1-1-11

Can't think of a better date to ponder making a change and starting over.   A few years ago, my "resolution" was to fit into smaller underwear.  That way I didn't actually have to commit to a diet.  It worked, too.  

This year, I'm going to attend at least one weekday Mass.  Twenty minutes a day of scripture wouldn't hurt either.  Nor would smaller underwear.

What's you goal?

Theology on Tap

It always looks like fun, but, I'm hoping for a "middle age" version some day!
Alas, that day may be here April 8.  Stay tuned!

Merry Christmas

It was a quiet Christmas this year.  It was nice having a holiday with just our boys, but it was lonely, too.  This year, 2010, saw the loss of an aunt and a mother-in-law, both of whom we took care of.  So, sometimes our Christmas day felt "stalled," like when should we get Monica? or Aren't we going to the home to see Alice?  I'm sure they didn't miss us that much, but I hope they said a prayer for us.

Over time, it seems like Christmas isn't the same.  Is it my age?  I still love the lights, I still cry at Christmas Eve Mass when I see families smiling and sitting together.  I thank God for the birth of his son.  Or is it because this family's been through so much, we've experienced so much loss - during the Christmas holidays.  Don't get me wrong, Christ is still in Christmas, but I've had to take time to pray and to put Christmas back in Christ.

Antiphon for December 23

O Emmanuel, our King and Lawgiver, the Expected of the nations and their
Savior.  Come and save us, O Lord our God.

Isaiah 7:14: "Therefore the Lord himself will give you this sign: the virgin shall be with child, and bear a son, and shall name him Emmanuel".

Isaiah 33:22: "Indeed the Lord will be there with us,  majestic.  Yes, the Lord our judge, the Lord our lawgiver, the Lord our king, he it is who will save
us".

With this last antiphon our expectation finds joy now in the certainty of fulfillment.  We call Jesus by one of the most personal and intimate of his titles, Emmanuel, God-with-us.  We recall that in his birth from the Virgin Mary God takes on our very flesh and human nature: God coming nearer to us than we could have ever imagined!  Yet he is also to be exalted above us as our king, the lawgiver and judge, the one whom we honor and obey.  And he is our savior, long-expected by all creation.  The final cry rises from us urgent in our need for daily salvation and forgiveness of our sins, and confident that our God will not withhold himself from us.  

(c) 2000 Jeanne Kun 

The Nativity - digital

Antiphon for December 22

O King of the Gentiles and the Desired of all, you are the cornerstone that binds two into one.  Come, and save man whom you fashioned out of clay.

Isaiah 28:16: "Therefore, thus says the Lord God: See, I am laying a stone in Zion, a stone that has been tested, a precious cornerstone as a sure foundation".

Ephesians 2:14: "He it is who is our peace, and who made the two of us one by breaking down the barrier of hostility that kept us apart".

The earlier antiphons have already alluded to the Messiah coming not only to Israel  but to convert the gentile nations and redeem them for his own. Now this sixth antiphon clearly addresses the savior as the king of the gentiles (Jer.10:7) and the Desired One of the nations.  The Messiah is the cornerstone on whom our spiritual foundations are laid, but on whom unbelievers stumble (Matt. 21:42).  This cornerstone unites and binds Jew and gentile into one, making peace between them.

The plea is that God save all humanity, all his creation that he formed from the dust of the earth (Gen.2:7).  We yearn for him once again to breathe the breath of his new life into us.

(c) 2000 Jeanne Kun 

Antiphon for December 21

O Rising Dawn, Radiance of the Light eternal and Sun of Justice: come and enlighten those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.

Isaiah 9:1: "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. Upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone".

Malachi 3:20: "For you who fear my name, there will arise the sun of justice with its healing rays".

2 Peter 1:19: "Keep your attention closely fixed on it, as you would on a lamp shining in a dark place, until the first streaks of dawn appear and the morning star rises in your heart".

This title is variously translated "morning star", "Dayspring", "rising sun", "radiant dawn", "orient".  All beautifully express the idea of light shattering the darkness of night, of sin and death, of sickness and despair, with its brightness bringing healing and warmth to cold hearts.  Jesus is indeed the true light, the radiance of his Father's splendor. The church prays this petition daily in the Benedictus, joining in the words of Zechariah: "He, the Dayspring, shall visit us in his mercy to shine on those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death"  (Luke 1:78-79).

(c) 2000 Jeanne Kun

Antiphon for December 20

O Key of David and Scepter of the House of Israel; you open and no man closes; you close and no man opens.  Come, and deliver from the chains of prison those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.

Isaiah 22:22: "I will place the key of the House of David on his shoulder. When he opens, no one shall shut; when he shuts, no one shall open.

Revelation 3:7: "To the presiding spirit of the church in Philadelphia write this: 'The holy One, the true, who wields David's key, who opens and no one can close, who closes and  no one can open'".

Isaiah 42:6-7: "I formed you, and set you as a covenant of the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes of the blind, to bring out prisoners from confinement, and from the dungeon those who live in darkness".

The key and scepter are traditional symbols of kingly power and authority. Christ, the anointed one, is the heir of David and possessor of the kingdom. Jesus himself also made use of this symbol, showing the propheticrelationship of the earthly kingdom of David to the kingdom of God.  All power and authority was given to him after the resurrection, and he entrusted this power to "bind and to loose" to Peter and the ministers of his church.

In the closing petition we look to Jesus to unlock the fetters of sin that  keepus s tightly chained.  It is he who frees us from our captivity.  We recall the deliverance proclaimed by the psalmist of old: "they dwelt in darkness and gloom, bondsmen in want and in chains,...and he led them forth fromdarkness and gloom and broke their bonds asunder" (Psalm 107: 10, 14).

(c) 2000 Jeanne Kun

Antiphon for December 19

O Root of Jesse, you stand as a sign for the peoples; before you kings shall keep silence and to you all nations shall have recourse.  Come, save us, and do not delay.

Isaiah 52:13, 15; 53:2: "See, my servant shall prosper...So shall he startle many nations, because of him kings shall stand speechless. ...He grew up like a sapling before him, like a shoot".

Isaiah prophesied a restoration of David's throne - a new branch budding out
of the old root.  Christ is the root of Jesse in a two-fold sense: he is the descendant of David, who was the youngest son of Jesse, and he inherited the royal throne.  The angel foretold to Mary, "The Lord God will give him the throne of David his father.  He will rule over the house of Jacob forever and his reign will be without end" (Luke 1:32-33).

Our hearts more and more urgently cry out for God's reign to extend over all humanity: "Come, save us, and do not delay".

(c) 2000 Jeanne Kun 

Antiphon for December 18

 

O Adonai and Ruler of the House of Israel, you appeared to Moses in the fire of the burning bush and on Mount Sinai gave him your law.  Come, and with outstretched arm redeem us.

Exodus 3:2: "An angel of the Lord appeared to him in fire flaming out of a bush.  As he looked on, he was surprised to see that the bush, though on fire, was not consumed".

Exodus 6:6: "Therefore say to the Israelites: I am Yahweh.  I will free you from the enforced labor of the Egyptians and will deliver you from their slavery.  I will rescue you by my outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment".

"Adonai" is Hebrew for "my Lord", and was substituted by devout Jews for the name "Yahweh", out of reverence.  With this second antiphon we progress from creation to the familiar story of God manifesting himself by name to Moses and giving his law to Israel as their way of life.  We are also reminded of the Israelites' deliverance from bondage under pharaoh - a foreshadowing of our own redemption from sin.  The image of God's arm outstretched in power to save his chosen people also brings to mind the later scene of Jesus with his arms outstretched for us on the cross.
 

(c) 2000 Jeanne Kun 

Antiphon for December 17

 
 

O Wisdom, you came forth from the mouth of the Most High and, reaching from beginning to end, you ordered all things mightily and sweetly.  Come, and teach us the way of prudence.

This antiphon, like all the others to follow, is based on a composite of Scripture texts.

Sirach 24:3:  "From the mouth of the Most High I came forth, and like mist covered the earth".

Wisdom 8:1: "She reaches from end to end mightily and governs all things well".

Wisdom is here personified, present with God at the beginning of creation.  This is a prefigurement of Jesus, the eternal Word of God, the "logos" John described in the opening of his gospel.  Wisdom is the foundation of fear of the Lord, of holiness, or right living: it is wisdom whom we bid to come and teach us prudence.  The cry "Come" will be repeated again and again, insistent and hope-filled.
 

(c) 2000 Jeanne Kun 

An Advent Meditation

By BLESSED JOHN HENRY CARDINAL NEWMAN

Cardinal Newman explains that Christian worship should prepare us on earth for meeting Christ our Judge. Only prayer, the sacraments, and profession of the whole mystery of faith can prepare us.

Blessed John Henry Cardinal Newman (1801-1890)

Men sometimes ask, Why need they profess religion? Why need they go to church? Why need they observe certain rites and ceremonies? Why need they watch, pray, fast, and meditate? Why is it not enough to be just, honest, sober, benevolent, and otherwise virtuous? Is not this the true and real worship of God? Is not activity in mind and conduct the most acceptable way of approaching Him? How can they please Him by submitting to certain religious forms, and taking part in certain religious acts? Or if they must do so, why may they not choose their own? Why must they come to church for them? Why must they be partakers in what the Church calls Sacraments?

I answer, they must do so, first of all and especially, because God tells them so to do. But besides this, I observe that we see this plain reason why, that they are one day to change their state of being. They are not to be here for ever. Direct intercourse with God on their part now, prayer and the like, may be necessary to their meeting Him suitably hereafter: and direct intercourse on His part with them, or what we call sacramental communion, may be necessary in some incomprehensible way, even for preparing their very nature to bear the sight of Him.

Let us then take this view of religious service; it is "going out to meet the Bridegroom," [see Matt. 25: 6] who, if not seen "in His beauty," [Isaiah 33: 17] will appear in consuming fire. Besides its other momentous reasons, it is a preparation for an awful event, which shall one day be. What it would be to meet Christ at once without preparation, we may learn from what happened even to the Apostles when His glory was suddenly manifested to them. St. Peter said, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord." [Luke 5: 8] And St. John, "when he saw Him, fell at His feet as dead." [Rev. 1: 17]

This being the case, it is certainly most merciful in God to vouchsafe to us the means of preparation, and such means as He has actually appointed. When Moses came down from the Mount, and the people were dazzled at his countenance, he put a veil over it. That veil is so far removed in the Gospel, that we are in a state of preparation for its being altogether removed. We are with Moses in the Mount so far, that we have a sight of God; we are with the people beneath it so far, that Christ does not visibly show Himself. He has put a veil on, and He sits among us silently and secretly. When we approach Him, we know it only by faith; and when He manifests Himself to us, it is without our being able to realize to ourselves that manifestation.

Such then is the spirit in which we should come to all His ordinances, considering them as anticipations and first-fruits of that sight of Him which one day must be. When we kneel down in prayer in private, let us think to ourselves, Thus shall I one day kneel down before His very footstool, in this flesh and this blood of mine; and He will be seated over against me, in flesh and blood also, though divine. I come, with the thought of that awful hour before me, I come to confess my sin to Him now, that He may pardon it then, and I say, "O Lord, Holy God, Holy and Strong, Holy and Immortal, in the hour of death and in the day of judgment, deliver us, O Lord!"

Again, when we come to church, then let us say: – The day will be when I shall see Christ surrounded by His Holy Angels. I shall be brought into that blessed company, in which all will be pure, all bright. I come then to learn to endure the sight of the Holy One and His Servants; to nerve myself for a vision which is fearful before it is ecstatic, and which they only enjoy whom it does not consume.

Marian apologetics

One discussion that came up today was if Mary had other children.  It's an interesting thought.  And it's easy to think of Mary and Joseph having a family since we enjoy our families so much.

One web site that I often check for answers to such questions is Bible Christian Society.  Here's their answer to the question:

The Bible clearly says that Jesus had brothers and sisters, but the Catholic Church teaches that Mary was a perpetual virgin...how can you reconcile those seemingly different positions?

Mk 6:3 says, "Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses, and Judas and Simon, and are not His sisters here with us?" We need to realize a few things here about these "brothers and sisters": #1, there was no word for cousin, or for nephew or niece, or for aunt or uncle in ancient Hebrew or Aramaic - the words that the Jews used in all those instances were "brother" or "sister". An example of this can be seen in Gen 14:14, where Lot, who was Abraham's nephew, is called his brother.

Another point to consider. If Jesus had had any brothers, if Mary had had any other sons, would the last thing that Jesus did on earth be to grievously offend his surviving brothers? In Jn 19:26-27, right before Jesus dies, it says that Jesus entrusted the care of His mother to the beloved disciple, John. If Mary had had any other sons, it would have been an incredible slap in the face to them that the Apostle John was entrusted with the care of their mother!

Also, we see from Mt. 27:55-56, that the James and Joses mentioned in Mark 6 as the "brothers" of Jesus, are actually the sons of another Mary. And, one other passage to consider is Acts 1:14-15, "[The Apostles] with one accord devoted themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus and with His brothers...the company of persons was in all about a hundred and twenty." A company of 120 persons composed of the Apostles, Mary, the women, and the "brothers" of Jesus. Let's see there were 11 Apostles at the time. Jesus' mother makes 12. The women, probably the same three women mentioned in Matthew 27, but let's say it was maybe a dozen or two, just for argument's sake. So that puts us up to 30 or 40 or so. So that leaves the number of Jesus' brothers at about 80 or 90! Do you think Mary had 80 or 90 children? She would have been in perpetual labor! No, Scripture does not contradict the teaching of the Catholic Church about the "brothers" of Jesus, when Scripture is properly interpreted in context.

I loved today, did you?

Were you among the women at today's Advent retreat?  If so, I hope Mary and her Blessed Son had a special message for you today.  If you didn't attend, we are thinking of having another retreat during Lent, at which we'll study the last few chapters of the book, My Soul Magnifies The Lord: A Scriptural Journey with Mary, written by Jeanne Kun.

January or February may even bring up a day to study the middle chapters, so we'll keep you posted.  I hope you share the book with others of your prayer group or parish.  The more we learn about Mary, the closer we get to her son.

Thank you for coming!  If you're interested in another retreat, let me know!

Miscellany since Thanksgiving

This year, we attended Thanksgiving Day Mass before we left town to be with family.  Attending Thanksgiving Day Mass makes one ponder about the best Thanksgiving feast.  I think the best Thanksgiving meal is the one at Mass!  Even though, my sister-in-law is a fabulous cook, and it was great to spend the holiday with them.

One really great part of my job is the people I get to meet.  I love meeting the parishioners who I now serve, and I loved meeting Phil, who spoke at the parishes of that cluster and to our confirmation kids.  There's just always someone to pray for, isn't there?

Tomorrow (Saturday, Dec. 4) is an Advent Retreat in Pocahontas.  The topic is one of my new favorite people - Mary, the Mother of God.  I just know she has a special day in store for us.

Wow!

I have 19 RSVP's for our Advent Retreat on Dec. 4.  We'll be studying about Mary, who spent her advent preparing for the arrival of her son.  I truly pray this day reminds us to prepare for the arrival of Mary's Son.

If you're coming to the retreat, you'll want a pencil/pen, maybe a highlighter and your Bible.  We'll pray, read, have quiet meditation, small groups and I'll even share my new super-easy fudge!

Just 3 more days to Thanksgiving before we greet a beautiful time of year.  Send a card to your aged aunt, uncle or someone in a nursing home, phone a relative far away, say a Rosary for our seminarians and those who are discerning the priesthood or religious life.  There are so many little ways to make this the most wonderful time of the year, and the most blessed time of the year.

Because you never know...

Remember the women's retreat we had last summer in Fort Dodge?  There were recordings made, but we're still waiting for them, right?  Well, that's why God is in charge of the "big picture."

I talked to the retreat master (Gina) today and asked when they would be coming, here's what I found out.

She gave the original recordings to a young college student to edit them for sound, making sure they weren't too quiet or too loud.  This kid's going to school for this type of work and this was his first project so it took a little longer than usual.

It gets better....

This young man used to be Catholic, and after listening to these CD's to edit them, he's coming back to the Church.  It was this conference that changed this guy, please keep him in your prayers!  These CD's are anointed, don't ya think?

BWY, I've talked to Gina about scheduling a date for 2011.  Got any ideas?

Living with sons

He calls it "marking my territory".

Living Stones - part 2

In doing some research for the Dec. 4 retreat, I came across this site.

Here's his reflection for 1st Peter 2:

At an opportune time Jesus tests his disciples with a crucial question: Who do men say that I am and who do you say that I am? He was widely recognized in Israel as a mighty man of God, even being compared with the greatest of the prophets, John the Baptist, Elijah, and Jeremiah. Peter, always quick to respond, exclaimed that he was the Christ, the Son of the living God.  No mortal being could have revealed this to Peter; but only God. Jesus then confers on Peter authority to govern the church that Jesus would build, a church that no powers would overcome. Jesus plays on Peter's name which is the same word for "rock" in both Aramaic and Greek.  To call someone a "rock" is one of the greatest of compliments. The ancient rabbis had a saying that when God saw Abraham, he exclaimed: "I have discovered a rock to found the world upon". Through Abraham God established a nation for himself. Through faith Peter grasped who Jesus truly was.  He was the first apostle to recognize Jesus as the Anointed One (Messiah and Christ) and the only begotten Son of God. The New Testament describes the church as a spiritual house or temple with each member joined together as living stones (see 1 Peter 2:5). Faith in Jesus Christ makes us into rocks or spiritual stones. The Lord Jesus tests each of us personally with the same question: Who do you say that I am?
"Lord Jesus, I profess and believe that you are the Christ, the Son of the living God. You are my Lord and my Savior. Make my faith strong like Peter's and give me boldness to speak of you to others that they may come to know you personally as Lord and Savior and grow in the  knowledge of your love".

Retreat - Living Stones

We had a DCCW board retreat last weekend.  The topic was Living Stones.  I have to admit that I was, at first, somewhat disappointed about being called a rock.

I drive by millions of stones every day to and from work.  Perhaps the most inanimate thing we know is - rocks.  They only get to go somewhere unless another force moves them.  They lay by the side of the road, they get hauled in trucks.  Some are pretty, a lot are pretty plain.  But what the heck is a living stone?  And, why should I be one?

Our scripture for the day was from 1 Peter 2.  After some pondering, I recalled that it was written by, duh, Peter!  And what does "Peter" means.  Rock.  I wondered if Peter liked being called a rock.  And if Peter was a Rock, shouldn't I be honored to be a stone?

A song that Fr. Jim played throughout the day was "Living Stones" by Michael Card.  Fabulous song.  It's from Card's A Fragile Stone album, here's the lyrics, you can listen here!

Living stones, living stones
We are holy, living stones
Built upon the firm foundation
That is Jesus
And as we cling to that Rock
Who became a Stumbling Block
We remember we are living stones

See, in Zion He is known
As a chosen precious cornerstone
And the ones who come to trust in Him
Will never know the shame
That He bore on that Cross when it seems
That all was lost
He is a Stone that makes men stumble
The Rock that makes them fall

By the Word of His mouth
We are made one holy house
Though we live as scattered strangers
We are not homeless, we are free
We are one family and one fold
One Overseer of our souls
Says we are His own possession
We are living stones

A good retreat stays with you.  And this one did - all weekend long.  Why do we want to be a living stone?  And what is it, really?

Check out Presentation Ministries' reflection for Nov. 9.  Now we know!  We want to be part of that firm foundation of the Church!  We're part of the foundation, but we have to be living to add more stones to the faith.  So, mystery solved.  And, if it's good enough for Jesus and Peter and the disciples, then it's good enough for me and you.

"LIVING STONES"

"You too are living stones, built as an edifice of spirit, into a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ." —1 Peter 2:5

God's plan of salvation is to build a new temple, "an edifice of spirit" (1 Pt 2:5), the Church. This temple is not built with inanimate stones, but living ones. Jesus is "a living Stone, rejected by men but approved, nonetheless, and precious in God's eyes" (1 Pt 2:4). He is the Foundation Stone (1 Cor 3:11) and the Cornerstone (1 Pt 2:6-7). The apostles and prophets are also living stones and part of the temple's foundation (Eph 2:20-22). In a special way, the apostle Peter and his successors are a rock on which Jesus decided to build this new temple, the Church (Mt 16:18). We "too are living stones." We can decide to become part of "this temple, to become a dwelling place for God in the Spirit" (Eph 2:22), or we can be co-opted into being part of one of the devil's strongholds (see 2 Cor 10:4). We decide to become part of the Church by believing in Jesus and His word (1 Pt 2:7-8). We express this faith by being baptized and living our baptisms. This means we witness for Jesus to lead others to Him and to His Church. We work to build up the Church and live in the community of the Church. We are faithful members of the Catholic Church through our dioceses, of our dioceses through our parishes, and of our parishes through our small communities. Love the Church and be a faithful member of the Church.

Free Song!

The Daughters of St. Paul have a free song for November.  It is In Paradisum and on their Chant CD.  It is available at this link.  You need to to register for a free account to download the free song.

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/DaughtersofStPaul

The Stella Maris album is great, too.  I'll have that one with me on Dec. 4!

Some "don't miss" shows on EWTN this week

Mon., Nov. 8, Peggy Bowes will be on The Journey Home with Marcus Grodi.  Peggy is a revert and author of the book, The Rosary Workout.  Her website is www.rosaryworkout.com

Johnnette Benkovic is one of the most incredible Catholic women I've heard and will be on with Fr. Mitch on Wednesday.  If you get near a Lighthouse CD display, look for her CD entitled "For Love and Marriage."  She's host of Women of Grace, also on EWTN, she's author of Full of Grace: Women and the Abundant Life, book and study.  They've recently reformatted the Canticle magazine, I'm curious to see what it's like.  Johnnette's website is www.lhla.org

I'd just as well print this out or set my DirecTV for autotune so I remember, too!

MONDAY - NOVEMBER 8, 8 PM ET / 5 PM PT
THE JOURNEY HOME: HOST MARCUS GRODI - Peggy Bowes, revert. 
WEDNESDAY - NOVEMBER 10, 8 PM ET / 5 PM PT
EWTN LIVE: HOST FR. MITCH PACWA - Johnnette Benkovic.

Mary's Choice Fundraiser

Catholic Globe reporter, Rosemary, is having an Advent fund-raiser for Mary's Choice!  She is also part of a pro-life marathon team known as the LIFE (Living in Faith Exchange) Runners.  They run to raise money to help pregnancy crisis centers.  Rosemary has made Mary's Choice her center to help.

I have to admire those marathon runners.  I hate running!  Running errands is about as far as I get.  So, check out her website, maybe we can even find some Christmas gifts.  Try some vitamins - we may get healthier and helped out Mary's Choice.

For every $5 spent at Rosemary's website, $1 will go to Mary's Choice.  Shipping is free for orders $75 and over (and MC gets $15!)

Her goal is to raise $300 by the end of January.  Help out if you can!

Her website is www.amway.com/rosemary

Apologetics

One topic that Michael Voris talked about was apologetics.  When we're asked why Catholics do what we do, it's no longer good enough to answer "because."

This article has been hanging around my laptop screen for a while.  Take a peek, maybe it'll springboard to new learning.

12 Claims Every Catholic Should Be Able To Answer

The Winery and Michael Voris

If you didn't get to see Michael Voris at Santa Maria Winery last night (Thurs.), you missed an intensive thought-provoking speaker.  And a fabulous dinner, wonderful company and a great glass (or 2) of wine.

Michael's tell-it-like-it-is program told the audience that it's time to stand up for what you believe, and to be true to the True Church, even if it comes at a price.  That's how Saints are made and that's what it's going to take to make a change in our world, even if that world is our own parish.

He his website is RealCatholicTV.com and has a daily video, too.

Hold on to your hats - here's today's Vortex

Never too early for Advent

Now is the time to order the meditation book and CD from Belmont Abbey College!  Found this great deal on a link at insidecatholic.com

You save $9, so the final price is $1 plus shipping, and includes the CD.

In the Discount Box, BE SURE TO use the code "Inside Catholic" without the quotes to get the discount!  (I had to scroll a bit to find it, but it was worth it!)

Click here!

Want to see the Face of God?

I'd never of heard of Manoppello, Italy, but now I'd like to visit there sometime.  An ancient relic is there, a rare fabric imprinted with a face.

The face on this fabric matches the face on the Shroud of Turin.

The face on the Shroud of Turin matches the face of the Divine Mercy that St. Faustina had painted.

 Watch and visit faceofgodbook.com

Could you say a prayer?

After school today my son said that a kid in his class wasn't there today.  They were told that he's transferred to another school.  More investigation revealed that the kid, a junior in high school, got transferred to another foster home, while his sister stays here.

He's a nice kid, friendly, always has a smile.  I know it's not like we can just adopt him, it's not that easy.  But obviously, the kid's been hurt enough and needs to be loved, and I may never know where he ended up.

So, please, say a prayer for him and his sister, and their foster families.

We often forget that God sees the whole picture, so I hope I have enough trust in Him that things turn out OK. My our Blessed Mother adopt him, too!

Yippee! Save the date!

Save Thurs., Nov. 4, 2010 and go to Santa Maria Winery in Carroll to hear Michael Voris.  The founder of St. Michael Media can be found at realcatholictv.com and you can search for him at youtube.com.  Go ahead, check it out.  You'll see how much fun the evening will be!

The dinner and talk is only $20.  Talk only is $10, unless you show up at the door, then it's $12.50.  Mail your check to Santa Maria Winery, PO Box 1029, Carroll, IA 51401 or call 712-775-2013 to make your reservations with your credit card.  The event is sponsored by KYMJ Catholic Radio and Santa Maria Winery.

Social hour starts at 5:30, dinner is at 6:30, followed by Michael's presentation on "Fighting for the Faith."  We all could use lessons on that - but it might be easier with dinner and a glass of wine.

Next year, you need to go!

Four of us from the Sioux City Diocese attended the Endow Conference this weekend in Denver.  Not only is it an opportunity to learn about Endow, it's an opportunity to get spiritually renewed.

The weekend started with a Friday retreat with Fr. Scott Traynor from the Diocese of Sioux Falls.  If you have an opportunity to meet Fr. Scott, do it!

Friday evening, Archbishop Gomez opened the conference as the keynote speaker.  Saturday continued our path as we're Called To Be Saints.  We studied Dorothy Day, whose cause is up for sainthood, St. Teresa of Avila and Edith Stein.  There's much to learn about these saints, and we got off to a good start.

Our weekend ended with a wonderful supper Saturday evening.  I'd emailed seminarians from our Diocese who are attended seminary at Denver.  Three of them were able to join us that evening.

We were excited for the opportunity to meet the men who may be OUR priests some day.  A good time was had by all, including the extra Endow Conference attendees from Houston, TX and Tyler, MN who came with us!

Pray for these men, the seminarians who weren't able to join us, the seminarians who are studying across the country and pray for the women who are discerning their own call to holiness.

Then become the type of person who can add fuel to the spiritual fire of these new priests - the type of person that when they meet you, they say, I can't wait to be a priest!

Change isn't so bad, it's the adjustment that's hard

This is second week at the new job.  There is so much to learn in the office part, I feel I haven't done much in the DRE part.  Maybe it's because there are big statistics reports due - tomorrow.

It's different driving south to work, not north.  It's different driving past the nursing home and not stopping to see my mother-in-law.  But, nothing stays the same.

Tomorrow, as some in our diocese prepare for the Christ Our Life Conference in Des Moines, four of us from the Council of Catholic Women will start four days of girl time.  Tomorrow evening, we're driving to Westside to leave early Thursday morning headed for Denver, CO and the Endow Conference.  I wish everyone could go with us, but maybe next year!

Stay tuned - I'll make the others in the group post their experiences, too!

St. Christopher, pray for us.

Dear God, I Just Don't Get It - a book review

Dear God, I Just Don't Get It arrived in my mail on Monday.  I read it the same day.  Couldn't put it down, actually.  It's a wonderful story about sixth-grader, Aaron Ajax, who, when life seems to be going his way, realizes that he's taken his relationship with God for granted.  Where is God when parents can't find jobs? Where is God when we have to leave our best friends? How easy it is to have a comfortable relationship with God when things are going smooth.

This book teaches that God is in the details, and He is in charge.  And sometimes, His answers to our prayers aren't what we expected.  A wonderful story for 3rd through 6th grade Catholic kids, it even ties Catholic teaching right into the story.  There are questions and activities at the end of the book if you'd like to make it a study.  (Great retreat for Lent or Advent!)

If you Catholic school has an accelerated-reader type program, talk to your principal about making it a must-read. Use it for a night-activity with your own children (my friend has my copy now, she's reading it daily to her kids), then put it in your parish or school library.  This book is a wonderful example of a religious book that's actually quite fun to read - even for adults.

Another great book from Bezalel Books, also available at amazon.com

Luminous Mysteries

As long as I've known the Rosary, I've known the Luminous Mysteries.  Sometimes it seems that they're harder to remember because we only say them once a week.

I've found that for me, a great way to remember them is to put myself in the scene.  If I can imagine being there, it makes that Mystery come alive, and I recall it easier.  I also like to put Mary at the scene and often wonder what she was going through.

Read through these reflections written by Mark Shea.  This will help those Luminous Mysteries shine for you!

In Honor of Our Lady of the Rosary

Time to Evangelize?

I came across a stunning headline this week.  It read to the effect that Catholics know less about religion, including their own, than any other religious demographics in the U.S.

Frightening, that's what it is.

Guess what else!  Atheists, agnostics, Jews and Mormons scored the highest in the survey.

Time to evangelize.  Time to call the priesthood of the laity into active duty!  Read the whole article here.

Praying for vocations?

Today's reflection from Presentation Ministries is so good, it needs to be reposted.

One Bread, One Body - Reflection for September 30, 2010

TRUSTING, FOR VOCATIONS

"The harvest is rich but the workers are few; therefore ask the Harvest-Master to send workers to His harvest." –Luke 10:2

Jesus calls us to pray for workers to gather in His harvest. At the same time He usually calls us to first accept His call to work (Lk 10:1). So we pray for workers on our way to work. While praying for workers, we go to work having provided ourselves with nothing. Jesus commanded us to trust Him completely. He said: "Be on your way, and remember: I am sending you as lambs in the midst of wolves. Do not carry a walking staff or traveling bag; wear no sandals" (Lk 10:3-4).

For years many of us have been praying for vocations to the priesthood and religious life. Our prayers do not seem to have been answered. Some feel that many people are selfishly rejecting God's call. Yet possibly our prayers for vocations are not more frequently answered because we are praying wrongly (see Jas 4:3; Rm 8:26). We may be praying without working or working without trusting. We may be saying the right words but not in the right context or spirit.

Try praying for vocations God's way. Work at your own vocation – married, religious, or lay single – and then pray. Trust God in new and practical ways, and then pray. You may see your prayers for vocations answered as never before.

Tune In Sundays!

It's been announced that Fr. Barron will launch a nationwide television program in October, becoming the only Catholic priest in the country with a national television platform.  He'll be their first priest  since Archbishop Fulton Sheen in the '50's to have a regular, national program on a commercial television network.

Word on Fire with Father Barron will appear on WGN America Sundays at 8:30 am Central.

I know, we have 8:30 Mass here, too, but I'll be taping it to watch when we get home.

For more about Father Barrnon and his ministry, check out his website at wordonfire.org

What is a Godly Woman?

A Godly woman is a woman who seeks to know, love and serve God, to live joyfully and in abundant grace and strength.  There are seven essential goals to which a Godly Woman aspires:

Read the rest here, you'll be glad you did!

http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/cw/post.php?id=373

Divine Mercy Conference - what a great day!

It was a day full of miracles.  The speakers were great, the day was a spiritual refresher.  If you missed it, you can make up for it, though!  Plan to attend next year's event on Oct. 1, 2011.  Among the speakers for the 2011 date is non other that Father Donald Calloway!

A tribute for my mother-in-law

We unexpectedly lost another family member last week.  My husband's mother passed away during surgery last Friday.

We were going to go to the fair and get her mini donuts for supper, we were going to let her heal for a couple days then transfer her back home.  Yeah, well, God had other ideas.

They were only going to clean out a wound, but it was much more complicated than that.  When the surgeon came to tell us that surgery was not going as planned, we were caught off guard.  Suddenly we were talking about DNR status and the possibility that if she survived surgery, she'd require life support.

After he went to get a status check, the surgeon came back and said that it was done, she'd made that decision for us.  I truly believe that God came to her and asked if she wanted to go now.  She made a good choice.  She's suffered much.  Blessed are the suffering, they shall inherit the Kingdom of God.  She now knows pure love - the kind you only know in heaven.

Blessed are you, Alice Storr.  Rest in peace.

Where Do Priests Come From? - A Book Review

Bezalel Books has published a charming book written by Elizabeth Ficocelli entitled Where Do Priests Come From?

Great for a family library, perfect for your parish or Catholic school library, this book presents in a positive, gentle way, that priests are normal people with a special job.  Priests wear dark clothes with a white collar (until I read the book, I didn't know it had a special meaning!), but priests have pajamas, too.  Priests help people encounter Jesus in many important ways (sacraments) but priests also might like to fish or golf!  

The book would be a great way to help the reader "break the ice" when talking to a priest.  Getting to know more about one's priest will help develop a friendship between the priest and his young (or not so young) parishioners.

I truly wish I had this book when my sons were younger, so my copy will make the rounds at my local Catholic school.  Then, it'll be going to our diocesan vocations director.  

Where Do Priests Come From? is Elizabeth Ficocelli's 11th book and is endorsed by Fr. Donald Calloway, author of No Turning Back: A Witness to Mercy and by Rev. W. Shawn McKnight, Executive Director of the Secretariat of Clergy, Consecrated Life, and Vocations, USCCB.

I am thrilled to see that they have planned more books for this series, Where do Sisters Come From? and Where Do Deacons Come From?.  What a wonderful tool for parents and teachers to introduce the Catholic faith to young learners.  

What to choose? Church or Shopping?

I heard this one EWTN's The World Over program tonight.  Another good reason to look forward to weekend Mass!

Sunday churchgoing makes women happier than shopping

A new study reports that U.S. women who go to church instead of shop on Sundays are generally happier and claims that part of the overall decline in women’s happiness is explained by a decline in religious participation. Further, the study cited the repeal of laws which restrict Sunday business as a reason for the decrease in the level of religious participation.

Dr. Danny Cohen-Zada, an economics professor at Israel’s Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU), collaborated in the study with DePaul University economics professor William Sander.

Prof. Cohen-Zada said the researchers found “direct evidence that religious participation has a positive causal effect on a person’s happiness.”

“Furthermore, an important part of the decline in women’s happiness during the last three decades can be explained by decline in religious participation,” he continued.

The repeal of “blue laws,” which bar stores from opening on Sundays, decreases the relative probability of being at minimum “pretty happy” compared to “not happy” by about 17 percent. Women who choose secular activities such as shopping are not happier, according to the study.

The repeal of blue laws was also found to have a negative effect on the level of religious participation of white women and therefore has a negative impact on their happiness.

Respondents did not return to attending church as much even after they noticed their decrease in happiness, researchers surmised, because of a problem of self-control or the need for immediate satisfaction.

"That satisfaction lasts for the moment it’s being consumed and not much longer than that. Religious participation, on the other hand, is not immediate. Instead, it requires persistence over a period of time,"  Cohen-Zada commented.

Other groups whose religious participation was not affected by repeals did not show an observable significant decline in reported happiness.

The researchers analyzed data from the General Social Survey (GSS) and selected respondents who live in states where there was a clear and significant change in the prohibition of retail activity on Sunday. They compared these respondents to those who lived in states where there was no change at all.

Data was limited to Catholics and Protestants because they were the most likely to attend church on Sundays.

A great find!

On the right upper corner of this page, listed under the Mass Readings, is the word Reflection.  Click on it - but not now.  It takes you to a reflection of today's scriptures.

Those meditations come from Presentation Ministries, Cincinnati, Ohio.  They're great.  Trouble is, some are so great, I want to print them out.  Then what do I do with them?  I even thought about a binder, but that'd be too much to haul around.

Great news!  They actually have a printed devotion book that you can subscribe to!  Subscription costs are whatever you can afford.

I received my free sample booklet for Oct/Nov in the mail today.  It's printed 6 times a year and perfectly purse-size or will fit in my Bible cover.  And, since it's mine, I can highlight the parts of the reflections that "grab" me.  The Permit To Publish is from Rev. Joseph R Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, so we know it's free of doctrinal error.

OK, NOW you can click on Reflections!

Great read at CNA

I've found a great article at the Catholic News Agency.  It was written by Cheryl Dickow, who also wrote a great book for Catholic women, Our Jewish Roots.  You can read my review here, or buy it here.

So, how does one go through getting every little thing done and not lose their mind?  This article had some great advice.

Compartmentalizing for the moment

Dem Bones

There's an old song, "Dem bones, dem bones, dem dry bones...  Now hear the Word of the Lord."

That's what today's Old Testament reading is about.  Whenever I've heard that scripture, I've always wondered, "What the heck is that about?"  Well, today's the day!!  There's a lot to learn in today's reflections.  Take the time to meditate.  And let us not be dry bones!

Take 12 minutes and listen to this:
Pray-As-You-Go.org's reflection for day, Friday20August

Then, read this:

One Bread, One Body - Reflection for August 20, 2010

BONE-RATTLING

"The hand of the Lord came upon me, and He led me out in the Spirit of the Lord and set me in the center of the plain, which was now filled with bones." –Ezekiel 37:1

Ezekiel prophesied over the dry bones, and they started to rattle (Ez 37:7). Mary greeted Elizabeth, and both Elizabeth and the baby in her womb were filled with the Spirit (Lk 1:41). Peter preached at the first Christian Pentecost, and three thousand people were baptized (Acts 2:41). Ananias laid his hands on Saul, who was filled with the Spirit, baptized, and instantly healed of blindness (Acts 9:17-18).

When we prophesy, greet, preach, or pray, most of us don't seem to have such amazing results. The difference is the power of the Spirit. All Christians have the Holy Spirit in them, but many Christians have severely stifled the Spirit (see 1 Thes 5:19; Eph 4:30). Those who rattle dry bones have let the Spirit be very active in their lives.

We stir into flame the gift of the Spirit (2 Tm 1:6-7) especially by repenting of our sins (see Acts 2:38). The psalmist, for example, speaks of God's hand being on him, his bones wasting away, and his strength being dried up (Ps 32:3-4). Yet when he confessed his sins, his bones began to rattle. With the Spirit breathing life into him, he was able to rattle and give life to other dry bones.

If we can't rattle dry bones, we are dry bones. We come alive by repenting of sin. Repent!

You won't lose this rosary!

I'd heard about this, it's not very portable, though!

Bowling Ball Rosary

Well? How was your week?

If you attended our women's retreat in Fort Dodge, and you had a trying week, do not fear.  You haven't been defeated!

Actually, quite the opposite has happened.  You've learned, been encouraged and have strengthened your faith.  That's exactly what Satan doesn't want you to do.

What to do?  Get your Bible, pray the scriptures (if you've misplaced your Steps to Prayer sheet, let me know, I have extras!) and ask St. Michael to help out with some of that spiritual warfare.

Imagine how those foremothers in the Bible were tested!  Remember the strength in what you learned, and pray for each other.

Gina's resources

Here's the list of resources that Gina used at our conference this weekend!

Dialogue of St. Catherine of Sienna (Paulist Press)

Mulieris Dignitatem, by Pope John Paul II, found on the Vatican website or EWTN's online library

Edith Stein: Essays on Woman translated by Freda Mary Oben, Ph.D.

Corrie, the Lives She Touched by Joan Winmill Brown (out of print, used copies available at amazon.com)

A Gift For God by Mother Teresa

Boundaries: When to Say Yes, When to Say No to Take Control of Your Life by Dr. Henry Cloud & Dr. John Townsend

Naturally, keep your Bible and CCC handy, too!

Ready to work on that prayer?

One thing we learned at our retreat least weekend, was the importance of prayer.  And, while I pray often, it's frequently a one-sided conversation.  So, I, too, will be working on the listening and the quiet side of prayer.

Check out this article, let it renew your dedication to prayer.

Retooling Prayer This Summer is at woman.catholicexchange.com

Dignity of Women - not just another good retreat, a great one!

 Last June on vacation, it was all-testosterone all-day.  Having sons is a wonderful thing, but I was also looking forward to our DCCW retreat - a girl weekend!  And, as time has a habit of passing so quickly, our retreat was this weekend.

How wonderful it is to be with other women so excited to learn about their faith.  How great it is to meet a seminarian and share a special Mass with him.  We also appreciated hearing the Bishop thank the women for being there, and for taking the time to listen to the Spirit's call.

When the line for confession is longer than the line for lunch - life is good.  OOps!  I mean, Life is God.

Got any ideas for next year?

To everything there is a season

Working in a long-term care facility, one has to expect that anything can happen.  Some things just happen in ways that make you know there is a God.

I work on the Activity staff.  I'm also a CNA.  My days include anything from manicures, reading, potty breaks and the occasional trips with a resident to a doctor's appointment.  I actually like those trips.  It's a wonderful opportunity to visit one-to-one and get to know the resident.

That's how I got to become a friend to Gert (not her real name).  I knew, somewhat, of her medical past.  The diabetes was obvious from her amputated leg, her poor vision and the needle pricks before mealtimes.  The "inside stuff" revealed itself when I went with her to the doctor.

Our fist trip was to check on her kidney function-it wasn't good.  Our second trip was to get a check-up on the stents in her arm.  They were put there in anticipation of future dialysis.  Our third, and final trip took my breath away.

That's when she told the doctor that she didn't want dialysis, she was ready to meet the Lord.  Huh?  Did she really say what I thought I heard?  She did.  At that point, I knew how the next several months of her life would be.  She asked me if I thought she was crazy.  She asked me to say 'good bye' to her son, if he would come.

So, I looked forward every day to see my friend.  I greeted her with that Eastern accent "hullo" if she didn't say it first.  She'd told me that she had been Catholic at one point.  But, that had been a while back.  I was elated when our priest came to see her and I helped her get to the annointing service that SHE wanted to go to.

I didn't get to see her son.  Her family had a private service.   But every day when I go past the room where she lived, I say a prayer of thanksgiving that I knew her.  And, Blessed Mother, watch over her, please.

Free!

There's lots to explore at My Catholic Faith.  They have monthly online classes (yes, I'm a member and I find them very interesting), books, and downloadable mp3's.

Don't miss the free download of Dr. Tom Curran's newest book, Confession: Five Sentences That Will Heal Your Life.  It's a "sequel," if you will, to The Mass:  Four Encounters with Jesus that will Change Your Life.


The price is right (free) the eternal benefits are fabulous!

Check it out at My Catholic Faith!

And don't miss the Daily Scripture reflections...

The shack?

I have to admit - I'm a fan of Johnette Benkovic.  I saw Johnette in Mitchell, SD a few years ago, and it was amazing.  I see on her website that she has a New Age blog.

Found this to be interesting about a book called The Shack

Actually, a lot of that blog is interesting.  Oh, what a little crevice it takes for doubt and the evil one to enter.

Review: Our Jewish Roots

I've just finished reading Our Jewish Roots: A Catholic Woman's Guide to Fulfillment Today by Connecting with her Past.  Being a convert, the whole Jewish history part intrigued me.  Being a fan of the feminine genius, I was more than curious.

The first part of the book tells of the history of some Jewish customs and beliefs that shed light on why Catholics do what they do and what makes the rituals so special.  I read and reread the sections on the Immaculate Conception and Feminine Genius.  What an ultimate pick-me-up!

The last part of the book introduces the reader to numerous women of the Bible, some who don't even have a name, but it describes the huge role they had in Salvation History.  Each chapter starts with a excerpt from JPII's Mulieris Dignitatum, and gives strength to women of today as we go through those hard times in our lives.  Really, I don't know if I'd have the strength of Noah's wife.  Think about all she did:  the support she gave her family, she lost all her friends in a flood as her family was chosen to be saved, she endured ark-dwelling with family and all those animals - and we don't even know her name.

The book is written in a way that perfectly explains and makes complete sense even to this ordinary lay(wo)man.  I'm anxious for you to read it, too.

We'll have books available for purchase at our retreat or it's available from the publisher or at amazon.com.  It's a perfect compliment to what we'll be learning at our retreat in August.  I know you'll love it as much as I did, what a wonderful read! 

Weekend plans?

If you find yourself with some time this weekend, add this to your schedule!

Sat., July 3 tune into kwky.com at 9 am and listen to Matthew Kelly's interview.  Matthew Kelly will be in Des Moines at the Christ Our Life conference in October.

On Sun., July 4, at 6 pm, get out your rosary!  The America Needs Fatima is asking all of us to pray the Rosary for our nation.  We could use it!

And since your calendar's out, highlight July 28.  Endow's Terry Polakovic will be on EWTN Live with Fr. Mitch.  You won't want to miss it.  (Or the Endow conference in October.)

Embracing Our Call Retreat - Aug. 6-8, 2010

It's a tough world our there.  We sometimes get so blind-sided by the world that we lose track of where to find peace.  Well, it's time to register for our retreat.  We'll be studying "Mulieris Dignitatem" written by Pope John Paul II.  This papal document explores the Dignity and Vocation of Women.  A topic as timely now as when it was written 20 years ago.

If you attended last year, you will easily remember how blessed we were that weekend. This year, please bring a friend.

Registration for the whole weekend is $30. The speaker will again be Gina Bauer - you're gonna love her!

It will be at Corpus Christi, Fort Dodge, IA from August 6 to 8.  It is a continuation of last year but DO NOT PANIC!  You're not behind!   We will have a refresher session for last year's attendees and this year's first-timers. The weekend will begin with registration at 5 pm on Fri., Aug. 6.
A registration form can be downloaded at the Council of Catholic Women website.  Look for us on facebook, or email me for more info.

From the latest Globe article:

“Julie and I are really promoting this retreat,” said Streit [that would be Ellen, our DCCW pres]. “I feel that’s what we need – something positive about our vocation and our dignity. We could change this world around, but it’s going to take a lot of woman power.”

We hope you join us for study, friendship, sacraments, Mass with Bishop Nickless and we guarantee you'll refresh your soul.  

Patience -

It's been one week since my elbow surgery. I can finally type with both hands, slowly.

That's where I've been, trying to be patient. Thanks for yours!

Great music video

Here is a great musical rendering of John 6 in Music and picture.
The Song is called “I Believe” by Brian Flynn, the son of Vinny Flynn, author of "Seven Secrets of the Eucharist."

License plates

In Indiana (here's a news article about this one) we saw their fairly new plates.  The plate frame reads "This Car Brakes for Quilt Shops."

We saw this Tennessee Plate in Kentucky, I got to talk to its owner. Tennessee Right to Life had quite a time getting this plate through. Even their governor turned it down at first saying that a Choose Life plate was too political!  You can read more here and here.

Both plates survived a court battle by the ACLU.  I thanked the folks from Tennessee for their work.  They were a joy to talk to.

Back home

It was a great vacation, actually.  It's changed, though, as the boys have grown.  Their talent of picking out a luxury/fast car going down interstate at 70 mph is amazing.

I was thrilled to be able to attend a Solemn Mass and Procession at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.  Once again, with this plan, I heard "Why do we have to do this?" and when it was over, they thought that even this was a pretty cool idea.

It's a big Basilica.  It's the 8th largest religious structure in the world.

Look close!  See the image of Jesus behind the Tabernacle?

As we were there for the Feast Day of the Body & Blood, there was a Procession after Mass.  The Procession carried the Blessed Sacrament from the main church to the crypt church.

It was heavenly to kneel on the front steps of the church for Exposition.  It was an amazing experience to be there with so many others, too.  There are many chapels throughout the crypt, a great gift shop and bookstore.  So much to see, I bought the book.