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Today is the Feast of Saints Simon and Jude. Simon was called the Zealot. That title most likely means he was associated with the movement that wanted to violently overthrow the Roman occupiers. Source. A political radical. A man who likely believed in violence as a means to an end. A man whose ideology put him on the wrong side of peace, of order, and by most accounts of basic decency toward his enemies. And Jesus looked at him and said come follow me anyway. Your past does not disqualify you from the call. Simon’s didn’t. Jude is the patron of hopeless causes. And here’s why some people don’t know that story. He became that patron because people avoided praying to him. His name was too close to Judas Iscariot, the betrayer. Source. Nobody wanted the association. So Jude became the saint of last resort. The one you turned to when nobody else was answering. The man nobody wanted to pray to became the intercessor for impossible situations. If your situation feels genuinely hopeless right now, these two saints were made for this moment. Simon was picked despite his past. Jude intercedes specifically for the desperate. Between them your past and your situation are both covered. “Jesus went up to the mountain to pray, and he spent the night in prayer to God. When day came he chose Twelve.” [Luke 6:12-13] Jesus prayed all night before choosing them. He chose deliberately. He chose Simon. He chose Jude. He chose you. And for the betrayed wife reading this: St. Jude is your saint today too. The situation that feels impossible. The marriage that looks hopeless from the outside. He’s been the intercessor for exactly that for two thousand years. Ask him today. 2 Practical Tips: To Battle Lust: Pray to St. Jude today. Not a formal novena if that’s not where you are. Just: "St. Jude, patron of hopeless cases, this is my situation.... Please bring it to Jesus for me." To Help Your Wife Heal: Tell her about St. Jude today and ask if she wants to pray to him together. “There’s a saint specifically for situations that feel impossible. I think we should ask him.” Your past has a saint. Your situation has a saint. Use them both. Join Catholics Fight Porn here. Remember, "You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you!" [Philippians 4:13] —Steve Join a FINALLY FREE! GROUP here. 🎙Listen to the Podcast: Catholics Fight Porn here. Sign up for a Daily 'Boost' TEXT for Motivation here. Book a 20-minute Intro Discovery Call here. Book a 1:1 Session w/Steve here. Read past Newsletters at the BLOG. Donate to CFP to support this work here. |
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The addict brain loves edging. It gets the hit without “technically” acting out. Edging is living on the edge of lust without crossing the line you’ve drawn. A lingering look. A scroll through “harmless” photos. Pictures that are "not porn." A fantasy replayed in your head. You tell yourself it doesn’t count because you didn’t go all the way. Your brain doesn’t care. It still gets the rush. “Each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire, when it has...
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