p=2882</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Why do we confess to priests? Can&#8217;t we just confess to God? Let&#8217;s just suppose for a moment that I, as an underpaid writer, decided that I needed some fast cash and so I rob a store! Whom would I owe an apology to? Certainly I would apologize to the store&#8217;s owner, as well as my family, friends, parishioners, bishop, and the community in general. My bad act reflects on me and all who know me. People would say, &#8220;I heard your priest robbed a store&#8230;&#8221; Well, sin is much the same way. We are all affected by each other&#8217;s sin since we are all members of the same body. Each of us is called to live out the baptismal call to make Christ more visible in the world. When we sin, we fail to hold up our part. Confession is not only reconciliation with God, but also with the church. The priest represents the church community in the sacrament, so that as we are reconciled with God (who does not need a &#8220;middle man&#8221;), we are also reconciled with the church. Two other thoughts: We know the time, place and moment we sin. With confession, we also know the [...]]]></description>
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