Friday, February 13, 2009
Actual vs. Sanctifying Grace
I will try to add to this post later today, but I was given what I believe to be an actual grace this morning regarding things natural and things supernatural...more to come. Thanks for your prayers!
Thursday, February 12, 2009
In a state of grief...
Sorrow motivates. I have grieved loss before and feel a special connection with our Savior's Passion. At the age of 33, I chose St. Teresa of Avila as my Confirmation saint. Without the Passion, there is no Resurrection, no Redemption. I am hardly the first Christian to notice this deep and abiding truth. I am cycling through the stages of grieving for the many, many Catholics, including me and my own family, who are suffering due to recent news about the founder of Regnum Christi. I am very occupied trying hard to be a good wife and mother, so I have limited time for researching the Internet about the breaking news (...and the news that has been out there for a long time...) I have found this article closely reflect my own concerns.
One thing I have assumed for years now is that the priesthood is under assault from many angles, from within and from outside the Church. My husband and I absolutely support the vocation to the priesthood and religious life as affirmed by our beloved Magisterium. As is often said, it "takes three to stay married," and all 7 Sacraments depend on each other to raise fallen humans from their natural, fallen state to life eternal. The goal, of any and all Christian vocations, is holiness. Holiness, plain and simple and pure of heart is the goal of the Christian life. It is to holiness of life that we battle all powers internal and external. The world, the flesh and the devil are the enemies of the Christian vocation, whether it be a lay or religious vocation (All vocations are priestly in one sense. I also believe all Christian vocations to be religious, but form and duty vary...that is something to really ponder...)
I told my husband night before last that I have been working and praying for LC/RC under the assumption that its founder was, like St. Teresa of Avila and St. Francis of Assisi, a saint. This ought to be our expectation. This was my assumption and my expectation. I am so very sad. I see no precedence for what is going on now, and this uncertainty in itself calls for all Catholics to be so very prayerful. Please pray for all the families and individuals who are passing through a time of tremendous suffering. I firmly believe that the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the 7 gifts of the Holy Spirit (Fear of the Lord, Piety, Knowledge, Fortitude, Counsel, Understanding and Wisdom), the gifts of Christ's Redemption, will save the day and bring about healing and hope.
So many may be tempted to take the current crisis and "throw the baby out with the bath water". This temptation must be resisted. My prayer for myself is to get to Confession even more regularly and to depend on the Eucharist as true and abiding food. Lord Jesus, I beg you to show me the way, show me your Way.
One thing I have assumed for years now is that the priesthood is under assault from many angles, from within and from outside the Church. My husband and I absolutely support the vocation to the priesthood and religious life as affirmed by our beloved Magisterium. As is often said, it "takes three to stay married," and all 7 Sacraments depend on each other to raise fallen humans from their natural, fallen state to life eternal. The goal, of any and all Christian vocations, is holiness. Holiness, plain and simple and pure of heart is the goal of the Christian life. It is to holiness of life that we battle all powers internal and external. The world, the flesh and the devil are the enemies of the Christian vocation, whether it be a lay or religious vocation (All vocations are priestly in one sense. I also believe all Christian vocations to be religious, but form and duty vary...that is something to really ponder...)
I told my husband night before last that I have been working and praying for LC/RC under the assumption that its founder was, like St. Teresa of Avila and St. Francis of Assisi, a saint. This ought to be our expectation. This was my assumption and my expectation. I am so very sad. I see no precedence for what is going on now, and this uncertainty in itself calls for all Catholics to be so very prayerful. Please pray for all the families and individuals who are passing through a time of tremendous suffering. I firmly believe that the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the 7 gifts of the Holy Spirit (Fear of the Lord, Piety, Knowledge, Fortitude, Counsel, Understanding and Wisdom), the gifts of Christ's Redemption, will save the day and bring about healing and hope.
So many may be tempted to take the current crisis and "throw the baby out with the bath water". This temptation must be resisted. My prayer for myself is to get to Confession even more regularly and to depend on the Eucharist as true and abiding food. Lord Jesus, I beg you to show me the way, show me your Way.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Why I want a coonskin hat
I was blog hopping and found this prayer. It is a prayer that I heard for the first time a few months ago when I attended an evening mini retreat for Catholic women. I am tired and somewhat overwhelmed. I have been thinking alot, probably too much, about the myriad struggles we face as we strive to grow closer to the God who made us.
One thing came to me today when I was reading a children's biography of Daniel Boone to two of my three children -- courage. It is so simple and so hard.
I told our Little Man that I'd get him a coonskin hat. I think I'll order one for myself too. I am not naturally courageous. Maybe the hat'll help.
One thing came to me today when I was reading a children's biography of Daniel Boone to two of my three children -- courage. It is so simple and so hard.
I told our Little Man that I'd get him a coonskin hat. I think I'll order one for myself too. I am not naturally courageous. Maybe the hat'll help.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Important Book!
I have been reading this blog for a long time; and hope later to order this book, The Restoration of Christian Culture, which I have been wanting to read for a long time now. I have to put off finishing the Twilight series as HRM and I lent volumes 3 and 4 to our cousin Jessica. Even though lots of folks think these books are probably some kind of girl candy, which in some ways they are, I think there is something very hopeful there, and very evangelical.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
My favorite links for FEBRUARY...
Here is LovetoLearn's Calendar of Resources -- excellent. I love this mom's approach to the months of the year; she has everything, so go over here for a visit to all the possibilities this cold-hands-warm-heart month has in store for us all. Go over here for what I have found is the best overview of the month for the liturgy. This is a very odd juxtaposition of material, but here goes: I love this book and this other, very odd-ball, yet entirely reverent, book to gleen seasonal and liturgical material for our domestic churches.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Look at this Webinar...
I am going to sign up for this Webinar, "Teaching Math and Science with Real Books," as I am passionate about the topic and hope for some good resources.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Timely quote from St. Francis de Sales
I, for one, am very attached to this "pretty planet spinning in space" (a lyric from a song M used to sing when she was at our parish preschool), so it is a constant battle for me to pray and fast as I ought. Of course, it is a form of praise to our Creator to see the beauty of creation in and around us. At the same time, our God, who is all good, wants us to know that we are just pilgrims passing through. We are, as Walker Percy wrote, trying to make sense of it all by decoding what he calls "signposts in a strange land." I guess the point is that the more we strive to live for Heaven, then the stranger this world appears. We ought to be outcasts of sorts if we take the Gospel counsels seriously. Serious evangelists still find time to laugh and play, but ideally, are ready to turn on a dime, ready to drop their nets and follow Him, even when it is most inconvenient. So, since I signed up for Facebook, I have not checked in with my fellow Catholic mom bloggers. Not long ago, I was over here and found this link to daily quotes from St. Francis de Sales. It is timely for me so I throw it out hoping it will encourage someone else too:
Self-love dies only when our body dies, so we must, while we
live in this land of exile, continue to counterattack its assaults on
our senses and its underhanded tactics. It is enough if we firmly
withstand, giving no willful or deliberate consent ... When we feel
within ourselves the first movements of self-love or of other passions,
let us prostrate ourselves immediately before the heart of God and tell
Him, in a spirit of confidence and humility, "Lord, have mercy on me
because I am a very weak creature." Then let us tranquilly rest in peace and put ourselves at God's disposal. (Letters 1675; O. XIX, pp. 272-273)
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Learning to abandon ourselves "into his arms," like Paco...
A Prayer Request
I have been struggling with how to increase my prayers for two dear women, both wives and mothers, who are so ill --one with cancer, the other with MS. Both of these sisters in Christ are also homeschooling moms, and, at different times in our hschooling journey, were such sources of inspiration, strength and faith. I ask the Lord for pardon and peace for myself, and for grace, strength and healing for these dear mothers. I ask Mary's intercession, for her to pray for these families and their friends to be her Son's loving arms, His loving Heart.
Suffering Saves Souls
My husband, children, extended family and many friends went through a health crisis with me, with so many of its attendant hardships and struggles, from 2001-2005. In some ways, we are still feeling the aftershocks. I know in my head that, when our sufferings are offered to our Savior, He, in a mysterious way, allows us to help Him save souls. I also know, more in my heart, that our Lord gave us His Most Blessed Virgin Mother, to buoy us up in our darkest hours. Mary was there for me and my family in a way that I am just beginning to be able to articulate.
I have been struggling with how to increase my prayers for two dear women, both wives and mothers, who are so ill --one with cancer, the other with MS. Both of these sisters in Christ are also homeschooling moms, and, at different times in our hschooling journey, were such sources of inspiration, strength and faith. I ask the Lord for pardon and peace for myself, and for grace, strength and healing for these dear mothers. I ask Mary's intercession, for her to pray for these families and their friends to be her Son's loving arms, His loving Heart.
Suffering Saves Souls
My husband, children, extended family and many friends went through a health crisis with me, with so many of its attendant hardships and struggles, from 2001-2005. In some ways, we are still feeling the aftershocks. I know in my head that, when our sufferings are offered to our Savior, He, in a mysterious way, allows us to help Him save souls. I also know, more in my heart, that our Lord gave us His Most Blessed Virgin Mother, to buoy us up in our darkest hours. Mary was there for me and my family in a way that I am just beginning to be able to articulate.
Inspiring Story
Yesterday morning, I was glacing at the article below and found a clue as to how we must unite our suffering with the salvation of souls, beginning with the pruning that happens to us personally. My friend Rachel gave me the audiobook on CD of the very popular novel, The Shack, yesterday; and, she was commenting on how the author of this book answers the perennial question most ask who lack faith, "How can God stand by and watch so much evil?" Some even take this further, and ask, "There must be no God for such evil to run rampant; God would stop it, right?"
Here is Paco's story.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Rekindling friendships on Facebook....
I struggle with digital photography. For years, back when we had a VHS-C video camera, I was the family videographer. We have so many good home movies...but, now, I cannot keep up. My friend, Di, is a scrapbooker extraordinaire and very adept with the digital photography too. She posted this photo on FBook (...from our "two-family retreat" to the South Carolina beaches last June...) and, due to the perserverance of my friend, Rach, I logged in to FB this past Thursday. Well, I've been facebooking for so long already this morning that I have to run get dressed....
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