It's Friday

1. I do not know how I have arrived at the end of July. Where did the month go? And more importantly, why have I not accomplished anything this month? Wait, I think I know what happened. My dad had open-heart surgery; my husband applied and was accepted into the diaconate formation program and we attended our first formation event. Both of these sent me into an emotional tailspin. I am still trying to recover.



2. I published the August/September issue of our parish newsletter, The Call. It was longer than usual since I had more translated into Spanish.



3. This week I have been struggling with feelings of despair. I am so close to finishing my master's in Pastoral Administration and I had to apply for an extension for course 9 papers, due to #1 and my time never seems like it is my own. I know God is there, but boy, the other guy is really working on me too. Mass and Eucharist help a great deal, but at times even that seems so remote. I am definitely in a dry spell.



4. On the upside, my front lawn looks very pretty. The grass had been taken over by some disease or lack of water or something. So, my husband and a friend dug it all up and laid new sod down. It was all finished this morning. Now it needs to be watered until it takes root. I hope it rains all weekend!



5. I am looking forward to our Gospel readings all this month. We will be hearing the Bread of Life discourse from John 6 and I think anytime we can pause and focus on the Eucharist it is a good thing. I pray that more people come to realize the true Presence and realize what an awesome gift we have been given.



6. My daughter said something very touching the other day. We were discussing how, when ordained, deacons take a vow of Chastity and if his wife dies, he cannot re-marry (unless there are certain exceptions, which would not apply to my husband). She said, "Mom, Dad would not marry anyone else anyway." I guess they notice more than I realize.



7. A quote from Julian of Norwich, "I am he; that is to say: I am he, the power and goodness of fatherhood; I am he, the wisdom and the lovingness of motherhood; I am he, the light and the grace which is all blessed love; I am he, the Trinity; I am he, the unity; O am he, the great supreme goodness of every kind of thing; I am he who makes you to love; I am he who makes you to ling; I am he, the endless fulfilling of all true desires. For where the soul is highest, noblest, most honorable, still it is lowest, meekest, and mildest." from Showings

Liturgy of the Hours

On retreat last weekend we prayed the Liturgy of the Hours which is the universal prayer of the Church. It was interesting, especially since the books were basically handed to the men who had just been admitted into the deaconate formation program with no instruction at all, just ribbon markers on the necessary pages. So, it was a definite learning on your feet experience. Thankfully I had a tiny bit of experience so I was able to help my husband follow along. But then, we got to a feast day, and that was not good. Much more difficult to follow and you needed to hold your place in more spots than ribbons were available.
At any rate, here is a good post from Melanie at The Wine-Dark Sea on this subject if you are interested in learning more, it's been discussed among some on Facebook, so I thought I'd post this to help the conversation along.

What is Stewardship?

As Director of Stewardship I am often asked this question. Stewardship is a somewhat disconcerting word, very ‘churchy’ and not really used in regular conversation. At times, people assume that I am only interested in money for the parish and that my goal is to get lots of it so we can spend with abandon. Or that I’d like to see their tax returns so I can determine how much they should give the parish.
Well, none of that is true. I am not interested in your money and what you do with it but in your attitude towards the gifts you have been given. My job is not to get something but to help us all realize that literally everything we are, everything we have and everything that is important to us is a gift. And that gift comes from God, the one who made us and gives us life.
What is most important in our lives? Many of us will say our family, faith, friends, health. But how do we spend our time and money? Is it to take care of the people we love or is it to acquire things for their own sake? Or do we work too much and then try to pay-off others for our lack of attention?
Jesus tells us “seek his kingdom, and these other things will be given you besides” (Luke 12:31) and “where your treasure is, there also will your heart be” (Luke 12:34). Answer the above questions and then you will learn what kingdom you are seeking. If you are seeking God’s kingdom, then you receive all that you need from our Father. If you are seeking the world, which is materialism, relativism, and individualism, then stewardship is not an option for you. Stewardship is about trusting in God and believing that he will provide what you need when you need it. Not more, not less, and right on time. Stewardship is about serving others, sharing with others, and loving others. How much we each serve, share and love is up to us, but we must always remember the greatest example of serving, sharing and loving comes from when Christ stretched out his arms and died for us.

Sunday's Gospel

Today at Mass the priest spoke to us about the need to get away and pray as Jesus was advocating for the apostles today. As a wife and mother it is sometimes difficult to do this, though now, as my children are older I have that freedom. It is always so refreshing to sit and spend time in front of the Blessed Sacrament and pour out my concerns and then to just sit and be with Jesus. Last year I went on a week long retreat during the summer and that was gift. this year I attended a Cursillo and next weekend I will attend a Deacon's retreat for all the deacons and their wives in formation. I am so thankful for these extended opportunities to pray and grow in my faith.
On a regular basis I pray each morning and evening but the best thing I am able to do is attend morning Mass. It is much easier to see the Jesus in others when you receive him each day. While I am away I haven't been able to go to Mass each morning since we are so busy in the morning getting ready for the day. I find I really miss it even though I have my Magnificat to read and pray with each day.
Which brings me to the next point and that is that prayer is really about relationship with God and that is what sustains us in our journey. We must pray always as St. Paul tells us and that is what gives us hope and confidence in our Father and that he will supply our needs.
I pray that during these summer months we are able to find time to rest and restore ourselves through prayer.

Away

I am away helping my parents for a week. This is the first time I've had to do this. My dad had quadruple by-pass 2 weeks ago. Now that he is home and recovering my mom is of course taking care of him. I came so Mom could have some freedom to get out and do the things she usually does and I'll stay home with Dad. He does not need tons of help, but is not quite up to being alone for hours or getting his own meals. Or cooking dinner as he often does.
I will get to see my son next week while I'm here and my sister and brother and respective families. So, though I'm not on vacation, it is a bit of a down time, which I am glad to have.

It is difficult to see my parents as getting older and I do wonder what will happen as the years progress and they need care on a regular basis. I pray that when the time comes everyone recognizes it and is willing to work together.

Sunday Snippets

Hi, and welcome to another edition of Sunday Snippets--A Catholic Carnival. We are a group of bloggers who gather once each week to share out best posts.

The Creed - Part 4

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of Life, who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son he is worshipped and glorified. He has spoken through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Amen.

This last section of the creed focuses first on the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Blessed Trinity and is the one who animates our life. The Spirit comes from the Father and the Son out of the great love they have, not only for each other but for all of us. Since all three are equal all are given praise and worship.

The next statement reminds us that our Church did not simply appear one day; it is founded on the apostles whom Jesus gathered around him during his three years of ministry. He said, “Come after me” (Mt: 4:19) and then told Peter “upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it” (Mt 16: 18). Our Church is alive because if has living foundation.

Baptism is received only once, no matter in what religious denomination, as long as it is done with water and in the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit. If a person has already been baptized in this manner, they are not re-baptized when they convert to Catholicism. Instead, they make a “profession of faith.”

And finally, we remind ourselves that at some point in time, all the dead shall be resurrected and live forever, hopefully, with God in heaven.

The Creed is a summation of our faith. It explains, briefly, all that we as Catholic hold to be true in our faith. Each Sunday as we pray this ancient prayer together let us recall what unites us and gives us a firm foundation.
For more information see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Part 1, Section 2, Chapter 3 or online at http://www.usccb.org/catechism/text/pt1sect2chpt3ind.shtml

The Creed -Part 3

By the power of the Holy Spirit he was born of the Virgin Mary, and became man. For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered, died, and was buried. On the third day he rose again in fulfillment of the Scriptures; he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.

When we pray the Creed and say “By the power of the Holy Spirit he was born of the Virgin Mary and became man,” it is at this point we bow to remind ourselves of the act of God lowering himself to become man. It is through Jesus’ obedience to his Father that he suffers and dies for us. The “third day” of course, is the resurrection and this fulfills every word of Scripture. Jesus then spent forty days with the apostles and then ascended to the Father in heaven. There, he takes his rightful place at God’s right hand. He intercedes for us and sees that the Holy Spirit is poured forth for us. When Jesus comes again, it will be in glory at the end of the world. Jesus will reveal all the secrets in our hearts, and our final judgment will be determined by our works and our acceptance or rejection of the grace given to us.

For more in-depth information on the creed and what we believe, see the Catechism, sections 484 to 682 in Part 1, Section 2, Chapter 2.

The Creed - Part 2

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten not made, one in being with the Father. Through Him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation, he came down from heaven.

This part of the Creed is about Jesus, the second person of the Trinity. Just as we believe in only one God the Father, we believe in only one God the Son, who is called Jesus Christ. Even his name tells us who he is and why he came to us. “Lord” is used in the Old Testament to tell us that God is divine. In the New Testament, the title is used for both the Father and Son, stressing that we recognize Jesus as God himself. Jesus means “God saves” in Hebrew and Christ is a Greek translation of Messiah, which is “anointed” in Hebrew. There is only one Son, who comes from the Father, and has existed since the beginning of time. The words “true God from true God” remind us that Jesus was both fully divine and fully human. His incarnation, when “he came down from heaven,” did not make him less divine, but rather he has both his divine and human nature. The two natures cooperate so that his human will is obedient to the Father so that we would have eternal salvation. Jesus’ incarnation gives dignity to the human person and leads us to share in his divinity.

As we pray these words each Sunday, recall how Jesus humbled himself to become like us and then saved us. When we do that, gratitude is our response.

For more in-depth information see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 422 to 483, (Part 1, Section 2, Chapter 2)

The Creed - Part 1

Each Sunday at Mass we pray together the Nicene Creed, which is a summation of what we believe as Catholics. It is ancient, coming from the Councils of Nicea in 325 and Constantinople in 381, and is common to both the Eastern and Latin Rite Churches. Each section gives us basic tenets or beliefs of our faith. But do we know what we are saying, or do the words just come out of our mouths, following along with everyone else around us?

The first sentence calls to mind who made us and everything around us
We believe in one God,the Father, the Almighty,maker of heaven and earth,of all that is seen and unseen.

“We believe in one God.” This is where we begin, with God who is love and truth for all people. There is no one greater than him, anywhere in heaven or on earth. He has made all things and people, even those things which we cannot see. It is only right then, to offer him our praise and thanksgiving. Our lives should be a response to his great love. The word “almighty” helps us to recall God’s infinite mercy and that for him, nothing is impossible. He created heaven and earth out of nothing, and as an act of love. Most importantly, he created man and woman in his image and likeness and we are good.

The next time you are at Mass and pray these words, really focus on what they mean and how you can live your life reflecting your belief in them.

For more in depth information see the Catechism of the Catholic Church, sections 185 to 421 (section 2, chapter 1).

7 Quick Takes Friday

1. I attended a Cursillo weekend and am still thinking about all I learned. I will say that the prayers of so many meant so much to me, especially those people whom I don't know, don;t know me, and will probably never meet.

2. Our new priest is settling into the parish and office quite well. He is very funny, warm, a good homilist.

3. My dad had open heart surgery last week and is doing very well. He should be home soon and I'll go to see him and spend time helping my mom next week.

4. My front yard is being dug up and will soon be beautiful. As long as the rain doesn't wash away the dirt before we can get new sod down.

5. I finished all the writing for the next newsletter at work. Praise God!

6. I am reading Julian of Norwich and just finished the section on the Trinity. She writes with the most amazing insight and touches me with her wisdom and humility.

7. Last, but really most important.........my husband has been accepted into the Diaconate program and he will begin in just two weeks! The Holy Spirit is moving.

Choosing Beauty: A 30 Day Spiritual Makeover for Women

I choose this book by Gina Loehr to review for different reasons, but mainly to discern if our women's bible study group would enjoy it as a selection. It was a great study. The book is broken down into 10 chapters, each for three days and are grouped by a virtue that the chapter focuses on, such as hope, prudence, or charity. There is a prayer and thought provoking questions at the end of each day's short reading. At the end of each chapter there is a short explanation of how Mary and a saint models the virtue discussed. Gina also includes a "suggested spiritual activity" at the end of each chapter. There are also charts to fill in if you'd like to keep track of your personal progress on your growth in a particular virtue.

Some questions she asks are: How can you "open the doors to Christ" in your life? Describe how you have seen hope and joy expressed in young children. What can you learn form them? A suggested spiritual activity, from the chapter on faith is to spend time in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament on a regular basis and from Fortitude, consider reading one of the gospels all the way through, paying special attention to how Jesus lived out eh virtue of fortitude.

I enjoyed the study and think it would be useful to women in many different stages of their faith life. All of us need a reminder now and again that Christian virtue should be the foundation of our life in Christ and that the world's definition of beauty is not what makes an attractive woman. I especially enjoyed Gina's story as to how she was convinced to spend time cultivating her inner beauty.

This book is definitely on my short list of possibilities for fall with the women. This review was written as part of the Catholic book Reviewer program from The Catholic Company. Visit The Catholic Company to find more information on Choosing Beauty.

Dance

Tuesday my mom called me at the office, which is unusual. It seems my dad had gone for a regular check up and they were not happy with his heart so he was sent for further tests and it was determined he needed an angiogram and angioplasty. The plan was to go in on Thursday morning and return later that day. By 1:00 p.m. I still hadn't heard anything and was having a hard time concentrating. My sister finally called and she said that dad needed bypass surgery, much more serious than angioplasty! He wound up having a quadruple by-pass later that afternoon. I spoke to him very briefly this morning, he's still in ICU.

This event has reminded me very clearly of my parents' mortality. I don't think about them dying and don't expect it to happen any time soon. This is the first time my dad has had any health concern and he starts with a big one! But I suppose it is something we all must face and so of course I began to think about parents dying.

In my family I was born and greeted by two sets of grandparents and one set of great grandparents and a great grandmother. My own children were born with two sets of grandparents as well as three great grandmothers and one great grandfather. All the great grandparents have died now, but all lived very long lives. When my grandmother died two years ago, it was then I realized that in the scheme of things it would be my mom and dad next to go. And in many ways I'm not ready. I have expectations that my father will dance with my daughter and nieces at their weddings just like I danced with my grandfather. But then, I remembered that only I had that privilege, no one else. I want my dad to see his great grandchildren, take them for walks, and cook for them.

Of course there are no promises that we live forever and I am always amazed at how many people I know who never knew their grandparents or their parents have already died. I am grateful we have good genes and that my mom nags my dad into taking care of himself. I am grateful that I believe in eternal life. And I have hope that my dad will recover and live many more years so he can dance at the weddings.