More WYD - 2016

This is our last night sleeping in a bed until we get back to Conway NH on August 1st. We leave our hotel at 6am on Saturday morning and walk to Mass at 8am with Cardinal Sean. Next our 8 mile trek to a place where we will set up camp to sleep with some one million people. We will have music and adoration to midnight. Sleep haha, then Mass with the Pope and 8 miles to a bus which will take us to Vienna. We will then head to Boston as long as Air France does not go on strike!

Last night the Pope was right on as usual.  He said  "the merchant of smoke is taking the life and dreams of our youth."  He spoke directly to our biggest issues. 

Today I was grateful to get to the Cathedral of St Mary Magdalene and St Barbara.
I kissed the relic of St Mary Magdalene for all of us.

God bless you. ~Margaret of Souls for Jesus

 An ocean of people waiting for the Pope.

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Saint whose family rejected him because he spent to much time with the poor and needy.
This is a young man who cared for the poor to the embarrassment of his family. He became ill.
His parents ignored him so he died. Thousands attended his funeral. Poor and homeless.

Our group with a Dominican priest who lives in Poland
but is from Wisconsin. The roof of this Monastery covers 4 acres.

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St. Barbara

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Most beautiful picture of the Sacred Heart of Jesus I have ever seen.

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Next group of pictures are from the Cathedral of St Mary Magdalene.
There is a relic of a bone; I prayed before it and kissed her for all of us.

Relic (bone) St. Mary Magdalene

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The flag of the deaf apostolate.
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The Cult of Opinion…

Brothers and sisters: May I never boast of anything except the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. (Galatians 6:14) Talk shows, social media, the “like” button, opinion polls—there’s no denying we are living in cult of opinion. Everybody these days has an opinion, whether they have all the information or not. Sometimes opinions are delivered violently—tires get slashed, politicians get things thrown at them, peaceful protests turn ugly. It seems to me it’s time to step back and discern how a Christian is called to manage their opinions.

Opinion, as we have daily proof, is often based on emotion. It is often reactionary. We see a perceived injustice and we react without getting all the facts. I once wrote an angry letter to my bishop, and when I received his humble reply I was deeply ashamed at what I had done, how I had added to his pain and made a distasteful situation worse for him. I learned at his expense that indignation and self-righteousness are not indicators that I am right, or that I should necessarily speak up, at least not without doing my homework and carefully considering my motives.
Scripture is full of admonitions to hold our tongues. Matthew 5:37 says it plainly: “There are too many words. Let your speech be “yes” or “no”, anything more is from the Evil One.” Those are incredibly strong words, ones we would do well to ponder.

Shortly after I had chosen this topic for my newsletter article, two online friends had a discussion on the cult of opinion without knowing the topic of my article. Here is their conversation:
First friend: “The ME focus is coming earlier and earlier. Now we are teaching children how important our OPINION is. Fact is lost in opinion. We are encouraging everyone from an early age to have their own little kingdom, what THEY want. So we have a world of separate, disunified little Kingdoms of ME.”
Second friend: “One of the key problems in our culture—opinion—is I believe cultivating a climate of grievance. Everyone feels entitled and/or cheated depending on the situation. There’s such noise. I find I have to fast from TV and “talking heads” and even conversations now about politics and current events.”
It is quite ironic that I am using a conversational opinion to make my point! Opinion is hard to avoid and even harder to avoid forming in our thoughts! But we need to examine our own thoughts and actions to see if we have joined this cult—whether intentionally or not. Our own opinion can be an idol and it is far better and less painful to smash that idol with our own two hands than to have God do it for us! Then when the idol has been smashed, our previously clouded vision is clear enough to focus on God’s holy Truth.

St. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 10:5 “We take every thought captive to obey Christ.” If we try to follow perfectly St. Paul’s example, we will put to death any thought that does not originate in God’s holy Truth. One sure sign that we are not on the right path is that our thoughts or words flow out of negative emotions such as pride, anger, indignation, self-righteousness, etc. Injustice should spur us to compassion and tireless efforts to eradicate it, without the need to label others, or to see ourselves as any better than the worst of all sinners.

As the saying goes, instead of thinking twice before speaking, we often speak twice before thinking. We need to ponder more and speak less. We need to turn off the TV and spend time in contemplation. St. Francis used to say: “It often happens that an invaluable treasure is lost for the sake of a worthless reward, and God who bestowed his gift once will not be prevailed upon to give again so easily.” By spending more time in prayer and contemplation, we are communing with the Source of all Truth. In so doing, we will be less likely to settle for idle talk or pointless speculation.

Certainly we need to express ourselves when defending God’s holy Truth, but without discipline in our speech, we risk falling into the sin of pride. Humility must permeate every word. The words should come through us, from the Holy Spirit, not from us. That way we will be better able to speak the truth in love as scripture exhorts us to do (Ephesians 4:15).
By becoming aware of our thoughts, words, and emotions, we can begin the process of holding every thought captive to Christ, until we are able to say with St. Paul: “May I never boast of anything except the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”

by Janet Klasson July 26, 2016

WORLD YOUTH DAY ~ 2016

Most beautiful Mother

World Youth day is the opportunity of a lifetime. Poland feels safe. A very healing holy experience. Mary and Papa John Paul are here for us.
We registered late so we are privileged to be with the deaf apostolate.
We have Mass and meals with no less than 1000 people. Tonight the first Mass of the event; at least a million in attendance. It is amazing how we are being cared for by the people of Poland. Rooms food and military helicopters.

We are in the hands of the people who love God. ~Margaret of Souls for Jesus

https://www.facebook.com/100009430304799/videos/1669961649994829/

One million people came for Mass with St. Pope John Paul II in 1979 chanting "We want God." The beginning of the fall of Communism.

We are in Krakow for several days. This is a wonderful experience. The pictures are on Bostoncatholicphotos.com

1000 kids for dinner

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John Paul museum same artist who created the Immaculate Conception in Washington DC

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Auschwitz - the sign at the entrance says:
WORK FOR FREEDOM.
They were worked to death.

This is were planned parenthood
got their start.
They experimented on
women's reproduction.
 
So boldly sure of themselves they took pictures of those they murdered.

 

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Cardinal Sean with at least 1000 kids Great day great dinner!

Mass at Divine Mercy
with Cardinal Sean.

 Lots of pilgrims most from the USA. Large delegation from Australia

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St. FaustinaJesus I trust in You.

St. John Vianney Novena Begins July 26th

St. John Vianney’s life story is one of how determination to serve the Lord triumphed over the many obstacles he met along the way.
Though a very simple and humble person, St. John Vianney became renowned for converting sinners with gentle words. He would spend eleven to sixteen hours per day just to hear confessions and convert sinners.
St. John Vianney was born Jean-Baptiste-Marie Vianney, in Dardilly, France on 8 May 1786, as the fourth of six children of Matthieu Vianney and Marie Beluze. From his devout Catholic family he learned to be deeply religious to an extent where he has been known to practice mortification from his early youth.

When the French Revolution came, many people expressed disapproval of the clergy who were seen as burdens of the state. Masses were declared illegal so John’s family had to attend masses held by priests in secret locations. The sacrifices by the priests, in the eyes of young John, was very heroic and he learned to look up to them. Through these brave priests, John was able to receive the sacraments.

The Catholic Church reestablished itself in France in 1802. In 1806 John enrolled at a school run by M. Balley in a village called Ecully. He had a very difficult time learning there, especially Latin.After some time, Balley recognized his leanings toward a religious vocation, and assisted him in his studies.

By 1809 Napoleon had declared war on Spain, and John was one of those who were conscripted. By some form of divine intervention perhaps, John first missed his regiment’s deployment, then was led to join a group of deserters. A general amnesty for deserters in 1810 allowed him to continue pursuing his studies.

He continued his studies but again faced problems when the major seminary rejected him for being too slow. He was later admitted at the request of Balley, who reasoned out that his piety compensated for his ignorance. He was ordained on 12 August 1815, and said his first mass the very next day. He was assigned as an assistant to Balley at Ecully.

In 1818, a few years after the death of his mentor M. Balley, John was appointed Parish Priest of Ars. It was in this village of only 230 people where John Vianney realized the adverse effect the French Revolution had on religion, spirituality and morals. He found that people, for the most part, did not find religion relevant.

John set out to effect a spiritual renewal by attacking the social ills he saw in his homilies and in the confessional. Soon the effects of his homilies and especially his work in the confessional became so famous that people from other places visited just to have him hear their confessions. This became the focal point of his ministry that the bishop even asked him to forego retreats in order to continue saving lost souls.

St. John heard confessions eleven to sixteen hours each day just to accommodate the pilgrims coming to Ars. In 1843, he became very ill and was only cured through the intercession of St. Philomena, of whom he was a great devotee.

St. John wanted to live the life of a monk, and tried to leave Ars many times, but had to come back. He died in 1859, and was canonized by Pope Pious XI in 1925. His feast day is August 4.

Among the miracles attributed to him were his ability to continue serving despite having very little food or rest, his supernatural knowledge of the future and the past, obtaining for the poor in his care, and the ability to cure the sick, especially children.

St. John Vianney Novena Prayers

Day One:

Saint John Vianney, you were blessed with a loving and devout family who supported your desire to increase your faith and devote yourself fully towards imitating the life of our Lord Jesus Christ. In your quest to pursue your holy vocation, you were not deterred by the many obstacles that came your way. Your strong faith carried you through all of life’s trials to your place in God’s kingdom.

Obtain for me the same courage and faith that allowed you to give all to God without counting the cost. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide me to the right decisions that will best serve God and my neighbor.

Believing in the power of your kind intercession, I humbly ask you to pray for me and the special intention I am hoping God will grant me through this novena. (here mention your special intention)

St. John Vianney, Priest of Ars, pray for our priests, and pray for us. Amen.

Day Two:

Saint John Vianney, you dedicated your life towards saving souls for the greater glory of God. You were even blessed with an almost supernatural ability to obtain funds to help our less fortunate brothers and sisters in Christ. You freely gave of yourself in imitation of the life of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Teach me also to see God in each person regardless of their station in life, and despite any wrongs they may have done to me. Help me to see service to my fellow men as a responsibility that I need to fulfill, to gain a chance to live with you, with our Lord, and all the saints for all eternity.

Believing in the power of your kind intercession, I humbly ask you to pray for me and the special intention I am hoping God will grant me through this novena. (here mention your special intention)

St. John Vianney, Priest of Ars, pray for our priests, and pray for us. Amen.

Day Three:

Saint John Vianney, your successful journey to the priesthood is a testament to your determination to serve our Lord Jesus Christ. Your life as a priest is a shining example of what we should expect from the chosen leaders of God’s flock. Your perseverance in the face of many hardships has saved numerous souls.

By contemplating on your life, may I be imbued with the same determination to be the best that I can be in the many roles I play in life. Let everything I think, say or do benefit my neighbor and lead me ever closer to our Heavenly Father.
Believing in the power of your kind intercession, I humbly ask you to pray for me and the special intention I am hoping God will grant me through this novena. (here mention your special intention)

St. John Vianney, Priest of Ars, pray for our priests, and pray for us. Amen.

Day Four:

Saint John Vianney, when you saw social ills and sin in your parish, you sparked moral and spiritual renewal through your homilies and work in the confessional. Your unrelenting efforts to win back souls to God’s grace has caused many to repent. By your soft words you were able to convert many sinners like me.

Pray for me that God may bless me with the same outrage for sin and for me to have the compassion for sinners that you did. Let me choose my words carefully, lest I cause injury to my brothers. Inspire me to regularly seek reconciliation with our Heavenly Father through the worthy reception of the sacraments,

Believing in the power of your kind intercession, I humbly ask you to pray for me and the special intention I am hoping God will grant me through this novena. (here mention your special intention)

St. John Vianney, Priest of Ars, pray for our priests, and pray for us. Amen.

Day Five:

Saint John Vianney, God’s grace saw you through all the trying moments of your life. Inspired by the example of our Lord Jesus Christ, you sacrificed your entire life in order to serve him fully. Your complete trust and surrender to His will allowed you to enter priesthood in spite of the many trials you had to endure.

Obtain for me the same complete trust in the will of God, that will allow me to see hardships and trials as sacrifices I need to joyfully accept in His name. Let my anxieties and uncertainties be replaced by great faith in our Heavenly Father who is the source of all that is good.

Believing in the power of your kind intercession, I humbly ask you to pray for me and the special intention I am hoping God will grant me through this novena. (here mention your special intention)

St. John Vianney, Priest of Ars, pray for our priests, and pray for us. Amen.

Day Six:

Saint John Vianney, you rejoiced at every opportunity to spend time in prayers and contemplation. Your dedication was such that, had it not been for practical considerations, your bishop would have granted your wish to be a monk.

Teach me the power of prayer, that I may slowly understand God’’s will for me. Obtain for me the conviction that through fervent prayer, nothing is impossible.

Believing in the power of your kind intercession, I humbly ask you to pray for me and the special intention I am hoping God will grant me through this novena. (here mention your special intention)

St. John Vianney, Priest of Ars, pray for our priests, and pray for us. Amen.

Day Seven:

Saint John Vianney, in life you have shown your veneration of the Blessed Sacrament. To this end you spent long hours in the confessional to help the faithful become worthy to receive the holy sacraments.

Obtain for me the fervent desire to always remain worthy to receive the holy sacraments that I may also one day be rewarded with God’s favor, and spend life in His kingdom with all the saints for all eternity.

Believing in the power of your kind intercession, I humbly ask you to pray for me and the special intention I am hoping God will grant me through this novena. (here mention your special intention)

St. John Vianney, Priest of Ars, pray for our priests, and pray for us. Amen.

Day Eight:

St. John Vianney, you lived a simple and austere life, preferring to store riches in heaven. You never turned your back to any of the poor people needing your assistance.

Pray that the Holy Spirit enlighten me and remain with me always so that I too may learn to forego material possessions to earn God’s grace. May I always value my spiritual health over all the wealth in the world.

Believing in the power of your kind intercession, I humbly ask you to pray for me and the special intention I am hoping God will grant me through this novena. (here mention your special intention)

St. John Vianney, Priest of Ars, pray for our priests, and pray for us. Amen.

Day Nine:

St. John Vianney, you never let an opportunity to enlighten people and save souls pass you by. Through your efforts, many people have experienced moral and spiritual renewal.

Pray that God grant me the same zeal to make His love known to all my neighbors, so that all of us may learn to despise all forms of sin. Let all my actions reveal an awakened love of God by through my interactions with my fellow men.

Believing in the power of your kind intercession, I humbly ask you to pray for me and the special intention I am hoping God will grant me through this novena. (here mention your special intention)

St. John Vianney, Priest of Ars, pray for our priests, and pray for us. Amen.
Patronages

St. John Vianney is the patron saint of all priests. He is also asked for intercessory prayer for healing, miracles and impossible causes.

St. Anne Novena, Day Nine

Most holy mother of the Virgin Mary, glorious Saint Anne, I, a miserable sinner, confiding in your kindness, choose you today as my special advocate. I offer all my interests to your care and maternal solicitude. O my very good mother and advocate, deign to accept me and to adopt me as your child. O glorious Saint Anne, I beg you, by the passion of my most loving Jesus, the Son of Mary, your most holy daughter, to assist me in all the necessities both of my body and my soul. Venerable Mother, I beg you to obtain for me the favor I seek in this novena…
(State your intention here.)
…and the grace of leading a life perfectly conformable in all things to the Divine Will. I place my soul in your hands and in those of your kind daughter. I ask for your favor in order that, appearing under your patronage before the Supreme Judge, He may find me worthy of enjoying His Divine Presence in your holy companionship in Heaven.
Amen.
Pray for us, Saint Anne!
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

St. Anne, Mother of the Virgin Mary

Saint Anne was born in Bethlehem and eventually married Saint Joachim, a shepherd from Nazareth, in Galilee.
Her name, Anne, actually derives from the Hebrew name Hannah meaning grace. There is not a lot of literature about the life of St. Anne, but what we do know about her comes from apocryphal literature, history and legend.
The story goes that St. Anne was married to St. Joachim for many years (some stories report as many as twenty years) without being able to have children. After much ridicule and sorrow because they could not conceive, both separately pleaded to God to take away their sterility, promising that they would dedicate their child to the service of God.
Their prayers were heard.
An angel soon appeared before both of them, declaring that St. Anne would conceive and give birth to a child who would be blessed by the entire world. That child was named Mary, and today, she is our blessed Virgin Mother. After their daughter’s birth, St. Anne and St. Joachim dedicated Mary to God at the temple of Jerusalem, where she spent a lot of her childhood.

St. Anne is the Patron of…

The intercession of St. Anne is called on especially in the following cases:

• Mothers
• Grandmothers
• Unmarried women
• Women in labor
• Infertile women
• Housewives
• Cabinet-makers
• Miners

You can pray the St. Anne Novena for any reason that you want, so go ahead and start praying!

Find the Original Here: http://www.praymorenovenas.com/st-anne-novena/#ixzz4E7Ojfxot

St. Anne Novena, Day Eight

Remember, O Saint Anne, you whose name signifies grace and mercy, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help, and sought your intercession was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly unto you, good, and kind mother; I take refuge at your feet, burdened with the weight of my sins. O holy mother of the Immaculate Virgin Mary, despise not my petition… (State your intention here.)
…but hear me and grant my prayer.
Amen.
Pray for us, Saint Anne!
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

St. Anne Novena, Day Seven

O Good Saint Anne, so justly called the mother of the infirm, the cure for those who suffer from disease, look kindly upon the sick for whom I pray. Alleviate their sufferings; cause them to sanctify their sufferings by patience and complete submission to the Divine Will; finally deign to obtain health for them and with it the firm resolution to honor Jesus, Mary, and yourself by the faithful performance of duties.
But, merciful Saint Anne, I ask you above all for the salvation of my soul, rather than bodily health, for I am convinced that this fleeting life is given us solely to assure us a better one. I cannot obtain that better life without the help of God\’s graces. I earnestly beg them of you for the sick and for myself, especially the petition for which I am making in this novena…
(State your intention here.)
…through the merits of our Lord Jesus Christ, through the intercession of His Immaculate Mother, and through your efficacious and powerful mediation, I pray.
Amen.
Pray for us, Saint Anne!
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

St. Mary Magdalene Novena Day 9

Go and tell...

Reading
Jesus said to her, "Do not hold on to me because I have not yet ascended to my Father. But go and tell my disciples and say to them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'"
Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord"; and she told them that he had said these things to her.

Wondering
It seems a little of the story has been missed out... what might Mary's reaction have been that caused Jesus to tell her not to cling to him? What about when she is sent to the disciples? And what of their reaction?

Contemplating
Read the passage a few times and see what ideas or thoughts emerge. Look back over your journal or take a mental trip back over the last nine days. Read the whole story - reminding yourself of the thoughts that accompanied it....
Spend a few minutes building the scene in whatever way you have found has worked for you.  Allow the scene to play out in your mind. How do the feelings change?

Reflecting
We are people, like Mary, with a mission - to tell people what we have seen - what we have heard - what we believe...
Pray that we may live faithfully the command to go and tell...

Praying
Mary of Magdala,
woman of the resurrection.
Pray for us as we too go and tell what we know -
that Jesus is alive
and at work through us.
Guide us all through your story
teach us to live always in the light of the resurrection.
Our Father...
Hail Mary...
Glory be...

St. Anne Novena, Day Six

Glorious Saint Anne, mother of the Mother of God, I beg your powerful intercession for the freedom from my sins and the assistance I need in my troubles… (State your intention here.)
What can I not hope for if you deign to take me under your protection? The Most High has been pleased to grant the prayers of sinners, whenever you have been charitable enough to be their advocate.
Therefore, I beg you to help me in all spiritual and temporal dangers; to guide me in the true path of Christian perfection, and finally to obtain for me the grace of a happy death, so that I may contemplate your beloved Jesus and daughter Mary in your loving companionship throughout all eternity.
Amen.
Pray for us, Saint Anne!
That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

Studies Show the Ten Commandments are Good for You

I am off with my youngest son to World Youth Day. Not something I had planned but given his age and the missing pieces in his life he obviously needs a heavy dose of TRUTH with lots of young people to help him understand that Ma is not the only sane person on earth. I had written an e-mail to my husband just yesterday and told him that the missing piece is adherence to the Ten Commandments. My son is of an age were all of his life the ten commandments have been forced out of our lives.

I am so grateful to the Nuns who taught us the Ten Commandments, especially the first one.  When all else fails I say to myself were is my relationship with God?? Problem solving for me starts there. We are now going to meet with the Pope and a few million others so we can get as close as possible to God on this earth. Please pray for my family and the whole world. ~Mother, Margaret of Souls for Jesus

The Ten Commandments are not good because God gave them to us; he gave them to us because they are good.
You don’t have to believe God or even believe in God to realize that the rules for everlasting life are also good rules for just plain living. (Click on the underlined links to read just some of the research I found to back up the Ten Commandments.)
I. I am the Lord your God, you shall have no strange gods before me.
II. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.

People who believe in God are happier.

While studying differences in unemployment benefits between European countries, researchers stumbled into the discovery that people who believe in God are usually more content in life. They also found that Catholic and Protestant Christians have higher satisfaction in life and they cope better with stressful situations.

If you believe in God, then it’s a no-brainer that you don’t take his name in vain—using it as if it were of no importance or worse. Using it to damn something is not respectful of our Lord.

III. Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day.

Going to Church Linked to Better Moods

Who are the happiest people? According to a report from Gallup, the more frequently people attend their church, mosque or synagogue, the happier they are. Churchgoers are especially happy on Sundays while those who don’t go to church on Sunday experience a decline in their moods on that day.

IV. Honor your mother and father.     

Family Relationships Bring Greater Happiness Than Money             

For most people, having strong family ties brings greater contentment than a big income. Researchers tracked 274 married people over a decade, they found that while income did contribute to happiness up to a point, the quality of family relationships was much more important.

V. You shall not kill.

Murder is obviously is bad and not the path to happiness so that is not been the subject of a study technically. However, abortion is killing and that has been studied.  Seventy Percent of Post-abortive Women Report Negative Consequences

The New Testament also warns against anger against others. “You have heard that it was said to the men of old, ‘You shall not kill; and whoever kills shall be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother shall be liable to the council, and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be liable to the hell of fire. (Matt 5:21-22).

Forgiveness Brings Happiness: Hundreds of studies have shown there is a strong connection between forgiving others and our own well-being.

VI. You shall not bear false witness.

Study Finds Telling the Truth Improves Health

Honesty may boost your health, suggests a study that found telling fewer lies benefits people physically and mentally.

Each week for 10 weeks, 110 individuals, ages 18-71, took a lie detector test and completed health and relationship measures assessing the number of major and minor lies they told that week, says lead author Anita Kelly, a psychology professor at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana. She presented findings at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association, in 2012.

“When they went up in their lies, their health went down,” says Kelly. “When their lies went down, their health improved.”

VII. You shall not commit adultery. 

Studies consistently reveal that 90 percent of Americans believe adultery is morally wrong. Sex outside of marriage has brought us trouble, STD’s [sexually transmitted diseases], and children of divorce suffer in a number of ways and are more likely to divorce themselves.

International Journal of Epidemiology found:

“Life expectancies for divorced men and women are significantly lower than for married people (who have the longest life expectancies).”

The health consequences of divorce are so severe that a Yale researcher concluded that “being divorced and a nonsmoker is slightly less dangerous than smoking a pack a day and staying married.” (Harold J. Morowitz, “Hiding in the Hammond Report,” Hospital Practice (August 1975), p. 39.)

“After a diagnosis of cancer happily married people are more likely to recover indicating that the emotional trauma of divorce has a long-term impact on the physical health of the body.” (James S. Goodwin, William C. Hunt, Charles R. Key and Jonathan M. Sarmet, “The Effect of Marital Status on Stage, Treatment, and Survival of Cancer Patients,” Journal of the American Medical Association 258 (1987):3125-3130.

VIII. You shall not steal.

The single largest psychological factor found in approximately 1/3 of shoplifters studied is “depression”. Sixty-seven studies all point to unhappiness and emotional problems related to shoplifting. Sadly, recent studies show, the majority think it’s okay to steal from work. Yet, no one would think stealing makes for a better society.

IX. You shall not covet your neighbor’s goods.
X. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife.

Jealousy over God’s favor led Cain to take Abel’s life. Saul was jealous of God’s favor for David and the fact that people made a big deal over David’s victory over Goliath. Instead of building up Israel, King Saul wasted time pursuing David to kill him. Instead, Saul met with disaster; committed suicide and his sons were killed by the enemy.

Then David coveted Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah and committed adultery with her. He arranges for Uriah to face certain death in battle and ultimately face many disasters as a result of this sin. Coveting is not just ancient history. There is no shortage of ways to covet what others have and make yourself unhappy. Several new studies reveal that Facebook makes many people feel bad about themselves, leading to anger and hate against other people. Why? Because of envy and jealousy—coveting what they perceive others have and feeling unsatisfied with their own life.

Is Facebook Making Us Sad? reports that people overestimate the happiness of others and make themselves sad by comparing their lives with others. Although the temptation to want what others have is not a sin, it is a sin to indulge in the feelings. The motivation to resist this sin lies in our desire to be happy. After all, feeling sorry for ourselves while sulking in jealousy or envy is not fun.

With all the evidence that the Ten Commandments lead to greater happiness, we should let this be known to the people trying to take them down in the public square. The pressure should be on them to prove that the Ten Commandments cause people harm. It is clear that we not only have God on our side, but science too.