Your Allies in War

"How did John arrive at such a total admiration and at such an absolute idea of the person of Jesus? ...it is due to the fact that he had Jesus' mother nearby: he lived with her, prayed with her, and spoke with her about Jesus. It is striking to think that when he composed the phrase, 'And the Word was made flesh,' the evangelist had beside him, under his own roof, the one in whose womb this mystery had taken place.
    "Origen wrote that John's gospel is the first fruits of the four gospels and that no one can understand it unless he or she has lain on Jesus' breast and received Mary from him as his mother. Jesus was born 'by the power of the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary.' In different ways, the Holy Spirit and Mary are the two best allies in our effort to draw near to Jesus, to bring him to birth, by faith, in our lives each Christmas." (Remember Jesus Christ, by Fr. Cantalamessa, p. 41)

I think this passage is a good explanation of why we need Mary if we want to grow & persevere in the spiritual life. Sadly it is also a reminder of the two persons that most evangelicals/Protestants seem to leave in the cold. I'm not sure if "they" think that Mary and the Holy Spirit just brought Jesus the one time or what...an idea which is just silly, for what it's worth. There is so much to learn from Mary and from the Holy Spirit in preparing ourselves to receive Christ.

I often forget how powerful an intercessor Mary can be - or not forget exactly, but shunt away (outside of the liturgy, that is). The Rosary isn't really my 'thing' and it's often hard for me to think of Mary as an accessible mother/wife figure, seeing as how she was sinless & all. So, to me, Mary can be this distant image of perfection that is way out of reach.

On the other hand, maybe I've just been hanging out with the wrong crowd. Do you ever notice that saints hang out with other saints? Maybe part of the reason John wrote/lived as he did was because of being around Mary all the time - and her influence and holiness helped him to grow in holiness. Then why wouldn't inviting her into my home help me to also grow in holiness - especially in my vocation. I'm not sure how to get out of the rut of the Rosary, but this is something to ponder.

Tell me, dear reader, how do you stay close to Mary? What is your perspective on her influence in your life?

A Beautiful Read

"BG45" has a great post up about relevance & youth & church:

This idea of being hip and relevant has spawned countless megachurches. We don't want hip and relevant. Because "relevant" isn't really relevant. Jesus Christ is. Don't water down the Gospel. Tell us we're sinners. Tell us that Jesus died for our sins. Don't tell us God wants us to be rich. Tell us that He calls for us to suffer and be persecuted for His name. 

I don't want to go to a church and find myself there only for some sort of "relevant" music extravaganza. I don't want to go to a church and be told that Jesus wants me to be rich. I don't want to go to a church and be told that Gospel is a morality tale, or that Jesus was a great teacher. I want to walk into a church and be told that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that He died for my sins. I want to walk into a church and not be wowed by the audio-visual equipment, but wowed by the attitude of gratitude and reverence that the people there have.

I'm excerpting just a bit here, because this is a wonderfully written piece, but this passage especially struck me. "Because relevant isn't really relevant." YES! Because what is relevant today will pass into obscurity tomorrow and fade in the future. Jesus Christ, His life, death and resurrection is relevant day after day, partly because it is so unheard of - and to be honest, any person who has studied their Bible knows why the Jews crucified Him for blasphemy...what He said and did were outrageous! His words still have the power to sway us and to change us! (I swear I didn't mean those sentences to rhyme.)

I pray that I can become a person as BG says at the end - a person of such gratitude and reverence that others are drawn in, because my life, my being has been changed by Jesus Christ. Amen.

A few things

On children 'playing Mass':

1. Use your common sense people. Of course your little darling isn't excommunicated for playing Mass.

2. If a child (girl or boy) is playing Mass and the parents encourage/allow - don't you think they will also know better than to let their little girl believe she can be a priest too? As she grows older, they will form her correctly.

3. Girls understand the concept of 'pretend' you know.

4. Why wouldn't the Novus Ordo be fun to play at? Because it's in English? Because it's not the Latin Mass?

5. Prickish attitudes totally turn me off...some of the comments to that piece are absolutely mind-blowing! No wonder there is an explosion of scrupulousity these days...a parent who read that combox might think they are sinning if they allow their daughter to 'play Mass.'

I'm grumpy today...family issues have me ticked off.

In a Union of Love ("I may praise Thee")

Guest post by Micah Murphy of  Fiat Men


...that with Thy saints, I may praise Thee, forever and ever. Amen.

In our last meditation, I ended with the note that we will be with Christ in heaven.  I would like you to ponder, today, and consider the saints with whom we will share our blessed inheritance.  Not like an earthly inheritance will this be, no. All earthly things, when they are shared, must be split and divided, or used jointly, but since heaven is all about gaining God, and God is love, then the rule of sharing love applies to heaven.  When love is shared, it is given, and given completely, and yet the giver still enjoys the gift.  Much like fire is love.  A flaming candle lights another wick and the fire spreads to the second, but does not diminish from the first.  In heaven, we will share our inheritance like a candle shares a flame, and we will share it with all the saints in glory.

It is, after all, the Communion of Saints. The saints are in union together, and what is a union but a giving of self, and dwelling with one another?  In heaven, we too will be saints, canonized or not, and we will lay prostrate around the Throne of God, upon which sits the Lamb who was slain, whom we have had the privilege to bear in ourselves, to receive on our tongues in the Most Holy Sacrament of the Altar, but then in heaven, we will not simply have faith in His presence. We will see Him in flesh, and we shall converse with Him who made us and died for us - the soul the sanctifies, the body that saves, the blood that inebriates, the water that washes, and the marks of once patiently taken suffering that will comfort us for all eternity.  It is He with whom we are one, and in Him, with all the saints.

Who better than the saints, our brothers and sisters in Christ, to carry us to heaven on their prayers?  Let us ask for their intercession in every moment of our lives, and we shall not be disappointed.

Harems in 2012

Women! Stop whoring yourselves out for the attention of a man! Stop competing against each other in a harem, for the right to sleep with your master.

I beg of all you good and decent men & women out there, stop watching these shows that perpetuate these attitudes against women. Starve the beast and kill it when it is weak.

(I saw an ad for the upcoming "Bachelor" series, and was totally disgusted.)

Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God

www.marypages.com

Homily of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI

Dear Brothers and Sisters!

On the first day of the year, the liturgy resounds in the Church throughout the world with the ancient priestly blessing that we heard during today’s first reading: “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace” (Num 6:24-26). This blessing was entrusted by God, through Moses, to Aaron and his sons, that is, to the priests of the people of Israel. It is a triple blessing filled with light, radiating from the repetition of the name of God, the Lord, and from the image of his face. In fact, in order to be blessed, we have to stand in God’s presence, take his Name upon us and remain in the cone of light that issues from his Face, in a space lit up by his gaze, diffusing grace and peace.

This was the very experience that the shepherds of Bethlehem had, who reappear in today’s Gospel. They had the experience of standing in God’s presence, they received his blessing not in the hall of a majestic palace, in the presence of a great sovereign, but in a stable, before a “babe lying in a manger” (Lk 2:16). From this child, a new light issues forth, shining in the darkness of the night, as we can see in so many paintings depicting Christ’s Nativity. Henceforth, it is from him that blessing comes, from his name – Jesus, meaning “God saves” – and from his human face, in which God, the almighty Lord of heaven and earth, chose to become incarnate, concealing his glory under the veil of our flesh, so as to reveal fully to us his goodness (cf. Tit 3:4).

The first to be swept up by this blessing was Mary the virgin, the spouse of Joseph, chosen by God from the first moment of her existence to be the mother of his incarnate Son. She is the “blessed among women” (Lk 1:42) – in the words of Saint Elizabeth’s greeting. Her whole life was spent in the light of the Lord, within the radius of his name and of the face of God incarnate in Jesus, the “blessed fruit of her womb”. This is how Luke’s Gospel presents her to us: fully intent upon guarding and meditating in her heart upon everything concerning her son Jesus (cf. Lk 2:19, 51). The mystery of her divine motherhood that we celebrate today contains in superabundant measure the gift of grace that all human motherhood bears within it, so much so that the fruitfulness of the womb has always been associated with God’s blessing. The Mother of God is the first of the blessed, and it is she who bears the blessing; she is the woman who received Jesus into herself and brought him forth for the whole human family. In the words of the liturgy: “without losing the glory of virginity, [she] brought forth into the world the eternal light, Jesus Christ our Lord” (Preface I of the Blessed Virgin Mary).

Mary is the mother and model of the Church, who receives the divine Word in faith and offers herself to God as the “good soil” in which he can continue to accomplish his mystery of salvation. The Church also participates in the mystery of divine motherhood, through preaching, which sows the seed of the Gospel throughout the world, and through the sacraments, which communicate grace and divine life to men. The Church exercises her motherhood especially in the sacrament of Baptism, when she generates God’s children from water and the Holy Spirit, who cries out in each of them: “Abba, Father!” (Gal 4:6). Like Mary, the Church is the mediator of God’s blessing for the world: she receives it in receiving Jesus and she transmits it in bearing Jesus. He is the mercy and the peace that the world, of itself, cannot give, and which it needs always, at least as much as bread.

Dear friends, peace, in the fullest and highest sense, is the sum and synthesis of all blessings. So when two friends meet, they greet one another, wishing each other peace. The Church too, on the first day of the year, invokes this supreme good in a special way; she does so, like the Virgin Mary, by revealing Jesus to all, for as Saint Paul says, “He is our peace” (Eph 2:14), and at the same time the “way” by which individuals and peoples can reach this goal to which we all aspire. With this deep desire in my heart, I am glad to welcome and greet all of you who have come to Saint Peter’s Basilica on this 45th World Day of Peace: Cardinals, Ambassadors from so many friendly countries, who more than ever on this happy occasion share with me and with the Holy See the desire for renewed commitment to the promotion of peace in the world; the President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, who with the Secretary and the officials of the Dicastery work in a particular way towards this goal; the other Bishops and Authorities present; the representatives of ecclesial Associations and Movements and all of you, brothers and sisters, especially those among you who work in the field of educating the young. Indeed – as you know – the role of education is what I highlighted in my Message for this year.

“Educating Young People in Justice and Peace” is a task for every generation, and thanks be to God, after the tragedies of the two great world wars, the human family has shown increasing awareness of it, as we can witness, on the one hand, from international statements and initiatives, and on the other, from the emergence among young people themselves, in recent decades, of many different forms of social commitment in this field. For the ecclesial community, educating men and women in peace is part of the mission received from Christ, it is an integral part of evangelization, because the Gospel of Christ is also the Gospel of justice and peace. But the Church, in recent times, has articulated a demand that affects everyone with a sensitive and responsible conscience regarding humanity’s future; the demand to respond to a decisive challenge that consists precisely in education. Why is this a “challenge”? For at least two reasons: in the first place, because in the present age, so strongly marked by a technological mentality, the desire to educate and not merely to instruct cannot be taken for granted, it is a choice; in the second place, because the culture of relativism raises a radical question: does it still make sense to educate? And then, to educate for what?

Naturally now is not the time to address these fundamental questions, which I have tried to answer on other occasions. Instead I would like to underline the fact that, in the face of the shadows that obscure the horizon of today’s world, to assume responsibility for educating young people in knowledge of the truth, in fundamental values and virtues, is to look to the future with hope. And in this commitment to a holistic education, formation in justice and peace has a place. Boys and girls today are growing up in a world that has, so to speak, become smaller, where contacts between different cultures and traditions, even if not always direct, are constant. For them, now more than ever, it is indispensable to learn the importance and the art of peaceful coexistence, mutual respect, dialogue and understanding. Young people by their nature are open to these attitudes, but the social reality in which they grow up can lead them to think and act in the opposite way, even to be intolerant and violent. Only a solid education of their consciences can protect them from these risks and make them capable of carrying on the fight, depending always and solely on the power of truth and good. This education begins in the family and is developed at school and in other formative experiences. It is essentially about helping infants, children and adolescents to develop a personality that combines a profound sense of justice with respect for their neighbour, with a capacity to address conflicts without arrogance, with the inner strength to bear witness to good, even when it involves sacrifice, with forgiveness and reconciliation. Thus they will be able to become people of peace and builders of peace.

In this task of educating young generations, a particular responsibility lies with religious communities. Every pathway of authentic religious formation guides the person, from the most tender age, to know God, to love him and to do his will. God is love, he is just and peaceable, and anyone wishing to honour him must first of all act like a child following his father’s example. One of the Psalms says: “The Lord does deeds of justice, gives judgment for all who are oppressed ... The Lord is compassion and love, slow to anger and rich in mercy” (Ps102:6,8). In God, justice and mercy come together perfectly, as Jesus showed us through the testimony of his life. In Jesus, “love and truth” have met, “justice and peace” have embraced (cf. Ps 84:11). In these days, the Church is celebrating the great mystery of the Incarnation: God’s truth has sprung from the earth and justice looks down from heaven, the earth has yielded its fruit (cf. Ps 84:12,13). God has spoken to us in his Son Jesus. Let us hear what God has to say: “a voice that speaks of peace” (Ps 84:9). Jesus is a way that can be travelled, open to everyone. He is the path of peace. Today the Virgin Mary points him out to us, she shows us the Way: let us walk in it! And you, Holy Mother of God, accompany us with your protection. Amen.

Aw the hell with it

Much like Puff and her husband, I don't do New Year's resolutions. What's the point? I resolve every day to be a better Christian, wife and mother. I do that every day...why on earth would I make a big production out of it for just one day? Bah! Humbug!

Patrick gives us his predictions for the coming year...I like the November 6th prediction. Well, the second part of it makes me laugh anyway.

Satan's resolutions give me pause...

I'm also not going to do a review of my year...because it sucked.

And on that note, I'm going to Adoration tonight, ringing in the New Year with Jesus, if you've got any intentions.

To the Holy Family

Jesus, whose almighty bidding
   All created things fulfil,
Lived on earth in meek subjection

   To His earthly parents' will.
      Sweetest Infant, make us patient
          And obedient for Thy sake;
      Teach us to be chaste and gentle,
          All our stormy passions break.

Blessed Mary! thou wert chosen
   To be Mother of thy Lord:
Thou didst guide the early footsteps
    Of the great Incarnate Word.
       Dearest Mother! make us humble;
          For thy Son will take His rest
       In the poor and lowly dwelling
          Of a humble sinner's breast.

Joseph! thou wert called the father
   Of thy Maker and thy Lord;
Thine it was to save thy Saviour
   From the cruel Herod's sword.
      Suffer us to call thee father;
         Show to us a father's love;
      Lead us safe through every danger
         Till we meet in heaven above.

(poem from "Catholic Girl's Guide", all spellings left intact)

Peace! How our heart rejoices at the sound of this word! Peace especially is the characteristic of our holy religion. Not without reason did the angels sing when Jesus was born in Bethlehem: "On earth peace, to men of good will." Can peace be wanting where Jesus dwells? And Jesus dwells where faith prevails. Let us consider this peace as it is to be found in the Christian family.

Let us begin by contemplating the bright pattern of every family presented by the holy family in the cottage at Nazareth. What deep and abiding peace is here! Whence does it spring? The holy family is poor, forsake, despised by men. No earthly good are there; no riches, spacious apartments, costly garments, delicate viands, nothing, in fact, which in the eyes of worldlings belongs to content and happiness. Yet Mary and Joseph with the holy Child enjoyed contentment and happiness as great as that of our first parents before the fall. The reason of this was that they had peace of heart.
(from the "Catholic Girl's Guide")

Must Read of the Day

Abortion makes cowards out of women

See, If I am anything, I am a coward shamer. Because I have absolutely no tolerance for sexually active women who act completely dumbfounded when penis vagina relations make baby. And rather than hearing you talk about what “hard choices” you are going to have to make now in regards to the killing or not killing of your fetus, all I hear is, “derp, derp, derp, I’m too stupid for real feminism.” The "hard choice" was made the second you hopped in the back of that Camaro, and if you have the mental wherewithal to get fully undressed in a 4ft by 3ft space without catching an elbow to the eye, than I have a really hard time believing you didn’t realize his semen could bump into your egg on the way to the uterus bar and hit it off.

Go read it all.

Knuckle-dragging no longer

I've been dragged into the newfangled world of e-readers. Sigh. My husband did something great and put over 80 Stephen King and Dean Koontz books on a microSD card for my new Nook. But, I'd like to also have some Catholic books too - not 'bought' from Barnes & Noble, because even with the 'free' books, you have to have a credit card on file and I'm just not willing to do that.

So, do you know of somewhere to download free Catholic e-books to transfer to my new Nook? I'd love to get some encyclicals too, but I don't know that you can put those on e-books.

I think I will like this thing, especially for trips and for magazine subscriptions - but nothing will replace reading a 'real' book.