Michael Najim - Live Holiness

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Make a Gift of Yourself!

Written by Michael Najim on June 5, 2013 - 2 Comments

(The following is the text of my homily to the 2013 graduating class of La Salle Academy where I serve as chaplain):

In the early 16th century, St. Ignatius of Loyola established an order of priests called the Society of Jesus. Today we know them as the Jesuits. In fact, some of you will be attending Jesuit universities next year.

One of the early followers of Ignatius was a man named Francis Xavier. When they met, both men were students at the University of Paris: Ignatius was focused on serving God; Francis was focused on achieving worldly success. But one day Ignatius challenged Francis to examine his life. Ignatius spoke words that cut to Francis’s heart. Quoting Jesus, Ignatius asked, “Francis, what does it profit a man to gain the whole world but to lose his soul in the process?” Francis eventually experienced deep spiritual change and went on to join the Jesuits and he became one of the greatest missionaries in Church history. Read more »

A Holy Week Meditation

Written by Michael Najim on March 25, 2013 - Leave an Awesome Comment

A prayerful reading of the Gospels readings on Monday through Wednesday of Holy Week will aid to deepen our contemplation of the Passion of Christ. The Church in her wisdom has provided these Gospel passages to prepare us to celebrate the Paschal Mystery.

A close, contemplative reading of each of the three Gospel passages leading up to the Sacred Triduum will focus us on the Word Incarnate “pierced for our offenses.” Indeed, in each of these three Gospel passages the people surrounding our Lord are said to have reclined at table with him. So, let us recline in the spirit of contemplation in order to see what each Gospel brings to light. Read more »

Pope Benedict and the Voice of God

Written by Michael Najim on February 16, 2013 - Leave an Awesome Comment

Dear Friends,

I invite you to click here to read my article on the Roman Catholic Spiritual Direction website. In this article, I reflect on what it must have been like for Pope Benedict to discern God’s will for him to resign.

Your Lenten Game Plan

Written by Michael Najim on February 3, 2013 - 3 Comments

Lent begins on February 13. In this video I talk about having a good game plan for Lent. You might need to turn your volume up on this video. I was under the weather last week and I start speaking more softly as the video progresses. Enjoy and feel free to share it!

How to Overcome Anxiety

Written by Michael Najim on January 23, 2013 - 6 Comments

Anxiety robs us of inner peace. Nothing good comes of it. Anxiety causes restless days, sleepless nights, and even affects our health. So if nothing goods comes from anxiety, why do we allow it to have so much power over us? I think because it’s such a powerful emotion; it grips us, and we actually [...]

The Gift of Pain

Written by Michael Najim on January 14, 2013 - Leave an Awesome Comment

I’ve learned many lessons in my short life, but one thing is for sure: we all know what it’s like to experience pain. Life can be difficult at times, and pain can come to us in different ways: physical, emotional, spiritual, or psychological. You’ve probably experienced pain in your life. Maybe you’re in pain right [...]

The Power of God

Written by Michael Najim on January 11, 2013 - 3 Comments

“Do not let that hope die! Stake your lives on it! We are not the sum of our weaknesses and failures; we are the sum of the Father’s love for us and our real capacity to become the image of his Son (Pope John Paul II).” I’ve been there. I know how it feels to be [...]

Breaking the Guilt-Shame Cycle

Written by Michael Najim on January 8, 2013 - 10 Comments

It’s the poisonous thought followed by the feeling of self-loathing. It’s remembering the wrong choice from a month ago, a week ago, or even from yesterday, followed by the sinking feeling in your gut that you’re just no good, that you’re stuck, that as hard as you try you won’t be able to break the [...]

A Christmas Meditation

Written by Michael Najim on December 24, 2012 - Leave an Awesome Comment

Note: This is an edited post from a blog I had written in 2009. I thought it would be fitting to repost it for Christmas. In 1925, the New York World publication celebrated the birthday of Abraham Lincoln with a cartoon that has become something of a classic. Two Kentucky farmers are pictured talking over [...]

All Saints Day Reflection: What is Holiness?

Written by Michael Najim on November 1, 2012 - Leave an Awesome Comment

This is a re-post from Sept. 2009. I thought it was fitting for this wonderful Solemnity of All Saints. Enjoy. And, as always, feel free to comment and to spread the word about liveholiness.com. Above my desk where my Macbook, printer, and lamp share their home, hangs a large framed print of one of my [...]

Amazing Love

Written by Michael Najim on October 14, 2012 - 1 Comment

Recently I read Mother Teresa’s Secret Fire by Fr. Joseph Langford and I rate it as one of the best spiritual books I’ve ever read. It touched me deeply. At some point I hope to write a review; but for now, here’s a beautiful quote from the book to start your week. “If we were [...]

Encountering Christ in the Orphans

Written by Michael Najim on October 1, 2012 - 2 Comments

One of the great blessings of my life is being chaplain at La Salle Academy. It’s hard to describe the joy I experience being with 1500 teenagers on an almost daily basis. I see so much good in these young people. Psalm 16 states, “You have put into my heart a marvelous love for the [...]

Being over Doing

Written by Michael Najim on August 18, 2012 - 1 Comment

Do we give primacy to being over doing? I’ve been thinking about this question a lot. For me, this summer has been quieter than usual. Yes, I’ve had office work to do, some meetings, and have been helping in parishes, but it’s been a far cry from the rat race of the academic year. In [...]

Why Do You Seek Jesus?

Written by Michael Najim on August 8, 2012 - 1 Comment

Priests receive many phone calls. Some people want to speak about a crisis they’re going through; others want information on how to get married; still others need copies of their sacrament certificates. When the phone rings late at night, however, the first thought that goes through a priest’s mind is, this must be an emergency. [...]

Book Review: Learning to Pray in Scripture by Stephen Binz

Written by Michael Najim on July 18, 2012 - Leave an Awesome Comment

One of the most effective ways to grow in the spiritual life is by praying with the Word of God. The ancient practice of Lectio Divina (prayerfully meditating on the Scriptures) holds a privileged place in the Church’s spiritual tradition. In 2005 Pope Benedict said that “Assiduous reading of sacred Scripture accompanied by prayer makes [...]