Gary Zimak's Blog, page 28

In Defense Of Pope Francis

 

It’s time. I’ve put off writing this for a while, but the time has come. In the past few months, I’ve noticed an increase in the number of attacks on our current Holy Father, Pope Francis. No big deal, right? After all, our culture isn’t exactly supportive of Catholic teaching. We live in a world where the pursuit of pleasure is generally regarded as a one of life’s priorities. What the Church considers good is often viewed by the world as evil. Is it any surprise that the world is going to reject and vilify the Holy Father, who is the visible head of the Church on earth? Of course not, but that’s not the reason why I’m writing this article. Sadly, the majority of the attacks that I’m seeing are coming from those within the Church. Oh, it’s those “Cafeteria Catholics” again, right? Not this time. The vast majority of attacks are coming from individuals who love Christ and His Church. What’s unusual is that their love is being expressed in anger, disrespect and language that is dangerously close to heresy.

Before the attacks start coming, let’s set the record straight. I love Christ and I love His Church. Please don’t call me a “modernist”, “liberal”, or “conservative”. I am a Catholic…period. I am also not smarter than Jesus, who founded a Church on the leadership of the Holy Father (Matthew 16:18-19). As a Catholic, I not only love Christ and His Church, but I love the Holy Father. Therefore, it only follows that I love and respect our current Holy Father, Pope Francis. In fact, that love is so real that it hurts me to see him treated with such disrespect (Catholics condescendingly calling him “Jorge”, “Bergoglio” or even “a heretic”). It hurts because these words are directed at my “Papa”, the individual that Christ placed in charge to help me get to Heaven. On a personal level, I can’t express enough gratitude to Jesus for leaving me a series of “Papas”, all with unique and different charisms. Each of them has drawn me closer to Jesus, by helping me to concentrate on different aspects of my spiritual life. Is Pope Francis’ style different than Pope Benedict’s? You bet. Was Pope Benedict’s style different than Blessed Pope John Paul II’s? Absolutely, and that diversity can be extremely beneficial. I have learned a great deal from each of them and I’m grateful for the opportunity to be stretched spiritually.

So, why do I feel the need to write this? Do I feel that any minds will be changed? Honestly, I don’t know. While I hope that it has a positive effect, I can’t control how other people think or behave. Whether it has an effect or not, I do feel that I need to try. In addition to being hurt by the disrespect shown to Pope Francis, I am also concerned for those Catholics who feel justified in propagating such attacks. In an attempt to promote reverence for Our Lord and the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass (which is a very commendable undertaking), some of these individuals are skating on some thin spiritual ice. The Vatican II Document, Lumen Gentium, is clear about the loyalty due to our Holy Father:

This religious submission of mind and will must be shown in a special way to the authentic magisterium of the Roman Pontiff, even when he is not speaking ex cathedra; that is, it must be shown in such a way that his supreme magisterium is acknowledged with reverence, the judgments made by him are sincerely adhered to, according to his manifest mind and will. His mind and will in the matter may be known either from the character of the documents, from his frequent repetition of the same doctrine, or from his manner of speaking. (Lumen Gentium no. 25)

I am grateful for the Lord’s gift of the papacy. When the Holy Father speaks, I listen attentively. When Pope Francis tells me that I need to pay greater attention to the poor and be more charitable to others, I obey him. Why?

Because I love Jesus and that’s what He wants me to do.

Get Ready For The Following The Truth Lenten Radio Retreat!

 

“I started listening to Following the truth during the Lenten retreat. It was wonderful!!!! I have to say it was my best Lent ever!!!!”

“I want to let you know this has been a fruitful Lent, due in no small part to your efforts in bringing us the Following The Truth Lenten Radio Retreat. It has been a major part of my Lenten observance and has helped me to grow spiritually in unexpected ways.”

“Your Lenten Retreat was responsible for the most significant Lent I ever experienced. I am 59. I learned that Lent was more than sacrifices or extra prayers. Lent actually involved changing one’s life to be more in unison with Jesus’ life.”

The comments above are from individuals who participated in previous Following The Truth Lenten Radio Retreats. What do you think? Are you ready to make Lent of 2014 your best one ever? If your answer is “YES!”, I have some great news for you.

Beginning on Monday, March 3 on my nightly Following The Truth radio show, I’ll be using “Surrender: The Life Changing Power Of Doing God’s Will” by Father Larry Richards as the basis for the annual Following The Truth Lenten Radio Retreat. If you’re not familiar with the book or with Fr. Larry, be sure the watch the following video. EWTN’s Doug Keck will interview Fr. Larry and discuss the book in detail.

Although it’s not mandatory, it will be helpful if you have a copy of the book for the retreat. You can order it at the following link:

Lent is a special time set aside by the Church to help us grow closer to Christ. We have no idea if this Lent will be our last. Don’t pass up the chance to make it your best Lent ever. We’ll walk together, assisted by Fr. Larry’s powerful book. Best of all, you won’t even have to leave your home. Get ready…this is going to be powerful.

Stay tuned for more details…

Get Ready, Florida – Here I Come!

 

I Finally Stopped Worrying. Here’s How I Did It…

 

I got to thinking the other day and I came to a surprising realization…

I don’t worry anymore!

If you have heard me speak or read my books, you’ll understand why this is a monumental occurrence. It is a well known fact that I have been a severe worrier for most of my life. While I credit my anxiety with drawing me closer to the Lord, the act of worrying was having the opposite effect. The more I would worry, the less I would trust God. Now, despite two years of full time work as a Catholic Evangelist (with no guaranteed salary and literally living month to month), I have found myself in a position that I never thought possible. I don’t worry anymore!

So, what changed? How was I able to finally break free from worrying? The answer will probably surprise you, as it did me. For many years, I tried to stop worrying. I made up my mind many times over the years that I was going to “Let Go, Let God”, “Be Not Afraid” and “Let Not My Heart Be Troubled”. And I failed, and failed again and failed many times after that. It wasn’t until some time not that long ago that I realized that I was trying too hard. I know that it sounds crazy, but the reason that I couldn’t stop worrying is that I was trying too hard not to worry!

Before you think that Gary has officially lost his mind, let me finish the thought. I was trying to stop worrying by using the “mind over matter”, “positive thinking” approach and that’s why I failed. Even though I supplemented this method with a healthy dose of prayer, Bible reading and the Sacraments I couldn’t stop worrying. Then one day the answer dawned on me. I was trying so hard that I wasn’t letting Jesus help me. As is the case with most people who like control, I was so determined to fix the problem on my own that I wouldn’t let anyone, including the Lord, help me. Once I stopped trying so hard and let Jesus do the “heavy lifting”, my worrying decreased dramatically. Don’t get me wrong, I still experience fear and concern. These feelings are normal and can even be helpful, as they sometimes let you know that it’s time to take action. Worrying, on the other hand, is a useless and unproductive response to fear. While there are several correct ways to respond to fear, your overall objective should be to draw near to Jesus. He is the ultimate answer to any problem or difficulty that arises in your life.

If you feel that you’re too weak to give up worrying, you’re probably right. I’m in the same category. The good news is that the Lord knows that we’re weak and that we can’t just force ourselves to stop worrying. Instead, He wants us to stop trying to do it on our own and let Him help us. Take it from me, my friends, the easiest way for you to break free from anxiety is by focusing less on giving up worrying and more on Jesus. Doing this has made a huge difference in my life and has finally allowed me to stop worrying.

So where do you start? You start by speaking with Jesus daily and asking Him to take control of your life. Make it a point to read the Bible each day, even for a few minutes. The daily Mass readings are perfect for this. Additionally, receive the sacraments of Holy Communion as often as possible. Finally, turn to the Blessed Mother and ask her to assist you. As you grow closer to the Lord, your worrying will begin to decrease. If you need more assistance, I’m excited to announce that my next book, From Fear To Faith (coming in August 2014 from Liguori Publications) will offer a step by step method for overcoming worry in your life. It’s a book designed for those of us who are weak and can’t do it on our own. Be sure to sign up for my monthly e-newsletter (in the sidebar to the right) for more details, including how to pre-order the book. I’ve also developed a new talk, “How To Stop Worrying TODAY” that I’ll be presenting in parishes around the county. Contact me to find out how to invite me to speak at your parish.

Don’t lose hope, my friends. I finally stopped worrying and you can too. Jesus is the answer and He is waiting to help you!

Thank You For Your Support in 2013!

 

Hi Friends!

As the current year draws to a close, I would like to thank all of you who have supported my work by your contributions and prayers. Without your assistance, it would not be possible for me to continue spreading the “Good News” of the Catholic Faith on a full time basis.

Because of you, I was able to host a 2013 Advent and Lenten radio retreat (on my nightly Following The Truth radio show) and lead over 1,400 people through the 33 day preparation for Total Consecration to Jesus through Mary. These special events, as well as my nightly radio show, would not have been possible without your financial support and prayers.

All of you who pray or contribute to my work financially are an important part of the Following The Truth team and I thought you’d be interested in seeing some of the comments from people who you have helped through your generosity:

Thanks, Gary, for all that you do for us. I have learned and continue to learn so much from you. I love my faith, my church and our Father more and more every day.

Your Lenten Retreat was responsible for the most significant Lent I ever experienced. I am 59. I learned that Lent was more than sacrifices or extra prayers. Lent actually involved changing one’s life to be more in unison with Jesus’ life. By participating in your Consecration to Jesus through Mary retreat, I learned about the special gift that Jesus gave to me – his Mother, and how important it is to have a special relationship with Mary.

Thank you, Gary, for doing God’s will in your life; many souls will be thanking you not only now but for Eternity, for helping them get closer to the Lord or even comeback to Him!

Thank you so much for your ministry. I can’t tell you how much it means to me. I am in RCIA now and I learn so much from you and your teaching.

I just wanted to thank you for helping me to remember to pray always.

I started listening to Following the truth during the Lenten retreat. It was wonderful!!!! I have to say it was my best Lent ever!!!! I’ve continued listening to the show because it helps me and reminds me what I have to do to get to heaven. There have been many challenges and struggles over the past year and I’m starting to feel better and more peaceful.

I want to let you know this has been a fruitful Lent, due in no small part to your efforts in bringing us the Following The Truth Lenten Radio Retreat. It has been a major part of my Lenten observance and has helped me to grow spiritually in unexpected ways.

As this year draws to a close and a new one begins, please accept my sincere thanks for your generosity. I am extremely grateful for your support. I will continue to remember you in my daily prayers, especially at Mass and Eucharistic Adoration. Please let me know if I can ever be of service in any way. May you and your loved ones have a blessed and holy Christmas season and a Happy New Year!

Your brother in Christ,

Gary Zimak

Thy Will Be Done – The ULTIMATE New Year’s Resolution!

 

“The perfect prayer is not one in which we tell God what we wish from Him, but rather one in which we ask God what He wishes from us.” (Archbishop Fulton Sheen)

It’s that time of the year again. Time to think about making some positive changes in our life. When it comes to making New Year’s resolutions, however, we usually tend to overlook spiritual changes. Sure, it’s a great idea to give up smoking or to go on a diet, but is it THE most important thing we can do? I don’t think so. In my opinion, the ultimate New Year’s resolution is to put into practice one of the key petitions of the Lord’s prayer:

Thy Will Be Done!

While it sounds simple in theory, it’s very difficult to put into practice. Why? Mainly because it’s not easy to look past our own desires and offer ourselves completely to the Lord. If we can manage to make this resolution, however, it’s the greatest act of love that we can possibly offer. Joseph did it, Mary did it. Even Jesus did it when (on the night before His death) He prayed:

“My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet, not as I will, but as you will.” (Matthew 26:39)

Think about it. Instead of always asking for what you want, try asking the Lord what you can do for Him in the upcoming year. Can you imagine what He could do in your life if you made this a priority in 2014?

Summary Of Advent Radio Retreat

 

Congratulations! You made it through the Following The Truth Advent Radio Retreat. During the busiest time of the year, you set aside one hour each night (or most nights, anyway) to focus on putting Jesus first in your life. Not only is that a great accomplishment, but it’s something that made the Lord very happy. You should feel very good about that. Let’s briefly review what we learned and, more importantly, let’s look at where we go from here.

According to Saint Ignatius of Loyola, the Lord should come first in our lives and everything else should be second. During the retreat, we focused on several obstacles that keep that from happening. I reviewed each of these obstacles in the last newsletter, so now let’s look at what we can do to live what we learned in the retreat.

1. Trust - We can trust the Lord by patiently accepting everything that happens to us. Although this isn’t easy (especially if we like to be in control), it’s a great way to console the heart of Jesus. A great prayer for this is, “O Jesus, I surrender this to you. You take care of it”.

2. Acts Of Mercy - Every time we do this we console the heart of Jesus. Fr. Gaitley mentioned 3 ways that these acts of mercy can be performed:

Deed – Do kind deeds for others.

Word – Offer kind words to others.

Prayer – Pray for others.

3. Pray Daily - Even if it’s only for a few minutes, we need to get into the habit of speaking to Jesus every day. Obviously, the more you pray, the closer you’ll get to the Lord. Therefore, I recommend that you try to pray as much as possible, but don’t set unrealistic goals. Two hours of daily prayer for a busy person is not realistic. Try to get into the habit of speaking to Jesus throughout the day, especially during the Hour of Mercy (3 – 4 PM).

4. Receive The Sacraments - Make an effort to receive the Sacraments of the Eucharist and Confession as frequently as possible. You will not only console the heart of Jesus, but you will receive many graces!

5. Spiritual Reading - We should get into the habit of doing some spiritual reading each day. Be realistic when setting your goals. If you’re not used to this, start out with 15 minutes a day. The Bible and the Catechism of the Catholic Church are a great place to start.

Finally, as a sign of your commitment and a reminder of reminder of what we learned, Fr. Gaitley recommends that you print and sign the following pledge:

I_____________________________, on this day ______________ , choose as my principle and foundation to console the Heart of Jesus. Dear Jesus, relying on your grace and the prayers of Mary and of all the angels and saints, I will strive to keep before my eyes the deep sorrow of your Heart and respond, with Mary, by consoling you in the following two ways: First, I will give you my trust. Jesus, I trust in you. I will try not to be afraid of going to you as I am (ecce), even when my sins and weaknesses weigh heavily upon me. With an open heart, I choose to accept your mercy (fiat), even all that mercy other souls reject. Finally, I will do my best to praise and thank you in all things (magnificat), even when you give me the privilege of sharing in your Cross. Second, I will strive to show mercy to my neighbor through my deeds, words, and prayers, remembering that by consoling others, I am also consoling you. Heavenly Father, for the sake of the sorrowful Passion of your Son, I beg you: Send forth your Holy Spirit to help me fulfill this choice.

It has been a great honor to lead this Advent Radio Retreat and I hope you’ll be able to continue listening to Following The Truth on BlogTalkRadio. If you have any questions or concerns at any time, please EMAIL ME. Thank you and may God bless you!

In Christ,

Gary

Merry Christmas!

 

After their audience with the king, they set out. And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way. (Matthew 2: 9-12)

Once the magi met Jesus, they traveled back to their country by “another way”. That encounter with the Lord changed their lives forever. This Christmas, we pray that each of you will be able to experience that same life changing meeting with our Lord and Savior. Thank you for all of your prayers and support throughout the year. We are extremely grateful and I look forward to sharing the “Good News” with you in the upcoming year.

May you and your families have a blessed and holy Christmas. You will be in our prayers.

The Zimak Family

(Gary, Eileen, Mary and Elizabeth)

Need A Miracle? Try The Saint Andrew Novena!

 

One of my favorite devotions, The Saint Andrew Novena, begins tomorrow (November 30)! It is piously believed that whoever recites this prayer fifteen times a day from the Feast of Saint Andrew (Nov 30) until Christmas will obtain what is asked. Does this mean that God will give you anything, even something that may be harmful to you spiritually? Fortunately, no! However, I have received miraculous favors since I started praying this novena a few years ago and I believe in its power.

Here’s EWTN’s Fr. Joseph Mary speaking about his personal experience with the St. Andrew Novena:

Here is the novena prayer:

Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in piercing cold. In that hour, vouchsafe, O my God! to hear my prayer and grant my desires, through the merits of Our Saviour Jesus Christ, and of His Blessed Mother. Amen.

We’ll be praying this novena every night until Christmas on my Following The Truth radio show. In addition to the spiritual benefits, it’s a GREAT way to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas. Why not give it a try?

Win A FREE Copy Of God’s Bucket List By Teresa Tomeo!

 

“God has created me to do Him some definite service; He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another” (Blessed John Henry Cardinal Newman)

What does God want me to do with my life? All too often this question gets ignored and we simply do what WE want to do. While sometimes our will is united with God’s will, there are occasions when this is not the case. As Blessed John Henry Cardinal Newman reminds us above, God has a unique plan for each of our lives. How much effort have we put into discovering that plan?

Based on her own experience, Teresa Tomeo will guide you through the process of discerning God’s will for your life. In a very open and revealing manner, she’ll explain why true peace can only be found by following God’s will in your life. Best of all, Teresa backs up her assertions with Bible verses and citations from the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Furthermore, I am honored that Teresa includes my own personal discernment story in her book! If you truly care about discovering God’s will for your life, I HIGHLY recommend that you read this book.

Would you like to win a copy of God’s Bucket List? Simply comment on this blog post and you’ll be entered in a drawing. Five winners will be chosen at random to receive a free copy of Teresa’s book. The contest closes at 12 midnight Eastern on November 30, 2013. Don’t miss out on the chance to discern God’s bucket list for YOUR life!