Schmandi Posted November 20, 2003 Share Posted November 20, 2003 I've been super busy, but as soon as i get time, i really want to post here. please be patient with me. hey guys, please be patient with me. i'm so new in this posting business. icq is the tops i know for now. i'll try to log on regular. i'm so happy i found you. i do feel old (28) but i hope you'll accept me Matea! It's great that you have found us. You are meant to be with us. And don't feel so old!! i'm only 1 year younger than you - but rarely admit it. I like to say i'm the oldest 5 year old you'll every meet. :D glad you're here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLAZEr Posted November 22, 2003 Author Share Posted November 22, 2003 There is something filled with hope, that I think GoodFriday begin to annunciate in that beautiful quote of St. Catherine. That Christ is the way. That this is heaven. When I was younger I was often struck immobile, paralyzed with fear, that everything in life was useless. I was terrified by the prospect of my limits. I could do nothing to change the world, I could do nothing to go beyond my present self, I could be nothing more than my pitiful and lonely existence. Yet, at my deepest and most intimate self I knew that there was more to me. More to life. When I met the movement (I was a university student in Santiago, Chile) I was struck by their invitation "Lo que buscas, existe." "What you are looking for, exists." This proposal I had already begun to know, but never articulate in such simple words. What I was looking for, that limitless existence, that knowledge that I was a part of something greater which far exceeded my expectations . . . that this desire I had not only was a desire but actually existed! And so I read Fr. Giussanni's words and I think: "Would I have put down my tools?" "Would I have left my place to follow that man making that extraordinary claim?" "Would I have been courageous enough to accept my freedom and follow him, be on the way?" And here, in Phatmass, I think I find the answer. Because here, many of us, together, we are on the way. We are in the Way. Christ had made himself present here, in our friendship. Though few of us "know" each other in "real life." a much more real life has been made present here. We know each other more profoundly than we know many of our friends. We know Christ here, with us. What does it mean for us? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLAZEr Posted November 22, 2003 Author Share Posted November 22, 2003 Ok . . . I really want to invite discussion on this so I'm gonna make it easier: What do you think freedom is? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
foundsheep Posted November 23, 2003 Share Posted November 23, 2003 no handcuffs! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLAZEr Posted November 23, 2003 Author Share Posted November 23, 2003 bump. . . peeps are intimidated by Fr. Giussani?? lol . . . What is Freedom to you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Katt1227 Posted November 24, 2003 Share Posted November 24, 2003 Blazer- Thanks for asking the question that often intrigues me. What is freedom? I struggle with trying to understand what it is exactly. To me, True Freedom is not necessarily the freedom from opression that we often think of when we hear the word Freedom. In our society, we want to say that freedom is being released from obligations, that we have no one or nothing to answer to. This is not what I think freedom to be. Freedom is choice. It means that I choose what I belong to, what I follow. And in my freedom, I choose to follow that which I am attracted to. That which I have met in some of you, whether through the internet or in person. This is as much about freedom as I understand. I suppose I should somewhat introduce myself, seeing as this is my first post... I found out about Phatmass through some friends and have been checking it out when I get some free time and have loved what I've found. But after receieving the letter from Mike about the encounter in Houston, I searched and found this string of posts. I am thrilled to have found you, so I have another chance to encounter Him through this string and this website. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLAZEr Posted November 25, 2003 Author Share Posted November 25, 2003 Yes. That's what I think is so awesom about freedom. There is a certain part of obligation to what is chosen. So my free choice can enslave me . . . I can freely choose a path of enslavement or I can freely choose a path of greater freedom where I will constantly be asked if I make my free choice again and again. In a sense, its where I'm most free, that is, in making that choice for freedom again and again every moment, every day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLAZEr Posted December 12, 2003 Author Share Posted December 12, 2003 bump, for Phatcatholic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLAZEr Posted December 12, 2003 Author Share Posted December 12, 2003 bump again for GodConquers and everyone else wondering "What the Heck is Communion and Liberation?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VeraMaria Posted December 12, 2003 Share Posted December 12, 2003 bump again for GodConquers and everyone else wondering "What the Heck is Communion and Liberation?" thanks!! sounds amesome! :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hyperdulia again Posted December 13, 2003 Share Posted December 13, 2003 "And here, in Phatmass, I think I find the answer. Because here, many of us, together, we are on the way. We are in the Way. Christ had made himself present here, in our friendship. Though few of us "know" each other in "real life." a much more real life has been made present here. We know each other more profoundly than we know many of our friends. We know Christ here, with us. What does it mean for us?" My answer's probaly going to be pretty inane; but for me Phatmass is a place, if not the only place, where I can be myself, not me as I want others to see me, or even as I want to be, but me as I am. I think I use Phatmass as a mirror, a place where I can go and check out my heart, mind, and soul. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLAZEr Posted December 13, 2003 Author Share Posted December 13, 2003 no, hyper that's beautiful. Because, although I am lucky to be able to "be myself" other places too, I can "be myself" on Phatmass as well. The encounter people have with me "BLAZEr" but really, Stephen, is who I really am. I am not faking a personality here on phatmass, which is why I find it so extraordinary. Here on Phatmass I am free to be me, which is why I have found Phatmass so liberating, and such a joy to visit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Matea Posted December 13, 2003 Share Posted December 13, 2003 stephen, some time ago you asked what freedom is for us. i sometimes still have problem with that due to my growing up in ex yugoslavia under comunism. God gave us free will spiced up with conscience, so to put it simply - freedom is to make a sign of cross in a restorant before your meal and not be affraid, to freely say you are catholic, to do what you want and when you want but always knowing that you are responsible for your deeds. CL and Don Giussani of course helped me a lot in understanding my circumstances and accepting them no matter how painful they are and no matter how joyful they are. now i'm praying that my husbands accepts christ that way too. i have never been philosophical in my SC back home, but down to earth, every day life examples etc. i'm looking forward becoming a part of this little online community. i'll try to post as often as possible. i hope to meet you all in minneapolis in january. riro, carlo and marco are helping me out to re-experience and get re-immersed in CL american style . my 4 month old daughter will be coming with me. em, stephen and everybody else hope to meet you in person. feel free to comment my mundane ^_^ way of thinking. matea Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Matea Posted December 13, 2003 Share Posted December 13, 2003 another thing. what is this"bump" you use? i need some phatmass lingo lectures . matea Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BLAZEr Posted December 13, 2003 Author Share Posted December 13, 2003 bump means to move a topic from wherever it is in the list to the top of the list. Everytime you post, the topic is 'bumped' to the top. When you want to move it up but don't have anything new to add to the conversation you just "bump" it. lol and I love how you say that it's not philosophical and always about your life. That's what I love about CL, is that it's not just ideas, its not just Fr. Giusani's teachings that you some how have to "unerstand." The important part of CL is how we encounter these "ideas" in our lives. For me, because I study philosophy and theology, the temptation is to make it something I figure out, but with the movement I am always being reminded to ask myself not "what does it mean?" but rather "how have I encountered this in my life?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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