St. Walburga's Blog

Powerful "180 Movie" Documentary

2012-02-10T20:20:00.000-06:00

180 Movie

Not for children or the faint of heart.

This movie is powerful and thought provoking. What a movie for the younger (older teens and twentys) generation to see.

Threats to Religious Freedom in America

2012-02-10T19:03:00.000-06:00

This is the name of a seminar just put on the schedule at CDU. It is timely. It has purpose. Dr. Royal will review and discuss the present attack on religious freedom in America. What can we do about it? Learn where it comes from, who is doing it, and how we can prepare ourselves for battle against it or standing up to it.

Sign up now the seminar starts March 5th.

Archbishop of Oklahoma, Bishop of Tulsa Stand Against Mandate

2012-02-07T09:47:00.000-06:00

Bishop Coakley published his letter on January 26, 2012:

"We cannot--we will not--comply with this unjust law. People of faith cannot be made second class citizens. We are already joined by our brothers and sisters of all faiths and many others of good will in this important effort to regain our religious freedom. In generations past, the Church has always been able to count on the faithful to stand up and protect her sacred rights and duties. I hope and trust we can count on this generation of Catholics to do the same. Our children and grandchildren deserve nothing less."

For other links to Bishops's messages from around the United states go to Fr. Z's blog where he has updated links.

Here is Bishop Slattery of Tulsa on YouTube:

Yet Another Journalistic Attack on Religious Liberty

2012-02-07T09:27:00.000-06:00

Fr. Father Z's blog: http://wdtprs.com/blog/2012/02/02/

This morning I heard one of the worst commentaries on the Obama heathcare mandate to date. Rachel Maddow, who I do not watch and after what I heard will never watch on MS NBC, was interviewed by Matt Lauer. Just a moment before there was actually a well balanced story about how the Catholic bishops, Republican candidates, even liberal Democrats feel that the Obama administration's mandate is wrong and unconstitutional (The mandate that all employers provide contraception, including abortafacient drugs, and sterilizaation to their employees or face fines). So, I guess Rachel was representing the "other" side of the issue. It was plainly her opinion, and I noted her decidedly masculine attire and hair cut. She said the Obama mandate was only providing for a woman's constitutional right to have access to contraception provided by their health care plan. Am I missing something here? Where is that written in the constitution? And isn't that what Planned Parenthood's original premise? to provide such services for "poor" women? Oh, I guess I'm not missing anything--mandate to provide healthcare insurance to "all" women....Planned Parenthood provides these services...ah, got it.

During the rest of her interview, she goes on with many exaggerated statements like "the vast majority of Catholics use contraception." I would postulate that 1) neither she nor NBC has done any kind of research on this oft repeated statistical statement (repitition does not make propaganda, fact), 2) that she, nor NBC or any news agency for that matter, cares to hear the opinion of orthodox, faithful Catholics, 3) that the vast majority of faithful Catholic women of childbearing age actually do follow the magisterial teaching on this matter--at least the vast majority that I am associated with. Not only were here statements on the feelings of Catholics an exaggeration, but an exaggeration based on assumptions not facts.
The doosy of statements for me was her "example." She said that not providing women employees with contraception under the health care plans of Catholic employers (such as nursing homes, hospitals, schools, etc) was like this:

An Amish man applies for a bus driving job. They don't discriminate against him because he is Amish, and he is hired for the job. He shows up for work the next day and says that he can't drive because it is against his religion. He should not have apply for the job that could have gone to someone else in the first place.

How would this apply to forcing Catholic employers to provide (ie, pay for) something that the Church believes (and I can say with a certain confidence that the vast majority of practicing Catholics agree with) is immoral? Actually the story should have been something like this:

The government decided all communities should have a bus stop. They went into the Amish community and said, "We're putting in a bus stop in your community. You will provide an Amish bus driver." "It is against our religious principles to drive a modern vehicle." The government says, "Too bad. Every citizen has the constitutional rigtht to have free bus ride to every community in the United States. Therefore, you will provide that for your community."

Frankly, I'm surprised that the Obama administration (and much of the liberal press) doesn't understand the backlash. It isn't just about contraception--although that is the large part of it. The issue is the government telling religion-based organizations what they must do, even if it is against the moral, religious, or ethical (however you want to state it) code or law of their particular sect. This is about the state being able to tell a church what to do. It is the state infringing upon the churches rights. It will not stop there. This is only the beginning.

I read a bishop quoted on Fr. Z's blog who said: "I will die in bed, my successor will die in jail, his successor will die in the public square." (I couldn't find the name or the exact quote again to reference it, but I will keep looking). I doubt he is far off the mark.

Sign the petition against this immoral heathcare mandate here.

For those who may not have been following the news on this subject, here it is in a nutshell, from Stop the Birth Control Mandate. org:

"The Birth Control Mandate On August 1, 2011 the Department of Health and Human Services, directed by Kathleen Sebelius, adopted the Institute of Medicine’s recommendation that “the full range of FDA-approved contraceptive methods” be determined a “preventive care service for women.” Under these new guidelines, mandatory coverage will be provided for surgical sterilization, all prescription contraceptives approved by the FDA - including drugs like Ella that can cause abortions in the early weeks of pregnancy - as well as counseling to promote them. This directive from the Affordable Care Act initiative will be supported by tax payers without a conscience clause exemption, violating the civil and religious liberties of millions of Americans."

Komen v. PP

2012-02-03T13:03:00.001-06:00

Wow! What is going on there? Someone at Susan G. Komen finally found the balls to stand up to Planned Parenthood and cut them off. There was a lot of cheering in my house! No, they've caved. Really?

Research has shown that oral contraceptives, post-poning pregnancy through years of O.C.'s, and even abortions significantly increase a woman's chances of getting breast cancer, uterine cancer, and other cancers. But, Komen's "march for the cure" has been giving Planned Parenthood at least $680,000 "for breast cancer screenings" every year. PP says they only used that money for screenings. One, this money, if indeed they ARE using the money "only" for screenings, frees up that much more money to use for their anti-woman, anti-life agenda. And two, how do we know that it is used only for screenings? Do they track those dollars from their receipt to clinics who give screenings? And, PP's complete honesty should convince us that they only care about women's health? Really.

I had planned for the first time to write to Komen and give a contribution. I was rejoicing that they had finally severed their connection with the extremely shady and vile PP.

Today, they caved. The funny thing is, PP supposedly got over a $1 million dollars in contributions from women upset by Komen's decision. They obviously don't need Komen's money--so WHY cave? I don't get it!!! They will not see a penny of mine, nor will I support their "charity" while they are in partnership with PP. Never.

[Oops, the picture I posted was not the message I wished to convey. I have removed it. If any of you saw it already, my apologies]

New Seminar on Religious Freedom

2012-02-02T13:55:00.000-06:00

Catholic Distance University (CDU) is offering a three-week seminar pertinent to current events:
"Threats to Religious Freedom in America." It starts March 5th.

Here is the brochure: http://cdu.caucus.com/~caucus_cdu/LIB/ITEMS/30040/0/CDU-seminar-Rel-freedom_flyer.pdf

Our first ammendment rights are under attack by this administration. We should inform ourselves on what's at stake, and steel ourselves to make a stand--now!

Fried Cabbage

2012-02-01T19:04:00.002-06:00

I'm from the North y'all. I've never tasted fried cabbage before. Now, mind you, I lived in Maryland (they consider themselves the South) for eight years in the 1980's to early 1990's. I've never tasted fried cabbage. (However, I did discover fried sweet potato fries while I lived there. Talk about yummy!) I've lived in Texas and Oklahoma now for 12 years--never saw fried cabbage. In a little dive at a podunk airport, I tasted my first fried cabbage. Wow! You can really make everything taste better when you fry it--and I like cabbage. Here's a quick easy way to do it:

Fried Cabbage (from memory):

1 head cabbage, core removed
about 1/3 c. oil
bacon (!)
1 onion
2 pinches sugar
salt and pepper

1. Heat up the vegetable oil on med to med/hi heat in a deep pan, and cook the bacon in it . The original recipe said 3 slices cut into thirds. I add about 6 slices and cut them a little smaller so it goes farther when served.
2. Meanwhile chop the onion into a large dice. Slice or chop the cabbage into a large dice.
3. Once the bacon is cooked, add the onions. Sweat them for a minute or two then add the cabbage.
4. Add two generous pinches of white sugar (it helps the cabbage caramelize) and add salt and pepper.
5. Cook, stirring frequently, until the cabbage is crisp-tender and reduce to about half its volume.

This takes me about 15 minutes total.
Fried cabbage is so delicious, I serve it about once a week now and have very little in the way of left-overs (darn it!). The only one that doesn't like it is my oldest son. He is my picky eater, but I think that may be due to his diabetes. I think he tastes things differently than the rest of us. Anyway...
Try fried cabbage. Delish!

I think this may be the original recipe I used: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/southern-fried-cabbage/

Eucaharistic Devotions

2012-01-26T17:13:00.001-06:00

The next Seminar I am interested in taking is this one:

Eucharistic Devotions

March 12 - April 2 with Stephen Kass, MA

This three-week online seminar will examine the history of Eucharistic devotions outside of Mass and specific devotions that the Church encourages.

Learn more about this seminar

Register for this seminar

The Inquisition -- Catholic Seminar Offered

2012-01-14T09:23:00.001-06:00

Currently offered at Catholic Distance University: The Inquisition.

"Study one of the most controversial and misunderstood topics in Catholic history. It will focus on the development of both the so-called Roman and Spanish Inquisitions."

This sure to be interesting seminar begins Tuesday, January 17th, so enroll now! Go to CDU's website to learn more and to enroll in this seminar. It last three weeks and requires approximately 10 hours of time for the non-credit option.

Other upcoming seminars that may be of interest:

Forming Disciples for Community and Mission: Basic Tasks of Catechesis
February 6 - 27 with Brian Pizzalato, Ph.D. Candidate
"Examine the six fundamental tasks of catechesis, with a particular emphasis on the need to foster in others a sense of responsibility towards the community of the Church, and to equip them with ways to use their gifts and talents to witness Christ in their everyday lives."

Bioethics: The Catholic Approach
February 13 - March 5 with William Saunders, J.D.
"This three week online seminar will examine current issues such as stem cell research, end of life issues, and population control through attacks on life in all its stages. More information will be given about this seminar in the near future."

Classics in Spirituality
February 20 - March 12 with Fr. Bevil Bramwell, OMI, Ph.D
"Can you meditate? Do you have a vision of what your spirit ‘looks like’? This three week online seminar course will develop what is meant by the life of prayer with special emphasis on meditation."

You can check out all these great seminars and register by going to the CDU website.

Blessed Nicholas Steno Honored by Google

2012-01-11T10:04:00.001-06:00

Blessed Nicholas Steno

One of the ironies intrinsic to the world's view of the Catholic Church is that the Church has always been at odds with science. However, over and over again I've come across so many instances of how, in actual history, Catholics have been at the forefront of science.

Today, Google's "google" honors such a Catholic scientist. It is Nicholas Steno's, the "father of geology", 374th birthday. The irony is that they don't call him Blessed Nicholas Steno. He was a Catholic Bishop who was a convert from the Lutheran church. His inquiring mind led him to the conclusion that the Lutheran church was wrong because only the Catholic Church could answer his deep religious questions, and he had a sudden and powerful belief in the Real Presence during a Eucharistic rite. If you click on the Google image it points one to a Christian Science Monitor article, which does not once mention the fact that he was a Catholic Bishop or that he was beatified by Pope Blessed John Paul II in 1988. His feast day is December 5th, the day before St. Nicholas (the man who "became Santa") Day, December 6th.

Illustration from Steno's
work on fossils and strata
comparing shark teeth and
"tongue stones."

Steno studied geological strata and built on the work of other scientists of his time. His comparison of living shark teeth to "tongue stones," which people actually thought fell from the sky, built on the "glossary" of such "stones" by Fabio Colonna published in 1616. His work called Preliminary discourse to a dissertation on a solid body naturally contained within a solid, published in 1669, contained his observations on fossils, crystals, strata, etc. Thus giving him the name of "father of geology" or "father of stratagraphy" (depending on the article you read). According to an article written for a Berkley website, he supposedly "abandoned" his scientific study when he converted. Considering his inquisitive mind, which is why he became a scientist and a Catholic, I doubt that statement. He may have changed the emphasis of his life (which was his more important call to holiness) but I am sure his inquisitive mind continued to follow the scientific studies of the 17th century. Despite the propaganda, the Catholic Church neither discourages (then or now) scientific inquiry nor stops anyone from pursuing it, let alone stop them from being both a scientist and a priest (look at Gregor Mendel, a monk and the discoverer of inherited traits, and, ironically, largely ignored by the scientific community during his lifetime). The Church is not in conflict with science. In fact the Church, historically, has been the single largest supporter of scientific study.

There is much more to his story. You can read the not so objective Christian Science Monitor article (which does not mention his Catholic Faith, let alone his beatification), the Wikipedia Article, Berkley's anti-Catholic article (at least they mention his conversion to the Catholic Church, but obligingly denigrate her) or the rather short Catholic Encyclopedia article.

The Solemnity of Mary, January 1, 2012

2012-01-01T19:08:00.000-06:00

Today's Gospel reading from Luke chapter 2:

16 So they hurried away and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. 17 When they saw the child they repeated what they had been told about him, 18 and everyone who heard it was astonished at what the shepherds said to them. 19 As for Mary, she treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds went back glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as they had been told. 21 When the eighth day came and the child was to be circumcised, they gave him the name Jesus, the name the angel had given him before his conception.

The Solemnity of Mary is a very important feast in the calendar of the Church. It is part of the Octave of Christmas. It is the day Jesus was taken to the Temple, named, and circumsized (as St. Paul said in Gal. 4:4
"subject to the Law".)

"In the encyclical Marialis Cultus (1974) Pope Paul VI states: "This celebration, assigned to January 1 in conformity with the ancient liturgy of the city of Rome, is meant to commemorate the part played by Mary in this mystery of salvation. It is meant also to exalt the singular dignity which this mystery brings to the 'holy Mother . . . through whom we were found worthy . . . to receive the Author of life.' It is likewise a fitting occasion for renewed adoration of the newborn Prince of Peace, for listening once more to the glad tidings of the angels, and for imploring from God, through the Queen of Peace, the supreme gift of peace. For this reason . . . we have instituted the World Day of Peace, an observance that is gaining increasing support and is already bringing forth fruits of peace in the hearts of many" (no. 5)."

"The mystery of Mary's maternity is expressed in the Entrance Antiphon of the Mass: "Hail, holy Mother! The child to whom you gave birth is the King of heaven and earth for ever." This implies God's choice of her who is "full of grace" (Lk 1:28) as well as her voluntary consent: "Let it be done to me as you say" (Lk 1:38). The word "conceive" applies not only to the body but also to the spirit, as was stated by the Second Vatican Council: "The Virgin Mary, who at the message of the angel received the word of God in her heart and in her body . . . is acknowledged and honored as being truly the Mother of God and of the Redeemer.... Rightly, therefore, the Fathers see Mary not merely as passively engaged by God, but as freely cooperating in the work of man's salvation through faith and obedience" (Lumen Gentium, nos. 53 and 56)."

[passages from "Mary, Mother of God" on the EWTN website]

"Our Lord needs from us neither great deeds nor profound thoughts. Neither intelligence nor talents. He cherishes simplicity." -- St Therese of Lisieux

Immaculate Conception

2011-12-08T23:05:00.001-06:00

I sure hope you all went to Mass today, after all, it is a holy day of obligation. I meant to share this wonderful coloring page I found. I used it in my second grade RE class to explain what the Immaculate Conception is. So go to Catholic Icing for a copy and print it out for you kids or your RE Class. It is sweet and I am so happy I found it. It is the best physical way I've found to explain the concept to seven year olds.

St. Nicholas Day--December 6

2011-12-05T12:49:00.002-06:00

One of my favorite feasts of the year is that of St. Nicholas--the man who would become Santa Claus. His generosity to the poor and his care for children seems naturally to have morphed into the Santa Claus stories of today. His is a wonderful, fun, and inspiring story.

Read the Children's version (great for adults, to) on The Real Santa Claus by Carol Myers by clicking on the title or go here for an adult version.

Go here for a St. Nicholas' Day Blessing by Thomas G. Simons as a wonderful addition to your regular advent prayer routine. .

For online games and activities for kids go here:

For some really wonderful printable activities for kids go here.

For some really fun crafts to make a St. Nicholas figure, including one from chocolate go here.

Celebrate this wonderful saint who was the figure behind the legend of Santa Claus.

Feast day: December 6.

On a more personal note, it is the day we celebrate new life for my oldest son. He was diagnosed with type 1 (juvenile) diabetes on St. Nicholas day, 2006. At one time in the not too distant past, it would have been a death sentence. With the wonders of modern medicine (insulin) and modern medical technology (insulin pump the size of a cell phone) he can live a relatively normal life. God gave him this cross for a reason we don't know yet, but we celebrate God's gift of life to him and us.

Baptism Saves You Now

2011-11-21T09:11:00.000-06:00

     Today, I was working on a paper for a college course I'm taking (at CDU--see below), when I decided to look up the phrase "baptism saves you now." I couldn't remember exactly where it was in I Peter. What was so funny is that many Protestant entries came on the Google search. I clicked on the first one which did not, at first give the reference (I Peter 3:21, by the way). It went on and on about how this verse had nothing to do with water baptism and salvation. The rest of the diatribe was about how spiritual baptism saves us. All I kept thinking as I'm reading this is how does this fit in with his professed sola scriptura position? It wasn't just him, though. There were many others with similar and differing things to say on the subject.

     My problem with such a convoluted explaining away of the actual context is the claim that they believe that the Bible is their "only authority" when it comes to doctrine. Of course that first 'author' I read did not go back at all and quote the previous verses and I wonder if he'd even read them, judging by the way he twisted verse 21.

"For Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the sake of the unrighteous, that He might lead you to God. Put to death in the flesh, He was brought to life in the spirit. In it He also went to preach to the spirits in prison, who had once been disobedient while God patiently waited in the days of Noah during the building of the ark, in which a few persons, eight in all, were saved through water. This prefigured baptism, which saves you now. It is not a removal of dirt from the body but an appeal to God for a clear conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into Heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers subject to Him." (I Peter 3:18-22, NAB)

Honestly, even as a former Baptist, I cannot understand how one can ignore such a glaring indication of the place of WATER baptism in God's plan of salvation. Noah and his family "were saved through water". It says right there in black and white, "This prefigures baptism, which saves you now." How can intelligent person in their right mind, unless of course they have a man-made agenda, pretend that this is not about literal water baptism? Obviously, Peter does mean water baptism saves you now. He indicates this not only by the prefigurement of the flood but also his comment afterward. "It is not a removal of dirt from the body" can only indicate he means water. Certainly if he meant "spirit baptism", for which the article I read tried to make a case,  he wouldn't need say anything about the removal of dirt from the body--only water can do that. I just cannot comprehend that a man's agenda can blind him so much to God's plan.

According to the Gospel of St. Matthew, Jesus said, "All power in Heaven and on Earth has been given to Me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you." (28:18-20a)

and in St Mark's Gospel, Jesus said: "Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned." (16:15,16)

How one can "reason" away these passages is a mystery to me. How so many "bible only" Christians not only don't believe what the Bible says about baptism and it's place in God's plan of salvation, but they don't follow Jesus' command and baptism anyone. Many sincere, well-meaning Christians have been lead far afield by other Protestants or their own "understanding." Another indication that sola-scriptura (bible only) Christianity doesn't work. In His Church, the Catholic Church, the Scriptures are seen as a whole, not picked apart into proof-texting. God's plan of salvation is in all of Scripture and given to us wonderfully and mystically and spiritually in the Sacraments, including baptism, "which saves you now."

Catholic Distance University

2011-11-15T08:46:00.000-06:00

I started my college career at 18. However in my Junior year, I quit college because I was scared of debt. I was already $30,000 in the hole and had another year and a half to go for my teaching degree. I eventually joined the Air Force and paid my debt. I also received an Associates degree during my tenure. I considered "completion" degrees here and there, but almost every one of them was for a business degree or nursing. I was not interested at all in a business degree and I do not qualify for a nursing degree, so I pretty much let it go. Until now...

CDU Logo

I looked into Catholic Distance University. My husband was flying for an airline, and gone 2 weeks out of 4. Call it a mid-life crisis but I panicked a little, wondering what would happen to me if he didn't come back (I've been a stay at home, homeschooling mom for almost 18 years now). Catholic Distance University (CDU) has a Bachelor's degree completion program in a field I'm interested in--Theology. It can be done completely online. They've had their online Master's courses for sometime, as well. CDU also offers catechetical certificates and education credits, and their seminars are wonderful! This year they've even introduced an Associates' degree program. You can do it all on line, at your convenience. Yes, I've done school work at 1AM a couple of times. I fit my assignments, readings, and research for papers at my convenience.

So, if you're a stay at home mom like me, or a working man or woman who would like to finish or get a degree, and interested in studying catechetics or theology, you should check them out.

So go here for the CDU homepage, here for information on their AA in Liberal Arts with a concentration in Catholic Studies program, here for CDU's Bachelor of Arts in theology degree completion progree, and here for their Master of Arts in Theology degree. Also available from CDU, the catechetical diploma, courses for education credit withour applying to one of their programs, and non-credit courses and seminars for those who just want to learn more about the Catholic faith. So, go check them out and help me win a free seminar!

Hallelujah in Alaska

2011-11-10T09:20:00.000-06:00

You have got to see this! It is wonderful, especially if you like flash mob videos. This is sweet!

Rock and Roll

2011-11-06T19:45:00.002-06:00

Last night we, here in Oklahoma, had a 5.6 earthquake at 11pm. It lasted close to half a minute. It is one of the strongest I've experienced since I was a kid in Seattle. Two of my kids were awakened and my oldest, who was awake, all showed up in the living room, asking me what was going on. I told them it felt like it was between a 5 and a 6. I didn't know how right I was until this morning! But what a ride! It is exhilarating at the same time it is terrifying. Our whole house shook as if it were on rails. No damage done--but it sounded like we had monsters in the closets. It felt like I was "home" again in Auburn (near Seattle), Washington.

We really are not in charge. God has us right in His hands.

More later...

Addendum: We had another experience about 8 pm Saturday night. It was "only" a 4.6. But we were fully aware of the experience. It was quite interesting to have a thunder storm with a threat of tornadoes, at the same time an earthquake is rocking the house. Wow! What is God trying to tell us?!

Happy Halloween!

2011-11-01T00:24:00.001-05:00

I know, I know, it's All Saints' Day now, but it was so fun I had to share. My kids dressed up and went to the carnival at our parish school Saturday night. There were all kinds of games. My youngest son's favorite was candy corn bowling--he is obsessed with bowling. He was, after all, dressed as a bowling ball! (The costume probably cost $4!) He was devastated when we returned to the game after having gone to the costume contest and they had switched out candy corn bowling for a cone ring toss game. I'll have to find one of those darn things for him. He was surprisingly good at the tossing games. I can only guess that is because he has a basketball hoop, and he has been playing catch with his dad.

Speaking of costumes...my oldest went as a "Steam punk" scientist, costing around $6 for a vest from the second hand store and a pair of spats made of white felt. The rest of the costume he already had on hand. My second son was the joker. His was the most expensive. I bought a shirt, tie, and 2 green shirts that I cut up to make Joker's green vest. It cost around $15. My third son was some sort of gaming character, costing around $10. My daughter's hippie costume cost me around $5. Her costume won second place in her category (6-8 grades). So, all in all not a bad Halloween, and everyone got to dress up as the character they wanted. They all got their pictures taken as a souvenir of the night--they were free!

Trick or treating tonight was interesting. I would say about 1 house in 10 had its porch light on, and of those on, 1 in 4 did not answer the door. It is hard to explain all that to an anxious 6yo bowling ball. His older sister wanted to go another street but he just wanted to go home. I got him to compromise, but he complain half-way round the loop home. Just so you all know...don't sit in your dark driveway in a black hooded robe if you actually want the kids to come to your house. I don't know about other people's kids, but mine don't particularly want to be scared by a complete stranger in the dark.

Oh, and one neighbor said, "And don't forget to celebrate Christmas." Huh? Does one exclude the other? Not really. Halloween is actually the Eve of All Saints' Day and has been a Christian celebration for centuries--not always with costumes and candy mind you but a celebration none-the-less. It was similar to Christmas Eve, the night before Christmas, when people get together, eat a big meal then go to midnight Mass for Christmas and open presents in the wee hours of the morning. The man's comment just struck me as rather silly. Halloween was never a celebration of witches and monsters. It is actually a way of making fun of them and contrasting the silliness of them with the wonderful lives of the holy people we call saints. Anyway, a Christian CAN celebrate both. It is perfectly legitimate and perfectly alright.

It struck me as kind of silly, too, that I was carrying about 2-3 pounds of candy in my son's sack, while at home my husband was passing out about the same amount at home. Silly custom, isn't it? But the children have such a good time, I haven't the heart to not go.

I found Ben & Jerry's site tonight and got obsessed with some of the fun games on the site. They have a Halloween section but I'm not sure if it will still be there tomorrow. I'm going to watch out for Thanksgiving or Christmas games. Thanks Ben & Jerry's!

Now--Don't forget to go to Mass tomorrow (today). It IS a holy day of obligation. That means all good Catholics must attend Mass. You do realize it is for your own soul's health. Jesus loves you and wants to see you there! God bless! Have a blessed All Saints Day!

Ave Maria

2011-10-15T15:09:00.000-05:00

I attended a funeral Mass Monday. The Ave Maria was sung to the music written by Shubert while the altar was readied for the Eucharist. I thought I'd share the Latin and English translation here.

Ave Maria Prayer : The Latin text of the Ave Maria prayer

set to the music by Franz Schubert

Ave Maria Gratia plena

Maria Gratia plena

Ave, ave dominus

Dominus tecum

Benedicta tu in mulieribus

Et benedictus

Et benedictus fructus ventris

Ventris tui Jesus

Ave Maria

Ave Maria Mater dei

Ora pro nobis pecatoribus

Ora, ora pro nobis

Ora ora pro nobis pecatoribus

Nunc et in hora mortis

In hora mortis, mortis nostrae

In hora mortis nostrae

Ave Maria!

The Latin text of the Ave Maria prayer

set to the music by Franz Schubert

It is the prayer that so many of us, Catholics, take for granted. Schubert's music and the liturgical Latin just heighten the beauty of the prayer.

Ave Maria Gratia plena

Hail, Mary, full of Grace

Luke 1:28: Gabriel said, "Hail, full of Grace..." The Church just added her name here because that is the name of the person called "full of grace" by an angel. Interestingly, the only other time this phrase (Gr. Kecharitomenae) is used in the NT is for her Son, Jesus in John 1:14.

Ave, ave dominus

Dominus tecum

the Lord is with you

Luke 1:28 cont: "...The Lord is with you."

Benedicta tu in mulieribus

Blessed are you among women

Luke 1:42: Elizabeth said, "Blessed are you among women..."

Et benedictus fructus ventris

Ventris tui Jesus

and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus.

Luke 1:42 cont: "...and blessed is the fruit of your womb." Jesus' name was added here, for obvious reasons.

Ave Maria Mater dei

Holy Mary, Mother of God

Luke 1:43, Elizabeth also said, "Why should I be honoured with a visit from the mother of my Lord?"
Elizabeth actually becomes the first to use this title for Mary, her cousin. If Mary is full of Grace, then see is holy. Since we Catholics, and most mainstream Christians believe Jesus Christ to be God the Son, and Mary is His mother, how could one object to this title? God-bearer (Theotokos) is just as acceptable and just as true.

Ora pro nobis pecatoribus

Pray for us, sinners

Luke 2:34: Simeon's prophecy included, "...so that the secret thoughts of many may be laid bare."

and in John's Gospel (2:3-5) it says, "3 And they ran out of wine, since the wine provided for the feast had all been used, and the mother of Jesus said to him, 'They have no wine.' 4 Jesus said, 'Woman, what do you want from me? My hour has not come yet.' 5 His mother said to the servants, 'Do whatever he tells you.'

Mary will according to Simeon's prophecy hear the secret thoughts of others and in the Gospel of John, she asks Jesus a favor and prepares for the request to be fulfilled.

Nunc et In hora mortis nostrae

now, and at the hour of our death.

From 2 Maccabees 12, it says, 44 "For had he not expected the fallen to rise again, it would have been superfluous and foolish to pray for the dead, 45 whereas if he had in view the splendid recompense reserved for those who make a pious end, the thought was holy and devout."

Amen.

As we can see the "Hail, Mary" prayer can be seen in the tradition of Scripture which is part of the Tradition of His Church. The Mysteries of the Rosary that we pray every time are Scripturally-based also. It is a wonderful way to meditate on Scripture.

“Joyful Mysteries” (Mon & Sat)

First Decade: The Annunciation of Gabriel to Mary (Luke 1:26-38)
Second Decade: The Visitation of Mary to Elizabeth (Luke 1:39-56)
Third Decade: The Birth of Our Lord (Luke 2:1-21)
Fourth Decade: The Presentation of Our Lord (Luke 2:22-38)
Fifth Decade: The Finding of Our Lord in the Temple (Luke 2:41-52)

"Luminous Mysteries” (Thurs.)
First Decade: The Baptism of Our Lord in the River Jordan (Matthew 3:13-16)
Second Decade: The Wedding at Cana, when Christ manifested Himself (Jn 2:1-11)
Third Decade: The Proclamation of the Kingdom of God (Mark 1:14-15)
Fourth Decade: The Transfiguration of Our Lord (Matthew 17:1-8)
Fifth Decade: The Last Supper, when Our Lord gave us the Holy Eucharist (Mt 26)

“Sorrowful Mysteries” (Tues & Fri)
First Decade: The Agony of Our Lord in the Garden (Matthew 26:36-56)
Second Decade: Our Lord is Scourged at the Pillar (Matthew 27:26)
Third Decade: Our Lord is Crowned with Thorns (Matthew 27:27-31)
Fourth Decade: Our Lord Carries the Cross to Calvary (Matthew 27:32)
Fifth Decade: The Crucifixion of Our Lord (Matthew 27:33-56)

“Glorious Mysteries” (Wed & Sun)
First Decade: The Glorious Resurrection of Our Lord (John 20:1-29)
Second Decade: The Ascension of Our Lord (Luke 24:36-53)
Third Decade: The Descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost (Acts 2:1-41)
Fourth Decade: The Assumption of Mary into Heaven (Song of Songs 2:2,10-11)
Fifth Decade: The Coronation of Mary as Queen of Heaven and Earth (Gn 3:15a) (Jdt 13:18) (Jdt 15:9) (Rv 12:1) (Sir 24:4) (Sir 14:9) (Cor 4:17) (Lk 8:21)(Gal 4:19)
(From CatholicBridge.com)

You can learn the Rosary here and here

Wonderful Book on the Mass

2011-10-07T19:09:00.000-05:00

This is the whole package that is available

I don't think I can recommend many books as highly as I want to recommend Dr. Sri's current book, A Biblical Walk Through the Mass. I am only halfway through the book and study guide. I've seen the introductory video (at our last month's catechists meeting). This book takes you not only through the biblical roots of the Mass, in what we say and do, but it also takes you through the changes to the wording of parts of the Mass that go into affect this year at Advent.

All of the materials for the parish or for personal use can be purchased from Ascension Press. I have the book (orange cover) and the student book behind it. I did not purchase the videos, but our parish did. It is well worth the viewing. This book is a must for anyone interested in the changes in the Mass this year or interested in the Biblical roots of the Mass.

Being a Grown Up

2011-10-06T09:15:00.000-05:00

I don't know about the few of you who read my blog, but I'm tired of being a grown-up--the only grown up I know sometimes seems. I feel like I know too much about some people and too little about others. I have to make all the decisions, and push every one else in my life to do so. I am the only one who can pick up anything, remind everyone else to pick up anything, or remember to pick up anything. I am the one who runs all the errands, and must make all the phone calls. It seems like I am the one who has to make sure everyone eats and breathes.

Sometimes, I sit dazed at the end of the day wondering--when is my day off? When is my break? When do I get to have fun?

I have so long fought for my children's right to be kids that they can't be bothered to do chores, or pick up after themselves. Now, I'm not even taken seriously unless I'm yelling at everyone. I don't know when that happened. I've tried to tell everyone that I don't enjoy being angry, but they don't do anything I say unless I'm yelling. I hate it.

Being the grown up sucks.

I need to pray more:

"When night comes, and retrospect shows that everything was patchwork and much that one had planned left undone, when so many things rouse shame and regret, then take all as is, lay it in God's hands, and offer it up to Him. In this way we will be able to rest in Him, actually to rest and to begin the new day like a new life."
[St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross - excerpted from Gold in the Furnace, Jean M. Heimann, copyright 2004.]

"Holy Spirit, come into my heart; draw it to Thee by Thy power, O my God, and grant me charity with filial fear. Preserve me, O ineffable Love, from every evil thought; warm me, inflame me with Thy dear love, and every pain will seem light to me. My Father, my sweet Lord, help me in all my actions. Jesus, love, Jesus, love."
Amen
[St. Catherine of Siena]

Book Titles I Recommend

2011-08-18T18:48:00.001-05:00

On a friend's blog, The Mom mentions some books she loves and recommends. I thought I might do the same. (I know copy cat). But she had a very good idea.

I like Hooked on Phonics. I have taught four children to read with this program and I love it. However, it can be very expensive. I have used the same books and tapes for all four kids so it was a good investment for me, seeing that number five is now using the 10 year old books. My friend, The Mom, recommends Teaching Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons. I have seen it at the library, but I have never tried it. I didn't know about this program before I stared with HOP. Free is good!

I love Singapore Math. Last year was the first year I used their Kindergarten math with the Aesop's Fables books. Loved it. It was fun and engaging. Stories and Math (not unlike the Mom's recommendation of Five in a Row for Preschoolers) together is engaging for that grade level. My son loved it.

When it comes to Junior High and High School we now switch to Life of Fred. My oldest took Beginning Algebra (Algebra I) in 8th grade, my second son in 9th. This series is humorous and engaging, and almost self-teaching. With minimal help from mom, my oldest has aced math up through Trigonometry. Stan Schmidt (the author of the series) was a college math teacher and developed this series after he saw the deficiencies in the public school systems methods of teaching math. He was also a protestant minister at one time, so he has employed Christian principles in the stores without being overtly Christian. IOW, anyone can use them. I cracked up one time when I read a negative review of his books because he mentions Fred, who is 6 entering a bar. The writer was quite offended. However, she apparently didn't read the story very thoroughly because it was a JUICE bar. (Note: I am happy to see that Mr. Schmidt is now developing more Life of Fred Books for the younger grades. I look forward to looking at them and perhaps getting them for my younger ones.)

We use the Faith and Life Series for religious education up through 8th grade. While I also have my children read various saints stories and we try to do fun crafts and activities tied to the Church year, the material is solid and engaging. It is thoroughly Catholic and the kids actually have a solid foundation in their Faith. We use the texts and the activity books. I use the teacher's resource manual but it is not strictly necessary for home use. We use Fr. Laux High School series later on. Plus, The Catholic Catechism by Fr. Hardon, the current Catechism of the Catholic Church, and various other recommendations by Kolbe Academy Homeschool for High School Theology.

I will add to this as I have time in the coming week with History and English.

The Ten Commandments

2011-08-10T14:50:00.003-05:00

One of my pet peeves in Catholic Catechises is the Ten Commandments. In our local Catholic school, they teach the wrong version of the Ten Commandments. Every Ten Commandments display submitted for the "Religion Fair" at school was the wrong version of the Ten Commandments. In the parish bookstore, whenever they sell a plaque with the Ten Commandments on it, it is invariably the wrong version of the Ten Commandments. Whenever I've been to other Catholic Churches and have seen the Ten Commandments displayed, it has been the wrong version of the Ten Commandments. Why such ignorance of our own Faith? I'm sure one of the reasons in the Catholic school is not only the lack of teaching nuns, but also the fact that you don't have to be Catholic to teach there. Does anyone see a problem with an elementary school teacher teaching religion class in a Catholic school when they are not Catholic???? I don't get it. Not only are we not properly catechizing adults and children but we are allowing those who have never learned the Faith to teach it.

Anyone who has read and loved the Scriptures all his life should, in my opinion, can see the significance of the signs of numbers in Scripture and in our Christian Faith. Let's just look at the numbers first, then we'll talk about the significance of the redivision of the Commandments by Protestants (protesters against His Church). The Catholic Ten Commandments are divided this way:

THREE for God:
1. I am the Lord your God: You shall not have strange Gods before me.
2. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
3. Remember to keep holy the Lord’s Day.

What is the significance of THREE? That's a pretty easy one. Three represents the Blessed Trinity, the Christian Godhead. There is also the three days Christ was in the tomb, the three days of Jonah in the whale's belly as a sign of the aforementioned, and the Three Kings who visited the Christ Child.

SEVEN for man:
4. Honor your father and mother.
5. You shall not kill.
6. You shall not commit adultery.
7. You shall not steal.
8. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
9. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife.
10. You shall not covet your neighbor’s goods.

What is the significance of seven? It is the number of the completion of creation. On the seventh day "God rested," not because of fatigue but because it was complete. We divide our week into seven days for the same reason.

Now, let us look at the Ten Commandments changed by some Protestants.

1. I am the Lord thy God, thou shalt have no other gods before me.
2. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image.
3. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.
4. Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy.
5. Honor thy father and thy mother.
6. Thou shalt not kill.
7. Thou shalt not commit adultery.
8. Thou shalt not steal.
9. Thou shalt not bear false witness.
10. Thou shalt not covet.

Moses and Serpent image

You will be hard pressed to find any significance to a division of 4 and 6. One will note that the first commandment (Catholic version, 2nd in the Jewish version) has been divided into two. Giving protestants an excuse to accuse the Catholic Church of idolatry. The problem with this accusation and division of the commandments as its "proof" is that not all "graven images" (ie, statues) were condemned by the 1st (now protestant second) commandment. In fact, God commanded Moses to carve an image of a snake for the people to look at and be healed. Just look at the instructions for the building of the temple given by God to Solomon. These instructions included the construction of twelve bronze oxen and golden cherubim to be displayed prominantly in the temple complex. "Don't make any graven images" obviously does not apply in these circumstances. God was speaking about things like the "golden calf" that the people had constructed to worship as a god. They did not worship the snake on the pole as a god but it is a "graven image." They did not worship the golden oxen or cherubim in the temple as gods but they are "graven images."

Our Lady of Grace

In the same way the Protestant second commandment cannot apply to the images of Our Lady, or the Saints in Catholic Churches. These images are not worshipped as gods. These "graven images" are pictures of our family, our loved ones. They are no more worshipped then the Protestant who has a picture of her mother on the wall worships her mother. Many people find pictures, mementos, or even urns a comforting way to remember their loved ones and have them close to them. It is the same with the Church. Now, do some people go over board with their zeal for Our Lady or a Saint? Of course. That does not mean the Church is doing anything wrong. Sin by one individual does not make God wrong, nor does it make His Church wrong.

I read somewhere that there are actually 27 commands given by God in Exodus and Deuteronomy, but the Jews compacted them down to 10 because that way they could be easily memorized on two hands. The Church kept to this tradition but changed the Jewish numbering slightly. There is evidence that the numbering Catholics, Orthodox, and Lutherans use today may have been developed by St. Augustine in the late 4th or early 5th century. The list of the Ten Commandments we use today was confirmed by the Council of Trent in the 16th--for what should be obvious reasons. The protestants (except Lutherans, ironically) later changed the Ten Commandments to what they thought was closer to the "original", along with removing seven books from the Christian Bible. As you can see by the chart below (sorry about the quality), the protestant version only matches the Jewish one on the last 6 commandments. The 1st commandment differs and 2-4 of the Jewish commandments actually match 1-3 of the Catholic version. I conjecture that St. Augustine saw the first (Jewish) commandment as too specific to God's People, the Jews and decided to leave it out. I have also heard the accusation that Catholic 9th and 10th commandments were insulting because it looks as if wives were property. Actually Catholic teaching helps us understand that the seperation of wife from property in the 10th commandment proves just the opposite. The Ten Commandments are in order of importance, as taught by the Church, and coveting someone's wife would be a much graver sin than coveting his property, and since lusting after someone's wife (and the strange marriages and remarriages in Rome of the 1st century) was a big problem for man, it was emphasized as a seperate command.

The Three Current Versions of the Ten Commandments

Did the Catholic Church change the Ten Commandments? Yes and No. The Christian version, like the Christian version of Scripture, varies slightly from the Jewish version. The original Christian Church, the Catholic Church, has had the same version of the Ten Commandments (and Scriptures) since at least the 5th century.

A case can be made that the reason Christ summed up the Ten Commandments into the Great Commandment(s) was just for this problem of division. "Love the Lord with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength [covers the first 3 commandments], and love your neighbor as yourself." [covers the last 7 commandments] No more worrying about numbering. However, when we teach our children and catechumens about how to use the Ten Commandments as a tool for confession and a faith filled life, we need to make sure we are giving them the correct Catholic education and catechesis.

Further reading:
The Ten Commandments - Catechism of the Catholic Church.
The True Ten Commandments -- Catholic Answers Article by Fr. Wensing
The Catholic Church Changed the Ten Commandments?
The Ten Commandments -- A Comparison from EWTN's website
Word for word comparison of the different Scripture versions of the Ten Commandments in Exodus and Deuteronomy
Dave Armstrong's article on the same subject.

Crazy Summer

2011-08-09T10:07:00.000-05:00

Wow! I can't believe it has been over a month since I posted last. It has been a crazy summer. I am taking classes to complete my bachelor's degree. I took my final last Tuesday, and turned in my 7 page term paper just a week before that. All the kids went to at least one camp. We had swimming lessons and lots of trips to the pool. My oldest took his SAT and ACT in June. We've had day camps and driving lessons (again my oldest). We've had very few days of doing nothing--especially on the weekend when my husband is home. I'm not allowed to sleep in, even on Saturday, that's when my husband does all the yard work with the older boys before the heat gets here.

http://www.gwpark.org/

But summer hasn't been without its high points. My daughter and I went on a girl's only weekend this past weekend. We spent too much money but boy did we have a good time. We stayed in a "cottage" in Sulphur, OK a little over an hour and a half drive away. She wanted to visit the Little Niagara falls. Swim, have fun, goof off. That's kind of hard when the "falls" are a tiny, stagnate green pool. The falls were a bust. We found other things to delight. We went to the lake there but my daughter was freaked out by all the fish that were curious and poked her legs. So, we didn't do much swimming. We spent some time at the local museum. Saturday night we enjoyed a movie on the "plaza" in town. They showed "Remember the Titans" a movie you wouldn't think would appeal much to a 10 yo girl, but we had a terrific time watching and munching popcorn outdoors. The stars were beautiful. We went to church on Sunday morning but what an odd church. They had the tabernacle veiled still, flanked by seraphim, so I thought there was hope of an orthodox Mass. Everything was okay except for the altar girls and one of THEM preparing the altar--which is the PRIEST'S (or deacon's) job, not the altar girl's. I was truly disappointed by that. During Mass I tried hard not to think about it. Then I used their restroom...guess what, another pet peeve of mine. They had the WRONG ten commandments posted on the wall. Why are Catholics so ignorant of the history of the protestant ten commandments? That will be my next post. Despite the faults of St. Francis Xavier parish we did get to receive the Body and Blood of our Lord, so it was worth the unorthodoxys in their church. Anyway, we took another route home and stopped at G.W. Exotic Animal Park. I guess they just want to get some revenue that day so only charged the two of us $20 to get in. If it wasn't soooo darned hot out (around 105 degrees) it would have been the highlight of our trip. It was amusing to see several tigers laying in the tin tubs provided for them--several with bubbles. My youngest is obsessed with bowling. He would have enjoyed seeing the many bowling balls and pins in the cages for the tigers' amusement. I felt sorriest for the bears. This Oklahoma hot spell has to be torture for a creature with dark thick fur, who belongs on a mountain somewhere far North of here. We didn't stay as long cooing and ahing over the animals as we would have liked because we were both melting--like in that Perrier commercial. It was pleasant, though. I really didn't want to come home. I would have enjoyed another couple of days in that cottage and exploring more of Oklahoma on the way home.

I Must Be Doing Something Right...

2011-06-29T19:07:00.000-05:00

...although I can't take all the credit.

My 12 yo son pounded the pavement Saturday afternoon, looking for someone, anyone to pay him to mow their lawn. In our neighborhood, that is very hard. Most people around here pay these roving "services" that pop up every summer, because "they have a family to feed." What was once a great summer job for teens is now a going concern for adults. Not that I begrudge anyone a job. It is just that my teens have no other way to earn money before they're 16.

Back to my 12 yo. He finally found a job and got paid $17 dollars. He gave his friend $2 for going around the neighborhood with him--his friend did not mow. He came home with $15. What did he want to do with it? Buy a toy? Nope. Buy a video game or magazine? Nope. Some kind of treat for himself? Nope. He went straight to the video game store to buy a special video game book for his brother's birthday on Friday. He knew we didn't have the money to buy presents "from" everyone in the family--so he did it himself. I am soooo proud of him right now. He has got a rare work ethic that I hope he learned from his father and me.

Not to take anything away from him, but my daughter started her own enterprise this summer also. She started her own little "business". Her net total profits thus far--$30 dollars. Not bad for a 10 yo. Don't want to say what the business is because I don't want to give anyone any ideas and shut her out of her very small niche market. Suffice to say it was all her idea, she did a great job, and went out and sold her product herself. She is a wonder. And, yes, she too bought her brother a gift--actually a birthday card. She's saving up for "something special".

God Bless them both.

Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (or Corpus Christi)

2011-06-25T19:48:00.002-05:00

Tomorrow, Sunday June 26, 2011, is the Solemnity of Corpus Christi. For Catholic (and I would guess our sister Orthodox) Christians this is an especially solemn day of celebration. It is the day we celebrate the Real Presence of Jesus Christ Our Lord at Mass.

The first reading is from Deuteronomy 8:2-3; 14b-16a. It tells the story of the manna in the desert. The people were in the desert starving. God provided food in the form of manna which tasted of honey (a preview of the land "flowing with milk and honey") and looked like coriander seeds. Manna literally means, "What is it?" It has been called the bread from Heaven.

Manna in the desert gathered up by the people.

Moses said to the people: "Remember how for forty years now the LORD, your God, has directed all your journeying in the desert, so as to test you by affliction and find out whether or not it was your intention to keep his commandments. He therefore let you be afflicted with hunger, and then fed you with manna, a food unknown to you and your fathers, in order to show you that not by bread alone does one live, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of the LORD.
"Do not forget the LORD, your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that place of slavery; who guided you through the vast and terrible desert with its saraph serpents and scorpions, its parched and waterless ground; who brought forth water for you from the flinty rock and fed you in the desert with manna, a food unknown to your fathers."

Notice how this passage ties in with the Gospel reading:

Jesus said to the Jewish crowds: "I am the Living Bread that came down from Heaven; whoever eats this Bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is My Flesh for the life of the world."

Jesus offering us His Body and Blood

The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?"

Jesus said to them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life,
and I will raise him on the last day. For My flesh is True Food, and My blood is True Drink. Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood remains in Me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent Me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on Me will have life because of Me. This is the Bread that came down from Heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this Bread will live forever."
John 6:51-58

There is nothing ambiguous or symbolic in what Jesus is saying. "I AM the bread from Heaven." "Whoever EATS MY FLESH and DRINKS MY BLOOD has eternal life." He didn't say whoever symbolically eats my flesh or symbolically drinks my blood has eternal life. There is nothing wishy-washy or symbolic about his language. It is a wonderful mystery just as the Blessed Trinity is a mystery. The Mass is a mystery. I love God in all His majesty and mystery.

Jesus, I trust in You!

Goodbye, Father Corapi, Hello Black Sheepdog

2011-06-18T11:30:00.001-05:00

Dear Father Corapi,
We will miss your humor, your truth, your powerful messages inspired by the Holy Spirit. I'm sorry this has happened to you the way it has. While I am a Catholic faithful to the Magesterium, I do have problems with the American Bishops at times. Just when you think things are looking up for the American Church, things like this happen. It is a terrible injustice. Yet, we know you are still a member of the Body, and we look forward to your future work. I plan to take advantage of your book sale and reading any of the books I have yet to read. Satan may seem to win now, I am confident (as I think you are too, from what I read) that he will not win in the end. God bless you, Father. (Click to go to his website and message)

+JMJ+

Blessed John XXIII's Prayer for Fathers

2011-06-14T08:47:00.000-05:00

As Father's Day is coming up, I thought I'd share Pope Blessed John XXIII's prayer for fathers with my readers. Pray this for your father so that he will know what a special place he holds in God's plan.

Saint Joseph, guardian of Jesus
and chaste husband of Mary,
you passed your life in loving fulfillment of duty.
You supported the holy family of Nazareth
with the work of your hands.
Kindly protect those who trustingly come to you.
You know their aspirations,
their hardships, their hopes.
They look to you because they know
you will understand and protect them.
You too knew trial,
labour and weariness.
But amid the worries of material life,
your soul was full of deep peace
and sang out in true joy
through intimacy with God's Son entrusted to you
and with Mary, his tender Mother.
Assure those you protect that they do not labour alone.
Teach them to find Jesus near them
and to watch over Him faithfully as you have done.
Amen.

God's providence

2011-06-13T17:04:00.000-05:00

It is such a pain in the *** to get up and take your husband to work at 6 AM. His car wouldn't start; it was dead. Even jump starting it didn't work--there was nothing wrong with the battery. So, instead of my kids missing their daycamp--my daughter in a sewing class and my 5 yo son in "All Sports"--I got the kids out of bed and took my hubby to work. The whole time both my 5 yo and I were grumbling about it.

Well, I called the tow truck and had it towed to our mechanic about a 1/4 mile from our house. The mechanic calls 30 minutes later and says, "It's fixed." Needless to say I was very surprised. I was waiting for a two hundred dollar bill or something. It cost $35. There was a loose connection to the starter and there was no oil in the engine. If my husband had driven to work, the engine probably would have seized and would have cost us hundreds.

God watches out for us. He is good.

Pope Blessed John XXIII

2011-06-13T14:56:00.001-05:00

Wow did I see a great movie on Pope John XXIII: The Pope of Peace yesterday. I knew virtually nothing about him until then. Words cannot describe how much that film moved me. He was a brilliant man; a man with humor and heart. He moved the Church to start an ecumenical council in just two short years--Trent took 25 years to organize! He moved people with love and understanding. Moved by his experiences in World War I and II and the cold war, he worked hard to talk to nations about peace. If you ever get a chance to see this film you should. Also, read his famous encyclical Pacem in Terris (Peace on Earth). It has moved millions. He died two months after the publication of this important encyclical.

Pope John XXIII was beatified on September 3, 2000.
God Bless

VBS Blues

2011-06-11T17:12:00.000-05:00

Today I was feeling pretty good about how things were going this summer. I have successfully navigated my son's SAT last Saturday, his taking the ACT today, one day camp, two son's apprenticeships at the science museum across town, worked on finishing up the school year, and worked on my own theology class assignment. Whew! Then today, I got the news--I am not cooking for VBS.

I teach my five kids all year, I teach RE to 20 kids during the school year, this year I didn't want to teach VBS. I volunteered for cooking. I love to bake and make treats. To me, it is relaxing and fun. When I volunteered to do it, I got a very good response from two of the three ladies "in charge". I started to get excited and bought some decorations at a local Christian book store (yes, it is yet another warmed over Protestant VBS in Catholic clothing). I researched prices, and I even researched sites to buy gluten-free, peanut-free, nut-free, milk free cake and cookie mixes. The same site also has nut and peanut free granola, believe it or not. All I was waiting for was my budget.

Well, apparently, the third lady gave the job to someone else. Now, I don't think it was out of spite. I think the problem is with having three "chiefs" so-to-speak. So, I guess I am the nice one, the one that "won't mind" that they gave my job to someone else. The one that won't make waves, because they want me to do the oh-so-"important" job of telling the kids how the snack ties in with the theme of the day. Like a wimpy milk toast girl I said okay. Well, the more I think about it, the more I am saddened and disappointed. And, ya know what, I don't think I am going to take it. I didn't want to teach this year. I wanted to do something not-teaching and fun. I wanted to be the funny, quirky lady with the apron on in the kitchen. They are going to have to have someone else tell the kids how the food ties in with the theme. I'm out.

Early Morning Meanderings

2011-06-04T06:59:00.001-05:00

Last night we had a "slumber" party for my daughter. She being the only girl (with four brothers) compensates by being the one who brings friends home frequently. This would be fine if the friends, when they came over for a slumber party, slept. One of the girls wandered the house and woke me up more than once. Finally she said she wanted to go home--at 5:30AM. I talked her into waiting until it was light out at least, and turned cartoons on. So she has settled in for corn flakes and hot cocoa until the others wake up.

Now, I think about all the times I've wanted to write. I am so busy, though, that I can't take the time to sit down and write...

For instance, my son and I are reading "Paradise Lost" by John Milton. Most people I know groan when they hear the title. It has a really bad reputation. I remember my college fiance talking about it. It sounded dreadful. I had vowed never to read it. Well, guess what? Here I am reading Milton with my high school junior, and I am enjoying it. Since I grew up reading the King James Bible (I am a former Baptist, after all), the language really isn't that hard for me, with the exception of a few outdated words that are, thankfully, explained in the footnotes. Also, we've read a lot of Shakespeare and my son had enjoyed it, so I thought my junior would have no problems with Milton. Actually, I think it bores him. I'm a little frustrated by that. However, I am have a great time reading this book. Yes, Milton slips in some snide anti-Catholic nonsense every once in a while, but for the most part it is a fascinating look at the beginning of the world, Satan, and sin. May be I'm just weird.

I'm also taking a theology class this trimester called God, Man, and the Universe. The final paper we have to write is scaring me a little, mostly because I don't have a lot of free time right now to write--I don't even seem to be able to make time to keep this blog up to date. Also, I haven't written a term paper in decades. However, I am learning so much from the class, the stress is worth it. Just learning about atheism, polytheism, and heresies in the past and modern ages is helping to better equip me as a Catholic apologist. It also helps me see that most of the heretics I "talk to" online have nothing new to say. Every false and silly they have to say about God, His Church, the Bible, salvation, etc. has been around before--and defended against and defeated before. So, it is really nice to get some more ammo in the arsenal against heresies.

For instance, their is a silly woman on one of my debate forums who claims that the Church's belief in the Real Presence in the Eucharist can't be true because Jesus is on His throne in Heaven. She says He cannot be in Heaven and everywhere in the Eucharist at the same time. She still hasn't given me a straight answer on whether she believe Jesus is God or not. This particular heresy, modalism, that is one God manifesting Himself in different modes, has actually popped up more than once in Church history--In Manicheism, fought against by St. Augustine, Sabellianism, and now by crazy lady home 'churches' apparently. Oh, and she also believes the "Word" in St. John's Gospel chapter one is the Bible and not Jesus, and that the Holy Spirit is just God's soul, so to speak--really? I don't understand where people get their crazy ideas. That is the danger of "Sola Scriptura" or Scripture as the final authority. If there is no one authority to steer you in the right direction concerning Scripture, you get screwy ideas like hers (or even Mr. Camping's).

Studying factual Church history and theology will (and did for me) lead one to the true Church, the one Our Jesus Christ established through His apostles. He gave those men His authority and gave the leadership to it to St. Peter--that is not only clear in Church Tradition, which predates the Scriptures, but is clearly seen in Scripture. I thank the Baptist church for the upbringing in the Scriptures and for my love of Our Lord Jesus. I praise the Holy Spirit for leading me to His true Church and giving me Tradition, history, an appreciation and admiration for the Mother of God (a reference to Jesus' Divine Nature-PERIOD), St. Mary, and most especially for giving me Jesus Christ Himself in the Eucharist. He said, "This is My Body...this is the cup of My Blood." I believe Him. I can't say enough about the Eucharist. I can't believe I lived over 35 years without it. Now I get to have Him the rest of my life--then eternity. Praise God!

Well, time to take my son to his SAT. I'm sure he can't wait--ha, ha!

Looking for some good reading this summer?

2011-06-01T08:24:00.000-05:00

I found a good list on Catholic Summer Reading.com. It is sponsored by Aquinas and More Catholic Goods. The reading list includes some wonderful adult Catholic books, both fiction and non-fiction, teen books, and children's books. I had been looking for some good books for my kids to read this summer. I am grateful to find a Catholic list. I am also happy to find an adult list. If I have extra time this summer, I plan to hit one or two of the books listed. I would really like to read "The Godless Delusion" by Patrick Madrid and Kenneth Hensley, "Kristin Lavransdatter" by Sigrid Unset, or "The Bridge of San Luis Rey" by Thornton Wilder (actually from the teen list). So, if you have some time and the inclination, read some good Catholic literature this summer--and get the kids involved.

Link for the reading program will be on the right column throughout the summer.

End of Year Blues

2011-05-26T15:51:00.000-05:00

The end of the year is my least favorite time of the school year. The children are even less motivated than at the beginning of the year. As more and more kids are done for the summer, the less my kids are motivated. We spent a lot of time on extra projects this spring which left us a little behind schedule. I try my best to keep us close to the same schedule as the schools around us, so they can enjoy all the summer activities they can. However, schoolwork comes first. If we are to get the boys off to Boy Scout camp without school work hanging over their heads, they must take these next two weeks seriously and get done. If the promise of summer vacation doesn't motivate kids to finish their work, what will? I am out of ideas and out of patience--may be even out of my mind.

Religion as a Novelty

2011-05-11T08:28:00.001-05:00

I just watched this video from the vortex. about how Obama loved seeing his girls meeting the pope. Michael points out how Obama has no respect for children, as the world's leading proponate of abortion, nor the Catholic Church, a 'quaint novelty of the middle ages.' I hope that as many Catholics as possible see this video. I hope they are not as gullible during the next election; for if Michael's assertion is true that 'ignorant' Catholics help elect Obama, I hope and pray better educated Catholics will help boot him out.

Divine Mercy Novena

2011-05-03T10:37:00.001-05:00

The Divine Mercy Novena seems to have worked! Peace in the world for just a moment. God bless America!

Divine Mercy Sunday

2011-04-30T16:33:00.000-05:00

I am posting this a little early because I am not certain I will be online tomorrow. Our family tries to keep Sunday a day for the family.

I think the addition of Mercy Sunday to the Church calendar was one of the best things Blessed John Paul II did for us. What is there to celebrate more than God's mercy on us unworthy humans? He showed mercy on His people over and over in the Old Testament. Then, He sent His only begotten Son to die for us. Why? He loves us so much, He just can't let us be cursed by our own stupidity for eternity. He loves us exponentially more than I love my children. His only Son, Jesus loved us so much that in obedience to the Father's will, He died for us. His mercy was demonstrated even at the crucifixion when He said, "Forgive them Father, for they know not what they do." Remember His mercy on us; celebrate it!

Divine Mercy
in Greek icon style

[Quote] Concerning the Feast of Mercy Jesus said:

Whoever approaches the Fountain of Life on this day will be granted complete forgiveness of sins and punishment. (Diary 300)

I want the image solemnly blessed on the first Sunday after Easter, and I want it to be venerated publicly so that every soul may know about it. (Diary 341)

This Feast emerged from the very depths of My mercy, and it is confirmed in the vast depths of My tender mercies. (Diary 420)

Divine Mercy Image in English

On one occasion, I [St. Faustina] heard these words: My daughter, tell the whole world about My Inconceivable mercy. I desire that the Feast of Mercy be a refuge and shelter for all souls, and especially for poor sinners. On that day the very depths of My tender mercy are open. I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who approach the fount of My mercy. The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment. On that day all the divine floodgates through which grace flow are opened. Let no soul fear to draw near to Me, even though its sins be as scarlet. My mercy is so great that no mind, be it of man or of angel, will be able to fathom it throughout all eternity. Everything that exists has come forth from the very depths of My most tender mercy. Every soul in its relation to Me will I contemplate My love and mercy throughout eternity. The Feast of Mercy emerged from My very depths of tenderness. It is My desire that it be solemnly celebrated on the first Sunday after Easter. Mankind will not have peace until it turns to the Fount of My Mercy. (Diary 699)

Yes, the first Sunday after Easter is the Feast of Mercy, but there must also be deeds of mercy, which are to arise out of love for Me. You are to show mercy to our neighbors always and everywhere. You must not shrink from this or try to absolve yourself from it. (Diary 742)

I want to grant complete pardon to the souls that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion on the Feast of My mercy. (Diary 1109) [UNQUOTE]

Read more: http://www.ewtn.com/devotionals/mercy/feast.htm#ixzz1K0xHN4qr

Read here on the Divine Mercy Sunday Indulgence.

Have a wonderful and blessed Mercy Sunday!

Divine Mercy Novena -- Day Nine (Easter Saturday)

2011-04-30T01:24:00.000-05:00

"Today bring to Me the Souls who have become Lukewarm,
and immerse them in the abyss of My mercy. These souls wound My Heart most painfully. My soul suffered the most dreadful loathing in the Garden of Olives because of lukewarm souls. They were the reason I cried out: 'Father, take this cup away from Me, if it be Your will.' For them, the last hope of salvation is to run to My mercy."

[We pray:] Most compassionate Jesus, You are Compassion Itself. I bring lukewarm souls into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart. In this fire of Your pure love, let these tepid souls who, like corpses, filled You with such deep loathing, be once again set aflame. O Most Compassionate Jesus, exercise the omnipotence of Your mercy and draw them into the very ardor of Your love, and bestow upon them the gift of holy love, for nothing is beyond Your power.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon lukewarm souls who are nonetheless enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. Father of Mercy, I beg You by the bitter Passion of Your Son and by His three-hour agony on the Cross: Let them, too, glorify the abyss of Your mercy. Amen.

1. Begin with the Sign of the Cross, 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary and The Apostles Creed.

2. Then on the Our Father Beads say the following:

Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.

3. On the 10 Hail Mary Beads say the following:

For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

(Repeat step 2 and 3 for all five decades).

4. Conclude with (three times):

Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

Source: http://www.ewtn.com/devotionals/mercy/novena.htm

Thank you all who prayed with me all these nine days. May you have a blessed Mercy Sunday tomorrow.

Divine Mercy Novena -- Day Eight (Easter Friday)

2011-04-29T00:09:00.000-05:00

"Today bring to Me the Souls who are in the prison of Purgatory,

and immerse them in the abyss of My mercy. Let the torrents of My Blood cool down their scorching flames. All these souls are greatly loved by Me. They are making retribution to My justice. It is in your power to bring them relief. Draw all the indulgences from the treasury of My Church and offer them on their behalf. Oh, if you only knew the torments they suffer, you would continually offer for them the alms of the spirit and pay off their debt to My justice."

[We pray] Most Merciful Jesus, You Yourself have said that You desire mercy; so I bring into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls in Purgatory, souls who are very dear to You, and yet, who must make retribution to Your justice. May the streams of Blood and Water which gushed forth from Your Heart put out the flames of Purgatory, that there, too, the power of Your mercy may be celebrated.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls suffering in Purgatory, who are enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. I beg You, by the sorrowful Passion of Jesus Your Son, and by all the bitterness with which His most sacred Soul was flooded: Manifest Your mercy to the souls who are under Your just scrutiny. Look upon them in no other way but only through the Wounds of Jesus, Your dearly beloved Son; for we firmly believe that there is no limit to Your goodness and compassion. Amen.

1. Begin with the Sign of the Cross, 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary and The Apostles Creed.

2. Then on the Our Father Beads say the following:

Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.

3. On the 10 Hail Mary Beads say the following:

For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

(Repeat step 2 and 3 for all five decades).

4. Conclude with (three times):

Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

Source: http://www.ewtn.com/devotionals/mercy/novena.htm

Today's Gospel:

Jesus revealed Himself again to His disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. He revealed Himself in this way. Together were Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, Zebedee’s sons, and two others of His disciples. Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We also will come with you.” So they went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. When it was already dawn, Jesus was standing on the shore; but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.

Jesus said to them, “Children, have you caught anything to eat?” They answered Him, “No.” So He said to them, “Cast the net over the right side of the boat and you will find something.” So they cast it, and were not able to pull it in because of the number of fish.

So the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord.” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he tucked in his garment, for he was lightly clad, and jumped into the sea. The other disciples came in the boat, for they were not far from shore, only about a hundred yards, dragging the net with the fish. When they climbed out on shore, they saw a charcoal fire with fish on it and bread. Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish you just caught.” So Simon Peter went over and dragged the net ashore full of one hundred fifty-three large fish. Even though there were so many, the net was not torn.

Jesus said to them, “Come, have breakfast.” And none of the disciples dared to ask Him, “Who are You?” because they realized it was the Lord. Jesus came over and took the bread and gave it to them,
and in like manner the fish. This was now the third time Jesus was revealed to His disciples after being raised from the dead.
John 21:1-14

Divine Mercy Novena -- Day Seven (Easter Thursday)

2011-04-28T09:14:00.000-05:00

"Today bring to Me the Souls who especially venerate and glorify My Mercy,
and immerse them in My mercy. These souls sorrowed most over My Passion and entered most deeply into My spirit. They are living images of My Compassionate Heart. These souls will shine with a special brightness in the next life. Not one of them will go into the fire of hell. I shall particularly defend each one of them at the hour of death."

[We pray] Most Merciful Jesus, whose Heart is Love Itself, receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of those who particularly extol and venerate the greatness of Your mercy. These souls are mighty with the very power of God Himself. In the midst of all afflictions and adversities they go forward, confident of Your mercy; and united to You, O Jesus, they carry all mankind on their shoulders. These souls will not be judged severely, but Your mercy will embrace them as they depart from this life.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls who glorify and venerate Your greatest attribute, that of Your fathomless mercy, and who are enclosed in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. These souls are a living Gospel; their hands are full of deeds of mercy, and their hearts, overflowing with joy, sing a canticle of mercy to You, O Most High! I beg You O God:

Show them Your mercy according to the hope and trust they have placed in You. Let there be accomplished in them the promise of Jesus, who said to them that during their life, but especially at the hour of death, the souls who will venerate this fathomless mercy of His, He, Himself, will defend as His glory. Amen.

1. Begin with the Sign of the Cross, 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary and The Apostles Creed.

2. Then on the Our Father Beads say the following:

Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.

3. On the 10 Hail Mary Beads say the following:

For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

(Repeat step 2 and 3 for all five decades).

4. Conclude with (three times):

Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

Source: http://www.ewtn.com/devotionals/mercy/novena.htm

Today's Gospel

Jesus appears to the disciples, mosaic Ravenna

The disciples of Jesus recounted what had taken place along the way, and how they had come to recognize him in the breaking of bread.

While they were still speaking about this, He stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” But they were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost. Then He said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do questions arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself.
Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have.” And as He said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. While they were still incredulous for joy and were amazed, He asked them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave Him a piece of baked fish; He took it and ate it in front of them.

He said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about Me in the law of Moses and in the prophets and psalms must be fulfilled.” Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. And He said to them, “Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.”

Luke 24:35-48

Divine Mercy Novena -- Day Six (Easter Wednesday)

2011-04-27T06:08:00.000-05:00

"Today bring to Me the Meek and Humble Souls and the Souls of Little Children,
and immerse them in My mercy. These souls most closely resemble My Heart. They strengthened Me during My bitter agony. I saw them as earthly Angels, who will keep vigil at My altars. I pour out upon them whole torrents of grace. I favor humble souls with My confidence."

[We pray] Most Merciful Jesus, You yourself have said, "Learn from Me for I am meek and humble of heart." Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart all meek and humble souls and the souls of little children. These souls send all heaven into ecstasy and they are the heavenly Father's favorites. They are a sweet-smelling bouquet before the throne of God; God Himself takes delight in their fragrance. These souls have a permanent abode in Your Most Compassionate Heart, O Jesus, and they unceasingly sing out a hymn of love and mercy.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon meek souls, upon humble souls, and upon little children who are enfolded in the abode which is the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. These souls bear the closest resemblance to Your Son. Their fragrance rises from the earth and reaches Your very throne. Father of mercy and of all goodness, I beg You by the love You bear these souls and by the delight You take in them: Bless the whole world, that all souls together may sing out the praises of Your mercy for endless ages. Amen.

1. Begin with the Sign of the Cross, 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary and The Apostles Creed.

2. Then on the Our Father Beads say the following:

Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.

3. On the 10 Hail Mary Beads say the following:

For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

(Repeat step 2 and 3 for all five decades).

4. Conclude with (three times):

Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

Source: http://www.ewtn.com/devotionals/mercy/novena.htm

Today's Gospel reading:

The Road to Emmaus
Altobello Melone - 16th cent.

That very day, the first day of the week, two of Jesus’ disciples were going to a village seven miles from Jerusalem called Emmaus, and they were conversing about all the things that had occurred. And it happened that while they were conversing and debating, Jesus himself drew near and walked with them, but their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him. He asked them, “What are you discussing as you walk along?”

They stopped, looking downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, said to Him in reply, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know of the things that have taken place there in these days?” And He replied to them, “What sort of things?” They said to Him, “The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, how our chief priests and rulers both handed Him over to a sentence of death and crucified Him. But we were hoping that He would be the one to redeem Israel; and besides all this, it is now the third day since this took place. Some women from our group, however, have astounded us: they were at the tomb early in the morning and did not find His Body; they came back and reported that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who announced that He was alive. Then some of those with us went to the tomb and found things just as the women had described, but Him they did not see.”

And He said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are! How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into His glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, He interpreted to them what referred to Him in all the Scriptures.

"He was made known to them
in the breaking of the bread."

As they approached the village to which they were going, He gave the impression that He was going on farther. But they urged Him, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening and the day is almost over.”

So He went in to stay with them. And it happened that, while He was with them at table, He took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them. With that their eyes were opened and they recognized Him, but He vanished from their sight. Then they said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He spoke to us on the way and opened the Scriptures to us?”

So they set out at once and returned to Jerusalem where they found gathered together the Eleven and those with them who were saying, “The Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon!” Then the two recounted what had taken place on the way and how He was made known to them in the breaking of the bread.
Luke 24:13-35

Divine Mercy Novena -- Day Five (Easter Tuesday)

2011-04-26T09:15:00.000-05:00

"Today bring to Me the Souls of those who have separated themselves from My Church,
and immerse them in the ocean of My mercy. During My bitter Passion they tore at My Body and Heart, that is, My Church. As they return to unity with the Church My wounds heal and in this way they alleviate My Passion."

[We pray] Most Merciful Jesus, Goodness Itself, You do not refuse light to those who seek it of You. Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of those who have separated themselves from Your Church. Draw them by Your light into the unity of the Church, and do not let them escape from the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart; but bring it about that they, too, come to glorify the generosity of Your mercy.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls of those who have separated themselves from Your Son's Church, who have squandered Your blessings and misused Your graces by obstinately persisting in their errors. Do not look upon their errors, but upon the love of Your own Son and upon His bitter Passion, which He underwent for their sake, since they, too, are enclosed in His Most Compassionate Heart. Bring it about that they also may glorify Your great mercy for endless ages. Amen.

1. Begin with the Sign of the Cross, 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary and The Apostles Creed.

2. Then on the Our Father Beads say the following:

Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.

3. On the 10 Hail Mary Beads say the following:

For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

(Repeat step 2 and 3 for all five decades).

4. Conclude with (three times):

Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

Source: http://www.ewtn.com/devotionals/mercy/novena.htm

*****************

Mary Magdalene stayed outside the tomb weeping.
And as she wept, she bent over into the tomb
and saw two angels in white sitting there,
one at the head and one at the feet
where the Body of Jesus had been.
And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?”
She said to them, “They have taken my Lord,
and I don’t know where they laid him.”
When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there,
but did not know it was Jesus.
Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?
Whom are you looking for?”
She thought it was the gardener and said to him,
“Sir, if you carried him away,
tell me where you laid him,
and I will take him.”
Jesus said to her, “Mary!”
She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni,”
which means Teacher.
Jesus said to her, “Stop holding on to me,
for I have not yet ascended to the Father.
But go to my brothers and tell them,
‘I am going to my Father and your Father,
to my God and your God.’”
Mary went and announced to the disciples,
“I have seen the Lord,”
and then reported what he had told her.
John 20:11-18

We interrupt this Novena for a very Important Message

2011-04-25T10:06:00.002-05:00

Ever heard of a BUYcott? Me either, until now. When Chick-fil-A decided to contribute the meal for a marriage seminar (marriage meaning a Sacrament/covenant between a man and a woman) in Pennsylvania, a gay rights group decided to boycott the food chain. The group took issue with not only Chick-fil-A's support of this marriage seminar, calling it and them anti-gay, but also with their Christian principles.

Well, now the American Family Association (AFA) and a bunch of other Christian groups and individuals are doing just the opposite. I would like to ask anyone reading this to try to make it a point to support Chick-fil-A this week by going to their restaurants and eating breakfast, lunch, or dinner there at least once this week. That's a buycott. Let's support those who take a stand for Christian principles and morality. God Bless you all.

For more read here on the buycott by the AFA.

Now back to our regularly scheduled novena.....(below)

Divine Mercy Novena -- Day Four (Easter Monday)

2011-04-25T09:31:00.001-05:00

"Today bring to Me those who do not believe in God and those who do not know Me,

I was thinking also of them during My bitter Passion, and their future zeal comforted My Heart. Immerse them in the ocean of My mercy."

[We pray] Most compassionate Jesus, You are the Light of the whole world. Receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of those who do not believe in God and of those who as yet do not know You. Let the rays of Your grace enlighten them that they, too, together with us, may extol Your wonderful mercy; and do not let them escape from the abode which is Your Most Compassionate Heart.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls of those who do not believe in You, and of those who as yet do not know You, but who are enclosed in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. Draw them to the light of the Gospel. These souls do not know what great happiness it is to love You. Grant that they, too, may extol the generosity of Your mercy for endless ages. Amen.

1. Begin with the Sign of the Cross, 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary and The Apostles Creed.

2. Then on the Our Father Beads say the following:

Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.

3. On the 10 Hail Mary Beads say the following:

For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

(Repeat step 2 and 3 for all five decades).

4. Conclude with (three times):

Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

Source: http://www.ewtn.com/devotionals/mercy/novena.htm

Jesus meets Mary Magdalene

Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went away quickly from the tomb,
fearful yet overjoyed,
and ran to announce the news to his disciples.
And behold, Jesus met them on their way and greeted them.
They approached, embraced his feet, and did him homage.
Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid.
Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee,
and there they will see me.”

While they were going, some of the guard went into the city
and told the chief priests all that had happened.
The chief priests assembled with the elders and took counsel;
then they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers,
telling them, “You are to say,
‘His disciples came by night and stole him while we were asleep.’
And if this gets to the ears of the governor,
we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.”
The soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed.
And this story has circulated among the Jews to the present day.
Mt 28:8-15

Divine Mercy Novena -- Day Three (Easter Sunday)

2011-04-24T11:43:00.001-05:00

"Today bring to Me all Devout and Faithful Souls,

and immerse them in the ocean of My mercy. These souls brought Me consolation on the Way of the Cross. They were a drop of consolation in the midst of an ocean of bitterness."

[We pray] Most Merciful Jesus, from the treasury of Your mercy, You impart Your graces in great abundance to each and all. Receive us into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart and never let us escape from It. We beg this grace of You by that most wondrous love for the heavenly Father with which Your Heart burns so fiercely.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon faithful souls, as upon the inheritance of Your Son. For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, grant them Your blessing and surround them with Your constant protection. Thus may they never fail in love or lose the treasure of the holy faith, but rather, with all the hosts of Angels and Saints, may they glorify Your boundless mercy for endless ages. Amen.

1. Begin with the Sign of the Cross, 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary and The Apostles Creed.

2. Then on the Our Father Beads say the following:

Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.

3. On the 10 Hail Mary Beads say the following:

For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

(Repeat step 2 and 3 for all five decades).

4. Conclude with (three times):

Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

Source: http://www.ewtn.com/devotionals/mercy/novena.htm

Pope Benedict XVI's Easter Vigil message can be read here.
The pope's Easter Vigil message with commentary by Fr. Z can be read here.

Allelujah! Christ is Risen Today! Allelujah!

Divine Mercy Novena -- Day Two (Holy Saturday)

2011-04-23T13:28:00.001-05:00

"Today bring to Me the Souls of Priests and Religious,

and immerse them in My unfathomable mercy. It was they who gave me strength to endure My bitter Passion. Through them as through channels My mercy flows out upon mankind."

Most Merciful Jesus, from whom comes all that is good, increase Your grace in men and women consecrated to Your service,* that they may perform worthy works of mercy; and that all who see them may glorify the Father of Mercy who is in heaven.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the company of chosen ones in Your vineyard -- upon the souls of priests and religious; and endow them with the strength of Your blessing. For the love of the Heart of Your Son in which they are enfolded, impart to them Your power and light, that they may be able to guide others in the way of salvation and with one voice sing praise to Your boundless mercy for ages without end. Amen.

1. Begin with the Sign of the Cross, 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary and The Apostles Creed.

2. Then on the Our Father Beads say the following:

Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.

3. On the 10 Hail Mary Beads say the following:

For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

(Repeat step 2 and 3 for all five decades).

4. Conclude with (three times):

Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

Source: http://www.ewtn.com/devotionals/mercy/novena.htm

Divine Mercy Novena - Day One (Good Friday)

2011-04-22T12:02:00.003-05:00

The Divine Mercy Novena begins on Good Friday. The chaplet can be said using a regular rosary. Each day, we pray for a different intention; then pray the chaplet. Pray along (with the italicized words):

First Day

"Today bring to Me all mankind, especially all sinners,

and immerse them in the ocean of My mercy. In this way you will console Me in the bitter grief into which the loss of souls plunges Me."

Most Merciful Jesus, whose very nature it is to have compassion on us and to forgive us, do not look upon our sins but upon our trust which we place in Your infinite goodness. Receive us all into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart, and never let us escape from It. We beg this of You by Your love which unites You to the Father and the Holy Spirit.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon all mankind and especially upon poor sinners, all enfolded in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. For the sake of His sorrowful Passion show us Your mercy, that we may praise the omnipotence of Your mercy for ever and ever. Amen.

1. Begin with the Sign of the Cross, 1 Our Father, 1 Hail Mary and Apostles Creed.

2. Then on the Our Father Beads say the following:

Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.

3. On the 10 Hail Mary Beads say the following:

For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

(Repeat step 2 and 3 for all five decades).

4. Conclude with (three times):

Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

Source: http://www.ewtn.com/devotionals/mercy/novena.htm

"Proclaim to the whole world My unfathomable Mercy . . . proclaim that Mercy is the greatest attribute of God. All the works of My Hand are crowned with Mercy."

"Souls who spread the honor of My Mercy, I shield through their entire life as a tender mother her infant, and at the hour of death I will not be a judge for them, but the Merciful Savior . . . Do whatever is within your power to spread devotion to My Mercy. I will make up for what you lack. Tell aching mankind to snuggle close to My Merciful Heart, and I will fill it with peace."

Maundy Thursday (Holy Thursday)

2011-04-21T10:01:00.000-05:00

Nos autem gloriari oportet in cruce Domini nostri Iesu Christi, in quo est salus, vita et resurrectio nostra per quem salvati et liberati sumus.

We should glory in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, for He is our salvation, our life and our resurrection; through Him we are saved and made free. (cf. Galations 6:14)

-- Entrance Antiphon for Holy Thursday

Today is Maundy Thursday (or Holy Thursday) of Holy Week. Because we've thrown Latin out the window, everyone forgets the traditional name for today. At the Last Supper, which we commemorate today, Jesus said, "A new commandment I give unto you: That you love one another, as I have loved you, that you also love one another." Mandatum is the Latin word for commandment. Maundy Thursday is the day Jesus gave us the new commandment at the Last Supper.

Traditionally today holy oils would be consecrated (our archbishop did so Tuesday evening) for the year's baptisms, confirmations, holy orders, and anointing of the sick. It is also traditional to hold the Mass of the Lord's Supper including a reenactment of the washing of the feet of the disciples.

Before the feast of Passover, Jesus knew that His hour had come

to pass from this world to the Father.
He loved His own in the world and He loved them to the end.
The devil had already induced Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot, to hand Him over.
So, during supper, fully aware that the Father had put everything into His power
and that He had come from God and was returning to God,
He rose from supper and took off His outer garments.
He took a towel and tied it around His waist.
Then He poured water into a basin
and began to wash the disciples’ feet
and dry them with the towel around His waist.
He came to Simon Peter, who said to Him,
“Master, are you going to wash my feet?”
Jesus answered and said to him,
“What I am doing, you do not understand now,
but you will understand later.”
Peter said to Him, “You will never wash my feet.”
Jesus answered him,
“Unless I wash you, you will have no inheritance with Me.”
Simon Peter said to Him,
“Master, then not only my feet, but my hands and head as well.”
Jesus said to him,
“Whoever has bathed has no need except to have his feet washed,
for he is clean all over; so you are clean, but not all.”
For He knew who would betray Him;
for this reason, He said, “Not all of you are clean.”

So when He had washed their feet
and put His garments back on and reclined at table again,
He said to them, “Do you realize what I have done for you?
You call me ‘teacher’ and ‘master,’ and rightly so, for indeed I am.
If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet,
you ought to wash one another’s feet.
I have given you a model to follow,
so that as I have done for you, you should also do.”

http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/john/john13.htm#v1

This commemoration is important. We remember Him in the Last Supper and how He gave us this meal we now call the Eucharist from a Greek word meaning Thanksgiving. We should be rejoicing, giving thanks to Christ for the gift of Himself. He is the center of our worship and we need to keep Him in the center of our lives.

Blessed Maundy Thursday. Go to Church and give thanks.

I Love Jesus

2011-04-15T14:12:00.001-05:00

A beautiful friend of mine, AKA The Mom, tagged me for a meme.

The rules are:

Share five things you love about Jesus/or why you love Jesus.
Tag five other bloggers.
Those tagged will provide a link in the comments section here so others can read them.

For the last one, everyone should know that I moderate comments. I've been burned more than once, but if you respond to my meme, I will post your response as soon as I can.

Five things I love about Jesus or why I love Him:

Jesus loves me unconditionally.
Jesus is always there for me.
Jesus' infinite mercy heals my spirit when it is broken.
Jesus Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity in the Eucharist sustains my soul.
Jesus gave me a heavenly mother who understands my problems and my worries.

I'm not sure who to tag...how about Scott, Sister Mary Martha, kkollwitz, Kathryn, and...I have to find a fifth one

Innocents--The Kingdom of Heaven Belongs to These

2011-04-12T10:43:00.001-05:00

Carl Bloch

"MYTH NUMBER FOUR: If an Annulment is Granted the Children will be Illegitimate"

"The truth is that an ecclesiastical annulment is concerned only with the spouses, and not the children. An annulment has no effect at all on the legitimacy of children, or other arrangements regarding children, such as custody or support. These are all concerns of the civil law, and an ecclesiastical annulment has absolutely no effects under civil law. It is a myth that granting an annulment makes the children illegitimate."
http://www.hbgdiocese.org/Admin/Uploads/Tribunal%20&%20Annulments/Documents/12_m\yths.pdf

Why is it that anti-Catholics are so angry and bitter that they must bring children into the argument? After all, Jesus did say, "Suffer not the children to come unto Me." Why? Because He would hold them responsible for their parents guilt? I don't think so. In fact, He performed many of His miracles just to prove this erroneous notion, held by many Jews, wrong. Why else would He say, "Your sins are forgiven" to the lame man who then walked. Being born crippled or blind was seen as punishment for the parents' sins. Jesus proved that wrong.

"Canon 1137 Children who are conceived or born of a valid or of a putative marriage are legitimate." http://www.catholicdoors.com/misc/marriage/canonlaw.htm

Now if children are born to parents who later decide that marriage was a mistake--whether their marriage was annulled and/or they divorced--the children are not to blame. Not only is the notion that these children are illegitimate ridiculous, it flies in the face of Jesus' love and compassion for all children. No child is considered illegitimate by His Church. They are children of God on equal ground with you and me, as they should be.

"Does annulment make our children illegitimate?"
"No — children of a marriage that's determined to be invalid by a Catholic annulment, are still legitimate. (Code of Canon Law, canon 1137) When a couple marries, they assume the marriage is valid and was entered into in good faith. Children conceived under this assumption of a valid marriage, are considered to be legitimate. This fact does not change even if the marriage is later found to be not valid."
"In the United States, Catholic annulment does not affect any state civil laws. It is unrelated to civil concerns such as illegitimacy, child custody, alimony, visitation rights, or division of property." http://www.beginningcatholic.com/catholic-annulment.html
Maybe people in the church had a different idea about this at one time, but that is not true any more. I believe we have a better perspective on Christ's love and compassion for humans and their frailty. We should not be so hard on our fellow Christians. Gone are the days of making children feel ashamed because their parents didn't or wouldn't do the right thing.
****

15 People even brought babies to him, for him to touch them; but when the disciples saw this they scolded them.

16 But Jesus called the children to him and said, 'Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs.
17 In truth I tell you, anyone who does not welcome the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.' Luke 18:15-17
****
13 Then people brought little children to him, for him to lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples scolded them,

14 but Jesus said, 'Let the little children alone, and do not stop them from coming to me; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of Heaven belongs.'
15 Then he laid his hands on them and went on his way. Matt. 19:13-15

We Care About Your Life Why? (or My April Rant)

2011-04-06T22:39:00.000-05:00

I cannot believe the plethora of reality shows polluting the television channels now. I was watching a movie that I really like on WE of all channels. They were advertising their spring line-up exclusively made up of 8 or 10 "reality" shows. Do all those people really believe we want to watch their lousy, raunchy lives, just because they have money? Few of them have any manners, let alone any idea of civility. Oh, and the modesty, where is the modesty? Do these people really believe that people want to watch their foul-mouthed, rude, amoral, sometimes immoral antics?

I confess, I do watch such 'reality' TV shows as Project Runway (never let my kids watch it since their are typically many gays on this one), Top Chef (don't let my kids watch this one since their are typical many lesbians on this one), Chopped (don't let my kids watch this one since...well, you get the idea), Food Network Challenge, The Apprentice (now Celebrity Apprentice) etc. But looking at my choices, they are in reality (no pun intended) mostly competition shows. I stopped watching soap operas decades ago, I don't want to watch somebody else airing their lives as some kind of soap. It is not that interesting to me.

Real life is complicated and hard. We struggle with money, homeschooling, house and cars, and health and dental problems with the kids. We struggle to do the right thing and help each other and our children get to Heaven. Why would I want to watch you, who has millions of dollars, squander it on overpriced, unstylish clothes, ugly hair, ugly nails, gaudy jewelry, and gas guzzling cars you didn't earn. Many are just famous for being famous (Paris Hilton comes immediately to mind) but really live quite sad, pathetic, empty lives.

My reality is quite enough for me. My 12yo was upset Sunday. He said, "It is against the commandment to keep the Lord's Day holy to do unnecessary work. Why do I have to do the dishes?" I tried not to laugh as I explained to him that dishes were necessary to eat off on Sunday just like any other day of the week. Yep, how is that for a child throwing their Faith back in your face. Reality TV? Who needs it? I really need to watch less TV.

Is Marriage Only for Having Children?

2011-03-31T02:12:00.000-05:00

To most people the answer to this question seems obvious. In order to hold the Church and her beliefs up to ridicule one protestant asked if an infertile couple was sinning because Catholics stated the marriage is only for having children. Not only is that statement inaccurate but it is not true. No Catholics that I am aware of, on that debate forum, has stated that marriage is only for having children. Children are a gift of life from the Father and integral to the marriage sacrament.

The Catechism says:
1652 "By its very nature the institution of marriage and married love is ordered to the procreation and education of the offspring and it is in them that it finds its crowning glory."162

Children are the supreme gift of marriage and contribute greatly to the good of the parents themselves. God himself said: "It is not good that man should be alone," and "from the beginning [he] made them male and female"; wishing to associate them in a special way in his own creative work, God blessed man and woman with the words: "Be fruitful and multiply." Hence, true married love and the whole structure of family life which results from it, without diminishment of the other ends of marriage, are directed to disposing the spouses to cooperate valiantly with the love of the Creator and Savior, who through them will increase and enrich his family from day to day.163

1653 The fruitfulness of conjugal love extends to the fruits of the moral, spiritual, and supernatural life that parents hand on to their children by education. Parents are the principal and first educators of their children.164 In this sense the fundamental task of marriage and family is to be at the service of life.165

1654 Spouses to whom God has not granted children can nevertheless have a conjugal life full of meaning, in both human and Christian terms. Their marriage can radiate a fruitfulness of charity, of hospitality, and of sacrifice.

1660 The marriage covenant, by which a man and a woman form with each other an intimate communion of life and love, has been founded and endowed with its own special laws by the Creator. By its very nature it is ordered to the good of the couple, as well as to the generation and education of children. Christ the Lord raised marriage between the baptized to the dignity of a sacrament (cf. CIC, can. 1055 § 1; cf. GS 48 § 1).

1661 The sacrament of Matrimony signifies the union of Christ and the Church. It gives spouses the grace to love each other with the love with which Christ has loved his Church; the grace of the sacrament thus perfects the human love of the spouses, strengthens their indissoluble unity, and sanctifies them on the way to eternal life (cf. Council of Trent: DS 1799).

1664 Unity, indissolubility, and openness to fertility are essential to marriage....; the refusal of fertility turns married life away from its "supreme gift," the child (GS 50 § 1).

[162 GS 48 § 1; 50. 163 GS 50 § 1; cf. Gen 2:18; Mt 19:4; Gen 1:28. 164 Cf. GE 3.]

GS stands for Gaudium et spes or The Church in the Modern World. The Catechism is available online--click "Catechism".

While a married couple's cooperation in God's act of creation is essential to the sacrament of marriage, there are other components to marriage. No Catholic denies this, nor does the Church state anywhere that marriage is only for procreation. However, the marriage sacrament is invalid if the intent or desire for having children is not a part of it. And, of course, infertility is not a sin--never was, never will be. As guilty as a couple may feel about it, it is beyond their control. In my second grade class we teach that for something to be a sin, one must know it is wrong and choose to do it anyway. Infertility is not chosen, therefore it is not a sin. I hope that helps put that silly comment to rest.

Is Lying Ever Okay?

2011-03-20T15:04:00.001-05:00

Immaculate Conception of Mary
Patroness of the U.S.

Today, I got an update on a debate I had been following on Catholic Answers. "Is Lying Ever Okay?" I am truly surprised at the number of hard-line, black-or-white arguers. "Thou shalt not lie! Period!" is their battle cry. Inevitably, at least to my mind, the argument degraded to talking about the Holocaust. I say degraded because once people get really emotional involved in an argument online, the most extreme emotional appeal 'they' can think of is the Holocaust. There is even an unofficial debate rule now that once some one mentions the Holocaust or Nazis they've lost the debate.
The extremist, no-lie-is-ever-acceptable crowd says that you don't lie even to save your life or anyone else's. Really? Their is no gray area here at all? That is the stance of some of these people who call themselves Christians. Some say, "Well, Jesus never lied," "Jesus is the Truth." Yea, we know that, but we aren't Jesus. He is our example, but I really, really believe in my heart that Jesus would never in a million years condemn someone for a lie told to save someone's life. Would I lie to a kidnapper? Yes. Would I lie to a Nazi? Yes. Would I believe that I committed a mortal sin by these lies? No. Never.

The Immaculate Conception Icon

Love and the protection of life trumps all. After all Jesus is also the LIFE. What did Jesus say is the greatest commandment? LOVE God with all your heart, with all your mind, with all your soul, and with all your strength, and LOVE your neighbor as yourself. Not only does this 'commandment' cover all the old ten, but He was also giving us a message. Love trumps all.
Do not lie to your husband about anything. Do not lie to your children (however, they don't have a need to know everything, either). Do not lie to the police. Do not lie in court. Do not make a practice of lying in your everyday life. Any of those would be a grave sin. But there really are gray areas in life. Lying can be one of them in the right circumstances. If (I think when) Christians, especially Catholics, begin to be persecuted again, will I lie and not tell them who my fellow Christians are? Absolutely, yes. Will I lie to protect the lives of the ones I love? Absolutely. Will I feel that I need to go to confession? Absolutely not! So, you hard-liners out there, the ones who said they would not even lie to protect a Jew hiding in the basement. When persecution comes around, would you lie to protect your own? Really?
Blessed Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Pray for us!

Mary, Mother of GOD, is No Doormat

2011-03-15T09:49:00.000-05:00

Something needs to be said. I hope Scott doesn't mind too much, if I jump in here.

[Note: This was originally posted on CathApol two days ago in a response to a smart aleck response in the Comments section of "Jesus is the Door". The responder said that if Jesus is the Door (to Heaven) Mary must be the Doormat, if we have to go through her to get to Jesus. This was my first response in a short series-I hope. Pictures added.]

The Blessed Virgin Mary is definitely not a doormat. She was and is a beautiful, obedient, servant of God; obedient to both the Father and her Son, the Son of God, Jesus Christ Our Savior, and then the Holy Spirit (after all she was there at Pentecost --Acts 1:14--and received the Holy Spirit at the same time the apostles did) whom her Son promised to all Christians. Mary, the Mother of the Christ, can rightly be called the first Christian.

Mary is the Queen mother. I can tell you one thing that I know for sure about Hebrew royalty, they honored their mothers! Jesus Christ is, after all, acknowledged almost universally by Christians to be the King of the Universe. That would make Mary, His mother, Queen Mother. The queen mother in Israel was not reverenced above the king, neither is Mary, the Queen Mother of Heaven reverenced above Jesus Christ the King of the Universe in the Catholic Church. Remember King Solomon? The Queen Mother, Bathsheba, was at his right hand in the palace. Adonijah asked Queen Bathsheba to intercede for him to his brother, King Solomon.

Then Bathsheba went to King Solomon to speak to him for Adonijah, and the king stood up to meet her and paid her homage. Then he sat down upon his throne, and a throne was provided for the king's mother, who sat at his right. In I Kings 2, it says that she did intercede for her stepson, Adonijah.

"There is one small favor I would ask of you," [Queen Mother Bathsheba] said. "Do not refuse me." "Ask it, my mother," the king [Solomon] said to her, "for I will not refuse you." So she said, "Let Abishag the Shunamite be given to your brother Adonijah for his wife." "And why do you ask Abishag the Shunamite for Adonijah?" King Solomon answered his mother. "Ask the kingdom for him as well, for he is my elder brother and has with him Abiathar the priest and Joab, son of Zeruiah." And King Solomon swore by the LORD: "May God do thus and so to me, and more besides, if Adonijah has not proposed this at the cost of his life. And now, as the LORD lives, who has seated me firmly on the throne of my father David and made of me a dynasty as he promised, this day shall Adonijah be put to death."

In John 2, the Blessed Virgin Mary interceded for the wedding couple.

When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to Him, "They have no wine." (And) Jesus said to her, "Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come." His mother said to the servers, "Do whatever he tells you."...Jesus told them, "Fill the jars with water." So they filled them to the brim. Then He told them, "Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter." So they took it. And when the headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine,...

Queen Bathsheba have the ear of her son the King. Queen Mary, too, had the ear of her Son, sitting as she was near Him, the King. Queen Bathsheba interceded for her stepson. Mary, mother of our King, interceded for the wedding couple. King Solomon said he would "not refuse [her]". Jesus Christ, on the surface, seems to turn His mother down, but note her confidence that Jesus would do as she asked ("Do whatever He tells you.") King Solomon took back his word to his mother; it was not politically expedient to grant his 'enemy', his half-brother, any favors, so he did not honor his promise. Jesus did as His mother asked, without any promise, and miraculously turned water into wine--and not just any wine but the best wine.

Let's approach this from another angle. Here are some generally acknowledged prophecies about the Messiah's mother (iow, MARY):

Genesis 3:15: "I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; He will strike at your head, while you strike at His heel."

Obviously the "woman" will has a significant role in that her child (offspring) will "bruise" Satan's "head". He made no such statement to the man, Adam. He did not mention the savior without the way in which He would enter the world--through the womb of the woman.

Psalm 22:10-11 (9-10 in other versions) Yet you drew me forth from the womb, made me safe at my mother's breast. Upon you I was thrust from the womb; since birth you are my God.

This is almost universally seen as a messianic prophecy from one of the Psalms. Why does this prophecy talk about the WOMB from which the Savior/messiah would come. His mother's womb (twice), His birth from her, even the breasts that would feed Him. Of course, His mother is significant; they don't just mention the Messiah, but also His mother.

Don't like that prophecy? How about the old stand by, Isaiah 7:14: "Therefore the Lord himself will give you this sign: the virgin shall be with child, and bear a son, and shall name Him Immanuel."

It should be properly read in English as "the virgin shall be with child, and the virgin bear a son, and the virgin shall name him Immanuel." The VIRGIN is prominent in this prophecy; she is the sign of the savior, she carries the Savior, bears the Savior, and names the Savior. Seems pretty significant to me.

There is are at least Seventeen names for Mary, the mother of the Savior.

Woman: Genesis 3:15; Jeremiah 31:22; John 2:4; John 19:26; Galatians 4:4; Revelation 12:1, 4, 6, 13-17.
Virgin: Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:27 (twice).
Mary: Matthew 1:17, 18, 20; 13:55; Mark 6:3; Luke 1:26, 30, 34, 38, 39, 41, 46, 56, 2:5, 16, 19.
Mary His Mother: Matthew 2:11; Luke 2:34.
His Mother: Matthew 2:13, 14, 20, 21; 12:46, 47; 13:55; Mark 3:31; Luke 2:33, 43, 48, 51; 8:19; John 2:5, 12; (John 6:42); 19:25, 26.
Mary the Mother of Jesus: Acts 1:14.
Mother of Jesus: John 2:1, 3.
Full of Grace: Luke 1:28.
Handmaid of the Lord: Luke 1:38.
Blessed among women: Luke 1:42.
Mother of my Lord: Luke 1:43.

Here are some other significant Scriptures that Catholics (and many, many non-Catholics) believe are types, or figures of Mary, the mother of God the Son mentioned in Scripture (some repeat from above) [List from Catholicbridge.com]:

•Genesis 3:15, 24:43-46 - Rebecca, 28:12 Jacob's Ladder, 30:13?,
•Exodus 3:11-12, 13:2, 13:14 (Magnificat), 15:20, 21, 26 (Magnificat), 25:8 Ark, 34:19-20
•Leviticus 12:2, 8 (Purification)
•Numbers 18:15 (Presentation)
•Judges 6:12, 15 (Annunciation)
•1 Samuel 2:1-10 (Magnificat)
•Isaiah 7:14 (Virgin Birth)
•Ezekiel 44:2 (Mary's perpetual Virginity)
•Mat 1:16, 18-25 (Mary to be found with Child), 2:11, 13-14, 20-23 (Maji flight to Egypt), 12:46-50 (Who is my mother?), 13:55 (is his mother not Mary?)
•Mark 3:31-35 (Your mother is outside), 6:3 (is he not son of Mary?)
•Luke 1:26-56 (Annunciation, visitation magnificat), 2:5-7, 16-19, 22, 33-35, 39, 41-51 (Nativity, shepherds, presentation, finding in the temple), 8:19-21 (Your mother outside) 11:27-28 Blessed is the womb that bore you
•John 1:14 (incarnation), 2:1-5 (Cana), 6:42 (Do we not know his mother), 19:25-27
•Acts 1:14 (Gathered in prayer with Mary), Gal 4:4 (God sent son born of woman)
•Col 1:15, 18 (first born, Head of body)
•Rev 11:19 (Ark in Heaven),12:1-17 (Woman clothed with the sun)

Besides Mary, the mother of God, what other person, besides the apostles themselves including Sts. Paul, Mark, and Luke, is mentioned so many times in Scripture? A doormat? I think not. The woman, the mother of the Messiah was prophesied and honored through Scripture, and the Church. She is no doormat. She is His mother, and she is our mother.

All Scripture quotes from the New American Bible, special nod to this page on Mary in Scripture for names of Mary, and Catholicbridge.com for Mary in Scripture.

Ash Wednesday--Don't forget to go get your ashes

2011-03-09T17:50:00.000-06:00

Living in Oklahoma is an interesting life journey for a Catholic. Ash Wednesday is one of those times that you stick out like a sore thumb--that is if you remember to go to church. I lost track of time this morning and we missed 11:30 services. However, we will be going tonight at 6 (at our parish) or 6:30 (at our Catholic War Veterans' meeting). But then we miss out on most of the nasty remarks or 'helpful' people who try to wipe the 'smudge' from your forehead. (Click on The Mom for a great story by a friend of mine). I think the comments and people's nasty wet thumbs are part of the penance of Ash Wednesday.

"...in the books both in the Old Law and in the New that the men who repented of their sins bestrewed themselves with ashes and clothed their bodies with sackcloth. Now let us do this little at the beginning of our Lent that we strew ashes upon our heads to signify that we ought to repent of our sins during the Lenten fast" (Quote here.)
--St. Aelfric, c. 8th century.

This is the day, after all, that we remember "That thou art dust, and unto dust you shall return." No, it is not a holy day of obligation, but it is definitely a beneficial reminder of humility and mortality. Go to church!

Don't Ever Assume

2011-02-27T19:12:00.002-06:00

The Sign of the Cross

One of the things Fr. F. criticized our First Penance students on was their Sign of the Cross. Many forgot to say it at the beginning of Penance and most did not know to cross themselves when he blessed them with this prayer. Today we worked on drilling them in this. I know the children who were in my First Sacraments class for the first half of the year went over their prayers, including the Sign of the Cross every Sunday. There is only so much an R.E. Catechist can do in one hour on a relatively few Sundays of their lives. Now, the second half of the year we've been joined by the second grade class from the parish school. Shouldn't one expect that they have been taught the proper way to say Catholic prayers in Catholic school? Apparently not. They at least have more of an opportunity at school, having them over 6 hours a day, five days a week. But, the biggest question is--Why aren't the parents doing this at home? I don't get it. Maybe I'm in the minority of parents who actually feel responsible for their own children's souls.

Today we rehearsed the reception of Holy Communion. It was a slow process. We took about half the class time lining them up putting them through their paces and accessing what we need to do to get them ready in a couple of months. But, like I said, there is only some much I can do in the next six Sundays. The biggest disappointment about practicing is that 7 of my students weren't even there. So, when we practice next week we'll have to start from scratch with them. This is not a game. This is life--eternal life we are dealing with at church.

Advice to parents: If you can't be bothered to work with them at home, at least have them at the classroom door on time. Every minute counts if you're going to lay all the responsibility for your child's soul on my shoulders. And don't forget to be on time to Mass; that is even more important.

Here is a very good Catholic article on the Sign of the Cross: http://www.fisheaters.com/sign.html

First Confession

2011-02-26T20:22:00.000-06:00

Today was the big day for my second grade class (and the "RCIC" kids). First Confession is nerve-wracking, but sweet; chaotic, yet peaceful, too. While supervising the children going in and out of the confessional, I lit a candle for each and every one of them. The responsibility of each and every soul weighs on my conscience. I love them all. They are wonderful children and I pray and hope for the best for all of them.

For anyone else new at teaching 'first Sacraments' class--don't forget to teach them to make the Sign of the Cross whenever it is said by the priest. That is the one thing my students kept forgetting to do. We'll make sure we teach it next year. We will also practice it in class during our First Communion portion of the class.

Father does not want us to practice communion using anything that looks like a communion wafer, so as not to trivialize the Body and Blood of Christ. So, I bought matzos which actually look like giant crackers. They are made with flour and water. Period. So this way they can get an idea of what communion bread tastes like, but not make communion wafers trivial. Matzos are also an appropriate symbol, anyway. It is very similar to the bread Our Lord Jesus Christ actually did break and eat with His disciples. The unleavened bread is 'striped' with holes representing the whipping the Egyptians inflicted on their Jewish slaves. What could be more appropriate to represent Jesus' flesh which would endure such whipping not many hours after declaring the bread to be His Flesh?

Well, First Confession down, First Communion to go. I'm nervous already.

That Magic Number

2011-02-18T09:45:00.000-06:00

Well, I have been trying to motivate myself to lose weight for some time now. Having had five children and approaching middle age, I realize that losing weight is only going to get harder. I even had a weight meter on my blog once to try to monitor and motivate myself. However, the fact that the meter revealed my weight was mortifying not motivating. So, I removed it.

Then, I hit that magic number on the scale. You know the one I mean. That number which you can't imagine yourself weighing. That number that shocks and disgusts you. That number which finally kicks you in the a$% and makes you do something. Well, I reached MY magic number. I thought I would pass out. How could I weigh that much?

So, finally, I got motivated to change it. I have worked hard the last 4 weeks. I tried the Special K diet (no they are not sponsoring me or reimbursing me), and cutting down on my Coke (Coca-Cola, that is) addiction. I also started in on Pilates at home--20 minutes a day, several days a week. It is working. Praise God. I have lost 8 pounds so far. Now I feel a little obsessed by it. I can't wait to work off the other 35 pounds I want to lose. I have no illusions that it will be quick or easy, not at this stage of my life. But I do want to feel better and fit in my clothes again. It would also be nice to not look like one of the middle-aged beached whales at the pool this Summer.

Not one person has noticed the change in me, except me. That's fine. At least I am no longer disgusted by my 'shelf'--the top of the big belly just below the bust. It's gone! Thank God. The squareness of my hips is already softening. I'm actually feeling more human and less like a blob. The only draw back so far is the constant soreness, and I threw my back out once last week while playing with my teenage son. I couldn't do Pilates for several days after that. So, my physical problems and limitations have not improved much, but my body shape has.

So, anyone out there listening, if you've reached your magic number. Go for it. It will not be easy and the excruciatingly slow progress can be discouraging. But stick with it. Whatever diet or exercise regimen you choose. Just be consistent and keep your new magic number (your goal weight--keep it realistic) in mind as you keep on track. Don't do it for anyone else but you. To quote a famous ad campaign--Just Do It! No one can do it for you.

Here is the Special K website, if you need help: http://www.specialk.com/ I am neither endorsing nor recommending this as THE diet for anyone. It is working for me, that doesn't mean it will work for you.

I Pray Thee

2011-01-27T18:45:00.001-06:00

Richard III

Today reading Richard III by Shakespeare, of all things, reminded me of the protestant misunderstanding of the word pray. Catholics are constantly accused of worshipping the saints in Heaven because we pray to them. Well, I ask you, was Clarence worshipping the assassin (Act I, scene 4) when he said "Pray tell me" who asked the man to kill him (Clarence)? I think not. And, if a protestant was honest with us and themselves, they would admit that 'pray' in English has more than one meaning (the act of worshipping God).
Merriam-Webster says: "Definition of PRAY
transitive verb
1: entreat, implore —often used as a function word in introducing a question, request, or plea
[pray be careful]
2: to get or bring by praying

intransitive verb
1: to make a request in a humble manner
2: to address God or a god with adoration, confession, supplication, or thanksgiving
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pray

When Catholics or Catholic writings talk about praying to the saints, can't protestants even entertain the possibility that Catholics mean #1 of either the transitive or intransitive forms of this verb? #2 "to address God" is not the only meaning. Are they so entrenched in their anti-Catholic bigotry that they can't even make this concession to logic?

When we pray to a saint we are making a request in a humble manner that they, as our brothers and sisters in Christ, pray to God for us. Can't we ask God what we need on our own? Of course we can! However, you tell me whether or not protestants ask each other to pray for them. I know my Baptist Church (the church I grew up in) members did it all the time. We had prayer meetings every Wednesday evening in which we prayed to God for each other's needs. Our prayers to the saints are the exact same thing. Even if you don't see it that way, can't you see that we DO see it that way, and give us a tiny bit of the doubt here? We do not worship saints. Period.

Christ the King

Are Catholics idolaters? No, we don't worship idols. The statues, paintings, and stained glass windows are portraits of our friends and family, just exactly like that picture of your dead Grandmother on your piano or uncle Joe in Texas. Do we pray to saints as if they we gods? No, we ask our friends to pray for us, just like protestants do.

I pray all who are reading, pray for peace in Jesus Christ's Church--His One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.

My January Rant

2011-01-25T13:25:00.000-06:00

Wow! Being on some of these "discussion" groups where protestants and Catholics are debating, can be so tiresome. Them repeating the same anti-Catholic propaganda, day after day, forum after forum. When do they ever listen? When will it stop? Even the Scriptures and doctrines that aren't just Catholic are now being denied. Here is a sampling:

1. The Body of Jesus is not a miracle. His body is human like every one else's; only his conception was a miracle.

A: Really? So there was NOTHING different about Jesus' body? Nothing, say, like housing God's soul, right? Nothing like everything He endured, beating, whipping, torture for hours on end before He was forced to carry His own cross, before He died, nailed to that same cross. Any body could have done that?

2. Manna, bread from Heaven, was not the type of Jesus' Body but the type of our faith in Him.

A: Really? So, when Jesus talks about manna as the bread from Heaven, then calls Himself the Bread from Heaven, He does not actually mean that comparison. He's just joking. He says, "You must eat My Flesh...Drink My Blood...to enter Heaven." But, He didn't really mean what He said. One (manna actually eaten in the desert) has nothing to do with the other (Bread from Heaven, His Body, is to be eaten). Wow! Are you blind if you can't see that!

3. Physical baptism isn't "technically necessary."

A: Really? So, He didn't really mean it when He told His disciples to "Go, preach and make disciples of all people, BAPTIZING them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit." Guess He was just kidding about that, too? And there really was no reason, at all, that He was baptized Himself by His cousin St. John. And they call them selves Bible believers, and/or sola scripturists (Bible alone)? But when push comes to shove they just completely ignore Christ's own words--His commands--and make up their own doctrine. "Baptism saves us now." Obviously that line in the Bible MUST be ignored!

4. Repetitious prayer is a sin. Catholics always repeat prayers so they are sinning.

A: For one thing St. Paul was talking about PAGAN prayers to PAGAN gods. He was not talking about heartfelt prayer to God. Isn't Jesus the One Who said the one who asks and asks and asks will be answered? I do believe it was. Funny thing is, when I was a protestant we repeated the "Doxology" every Sunday. That is not repetitious prayer? Many prot churches repeat The Lord's Prayer. That is not repetition? Memorized prayer is for the faithful, especially the young and immature in the faith, to have a way to pray from the heart especially when one cannot find your own words or your own expressions to God. God wants to hear from us, no matter what the form.

5. Praying to saints is a sin.

A: Number one, Catholics (BTW, Orthodox and other churches pray to saints also) ask the saints to pray for them; we all know they cannot do anything on their own. One is erroneous in thinking Catholics do anything but ask a member of the family--God's family--to pray for them. If you object to this, then you better NOT be asking ANYONE to pray for you--your mother, wife, pastor, friend--ANYONE--because you are doing the EXACT SAME THING you are accusing us of--asking someone else to do your praying for you.

Number two, Catholics do not worship any but the true God. Never have, never will. Have there been Catholics and other Christians who have done this wrong? Of course, there have. There has never been a Protestant who has had his "flock" kill themselves, follow them out into the desert to wait for Christ on a certain day, follow him to hell? Of course, there has. But all Catholics, at all times, must be perfect or the Church is blamed.

Number three, saints are our family. Statues, paintings, icons, stained glass windows are the EXACT SAME THING as your FAMILY PORTRAITS--EXACTLY THE SAME. I know that a lot of prots don't want to see it that way. That is their problem and their error. If you have a picture of your grandmother on a shelf, stop by it and think of her, you are just as much an idol worship as a Catholic who stops in front of a statue of Our Lady and thinks of her and asks for her prayers. It is the same thing.

I really get so sick and tired of prots who say, "Show us where it says that in the Bible." We do. Then they do their little prot dance, close their eyes, plug their ears, and say, "La, la, la, la, it's not there, it's not there, it's not there." All Catholic doctrine was developed in the Early Church long before the NT Scriptures were collected by the Church and put into a Bible. All the beliefs, all traditions, and all practiced can be seen in the Scriptures and in the writings of the early Church. We still believe and practice what the 1st century Church did. Those who cannot and will not believe that, deceive themselves.

Sin--moving away from God

2011-01-24T19:07:00.000-06:00

I have been very busy lately. I had a brilliant idea for my blog this morning over tea, but like a wonderful dream it faded away over the course of my crazy day. Oh well...I thought I'd share a less brilliant thought.

Compassion
by W. Bouguereau (1897)

Yesterday, my second grade class learned about the Sacrament of Penance. I mean the actual mechanics of it, so to speak. We went inside the little room where they will meet Jesus in the person of our priest, Father F. I have to admit, I find Fr. F rather intimidating myself at times. We are almost the same age, he is very military (he is in the Air Force reserves) so he reminds me of the officers I worked under in the military, and he is a little of a perfectionist from what I can see. I think I am always afraid of disappointing him. Anyway, I am doing my best to make sure the children are not afraid of him when he goes into the confessional. Afterwards, all but one of my students said they were less scared to enter that little room. They all behaved well and seemed to take it seriously.

Well, after our brief tour in the tiny room, I decided to help them understand what is sin. I had them line up shoulder to shoulder facing the crucifix on the wall of the Our Lady of Fatima chapel. I had them take one step backwards for a venial sin, of which we tried to think up examples, and two steps back for mortal sins, also with examples. Once they had traveled to nearly the back of the room, I explained to them that that is what sin does; it causes us to move away from God (illustrated by God the Son on the crucifix). He doesn't move. God never changes. We are the ones who change because of sin.

Then we talked about contrition. Imperfect contrition--saying we're sorry because we're supposed to do so--brings us part of the way back to God. We illustrated this be taking a couple of steps forward. However, when we have perfect contrition--in other words, we are truly sorry for our sins from our hearts--we come all the way back to God. The children came all the way back to the front of the room.

Sin moves us away from God. God never moves, changes, or turns away from us. He waits for our confession and our perfect contrition and welcomes us back to Himself with open arms.

It the Epiphany

2011-01-06T15:34:00.000-06:00

Christkindl Markt, Cologne, Germany

1 When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, 2 "Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage."

3 When King Herod heard this, he was greatly troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 They said to him, "In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it has been written through the prophet: 6 'And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; since from you shall come a ruler, who is to shepherd my people Israel.'"

Three Kings Reliquary, Cologne Cathedral

7 Then Herod called the magi secretly and ascertained from them the time of the star's appearance.
8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and search diligently for the child. When you have found him, bring me word, that I too may go and do him homage." 9 After their audience with the king they set out. And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was.

10 They were overjoyed at seeing the star, 11 and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Detail-Three Kings Reliquary, Cologne, Germany

12 And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way. 13 When they had departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him."

14 Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt. 15 He stayed there until the death of Herod, that what the Lord had said through the prophet might be fulfilled, "Out of Egypt I called my son." 16 When Herod realized that he had been deceived by the magi, he became furious. He ordered the massacre of all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had ascertained from the magi. 17 Then was fulfilled what had been said through Jeremiah the prophet: 18 "A voice was heard in Ramah, sobbing and loud lamentation; Rachel weeping for her children, and she would not be consoled, since they were no more."

The Three Magi

19 When Herod had died, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt 20 and said, "Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child's life are dead." 21 He rose, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel.
22 But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go back there. And because he had been warned in a dream, he departed for the region of Galilee.
23 He went and dwelt in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, "He shall be called a Nazorean." [Matthew 2]

The number of kings comes from the gifts they brought--gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The traditional names, Bathasar, Melchior, and Gaspar, also came much later. The gold was representative of the royalty of the new born king. Frankincense for honor of kingship and sweet smelling incense offered up to God. Myrrh was a traditional spice used for religious ceremonies and for burial (perhaps a fore sign of things to come). In all actuality, it may be these gifts that kept the family from starving in Egypt. It is a significant and beautiful part of the story of Christmas. It is an indication of the fact that Christ came for the whole world--gentiles as well as Jews. The Magi offered the best gifts they could think of for the King of the world, they rightly believed Jesus to be. God Bless them.

Merry Christ Mass!

2010-12-25T17:29:00.000-06:00

What a beautiful but cold morning it was. I had the majority of the wrapping done beforehand, but stayed up until after midnight sorting the stocking loot. My daughter couldn't sleep, so made sure I couldn't sleep. My youngest son woke up around 2 AM soaking wet and I had to help him change his clothes. Of course, the older kids got up in the wee hours of the morning. Consequently, I got very little sleep.

We let the kids open their presents before Mass, since their was plenty of time. My third son signed on to serve at the Christ Mass, so we all went this morning. I, too, volunteered to participate afterwards, and read the second of the readings. However, I practiced the readings for Christmas Day. As the first reader read, I realized that we were reading the Christmas Eve Mass readings. Well, I whipped out my hymal/Mass book and looked up the second reading and rehearsed under my breath. I was actually kind of glad because the reading from Titus was much shorter than the one from Hebrews and didn't include the word refulgence in it. I had never heard the word before and spent a lot of time last night saying it over and over--that you Merriam-Webster online. The reading went well; I didn't embarrass myself.

After Mass, it was a rush home to get back to serious play. Of course that means for me, picking up boxes, wrappings, bows, ribbons, cutting toys out of boxes, loading batteries into various devices, reading instructions and game rules, stopping fights, keeping the dog from eating things (we have one that eats litterally everything; the other day we found a half eaten aluminum can in the back. One of her favorite snacks is charcoal), helping my daughter sew her Hello Kitty pillow together, looking at videos online that my husband thinks are funny, and generally being talked to like I'm 5 by everyone who is talking at me all at the same time. Dinner is cooking. The kitchen is half-way clean. The dishwasher is running. All is well at the moment.

We missed our friends from the other side of town at Mass this morning. They called last night to ask if one of our other sons could substitute for theirs at the altar if they didn't make it. Many in their family are sick this weekend and they didn't know if they could make. If The Mom sees this, it is okay, it was covered. I hope all are doing well.

Today's readings from our Mass (the first 2 and the Psalm from the Christmas Midnight Mass readings and the Gospel for today): Isaiah 9:1-6, Psalm 96, and Titus 2:11-14

The Gospel was John 1:1-18

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
He was in the beginning with God. All things came to be through Him, and without him nothing came to be.
What came to be through Him was life, and this life was the light of the human race;
the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

A man named John was sent from God. He came for testimony, to testify to the light,
so that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to testify to the light.
The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

He was in the world, and the world came to be through Him, but the world did not know Him.
He came to what was His own, but His own people did not accept Him.
But to those who did accept Him He gave power to become children of God,
to those who believe in His name, who were born not by natural generation
nor by human choice nor by a man’s decision but of God.

And the Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us, and we saw His glory,
the glory as of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth.

John testified to him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘The One who is coming after me ranks ahead of me because He existed before me.’”

From his fullness we have all received, grace in place of grace, because while the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. The only Son, God, who is at the Father’s side, has revealed Him."

The Thin Man and Another Popular Misconception

2010-12-22T17:38:00.001-06:00

Recently, I watched one of my favorite movies: 1934's "The Thin Man" starring William Powell and Myrna Loy. Few people know, and I just recently learned, that the "thin man" is *not* William Powell's Nick Charles. The "thin man" is the man whose murder Nick solves in the first movie. It was so popular a movie that they kept the "thin man" in the title of all five sequels.

Why do I bring this up? It was and is a popular misconception that the "thin man" was Nick Charles. It reminds me of the myriad of misconceptions about Catholicism. One of the biggest, even among Catholics, is that the Immaculate Conception refers to Our Lord Jesus' conception. This is not true. The immaculate conception refers to St. Mary's conception, always has.

"We declare, pronounce, and define that the doctrine which holds that the most Blessed Virgin Mary, in the first instance of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege granted by Almighty God, in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the human race, was preserved free from all stain of original sin, is a doctrine revealed by God and therefore to be believed firmly and constantly by all the faithful." [Ineffabilis Deus (The Immaculate Conception) Pope Pius IX] http://www.ewtn.com/library/papaldoc/p9ineff.htm

St. Ann and the Immaculate Conception

A dogma "...according to a long-standing usage...is now understood to be a truth appertaining to faith or morals, revealed by God, transmitted from the Apostles in the Scriptures or by tradition, and proposed by the Church for the acceptance of the faithful. It might be described briefly as a revealed truth defined by the Church..." [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05089a.htm] In other words, in order to call yourself a Catholic, you must believe a dogma. If you don't even know what that dogma is, how can you believe it? How do you know you believe it? The Immaculate Conception is an official dogma of the Church. You must believe it. If you don't, call yourself a protestant because that is what you are--you are protesting the teaching of the Church.

St. Mary & Our Lord Jesus

So, next time someone asks you, 'What is the Immaculate Conception?" simply answer, 'It is the belief that the Blessed Virgin Mary was preserved of all stain of original sin from the moment of her conception in her mother's womb.' St. Ann conceived St. Mary in the usual way with her loving husband. But, St. Mary's Son, God the Son, gave her a special gift; She was to be the new Eve and received the same gift, no original sin on the soul. The difference between St. Mary and Eve is that St. Mary always obeyed God, and said "Yes!" to Him when He sent the angel to her. She thus became the spotless vessel into which Our Lord Jesus Christ, Immanuel (God with us), was born. What a wonderful miracle to remember at this time of year. The spotless Ark bearing the Word of God.

So, now you know. Don't mistake the "Thin Man" for Nick Charles. And, don't mistake the Immaculate Conception for the Virgin Birth.

Fourth Sunday of Advent

2010-12-19T11:34:00.000-06:00

Today we light the fourth candle on the Advent wreath. To tell the truth, I paid little attention to the readings at Mass. I was thinking so much about our RE children's play and caroling that I was kind of in another place.
The play and caroling went well. The kids all had fun and we had a better participation than in the past for our last class of the calendar year. Last year, and for the past few years, we've had a loud Christmas party, video, craft day. I never like that class day. It was chaotic, messy, noisy, and completely without much purpose. Our newest RE director decided to have caroling because in the Catholic Church we don't celebrate Christmas until Christmas Mass. So, we sing very few actual Christmas carols. She wanted to have a caroling day for the kids and their parents. Then it evolved into a short Christmas play with caroling between scenes. It went off beautifully. I hope we do it again next year. I think it helps the kids remember the "Reason for the season" better than that noisy, pointless party we had before.

Merry Christ Mass!

Readings for the fourth Sunday of Advent: First reading: Isa. 7:10-14; Psalm 24; Second reading: Rom 1: 1-7

The Gospel reading for today:

"This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about. When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child through the Holy Spirit. Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly.

Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means “God is with us.”

When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him
and took his wife into his home."
Matthew 1:18-24
http://www.usccb.org/nab/today.shtml

Christmas Rant

2010-12-17T15:22:00.000-06:00

Christmas used to be my favorite time of year. Now it is just full of frustration and stress. I hate being a wife and mother at Christmas. I usually get few if any presents. I never get what I want.

What I don't enjoy:
1) A messy house. Not one person cleans up after themselves, not one. Chore chart you say? It's on the wall--now what? It is my responsibility to remind everyone?
2) The School schedule ignored. I've tried very hard to stop being angry all the time. Consequently, the kids no longer take me or their school work seriously. We are one week from Christmas Day and not one of them is done with their semester's work. Today, on my schedule, would have been the last day of school until the New Year. Sigh. Now I can't enjoy baking and decorating next week.
3) The fact that I cannot do housework and have any of the children do their school work at the same time. Even when I am cleaning in the same room, they stop working.

4) My husband who gets up at o-dark-thirty, wakes me up every time--even on SATURDAY, the only day I could sleep in, but can nap anytime he pleases.
5) The fact that I am about 30 pounds over weight (since about 17 years ago, when I started having kids). I am so stressed and tired, I cannot motivate myself to exercise.
6) Feeling guilty about feeling stressed and angry. I sure have a lot more than most in my situation in life.
7) Have almost no friends at this time of year. My sister was once my best friend, now I never even hear from her. Their was someone who I thought was a friend who, apparently, has no time for me. I have been cultivating a relatively new girl friendship but we're so busy, it is hard to get together.

Now, I'll see if I can count my blessings:

1) I can receive Christ in the Eucharist. In this way, Christ is always with me in a very tangible and real way.
2) I have become involved in Catholic Apologetics in the last year or so. And, even though he was condescending, one prot 'apologist' actually called me (well, not me personally but a group I belong to) one of the "new crop of Catholic apologists."
3) I completed my first class on my way to receiving a Bachelor's degree in Theology. I have yet to receive my final grade, but I'll just be happy to pass.
4) My oldest son is still with us. My son has survived four St. Nicholas Days after he was hospitalized in a near coma. Type 1 diabetes is a serious illness not taken very seriously any more, mostly because the treatment usually results in a lifelong treatment. Only a few short decades ago it was a death sentence. Praise God for the timing.

5) My five year old is learning his letters.
6) A couple of my kids have problems in school but none have learning disabilities.
7) My oldest got 162 on his PSAT. Yeah! A full 30 points higher than on his practice test at home.
8) My parents are still alive. I should call my mother more often.
9) I have lovely new white counters in my kitchen.
10) I will enjoy making the planned gingerbread village this year.
11) There's a beautiful $20 Douglas fir tree in my living room.
12) We can get the kids at least one thing they really want for Christmas.
13) I have a long distance friend who trusts me enough to be a contributor and an editor on his blog. Thanks S.W. I appreciate the trust.
14) One son will be an altar boy at Christ's Mass on December 25th.

Second list outweighs the first. Praise the Lord! I've got nothing to complain about. Rant done.

Let us remember the "Reason for the season"--Our Lord Jesus Christ.

Third Sunday of Advent

2010-12-16T18:26:00.000-06:00

My apologies to any readers who may have been awaiting my 3rd post on Advent. The rose colored candle is lit for our joy of the imminent coming of Christ.

First, Sunday: 1st reading was Isa. 35:1-6a, 10. The Psalm was 146. The second reading was James 5: 7-10. The Gospel was:

When John the Baptist heard in prison of the works of the Christ,
he sent his disciples to Jesus with this question,
“Are you the one who is to come,
or should we look for another?”

Jesus said to them in reply,
“Go and tell John what you hear and see:
the blind regain their sight,
the lame walk,
lepers are cleansed,
the deaf hear,
the dead are raised,
and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them.
And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me.”

St. John the Baptist by Titian

As they were going off,
Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John,
“What did you go out to the desert to see?
A reed swayed by the wind?
Then what did you go out to see?
Someone dressed in fine clothing?
Those who wear fine clothing are in royal palaces.
Then why did you go out? To see a prophet?
Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
This is the one about whom it is written:
Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you;
he will prepare your way before you.
Amen, I say to you,
among those born of women
there has been none greater than John the Baptist;
yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”
Matthew 11:2-11
http://www.usccb.org/nab/121210.shtml

Happy St. Nicholas Day!

2010-12-06T09:22:00.000-06:00

It is a special day of rejoicing for this family. It is the fourth anniversary of my eldest son's trip to the ER and the begining of his journey as a diabetic. The nurses in the PICU asked him what day it was (in this way they can measure the patient's cognizance--he was in and out of consciousness that first day) and he said, "Saint Nicholas Day." Of couse, it being a Baptist hospital, they did not understand. They thought he was confused and thought it was Christmas. We laughed a little and explained that today was indeed the feast day of St. Nicholas, the man who's image and generous deeds would evolve into Santa Claus.

We rejoice on this day and say a special thank you prayer to this special saint in heaven who watched over our son that year. Today, we set out the kids shoes like we did when living in Germany. The kids receive candy and one small toy to enjoy this special day in Advent. In the words of Tiny Tim, "God bless us, every one."

"Who is St. Nicholas?"
"The true story of Santa Claus begins with Nicholas, who was born during the third century in the village of Patara. At the time the area was Greek and is now on the southern coast of Turkey. His wealthy parents, who raised him to be a devout Christian, died in an epidemic while Nicholas was still young. Obeying Jesus' words to "sell what you own and give the money to the poor," Nicholas used his whole inheritance to assist the needy, the sick, and the suffering. He dedicated his life to serving God and was made Bishop of Myra while still a young man. Bishop Nicholas became known throughout the land for his generosity to the those in need, his love for children, and his concern for sailors and ships.

"Under the Roman Emperor Diocletian, who ruthlessly persecuted Christians, Bishop Nicholas suffered for his faith, was exiled and imprisoned. The prisons were so full of bishops, priests, and deacons, there was no room for the real criminals—murderers, thieves and robbers. After his release, Nicholas attended the Council of Nicaea in AD 325. He died December 6, AD 343 in Myra and was buried in his cathedral church, where a unique relic, called manna, formed in his grave. This liquid substance, said to have healing powers, fostered the growth of devotion to Nicholas. The anniversary of his death became a day of celebration, St. Nicholas Day, December 6th..."

"Through the centuries many stories and legends have been told of St. Nicholas' life and deeds. These accounts help us understand his extraordinary character and why he is so beloved and revered as protector and helper of those in need."

"One story tells of a poor man with three daughters. In those days a young woman's father had to offer prospective husbands something of value—a dowry. The larger the dowry, the better the chance that a young woman would find a good husband. Without a dowry, a woman was unlikely to marry. This poor man's daughters, without dowries, were therefore destined to be sold into slavery. Mysteriously, on three different occasions, a bag of gold appeared in their home-providing the needed dowries. The bags of gold, tossed through an open window, are said to have landed in stockings or shoes left before the fire to dry. This led to the custom of children hanging stockings or putting out shoes, eagerly awaiting gifts from Saint Nicholas. Sometimes the story is told with gold balls instead of bags of gold. That is why three gold balls, sometimes represented as oranges, are one of the symbols for St. Nicholas. And so St. Nicholas is a gift-giver."
http://www.stnicholascenter.org/Brix?pageID=38

Second Sunday of Advent

2010-12-06T09:01:00.000-06:00

This second Sunday promised to be like any other Sunday, but I don't think there are many "ordinary" days in this family. Our second son is now in Confirmation class. Sunday was supposed to be a special entrance rite for him and the other Confirmandae (sp?) entering the first of their two year journey. However, a last minute scheduling conflict caused the rite to be rescheduled but not all of us were informed. Since we were not told not to invite the sponsor we did. I hope their 1 1/2 drive each way from Tulsa was worth going to Mass at our Church. My son's sponsor's wife is a college professor and this is one of the busiest times of the year for her. She has to grade papers and turn in grades and then turn in all her syllabi and plans for next semester. They couldn't even stay for lunch. It was nice to see them, anyway. God bless you, Paddy and Mark!

The second Sunday of Advent readings: Isaiah 11: 1-10; Psalm 72: 1,2, 7,8,12,13, 17; Romans 15:4-9

The Gospel: Matthew 3:1-12

John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the desert of Judea
and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”
It was of him that the prophet Isaiah had spoken when he said:
A voice of one crying out in the desert,
Prepare the way of the Lord,
make straight his paths.
John wore clothing made of camel’s hair
and had a leather belt around his waist.
His food was locusts and wild honey.
At that time Jerusalem, all Judea,
and the whole region around the Jordan
were going out to him
and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River
as they acknowledged their sins.

When he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees
coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers!
Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?
Produce good fruit as evidence of your repentance.
And do not presume to say to yourselves,
‘We have Abraham as our father.’
For I tell you,
God can raise up children to Abraham from these stones.
Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees.
Therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit
will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
I am baptizing you with water, for repentance,
but the one who is coming after me is mightier than I.
I am not worthy to carry his sandals.
He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
His winnowing fan is in his hand.
He will clear his threshing floor
and gather his wheat into his barn,
but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

Let us wait, rejoicing!

First Sunday of Advent

2010-11-29T08:43:00.001-06:00

Wow! I can't believe it is that time of the year already. It is actually the new year of the Church calendar. We start cycle A this year. Due to illness I did not post this in time.

The readings for the day were: Isa 2:1-5; Ps. 122: 1-9; Rom. 13: 11-14

Gospel -- Matt 24: 37-44
Jesus said to his disciples:
“As it was in the days of Noah,
so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.
In those days before the flood,
they were eating and drinking,
marrying and giving in marriage,
up to the day that Noah entered the ark.
They did not know until the flood came and carried them all away.
So will it be also at the coming of the Son of Man.
Two men will be out in the field;
one will be taken, and one will be left.
Two women will be grinding at the mill;
one will be taken, and one will be left.
Therefore, stay awake!
For you do not know on which day your Lord will come.
Be sure of this: if the master of the house
had known the hour of night when the thief was coming,
he would have stayed awake
and not let his house be broken into.
So too, you also must be prepared,
for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.”

Pope John Paul II in his address on Dec. 18, 2002 said, "The liturgy of Advent…helps us to understand fully the value and meaning of the mystery of Christmas. It is not just about commemorating the historical event, which occurred some 2,000 years ago in a little village of Judea. Instead, it is necessary to understand that the whole of our life must be an ‘advent,’ a vigilant awaiting of the final coming of Christ. To predispose our mind to welcome the Lord who, as we say in the Creed, one day will come to judge the living and the dead, we must learn to recognize him as present in the events of daily life. Therefore, Advent is, so to speak, an intense training that directs us decisively toward him who already came, who will come, and who comes continuously." http://www.appleseeds.org/christmas-quotes.htm

Thanksgiving

2010-11-26T09:21:00.001-06:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful, safe holiday.

                                     "Come, Lord Jesus, our Guest to be
                                      And bless these gifts bestowed by Thee.
                                      And bless our loved ones everywhere,
                                      And keep them in Your loving care."

"Give thanks in all circumstances for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" (Thess. 5:18)

The Catholic Church, named in AD 110

2010-11-13T17:58:00.000-06:00

One of the things that made me laugh when I visited an Antiochian Orthodox Church last weekend was the silly statement our ignorant (e.g. Lacking education or knowledge) tour guide made. He actually stated that the Catholic Church "made up their name" after it had "split from the True Church in the 11th century, and that at that time they had to make up their own name--Orthodox (from the Greek words meaning "correct" "faith"). I have guess, since he is a convert from the Methodist faith, that he was either not taught actual history or was taught bigoted history. Even the Orthodox churches recognize St. Ignatius as a saint and Father of the Church, and he said:

St. Ignatius of Antioch and the Lions Icon

See that ye all follow the bishop, even as Jesus Christ does the Father, and the presbytery as ye would the apostles; and reverence the deacons, as being the institution [Or, “command”] of God. Let no man do anything connected with the Church without the bishop. Let that be deemed a proper [Or, “firm”] Eucharist, which is [administered] either by the bishop, or by one to whom he has entrusted it. Wherever the bishop shall appear, there let the multitude [of the people] also be; even as, wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church. It is not lawful without the bishop either to baptize or to celebrate a love-feast; but whatsoever he shall approve of, that is also pleasing to God, so that everything that is done may be secure and valid. [St Ignatius, Letter to the Smyraeans, Chapter VIII, AD110 from The Apostolic Fathers with Justin Martyr and Irenaeus by Philip Schaff, 1885, posted on the Christian Classics Ethereal Library, Calvin College http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/anf01.v.vii.viii.html]

St. Ignatius dubbed the Church the Catholic Church a millennia before the split of the Church. To claim that the Catholic Church made up her name in the 11th century is, as I stated before, to be ignorant of history. The mutual split between the East and the West in the 11th century has only deepened over the centuries. We need to be talking and communicating more on our similarities and commonalities rather than purposely pushing each other away.

"The two forms of the great tradition of the Church, the Eastern and the Western, the two forms of culture, complement each other like the two "lungs" of a single body." —Pope John Paul II, Euntes in mundum, 1988. http://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=3700

One final thought: ""We have not only to be called Christians, but to be Christians." -St. Ignatius of Antioch

Hallelujah!

2010-11-12T18:22:00.000-06:00

So, I watch the "Random Act of Love" that was put on by the Philadelphia Orchestra at Macy's and start to cry. I am so tired and feeling a little down on this rainy Oklahoma day. I feel so stressed about getting bills paid, about keeping school on schedule, I'm upset that, yet again, I missed an opportunity for the kids (a VFW essay contest that would be good for College apps), flunking college Latin, and trying to get my sty of a house clean. I just forget about enjoying life most of the time. That video really is lovely, If you haven't watched it yet go here to the CathApol blog where I make a contribution from time to time. The video has been floating around the internet. I just wish I'd been there. ...and I need more sleep.

Happy Veteran's Day

2010-11-11T10:45:00.000-06:00

To all my fellow veterans: As your nation honors and thanks you today, have a great day! I am so happy that our nation sets aside a day to remember all those veterans who are still with us and that we honor them with praise and parades for their sacrificial service to our country. God Bless all of you, Brothers and Sisters!

God Works in Mysterious Ways

2010-11-08T12:39:00.000-06:00

St. Mark, the Evangelist

Last night I went to a Byzantine Rite Divine Liturgy (and yes it is a Catholic Mass!) It was so powerful and so beautiful, I wish I could belong to an Eastern Rite Church. The reverence of the Eucharist, the reverence sung in chant, the reverence shown to the Theotokos touched my soul in a way I haven't experienced in a long time. The Byzantine Rite community here is very small and they only perform the Divine Liturgy once a month. It is about a 40 minute drive but I may go again some time. My love for the Eastern Tradition of our Church has renewed my love for our Sister Church. I had just written a post about the bad taste in my mouth after visiting a bigoted Orthodox Church the day before. God knew I needed to experience the Divine Liturgy for myself to appreciate our Eastern brothers and sisters. God really does work in myserious ways.

I Can't Believe the Hostility

2010-11-06T22:16:00.000-05:00

Elijah passing his mantel to Elisha

Wow! What a beautiful church we visited today. A beautiful example of Byzantine architecture and art. Boy, what anti-Catholic hostility we encountered. We went to a Antiochian (Lebanese) Orthodox Christian Church (yep, that was in the name) today. I will not mention the name of the parish out of my deep respect and love for our sister--the Orthodox Churches. But, wow, is the respect and love so far from mutual. Frankly, why all the open hostility for Catholics and our Faith? Was it necessary to present us a rewritten, pointedly anti-Catholic, pamphlet on the "history of Christianity" when we entered the 'chapel' for the tour of the Church? A false picture of how the Catholic Church split away from the "true church" as the pope asserted his "power"? Was it necessary to point out that they are not Catholic? Many times? Was it necessary to falsely claim that the Church 'made up' the name Catholic after "they split from' the Orthodox, who, according to our bigoted tour guide, had to then 'find a name for itself' to distinguish them selves from the newly named Catholic Church? Was it necessary to laugh at someones question about whether or not Orthodox believed in the Immaculate Conception?

Theotokos--Mother of God

I was looking forward to a nice tour of a beautiful Church. I couldn't keep my mouth shut any longer. I was fuming. But I wanted to be respectful and polite in the house of God despite not receiving respect in kind. The 'tour guide' was deliberately, knowingly, and pointedly making sure he pointed out not only the differences in our churches but also how the Catholic Church was wrong. I'm sorry BUT YOU'RE WRONG!!! I used the excuse that my 5 yo needed the bathroom to leave the group as it went into the sanctuary. If you have nothing good to say, say nothing at all, right?

It makes me wonder why the Catholic Church is trying so hard to reach out to our brothers and sisters in Christ for unity, only to be spat in the face with such open contempt. Why do so many of the lay Orthodox feel that Catholics reaching out to them for unity against Satan and all his army is a sign of weakness in Catholics? Why do they embrace all other religions in the area, call them fellow Christians, but scorn their sister Church? I just do not understand. On the one hand they're all 'let's preach love and peace,' but on the other hand spew hatred and bigotry at other Christians? Really? That is what Orthodoxy is? I sure hope not. Because bigotry and hatred for fellow Christians is not how you persuade your (supposed) foe that you are right, and you're hostility is not going to win converts. Word to the wise: Converts to are not attracted to a church that preaches the love of Christ but spews hatred toward their fellow Christians. It only fuels the flames of the ant-Christian (of any 'flavor' including Orthodox) faction. I pray that this 'tour guide' was not typical of the attitude of the patriarchy of the several branches of the Orthodox Church--or at least not all of them, as they are NOT in union as (also) falsely claimed by our 'tour guide.'

It left a very bitter aftertaste in the mouth. I pray for the restoration of my respect and love for the other "lung of the Church" as Pope Blessed John Paul II called our Orthodox sister churches. BTW, I still love seeing the art and architecture of the building but I will have a hard time removing the memory of that bitter, bigoted, awful visit to that wonderful house of God. I will continue to pray the Rosary for the unity Christ so desired for His Church. If that makes me weak, so be it.

Vote!

2010-11-02T00:22:00.002-05:00

Happy All Souls Day!

Don't forget to vote today! Be responsible Catholic citizens and vote as Catholics (ie, pro-life).

~~No on SQ 744!!!~~
Praise God SQ 744 was defeated! Now, can we get an actual bill that will ACTUALLY improve our schools--not school spending.

Happy birthday Becky!!!!

Is it just Me?

2010-10-18T12:29:00.000-05:00

(Not a post for kiddos)
We really like where we live right now. It is about a five minute walk to the church. We love walking to church. The house is nice. It is a fairly nice neighborhood, but like all neighborhoods it has its problems.

One is neighbors who do not clean up after their dogs. It is sooo aggravating to find dog piles in the front yard. When I take our dogs for a walk, I always carry a bag. I always clean up the dog product if there is any. I guess I can feel superior for being a responsible and considerate pet owner. I resent those who think it is okay to let there dogs go anywhere.

Another is a next door neighbor that won't give us the time of day. The one and only time I have spoken to them is when I caught them getting out of their car in the drive way. While trying to introduce myself and ask them about overhanging tree limbs, they were rushing toward their front door like cornered animals. When I did get a tree guy to come cut off the limbs from their pecan trees (my daughter is allergic to pecans) they would not answer their door. So, I left a note on the door and let the tree guy go at it--in their yard. Not a word came from their side of the fence. They are not hermits though. We know that from the half dozen cars parked in front of our house for their occasional Sunday get-togethers.

My not-so-favorite thing though is what happened yesterday. After our lovely stroll home from church, I spotted something gold on the lawn. I thought, "Great more litter on the lawn." As I bent to pick up the gold thing, I saw exactly what it was--an opened condom wrapper. I don't know if it was carelessly tossed out some one's car window (this happens frequently, as we live on a corner with a stop sign) or if someone threw it in our yard on purpose. We don't hide the fact that we are Catholic. We have a very old statue of Our Lady of Mercy in the front garden. Were we a target? I don't know. But finding such a disgusting item in my front yard on a Sunday coming home from Church is almost too disturbing for words.

Is it just me or are people less considerate than they used to be? I guess I am too used to living on Air Force bases, and the German countryside, for the 23 years before we bought this house. I am not used to all the trash, or kids walking through my yard, or some jerk stealing a CD player from my van. Living in the "real" world takes some getting used to. I don't like it at all.

Catholic Voters, Stop Being Stupid!

2010-10-14T18:34:00.000-05:00

"Catholics, even though we live in a country and are citizens of that country, have a higher calling and responsibility to God and to our neighbor to promote God's truth even when others hate it, reject it, and hate us for proclaiming it. We are citizens in an earthly realm, but more importantly we are citizens of the new kingdom of heaven with Jesus as the Lord, His laws as our prime way of life, and called to live them and to promote them even to unbelievers." --Father Richard Perozich

From the article "Priest to Catholic Voters: Stop Being Stupid" by Matt C. Abbott for RenewAmerica.com. Please go to his web/news blog and read the entire article. I wish more priests spoke up like Fr. Perozich.

Circle of Grace

2010-10-11T10:01:00.000-05:00

This weekend several DREs and catechists met at the Archdiocesan center to learn about a new program called "Circle of Grace." They were/are very close to the chest so-to-speak about the whole thing. They did not let us look at any of the material before hand nor did they answer any questions. I guess that is a way to get people to come to the training.

"Circle of Grace" was developed by a committee in the Archdiocese of Omaha to meet their child safety education needs. They developed the program with DREs, catechists, and even consulted child psychologists. They've implemented it in their Catholic school programs as well as their RE programs. It has been so well received by the schools, churches, and parents that some protestant churches in the Omaha area have adopted it to their programs.

"Circle of Grace" is a new child safety education program and I am proud to say that I am excited about it. I tell you what, I was very dubious before the meeting. I am not now. Frankly, the Archdiocesan program we have now is pretty dismal. It's boring, it's not well written, and it has nothing for the kids to get excited about. This program is everything that program isn't. It is exciting, fun, and interactive. The program is all set up for the catechists, and they can integrate it into their existing programs. They emphasize that this is NOT a sex education program and it is not a 'stranger danger' program. It integrated our Catholic Faith and keeping one safe and healthy.

The Program Goal
The goal of the Circle of Grace program is to educate and empower children and young people to actively participate in a safe environment for themselves and others.

PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

Children/young people will understand they are created by God and live in the love of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
• God is "present" in everyone's Circle of Grace.

Children/young people will be able to describe the Circle of Grace which God gives each of us.
• God is “present” because He desires a relationship with us.

Children/young people will be able to identify and maintain appropriate physical, emotional, spiritual and sexual boundaries.
• God helps us know what belongs in our Circle of Grace.

Children/young people will be able to identify all types of boundary violations.
• God helps us know what does not belong in our Circle of Grace

Children/young people will demonstrate how to take action if any boundary is threatened or violated.
• God helps us know when to ask for help from someone who we trust.

The program and sample curriculum can be viewed here: http://www.archomaha.org/pastoral/se/circle.html

Our Archdiocese has decided to implement the program here, and I am happy for it. This year it is optional. A catechist can use the old 'curricula' or implement the 'Circle of Grace' curricula this year. Next year, it will be taught in all the parishes in the Archdiocese. As a catechist, I am excited to see a program that implements child safety in a child-friendly, Catholic faith-based manner that is relevant and, honestly, easy to implement. I, for one, will be implementing the program this year. I wish I had had it at the beginning of the year. I could have integrated the first Circle of Grace lesson with another lesson I taught at the beginning of the year.

I'm excited about the program and I hope that it will excite and prepare the children for life in this world, as well as, preparation for the next.

Growing Pains (On a ligther note)

2010-10-02T07:23:00.000-05:00

Black Lab-Not D

Wednesday evening we got a new dog. Boy is our old dog confused! He just doesn't understand why he is being replaced. M, our dog, is a purebred, piebald miniture dacshund. He is 3 years old and extremely laid back. He is used to sleeping all day during school hours and plays with the kids once or twice a day for about 10-15 minutes, then sleeps some more.

D, our new dog, is a six-month-old, black labra-dacshund puppy. She has had no training or discipline. She is rambuncuous and jumps up on people. She whines to go out and whines to come in. She had gotten away with this at her old house. So far she has weed once in the car and once in the house, chewed on a glue stick and a crayon, ticked off M, and jumped on the furniture.

Piebald dacshund-M. lookalike

M is trying to keep up with D. M gets between her and anyone else. He is very jealous and confused. She (D) will not stay still long enough for him to get a good sniff. I don't think he's ever had so much exercise in his life. We let the two out in the back yard. D just runs and jumps and loves life. M tries to chase her and assert his 'manhood' but she doesn't care. D chases M around to get a good sniff of his behind. M keeps tripping as he tucks his rear end under to keep it away from D's nose.

By Friday, both dogs were exhausted with the effort to play and to assert their place in the "pack." They are starting to at least tolerate each other. M still has his own day bed and D lays anywhere she feels like it. Wednesday night we put her in fenced off section of the garage with a blanket, a training pad, and some water. She actually behaved herself very well that night. I was having "Marley and Me" flashbacks, but all went well. Whe now has a proper kennel bed. She hops into the kids laps but then hops back off again. She can't seem to alight anywhere for more than a minute or two.

M has always been Daddy's boy. D is definitely Mamma's girl. She is a help to me, too. She has motivated me to take her for a daily walk. Hopefully that will kick start my dreamed of weight loss.

A Celebration of the Feast of the Archangels

2010-09-29T14:59:00.002-05:00

St. Michael battles Lucifer

St. Michael, the Archangel - Feast day - September 29th. The name Michael signifies "Who is like to God?" and was the warcry of the good angels in the battle fought in heaven against satan and his followers. Holy Scripture describes St. Michael as "one of the chief princes," and leader of the forces of heaven in their triumph over the powers of hell. He has been especially honored and invoked as patron and protector by the Church from the time of the Apostles.

Although he is always called "the Archangel," the Greek Fathers and many others place him over all the angels - as Prince of the Seraphim. St. Michael is the patron of grocers, mariners, paratroopers, police and sickness.
http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=308

St. Raphael with Tobiah

St. Raphael is one of seven Archangels who stand before the throne of the Lord. He was sent by God to help Tobit, Tobiah and Sarah. At the time, Tobit was blind and Tobiah's betrothed, Sarah, had had seven bridegrooms perish on the night of their weddings. Raphael accompanied Tobiah into Media disguised as a man named Azariah. Raphael helped him through his difficulties and taught him how to safely enter marriage with Sarah. Tobiah said that Raphael caused him to have his wife and that he gave joy to Sarah's parents for driving out the evil spirit in her. He also gave Raphael credit for his father's seeing the light of heaven and for receiving all good things through his intercession. Besides Raphael, Michael and Gabriel are the only Archangels mentioned by name in the bible. Raphael's name means "God heals." This identity came about because of the biblical story which claims that he "healed" the earth when it was defiled by the sins of the fallen angels in the apocryphal book of Enoch. Raphael is also identified as the angel who moved the waters of the healing sheep pool. He is also the patron of the blind, of happy meetings, of nurses, of physicians and of travelers. His feast day is celebrated on September 29th.
http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=203

St. Gabriel at the Annunciation

The name Gabriel means "man of God," or "God has shown himself mighty." It appears first in the prophesies of Daniel in the Old Testament. The angel announced to Daniel the prophecy of the seventy weeks....He was the angel who appeared to Zachariah to announce the birth of St. John the Baptizer. Finally, he announced to Mary that she would bear a Son Who would be conceived of the Holy Spirit, Son of the Most High, and Saviour of the world. The feast day is September 29th. St. Gabriel is the patron of communications workers.
http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=279

Another Anniversary but NOT a Celebration

2010-09-28T23:59:00.001-05:00

Unfortunately it is the tenth anniversary of the approval of the dangerous and deadly RU-486 "abortion pill" (mifepristone) by the FDA under the Clinton administration. A Lifenews.com article on the drug and its unfortunate effects can be read here. I read some of the research and statistics on its use in Europe before it was approved in the US. I could see the disaster coming, but the government doesn't care about the health of individual women or their unborn babies, just their agenda.

Here is moving blog post by a pro-life friend of mine and her experience with RU-486.

Proverbs 24:11,12 "Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter. If you say, "But we knew nothing about this," does not He who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not He who guards your life know it? Will He not repay each person according to what he has done?" (NIV)

Image from Christian World Shirt Shop from a tee shirt that can be purchased here.

Feast Day-Blessed Herman the Cripple

2010-09-25T20:31:00.000-05:00

Ever heard of the Salve Regina or the Alma Redemptoris Mater? Then you know just some of the work produced by Blessed Herman the Cripple (1013-1054).

"Born with a cleft palate, cerebral palsy, and spina bifida to a farm family. His parents cared for him until the age of seven, but in 1020 they gave him over to the abbey of Reichenau Island in Lake Constance in southern German; he spent the rest of his life there. He became a Benedictine monk at age twenty. A genius, he studied and wrote on astronomy, theology, math, history, poetry, Arabic, Greek and Latin. He built musical instruments, and astronomical equipment. In later life he became blind, and had to give up his academic writing." He was the most famous poet of his day.
http://saints.sqpn.com/blessed-herman-the-cripple/

Feast Day: September 25.

Picture: http://catholicfire.blogspot.com/2008/09/blessed-herman-cripple-monk-1013-1054.html

Salve Regina:
Hail holy Queen, Mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope. To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve. To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious Advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us. And after this our exile show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary. Amen.

V. Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God.

R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
http://www.secondexodus.com/html/prayers/salveregina.htm

Alma Redemptoris Mater can be read here.