Simple Holiness
Real Presence
When I read the articles in the Aug. 22 Catholic Spirit regarding the concept of Real Presence, I was struck by how excited I was. I know that may sound strange to readers, but adult Catholics have been asked the most profound and mysterious question of our faith: Do we believe Jesus the Christ, our Risen Savior, is really present in the Eucharist? And perhaps not shockingly, 69% of adult Catholics do not believe in the Real Presence. Actually, this is not surprising.
Conscience and character
The concepts of conscience and character are not only little understood in our current culture, but when we hear these words, they often elicit a pause from us. If we have a sense we have not attained the ideal behavior or expectation of a Catholic Christian, we may be more inclined to shame ourselves than to develop a desire of becoming a more devout person. However, shame is a human aspect that alerts us we have acted against our value system. But many people in our current culture lack a solid understanding of what that is. Therefore, a well-developed conscience evolves from a clear, well-articulated value system.
Acting courageously in the face of fear
As we celebrate our nation’s independence from the British monarchy — won nearly 250 years ago and marked each Fourth of July — we notice flags flying boldly, proclaiming the liberty and freedom by which our self-governance is best known.
Summer Twentieth
Summer is finally here and we must remember to enjoy it! Last summer, our then-4-year-old granddaughter and her cousins planned a day of fun at our house, which they named “Summer Twentieth.” When we told the girls my husband and I would not be home on the day of their planned event, they assured us they didn’t need us to be present for them to enjoy the day.
Righteousness amid the busyness
I oftentimes have said that the month of May has become busier than the month of December, with sports practices and banquets, dance recitals, AP tests and the beginning of graduation parties. There are so many events and schedules to accommodate that a family could find itself easily double-booking on any given day or evening without realizing it, and then have to miss something that is truly important to them.
Hope, even in the shadow of the cross
We are called in this Lenten season to grow in our faith and to be in the shadow of the cross, overcome neither by its threat of death nor the fear it intends to evoke. As people who stand firmly in the face of such intimidation, we know death is vanquished by the power of Jesus’ sacrifice. Easter Sunday must be preceded by the horrors of Good Friday, and as my mother-in-law always said, “There can be no Easter Sunday without Good Friday.” In her wisdom, she meant there will be difficult, and perhaps discouraging, times for all of us as we move through the phases of our lives.
Lent a time for self-giving, rather than ‘giving up’
many Catholics continue to think of Lent as a time of giving up something that is appealing to them so they are able to think about the sacrifices Jesus made on our behalf. This, however, fulfills an expectation of the season from the faith perspective of a child, rather than an adult.
When a marriage is hurting
With the celebration of Valentine’s Day this month, most people do not think about marriages that are struggling or hurting, due to infidelity, miscommunication or past hurts.
How emotional intelligence can save your marriage
Throughout this new liturgical year (which began with the first week of Advent), we will hear from St. Luke’s Gospel, which is known for highlighting Jesus’ compassion. As we hear the readings, we are invited to place ourselves within the context of the Gospel stories and become a more compassionate, caring person as well.
Preparing for Christ
Advent is one of the least understood and least acknowledged liturgical seasons of the Church year. Many of us are quick to think about Christmas, rather than Advent, at this time of year. In fact, we found holiday decorations in the stores before Halloween so we could get a jump on our shopping. But here we are in the beginning of December and we likely have not even engaged in the season of Advent.
Choosing gratitude
It’s so easy to see the things that are imperfect, drive us crazy or are disappointing in our lives. We know that allowing ourselves to focus on these aspects of life is not uplifting or energizing, and yet, if that’s what we’ve been doing, that’s where we so often go. Allowing ourselves to change our focus is often easier said than done. But it is possible, and, for lasting happiness, necessary.
The rosary a reminder to ‘do whatever he tells you’
I love the rosary. I have slept with one under my pillow for several decades, and as I say it, I often fall asleep. My mother told us when we were young that if we didn’t finish saying an entire rosary, the angels would finish it for us.
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