You might become rich

Each day begins with a prayer of thanksgiving for being given another day.

It's important to remember that every new day provides an opportunity to surrender ourselves to the love of God and to serve our neighbor.

Why should we do this?

For this reason:

For you know the gracious act of our Lord Jesus Christ,
that for your sake he became poor although he was rich,
so that by his poverty you might become rich.( 2 Cor 8:9)

He became poor so that we might become rich!

This generosity simply needs to overflow in our words and our actions each and every day that the Lord provides for our lifetime here on earth.

This is not how we live, sadly. Our world have become individualistic and relativistic.

Should we continue to live this way?  Can we afford to allow our lives to become so dramatically impoverished in spirit when Our Lord wishes us to be rich?

Embrace "the gracious act of our Lord Jesus Christ"! It's part and parcel of our dignity as a creature of God; made in His image and likeness.

He did this FOR YOU! Now, go and serve following His example so that you might also be rich.

Practical ideas:

Set aside prayer time -- get to know He Who died for you. You can't love and serve someone you don't know! His Blessed Mother would be happy to introduce you formally -- have a chat with Our Lady.

Get your family involved -- family prayer, family meals, family outings; show Christ to others by living the Trinity of love in your own family.

Service to others -- visit a soup kitchen, food bank, make a meal for an ailing neighbor or one who just had a baby, take up a task around the yard for an elderly neighbor, or visit a nursing home and just spend some time making people smile.

There are many, many more ways in which you can imitate Christ and become rich in faith, hope and charity.

Have other ideas on how to become rich by surrendering to Christ in service -- share them in the comment box!

Pope Francis -- don't be ridiculous

Pope Francis addressed priests studying to be diplomatic representatives of the Vatican yesterday.

He gave them a profound piece of wisdom.

What did he say?

"Please don't be ridiculous..."

I am not kidding, and I couldn't be more thrilled that finally someone, and the pope no less,  is saying what many have been thinking: Vatican diplomat means service in the name of Christ Jesus -- it is not a station on par with secular diplomats, and this should be reflected in both demeanor of holiness and service.

What pope in recent times spoke the truth so simply?

John Paul the Great was a philosopher and visionary. His writings, homilies and addresses were eloquent and rich in wisdom, but not simple.

Benedict XVI was a master educator and theologian, brilliant in every regard. His writings, homilies and addresses were eloquent and rich in wisdom, but not simple.

Enter the new pope -- Pope Francis. A man of deep humility; the odor of sanctity is upon him.

This man is meant for this time in salvation history. God's timing is perfect, and what He has sent us through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit is a Vicar of Christ who leads by virtue of prayerful service, not by virtue of intellect (although, that is obviously not lacking).

He is the beatitude pope -- for to live them well, one must practice them daily. We see this in his witness.

He is the people's pope -- for he speaks the language of the masses: direct, clear and unequivocal.

He is the shepherd's pope -- for he looks at those in his service and first serves them with love and affection, caring deeply about their holiness, their priesthood, their holy orders, their vows.

He is the world's pope -- for the emerging message of his pontificate is that first we must be holy, striving to renew and restore what and who we are so that we can be a credible influence on the world.

It is difficult to criticize Pope Francis precisely because of how he behaves. He's a mystery to the secular world, the left leaning Catholic, the social justice driven faithful, because he agrees with them wholly and substantially that service to the poor is quintessential to being a Christian.

But, there's more.

His humility is coupled with veracity -- the fullness of truth is both his sword and his shield. And, that leaves many people scratching their heads.

For instance, in remarks made on 5 June, the day the UN celebrates as "World Environment Day", Pope Francis offered this:

This culture of waste tends to become the common mentality that infects everyone. Human life, the person is no longer perceived as a primary value to be respected and protected, especially if poor or disabled, if not yet useful - such as the unborn child - or no longer needed - such as the elderly.

The "Culture of Waste"!

He speaks their language; they want to fawn all over him as a result, but it is not spoken without doctrinal context.

How does one contend with a pope like this?

The answer is simple: Love, Obey, Serve -- and don't be ridiculous!

GSA & BSA merging ideals, deteriorating morals

The Girl Scouts of America (GSA) is involved with WAGGGS (World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts). Here's an excerpt from an article linking the groups:

In May 2013, WAGGGS participated in Women Deliver, a global conference with the purpose of “call[ing] for action to improve the health and well-being of girls and women.”
The conference featured speakers such as late-term abortionist LeRoy Carhart, philosopher Peter Singer, who supports infanticide and euthanasia, and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. Some of the breakout sessions were entitled “Outing and Addressing Abortion Stigma” and “Why I Perform Abortions.” Exhibitors included many abortion and population control advocates such as Amnesty International, Guttmacher Institute, International Planned Parenthood Federation, Marie Stopes International, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, United Nations Population Fund, and WAGGGS.

Image from BSA 1911 Handbook -- indicating current moral compass?

The Boy Scouts of America (BSA) has recently changed their membership standards to allow openly gay youth in their ranks. Here's an excerpt from their press release:

Today, following this review, the most comprehensive listening exercise in Scouting's history the approximate 1,400 voting members of the Boy Scouts of America's National Council approved a resolution to remove the restriction denying membership to youth on the basis of sexual orientation alone. The resolution also reinforces that Scouting is a youth program, and any sexual conduct, whether heterosexual or homosexual, by youth of Scouting age is contrary to the virtues of Scouting.

In truth, these two groups are moving closer to the same level of moral equivalence, consistently lowering their moral standards. The GSA is decades ahead of BSA in compromising their principles; whereas BSA is just beginning this posturing to try to appease threats to their existence.

The notion of appeasement, however, can often backfire, as was the case in California yesterday when the legislature voted to strip the BSA of their non-profit status.

Could this have been what caused the BSA to quickly change their membership standards: posturing to keep their non-profit status?

Not surprisingly, BSA was confronted with a stark reality -- appeasement is never enough. "Give an drop of blood -- be squeezed for every ounce" is the blow back they are receiving.

If this is where the BSA stands in the wake of their decision to soften their standards, they may as well just merge their organization with GSA and allow girls in their ranks (they already do in Venturing Scouting), teach sexual awareness (they've been doing this for years, back to the BSA handbook from 1910  -- link is to the 1911 edition) and end the wonder as to whether they will continue to erode their standards -- which apparently have been eroding for decades, just not as quickly or as overtly as GSA.

Just give them what they want BSA -- Your Organization! And, now that you've opened the floodgates to its destruction, you will begin to see the level of devastation rise and eventually wash away the BSA as it was intended to be.

What you were trying to teach all these years about the "natural" aspect of sexuality and becoming a robust man is gone.

Now, the question is: What will the Catholic Church do when the new membership standard rule takes effect -- right now, the Committee on Scouting is studying the situation, which to many seems to like inaction.

We'll just have to wait and see.

American Heritage Girls dumps Boy Scouts of America

The Boy Scouts of America issued a statement declaring their change in membership standards allowing openly homosexual youth of scouting age to join their ranks. That's right, I said "homosexual youth". Dear Lord -- young boys should be camping, hiking, fishing, playing baseball, jumping in mud puddles -- not declaring their sexual orientation. The BSA has nothing to do with the sexual orientation or discovery thereof.

 Recently, the American Heritage Girls entered into an agreement of mutual support with BSA. Yet, in a singular act of valor, they issued a statement of their own today:

Memorandum of Mutual Support - Dissolution Statement

It was with great disappointment that American Heritage Girls, Inc.Board of Trustees received the news of the change to the Boy Scouts of America’s membership standards. It was our sincerest hope the voice of the majority of those associated with the BSA would be heard and that the BSA would continue the amazing 103 year legacy of its founder to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices.

Unfortunately, the organization chose to step away from that commitment. As a result of leaving its time-honored traditions, the BSA has left American Heritage Girls with no choice but to dissolve our Memorandum of Mutual Support. We do so with a heavy heart. We have enjoyed a mutually beneficial relationship with BSA through the years. However, the American Heritage Girls Board of Trustees has decided that we cannot in good conscience continue in a formal relationship with the BSA. 

As an independent, faith-based leadership and character development organization, we want everyone associated with the American Heritage Girls to know that our board members unanimously affirm the AHG Statement of Faith and its Scriptural foundation,and we are committed to continue providing a safe environment for every girl involved.

I am proud to have served in the leadership of this group and that my girls have been members for the past two years! Perhaps there will soon be an American Heritage Boys that will represent Christian values, have the wisdom to let children be children and leave the issue of sexuality to be addressed by their parents -- the primary educators of their children. ( cf. CCC 2223)

Is God knowable in creation?

It all started with a bird, a fledgling to be exact. It was pushed, or fell from the nest in a row of tall bushes surrounding our deck. There it lay on the ground, on its back. Helpless.

Enter the dog. Roxie wants to go out. She can sense the helpless bird on the landing to our deck steps.

Enter the girl, the sister and the dad. They see the bird just before the dog does.

Grab the dog.

Help the bird.

And, that's where I enter.

"What on earth are you doing?" I asked astoundedly. I knew what they were doing, they were fiddling with nature. "That's a fledgling; you should leave it alone. It knows what to do from here."

"But Mom..." came the pleading voice of Lainie, "We can't just leave it to die!" The emotional cry brought a lump to my throat.

Lainie's Robin Rescue Project had begun. In the homeschooling world, this is the real hands on science.

First, we situated the little bird under the bush where the nest was. Then, we came inside and looked up a few things about Robin fledglings.

The mama Robin should have known where the fledgling was by his chirp, however, this one was apparently stunned by the fall onto the slate having remained on its back as if helpless.

Lainie became surrogate mama to the bird mixing some bread and water into a slurry and spoon feeding bird -- she was dubbed, Natasha. Don't ask me why.

 

She did this for several days -- two or three times per day.

This past Thursday, she was gone at her day school program, so I told her I would keep an eye on Natasha. Watching her mother bring worms in the morning to her siblings in the nest, I decided to see if Natasha would eat a worm. (This would be a very big deal for me -- I don't enjoy birds or worms as a general rule.) 

I dug up some worms out of our vegetable garden, and proceeded to entice Natasha with them. She successfully ate two.

Much to my surprise, she perked up considerably and began to venture from her safe spot under the bushes, to hopping across the lawn into a tuft of grass that concealed her for the most part. 

As she sat in that spot, she began chirping loudly. Then, I witnessed something remarkable: Mama bird, who had been ignoring little Natasha for almost 4 days, went into the yard, poked a worm out of the ground and fed it to Natasha! 

Before I knew it, Natasha was all over the yard.

Lainie came home just in time to feed Natasha one more time and say good-bye. Her work with the little bird was done. And, not long after feeding her that final bite, we couldn't find Natasha in our yard any longer. She had spread her wings and flown away. The next morning, Mama and little siblings in the nest were also gone.

What an experience, what a memory!

There was also a lesson in all of this -- we are stewards of God's creation, but we are also counted as more than all other creature in our image and likeness to God. Lainie (and our family) learned the joy of helping our fellow creatures and the sorrow of watching them leave the nest, so to speak, but we also learned of God's enduring love for all of us.

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life and what you will eat, or about your body and what you will wear.For life is more than food and the body more than clothing. Notice the ravens: they do not sow or reap; they have neither storehouse nor barn, yet God feeds them. How much more important are you than birds! Can any of you by worrying add a moment to your lifespan? If even the smallest things are beyond your control, why are you anxious about the rest? (Lk 12: 22-26)

In this verse from the Gospel of Luke, Jesus looks to God's care for his creation using birds as his example -- drawing from images that are commonplace and understandable. This description also provided an opportunity for me to show Lainie and her siblings how her actions were an imitation of God's love for his creation. She was being a good steward and a good and faithful servant.

God is knowable in creation; He gave us the ability to reason and faith to believe so that we might know and serve Him in and through the least among us in the created world.

Lainie got to know Him and serve Him in an extraordinary way through her care of Natasha.

Fly away little bird. Your work here is done. Thanks be to God.

The Catholic Church is a Big Hoax?

It's been a while since I've posted; it's been busy. But, that's no excuse for why I haven't kept up with this blog -- it was meant to bring the realities of faith and life together, and life got the better of me for a bit. It's time to come back, to share again and make it a priority. My goal is to post once a week, and if time permits, possibly other short posts to share my love of Christ Jesus and my love of life with you. Well, I want to come back strong, so let's start with this:


Some claim that the Catholic Church is a BIG HOAX.

That notion is absurd. (Disclaimer: Yes, I am unabashedly Catholic. To my core, I hold fast to the truths that Jesus taught and ensured would be safeguarded in His Church.)


So, have I fallen for this big hoax? Am I just one more fool on the IV drip of Catholic Kool-aid and have no mind of my own left to "choose"? Have I thrown away my freedoms and become a subservient, puppet to be manipulated, pulled here and pushed there, never to truly live my life, but only to be controlled by a hierarchy of totalitarian men in fancy robes?

No, of course not. The Church is a source of true freedom, a place to find yourself, by finding God who made you. It is in her that man experiences the most intimate relationship -- Christ Jesus in the Eucharist. (Read John 48 - 56) If this Eucharist weren't real, if it was just a fairytale made up to keep men from controlling their own destiny, why do the Jews argue over what they had heard? Truly consider that as you read. If it were just symbolic, why did they confer about His words? Obviously, it wasn't metaphorical to them. Consequently, Jesus doesn't recant what He boldly asserts. Instead, He reiterates his statement in more vivid and graphic terms as if to make perfectly clear that what He is teaching is not a metaphor.

Early Church Fathers offer us a chance to see how the Church understood the Eucharist.

Justin Martyr:

For not as common bread nor common drink do we receive these; but since Jesus Christ our Savior was made incarnate by the word of God and had both flesh and blood for our salvation, so too, as we have been taught, the food which has been made into the Eucharist by the Eucharistic prayer set down by Him, AND BY THE CHANGE OF WHICH our blood and flesh is nourished, IS BOTH THE FLESH AND THE BLOOD OF THAT INCARNATED JESUS. 

Iraneaus:

He took from among creation that which is bread, and gave thanks, saying, "THIS IS MY BODY." The cup likewise, which is from among the creation to which we belong, HE CONFESSED TO BE HIS BLOOD.he

(To read more about what the Early Church Father's offered visit The Real Presence)

The Catholic Church a hoax? I've only begun to unravel the twisted interpretations that confuse the mind and confound the soul.

Teaching generosity

I woke up this morning with a question on my heart.

HOW DO YOU TEACH GENEROSITY?

I have been watching my children as they grow and realizing that this is one of the hardest virtues to teach. We are countered in our efforts to teach generosity because the focus is on self. For instance, my daughter was relaying a commercial -- it was more of a mini-documentary on a thing that a child had accomplished -- on a popular kids' channel. The premise: a 5 or 6 yr. old girl was having a birthday party and instead of presents, she asked her little friends to bring new shoes that she could offer to homeless shelters.

Great, right?

Until you hear how the commercial ends: "and this is how I made my mark."

It's all about ME! See what a good thing I did!

Is that truly teaching generosity to suggest that you should be praised for your good service? Is that how it should be done?

I would suggest that this is not the best platform to use in teaching the virtue of generosity. True generosity is devoid of pride, and recoils from attention.

God described His own generosity to St. Catherine of Siena this way:

O My dearest daughter, as I have told you so often, I want to be merciful to the world and provide for My reasoning creatures' every need. But the foolish take for death what I giver for life, and are thus cruel to themselves. (Dialogue of St. Catherine of Siena 135)
 

Man in turn destroys what he is given; what could be virtuous turns to dust in man's hands without the grace of God to guide it.


The notion of giving shoes to the poor is indeed noble and good, but loses its merit when the attention shifts to self. Spotlighting achievements for the sake of self-aggrandizement is detrimental to growth in virtue.

The Lord tells Catherine this from the start:

For all virtues are built on charity for your neighbors. So I have told you, and such is the truth: Charity gives life to all the virtues, nor can any virtue exist without charity. In other words, virtue is attained only through love of Me. (Dialogue of Catherine of Siena 7)

You are not practicing generosity or charity toward neighbor, nor are you doing anything more than using the gifts God has given you for the death of your own soul.

Generosity flows from the gifts of the Holy Spirit. It requires both love and grace. Grace comes from God. God is love.

It's simple really -- to teach generosity, one must simply love God and then love neighbor. The joy of the virtue of generosity comes from the good you do for God and for the recipient. There is no self-love involved.

"Whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all. For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Mk 10: 44-45)

Do good for the sake of the Kingdom, and if the consolation is that someone should notice, great. But, don't draw attention to yourself.

So, the best way to teach generosity is to get out of the spotlight and into God's light.

God moments: grace to push through the pain

I have a migraine. This is not news to many of my friends who know I suffer from them chronically. No, it's not mold; and as for allergies, we just had the vents sucked out and treated. So...that leaves me...my phase in life, and how stress and diet impact all of it. It's a bear, I have to admit, but nothing like the situation a dear friend of mine, I'll call her June, is dealing with right now.

June's dad went into a coma several weeks ago. He was suffering from sepsis and resolving pneumonia at the age of 87. Things looked grim. I sat with her and her mom in the hospital room as they awaited news from the specialists as to what the prognosis was. It sounded very tentative, but hopeful. And so, when her pastor arrived, we prayed over her dad for healing.

The odd thing was, that earlier in the day, I looked at June's mom and said: "If you ever have a crisis, God forbid, you let June call you an ambulance." Within days, dad was improving, had woken from the coma and wouldn't you know it, June's mom fell while getting ready to go to the hospital and broke her leg. She balked for only a moment, and in agony allowed an ambulance to be called.

And there they were, dad and mom, in the same hospital, only a wing separated them; June now having to manage the care of two elderly parents in the hospital and a family at home.  June wrestled with the best way to tell dad what had happened to mom. She didn't want to add to the stress of his illness and recovery.

As, June would put it, a God moment presented itself -- one of those everyday miracles that are often overlooked. Dad received a visitor, someone who didn't know that dad was not aware that mom had broken her leg. Dad innocently asked a question of the visitor: "Is mom behind you?" to which the visitor answered, "No." Dad confused about his own whereabouts, remarked, "She must be upstairs." Seeing as the rehab center is on the upper floors of the hospital they were in, the visitor unwittingly divulged the information that mom was in the hospital. This bit of news was spared being delivered by June. She was grateful, indeed, and made sure to console the mortified visitor, ensuring what he had done was actually a great gift to her. It had opened the door for a much more fruitful conversation with her dad about mom's situation.

This unfortunate slip of information was actually another gift as June saw it. Her parents were able to spend several days together in the hospital before dad went to the rehab facility. So many things had to align to make their being together possible: dad had to know; CCU patients had to be stable to spare a nurse to take dad to see mom;  the attending physician had to approve; two nurses had to agree in order to transport dad to mom; and the ER had to be slow. June witnessed God move everything into place, and her out of the way in delaying sharing the information with dad.  She noted: "Sometimes we are our own worst enemy." The God moments were numerous, but this was the most profound of the experience because it afforded her parents time.

As the circumstance started to become more and more complex, her friends swooped in from Church, neighborhood, clubs, and provided love, support and sustenance. It was truly amazing to witness the level of concern and support. But, as much as the temporal issues matter, the spiritual issues are paramount -- June's life was chaotic, stressful and her emotions and spirit were under attack. Prayer support lifted her continuously, prayer is essential if we are to love our neighbor as Jesus commanded us to do.

Several days passed. June was witnessing one parent improve -- dad; one parent decline -- mom. The stress from the injury had increased the strain on her heart. Just days before June's mom was asking if her beloved of 55 yrs. would recover -- he was now well enough to be transferred to a rehab center waiting to share a room with his wife. Now, mom was facing that question for herself. She developed a stomach ailment and pneumonia, and in a staggering turn of events she preceded her husband into life everlasting.

Oh, the strain on my friend, June. Can anyone possibly imagine preparing your heart for the possibility of one parent passing, and the other parent -- who seemingly had nothing more than a broken leg, passing instead? Now, she was faced with the task (thank heaven for pastoral support) of telling her dad. My heart was aching. Whose wouldn't? And, there's no way to make that moment, that blow, any easier to have to deliver or receive.

Dad was shattered. June was overwhelmed with sorrow, a bit of guilt, details, worries. Now, to plan a funeral and manage the task of getting dad to the ceremony and burial. Is he well enough to transport; logistically is it even possible? Those questions were answered abruptly when dad needed to be readmitted to the hospital with another ailment. The stress levels were high, and my friend June hadn't slept well or enough in weeks. She was starting to waiver, her human strength gone. Only grace could carry her now.

The funeral for mom is this weekend, and I share this with all of you to recount the beauty that is redemptive suffering. Each of June's selfless acts was a moment of grace, a step closer in her trusting supremely in God's will. True, many of us may look more like ducks than swans when we suffer. That's OK. It's ultimately what we do with the suffering that has power -- prayer and surrender. Hopefully, most of us will fall back into the arms of our Lord, and let him carry us through. June has never forgotten this through the entire ordeal. It may not have been easy to this point, yet as new challenges arise, she stands them down, hopes that people understand that she has been through more in 6 wks. than most people have to encounter in a life time, and trusts that God's plan is the perfect plan.

There are still hurdles to come. She knows that. And, for my part, as her friend, I do what I can --pray and offer my sufferings and sacrifices. Today, I offer my pain. I put it all in perspective and realize that these permitted struggles are meant to bring us closer to the Face of God. When we see or experience suffering, we are called to unite our pain, our hearts, our minds, to Jesus crucified. And, just as He uttered His last words on the cross of our salvation, may we also offer all that we have for love of Him to help our neighbor. Let us give our sufferings purpose -- let them be redemptive.

Ask yourself -- today -- now -- how can I offer my sufferings today? Who could use the grace of these struggles?

Pray a short prayer for those in need based on the following Scripture:

Above all, let your love for one another be intense, because love covers a multitude of sins. (1 Pt 4:8)

Dear Lord,

I offer my sufferings not only to heal myself of sin that offends You, but out of intense love for my neighbor in their time of need.

Amen

Please join me in praying for June and her family as they move through this enormously stressful time -- that they know peace and joy that only can come from God, and are covered with the comfort of our prayers as a small consolation.

The role of the laity -- revisited

I decided to resurrect and old post that I think is very important for each and every member of the laity to understand. I would also recommend reading the documents of Vatican II that deal with the role of the laity. I am teaching about Lumen Gentium at the moment which brings this issue to the fore in Chapter IV & V. What I wrote about earlier is primarily from the Catechism of the Catholic Church.


(First posted in April 2010):

All of us, by virtue of our Baptism and Confirmation have a share in these offices, not just the ordained clergy and religious.

Recognizing that the laity often don't realize that they have rights and responsibilities in this area, I thought I would offer some excerpts from the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC). I really suggest that read through the entire section to see what you can expect and what is expected of you.

1.

Participation in Christ's Priestly Office

"Hence the laity, dedicated as they are to Christ and anointed by the Holy Spirit, are marvelously called and prepared so that even richer fruits of the Spirit maybe produced in them. For all their works, prayers, and apostolic undertakings, family and married life, daily work, relaxation of mind and body, if they are accomplished in the Spirit - indeed even the hardships of life if patiently born - all these become spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. In the celebration of the Eucharist these may most fittingly be offered to the Father along with the body of the Lord. And so, worshipping everywhere by their holy actions, the laity consecrate the world itself to God, everywhere offering worship by the holiness of their lives." (CCC, 901)

In a very special way, parents share in the office of sanctifying "by leading a conjugal life in the Christian spirit and by seeing to the Christian education of their children."(CCC, 902)

2.

Participation in Christ's Prophetic Office

"Christ . . . fulfills this prophetic office, not only by the hierarchy . . . but also by the laity. He accordingly both establishes them as witnesses and provides them with the sense of the faith [sensus fidei] and the grace of the word."

To teach in order to lead others to faith is the task of every preacher and of each believer. (CCC, 904)

Lay people also fulfill their prophetic mission by evangelization, "that is, the proclamation of Christ by word and the testimony of life." For lay people, "this evangelization . . . acquires a specific property and peculiar efficacy because it is accomplished in the ordinary circumstances of the world."

This witness of life, however, is not the sole element in the apostolate; the true apostle is on the lookout for occasions of announcing Christ by word, either to unbelievers . . . or to the faithful. (CCC, 905)

3.

Participation in Christ's Kingly Office

By his obedience unto death, Christ communicated to his disciples the gift of royal freedom, so that they might "by the self-abnegation of a holy life, overcome the reign of sin in themselves":

That man is rightly called a king who makes his own body an obedient subject and, by governing himself with suitable rigor, refuses to let his passions breed rebellion in his soul, for he exercises a kind of royal power over himself. And because he knows how to rule his own person as king, so too does he sit as its judge. He will not let himself be imprisoned by sin, or thrown headlong into wickedness. (CCC, 908)

"Moreover, by uniting their forces let the laity so remedy the institutions and conditions of the world when the latter are an inducement to sin, that these may be conformed to the norms of justice, favoring rather than hindering the practice of virtue. By so doing they will impregnate culture and human works with a moral value." (CCC, 909)

These sections of the Catechism of the Catholic Church contain further explanation about lay participation in Christ's offices of priest, prophet and king. I particularly like CCC 909 because of the recent negative media barrage on Pope Benedict XVI and the Church. If you read carefully you'll see that we are to unite forces, meaning to bring our voices together in peaceful chorus, and then the laity will turn the tide on the institutions and conditions in the world.

In light of the scandals, it is up to us to make our voices heard, to both the bishops and the pastors, that we want our seminaries and religious communities reformed and returned to conformity to the Heart of Christ. We deserve to be taught what is true, and to be able to trust those who are in authority.

The laity does have a voice, indeed, we have an obligation according to our participation in these offices to give Sacred Worship; to spread the Kingdom; to practice Christian governance in the Church and in the world.

Spending time wisely making orange pomanders

I was introduced to a wonderful Christmas tradition by a new, and hopefully lifelong, friend the other night -- the orange pomander. I had never heard of these lovely natural ornaments  before (don't laugh if this is something that you've known about for ages!), and was so enchanted by their beauty and their marvelous scent.

Today, after days of having sick kids, I decided that we needed to do something fun. So, I went and got what we needed to make some pomanders as little gifts for loved ones and neighbors. I hope everyone appreciates them as much as I did when I first saw them (of course, mine pale in comparison to the sample I was shown by my friend who has been making them for years -- I'm sure I'll improve with time! For instance, bigger ribbon!)

Let love be sincere; hate what is evil, hold on to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; anticipate one another in showing honor. (Rom 12:9-10) An excellent quote to add on a note card for gift giving!

I can tell you, that no matter how they look, the time spent making them with the kids was precious. It took us about 20 min. to push all the cloves into a medium sized orange, then we rolled them in spices and I wrapped the ribbon around. Now, they need to dry -- but, I figure they can dry as they dangle in the recipient's kitchen!

Thanks, Monica, for making this "not so creative" individual feel like she could do something really special!

Here's how to make one:

O Advent

O Advent -- a time of reflection and penance.

This Advent has offered more than its share of opportunities to grow.

The more I felt like I was ahead of the game, the more I realized that I hadn't even entered the game.

Busy, busy, busy...

Sure, I have six kids, and one that requires an extra amount of care. It's bound to be hectic.

But, what I am really referring to is the being behind the eight ball when it comes to truly preparing ones heart for Christmas.

I tend to focus on all the wrong things. I typically lean heavily toward being a Martha, not a Mary at this time of year.

 I try to dot all the "i's" and cross all the "t's". But, often forget to engage my heart, but never my temper when things don't go as planned.

I guard my heart -- sometimes too much. It's can be a curse. I appear to have a general lack of empathy as a result. It's my safety net -- one that I have woven together over the years strand by strand to soften the blows that come from disappointments and sorrows.

This Advent, however, has forced my hand with many situations that brought to the surface feelings that I often suppress in an effort to be everyone's strength. I wandered down an emotional road that I am not used to navigating because the moment I realize I'm on it, I quickly jump right off.


I had become spiritually lazy; my prayer life was inconsistent; my family relationships were starting to become antagonistic rather than loving; I was withdrawing from everyone and just going through the paces.

I had stopped putting LOVE first -- worship of God and tending to my spiritual life had become an "I'll get to it in a minute" reality.

Ahhh, Advent. It smacked me right in the face with my complacency. And, as if it weren't enough to confront my sloth for the sake of the season, the world gave me reasons beyond my limited ability to deal without God's grace.

As, I reflect on how there is still grace available in just going through the motions, I realize that others, who have truly been suffering under the weight of staggering crosses in their lives, have been the buoys in my tossing sea of stress and emotion. I am so grateful to them for their holy example and their kindmess and love. They probably don't even realize how precious their friendship and courage in adversity have touched my heart and given me hope, even in the most of moments.

So, this piece is meant to say thank you to all the special people who help me to realize that love is more than doing, more than knowing, more than feeling. It is about keeping Christ present and being Christ's presence to others -- sometimes it is wordless, a simple glance or a light touch of acknowledgment. Thank you for helping me set aside the "busy" for the embrace; the rush for the time to make the personal connection.

This Advent brought me to my knees, and allowed me to recognize my vulnerability. It has given me the chance to confront my emotions and let myself accept that I am not perfect -- not even close.

It has given me permission to "do my best" without regrets, especially if what I am doing is less than what I would have hoped for from myself. My effort is still a success in the eyes of my Savior. That has also tempered my response to what are possibly very unrealistic expectations I  have of others; expectations that often lead to bitterness and disappointment.

I am ready, Lord, to welcome the Child, because this Advent I am reminded that I too am only a  simple child in the Spirit. Living this as a model to others will be my prayer and resolution moving forward.

The O Antiphons started yesterday, and I am eager to embrace them:

O Sapientia (December 17) O Wisdom (Eccl 24: 5), you came forth from the mouth of the Most High (Sir 24: 30), and reaching from beginning to end, you ordered all things mightily and sweetly (Wis 8: 1). Come, and teach us the way of prudence (Isa 40: 14).
O Adonai (December 18) O Adonai or O Lord and Ruler (Exod 6: 13) and Ruler of the house of Israel (Matt 2: 6), you appeared to Moses in the fire of the burning bush (Exod 3: 2), and on Mount Sinai gave him your Law (Exod 20). Come, and with outstretched arm redeem us (Jer 32: 21).
O Radix Jesse (December 19) O Root of Jesse, you stand for the ensign of all mankind (Isa 11: 10); before you kings shall keep silence and to you all nations shall have recourse (Isa 52: 15). Come, save us, and do not delay (Hab 2: 3).
O Clavis David (December 20) O Key of David (Apoc 3: 7) Scepter of the house of Israel, you open and no man closes; you close and no man opens (Isa 22: 22). Come, and deliver him from the chains of prison who sits in darkness and in the shadow of death (Ps 107: 10).
O Oriens (December 21) O Rising Dawn (Zac 6: 12), Radiance of the Light eternal (Hab 3: 4) and Sun of Justice (Mal 3: 20); Come, enlighten those who sit in darkness & the shadow of death (Ps 107: 10; Lk 1: 78).
O Rex Gentium (December 22) O King of the Gentiles (Hag 2: 8), Desired of all, you are the cornerstone that binds two into one (Eph 2: 20). Come, and save poor man whom you fashion out of clay (Gen 2: 7).
O Emmanuel (December 23) O Emmanuel (Isa 7: 14; 8: 8), our King and Lawgiver (Gen 49:10; cf. Ezek 21: 32), the Expected of the nations and their Savior (Isa 33: 22): Come, and save us, O Lord our God.



 These antiphons put into perspective just who I am in relation to the Lord, God. Come, Lord Jesus, come. You have allowed a very profound Advent to prepare for Your coming.

At examiner.com -- Commentary on Lindsey Stone

Lindsey Stone at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery

See what I have to say about this photo

at

 examiner.com