A Simple Twist of Faith

Equipped for every good work

"From infancy you have known the scriptures, which are capable of giving you wisdom for salvation through t faith in Christ Jesus.  All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teachng for refutation, for correction, and for training in righteous so that one who belongs to God may be competent, equipped for every good work." ( 2 Timothy 3:15-17).

As a Catholic Christian, I was taught the Seven Sacraments, Baptism, Reconciliation, Eucharist, Confirmation, Holy Orders, Marriage, and Anointing of the Sick are the visible signs of invisible grace.  So too, is the Word of God.  Through learning about the sacred Scriptures, we come to know the Living God in a very personal way. 

Recently, my six year old was reading about Moses and the burning bush.  She paused, looked at me and exclaimed, "Lucky!  I wish God would talk to me!"  That desire, that hunger, I hope she never loses.  I explained God does talk to us through the Bible, however she wants the  sensry expereince given to Moses.

During the Second Vatican Council II, the importance of the Word was emphasized, " The Church has always venerated the Scriptures as she venerates the Lord's Body.She never ceases to present to the faithful the bread of life, taken from the one table of God's Word and Christ's Body." CCC 103 

However, growing up I knew many a Catholic household who enthroned their Bible in a place of honor, but never read it for personal study or reflection.  Instead, they relied on the priest to interpret the Sunday readings for them, and the nuns to educate their children.  My parents did read and study the Bible, but sharing scripture on a daily basis with us as children is not something I recall.  Instead, it was something that was read to me on the high holy days such as Good Friday or learned in school as a subject like English, or Math.

I want more for my children.

From Death into Life Part 2

"I am strength for all the despairing."

 

Over the next few Sundays, I will be sharing my personal journey back to the practice of my faith and full communion with the Catholic Church. How I lost my faith in God, and how through God’s grace and loving care I was able to repair my relationship with God our Father and experience the loving care he has for me in my life. 

Here is Part 1.

Here is Part 2

A Little Help from my Friends

Today, I am thankful for my Thursday morning bible study group.   The book we are using as a guide is called Come and See Catholic Bible Study: Acts and Letters by Father Joseph L. Ponessa, S..D. and Laurie Watson Manhardt, Ph. D.  This year we are studying covers the Acts of the Apostles and ten Letters of Paul, I and II Thessalonians, Philippians, I and II Corinthians, Ephesians, Romans, Galatians, Colossians and Philemon.  It is an in-depth study that will last through the academic year, and the weekly homework is a r time commitment.  Some weeks it is a struggle to get it all done, however I always feel so good on Thursday.

It is amazing and humbling to learn how the Holy Spirit endowed the apostles with the courage and power to witness the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ in Jerusalem, in Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth, ultimately leading Paul to Rome.

It is also amazing and humbling to be a part of such a great Mom's group.  I honestly feel the Holy Spirit working in the lives of these women. I see how they support, encourage, and challenge each other to become better wives, mothers and Christians.  I have member of my bible studies through the years but the honesty, and intimacy of this group  is such a gift, and I am so grateful that I am a part of it. 

From Death into Life Part 1

“Shepherd me, O God, beyond my wants,
beyond my fears, from death into life”

 

The Psalm 23 is one of the most beloved passages of the Bible and is used by Jews, Catholics and Protestants to show God the Father’s loving care and protection for humanity.

Pope Benedict XVI describes the 23^rd  Psalm as a beautiful analogy for God’s love and protection.  He says, “The image evokes an atmosphere of trust, intimacy, and tenderness. The shepherd knows his sheep individually, he calls them by name and they follow him because they recognize and trust him.”

In verses 16-17 of John 3, we see the Father’s loving care for us:

“For God so loved the world that he gave^* his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.”

God will take care of us if we trust and believe in Him. 

But what if we lose our trust in God? 

What if circumstances occur in our lives when we think God has abandoned us?

Over the next few Sundays, I will be sharing my personal journey back to the practice of my faith and full communion with the Catholic Church. How I lost my faith in God, and how through God’s grace and loving care I was able to repair my relationship with God our Father and experience the loving care he has for me in my life. 

Please join me…

Do Princesses Wear Glasses, Mommy?

My four year old asked me last night as she readied herself for bed.  She had already shed her Cinderella costume, and clothed in her purple Curious George PJS, was dutifully setting her purple frames on our buffet in the dining area.  

Today was the follow-up check of Bumblebee at the optometrist office.  Four weeks ago, she received her eye glasses to correct a very weak left eye.  Prior to the glasses, she could only make out the first two lines on the eye chart.  A month ago, her vision in her left eye with the glasseswas 20/60 up close, and 20/80 for distance.  The optometrist was warning there maybe an eye patch, or dilation for the right eye in order to strengthen the left one.      

Incorporating Faith into your childrens' lives

As many of you know, this fall we made the big, and  rough decision of sending our oldest daughter to first grade at our local public elementary school.  One of my chief concerns was the lack of Christian formation in a secular environment.  Here are seven very simple ways I am trying to incorporate scripture and prayer into my children daily routine.

1. Morning Prayer:

On our walk to the bus stop, we have been praying our traditional Catholic prayers, "Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be."  We have also been singing the Guardian Angel prayer.

 2. Thanksgiving:

When I pack Ladybug's lunch every night, I add a little note with a prayer of thanksgiving for the food.  Sometimes, I write the traditional Catholic prayer:

Grace Before Meals

Bless us our Lord and these thy gifts which we are about to receive from thy bounty through Christ our Lord, Amen.

Today, I wrote her favorite mealtime prayer song.

Why Tax Collectors and Prostitutes Enter Heaven First

Last night, I read this reflection written by Monsignor Massimo Camisasca on yesterday's gospel reading, Matthew 21:28-32.  I feel as if this was written directly to me and my current struggles.

“I'm reminded here of the words of a song: 'Even the weight of your sin would lead you back, Jerusalem'.  Even the weight of your sins would lead you back to me, God says. The whole Christian wisdom is summed up in this sentence.  For in becoming man, God chose to communicate himself, not only on spite of fragility, but "through' it. 

If we agree to this divine method without reservation, we can stop looking at our limitations as a reason for discouragement or frustration, and so as something to forget, to censor, and can start looking at them as stones to build on.

 

Made Perfect by Weakness

Today, a dear friend came up to me after Mass and asked, “Are you okay?  You haven’t blogging in two weeks.”  I answered truthfully, “No, I am not.  I have had a migraine headache going on ten days.  But frankly, it’s more than that I am in hormonal hell.” 

Remember the Heroes

I woke up to a sunshiny day, similar to the day ten years ago, when tragedy struck our nation.  Today, is a day of remembrance, of forgiveness, of honor.

 One of the heroes of September 11th is Father Mychael Judge.  He was the chaplain to the New York Fire Department. 

 
  

Learn more about "Father Mike" here

Avoid the near occasion of sin?

This week as part of our at-home catechism, my six year old is learning the Act of Contrition.  For my readers who are not Catholic, this is a prayer of reconciliation where you ask the Lord for pardon of your sins.

Here is the prayer she is learning:

"O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended You,

and I detest all my sins, because of your just punishments,

but most of all because they offend You, my God,

Who are all-good and deserving of all my love.

I firmly resolve, with the help of Your Grace,

to sin no more and to avoid the near occasion of sin."

Amen.

Last night, she asked me,"Mommy, what is avoid the near occasion of sin?"

Good question.