Abbey-Roads2

Today is the memorial of the great Lebanese monk, St Sharbel Makhluf.  He celebrated his Mass at mid-day so that he could spend the morning in preparation for the Holy Mysteries.  He would spend the afternoon in thanksgiving - thus being a living example of what vatican II taught, that being “the Eucharist is the source and summit of our faith”.  He prepared for Mass through the prayers of the Most Holy Rosary of Our Lady, which he prayed incessantly before the Blessed Sacrament. 

In the little book, “Secret of the Rosary” St. Louis De Montfort writes: 

One day Our Lady revealed to Blessed Alan that, after the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, which is the most important as well as the living memorial of Our Blessed Lord’s passion there could not possibly be a finer devotion or one of greater merit than that of the Holy Rosary, which is like a second memorial and representation of the life and passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ. - Secret; Twenty-Eighth Rose.

Lindsay Lohan  was just arrested - again - after recently leaving rehab for the second time in her 21 year old life.  Robert Downey Jr. went through this up and down process as well, although now he seems to have found some stability in his life.

The success of rehab is of course, recognizing one has a problem, along with some real motivation to change one’s life.  But nothing works without humility, which usually comes when someone reaches absolute bottom - but not always.  My brother felt that rehab was filled with a bunch of losers, and he sure wasn’t going to attend any support group after he left rehab, with the same low-lifes he had to be nice to in the treatment center.   My brother died of alcohol related disease at the age of 45, he never got over his addiction.

One cannot make any progress without humility - no matter what the sins or faults, diseases or addiction one suffers from.