CatholicWifeandMom

The TRUTH

2011-11-10T11:29:00.002-06:00

You cannot say truthfully that one child lost to abortion does not matter and in the same breath say how important Steve Jobs was to this world. You cannot say that and speak the truth.

The TRUTH is that Steve Jobs could have been that one child. The TRUTH is that we have over 50 million children lost to abortion.

Just think of what Steve Jobs accomplished. How much more would 50 million "Steve Jobs" have contributed to our world?

The TRUTH is that we will never know how much we have lost because of 50 million children being killed through abortion.

The TRUTH is that abortion kills not just one child but that abortion contributes to the poverty of the world.

Purgatory in the Bible

2011-01-06T12:25:00.000-06:00

Purgatory in Scripture

Just like the word “Trinity”, the word Purgatory can nowhere be found in the bible. However, like “Trinity”, we can find the meaning and truth of “Purgatory” in the Bible.

First let’s look at 4 Biblical arguments to make the case for Purgatory. All Scripture verses are from the New American Bible available on-line at www.usccb.org . Any comments bolded in BLACK are my own.

#1 There is punishment for sin even after one has received forgiveness. 2 Sam 12:13-14 - Then David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD." Nathan answered David: "The LORD on his part has forgiven your sin: you shall not die. 14 But since you have utterly spurned the LORD by this deed, the child born to you must surely die." David is punished for his sin by the death of his child. This also shows that our sins affect more than ourselves!

#2 - Nothing imperfect, nothing with the stain of sin, may enter heaven. Rev 21:27 - but nothing unclean will enter it, nor any (one) who does abominable things or tells lies. Only those will enter whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life.

#3: There is a way, a process, by which the spirits of "just" men are "made perfect." Heb 12:22-23 - No, you have approached Mount Zion and the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and countless angels in festal gathering,23 and the assembly of the firstborn enrolled in heaven, and God the judge of all, and the spirits of the just made perfect,

#4: There is a purging process after death that perfects those not yet perfected, and makes reparation for sins already forgiven, and it must happen before we may enter heaven. 1Cor 3: 13-15 the work of each will come to light, for the Day will disclose it. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire (itself) will test the quality of each one's work.14 If the work stands that someone built upon the foundation, that person will receive a wage.15 But if someone's work is burned up, that one will suffer loss; the person will be saved, but only as through fire.

The passages below are often cited as supporting the teachings on Purgatory.

Mt 5:48 - So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect. We are called to perfection.

Heb 12:14 – Strive for peace with everyone, and for that holiness without which no one will see the Lord. This seems pretty plain to me!

Jam 3:2 - for we all fall short in many respects. If anyone does not fall short in speech, he is a perfect man, able to bridle his whole body also. We must work hard to make ourselves perfect – every part of ourselves.

1Jn 5:16-17 - If anyone sees his brother sinning, if the sin is not deadly, he should pray to God and he will give him life. This is only for those whose sin is not deadly. There is such a thing as deadly sin, about which I do not say that you should pray. 17 All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that is not deadly. There are different types of sins – supports the teaching on venial and mortal sins.

Jam 1:14-15 - Rather, each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.15 Then desire conceives and brings forth sin, and when sin reaches maturity it gives birth to death. Sin can lead to death of the soul.

Mt 5:26, Amen, I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny. We are held responsible for our sins.

Mt12:32, And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven; but whoever speaks against the holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come. There is an afterlife/Heaven of which we may lose!

Mt 12:36 I tell you, on the Day of Judgment people will render an account for every careless word they speak. We will be held accountable for all of our actions!

2Macc 12:44-46 - for if he were not expecting the fallen to rise again, it would have been useless and foolish to pray for them in death. 45 But if he did this with a view to the splendid reward that awaits those who had gone to rest in godliness, it was a holy and pious thought. 46 Thus he made atonement for the dead that they might be freed from this sin. We may pray for the dead and it may have merit for them. For me, this is why I pray for those who have died in my family – that they may go to Heaven.

1Pet 3:18-20 -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. 19 In it he also went to preach to the spirits in prison, 20 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. Christ visited those who had died and awaited Heaven.

2 Tim 1:16-18 May the Lord grant mercy to the family of Onesiphorus because he often gave me new heart and was not ashamed of my chains.17 But when he came to Rome, he promptly searched for me and found me.18 May the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on that day. And you know very well the services he rendered in Ephesus. Here, Paul is praying for a dead friend. He is asking Mercy. Why would he need Mercy if he was already in Heaven? Because there is Purgatory!

1 Cor 15:29-30 - Otherwise, what will people accomplish by having themselves baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, then why are they having themselves baptized for them?30 Moreover, why are we endangering ourselves all the time? Even Hebrews knew of an afterlife. The notion of Purgatory is not unique to Catholics at all but has it’s roots partially in Judaism.

Praying with the Saints

2009-11-04T13:16:00.002-06:00

Praying with the Saints: Why Christians Shouldn’t Always ‘Just Go to God Alone’
October 31st, 2009 by Heidi Hess Saxton

I rushed through the house, fixing dinner and straightening the house. The babysitter would arrive any minute, so my husband and I could attend a school fundraiser. As I swiped the bathroom mirror with a cloth, I caught my wedding ring and, not wanting to damage the setting even more than I already have, I set the ring aside to continue my single-minded pursuit of the appearance of domestic bliss.

One week later, the ring is still missing. I finally told Craig about it, who promptly said he’d replace it (as though such a thing could ever be replaced). Then I went online and bemoaned my fate. “St. Jude … help!”

Moments later, I saw with crystal clarity the cultural and theological “devotional divide” that splits my circle of friends and family. The camps were fairly evenly divided between unequivocal support (“Tony, Tony come around . . .”) and chastisement (a.k.a. “Don’t you know you can go straight to GOD for this kind of thing?”). Theology, Facebook style.

Didn’t I know I could pray directly to God? Uh-huh. Well aware of that. God and I have been on regular speaking terms for about forty years now. That doesn’t stop me from calling in reinforcements. The last time I lost my ring, I asked my guardian angel to go and sit on it until I could find it. When Craig and I discovered the ring in the middle of a snow-covered strip mall parking lot, the ring was centered in a heart-shaped “bald patch” on the asphalt. As though the angel had literally sat upon it until we arrived.

Friends in High Places

For centuries believers have sent their petitions in care of Mary and the saints, confident that those perfected in heaven are in a better position to pray in a way that is consistent with the will of the Father. Here on earth, so much obstructs our view: selfishness, pride, and weakness keep us from persevering in the battle as constantly and vigorously as we ought. The saints do not have this problem; the “cloud of witnesses” of which Scriptures speak (Hebrews 12:1) provide essential spiritual reinforcement.

The Catechism (2683) says:

The witnesses who have preceded us into the kingdom, especially those whom the Church recognizes as saints, share in the living tradition of prayer by the example of their lives, the transmission of their writings, and their prayer today. They contemplate God, praise him and constantly care for those whom they have left on earth. When they entered into the joy of their Master, they were "put in charge of many things" (Mt 25:23). Their intercession is their most exalted service to God’s plan. We can and should ask them to intercede for us and for the whole world.

Does God care about the little details of my life, including missing wedding rings? No doubt. He is big enough and wise enough and all-loving enough to handle this and every other crisis that comes my way. And yes, because I am a daughter of God, my every need is only a whispered prayer away from the ear of God.

So why bother to ask others — in heaven or on earth, for that matter — to take up my intentions? Why are we commanded to confess our sins and to pray for one another (James 5:16), and why do the prayers of the saints ascend to the throne of God (Rev 8:4), if each believer has within himself the power to get everything he needs directly from the throne of grace?

Could the answer be . . . because we are a Body ? Because the God who created us, made us to be in relationship with one another? When Jesus returned to heaven, He did not leave behind a book but a group of men to guide His Church. And when He spoke of being the Vine (John 15:5), He said that those who continued to “abide in me” would bear “much fruit.”

Nowhere do the Scriptures say that we get cut off from that Vine when we leave earth. Rather, the ongoing teaching of the Church has always been that the faithful are perpetually connected in Jesus.

The Church, in Christ, is like a sacrament — a sign and instrument, that is, of communion with God and of unity among all men." The Church’s first purpose is to be the sacrament of the inner union of men with God . Because men’s communion with one another is rooted in that union with God, the Church is also the sacrament of the unity of the human race . In her, this unity is already begun, since she gathers men "from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and tongues"; at the same time, the Church is the "sign and instrument" of the full realization of the unity yet to come (CCC #775).

When we include the saints in heaven in our intercessions, asking them to join our chorus of adoration, petition, supplication, and blessing — from heaven — we bear witness in a particular way of this unity, which will be perfected in heaven.

It is this witness , this acknowledgment of our utter dependence upon God and our need for one another, that is the real need for prayer. Not primarily to get us the parking space, or to find the ring, or to get a temporary reprieve from illness or pain. But, in the words of C.S. Lewis:
I pray because I can’t help myself. I pray because I’m helpless. I pray because the need flows out of me all the time…waking and sleeping. It doesn’t change God. It changes me.

“God of the Gumball”

This realization — that we are in fact in need of changing — is something we as human beings are prone to forget at times. We want God to change our circumstances : find the parking spot, heal the disease, find the wedding ring. We forget that it is precisely through these little struggles that we are forced to grow stronger and taller in grace.

When we lose sight of this, we begin to serve the “God of the Gumball Machine”: put in a prayer, get out what we want. A deeply felt sense of failure washes over some Christians when they ask God for a specific intention, and the answer is not what they’d hoped. Some see it as a signal to pray even harder… or to give up altogether, as though the battle has no intrinsic value.

The Catechism offers a third perspective:

"Pray constantly . . . always and for everything giving thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father." (1 Thes 5:17) St. Paul adds, "Pray at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance making supplication for all the saints." (Eph 6:18) For "we have not been commanded to work, to keep watch and to fast constantly, but it has been laid down that we are to pray without ceasing." (Evagrius Ponticus, Pract . 49: PG 40, 1245C.) This tireless fervor can come only from love. Against our dullness and laziness, the battle of prayer is that of humble, trusting, and persevering love. This love opens our hearts to three enlightening and life-giving facts of faith about prayer (#2742).

The Catechism defines these three facts as follows: (1) It is always possible to pray; (2) Prayer is a vital necessity; and (3) Prayer and the Christian life are “inseparable.” Furthermore, John 15:16-17 shows that there is an intrinsic connection between asking the Father . . . and truly loving one another.

Never Walk Alone

Is there ever a time when we should just hunker down on our own knees, and abandon ourselves to “the Great Alone”? Absolutely. The intimate conversation of Father and child is an indispensable part of family life. And yet, it is not the only part. Most of life is spent in the company of one another, helping each other and conversing with one another.

To abandon oneself to Divine Providence in abject humility and deliberate solitude, is one thing; to suppose oneself not to need — or be in the invisible company of — other members of the Body is a prideful delusion. Just as the Trinity is an eternal flow of love from one divine person to the next, so the Church — the Bride of Christ — is sustained as a Body with an eternal infusion of Spirit.

The “Jesus and me” — devoid of any other spiritual attachment — that predominates in some Christian communities has no more to do with true spiritual intimacy than a teenage crush has to do with married love. True attachment is anchored in family; isolation produces delusion, confusion, and death.

This revelation of unity is more important than any earthly possession. So when I ask the saints to help me find my wedding ring, I’m simply asking my big brothers and sisters in faith to give me a hand. And like any good parent, the Father smiles to see His children working together, and loving each other. He doesn’t worry that they aren’t focused totally on Him. He just sits back and enjoys the camaraderie.

Are we never to approach God on our own? Can we not speak to Him, heart-to-heart? Will He not hear our prayers? Of course we can, and do, and He does.

As does the entire company of heaven, who intercedes on our behalf.

Feast of All Saints - November 1st

2009-10-30T13:16:00.003-05:00

The Feast of All Saints is a day to remember those who are in Heaven - our real home. Our brothers and sisters who want nothing more than for us to join them there in time.

My favorite Saint is Saint Anne. I suppose, being a mother, I want my own daughters to grow up to be more than I am as a person and a Christian; Just as Mary became the Mother of God.

I once thought...How can I possible be a Saint? They are so perfect and I am not.

The truth is, the saints are not saints because of their own perfection...far from it. They are Saints because of their imperfections and yet willing to seek forgiveness and with the Grace of God get up and try again.

We are not perfect beings because of the fall. But we can all be made perfect through the love, grace and mercy of Christ!

Jesus said it and Paul confirms it!

2009-07-09T08:12:00.000-05:00

Jesus said it and Paul confirms it.

Last month we celebrated the body and blood of Christ also known as Corpus Christi. It is a sad fact that our separated brothers and sisters do no recognize the Eucharist as the Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ. It is sadder yet that many in the Catholic Church doubt that fact.

The Eucharist is an act of Faith; A gift from God. It is the same gift given to Peter when he acknowledged that Jesus is indeed the messiah; God.

(Matthew 16: 15-17, He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" 16 Simon Peter said in reply, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." 17 Jesus said to him in reply, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father.)

Just so, our belief in Jesus’ teaching is a gift of Faith. The result is His great gift in the Eucharist; Jesus’ own Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity!

Ask and you will receive!

John 6: 48-58

48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died; 50 this is the bread that comes down from heaven so that one may eat it and not die. 51 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." 52 The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us (his) flesh to eat?" 53 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. 54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. 55 For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. 56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. 57 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. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever."

1 Corinthians 10: 14-16

14 Therefore, my beloved, avoid idolatry. 15 I am speaking as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I am saying. 16 The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?

1 Corinthians 11: 23-29

23 For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed over, took bread, 24 and, after he had given thanks, broke it and said, "This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me." 25 In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me." 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes. 27 Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily will have to answer for the body and blood of the Lord. 28 A person should examine himself, and so eat the bread and drink the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body, eats and drinks judgment on himself.

May you and your children have a wonderful summer!

God bless you!
Donna

Minnetonka Life Care Center

2009-07-09T08:08:00.001-05:00

It's HERE! Finally! A website for the Minnetonka Life Care Center! It's still a work in progress but we finally have a presence on the web!

So go check it out!

www.minnetonkalifecare.org

God bless you!

We are not made perfect so Jesus gave us the Sacraments

2009-05-14T12:48:00.002-05:00

May God be with you!

We are not made perfect.... we will never be perfect while in these bodies.

We have been given the perfect sacrifice for our sins, Jesus Christ. He has given us the Sacraments to impart Grace to give us strength. This grace-filled strength helps us to avoid the near occasion of sin and to wipe our new sins away giving us further Grace to follow Christ.

It is exactly because we are imperfect that the Sacraments were given to us.

Baptism - washes away the stain of original sin and ushers us into the Family of God.

Confession - wipes away all sin and gives us Grace to avoid the near occasion of sin. Where sin separates us from God and the Body of Christ, confession unites us, reconciles us with Christ and his Body. It has the special Grace to prepare us to recieve Christ in the Eucharist. We can then become Holy Tabernacles worthy of the reception of Christ in the Eucharist.

Communion - joins us physically and spiritually with Christ. It is food for our soul. It imparts Grace to again strengthen us in Christ.

Confirmation - "regenerizes" the Holy Spirit within us from Baptism. Now as adults we take over our faith and become part of the Church Militant.

Marriage - is a covenantial sacrament which imparts Grace from God to both husband and wife and from husband to wife. It is a mirror of the Trinitarian love between Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Holy Orders - Imparts a special grace to Priests for the power of Christ Jesus to work through them for Him

Annoiting of the Sick - Imparts a special Grace to once again make the soul of the sick clean as in their Baptism - ready to be united with Christ and Heaven.

God bless you!

Beginnings, Endings and the Trinity

2009-05-08T14:08:00.002-05:00

May God be with you!

Another year of teaching Sacramental Prep has drawn to a close. It is truly a new beginning for these little Tabernacles these 1st Communicants. They will now receive the True Food, the Bread of Life, our Lord Jesus, Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity at every Mass! A parents influence from now to their next great Sacrament of Confirmation is so important! I thank all parents for bringing their children to Christ in the Eucharist! And my thanks also for loving them so much and supporting them in their faith and love for God!

It is also the ending of my time as their teacher. I’ve planted what seeds I could. Here are some of those seeds…

Rock, Sponge, Water: How is their soul like a Rock before confession, a sponge after confession and how is water like the Grace of God in Confession.
Who does God especially love and why?
How do we first greet God in Prayer? (the Sign of the Cross)
Who is always so happy to see them in the Adoration Chapel? And YOU too!

I like to end my time with the children with, if not a bang, at least an explosion! This is my teaching on the Trinity. The children loved it!

Understanding the Trinity

Items needed:

1 cup of white vinegar (represents God the Father)
1 cup of baking soda (in a glass or plastic container) (Represents God the Son)
(this is best done outside!)

God is three Persons in one God: God the Father who began all of creation, God the Son who came to save us and God the Holy Spirit who is here to help us and give us grace within us.

Their relationship is all about love; a special kind of love sometimes called self-donating love. This means that NOTHING is held back. Everything there is to give is given freely, totally!

So God the Father (represented by the clear vinegar) loves God the Son totally and pours out all of His love to His Son. God the Son (represented by the baking soda which we can see and feel) loves God the Father totally and pours out all of His love to His Father. Their love for each other is so total that the outpouring of that love is the Holy Spirit! (now pour the vinegar INTO the baking soda and see what happens)

While we cannot totally know everything to know about God, sometimes these simple methods help our children (and the child within us!) to know Him and love Him more!

God bless you all!

PS. The children this year have had some very wonderful questions about our faith. Listed below are some website I frequent to expand my own knowledge.

www.catholic.com

www.biblechristiansociety.com

www.usccb.org – has the bible and the catechism online.

www.scripturecatholic.com

www.deathroe.com – great pro-life answers to pro-abortion arguments!

Obama Campaign Calls Abortion Survivor Story a "Despicable Lie"

2008-09-26T09:37:00.002-05:00

by Deal W. Hudson

9/24/08

Gianna Jessen survived a saline abortion 31 years ago. "I didn't have any burns anywhere on my body -- it was amazing." The saline, however, did leave Jessen with a mild case of cerebral palsy, a slight limp, and a life-long commitment to oppose abortion.

Jessen is featured in a television ad presently running in Ohio and New Mexico, criticizing Barack Obama's four votes against the Born Alive Infant Protection Act (BAIPA).

I asked her why she teamed with Jill Stanek's organization, Born Alive Truth, to make the ad. "It's very important for the American people to know how [Obama] feels about the most vulnerable among us," she told me. (Stanek is the Chicago nurse who began lobbying to secure legal protections for babies born alive during abortions.)

Jessen has been active in the anti-abortion movement for 16 years and testified before Congress in 2002 about the BAIPA. At those hearings she met Stanek, who approached her several months ago about doing the ad. "I was thrilled to do it. It's as if I have been preparing many years for this moment."

Obama responded to Jessen's commercial with an ad of his own, dismissing it as "truly vile" and a "despicable lie." He wasn't the only one: Jonathan Martin, a reporter for Politico, called Jessen "a self-proclaimed abortion survivor." When Stanek produced the evidence of Jessen's claims, Politico removed Martin's slam.

Jessen lives in Nashville where she came with her adopted family 16 years ago. After she survived the abortion, she was given back to her biological mother but was shortly placed with a foster family. At the age of three, Jessen was adopted by her foster mother's daughter.

I asked about her mother's reaction to the failed abortion. "I don't know how she felt at the time. But she came out of nowhere two years ago to meet me at an event. She was a broken woman and quite angry. I told her I had forgiven her for what she did, even though she didn't want any forgiveness."

She isn't concerned about the way Obama describes her ad. "I don't really care what he says. I know he voted four times against proper medical care for babies born alive. That's the kind of man he is." So how have people reacted to the commercial? "Some of [Obama's] supporters will be less than kind, but generally the reaction has been very positive."

Jessen spends her time as a speaker, writer, and real estate investor. She took up distance running several years ago because she "wanted to feel God help me in that situation, to have him carry me over the finish line," though she's given up marathons.

No doubt Jessen, whose visibility is growing daily, will need a similar attitude as she is buffeted by the political winds of a presidential campaign. Since her ad started airing in Ohio, polls there have indicated a shift in McCain's direction. No wonder the Obama campaign responded so quickly.

The Hail Mary

2008-07-28T09:51:00.001-05:00

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you.

Luke 1:28 "And coming to her, he said, "Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you."

The Greek kecharitomene means favored by grace, graced. Its tense suggests a permanent state of being "highly favored," thus full of grace. Charity, the divine love within us, comes from the same root. God is infinite Goodness, infinite Love. Mary is perfect created goodness, filled to the limit of her finite being with grace or charity.

Blessed art thou among women

Luke 1:41-42a "When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, "Most blessed are you among women..."

Luke 1:48 "For he has looked upon his handmaid's lowliness; behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed."

Among all women is a way to say the highest/greatest etc. of a group in Semitic languages (these words would likely have been spoken in Aramaic). Mary is being called the greatest of all women, greater than Ruth, greater than Sarah, greater than EVE! Since Eve was created immaculate (without original sin), Mary must have been conceived immaculate. And, although Eve fell into sin by her own free will, Mary must have corresponded to God's grace and remained sinless. She could not otherwise be greater than Eve. Thus, as the Fathers of the Church unanimously assert, Mary is the New Eve who restores womanhood to God's original intention and cooperates with the New Adam, her Son, for the Redemption of the world.

Blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus

Luke 1:42b "and blessed is the fruit of your womb."

Jesus is Mary's fruit. Good fruit does not come from anything but a good tree (Mt. 7:17-18)! The all-holy Son of God could not be the fruit of any other tree than the Immaculate Virgin.

Holy Mary, Mother of God

Luke 1:43 "And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

Kyrios is the Greek word used by the Jews in the Septuagint Bible (Greek translation) for Yhwh, the Divine Name of God. In her greeting of Mary, Elizabeth is saying: "How is it that the mother of my God should come to me." Against the heresies of the 4th and 5th centuries which tried to split the Person of Jesus into two, divine and human, denying one or the other, the Council of Ephesus in 431 AD proclaimed Mary Theotokos (God-bearer, i.e. mother of God). Jesus is a single Person, a Divine Person, the 2nd Person of the Most Holy Trinity. To be mother of the Person Jesus is to be mother of a Person who is God. Mary's title protects this truth against errors which emphasize or deny, either the divinity or humanity of the Lord.

Pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Luke 2:35 "...and you yourself a sword will pierce so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed."

John 2:5 "His mother said to the servers, "Do whatever he tells you."

The Four Predictions of Humanae Vitae Have Come True!

2008-07-28T07:58:00.001-05:00

THE AGE OF SEXUAL SLAVERY

Did you know that every major Christian denomination in the world (and virtually every citizen in every country on the planet) viewed the use of artificial contraception as immoral until 1930, when the Anglican Church of England officially changed its teaching at the Lambeth Conference?

With the collapse of the Christian bulwark against the idea that sexual activity could be seperated from the responsibilities of bearing children (and ultimately, that sexuality would be seperated from exclusivity within marriage), what was regarded as grossly unnatural and morally repugnant to the "man on the street" gradually became considered "natural" to most citizens of developed countries by the end of the 1970s. The age of sexual slavery is upon us, and we fear, has not reached its nadir, as the attacks upon what legally defines marriage itself gain in popularity and ferocity.

In 2008, 78 years later, and a mere "blink" of the eye of history, the Catholic Church stands alone in this foundational defense of the natural dignity of humanity itself, and sadly, many of her own members do not stand with her. Pope Paul prophetically made four dire predictions for society if this teaching was ignored, and tragically, all four have come true:

a general lowering of moral standards throughout society;
a rise in infidelity;
a lessening of respect for women by men;
and the coercive use of reproductive technologies by governments

The Early Church and the Eucharist

2008-03-26T10:36:00.001-05:00

Sunday Eucharist in the Early Church

St. Justin Martyr,

Early Church Father

This famous passage from the First Apology of St. Justin Martyr (Cap. 66-67: PG 6, 427-431) is used in the Roman Office of Readings for the third Sunday of Easter with the accompanying biblical reading of Revelation 6:1-17). Reflecting the way the Eucharist was celebrated in Rome about 150 AD, only about 55 years after the last New Testament books, it makes clear several important things:

1) the Eucharist was interpreted in a very realistic way

2) it was the principal, weekly worship celebration of the Church

3) it took place on Sunday, not on Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath

4) the meaning of the Eucharist and manner of its celebration was handed down by the apostles

No one may share the Eucharist with us unless he believes that what we teach is true, unless he is washed in the regenerating waters of baptism for the remission of his sins, and unless he lives in accordance with the principles given us by Christ.

We do not consume the Eucharistic bread and wine as if it were ordinary food and drink, for we have been taught that as Jesus Christ our Savior became a man of flesh and blood by the power of the Word of God, so also the food that our flesh and blood assimilates for its nourishment becomes the flesh and blood of the incarnate Jesus by the power of his own words contained in the prayer of thanksgiving.

The apostles, in their recollections, which are called gospels, handed down to us what Jesus commanded them to do. They tell us that he took bread, gave thanks and said: Do this in memory of me. This is my body. In the same way he took the cup, he gave thanks and said: This is my blood. The Lord gave this command to them alone. Ever since then we have constantly reminded one another of these things. The rich among us help the poor and we are always united. For all that we receive we praise the Creator of the universe through his Son Jesus Christ and through the Holy Spirit.

On Sunday we have a common assembly of all our members, whether they live in the city or the outlying districts. The recollections of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read, as long as there is time. When the reader has finished, the president of the assembly speaks to us; he urges everyone to imitate the examples of virtue we have heard in the readings. Then we all stand up together and pray.

On the conclusion of our prayer, bread and wine and water are brought forward. The president offers prayers and gives thanks to the best of his ability, and the people give assent by saying, “Amen”. The Eucharist is distributed, everyone present communicates, and the deacons take it to those who are absent.

The wealthy, if they wish, may make a contribution, and they themselves decide the amount. The collection is placed in the custody of the president, who uses it to help the orphans and widows and all who for any reason are in distress, whether because they are sick, in prison, or away from home. In a word, he takes care of all who are in need.

We hold our common assembly on Sunday because it is the first day of the week, the day on which God put darkness and chaos to flight and created the world, and because on that same day our savior Jesus Christ rose from the dead. For he was crucified on Friday and on Sunday he appeared to his apostles and disciples and taught them the things that we have passed on for your consideration.

From http://www.crossroadsinitiative.com/library_article/532/Sunday_Eucharist_St._Justin_Martyr.html

You can read the bible with reference to the Magisterium, Church Documents and many of the Church Fathers at: http://www.clerus.org/bibliaclerus/index_eng.html

The Eucharist and Mass in the Early Church

2008-03-26T10:34:00.001-05:00

Sunday Eucharist in the Early Church

St. Justin Martyr,

Early Church Father

1) the Eucharist was interpreted in a very realistic way

2) it was the principal, weekly worship celebration of the Church

3) it took place on Sunday, not on Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath

4) the meaning of the Eucharist and manner of its celebration was handed down by the apostles

We hold our common assembly on Sunday because it is the first day of the week, the day on which God put darkness and chaos to flight and created the world, and because on that same day our savior Jesus Christ rose from the dead. For he was crucified on Friday and on Sunday he appeared to his apostles and disciples and taught them the things that we have passed on for your consideration.

From http://www.crossroadsinitiative.com/library_article/532/Sunday_Eucharist_St._Justin_Martyr.html

You can read the bible with reference to the Magisterium, Church Documents and many of the Church Fathers at: http://www.clerus.org/bibliaclerus/index_eng.html

My Take on Cooperation and the Sacraments

2008-02-15T11:35:00.002-06:00

May God be with you!

Earlier this month, I was so privileged to watch and participate with 21 children as we adored our Lord. It made me think about how Christ draws us in to Him. How He wants us with Him. How much He loves us. It made me think of how we are saved and how the Sacraments help us.

We are saved by the Grace of God alone. We are called to respond to that Grace through the gift of Faith and works. We are taught this as Catholics. Faith and works are important. Mary is such a wonderful example of how we should work with Christ; participate with Him. How we unite our will to His Divine Will. But for me, it seems at times I go kicking and screaming my way to Christ because of my own selfish will.

I know what is best but have a hard time doing it. Yet God still works with me, loves me, encourages me; even when I’m thinking I’m just too busy, have to many irons in the fire, can’t possibly take time for prayer etc.! Last Friday, this (God working with me even when I may not be working with Him) was brought to me in such a beautiful way as I prayed the Stations of the Cross; our prayer and meditation on the Passion of Christ.

They pressed into service a passer-by, Simon, a Cyrenian, who was coming in from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to carry his cross.
Mark 15: 21

Christ as BOTH fully God and fully man could have carried His cross; our cross. But He knew that in order to fully appreciate His gift of Salvation, we need to work with Him. So He shows us an example of what He expects of us with Simon (much like me) not always eager to help and impatient to be on my way with so many things to “do”. Yet Simon does help even if at first under protest and Simon is changed forever.

Christ COULD do it all for us. He could drag us kicking and screaming or just whisk us away to what He knows is the best course of action for us. But He knows that for us to finally and totally choose Him and love Him, we must also help Him help us and co-operate in our salvation.

Just like any good parent knows, if you give your child everything, demanding nothing, the child will be spoiled and will not appreciate even the most wonderful of gifts. They (gifts and parents themselves) will be taken for granted and ultimately have no value. BUT, if you the parent love your child and expect your child to help out at home, in the family, at school - do good works, be kind, be obedient; they will appreciate the love of the parents so much more. Less will be asked for and even the smallest gift will be valued.

So God, as the wisest of parents, does for us. His gift is the greatest of all; our home with Him in Heaven. Yet our co-operation helps us to appreciate this gift and enter in with Christ for our salvation.

God, knowing our weak nature, gave us the Catholic Church and gave authority to the Catholic Church to administer the Sacraments to give us Grace, strength, courage, leadership and forgiveness, in helping us to always choose Christ and His Salvation and become reconciled with the Body of Christ when we have turned away. While the Sacraments are not the only way we can co-operate with Christ, He gives us Grace in those Sacraments so that we can grow in spiritual strength to know Him, love Him, and serve Him more throughout our lives, so our whole life may be in closer union with Him.

Just as it is important to teach children to appreciate the gifts they have received, as children of God, we need to appreciate the gifts of the Father. The more often we receive the Eucharist and go to Confession, we build a “habit of Grace” and become closer with Christ, with God our Father. These gifts, these Sacraments, through the Grace imparted in them, strengthen our bond with God and help us to co-operate more fully and easily in His plan for us.

So like Simon who “helped” our Lord Jesus on His road to our salvation, so through the Sacraments, we are strengthened to co-operate with Christ.

God bless you!

Salvation, the Catholic Church and a Fitness Club

2007-12-21T09:17:00.002-06:00

Salvation, The Catholic Church and a Fitness Club

I was asked to explain Salvation by a member of my family. Since the question was first asked I have done a lot of research into the teachings of my Church. So after much study, here is what I know and believe to be true. Nothing I say below is new. It has always been since the Church began. I’m just trying to put it into my own words so you can understand it better.

Salvation

Salvation is through the Grace of God alone. There is nothing we can do to save ourselves. However we are called to respond to God’s Salvation through the gift of Faith and works. You cannot just believe and that’s it. God wants and expects us to participate with Him. His Salvation is always there for us. It never goes away. However, God did not make us to be robots. He gave us free will. He wants us to love Him freely. So we may also decide NOT to love Him and turn from Him and so we will not be saved.

The Catholic Church

God/Jesus gave us the Church – the Catholic Church through which we are given Sacraments and will find Salvation. To be a member of the Catholic Church you MUST be baptized with water in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. So anyone properly baptized is a member of the Church.

Are all members “active” Catholics? No. Some are separated through ignorance perhaps. So my protestant brothers and sisters are separated from the Church but have been baptized and so are part of it. Confusing?

A Fitness Club

Think of it like this; you go through a special process to become a member of an exclusive fitness club. BUT – you never “use” the membership or find out how it works. Are you still a member? Yes.

Let’s say you decide to go to a smaller club with less features but also less processes to be a member and stay a member. You are still member of the original fitness center but actively participate in the other lesser center. So as a member of the lesser club, you still get fit but it may take you longer it may be harder because there are fewer programs to help you get fit.

The bigger, better club is like the Catholic Church where the fullness of faith and salvation are found. Other Christian churches are like the lesser club and have many truths taught in them about Christ but they don’t have the FULLNESS of faith.

Salvation can be found in these churches, the road may be harder because there aren’t the Sacraments which impart Grace which help us to be holy and better able to have the strength to do God’s will. But it is important to stress the original “membership” is in the Catholic Church through proper Baptism when original sin is washed away and we become members of the One body of Christ. That is why, if you are properly baptized and convert to the Catholic Church you do not need to be re-baptized.

God is Mercy and Love

We do have a merciful God. He IS love. So we cannot put constraints on Him. He has implanted in each of us a desire to know Him. So those who through no fault of their own do not know Christ may do the best they can. They may be the best they can be. Doing so, they may be following God although they may not be aware. These too can be saved by God.

Merry Christ Mass and have a Joyous New Year!

It is good to remember that Christmas is all about God.

First we commemorate His birth and becoming flesh to save us.

The Christmas Tree is made from an “ever” green which symbolized eternal life just as Holly is poisonous but is always green meaning there is life after physical death.

The Candy Cane also has ties to Christ. First of all, it is made with a hard candy because Christ is the rock of ages. This hard candy was shaped so that it would resemble a “J” for Jesus or, turned upside down, a shepherd’s staff. It is white to represent the purity of Christ. Finally a red stripe was added to represent the blood Christ shed for the sins of the world, and sometimes three thinner red stripes for the stripes He received on our behalf when the Roman soldiers whipped Him. Sometimes a green stripe is added as a reminder that Jesus is a gift from God. The flavor of the cane is peppermint, which is similar to hyssop. Hyssop is in the mint family and was used in the Old Testament for purification and sacrifice. Jesus was offered vinegar while on the cross and it was brought to His lips on a Hyssop branch. Jesus is the pure Lamb of God, come to be a sacrifice for the sins of the world.

May God bless you. May His mother the Blessed Virgin Mary bring you ever closer to her Son Jesus the Christ through the intercession of her prayers. And may the mercy of God be upon you and bring you Peace, Grace and Joy through out the year!

Donna

For further reading you may want to check out:

God is Love – Pope Benedict’s encyclical on Love

http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/encyclicals/documents/hf_ben-xvi_enc_20051225_deus-caritas-est_en.html

In Hope we are Saved – Pope Benedicts encyclical on Hope

http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/encyclicals/documents/hf_ben-xvi_enc_20071130_spe-salvi_en.html

My Journey to Understanding Purgatory

2007-11-13T08:40:00.000-06:00

May God be with you.

As a Catholic and as a 2nd Grade Catechist and primarily as a mother of two wonderful faith-filled little girls, I work hard to understand my Faith and ask God everyday to lead me and teach me.

Purgatory is something many non-Catholics and some Catholics don't understand as another process in our Faith journey to Heaven. To help myself understand it better, I have done some research over the last few years and have come up with this little paper.

God bless you!

Purgatory in Scripture

Just like the word “Trinity”, the word Purgatory can nowhere be found in the bible. However, like “Trinity”, we can find the meaning and truth of “Purgatory” in the Bible.

First let’s look at 4 Biblical arguments to make the case for Purgatory. All Scripture verses are from the New American Bible available on-line at www.usccb.org . Any comments bolded in BLACK are my own.

#1 There is punishment for sin even after one has received forgiveness. 2 Sam 12:13-14 - Then David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD." Nathan answered David: "The LORD on his part has forgiven your sin: you shall not die. 14 But since you have utterly spurned the LORD by this deed, the child born to you must surely die." David is punished for his sin by the death of his child. This also shows that our sins affect more than ourselves!

#2 - Nothing imperfect, nothing with the stain of sin, may enter heaven. Rev 21:27 - but nothing unclean will enter it, nor any (one) who does abominable things or tells lies. Only those will enter whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life.

#3: There is a way, a process, by which the spirits of "just" men are "made perfect." Heb 12:22-23 - No, you have approached Mount Zion and the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and countless angels in festal gathering,23 and the assembly of the firstborn enrolled in heaven, and God the judge of all, and the spirits of the just made perfect,

#4: There is a purging process after death that perfects those not yet perfected, and makes reparation for sins already forgiven, and it must happen before we may enter heaven. 1Cor 3: 13-15 the work of each will come to light, for the Day will disclose it. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire (itself) will test the quality of each one's work.14 If the work stands that someone built upon the foundation, that person will receive a wage.15 But if someone's work is burned up, that one will suffer loss; the person will be saved, but only as through fire.

The passages below are often cited as supporting the teachings on Purgatory.

Mt 5:48 - So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect. We are called to perfection.

Heb 12:14 – Strive for peace with everyone, and for that holiness without which no one will see the Lord. This seems pretty plain to me!

Jam 3:2 - for we all fall short in many respects. If anyone does not fall short in speech, he is a perfect man, able to bridle his whole body also. We must work hard to make ourselves perfect – every part of ourselves.

1Jn 5:16-17 - If anyone sees his brother sinning, if the sin is not deadly, he should pray to God and he will give him life. This is only for those whose sin is not deadly. There is such a thing as deadly sin, about which I do not say that you should pray. 17 All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that is not deadly. There are different types of sins – supports the teaching on venial and mortal sins. Mortal sins kill our souls preventing us from accepting the gift of salvation. We can turn back to this gift through our repentance , contrition and God's Grace in Confession.

Jam 1:14-15 - Rather, each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.15 Then desire conceives and brings forth sin, and when sin reaches maturity it gives birth to death. Sin can lead to death of the soul.

Mt 5:26, Amen, I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny. We are held responsible for our sins.

Mt12:32, And whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven; but whoever speaks against the holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come. There is an afterlife/Heaven of which we may lose!

Mt 12:36 I tell you, on the Day of Judgment people will render an account for every careless word they speak. We will be held accountable for all of our actions!

2Macc 12:44-46 - for if he were not expecting the fallen to rise again, it would have been useless and foolish to pray for them in death. 45 But if he did this with a view to the splendid reward that awaits those who had gone to rest in godliness, it was a holy and pious thought. 46 Thus he made atonement for the dead that they might be freed from this sin. We may pray for the dead and it may have merit for them. For me, this is why I pray for those who have died in my family – that they may go to Heaven.

1Pet 3:18-20 -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. 19 In it he also went to preach to the spirits in prison, 20 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. Christ visited those who had died and awaited Heaven.

2 Tim 1:16-18 May the Lord grant mercy to the family of Onesiphorus because he often gave me new heart and was not ashamed of my chains.17 But when he came to Rome, he promptly searched for me and found me.18 May the Lord grant him to find mercy from the Lord on that day. And you know very well the services he rendered in Ephesus. Here, Paul is praying for a dead friend. He is asking Mercy. Why would he need Mercy if he was already in Heaven? Because there is Purgatory!

1 Cor 15:29-30 - Otherwise, what will people accomplish by having themselves baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, then why are they having themselves baptized for them?30 Moreover, why are we endangering ourselves all the time? Even Hebrews knew of an afterlife. The notion of Purgatory is not unique to Catholics at all but has it’s roots partially in Judaism.

My Reverson Story

2007-10-01T12:27:00.000-05:00

May God be with you.

I was brought up Catholic. I went to Catholic school for Kindergarten and 1st Grade. As I grew I played the organ for Mass, taught Sunday School, led Guitar Masses, and really really wanted to learn the why's and where fores of my faith.

There was no one to teach me.

Long story short, I left the church in College and only came back 19 years later because of my husband. We married, and while I still did not embrace confession, the beauty of the liturgy filled me. However, it was not until I had my first daughter at 40 and asked Jesus an important question that I really began to know my faith.I still did not know much about what Catholicism meant. I still had not found anyone to teach me.

One night while nursing my daughter I asked Jesus, "I want to know the Truth. What ever you show me I will just believe."

That Lent we had a mission/retreat. Confession was part of it. I really wanted confession and to have it mean something. This was the main sacrament which held me back from embracing the Faith. The priest explained about the effects of sin - how it is like the shadow of a tree under a cloudy sky = you really can't see it very well, but through confession, the sun comes out and NOW you can really see the shadow and stay away from it. I wanted that with my whole being. I wanted forgiveness. I prayed for a good confession.

From the moment I entered the Church for the Confession service I started crying, deep deep crying. Everything was coming out of me. When I went up to the Priest for my confession his love and forgiveness was overwhelming. I was forgiven and LOVED! My tears became tears of joy and repentance and relief!

It seems overnight, I went from a Fiction ONLY reader to an Apologetics ONLY reader! I would have questions, and miraculously, I'd hear something on Relevant Radio or hear it preached on Sunday or find it on the Web. I couldn't learn enough fast enough about the Church.

Everything I wonder about, it is as if the Holy Spirit Himself is my teacher and guide. In fact, He is!

For example, I wondered how a Priest can just be married to the Church and suddenly I was hit with such a feeling of love and total ADORATION! I know! I really know the love and worship a Priest has for Christ's Bride.

I wondered about how Christ is made PRESENT in the Eucharist during Mass and I found the radio station I was listening to was actually talking about this very thing. At the same time in my mind's eye, I saw our Priest during the Consecration and there ! There is Jesus right behind him and then a WHITE dove flew in front of my windshield - and this is in the middle of November in Minnesota!

I began to go to weekly Adoration. So much more has happened because of that!

I know the Truth and I ask for more and Jesus gives me more! I wondered after awhile where all of this knowledge was going. I felt there was something I was supposed to do - more than teaching my children.

9 years later, I now see, He had other plans for me. I now teach 2nd Grade Faith Formation. I am so blessed to be able to bring these children through the Sacraments.

I attended a retreat with Father Antione Thomas (Children of Hope) and learned about children's Adoration. Now, each class we end with Adoration. What I cannot teach, He will reach them and teach them. Even the most talkative children are quiet and respectful.

God gave me an openness to Him which I will always be thankful for. When we submit to Him there is nothing He won't give.

I thank God for the vocation of Wife, Mother and Teacher.

God is GOOD!

God bless you

6 Reasons Couples who have used contraceptives, now use NFP

2007-08-16T12:47:00.000-05:00

1. NFP (when used to avoid preganancy) involves some days of abstinence each menstrual cycle. While this first seems negative, they discovered a positive value. It became like a monthly renewal of engagement when they would express their affection by other means: holding hands, a hug, a walk together, a poem, a flower, etc. After that would come what was like a mini honeymoon. Thus NFP actually strengthened their affection.

2. It gave them greater confidence in each other. She knew that if he could exercise self-control during her fertile times, he was more likely to be able to do it when he was away from her. Also, when the wive is on the Pill, she is "available" to him at any time - but he also knows in the back of his mind that she is also potentially available to other men. Since the Pill was introduced in the 60's, infidelity has skyrocketed along with marital breakdown.

3. They are respecting the integrity of each others' bodies. Do you know any prescription - besides birth control - which is not aimed at helping the body to function normally? Birth control is not really medicine because it takes away a normal function of the body. The Pill, Depo Provera, Norplant, IUD, tubal ligation have one purpose - to render a young woman infertile.

4. Birth control can lead to what is called a "contraceptive mentality," that is, desiring such control that when a "failure" happens (only complete abstinence is 100% effective) the couple will more easily be tempted to abortion. A Guttmacher study showed that most of the women who obtained abortions were using birth control the previous month.

5. But even more serious, birth Control can involve not just preventing conception, but the destruction of tiny human lives. One of the mechanisms of chemical means is to weaken the endometrial lining of the uterus. If conception takes place the new human life cannot implant and thus dies and is expelled at the next menstruation. Birth control not only makes a couple more open to abortion, it is abortion. (The mechanisms I mentioned are no secret, altho doctors seldom explain them to their patients. For verification, check out the Planned Parenthood site's description of birth control methods.* See also: Blurring the Line)

6. Most important NFP does not destroy ones relationship with God. A Catholic who uses birth control is in an objective state of sin and is not eligible for communion until repenting and confessing the sin. To receive communion in that state does spiritual damage. (see I Cor 11:27ff) Up until very recently Protestants also considered birth control a serious sin. Martin Luther, the founder of Protestantism called it "worse than adultery or incest" (Commentary on Genesis 38:10).

Mary, our Tour Guide to Jesus!

2007-08-16T10:27:00.000-05:00

Mary is our “tour guide” to Jesus.

Just like a good docent in the best of museums, we may begin by focusing on her. And yet, with time spent with her, she gently leads us through her prayers, and humility, to her Son. We end up knowing she is always there and yet our attention is drawn to and focused on the Son!

She continues to "guide" us, speak to us about her Son. Helping us to understand and appreciate her Son.

Mary, our Tour Guide to Jesus, pray for us.

It's not the falling down...It's the getting back up again!

2007-05-14T12:47:00.001-05:00

You know, it’s just plain hard to be a parent sometimes. Oh, I love all of the cuddling, the cute music shows and the Mothers Day projects they bring home from school. That’s the easy part. The hard part is finding all of the homework that needs to be done, finding time to do all of that fundraising and breaking up sibling fighting over Barbie dolls or (input your sibling issue here).

And of course, there is that model thing…you know the drill, “do what I say not what I do”. My biggest model issue is patience. How can I teach patience to my children if I have such a hard time with it myself? Well, not to plug any books or authors, but I personally love Dr. Ray Guarendi. He is the father of 10 adopted children (home schooled) and has a wonderful witty and humorous way of helping parents with all kinds of kid issues. I quote him all of the time to my girls to the point that just last week during family prayer intentions, Maria asked God that Mama not listen to Dr. Ray anymore because Mama is getting too strict! But this still leaves the problem of my own failings as a Christian. And there are at least two pairs of little eyes taking in every little bit of every problem I have! Ouch!

I pray. And pray and pray and pray. And I ask forgiveness not just during confession but of my girls when I have been much less than stellar. And then I pick myself up again and go forth to be the best mother and wife I can be with the Grace of God. Isn’t that what Peter did after denying Christ? He asked forgiveness and then picked himself up and did the very best he could….with the Grace of God.

That’s all each of us can do. As parents we have a beautiful vocation in teaching our children the truth of our faith. And not just teaching it, but LIVING it. Their eyes are upon us every second of every day. They hear what we say and DO what we DO!

We may fail at times to be the best Catholic examples we can be. But it’s the getting back up and sharing with our children that we must persevere…and then persevere ourselves. Our children will then truly learn to lean on their faith when we aren’t there. They will learn to drink in God’s Grace through the Sacraments when we show them by our actions how important they are to us. And they will continue this legacy of Faith we started because they will recognize the fruits of Faith born in themselves through our actions and love of our Faith.

Pope Benedict XVI, May 13^th, 2007, Marian shrine of Aparecida in Brazil said:

"Families stand at the heart of the Church's mission of evangelization, for it is in the home that our life of faith is first expressed and nurtured." "Parents," he said, "you are the primary witnesses to your children of the truths and values of our faith: pray with and for your children; teach them by your example of fidelity and joy!"

"Indeed," the Pope continued, "every disciple, spurred on by word and strengthened by sacrament, is called to mission. It is a duty from which no one should shy away, for nothing is more beautiful than to know Christ and to make him known to others! May Our Lady of Guadalupe be your model and guide. God bless you all!"

And so, while we all are prone to falling at times, it is in the getting back up again, that we show the importance of our Faith and Church. As we persevere, so will our children.

A Thimble a Juiceglass or a Coffee Mug!

2007-04-23T15:34:00.000-05:00

May God be with you!

When I really need to get going and get a lot done, I like one of those large mugs of coffee you can buy at Caribou. It holds a lot of coffee (and especially the accompanying caffeine) and with a shot of Hazelnut and a good amount of cream (gotta have that dairy group in the morning!) I’m ready and alert for the day.

With communion, we are each given an opportunity to be filled with God’s Grace which gives us a supernatural "boost". But how much Grace? I’ve wondered this knowing in my heart my sinful nature and the times, perhaps, I should have gone to confession before partaking in the “breaking of the bread”.

We are each vessels made by God to absorb His Grace. We are each “filled to the top” with His Grace. Yet, sometimes we may only be a thimble – able to hold only so much because of lack of Faith or distractions. Sometimes, we may be a juice glass – still filled to the top, but only able to hold a bit more. So how can we always be coffee mugs or bigger? Able to hold ALL of the Grace that God wants to pour into our souls? And God wants to give us so much!!! I am no theologian, just a Mom. But as I thought about this, I thought that God does not give us any challenge that He has not thought of ways to help us meet that challenge.

Communion is a special Sacrament filled with tons of Grace. God wants us to have it all! He allows us to have it every day if we want it! And to help us absorb that Grace – He has given us Confession. Not only does it clean up our souls, but it expands our ability to a supernatural level to absorb His Grace during Communion. We can go from a thimble to a 50 gallon drum in a matter of minutes!!! Wow!!!!!

Our very acts, each day can also expand our ability to accept His Grace. Sacrifices like fasting in quiet, service to our spouses without complaint, extra diligence at work can all be given as “gifts” offered up to God as we ask Him for a greater ability to receive Him and His Grace.

For those of us who have children celebrating their 1st Communion, as well all children who can partake of the Eucharist; we have been working on getting them ready to receive God’s Grace through Communion, but ourselves as well. Remember, as parents, we are given special Graces from God when we bring souls to Him. And you know how much He loves children!!!

So help your child this week to become more than a thimble. Help them give of themselves for Christ. Help them understand His Grace and their ability to accept this. Take a thimble, a juice glass and a large coffee mug. Have your child fill each with water until full. Explain that each vessel could be them and that the water is God’s Grace. Ask them which they want to be. Then help them! Pray with them, give them small projects for Jesus (help around the house etc. – getting schoolwork done without complaint). Take 15 minutes and visit Jesus in adoration! That’s a quicker filler-upper!!!

Let’s all be coffee mugs or more for Jesus!!!!

Giftwrap Your Soul for Jesus!

2007-03-05T09:42:00.000-06:00

Gift-wrap your Soul for Jesus

Confession, when I was growing up, was a thing in which I dreaded. It had nothing to do with explaining to our Priest the ghastly things I may have done. It had more to do with, if I couldn’t think of something bad I had done, then I had to make something up! That, for me, was the worst, and the main reason why, when I came back to the Church as an adult that I stayed away from the confessional for so long.

I mean, it’s not as if you can just go up to someone in line for confession and ask, “So, what is your big sin today?” Nope. Not a very smooth way of learning about sin. No, for me, it took a lot of prayer, asking God to help me understand just what is confession. And you know what happens when you ask God something?...... Yup. He answers!

We had a great “Mission” at our church during Lent several years ago with a Father James. He explained in a wonderful way that sin is like a cloud on a sunny day. When your soul is “clouded” by sin, it is like you are under a tree but you don’t really see a shadow under the tree. But confession, clears up the sky (our soul) and NOW you can see that shadow (near occasion of sin) and can better step around those potentially sinful situations.

WOW – the light turned ON! I was on fire to go to confession! And so for the first time EVER I went to confession at a communal penance service. God was really working in me because all of my un-confessed sins came to mind with a flood of tears. That was the beginning. My first real confession! My soul was shiny and clean as it had been on the day I was baptized!!!

But the story doesn’t end there. You see, God is still working with me on this confession thing. And I just “got it” today, that my soul is such a precious gift from God! And yet it is ALSO a gift we can give back to God when it is all shiny again. And so, this Lent as we prepare for Jesus’ Resurrection, what greater gift can we give our Blessed Lord and Savior, but our shiny and new souls!

Now go and gift-wrap your soul for Jesus!

Children Of Hope

2007-02-05T11:41:00.000-06:00

To celebrate my daughter's 1st Reconciliation, we went to a Mother/Daughter retreat together. There we were fortunate to celebrate Mass and Adoration with Father Antoine Thomas. He began to spread Children's Adoration through out the US. and abroad. He has a great website for more information for starting your own Children's Adoration in your parish at www.childrenofhope.org.

It is so beautiful to participate in adoration with children. They are so ready to know Jesus and love Him in the Blessed Sacrament. Children as young as 5 (sometimes younger) should be encouraged to see Jesus and be with Him. My own daughters in a just a few times are so much more disposed to understanding what is happening during the Consecration during Mass.

Children's Adoration is a gift. A gift to Jesus who wants and longs for contact with these children. A gift to us a parents whose own Faith is lifted and renewed as we see the innocent love these children develop with Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. A gift to our children, who begin their own relationship and love for Jesus and appreciation for Communion.

If you don't currently have children's adoration, just bring your children with you; for a half hour or 15 minutes or even just 5. None of you will ever regret it...especially Jesus!!!!

Be Salt and Light

2007-01-17T13:24:00.000-06:00

My oldest daughter just celebrated her 1st Reconciliation! As I am also her teacher for Faith Formation this year it was tremendously heartwarming to see the huge impression this sacrament made on the children. And from their faces, I could tell they truly felt the Grace and forgiveness God has promised through the Sacrament of Reconciliation!

Matthew 5: 13-16, [13] "You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trodden under foot by men. [14] "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hid. [15] Nor do men light a lamp and put it under a bushel, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. [16] Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

While our children can be a good example for others, we as parents are called to be both Salt and Light.

Salt – a mineral or spice is used to enhanced something. In this case, we are called to share our faith with enthusiasm – to bring joy in our faith into our family’s experience of being Catholic.

Light – brightness or illumination. In this case we are called to bring light and understanding of our faith to our children. We are called to continue to grow and learn our faith and pass it on.

Our children see what we do and do as we do. Be both Salt and Light!

God bless you!

Pope John Paul II

2006-04-03T21:50:00.000-05:00

Dear Pope John Paul II - we miss you and yet I know that you are praying for us still. You must be so very happy and ecstatic!

Let us all join our prayers together. Let us pray for the intentions of our dear Pope Benedict along with the intercession of Pope John Paul II for Peace, Life, support of the Sacraments, especially marriage.

Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
Amen!

2006-03-30T13:18:00.000-06:00

Well this week ends with a very significant anniversary and next week holds another.

Terri Schiavo died one year ago tomorrow after her "husband" ordered her murder by taking her food and water away.

Please pray for all incapacitated adults and children. Just because someone's life is different that yours - doesn't mean that it is any less important than yours.

And next week marks the 0ne year anniversary of the passing of our beloved Pope John Paul II the Great! We love you John Paul. Keep praying for us!

2006-03-27T12:19:00.000-06:00

Hi again,

You know, in looking at my last post - it seems there is some anger under all of it. And I have to be honest and say that I do get angry about anyone who would kill an innocent child because they are inconvenient or deformed or whatever.

BUT... I have to apologize and remember that many people don't know the truth about abortion. The abortion industry has lied so many times and the media has gone along with it that it is easy to see how people have fell for it. Our own lifestyle is one of convenience.

I truly need to follow my own advice and pray. Pray for those who just don't know the truth, pray for those running the media that they will finally show the truth, and pray for all of the mothers everywhere - those who chose to give life and those who chose (or was chosen for them) to end life.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou amongst women
And Blessed is the Fruit of thy womb
JESUS
Holy Mary, Mother of God
Pray for us sinners
Now and at the hour of our death.
Amen

Let us not be at the hour of our "death". Let us choose "life" for our children, and our own souls!

God bless you!
Donna

2006-03-27T09:47:00.000-06:00

North Korea vs Pro-Choice

An article has come to my attention regarding North Korea and their approval of the killing of any deformed or mentally impaired babies. This sounds just like the people who propose aborting babies because they are deformed or possibly mentally impaired. I see no difference. And yet, when presented with this commonality to a friend of mine, he was very upset that I would even compare a friend of his who said...

"The whole issue of a fetus be carried full term even if it is deformed and will be totally handicapped possibly be unable to eat, think, move on its own is also totally stupid."

...with the North Koreans and their policy of killing newborns who had any kind of disability.

I personally don't see any difference...Do you?

God bless you and may our Mother Mary bring you ever closer to her Son through the intercession of her prayers!

2006-03-17T12:33:00.000-06:00

Hi,

This is my first attempt at blogging. Be patient and PRAY!

As my Blog says...I'm a Catholic Wife and Mom. Catholic meaning that I love my Lord above all and His Church and Teachings...Next I am the wife of the most wonderful man and I look to St. Joseph to help me keep my family close to God. Finally, I have been given the gift of children and I learn so much from sharing our Faith with them and seeing how God has touched them.

If I have anything to say....It is to pray. I am so insignificant. And yet, God chose me! He loves me! How can I ever turn away from that gift! He can do anything. And so, where I might have once tried to TELL and ARGUE with others about God and Truth. I find such confidence and comfort and peace through prayer. God can to ANYTHING! Hooray!

I love you God.

And, anyone out there, stumbling across this Blog - I love you too! Donna