Here at the end of all things -- mostly the Semester

So within the week I will finish the last week of my second semester of grad school, and it has been a journey.

I now know how to better conduct reference interviews and look for resources, and I also have expanded my IT capacity, which I never thought would happen. Information Technology is still not my forte, but now I am able to better understand something relating to it.

I saw this once posted somewhere: "Google can provide a thousand answers, a Librarian can provide the right answer." How true that is! Looking for the right information is more than just typing in keywords into a search engine and hoping for the best. There is a method to the madness of the librarian as the scour through the massive amount of information provide both on and off line.  Two sources may cover the same topic but will approached it in a different manner thus one may be more suited to the need of the patron than the other. The librarian may also have to be a code-breaker to understand what the patron is seeking because sometimes the patron himself does not really know what he is looking for. So when the librarian is asking you a bunch of of questions, please bear with him, he is just trying to find the right information for you.

The last two projects I had to do for my IT class dealt with a Usability Study and Database building; for these project I had to work with a group of three other persons. Shout out to the lovey ladies I worked with, you are amazing and I would not hesitate to work with you again!

What I learned beyond the subject matter of the projects was that IT is not a lone wolf field, not in the slightest. My group worked very well together because we played on each other's strengths. I know that if I had to the last two projects by myself I would have been completely lost and in full panic mode. So I employ you dear readers to dispel the image of IT people living deep down in the depths of the basement with zero people skills. They simply have a different way of viewing the world, mostly within ones and zeroes, and a different way of communicating.

So, my dear Elevensies, I am glad to have finished our second semester together. We have had many trials and tribulations, but I'm glad to be with you:

Here at the end of all things.
(Not quite, but if feels like it!)

Funniest Ballet Performance Ever

For a good laugh:

"It's an Unix system!"

I can now save Jurassic Park before the dinosaurs eat me!!!

To explain, I've just completed the section of my IT class that deals with Unix command lines. All I could think about when I was Unix on the syllabus was Lex, the hacker girl, from Jurassic Park.

Having that movie reference to encourage me onward I buckled down and went through the modules and looked up more coding for Unix. So at this point of the semester I have a better grasp of HTML tagging and Unix line commands, or at least have a good grasp of the basic concept. I almost feel like in those heist movies where the hacker is looking for a backdoor in the computer program to unlock the doors. I would not call myself a hacker in the original sense of the term (a computer programmer enthusiast), but I am now someone who has gain a better appreciation for computer programming.

Do I feel like my IT fluency has improved? Well I can comfortably say that I could hold a conversation about the basics with a computer geek and not be completely lost or have that glazed look in my eyes. Am I just a little overwhelmed? Just a tad. Fortunately I feel like I have a good support from my cohort.

Now, if you will excuse me, I am going to make sure that all the doors have door knobs so the raptors cannot open them.

Penn & Teller Fool Us Francis Menotti

I am loving this!

IT Fluency Thus Far

<a href= www.thecatholicgeeks.com target=_blank >Catholic Geeks</a>

Gasp! Wait! What did I just type? What is this strange string of letters and symbols? What does it all mean?

Let us all take a moment to take a deep breath - all together now, breathe in and breathe out.

So what you see typed up above is HTML tagging for creating a link to an external website opening it in a new window. What amazes me is that I actually understand what I just said. When my Information Technology class started I knew zero about HTML tagging so color me impressed with myself. Now at this point in the class I understand the basic tags for formatting titles, font styles and size, lists, and even putting in links to other website.

Call me Toto because I have dared to look at the man behind the curtain as the big flaming head of website design is telling me to pay no heed. I will fully admit that I am a little proud of myself for being able to construct a simple website (which is still under development at the time of writing).

As GK Chesterton once stated "There are no rules of architecture for a castle in the clouds." Armed these new lessons I'm excited to see where everything goes next.

To end this post I leave you with a picture of me with my spirit animal, Perry the Platypus.

Information Technology Visual Aid

In one of my classes we had to draw out how we visualize information technology. Below is how I see it; basically it's different topics all interconnected and information technology helps us see all those connections through an access point. Everything is connected.

Very quickly drawn in a coffeeshop

Do We Think Anymore?

Several weeks I took part of a conversation with several co-workers that I do not normally work with; well it was mostly me just standing there and the other three talked. The topic of this conversation was the holds list - to explain if there is a book, let's say a particular book about fishing, if the local library does not have it the librarian (or the patron through their account) can place a request for that fishing book and whichever library has it will send it off. It's a neat system and I have used it on multiple occasions. On the library end of this system the holds list is the list of requested items are we have to go through the stacks to find and send off to the requesting library.When it's printed off it is in order by the call number.

Seems simple enough, right? Well, the difficulty (and a minor one at that) is that each library has set up their collection in their own way. One library might have collected the Christian Inspirational, African American, Large Print, or Short Stories each into one area that is not denoted by the call number. This results, especially when still learning a particular library's setup, in the librarian zigzagging across the library if they are going in strict order of the call number.

The zigzagging was main component of the conversation (it was more like a mini-rant). I listen as one person wondered if there was a way to program the holds list so that the zigzagging could be eliminated. The other two agreed and I was a bit dumbfounded.

I think what bothered me so much about that conversation was how depended some of my co-workers were upon the computer system to arrange everything for them. One of the first things I do when I arrive for work is pull the holds from the shelve. But before I disappear into the stacks I go over the list and make note of which items can be found where, then I go to each section of the collection to find the items. I may change up the order from day to day, like finding the audio-books first before going to non-fiction or looking through the Mysteries before the Large Print.

As I was growing up I was always taught that computer programs and the like were a great supplement, but not a replacement to my thinking. It was a time saver, not my brain. This is how I view the holds list; to quote Pirates of the Caribbean, the list "is more what you'd call 'guidelines'" than a strict order of things. It makes pulling the holds easier, but it is not going to completely dictate how I go about pulling the holds. If somehow the computer program for the library  is set up so that it takes into consideration the format of each collection, fine by me, but I am not going to hold my breath for it.

Random Quotes

Hearing nuns' confessions is like being stoned to death with popcorn.”
― Fulton J. Sheen

"There are no rules of architecture for a castle in the clouds."
― Gilbert K. Chesterton

"There's an old saying about those who forget history. I don't remember it, but it's good."
― Stephen Colbert

Stephen & Patricia Heaton Have A Catholic Throwdown

This is why I adore Stephen Colbert!

MLIS, ITF, and Other Fun Things

To some I am known as Livie, others 'what's her face', and to those most dear a friend. The purpose of this posting for for my LS 560 class, Information Technology, in which I will introduce myself to my fellow classmates who are also in pursuit of a MLIS, and a brief rundown of my ITF (information technology fluency).

Fellow classmates - Hello!

A few notes about my person, I currently work as a full time library assistant at a branch library who graduated from Christendom College in Virginia with a strong Liberal Arts education resulting in a B.A. in Scared Theology. It was often stated during my time at Christendom that a Liberal Arts education would give me strong skills in critical thinking, research, and writing; overall, I find that to be true but it also
strengthen my out-of-box thinking.  I have no shame declaring myself a geek in both fantasy and sci-fi - it's how I met some of my closest friends and how I get to have amazing interactions with new people. I am all about learning new things - it turns into a new adventure of discovery and more often than not those new things I learn come back to help in the library because eventually a patron will ask a question about it.

My favorite sight and smell.

A few notes on my ITF; one of my coworkers jokingly refers to me as the IT person of the branch, but I think it is mostly due to the fact that I am the youngest full time employee there. A trait I share with the rest of my generation is that I grew up with the fast growing technology of the world so I have a tendency to figure out things tech-related after messing with it. So when there is a patron  who needs help on a computer, I'm usually the one that gets sent out to assist.

I did not touch a computer until I was in the sixth grade when I remember most distinctly typing in a web address in the URL bar then asking 'Now what?', much to the dismay of my teacher and classmates. But, as evident by this blog, I have since learned to use a computer but I am not what you would call completely tech savvy. I am the person who will take the manual and refer to it often as I'm learning how to use a new device, which is why my parents will simple hand a manual to me with a pleading look saying 'Explain, please!'

I am very thankful for the invention of the mouse with all it's point and click wonderfulness, so please don't ask me how to enter in a command line with all those confusing slashes and dashes. I am hoping by the end of the semester that I will understand those slashes and dashes a little bit better without the need to get the lion tamer's chair and whip for assistance yelling 'Back! Back!'

On to the User Profile Activity (cue dramatic chord): My mother is a very smart woman and is very well liked in our community. But to call her tech savvy would be erroneous. Again she is very smart, but she is the type of person who would be very happy to live without the beepings and dings of technology. But leave her an electric lamp so she can read her books, she loves to read. She knows how to type up a document in Microsoft Word, but would need someone to help her with formatting. Email is something she uses because almost everyone else has an email that she interacts with through her volunteer work and most of the time that how they prefer to communicate; she can attach a file to an email, but needs a few reminders. She does not have a smartphone (she calls the one she currently has a 'dumbphone'), but is willing to learn how to use one if she needs to. I asked her if I gave her my digital camera without the manual would she be lost - there was little to no hesitation when she said that she probably would be lost. But she can use a Kindle Fire!

I am very nervous going into this class, but I am very it as a changllene from which I will not back down.  So bring it on scary technology! Bring it on!

Overworked, Overwhelmed, and School has Only Just Started

Once upon a time I received an message in my work email inviting me to apply for a leadership program with in the library system where I am currently employed. With everything I already have on my plate I did not really want to add another item to my agenda. But I printed off the email with the intention of contemplating it over once I was home.

To make a long story short, at my parents' encouragement I did apply and surprisingly accepted into the program. Part of the application was to included a project that would contribute somehow to the workings of the library system weather behind the scenes or directly with patrons. After racking my brain and bouncing ideas off of a few co-workers I came up with the idea of a basic library instruction for the general public.  Basically it would be something that would explain how to use the library and what to find there. So on top of my regular duties I now have that project to do.

A little stress, yes.

I'm continuing volunteering for the Middle School Youth Group at my Church.  There were too many mothers asking if I would be back this year for me to even say no. However the main reason is that I do enjoy giving talks and the Youth Director, Lauren, is an absolute sweetie. But compiling and writing a fifteen to twenty minute talk does take a bit of time to do. When I started helping with the youth program I did not think that I would enjoy it. But I gave it a chance and surprisingly I did enjoy it, and the kids on a few of the talks were very interested in what I was saying. With such a positive reaction I realized that I was able to do some good with the Youth Group. My hope is that the kids will remember a handful of things I talk about in the years down the line.  If they do then I can mark off my endeavor as a success.

More stress, yep.

The next chapter of my schooling is just about to start for my Master's degree. I am equal parts excited and nervous. The first semester went well with good grades but I went through it with an extreme amount of stressing out and good amount of sleeplessness. I don't want a repeat of that I really don't.  That being said, I did enjoy what I learned and I even signed up for another class with one of the professors I already had. He made everything he taught about sound so epic with plenty of geeky type references.

A lot of stress - you betcha!!

There is another semester of core classes that I have to take before I can go into my electives.  I have a vague idea of what direction I want to go with my degree. But with the way somethings are playing out in my life I think I am being pushed into a direction that I am not certain I want to be pushed towards.  But I am not going to focus on that at the moment. My current mantra has turned into 'Just get through school.' So I'm just going to focus on my schoolwork and slowly figure out what I'm going to do after I graduate.

Onward and upward.

Jimmy Fallon, Adele & The Roots Sing "Hello" (w/Classroom Instruments)

This was actually quite funny!

Enjoy!

What is Martyrdom?

What follows is a rough transcript of a talk I gave the Middle School Youth Group.

In honor of the Feast of the Decollation of St John the Baptist that was celebrated yesterday, today we are going to talk about martyrdom.

What is Martyrdom?  The word martyr comes from the Greek word ‘martus’ which translates to ‘witness’.  Which is fitting since the CCC states that martyrdom is “the supreme witness given to the truth of the faith: it means bearing witness even unto death.” (2473). In scripture, it usually refers to people who testified to their faith, whether or not they suffered as a result, like Susanna (who is she) preferred to die rather than yield to the advances of the two unjust judges (Daniel 13).  The association with blood came later in the first century when witnessing for Christ could mean facing the lions in the arena like Sts Perpetua and Felicity as the crowd cheered on.

Martyrdom of St. Stephen

There are three things that are required for Martyrdom: The victim must die, the murders must kill out of hatred for the Christian way of life and Christian truth, and death must be voluntary.  Of course there are exceptions to the third criterion as seen with the Holy Innocence.  The essence of martyrdom is imitating Christ’s example both in living one’s life and in giving it for a higher cause.  As they say imitation is the highest form of flattery.

The first martyr after the Resurrection was St Stephen who was also a deacon (Acts 6:8). There is also the Apostle St James the Greater (Acts 12:2).  There are also those who died for the entertainment of the Roman Empire like.  If these names sound familiar they are – they are mentioned in the Offertory prayer at Mass. Emperor Nero (the one that fiddle as Rome burned by his own hands, yes he was crazy).

But why is martyrdom important?  Well, as the Carthaginian Church Father Quintus Septimius Tertullianus, better known as Tertullian, wrote a defense of martyrs in his Apology, We become many whenever you mow us down; the blood of Christians is seed.”  Today it is often misquoted as “The blood of martyrs is the seed of the Church.” But let us go back to the original phrase; it hangs on an agricultural metaphor. So just as autumn’s crops dies the seeds spring up, so new Christians rise up from the death of martyrs.  Christianity thrives on commitment, and the commitment of the martyrs is inspiration for the ages.

Now martyrdom is not something that just happened in the early Church.  We have martyrs in modern times. In 1926 what is now called the Cristero War began in central western Mexican states; the Mexican Government imposed many secular, anti-Catholic and anticlerical policies upon its people under President Plutarco Elias Calles.  Calles sought to eliminate the power of the Catholic Church and suppressed popular religious celebrations.  It was a very bloody conflict with a lot of causalities whose effect is still felt today – the Mexican constitution prohibits outdoor worship, if there are any it requires government permission; Religious organizations are not permitted to own print or electronic media outlet (so no Mexican version of EWTN).  From this conflict is Blessed Miguel Pro, he was shoot without trial on trumped up charges. He died with his arms outstretch, like Christ on the cross, shouting out ‘Viva Cristo Rey!’ ‘Long live Christ the King!’

Bl. Miguel Pro is not the only modern martyr. St Maria Goretti was an 11 year Italian girl who was stabbed multiple times when she resisted rape in 1902.  On the way to the hospital she forgave her attacker, Alessandro Serenelli. Her attacker was unrepentant until he had a vision of St. Maria holding a bouquet of lilies.  She handed him each lily one at a time, each one representing a stab he inflicted. When he grabbed hold of the lilies they each burned in his hands.  He had a complete change and was released after he finished his sentence.  He attended St. Maria Goretti's canonization with her mother.

School, So Far

Allow me a moment to collapse unto the floor and rest.



Ok, update!

I am about halfway through my first semester of graduate school and I cannot believe it! I knew it was going to be a ridiculous amount of reading, but the challenge comes with doing both school and working full time.  There are days in which I just want to fall into bed and sleep after a hard day at the library, but then I remember the several articles and book chapters I have to read. I am getting reacquainted with the long nights of my college days.

Am I learning? Absolutely.

Tired? Mostly.

Overwhelmed? It varies.

Am I glad I started this program? Very much so.

I continue on with the rest of my semester, and getting ready for registration for my second semester.

Look out World!!

I'm Doing What Now?

I'm a geek.

Am I ashamed of this? Nope. I'm very proud of my geekiness and I make no excuses for it (mostly because I don't have any).  I love my sci-fi, my fantasy, and examining those things at every possible angle til your eyes get crossed.

Yes, it's a Swiss Guard with a lightsaber.
Your argument is invalided.

But I don't keep my geekiness reserved for just those things.  I geek out over my Catholic faith, and there is a lot to geek out over.  We got traditions (both big T and little t), sacraments, history, saints, and I could on and on.  But I won't here.

No, the place I will completely geek out on my favorite shows and the faith on The Catholic Geeks.

The Catholic Geeks is a collection of people who are Catholic, who are geeks, and who are (to quote the Scarlet Pimpernel) demned proud of it.

Will I stop geek out over stuff on this blog? No.  It just means that there will be more stuff by me to read in internetland.

Enjoy my first posting Scarlet Pimpernel, Vatican Style.

Next Big Step

I can easily say that for the past five years of my life I have felt stuck in rut.  Mostly in the job/occupation department. Combination of economy and choose of degree made for a very interesting job hunt to say the least.

So I have worked mostly part-time positions, with little possibility of upward movement.  One such position is a Library Assistant at the local library system.  I really do enjoy working in the library, and loved the time I spent in the archives.  It took me awhile, but I finally buckled down and signed up to take the GRE (Graduate Records Examination), which is like the SAT/ACT for graduated school.  Taking the test was a experience to say the least (don't bring anything to the test expect a form of ID, trust me).

My new school, see above

After looking at several school options I settled on the University of Alabama School of Library and
Information Studies and was just recently accepted into the program.  It was an adventure with what I, and the admissions counselor, call the 'Transcript Drama'.  Dun dun daaaa!!!!!

Let me explain . . . well sum up actually - there is too much to explain: in something that could be akin to a comedy of errors I had to get an unofficial copy of a transcript of a school that no longer exist.  Yeah, that was fun. Anyway, the program is completely online, except for orientation, so I can keep working to pay the bills and hopefully not take out another school loan.

This, while not difficult, took a long time for me to figure out.  The only regret I have is that it did take so long.  All I ask of people is that they keep me in their prayers as I go through this process.  I have done independent studies before, but nothing like this online schooling.  That's really the only thing I'm majorly nervous about, but it's life and I'm a woman, I need something to fret about. ;)

Wish me luck and offer some prayers!

Ready or not Alabama here I come!!!

Random Quotes

"I've been married to a dental hygienist for years and if you think I haven't heard "Use the Floss" you'd be mistaken."
-- Mark Hamill

"The simplification of anything is always sensational."
-- G.K. Chesterton

"That’s the real trouble with the world. Too many people grow up.”
--Walt Disney

"We cannot like everyone, but we can love everyone."
--Venerable Fulton Sheen

Reflection on Volunteering

As some might surmise by some of my recent post, I help out with my church's Middle School Youth Group.  The Youth Minister discovered my Bachelor's in Scared Theology and did the whole puppy eye thing and asked if I would volunteer for Youth Group.  Needless to say the puppy eye thing worked.

Thus began my weekly obligation on Sunday evening in which I took nuggets of Theological information wrapped up in fun and talked with the kids.  I have made attempts in the past to volunteer at church, mostly with the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults).  I will say with no ill will that it did not work well.  Most people going through the program were older than me, enough that they were in a different generation than me. 

After every talk I gave there was a complaint; I was unsettling, unfeeling, or unkind.  The last person demanded my removal from the program because I offended her.  Now, I can understand the annoyance of someone younger than you telling you what to do; really, I do.  But I do have a degree in Theology!!!! I know what I'm talking about.  The overall experience was not completely bad - it just left an unpleasant taste in my mouth.

So with that experience under my belt I was not sure how good I would be with the Middle School. To my amazement they liked me - they really really like me.  The moms are happy, the kids are having fun and they pay attention.  One Sunday when I told the moms I was going to teach the kids about the Four Lasts Things, they were wary - I don't blame them.  It's a heavy theological topic, but it's something that I was never really taught in Middle or High School.  But the following Sunday a few moms approached me and said that their kids were rapid firing questions at them about the talk and how they were really into it.

This is an instant where I have no shame in saying 'SQUEEEEEEEE!', none at all.

Last Sunday there was no Middle School Youth Group so I helped out with the High School Youth Group in their small group discussions.  I tagged along with another volunteer with her group.  We had fun talking going over what was earlier discussed.  My crowning moment of the evening was when one girl said 'ReTweet that!' to something I said. That's right, I got a non-virtual retweet.

So all in all, am I glad I started volunteering with the Youth Group - Yes.  Now if you will excuse me, I have to get ready for my next talk.

St John Bosco, Patron of Youth Ministries, Ora pro nobis 

The Four Last Things: Part II

What follows is a rough transcript of a talk I gave the Middle School Youth Group last Sunday.

We are going to finish up the Four Last Things with Heaven and Hell.

Let’s start with Hell.

This is the worst possible thing to happen to any person, not losing your phone or not getting the latest gadget on the market or being late meeting your friends. No, it’s Hell.

Hell. detail, Bosch

So what is Hell?

It is the complete and willing rejection of God and His love.  It is a complete separation from the source of all goodness. A flat out NO to God.

Think back to the parable of the wedding feast where a king goes out and invites everyone to come, but there is one person who come inappropriately attired and is rejected out into the cold (Matthew 22:1-14).  What is not explained because everyone knew this is that the wedding attire is provided by the host, so that one guest rejected the kind offer of the king and throws it back in his face. Translating this, the soul is provided the opportunity for all the joy and delight for the taking.  But he refuses to put on the commandments of God, the Gospel, and grace which causes the soul, aka the poorly dressed guest, to be cast away.

God does not put people in Hell.  Remember that - He wants us to be with Him. We are made to be in union with God. This union happens in Heaven.  God sent His only Son so that the Gates of Heaven could be open to us.  Think about it – He loves us that much!

So, who gets to Heaven?
Simply put, those who are just, free of guilt and punishment.  There are two types of punishment, eternal and temporal.

Eternal punishment aka guilt is forgiven and removed at Confession with absolution. Temporal punishment is what remains after confession which has to be paid in this life or the next aka Purgatory.

We talked a little about this last week and there was a bit of confusion that I hope to clear it up now.  Purgatory is not a second chance to get into Heaven.  The souls in Purgatory are already going to Heaven, they just have to take a pit stop since nothing unclean can enter into Heaven.  The CCC (1030) states that those who die in God’s friendship and grace but are still imperfect need to undergo purification.

Think of Purgatory as a Hospital for the Soul, or a very Hot Painful Shower for the Soul.

Heaven. detail, Bosch

The living can help the Poor Souls by prayer.  It is considered a Corporal Work of Mercy to visit the cemetery and pray for the dead, especially for those who have no one to pray for them.

After Purgatory is, dramatic music here, HEAVEN!!!

So our goal in life is to get to Heaven and be with God. We were made for Heaven because God wants us there with Him.

The Four Last Things: Part I

The Four Last Things: Part I

What follows is a rough transcript of a talk I gave the Middle School Youth Group a few weeks ago.  It veered off towards the end because the kids had so many good questions. But this is generally what was talked about.

I’m going to talk about the Four Last Things, which are Death, Judgement, Heaven, and Hell. There’s a whole study of it called eschatology, from the Greek word eschata meaning ‘the final things’.  Tonight, we’re just going to talk about the first two, Death and Judgement.

So the first, Death, happens at the end of our earthly life.  Death is a result of sin (Romans 5:12).  To really understand this let’s go back to the beginning – Creation.  Before the Fall of Adam and Eve, they possessed what is called Preternatural Gifts:

• Infused knowledge
• Integrity
• Bodily Immortality

We are just going to focus on Bodily Immortality.  What is important to see here is that Adam and Eve, like we are, were pilgrims on this Earth. The Garden of Eden, what we at times refer to as Paradise, was not Heaven. At some point, they were to pass on to the next life in Heaven, but it would not have been through what we call death.  Bodily immortality was lost when Adam and Eve sinned, thus bodily death entered the world.

Death. detail, Bosch

So what is death exactly?  Simply put, it is when the person’s human body and human soul separate.
That’s it!

But even as we were cut off from God due to sin, God did not reject mankind; He immediately began to work on our Salvation.  In Genesis 3:14-5, in what is referred to as the Protoevangelium (aka first announcement of the Gospels) we get a glimpse of the beginnings of God’s work on Redemption.

Which leads us to the second part of our talk:  Judgement.  When we die we face judgement, the time to choose between good and evil ends at death. There are two types of Judgement:  Particular and Universal.

Particular Judgement is when we die are individually judged by Christ.  At this moment we see our lives the way that God sees us.  We see every act of sin and its consequences and every act of goodness and its consequences. Here we learn if we go to Heaven or Hell.  Those who are saved but still have the stain of sin on their soul must first go through a period of time in Purgatory.

Does anybody know what Purgatory is?
It’s a place of purification, what Pope St Gregory the Great referred to as a purifying fire.

Judgement. detail, Bosch

Is it painful?
Yes, only in so far that you feel the effects of our sin.

We refer to those in Purgatory as the Poor Souls. It is highly recommended and encourage to pray for these Poor Souls to help them shorten their time there and to get to the Beatific Vision.  So in your petition prayers remember those in Purgatory that have no one to pray for them.

Second type of judgement is Universal, sometimes called the Final Judgement:  This happens at the Second coming of Christ aka the of Time.  Each person’s sin is revealed for all to know.

But why is everyone's sins revealed?

Well, God’s justice demands that all will be revealed.  It often seems in life that the wicked get away with their actions and the good suffer. At the Final Judgement we learn that everything is as it should.  God’s mercy and justice will prevail despite some appearances.  This is the main reason why we are taught not to judge others because we never know what is in their hearts, unlike God who does.

One of the things for which we have time to overcome in this life is the sin of pride. It is because of pride that we fear others knowing our inmost dark secrets. The practice of humility, strengthened with frequent sacramental confession can overcome that fear and deepen our spiritual life.

The Four Last Things: Part II