Don Matis Jr. First Podcast with Voices For Voices

by Monica on November 27, 2022

WARNING! There are ADULT SUBJECTS being discussed. NOT RECOMENDED for 17 years or younger without adult supervision.

Come listen/ watch Don Matis Jr, Jester for Jesus, first podcast with Justin Alan Hayes with Voices For Voices. The Voices for Voices Podcast Sponsored by Redwood Living Episode 23, w/ Guest Don Matis (Stoned On Happiness) is LIVE;
Multiple ways to listen/view:

***AUDIO (choose your platform; Apple, Google, Spotify, etc.): https://www.buzzsprout.com/1887594/11754778-voices-for-voices-podcast-episode-23-with-guest-don-matis-jester-for-jesus.mp3?download=true

***VIDEO (YouTube): https://youtu.be/nxJXJp9hxYE

View the rest of the site for paintings, prints, and other Stoned On Happiness gear for sale. If you wish to book Don for speaking engagements, please email StonedonHappiness@yahoo.com.

God bless you!

 

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Recovery Bearded Artist Don Matis Jr Art Show

by Monica on April 29, 2019

Recovery Artist and parishioner of St. Sebastian, Don Matis Jr. will be having an art show

WHEN: MAY 5th, 2019- This Sunday from 9;30AM-3:00 PM (After each Mass on Donut Sunday)

WHERE: Zwisler Hall at St. Sebastian Parish -476 Mull Ave., Akron, OH 44313, (Parking to Zwisler Hall is between South Hawkins and Elmsdale Ave)

Don’s recovery spans 32+ years free from drugs and alcohol. He loves his Catholic Faith and shares the reason for his sobriety from drugs and alcohol, with all who want to know in his Catholic healing ministry, United Hearts. Come see Don with one of his favorite paintings, “Real Presence”.

Hope to see you there!

 

Find also the map to Zwisler Hall:

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Post image for Don is “Messenger of St. Anthony” Magazine Front Cover News!

Don is “Messenger of St. Anthony” Magazine Front Cover News!

by Monica on January 10, 2019

Great News! Don Matis Jr. made the front cover of “Messenger of St. Anthony” magazine, the International edition, produced in Italy! Father Mario Conte, OFM Conv. met Don in the Summer of 2018 at the Basilica and National Shrine of Our Lady of Lebanon in Jackson, Ohio. He was impressed by his stories and Jester for Jesus outfit and called Don for an interview in the Fall of 2018. You can download the article of his story here God & I: Don Matis Jr. article.

Please prayerfully consider subscribing to the “Messenger of St. Anthony” magazine. And like them on their Facebook site here.

Here is Don Matis Jr. and Father Mario

  • We want to acknowledge photos were taken mostly by Monica Baird except for:
  • Top of Page 8 credit Thomas Simon and Bottom of Page 9 to Mika Johnson

Thanks for visiting and leave a comment. Please continue to read other blog posts about Stoned On Happiness and watch the “Human Paintbrush” video if you haven’t yet. God bless you!

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Conversion Feast day! Celebrate!

by Monica on January 25, 2018

Today is the Feast day of the Conversion of Saint Paul. What a coincidence, it is also the anniversary of my best friend, Don Matis Jr, 32nd year of his conversion. We noticed the date of St Paul’s conversion feast day, on our Catholic calendar, this week when Don reminded me of this monumental day in his life.

Have you heard his conversion story? Well he was interviewed by Terry Barbar,  an EWTN radio show host recently. You can listen to Don in his own words on his first podcast here. After being raped at 10 years old, 17 years of drug abuse and all that goes with it, Don had a miracle happen. Jesus sent His Mother to speak only 12 words to Don that changed his life and converted him back to his Catholic faith.

I am so proud of you, Don, for all that you have been through since your conversion, and still you remain Catholic. Not only do you practice your Catholic faith everyday, but you share your love of Jesus with all you meet. That love comes through in your works of charity in action. What works? Have you seen him lately? Look at the cover photo. He dresses like the Jester for Jesus everyday. Why? You can look at his story from the Cleveland Magazine, but also know that he loves to make people laugh. Laugh out loud, laugh at themselves, laugh at the circumstances of life, laugh for laughter’s sake.

Fr. O’Connor on EWTN’s Mass for today had wonderful words in his sermon about St Paul’s conversion and the words we read in Acts chapter 9. He quoted St Augustine, St Cardinal Newmann, Pope Benedict, Mr. Muddridge who became Catholic after many years of hedonism, and educated us that conversion is not easy. After that conversion there was no end to Paul’s struggles. He was disbelieved, persecuted, imprisoned, three times almost suffered death, stripped, beaten, finally condemned and died. All in his proclaiming that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior of us all.  Fr. O’Connor said that each of us must die to self and rise to faith each day. We’ll get into Don’s story of struggles after his conversion, and his daily sacrifice of self and rising to doing God’s will in a future blog.

Finally, Fr. O’Connor said that perhaps St Stephen, the first martyr’s prayers could have lead to Paul’s conversion. Don quotes his grandmother and several women in his life who prayed rosaries. Hmm…Perhaps the many older ladies who prayed their rosary of prayers, lead to Don’s re-version back to the faith?

Today is a day of celebration! Thank you God, and Our Dear Blessed Mother, for bringing Don Matis back to life!

If you have a story or comment of how Don has touched your life, please leave it here. If you’d like to help Don in his daily living and goal of someday helping those in recovery, visit our store and see the latest items for sale. God bless you!

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Don Matis Bringing HOPE

by Monica on November 13, 2017

It was a beautiful October afternoon in Hudson, Ohio. Two wonderfully Catholic Church Militant professionals, Monica and Ryan, came down from Detroit, Michigan to discuss with Don his life, conversion, 30+ years of  being sober from alcohol and clean from drugs, his unique recovery paintings, why he’s dressed like a Jester for Jesus, his bar ministry, and his vision of how the Catholic church and Catholics need to get involved to be “Charity in Action” and “Live the Gospel” message to those in recovery and others in our own parish pews.

Come watch this beautifully filmed interview from Church Militant and learn some lessons on how to listen, to bring hope, healing and love to your neighbor.

Have you watched our family friendly video of Don painting with his beard?!  The video “Human Paintbrush” has been seen in 143+ countries. You can explore more videos we are involved in at our video tab or see his paintings in our store.

Or Listen to Don’s first pod cast on an EWTN radio station describing his major conversion and why he’s clean and sober.

Did you see him in the Cleveland Magazine yet? Do you also wonder why Don is a Jester for Jesus? Don’t forget tell others!

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I Confess

by Monica on March 5, 2017

Photo from Monica Baird

We’ve been blessed with the devotion of going to confession once a week for the past 25 years. What do I mean – have a great devotion? I mean that I want to have a better and more loving relationship with Jesus. I want to love Him more. I want to do His will. How can I do that? By making an examination of conscience, through the Ten Commandments, admit my wrong doing, be forgiven, make reparation, and ask God for the grace not to sin again.

In the secular world, we can find pieces of this devotion. If you have ever been involved in the twelve step world, you’ll know that step four is to make an examination of conscience (Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves) and step five is the confession (Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.)

Here’s an excerpt from the devotional we read before Confession:

After our Examination of conscience:

1. Here reflect on the consequences of sin, and especially of mortal sin, which deprives the soul of the life of grace, despoils it of God’s friendship, and transforms it into an object of horror in His sight. The soul that is guilty of mortal sin has lost thereby all rights to heaven, and would be presently in hell, if God had not treated it with extreme mercy.

  1. Recall to mind all God’s favors, Our Savior’s sufferings. His readiness to forgive you! And finally your own past selfishness and ingratitude.
  2. Imagine that you are at the point of death, when the world and its vanities are vanishing from you, and your just and terrible Judge is fast approaching. Your sins will then appear in their true light.

Sobering words to meditate on. Ask Jesus for the grace of Confession.

Thankfully, if you live in the Cleveland Diocese, there’s going to be Confession available Weds. March 15th at your nearest Catholic church. Come join us. Be set free from sin, make reparation, and live in harmony once again with God and the community.

Final words of St. Padre Pio, “Any mental picture of your life that focuses on past sins is a lie and thus comes from the devil. Jesus loves you and has forgiven you your sins, so there is no room for having a downcast spirit. Whatever persuades you otherwise is truly a waste of time. “

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Purple Beard for America?!

by Monica on February 5, 2017

Photo by Monica Baird

“Cool beard, dude!” “Purple is my favorite color!” “Is that beard real?” Just a few comments I hear on a daily basis when I hang out with Don. (Followed by smiles and laughter) If someone sticks around long enough then they might ask “Why do you have a purple beard?”

From the Jester for Jesus, “Purple is a symbol for prayer, penance, and fasting for America. We need to pray for our country.”

What does that mean? Well, from this Crazy Catholic Evangelist own words, “It’s in reparation for sin; to do penance for myself and America. I’m an apostle of joy; trying to bring unity, happiness, community and to rebuild America. It’s also for the heroin epidemic and drug and alcohol addiction. Really, for every form of sin. We need to pray for America.”

“Penance is self-sacrifice for the Glory of God.” How can you sacrifice?  “Say you are texting 30 minutes a day, cut it down to 25 minutes a day. Make it a simple penance to start. Then offer it up for love of thy neighbor.”

How is that going to help America? Don continues, “Because of God’s grace. Read Scripture. God honors sacrifice. God honors the sacrifice of His Son who died on the cross, a wicked death. That opened the gates of heaven. To make reparation for our sins.”

Let’s talk about how to love thy neighbor as thy self? “You can only love according to what you have. And do the best you can. Put prayer into action. Get out of yourself and smile at someone. Open the door for someone. Do random acts of kindness. Leave a dollar for the next person in line. Whatever small gesture you can afford-put charity in action. But most of all pray for people.”

“Praying for our enemies is the highest form of charity as a Catholic Christian. Pray for our enemies, those in prison, the outcast, our own family and friends, the prostitute, the pimps, the gang bangers, we need to pray for these people. Most of all we need to pray for our own self. How can we love people as our self if you can’t love yourself?” More on this subject in the next blog post.

Have you watched our family friendly video of Don painting with his beard?!  The video “Human Paintbrush” has been seen in 143+ countries. You can explore more videos we are involved in at our video tab or see his paintings in our store.

Or Listen to Don’s first pod cast on an EWTN radio station describing his major conversion and why he’s clean and sober.

Did you see him in the Cleveland Magazine yet? Do you also wonder why Don is a Jester for Jesus? Don’t forget tell others!

 

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Why Does Don Paint with His Beard?

January 9, 2017

Don gets asked so often, “Why do you paint with your beard?” The date was March 19, 2002, the feast of St Joseph the Worker, and Don was praying and meditating on the Rosary. After 16 years of sobriety, and after his beard turned four years old, Don had an inspiration to utilize his beard as […]

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Why Did Don Grow His Beard?

January 8, 2017

Warning: Due to the graphic nature of this subject, please don’t let children read  or hear this article. You’ve seen Don with his long purple, almost ZZ Top length, beard. He’s told you stories and you know he paints with it, but do you know the devastating story on why he grew it to this length? […]

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Cleveland Magazine- Most Interesting People 2017

December 28, 2016

Don is honored to be chosen as “One of the Most Interesting People” in the  Cleveland Magazine, January 2017 issue.  Here’s some of the pictures from the Party for the “Most Interesting People of Cleveland”. We brought just one example of Don’s huge collection of 400+ paintings. The party was such an unforgettable gift and […]

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