A sneak peak at Episode 1 of Fr. Robert Barron's Catholicism Project will air Sunday, October 31 at 9:30am EST on WGN America (9:30am on Chicago WGN-9 affliate). I have so been looking forward to this series! Here's a trailer:
A story of Hope. A story of Beauty. A story of Love.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
The Great Brainwashed
Katie Couric is having a great time touring "this great unwashed middle of the country" according to an interview with Howard Kurtz. I think when my husband and I are done raising our children, we will take a tour of the "great brainwashed" urban coastal areas of our country. ;)
H/T Allahpundit at HotAir
P.S. - Not that there's anything wrong with these urban coastal areas, just making a point :)
H/T Allahpundit at HotAir
P.S. - Not that there's anything wrong with these urban coastal areas, just making a point :)
Saturday, October 23, 2010
A Love Story
A Page is Turned by Bebo Norman
A page is turned by the wind to a boy in curly grin
With a world to conquer at the age of ten
But as history unfolds and the storybook is told
He finds salvation but not at the hands of man
And the God of second chance
Picked him up and
He let him dance
Through a world that is not kind
And all this time, preparing him the one
To hold him up when he comes undone
Beneath the storm, beneath the sun
And now a man, here you stand
Your day has come
A page is turned in this world to reveal a little girl
With a heart that's bigger, as it is unfurled
By the language in her soul, that's teaching her to grow
With a careful cover of Love that will not fail
And the God of second chance
Picked her up and
He let her dance
Through a world that isn't kind
And all this time, preparing her the one
To hold her up when she comes undone
Beneath the storm, beneath the sun
And grown up tall, here you are
Your day has come
Beneath the air of autumn, she took him by his hand
And warm within the ardor, she took his heart instead
And high upon the mountain, he asked her for her hand
Just for her hand
A page is turned in this life, he's making her his wife
And there is no secret to the source of this much life
When the grace that falls like rain is washing them again
Just a chance to somehow rise above this land
Where the God of second chance
Will pick them up and he'll let them dance
Through a world that is not kind
And all this time, they're sharing with the One
That holds them up when they come undone
Beneath the storm, beneath the sun
And once again, here you stand
And once again, here you stand
Your day has come
This song always reminds me of the time several summers ago when we had just finished taking NFP classes (after over 9 years of marriage!) and went to a Theology of the Body seminar by Christopher West. Although we believed that we were following Church teaching for marriage before this, we realized through both the NFP class and Pope John Paul II's Theology of the Body teaching that we really were not formed well in what the Church actually teaches and why.
I admit I was quite rebellious when we first were married back in 1998 (not really that long ago) about the Church's teaching on artificial contraception. And my husband went along with my rebelliousness. Sound a bit like Adam and Eve? I remember sitting in our Pre-Cana weekend with my arms folded and heart hardened to the Church's teaching on natural family planning.
After having our first child, I learned that birth control pills can actually be abortifacient and so we quit practicing artificial contraception. But it was not until nearly 6 years later, and 2 more children that we decided to go ahead and take Natural Family Planning courses and attend the Theology of the Body seminar. It was there that we learned the why behind the Church's teaching and where the scales were lifted to the beauty of sexuality within our marriage and God's plan for our family.
It was also at this time that God placed this song by Bebo Norman on my heart. It will always be a special song to both me and my husband. God lets us dance through this world that is not kind, but it is the careful cover of His Love that teaches us and guides us to Truth and beauty. And we found beauty in conceiving another child not long after that summer, our fourth, Sophia (Greek for wisdom). In a sacramental marriage, there is no secret to the source of this much life, where the grace that falls like rain, washes us again. It is God and His plan for us. And now we are expecting our fifth child next spring. Even though it is trying at times, and we fail often, God picks us back up and teaches us with every step where He wants us to go. And He holds us up when we come undone.
Thank You God for the chance again to somehow rise above this land and welcome another beautiful life to our family. Thank You for the gift of Confession and for giving us Your Sacred Heart in the Holy Eucharist. Let us never profane Your gift to us for temporal pleasure. In Your Holy Name I pray, Amen.
A page is turned by the wind to a boy in curly grin
With a world to conquer at the age of ten
But as history unfolds and the storybook is told
He finds salvation but not at the hands of man
And the God of second chance
Picked him up and
He let him dance
Through a world that is not kind
And all this time, preparing him the one
To hold him up when he comes undone
Beneath the storm, beneath the sun
And now a man, here you stand
Your day has come
A page is turned in this world to reveal a little girl
With a heart that's bigger, as it is unfurled
By the language in her soul, that's teaching her to grow
With a careful cover of Love that will not fail
And the God of second chance
Picked her up and
He let her dance
Through a world that isn't kind
And all this time, preparing her the one
To hold her up when she comes undone
Beneath the storm, beneath the sun
And grown up tall, here you are
Your day has come
Beneath the air of autumn, she took him by his hand
And warm within the ardor, she took his heart instead
And high upon the mountain, he asked her for her hand
Just for her hand
A page is turned in this life, he's making her his wife
And there is no secret to the source of this much life
When the grace that falls like rain is washing them again
Just a chance to somehow rise above this land
Where the God of second chance
Will pick them up and he'll let them dance
Through a world that is not kind
And all this time, they're sharing with the One
That holds them up when they come undone
Beneath the storm, beneath the sun
And once again, here you stand
And once again, here you stand
Your day has come
This song always reminds me of the time several summers ago when we had just finished taking NFP classes (after over 9 years of marriage!) and went to a Theology of the Body seminar by Christopher West. Although we believed that we were following Church teaching for marriage before this, we realized through both the NFP class and Pope John Paul II's Theology of the Body teaching that we really were not formed well in what the Church actually teaches and why.
I admit I was quite rebellious when we first were married back in 1998 (not really that long ago) about the Church's teaching on artificial contraception. And my husband went along with my rebelliousness. Sound a bit like Adam and Eve? I remember sitting in our Pre-Cana weekend with my arms folded and heart hardened to the Church's teaching on natural family planning.
After having our first child, I learned that birth control pills can actually be abortifacient and so we quit practicing artificial contraception. But it was not until nearly 6 years later, and 2 more children that we decided to go ahead and take Natural Family Planning courses and attend the Theology of the Body seminar. It was there that we learned the why behind the Church's teaching and where the scales were lifted to the beauty of sexuality within our marriage and God's plan for our family.
It was also at this time that God placed this song by Bebo Norman on my heart. It will always be a special song to both me and my husband. God lets us dance through this world that is not kind, but it is the careful cover of His Love that teaches us and guides us to Truth and beauty. And we found beauty in conceiving another child not long after that summer, our fourth, Sophia (Greek for wisdom). In a sacramental marriage, there is no secret to the source of this much life, where the grace that falls like rain, washes us again. It is God and His plan for us. And now we are expecting our fifth child next spring. Even though it is trying at times, and we fail often, God picks us back up and teaches us with every step where He wants us to go. And He holds us up when we come undone.
Thank You God for the chance again to somehow rise above this land and welcome another beautiful life to our family. Thank You for the gift of Confession and for giving us Your Sacred Heart in the Holy Eucharist. Let us never profane Your gift to us for temporal pleasure. In Your Holy Name I pray, Amen.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
It's Not Me, It's You
Okay, I've admitted before that I am a bit of a political junkie. I try not to get too political on this blog, but sometimes I just can't help myself. I just read a really good take on what's going on in the political field right now. David Paul Kuhn hit the nail on the head about the desperate tone of politicians who are blaming voters rather than taking some responsibility for the mess we are in. Here's the money quote from the article in my opinion:
Democrats are failing to say the "buck stops here." They're passing the buck. And not often, but still too often, Democrats are now asking voters to take some of the blame. Presidents are expected to lead people out of the wilderness, not blame the public for being lost in the woods. Americans don't want to be lectured on how they got lost. They want a way out.
Of course, we all share some responsibility for the mess we are in, whether from our own irresponsibility, lack of engagement, apathy, or whatever the case may be. But when politicians start blaming the voter, you know they are in deep trouble. The way out is going to be tough, and we will not be out at the end of this next election, nor in the next. And one political party or another is not going to lead us out either. As Catholics, we must stand by Truth and live our faith unreservedly and with courage. The only way out is through God and Godly leadership.
Do go read Kuhn's post at RealClearPolitics
H/T HotAir
Into the Mystic - Van Morrison
Just because I love Van Morrison and am having writer's overload that translates into a block :) Have a great day!!!
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Friday, October 15, 2010
Our Lady and the Chilean Miners
Our Lady and the Chilean Miners posted by Suzanne at Lear, Kent, Fool:
Today on Facebook, the group Stories for the Homeschool Heart posted the following about the significant dates concerning the trapped miners in Chile:
The miners were trapped on August 5 — Feast day of Our Lady of the Snows. They were found alive on August 22 — Feast of the Queenship of Mary. The rescue began right after midnight on October 13 — Feast of Our Lady of Fatima. There were 33 miners –the number of years that Jesus lived.
I also happened to notice a news story earlier today that said that a couple of the chief miners credit their safety to an unusual sighting of a white butterfly down in the mine. Because they stopped to look at it they didn’t drive into rockfalls triggered by the first cave-in. The butterfly is a traditional Christian symbol of the resurrection. In Spanish, butterfly is “mariposa,” derived from “la Santa Maria posa” meaning “the Virgin Mary alights/rests.”
I don’t know about you, but that all gives me chills!
It gives me chills too!!
Today on Facebook, the group Stories for the Homeschool Heart posted the following about the significant dates concerning the trapped miners in Chile:
The miners were trapped on August 5 — Feast day of Our Lady of the Snows. They were found alive on August 22 — Feast of the Queenship of Mary. The rescue began right after midnight on October 13 — Feast of Our Lady of Fatima. There were 33 miners –the number of years that Jesus lived.
I also happened to notice a news story earlier today that said that a couple of the chief miners credit their safety to an unusual sighting of a white butterfly down in the mine. Because they stopped to look at it they didn’t drive into rockfalls triggered by the first cave-in. The butterfly is a traditional Christian symbol of the resurrection. In Spanish, butterfly is “mariposa,” derived from “la Santa Maria posa” meaning “the Virgin Mary alights/rests.”
I don’t know about you, but that all gives me chills!
It gives me chills too!!
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Our Lady, Our Life
This past weekend, my husband and I traveled to Fargo, North Dakota for the Marian Eucharistic Congress. It was amazing! This was our first time to go to this particular Congress. I admit it was a bit overwhelming, in a really good way, but there were so many powerful talks that I am still reeling from it all. I would like to share most of what I learned there, but it will have to come in little pieces because it is a lot to process.
One of the speakers was Sr. M. Timothea Elliott, and she spoke eloquently about the way St. Luke "paints a vivid word picture of the Annunciation with with the Angel Gabriel and Mary in the foreground and a theological exposition of the Old Testament in the background", similar to the this beautiful painting by Fra Angelico "expressing the significance of the Annunciation in light of the Old Testament." Today, on this feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, let us remember as we pray each of the mysteries of the Rosary, the depth and riches of God's grace given to us throughout salvation history. And as we study and reflect upon God's word in Sacred Scripture, let us open our hearts to receive all God gives us, namely a beautiful Mother who leads us always to our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ.
Sr. Timothea Elliott shared this quote with us from St. Ephraim, Deacon and Doctor of the Church:
"Lord who can grasp all the wealth of just one of your words? What we understand is much less than we leave behind; like thirsty people who drink from a fountain. For your word, Lord, has many shades of meaning just as those who study it have many different points of view. The Lord has colored his word with many hues so that each person who studies it can see in it what he loves. He has hidden many treasures in his word so that each of us is enriched as we meditate on it.
The word of God is a tree of life that from all its parts offers you fruit that is blessed. It is like that rock opened in the desert that from all its parts gave forth a spiritual drink. He who comes into contact with some share of its treasure should not think that the only thing contained in the word is what he himself has found. He should realize that he has only been able to find that one thing from among many others. Nor, because only that one part has become his, should he say that the word is void and empty and look down on it. But because he could not exhaust it, he should give thanks for its riches. Be glad that you are overcome and do not be sad that it overcame you. The thirsty man rejoices when he drinks and he is not downcast because he cannot empty the fountain. Rather let the fountain quench your thirst than have your thirst quench the fountain. Because if your thirst is quenched and the fountain is not exhausted, you can drink from it again whenever you are thirsty. But if when your thirst is quenched and the fountain is also dried up, your victory will bode evil for you. So be grateful for what you have received and don't grumble about the abundance left behind. What you have received and what you have reached is your share. What remains is your heritage. What at one time you were unable to receive because of your weakness, you will be able to receive at other times if you persevere. Do not have the presumption to try to take in one draft what cannot be taken in one draft and do not abandon out of laziness what can only be taken little by little."
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Intense
Okay, well, we have some good news! We are having another baby! The baby is due some time next May, so it is still really early. We would appreciate your prayers. This may be part of the reason for the lack of posts. Honestly, my intensity level has gone over the top and I have too many things that I want to write about and then it ends up that I can't write anything. It will be interesting to see how this plays out, being pregnant and blogging. Have never blogged while pregnant, so hang on, who knows what I'll write about!
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Abandonment to Divine Providence
From Fr. Jean-Pierre de Caussade's Abandonment to Divine Providence (from the English translation of the tenth French Edition of Fr. de Caussade's (d. 1751) Abandon a la Providence Divine, edited by Fr. H. Ramiere, S.J. 1921)
The divine will is to the soul in all things its method, its rule, and its direct and safe way. It is an unalterable law which is of all times, of all places, and of all states. It is a straight line which the soul must follow with courage and fidelity, neither diverging to the right, nor to the left, nor overstepping the bounds. Whatever is over and above must be received passively, as it carries on its work in abandonment. In a word, the soul is active in all that the present duty requires, but passive and submissive in all the rest, about which there should be no self-will, but patient waiting for the divine motion.
O heavenly purity! O blessed annihilation! O unreserved submission! through you is God drawn into the centre of the heart. Let the faculties be then what they will, provided, Lord, that I possess You. Do what You will with this insignificant creature; whether it works, becomes inspired, or becomes the subject of Your impresssions, it is all one. All is yours, all is from You and for You. I have no longer anything to look after, anything to do. I have no hand in the arrangement of one single moment of my life, all is Yours. I ought neither to add to, nor to diminish anything, neither to seek after, nor to reflect upon, anything. It is for You to regulate everything. Direction, mortification, sanctity, perfection, and salvation area are all Your business, Lord; mine is to be satisfied with Your work, and not to appropriate any action, or any state, but to leave all to Your good pleasure. ~ a prayer of Fr. de Caussade
The divine will is to the soul in all things its method, its rule, and its direct and safe way. It is an unalterable law which is of all times, of all places, and of all states. It is a straight line which the soul must follow with courage and fidelity, neither diverging to the right, nor to the left, nor overstepping the bounds. Whatever is over and above must be received passively, as it carries on its work in abandonment. In a word, the soul is active in all that the present duty requires, but passive and submissive in all the rest, about which there should be no self-will, but patient waiting for the divine motion.
O heavenly purity! O blessed annihilation! O unreserved submission! through you is God drawn into the centre of the heart. Let the faculties be then what they will, provided, Lord, that I possess You. Do what You will with this insignificant creature; whether it works, becomes inspired, or becomes the subject of Your impresssions, it is all one. All is yours, all is from You and for You. I have no longer anything to look after, anything to do. I have no hand in the arrangement of one single moment of my life, all is Yours. I ought neither to add to, nor to diminish anything, neither to seek after, nor to reflect upon, anything. It is for You to regulate everything. Direction, mortification, sanctity, perfection, and salvation area are all Your business, Lord; mine is to be satisfied with Your work, and not to appropriate any action, or any state, but to leave all to Your good pleasure. ~ a prayer of Fr. de Caussade
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