Saints

Saints

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Saints are often used as a way to denigrate the Catholic faith with claims that we worship statues and images. This is of course, not true. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches this here: Holy images 476-477, 2129-2132.

As Catholics we venerate the lives of Saints, and pray asking for their intercessory prayer, as we would ask a friend to pray for us. The only difference is one is alive, and the prayer request can be made directly via word, letter, or email or other type of message, and a Saint has been dead for some time and is believed to be in Heaven with God and our Lord Jesus, and the prayer is the method of making the request.

Saints are not just created or selected randomly. These Saints are people who lived their lives and died in their faith. Their lives were examples for us of piety, purity, humility, love, loyalty, devotion, charity, faith, and hope.  Many, I’d dare say most, were martyred for their faith.

Current methods for Sainthood require the person’s name be presented as a candidate for Sainthood and a cause is opened for examination. Many steps are required and it sometimes takes years, decades even, for the person to be Beatified, now they are called Blessed, which is required before final Sainthood. There must be a verified miracle (see Lk 10:8-9, Acts 5:12, 2 Cor. 12:12) attributed to the person’s intersession before Beatification, and then another verified miracle to be elevated to Sainthood. There is an investigation that some could say is more detailed than that required to convict a murderer.

When I was confirmed in the Catholic Church, I chose a name of a Saint to be my Patron Saint throughout my life. When I chose St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, I was not truly familiar with her, I chose her, because her name was close to my best friend and sponsor’s name. Little did I know, the Holy Spirit was involved, as this Saint is truly a spiritual example of how I have wanted to live my life.

My name means “one close to God”. I always wanted to live a life that was close to God, despite times when it was hard to do.

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton  was the first American born person to attain Sainthood. Her early life was spent in caring for the poor and sick in New York City. After losing her husband to tuberculosis in Italy, where they had gone for his health, she an Episcopalian became interested in the Catholic faith and spent time with her husbands’ Catholic relatives and began her faith formation. Upon returning to America, she converted to the Catholic faith and established the first FREE Catholic school for poor children. She also formed the first Sisterhood in America.

When I was a child, I wanted to become a teacher and would have “play” school with the neighbor kids that I baby-sat for on occasion. My adult life I have worked in fields dedicated to helping people with various consumer needs. But most recently, I have answered the call to Evangelize and am part of the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) team at my church. It occurred to me recently that I chose the Saint most relevant to my life without even knowing it!

Do you have a Saint to show you how to live? , one that you can “identify” with?

You can learn about lives of the Saints, the popular Saints, and the less known Saints, on this website: http://catholic.org/saints/

Some of my favorites are St. Polycarp, St. Ignatius of Loyola, St. Bernadette of Lourdes, and hopefully soon to be Saints, Blessed Padre Pio, Blessed Mother Teresa, Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassatti, and Blessed John Paul the Great.

There are many books dedicated to many of the Saints available from Lighthouse Catholic Media Store,   and many other sites, some listed in the links on my home page.

I highly recommend reading about the Saints, for historical reasons, and faith reasons. Perhaps you’ll find someone that inspires you?

Blessings,

The Catholic Lady ©

Levitical diet?

Levitical Diet?

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I was wondering about the Levitical diet, and decided I needed to do more research. A young woman I know is 7th day Adventist and I also have some Jewish friends that keep Kosher.

Having lived in Mount Lebanon, part of Pittsburgh, in my youth, it was there I first learned about "Kosher". I grew up in rural Florida and had never even met a Jewish person, so this was new and exotic to me.

My first job was in a deli and we had two separate meat cases. One for regular meats and cheeses, and the other was for "Kosher" only meats fish and cheeses. There were separate slicer's for Kosher foods. As I worked, I learned a little and asked questions. After three years, I knew how to tell what was Kosher by sight and packaging but I never really knew what "Kosher" really was all about.

Of course, in time I read more of the Bible and understood the formation of the "Works of the Law" of Moses in Leviticus and Deuteronomy. A few years ago, my son starting dating a girl that was a practicing 7th Day Adventist, and her diet restrictions started to become an annoyance. We like pork and I would go out of the way to change meal plans to accommodate her Levitical diet. Once they were invited to my family Christmas party and I emailed everyone to be sure not to bring or cook with anything pork. I even made a brisket instead of our traditional baked ham. Then of course she didn't show up and one of my sisters had to slip in a little snarky comment, God Bless her.

My thoughts have always followed Jesus' words in Matthew, 15:11, 17 when he was challenged by the Pharisees about his followers not following the Law of Moses regarding their eating habits.

11 It is not what enters one’s mouth that defiles that person; but what comes out of the mouth is what defiles one.” 

17 Do you not realize that everything that enters the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled into the latrine?

Another time, when Jesus was commissioning the seventy-two to go out and prepare the towns for his visit.  Luke 10: 7 Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you, for the laborer deserves his payment. 8 whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you.

And also Peter's vision in Acts 10: 9-16

9 The next day, while they were on their way and nearing the city, Peter went up to the roof terrace to pray at about noontime.

10 He was hungry and wished to eat, and while they were making preparations he fell into a trance.

11 He saw heaven opened and something resembling a large sheet coming down, lowered to the ground by its four corners.

12 In it were all the earth’s four-legged animals and reptiles and the birds of the sky.

13 A voice said to him, “Get up, Peter. Slaughter and eat.”

14 But Peter said, “Certainly not, sir. For never have I eaten anything profane and unclean.”

15 The voice spoke to him again, a second time, “What God has made clean, you are not to call profane.”

16 This happened three times, and then the object was taken up into the sky.

As I began to read more, the references took me back to Genesis 9:3 Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. And as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything.

And 1st Tim 4:4-5

For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected when received with thanksgiving,

5

for it is made holy by the invocation of God in prayer. (as in when we say the blessing before our meal)

Now this was starting to make me feel justified in that anyone that follows the Levitical diet is not understanding that by Jesus' coming, he nullified all of the Levitical "Works of the Law" as a means to be justified in the Lord. **

But then I began to study the entire chapter 14 of Romans and saw that maybe I was wrong in my thoughts. Here Paul is writing to the Roman Christian Church and one of the topics is the "Works of the Law". Paul talks about those (Gentiles) that believe that they can eat whatever they want and those (Jews) that abstain, as being strong in their faith and weak in their faith. But he tells them "I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; still, it is unclean for someone who thinks it unclean."

Hmmm. Then he goes on to say that ones diet should not be allowed to become a stumbling block to Jesus. In other words, do not be judgemental of someone who believes in the Levitical diet!
Well, color me red!  
In verse 20 through 23, Paul says that everything made by the Lord is indeed clean, (safe to eat) but if one has a doubt about this point, they should not eat as long as the doubt exists because to do so would be a sin if there is no faith. 
This makes so much sense. So until a person accepts that nothing they eat will harm them, don't judge them and don't admonish them. 

So I now see a little more clearly, and will make a point to remind myself, come the Holidays, not to grumble or worry about what to serve at the Holiday meals. I'll do what I have been doing and prepare options for dining but I will feel better,and not guilty, knowing that it's OK to choose the baked ham! 
Bring on the cranberries and pumpkin pie! I'm ready for some old fashioned Christmas Dinner!

Blessings,
The Catholic Lady ©

** As a footnote, for centuries there have been debates on this term, "Works of the Law" as it only appears in Paul's writings. Other places, within the Bible, it is simply referred to as the "Law" or "Law of Moses". In Romans 3:28 Paul says: For we consider that a person is justified by faith apart from works of the law.  People have used this verse, out of context, to justify the belief that a person is saved by faith alone and not by the "good works" they do in life. There by saying that you don't have to do all the things we Catholic's believe is essential to our salvation, following Jesus' command to care for the sick, be kind to the elderly, feed and clothe the poor and infirm, visit the incarcerated, love one another, forgive transgressions, etc. But in 1947, the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls put the theological world in a head spin when they found among the many books of the old testament, a scroll called the "Precepts of the works of the Law" Dr. John Bergsma, a well known Catholic Speaker has studied the Dead Sea Scrolls as part of his doctorate and there are talks available that go along with the outline linked above. 
This scroll has put a new light on Paul's writing and changes the beliefs of many Protestants regarding "faith alone".

Social Media and Evangelizing

Social Media and Evangelizing
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I have been looking for ways to share my blog and set up a Twitter account. Lord, what has the world come to when it is reduced to 38 character snippet's of conversation? Who has time for this?

Would Blessed Mother Teresa have Tweeted? Hmmm.  There's a conversation starter for your next get together. Could be fun!

It's funny though, there is a Twitter account for Cardinal Dolan. I wonder who really administers it? There's no way a busy man like him actually Tweets. But let's talk about this.
The Holy Father has made this the "Year of Faith" and is calling for everyone to make use of various media forms to spread the Word. I guess that is what this Blog is about, what do you know, I'm answering the call!

We can spread the word through Social Media. How many of you put quotes, ask for prayers, "Like" Christian pages on their FB page? MySpace? Google Plus? Cloud? etc, etc? That is a form of Evangelizing. It seems the opportunities for this kind of evangelizing are endless.
There are Catholic Social Media sites too.( Hmmm, maybe I should join one of those too.) Everyone who is a Christian is called by Jesus to spread the Gospel, and lead as many souls to Him as possible in their lifetime.
Mark 16:15 He said to them, “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature."

Matt. 28:18-20  Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”

Blessed Mother Teresa didn't use social media, she lived social and spread the Word through her actions and words. You may say, I can't talk about the Bible, or I can't quote scripture. But you don't have to do these things to show the world Jesus.
Put a bumper sticker on your car with a Bible Scripture, (try to be more original than John 3:16) or simply, "Jesus loves you". Show His mercy and kindness in how you interact with people. Let them see Jesus in you!

John 3: 21 But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God.

1 John 2: 5-6 But whoever keeps his word, the love of God is truly perfected in him. This is the way we may know that we are in union with him; whoever claims to abide in him ought to live [just] as he lived.

Now folks, I am not saying that I have lived a life just as Jesus did, FAR from it! I have had my share of bad days, of road rage, and being a disgruntled customer. But I TRY to live the best I can, everyday. It's just some days I don't quite manage. So don't think that because you have a bad day, that you're not a good person. We are all "perfectly flawed". We just have to make amends, forgive our selves, forgive others, and if you are Catholic, go to confession regularly. You'll be amazed how good you feel afterward.

There are a number of sources for Evangelizing available today. Lighthouse Catholic Media CD’s are a simple method to learn more about the Catholic Faith and to share with a friend or family member.

Christian based films are becoming more available. Two have recently made it out into the theaters despite the heavily liberal movie industry, one is “October Baby” and another is “For Greater Glory” (There is also a CD available from Lighthouse.) One movie is about the sanctity of life and the other religious freedom. Both are based on true stories and both are powerful. You can get “October Baby” in the RedBox right now! (There is also a CD available from Lighthouse by the same title.)

I have some "Links" listed here on my page that you may find interesting, so please check them out. Also there is some ads that should be "genre" specific, I don't pick them, Google does, so don't hold them against me if something untoward should pop in there. (smiley face)

Well, I need to move on today, so this is a short post. God Bless you for reading, and feel free to post comments or questions about any of my posts. If I have got anything about the Catholic Catechism wrong, please let me know. I try to do my homework before publishing anything on this blog.

Please also share this blog on your Twitter or FaceBook page, links are listed below each post.

Thank you!

The Catholic Lady ©

Mother of God

Mother of God
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The Annunciation of the Virgin Mary, Luke 1:26-38 NAB

 The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name was Mary. And coming to her, he said, “Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you.” But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
But Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” And the angel said to her in reply, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called barren; for nothing will be impossible for God.”
Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.

How many of us would answer God's request like that? If this incredibly strange and wonderful Angel came to us and told us that God wanted us to bear his child? Or some other task?

 “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Strong words from a 15 year old girl who was engaged to an older man. 

How was this very young woman able to say “Yes to God” so easily?

This was a major life changing request and yet, she says, “May it be done according to your word” and agrees to be the mother of the Christ Child! 

This was a special woman, chosen in advance by God, selected to be the New Tabernacle of God, to be the corridor through which God would walk among men, as a human man!
What an incredible honor! Mary was special in the eyes of God, so much so that he trusted her with his baby son. To nurse him, to care for him, teach him to walk, wipe his tears when he skinned his knees, kiss them to make them better. A woman that from the beginning knew that she would see her son suffer and die at the hands of the very men who had taught the scriptures and prophesies of his coming.

Could I do it? I can't imagine having to watch my son die in such a horrible way, or any way for that matter. My son was the greatest treasure ever given to me. How about you? What would you have done when Gabriel came to you?

I'm sure I'd be terrified, despite all the science fiction movies I've seen of some pretty, but imaginary, incredible things. Television has kind of numbed us to the possibility of God making an appearance to us. People would think us crazy, want to shove drugs down our throats to make the voices go away, to convince us it was all an hallucination.

Mary is very special in the Catholic Church. We don't worship her, we only worship God, but we honor her or in precise words, venerate her, as the Mother of God (Mt 1:23,Lk 1:43, Gal 4:4) and pray to her to pray to her son for us. It's the same as I asking you to pray for me, or you asking friends and family to pray for you. All those Saints that have gone to Heaven before us, all our family members, can still hear us.(Eph 2:19,Rm 15:30,Lk 34-38) We can still ask them to pray for us.
We know that Jesus loved his Mother above all humans on Earth, and would never deny her, just as he did not deny her at the wedding in Cana. Like any good Jewish son, he knew what his mother wanted him to do and he did it. Mary knew he would, she even told the servants to "Do whatever he tells you." 

Sure we can pray to Jesus directly, but we can also ask Mary to intercede for us. No matter how desperate a situation, Mary is our Mother and will always be there for us, to comfort us, and to intercede for us. 

Hail Mary, full of Grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women and Blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Luke 1:39-45

During those days Mary set out and traveled to the hill country in haste to a town of Judah, where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.

When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out in a loud voice and said, “Most blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.

And how does this happen to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled.”

Enough said.

God's Blessings on you,

The Catholic Lady ©

Life after death

Life after death
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I talked a little about this topic last week but it came up again this morning in an email from my friend, co-catechist. He had told me, at church, a little of his near death experience, (NDE), when he had a heart attack a few months ago. He emailed me an article about a neurosurgeon who had nearly died of a rare form of E coli that had attacked his spinal fluids and put him in a coma for seven days. His name is Dr. Eben Alexander and he has a book about his experience, due to be released on October 23, 2012.

Made me think about scripture, John 14: 1-4 Jesus said to his disciples:

1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me.
2 In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be.
4 Where [I] am going you know the way.”

Rev. 21:4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there shall be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain, [for] the old order has passed away.

-

We had a neighbor when I was in grade school, that every Sunday, he would always pick up a carload of kids and take them to church with him and his children. Mr. M, as I'll call him, would take us to church and then he always would go to the "Stop-n-Go" and get us "Icee's". You know most of us went for the treat, not for the faith, but I digress.

My mom was sitting with Mrs. M one afternoon and asked how Mr. M had got to be so religious. (Momma was nosey) Mrs. M told her about her oldest daughter Joy, a year or so older than me, and how she had nearly died when she was about six or seven years old. Joy came down with Chicken Pox, which progressed, into Pneumonia. They had to take her to the hospital when her fever got really high. Well Joy was really sick and a couple days later, the doctors told them that there was nothing else they could do, that if Joy lived through the night, it would be a miracle. Mr. M had been an alcoholic and never attended church, but he was distraught over his baby girl and went to the Chapel in the hospital. He says he got down on his knees and begged God to save his baby girl and he would never touch liquor again and would dedicate the rest of his life to serving Him. I don't remember anything about Mrs. M during this night, but Joy tells the story that night, she woke up because someone was calling her name. When she opened her eyes, she saw a man with long hair sitting at the foot of the bed. He was glowing bright with white light and smiled at her. He told her that she was going to be Ok. Her fever broke and she went home a day later after the doctor was satisfied she was well enough.

Mr. M never took another drink, and sometime after that day, Joy told the story to me herself. I've forgotten a few of the details, but I'll never forget the story and how I felt afterward. I have to say, I have never doubted that it was Jesus, as she said. Since then, I have heard so many stories that it warms my heart to know that there is a Heaven waiting for us.

 I read stories like little Colton Burpo, who during a medical crisis was comforted by the Angels singing to him while he sat in Jesus' lap. There are several videos on You Tube of him and his family telling about their experience, check this one:

I have to warn you, that as soon as you post anything about Heaven, God, Jesus, Angels, or NDE's, all of the crazies, aka Satan, come out to post negative and often mean comments. Beware, and just avoid reading negative comments. Some people just enjoy tearing down what they don't understand.

Another wonder is Akiane Kramarik. This young woman has been painting Heaven, Jesus, and Mary since she was four years old. She sees visions of Heaven since she was about 3 years old that she could not explain so she started drawing them and then painting. She has never had a lesson in her life!
Jesus had said,  “Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven." Matt. 18:3.

This child is a miracle of God, and her talents are unfathomable. The picture of Jesus, painted at 8 years of age, is my favorite and if you read Colton Burpo's story, you will find the connection between him and Akiane.

One thing I know for sure, is that we will go to Heaven if we live the life Jesus asks us to live. Turn away from sin, turn away from the evils of this world, sarcasm, meanness, bullying, swearing, refusing to believe in God, killing babies in abortion, excuses, drug use, alcoholism, bragging, pride, lying, deception, gossip, and oh so many more. We have a guidebook for life, it is called the Holy Bible. The Catholic Church has a Bible for "Dummies", it is called the Catechism, and fully explains how we are to live according to the Word of God.

So while we work on it, let us love our children and our spouses and family, kiss them, and tell them you love them. Be kind to people. Try to do something nice for at least one person every day. Show people God through your actions; let them smell the aroma of Holiness around you.

I could talk about this all day,
Blessings!
The Catholic Lady ©

Respect Life

Respect Life
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October is "Respect Life Month" and I want to talk a little about that.

One of the things that the Catholic Church teaches is the right to life from the moment of conception to natural death. Most people associate this with our stand against abortion and in-vitro fertilization, but this also includes capital punishment and critically ill and aged.

Every life begins at the moment the sperm meets the egg. That is the moment a miracle happens when a soul enters and the egg begins to split again and again. DNA guides the growth process and a little heart begins to beat in as little as 18 days and a face and hands and feet form, and this process continues until birth.

Scientists, liberal politicians and atheists do not want to recognize this process as anything but scientific. They will not call it a "baby" but try to de-humanize it as a "fetus" or some other benign word, in order to make their consciences clear when they commit murder for the convenience of someone other than the child.

The fact is, ALL forms of abortion are murder when done to a living child, no matter how small the child. This also includes fertilized embryo's that are destroyed when they are no longer needed, tiny little souls in limbo until implanted in a womb, or tossed out like yesterdays garbage.

All women who go through an abortion, continue to suffer in one form or another, whether they outwardly show it on not. So many women who have had an abortion say they still feel guilt, loss, depression, anxiety or sometimes worse, suicidal thoughts afterward.

The Catholic Church provides help to women that are in crisis, and have provided counseling and when necessary, adoptive services for un-wanted infants. There is always an alternative to killing a child.

Then there are the forgotten ones, the people on death row, who have years to contemplate their actions that put them there. These are people. We were not given the right to kill them. Punish them, lock them up so they cannot harm the public or themselves, but love them, pray for them, visit them, as Jesus asked us to do. Someone recently calculated the cost of capital punishment over life in prison and found that it actually costs the public more for all the pre-trial, automatic appeals, habeas corpus, and housing, far out weighs the cost of life in prison. **See California Study on the cost of Capital Punishment.

We as Christians, Catholic & non-catholic, should pray for the souls on death row AND those who actually execute them. They try to make it a sterile process, with IV's and multiple syringes, but the medical professionals that are participating are all guilty of murder. They are not forgiven because it's their "job"; they have a CHOICE NOT TO PARTICIPATE in the death of another individual!

These people need our prayers of intercession for their souls as they are ultimately responsible for their own salvation and unless they make it right with God, their souls are condemned to hell along with the unrepentant prisoners they are killing.

And then there is the end of life controversy. It really isn't controversial if we follow our faith.

We must do everything possible to ensure that a person lives until their natural death, not starve them to death or deny them medicine or surgery, because the government doesn't feel they are entitled to further care because of age, health or other status. This is what can happen with the National Health care and HHS Mandate and the "death squad" or oversight board. A doctor and the family will no longer have final say regarding the care of their patients, but the rules made by these persons, appointed not elected, with no one to judge their actions, can decide if a person is over a certain age, if they are worth the "investment". As if to say, "well, they're old and will probably die soon anyway, so why not now?"

What is a life worth? What is your mother, father, grandparent worth?

This is a post on writer Wesley J. Smith's website, with commentary on his book, "The Culture of Death-The Assault on Medical Ethics in America" It was written and this post was posted in 2001. Scary, he hit the nail on the head, look at where we are now, just over 10 years later.

Let us make good decisions when choosing elected officials, when voting "yes" or "no" on issues that will go against a persons right to life, and our right to not pay for these atrocities (and that's what they are), that go against our faith and the teachings of our Lord and Church.
Freedom of Religion, not "Freedom of worship" is what was written into our Bill of Rights or to be exact see here.

If we lose this right, what's next? Our freedom of speech? Right to gather? Our right to bear arms? To own property? Our right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Just look at history, the Russian Revolution and the formation of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Good thing we Americans like to stand in line.

Well, enough soap boxing for one day,
Blessings,

The Catholic Lady ©

Politics in Church?

Politics in Church?
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Recently, I met someone from another church that was very upset with the Priest that was assigned to their church last year. It seems that the new priest removed prayers for our military at home and over seas from the petitions for prayer during Mass. Since she has a son fighting in Afghanistan, she wanted to find out why the military was dropped from the list. When she asked the first time, the priest told her the office personnel changed it, but upon investigation she found that wasn't true. When she confronted the priest about it, he said he doesn't believe in supporting war and anyone that participates in it.
I have to agree with the lady that this is not a very Christian way of thinking. But the priest was ordained to serve the needs of the church and we have to understand that priests are people too, with their own ideas and beliefs. Then the lady went on to tell me that one Sunday a few weeks ago, the priest instead of a homily on the readings of the day, gave a talk on the importance of "Unions" in our country.

Now this is a little more than what is expected, in that the United States Council of Catholic Bishops, wants us to say the Prayer for Religious Liberty in our country, and has made it clear that the current administration and the HHS Mandate goes against Church Teachings and our beliefs as Catholic Christians. But this particular priest made it clear that he leans toward the liberal side of politics.

The question is, where do you draw the line on preaching politics from the pulpit?

This woman told me that that day was the first time in her life, which is longer than mine, that she got up and left the church without receiving communion. She confronted the priest again and he told her he was not going to change and if she didn't like it, she could join another church! If this doesn't sound like the same thing I spoke about previously, I don't know what does. It seems that the world is fighting hard to bring down the Catholic Church. We can't allow that to happen, and we also can't be joining the ranks of the protestant churches and running off to another church because we don't like something the pastor says.** That's not why we attend.

Our church is our family, we are the sheep and lambs, the priest is our shepherd on earth. They are not perfect, and they are not assigned permanently. We get a priest who is not ideal, we wait, he'll move on. Why should the flock move on? It's our church and our family. We go to receive the Glorified Body & Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, as he has instructed us to do. We are united through the Body of Christ and become part of the Mystical Body of Christ (1 Cor 10:16-17, 12:12-31; Rom 12:4-8). All of us make up the whole. I don't care what the priest does on his own time, as long as he gives me what I need, the Eucharist, the food Christ gave and continues to give, until the day I am with him in Heaven. (Mt 26:26-28; cf. Mk 14:22-24, Lk 22:17-20, 1 Cor 11:23-25)

I don't want to hear politics preached from the pulpit anymore than the lady I met, but people do need to  understand that what we vote on has a serious impact on our religious freedoms, and if we are truly living our faith, we will try to get leaders in office that are Christians, that believe in the sanctity of life from moment of conception until natural death.  You can learn more about religious liberty on the USCCB website.

I have only one bit of advice, educate yourself, do not make a decision based on "sound bites" from TV, radio, or gossip. Listen to Catholic Radio for lessons on our faith and the impact of our current administration on our Church. Read what the Church says about the HHS mandate, look at what has happened in the last four years, and a decision will be easy.

Blessings
The Catholic Lady ©

** POST SCRIPT:
7/20/2015
As many people have seen over the last two years, what we vote on does indeed make an impact on our religious liberty. Our priests are also influencing their parishes with their own views that sometimes are not the Churches views.
I naturally have to admit when I have to eat my own words but honestly, I can understand the lady's point now. I really, really hate the idea, but I reached a point at which I could not go back to my home church because the priest's attitude toward the women in the church.
I know he is human and is flawed just like the rest of us, but I just can not go on being ignored and swept aside after all the month's, years even, of service to the church. All the times when I didn't have two pennies to rub together and yet, when the church asked, I gladly dropped the pennies into their hands and helped with whatever project they needed.
It is a tough cud to chew. But as I said, I'm flawed as much as anyone. It's my problem now, and I'll work through it, with time and prayer, and hope. TCL

Sharing the Faith

Sharing the Faith
(words highlighted purple or blue are links. Click to see more information)

I have always shared my faith with others, usually on a one on one basis. I always have been one of those people that when someone sits down on the park bench beside me they will find themselves spilling their heart out to this stranger beside them. It used to freak me out when I was young and hadn't come to understand that it is a gift that God gave me. I guess that's why I have always worked in a field that allows me to help people, with their credit card, their bank account, their medical products, their product needs. This is where I am comfortable. I'm not a sales person but I am able to influence people with my own enthusiasm. I just don't have the self esteem or courage to make a living in sales. I always end up feeling I'm taking advantage of someone, I can empathize with their situation and can't close the sale.

Except with my faith.

I fully believe that faith in God and believing in Jesus and his teachings is something that EVERYONE NEEDS.  Yesterday, I was teaching my inquiry class after dismissal from Mass, and we were talking about Heaven. But before we started, we discussed what had happened in our lives since last weeks class. One young woman that I had given some CD's about topics we discussed a couple weeks before, told me she has listened to the "Forgiveness" talk. She was thrilled with it, and went on to tell me how it had not only influenced her feelings and issues that she had been having, but how she had SHARED what she learned with a co-worker that was having a bad day! My Lord and God, I am making a difference! Praise God! This is what it is about when Jesus asks us to share our Faith!

We went on to talk about scripture teachings about Heaven, and stories we had heard about people that had "near death" experiences. I also shared a book that I recommend, "Heaven is forReal" by Todd Burpo. In this book, the writer describes how they discovered their four year old son had had a near death experience and went to Heaven. It is a wonderful story and made so much more believable because there is no guile in a child of that age. Three and four year old children are so matter of fact and young Colton talks about Heaven in the same way he'd talk about what he did at kindergarten that day.

Another comment on this story, "catholic" in the Greek means "universal" so the Catholic Church is the "Universal Church". The Church teaches that all Baptized Christians are part of the "universal" church, so Heaven is not just for the full members of the Catholic Church, but for all that believe. ( See the Catechism #1271) So the fact that this is a protestant minister telling the story makes no difference from the stand point of Faith. “Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but the One who sent me.” Mk 9:37

I need to read the book again now because it got me so excited about the prospect of Heaven one day.

Well that is all for today, God Bless! Share your Faith!

Blessings,

The Catholic Lady ©

Who am I?

Who am I?
(words highlighted purple or blue are links. Click to see more information)

I'm creating this blog to share my thoughts and discuss various topics that effect our lives today as Catholic women. I want to read Catholic Books and add audio & video as I learn how this works.

I am an active member of my Catholic Church, volunteering as a Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist, a Lector or Minister of the Word or Reader as some like to say. I've been a member of the CCW when it was active and now the Ladies Guild which we reformed recently.

I am in the Parish that I made my conversion to the Catholic Faith. I did transfer to another church for a few years when we moved out to the country, but came back when we got tired of the commute to work. While I was gone, a major change happened in my church. The local Diocese was given the management of the church from the founders, The Society of the Precious Blood.

The new Diocesan priest was a bit too strict with the catechism and hundreds of people left to go to other churches. I can't understand this. This church is our family. Priests come and go, why didn't they stay to get to know the priest? I stayed upon returning to town, an at first was a bit shocked, but maintained that the Church is authority and there is no such thing as a "Liberal Catholic" if they follow the teachings of the Church which are all received from the word of God.

I came to love and consider this priest a friend and believe he is on the road to becoming a Bishop and beyond. The Holiest man I have known in person.

Now he has been reassigned to a higher position in the Diocese and some of the people who left are drifting back "for a peek" at the new priest assigned to us.

My question is, do we want these folks back? People who would run away from their church family of years, even decades? What kind of example is this? If we follow Jesus' teachings and love one another, we should be teaching tolerance to our children, not to run because you don't like being reminded of the rules? Do we want to keep our vices and continue to sin, and still expect to be a leader and example in our Church?

Are we to become protestants within our church? To behave as they(protestants) do, and if you don't like what you hear, to run to another church? Or worse, start another church with different values on the teachings of our Lord? Growing up a Baptist, I experienced church divisions first hand. One day we're in one church and the next we are off to start a new church and leave our friends behind. Even as a child I could see the error in this thinking.

I am Catholic, and I believe in the Truth of the Catholic teachings and will not let the "world" influence

my beliefs, my life, or my marriage. There is true genius in the Catholic Church and I can't imagine ever following any other teachings.

I have a few websites to recommend:

http://www.catholicscomehome.org/

http://www.usccb.org/

and if you want to learn from other Catholic speakers, try Lighthouse Catholic Media CD's. They have been a great ministry to me and others that I have shared them with. Join their CD of the Month Club: http://www.lighthousecatholicmedia.org/cdclub/refer/100419

That's all for now,
Blessings,

The Catholic Lady ©