The Synod on the Family: Primacy of Conscience and Willful Ignorance

Disquieting words are dripping out of the leaky sieve that surrounds the Synod on the Family. We're hearing things like papal delegate Archbishop Blase Cupich's statement that people need to 'come to a decision in good conscience' when it comes to giving Holy Communion to those who are divorced and civilly remarried. He further adds that the Church has the job to 'help them move forward and to respect that'. Past comments by German Cardinal Kasper, are also making the rounds. To the dismay of many, he has advocated for hot button topics ranging from homosexual lifestyles and communion for those civilly remarried, to acceptance of contraception.

Ignorance and Presumption

When hearing these statements attributed to various participants and observers of the synod one has to wonder what happened to the admonition for continued spiritual formation throughout one's life. Continuing catechesis is the only way to fully seek holiness and to become the saints God wants us to be. Willful ignorance is no excuse, since we have the ability and means to finely hone our consciences.

All care should be taken to refrain from the sin of Presumption, either relying on our own capacities or presuming God's almighty power and His mercy. Hoping to obtain His forgiveness, without allowing for the conversion of our souls or seeking glory without merit, will be of no benefit when it comes to the destiny of our immortal souls. CCC 2092

Is the Devil in the Details?

Sowing confusion among the faithful is further evidence that the devil must surely be in some of the details surrounding the Synod on the Family. Whether the source is those making the statements or those reporting (misreporting) what was said, we may never know. Therein lies the rub. Do we take these reported sentiments at face value and fear for the demise of the Church or is this where an unflinching faith in the Church, founded by Jesus Himself, comes to the rescue? Jesus has given us the answer.

And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Matthew 16:18

Hope, Faith, Love

Lest we allow our faith in the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church to succumb to hopelessness, let's give credence to the good also being shared.

Former head of Congregation for Divine Worship, Francis Cardinal Arinze said in a recent interview, "Marriage comes from God, not from human beings so human beings cannot reinvent or redefine it." Speaking of the indissolubility of marriage he continued, "Not even the authority of the Church can break it," he noted. Affirming that “the Eucharist is not something we possess”, Cardinal Arinze further said that “We must look for a way to help the divorced who are remarried, [but] we don’t help them by saying, “Come and receive Holy Communion.”

In his speech to the synod, Robert Cardinal Sarah, spoke of the need to Proclaim and serve the beauty of Monogamy and the Family. In order to accomplish this he said that we must “first promote all that represents a true Christian Initiation of adults, for the marriage crisis is essentially a crisis of God, but also a crisis of faith, and this is an infantile Christian initiation”. Lack of catechesis continues to be problematic for many baptized Catholics. Then discernment of “those realities that the Holy Spirit is already raising up to reveal” will show “the Truth of the Family as an intimate communion in diversity (man and woman) that is generous in the gift of life” – Robert Cardinal Sarah

While acknowledging the nefarious activities of some, it's comforting to know that many of the faithful are still staunchly defending Truth! We must also show love for those who may be straying from the righteous path. In all charity there must be fervent and sincere prayer for all involved.

Truth Will Win

A statement by Father Athanasius Schneider, one of the authors of Preferential Option for THE FAMILY: 100 Questions and Answers relating to the Synod, offers a call to action for those who fear the outcome.

“… Cardinals, bishops, priests, Catholic families, Catholic young people have to say to themselves: I refuse to conform to the neo-pagan spirit of this world, even when this spirit is spread by some bishops and cardinals; I will not accept their fallacious and perverse use of holy Divine mercy and the “new Pentecost”; I refuse to throw grains of incense before the statue of the idol of the gender ideology, before the idol of second marriages, of the concubinage, even if my bishop would do so, I will not do so; with the grace of God I will choose to suffer rather than betray the whole truth of Christ on human sexuality and on marriage."

What Will the Synod Bring?

In conclusion one thing stands out for us to remember about the Synod on the Family. The Catholic Church is not a democracy, nor is she subject to change through the whims of those who purport to speak for her. Jesus founded her; He alone gives the structure of her beliefs.

As Saint Pope John Paul II said in Evangelium Vitae, “No circumstance, no purpose, no law whatsoever can ever make licit an act which is intrinsically illicit, since it is contrary to the Law of God which is written in every human heart, knowable by reason itself, and proclaimed by the Church.”

In a presentation to thirty-five American Archbishops (Rome, in March, 1989), Pope John Paul II firmly stated, "We are the guardians of something given, and given to the Church universal; something which is not the result of reflection, however competent, on cultural and social questions of the day, and is not merely the best path among many, but the one and only path to salvation." How pertinent to the issues at hand today!

Keep the Faith

Above all keep the Faith. As Australia’s Cardinal Pell responded to recent questions of apprehension, “One of my concerns is for doctrine, and the Pope has said the doctrine will not be touched.”

Sister Lucia of Fatima offers hope as well. “The final battle between the Lord and the reign of Satan will be about marriage and the family. Don’t be afraid…because anyone who operates for the sanctity of marriage and the family will always be contended and opposed in every way, because this is the decisive issue…however, Our Lady has already crushed its head. Sister Lucia dos Santos, of Fatima – in an interview with Cardinal Caffara of Bologna.

Our faith and trust lies in Jesus, through His Church, alone. No mere mortal can upend what we know through His Truth. Pray for those participating in the Synod on the Family, those reporting, and those who live in irregular life circumstances. The narrow path of Jesus' followers isn't always easy, it isn't always straight, but it does always lead to the reward of Heaven.

A Mito Family - Stuck Between Obamacare and a Hard Place

I first met Pattie through the Stand Up For Religious Freedom Rallies. She was an inspiration and tireless font of knowledge for us, as Owensboro citizens planned their event - all the way from North Carolina. Since then, I've gotten to know her as a fervent Catholic who advocates for LIFE and as a staunch believer in justice. The superhuman effort necessary to maintain some semblance of a 'normal' life for her family is daunting. A lesser woman might be found, in fetal position, wailing 'why me?!' Instead, Patti's two sons, who suffer from not one, but two, 'orphan' conditions play baseball, soccer, and gather with their many friends to enjoy life as teens. Her life can only be described as inspirational - even though, it makes me tired to just read about everything she manages to squeeze into the same 24 hour days so many of us squander.

In the video, 'A Mito Mother's Plight', we are made privy to some heartbreaking facts - both about what her family is facing, health-wise, but also the terrible scourge that implementation of Obamacare is on families like hers. Life-saving medication, vital to their survival, is being denied this family because of Obamacare. She makes perfectly clear that she isn't seeking pity, she just needs for the citizens of this once great nation to be aware and to "stand up and push back against a government that is overreaching".

We need to be aware, we need to be proactive. Pray, yes! But also stand up and do something!

+JMJ+

Please take the time to watch the video below. In an accompanying description we read...

by Nicole Revels - Journalist

This is the story of a North Carolina mother of three sons, two of whom have a rare bone marrow failure syndrome called Shwachman-Diamond syndrome combined with a secondary mitochondrial disease. Pattie says that she has witnessed her family's insurance coverage slip away as premiums, deductibles, and medication co-pays have drastically increased with the implementation of mandates contained within the Affordable Care Act. Pattie has now been notified that her sons' life-saving compounded medications will be dropped from coverage all together as of September 15, though her family's medications and treatments were covered with no denials for years prior to 2011. Pattie fears that her family may soon lose their employer-provided health insurance completely, forcing them onto Obamacare exchanges under which they would be denied access to their current specialists. Having read the Affordable Care Act legislation prior to its passage, Pattie says that it was evident that the mandates would generate exactly the detrimental impacts that she is now experiencing. She asserts that the ultimate goal of the legislators who adopted the Affordable Care Act was the extinction of private health insurance companies, giving rise to a single-payer system of substandard healthcare.

Read the full article, , "Obamacare Has Destroyed My Family" - A Mito Mother's Story,  here.  

http://youtu.be/9RAhCDzs-hY

Mom's Mistakes Strengthened Our Faith

The Catechism of the Catholic Church upholds the biblical directive that parents are the first (and most important) teachers of their children. What we often fail to realize is that what we do can have much more effect on our children than what we say or how we instruct. Who hasn’t seen one of their less than desirable actions or words mimicked by a child and felt a sudden blush of guilt? Sometimes, though, a child learns an important lesson from the mistakes in a parent’s life, and how they rise to the occasion. That was the case for me.

Mom, little brother and I - before he was taken.

Born in Germany, to a Lutheran father and Catholic mother, my earliest memories revolve around spirited fights between my parents. Although Mom was devout, he approached atheism, but she somehow managed to have my younger brother and I baptized as infants. It became painfully evident that my father was not a nice man. He cheated even before marriage and was abusive as well. Too young to fully understand the implications then, as I matured and later became an adult, the woeful tale became clearer. Long before I could fully comprehend it all, he left, covertly spiriting my younger brother away and leaving my mother as a divorcee with a young daughter. Through all of this turmoil, my mother maintained her faith.

By the time I was five, someone new had entered the picture. This American Airman was kind and gentle. I fondly remember playing circus, with him carrying me on his back, while my mother warmheartedly looked on. Things don’t always work out neatly, however. Red tape and language barriers between the Air Force, the United States government, and Germany greatly hindered attempted annulment proceedings. As a result, a civil marriage was performed and then a little sister was born into the family. I can still remember hearing that my baby sister had been denied baptism because she was born into an illicit marriage. My mother, however, tenaciously persisted and found a kindly old priest to confer the sacrament. To complete the family unit, I was also adopted and became the daughter of an American. By this time, any efforts to reunite us with my little brother had been exhausted. Our family of four moved to the U.S. without him; he could not be found.

Fast forward a few years, after assignments to several states and retirement from the Air Force, we settled in Dad’s native Kentucky. We had become a family of seven—Mom, Dad, and a collection of five children. There was still no annulment, but we had never lacked catechesis. We were all baptized, received First Holy Communion, Confirmation, and were frequently taken to Confession. The poignant vision of our mother, tears of joy (for us) and pain (for her situation) was impossible to ignore at each of these special occasions. As each of us matured in the faith life as Catholic citizens, she was our teacher, our champion, and immovable anchor. We never missed Mass, attended Catholic schools when available, and had priest friends who frequently visited our home. For all practical purposes, we appeared to be the optimal Catholic family, with one exception —our parents were unable to join us in an actively Catholic life.

All of that changed one beautiful October afternoon, when after a long, tedious, multi-linguistic annulment process, Mom and Dad were married in the Church. Our small church community and five children were present. The long awaited celebration of love and faith had finally become reality! After the reception, we decorated our family station wagon with cans and ribbons. The sign on the back read, ‘Congratulations, Mom and Dad—Just Married!’

A few years later, we were reunited with my missing brother, now an adult. He had been raised to think his father’s wife was his mother. It wasn’t until her death that he was told the truth: “She wasn’t your real mother. Your mother lives somewhere in Kentucky.” What a reunion that was! At last, all eight of us were united! It was a true lesson in faith, love, and hope. Our mother had surely illustrated a strong faith in the face of adversity. Mom died of breast cancer a few years later, at the young age of 58. Yet, she had been an incredible witness to us. She lived through many trials but never lost her faith. She even met her estranged husband at one point and offered her forgiveness. His comment to her? “There was one thing I could never break—your Catholic faith. I always respected that.” Her years of persistent love and hope had culminated in a family strengthened by adversity. She had illustrated, with her very life, what it means to live your Catholic faith.

All of us are adults now, with children and even grandchildren of our own. The Catholic faith persists as the most important thing in our lives. We have learned, from loving example, what it means to stay faithful—no matter where your choices lead you. Mistakes will be made but how you face the resulting strife, determines who you are. If nurtured and fed, Faith will always win out!

+   +   +

Note: How My Mother's Mistakes Strengthened My Faith was first published at CatholicStand.com

I am One of the Faces of Abortion - My Face Looks Just Like Yours

The face of the pro-life movement is as varied as the stories of the people who advocate for life. Many of us have been personally touched with a story that shaped our lives - and our drive. The reason for my involvement and fervor is relatively easy to surmise. Having lived through being 14 and Pregnant, the issue was with me from my early teen years, throughout adulthood and into present time. Lately, I've been curious to find out what drives others. Through the blessing of electronic media, I've made so many pro-life friends and they all have amazing stories to tell. Below you will find one such story. Don't be surprised if this doesn't become a series of posts!

Emily's Story 

Hi there, my name is Emily. If you saw me, you’d never know. I look like anyone else.

That’s the thing about Abortion. It’s silent. It’s deadly. It’s a lie that preys on women. Women are told , "Your life will be better". "You are “getting rid of your problem”. “ But the problem is just beginning for them. And these women, they are your neighbors. They are in your churches. You just never know who has been hurt by this.

When Birgit asked me to participate I said yes. But I hate this topic. It is embarrassing and degrading and so sad for me. It is my cross to bear, this mistake I made 31 years ago (32 this November 10th)…. it forever changed me and made me who I am in many ways.

I am staunchly Pro-Life and against abortion because I lived it. I lived with the damage to my mind, body and soul. I live with the knowledge that what I did makes me a murderer. I know that I am forgiven. I know God forgave me long before I forgave myself. And so I speak out on this today because I AM ONE OF THE FACES OF ABORTION. My face looks just like yours.

I was 19. Roe Vs. Wade was only 9 years past. I can still tell you almost 32 years later everything that happened on November 10th, 1982. I’ll never forget it. I’ll never forget the smells and the people I met. The girl who was having her 5th abortion. The doctor who didn’t want to perform it on me because I was so hysterical. The people yelling murderer, instead of “can I help you change your mind?” The boyfriend who thought putting a stereo in my car would somehow make up for what I’d done (never mind that he was abusive). The fact that my dad said if I ever got pregnant he’d keep the baby and throw me out. He didn’t mean it, but I didn’t know that then. And the fact that I had to spend a week in the hospital fighting the infection from this choice I made.

I can’t forget it. I have to find a way to help others not make the same decision I did.

Last Summer, I went to Austin to testify in the ProLife fight against Wendy Williams and her ProAbortion stance. We were really fighting to pass prolife bills. But she made it all about her. She stated that she was representing Texas Women. But she would not let any of us ProLife women post on her FaceBook page. Um – we are Texans. Many are her constituents. Sigh.

Here is a blog post where I tell my story. I hope you will read it.

Blessings,
Emily

The Grammys, Sex, and Satan - For God's Sake, Just Buy a CD!

Watching an Amish documentary last Sunday, I heard the following exchange:

One individual of a busload of visitors to Amish Country addressed an Amish gentleman, "So what's the difference between you Amish and us 'English'?"

The Amish gentleman replied, "How many of you own televisions?" The hands of all tourists went up.

He then added, "How many of you are distressed with what is often seen on television?" Again all hands up.

Next he asked, "How many of you will go home and get rid of your televisions?" No hands went up.

His final comment was, "That's the difference between the Amish and the English!"

This simple, painful observation was made even more relevant when reports of the 2014 Grammys surfaced. Apparently this year's Grammys featured 1) a mass wedding ceremony performed - including both gay and straight couples - by Queen Latifah, a performer.  2) a risque duet by Beyonce and Jay-Z and 3) a Satanic performance by Katy Perry. Remind me again why anyone watches an orgy of perversion such as this? An answer might be revealed in Matthew Kelly's, Rediscover Catholicism, “Our culture places a very high premium on self-expression, but is relatively disinterested in producing "selves" that are worth expressing.” 

So, many do watch - repeatedly - even as the performances sink to ever lower levels. Sadly, members of these faithful audiences are enablers. Because these train wrecks (disguised as entertainment) continue to be watched, they will persist in their downward spiral. For God's sake, buy a CD or something! Why continue to expose ourselves to filth, in an effort to see a small bit of entertainment?

My late mother used to tell a story about a mom, worried about her older children's movie viewing habits. Each time she voiced her objections to some of the vile content in their movie selections, the kids would say, "There's only a little bit of (language, sex, or gratuitous violence) in them; the rest of the movie is really good. Undaunted, she made brownies for the next movie night. After everyone had heartily eaten the delicious confection, the mother announced that one of the ingredients was dog poo. Outraged, the children exclaimed, 'how could you feed us such a thing?' to which she replied, 'but there was only a little bit of dog poo in them, the rest of the ingredients were top quality and delicious".  Point made! No?

In a recent Tweet, Pope Francis shared some thoughts as well, "Young people, let us not be satisfied w/mediocre life. Be amazed by what is true, beautiful, what is of God". 

pic.twitter.com/uLCi9XJRtX

A part of the problem seems to lie with each individual's mistaken impression that personal actions have no impact on the larger picture. There is a deficit of those willing to hold out for the exceptional – of not settling for the mediocre or worse. In truth, each of us makes a huge difference - one person at a time. And what we do has a ripple effect - for good or for evil. There are consequences in either case. Support these intrinsic evil acts by visual support and others follow. The titillation of shock and outraged discussions will fuel the curious and innocent alike – resulting in patronage of these lowest of entertaining elements. 

On the other hand, those who resist the temptation will have a positive impact. One of my friends had set her DVR for later viewing of the Grammys – planning to fast-forward to only those artists of whom she was a fan. After some discussion, she honored her husband's request, erasing the entire recording. As a couple, they came to the realization that most of the content was an open attack on conservative and Christian values. Allowing even a portion of The Grammys was not a compromise they were willing to make on their deeply held beliefs. Here was an example of one couple, sharing their discernment on Facebook and having a positive impact. 

Realizations such as this may be coming to more and more people (we pray). In reference to the Grammys, former Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron Tweeted to his followers, “Is it just me or are some of the Grammy performances so far…really demonic?? Looks like there is a lot of evil in the world…” Yes, indeed, and isn't it time we all took notice?

The Grammys, Sex, and Satan - For God's Sake, Just Buy a CD! was first published at Catholic Stand.

Girl Scouts and Planned Parenthood - Are the Cookies Finally Crumbling?

They come to your door, or stand outside Wal-Mart, fresh faced, smiling little girls - selling their cookies. It's an image as American as apple pie - yet the Girl Scout (GS) cookies may finally be crumbling. Not because of anything the girls have done, but because their leaders have colluded with the devil's handmaids. For many years now, faithful Christians have begun to notice feet of clay in the foundation of the Girl Scouts of America (GSUSA). And even amid the certain danger of exposing the innocent to the nefarious - denials are given, excuses are made, and a blind eye is turned - by the Girl Scouts (GS), by churches, and even by parents. Let's gather some facts:

Birds of a Feather - Associations Matter 

Making the connections.

World Association of Girl Guides and Girls Scouts (WAGGGS): Don't be fooled into thinking your Girl Scout's dues go solely into local coffers.  GS helped found WAGGGS, making up 25% of their membership and paying approximately $1 million in dues, per year.  What's done with that money isn't up to you or your daughter. What it does do, is to free up a huge chunk of cash to use toward things such as promotion of promiscuity, birth control, and abortion - worldwide.

Planned Parenthood (PP): GS associates and co-ops with Planned Parenthood. No matter who denies it, the pictures speak more than a thousand words. Add the fact that this is becoming more blatantly common and deniability becomes less feasible and the deception more apparent. Our little girls are becoming a demographic targeted by feminist activists, such as Marlo Thomas and Amy Richards, in their recent promotion for the pro-abortion documentary, MAKERS.  Turning a blind eye is now the only option for those who still won't see the clearly outlined facts.

Josh Ackley, a past Media Relations and Spokesperson for GSUSA: As we drill down further, we discover Josh Ackely who was charged with setting the course for promoting “positive images of women and girls” through the Healthy Media Campaign. As a member/founder of the defunct homopunk band “The Dead Betties, images of him are more than a little disturbing. According to Wikipedia, they are profiled in the book Homocore: The Loud and Raucous Rise of Queer Rock. Currently, Ackley is still employed by GSUSA in another capacity.

Kelly Parisi, current Media Relations and Spokesperson for GSUSA: Past Vice President of Marketing and Communications at MS Foundation for Women, who according to their own website, contributed more than $1 million to abortion advocacy in 2012. According to a Breitbart.com article, "it was during her tenure at the Ms. Foundation that Parisi joined in a national campaign to punish the Susan G. Komen Foundation for trying to defund Planned Parenthood" due to pro-life concerns. Continued selection of this type of immoral activist should be enough to scare off any discerning parent. What could possibly excuse employing such a persons?

Word-Smithing:

The denials and deception continue, however. As you can see from a Girl Scout Q & A page, creative wording and semantics play a large role in calming parental fears. Although individual girls don't hold membership in WAGGGS, her larger troop (through association with GSUSA) does. Although individual dues don't go directly to WAGGGS or their diabolical efforts favoring abortion and such, each smaller entity feeds into the larger one. The fungibility of funds creates a means by which every individual is a part of the larger picture. Money makes its way from your daughter, to her troop, on to GSUSA, and then to WAGGGS in the form of dues - said money now goes into the larger coffers which fund immoral activity. There - the connection has been made!

Investigation, But is it Enough?

Many groups exist today, in an effort to keep our children safe from unholy alliances and those who would try to sully their purity. Yet the effort is slow to take off. The USCCB has become involved and are in dialog with GSUSA, I'm told. Individual priests and bishops have taken steps to remove GS from their parishes and dioceses. But there is also much foot dragging. Why? It's a question I ask myself often. As we languish in a seemingly endless abyss of waiting, we are given excuses, semantics, and outright denial. Yet the facts speak more loudly. How many concerned parents have called their youth director, their pastor, their bishop? Surely there is an urgent need to remove the GS from reaching our daughters. Their very moral development is at stake. And once that line has been crossed - especially when it's way too early - that bell just can't be unrung. Is it really worth the chance?

“We must exercise a critical vigilance and at times refuse funding and collaborations that, directly or indirectly, favour actions or projects that are at odds with Christian 
anthropology.” Pope Benedict, Address to the Pontifical Council Cor Unum (1-19-13)

Let's face it; no matter how small the frog, he makes a ripple in the pond. We don't have to physically hand money to an abortionist to be complicit in promoting abortion. When we cooperate, in any aspect of a questionable organization, we are a part of the machinations of said group - and their activities. Once we become aware of illicit alliances, we become culpable. Isn't it time to take the abundance of facts we have been given and make the morally sound choice? No amount of denial, creative talk, or wearing of blinders is worth risking the honor of the daughters we have been given. Stand up for their innocence and purity. If we don't, who will?

There are Alternatives:

Girl Scouts: For many, the benefits of scouting are woven into the very fabric of their being. This scandalous outrage doesn't mean you can't offer your daughter a scouting alternative. Here are a few options:

American Heritage Girls

4-H

Little Flowers Girls Club 

Cookies: Even those tempting, once a year, guilty pleasures have an alternative. With a bit of shopping, I've found my favorite Samoa cookies at the local Family Dollar store – under a different name, of course. Keebler's Coconut Dreams are also a newly available alternative. Others, such as Thin Mints, were also on the shelf. In perusing Pinterest, I have also found recipes for making your own.

With such damning evidence and wholesome alternatives, can we afford to wait any longer. After connecting all the pieces, what possible reason to remain with the Girl Scouts exists?

The post, Girl Scouts and Planned Parenthood - Are the Cookies Finally Crumbling? first appeared on Catholic Stand

Sanctity of Life Sunday - Resolving to Save the Unborn

The Christmas Season is in its last days. We've celebrated the birth of Jesus, the Holy Family, Mary Mother of God, and the Holy Name of Jesus. Today we move on to the Epiphany and then finally, next Sunday, the Baptism of the Lord. All of these feasts evoke an image of new life, a welcoming family, and unconditional love.

In a world sometimes deplete of empathy for those who make others feel burdened or uncomfortable we need to remind ourselves of the intrinsic value of Life - all Life! God, alone, is the author of Life. He, we are told, called us by our name before we were even born. Let's take His welcoming and unconditional love as an example of how we need to love. With the newborn year, let's resolve to do more - all we can - to save more unborn babies. Let's give them, and their parents, a welcoming world filled with unconditional love!

Let's resolve to same MORE unborn babies this year!

The 12 Days of Christmas - The Ten Commandments

The 10th Day of Christmas 

Exodus 20:1
And God spoke all these words …

 If we see in ten lords a-leaping a reference to the Ten Commandments, we are struck by a rather awesome thought: the Ten Commandments were spoken to us by God through His prophet, Moses. Another even more awesome thing is that we can understand them!


A Being who invented the mysteries of quantum physics and the impenetrable enigma of every cell in our bodies; who fills time and space like water overflowing a bottle; needn't -- once you think about it -- have done either. But He did both. And because He did, we began to know him solely at his urging. In the giving of the Ten Commandments, his word was spoken through Moses. In the birth of Jesus at Christmas, his Word became Incarnate in the New Tabernacle, Mary. In the giving of the Holy Spirit, his word was written on our hearts. This is the truest use of that most abused term: Awesome!!

You may also enjoy:

The 12 Days of Christmas - Day 1 Through Day 8

The 9th Day of Christmas - 9 Fruits of the Holy Spirit 

Note: I am blessed to be receiving one of these reflections, from a deacon friend, each day. He tells me he doesn't know their source but makes simple edits as he deems necessary. Do you know the original source? Please share if you do. 

Elf on the Shelf and Santa Claus - What are They Really Teaching Children?

I know that I'll get flack for this post - that's OK, it's my blog and I'll be a Scrooge if I want to. Seriously, though, I've put quite a bit of thought into this issue. First, I want to say that, although my kids believed in Santa for a while, I never really encouraged it. I was just going with the flow of what the rest of society was doing. While I didn't encourage belief in Santa, I also didn't come right out and tell them he didn't exist. Now before you decide I'm some hateful old woman who can't allow kids their childhood fantasies - hear me out.
We all know that the legend of Santa Claus has roots in a real-life saint - Saint Nicholas. He was a bishop and, as the story goes, was fond of helping those who had little in the way of worldly goods. This is a wonderful example of Charity but somehow, along the way, this nice saint was hijacked and turned into a jolly old elf who encourages the lust for 'stuff'. That's not who St. Nicholas was and that's not the virtue our kids should be taking away from his story.

As the first teachers of our children, we have a heavy responsibility for forming their lives. Our ultimate goal - getting them to Heaven - depends heavily upon being dependable purveyors of Truth. Case in point: when my little sister first learned the 'truth' about Santa she asked our mother a very telling question, "If Santa isn't real, is the story about Jesus?". Yeah, let that sink in for a moment.

In the same vein, it really makes me uncomfortable to hear children being told that Santa is watching them - that he 'knows' if they've been bad or good. Isn't that the same thing we tell them about God? When the Santa myth is exposed, is it realistic to think that they will still blindly believe in an all-knowing deity?

Speaking of knowing good vs. bad, let's talk about the Elf on the Shelf. So we have instructed our children, for their entire lives, in the value of being good and following rules. Now we're glorifying a creature who comes into our house and wreaks havoc - and we think it's funny and laugh about it? Is it just me, or is that a confusing mixed signal?

There are so many wonderful true stories out there to enchant our children. Why do we insist on allowing them to build their hopes and dreams on a fantasy? Why do we laugh at and, in essence condone, unacceptable behavior. Wouldn't it be better to tell them true stories - something they could actually emulate?

The 'spirit' of Christmas comes closer to giving kids a tangible impression of true love and charity. Why not build them up by letting them in on the giving aspect of the Season? While I'm not talking about completely eliminating the Santa mystique, what I'm advocating is a healthy middle ground. Perhaps we could play along with the general idea but not participate in the over-the-top things that cement the deal. No letters from the North Pole, no glittery Santa footprints, or cookies and milk. That just encourages an innocent belief in a fading fantasy - and leads to exposure of a fraud. Instead, gently guide them toward a spirit of giving - not receiving. Teach them to be givers - it actually is virtuous and desirable to give rather than receive. So, although they will naturally look forward to getting, teach them how it feels to give as well.

I recently read a sweet little book to the younger kids on this very topic. Santa's Secret Story did a good job of bringing St. Nicholas into the forefront as the real Santa. One line that really resonated to me was an answer to a question by, Rachel, one of the child characters in the tale. When she asked St. Nicholas why he gave his gifts in secret, he replied, "I want people to thank God, not me! Remember, the greatest gift is God's love. I am just happy to give His love to others". What a valuable lesson!

Happy Advent and Merry Christmas!

I’m participating in the KEEP CHRIST in CHRISTMAS Blog Link-Up 2013, hosted by

Monica at www.equippingCatholicfamilies.com

Erika at http://raisinglittlesaints.blogspot.ca/

Tina at http://trulyrichmom.com/

Laura at http://daybydayinourworld.com/

Sarah at http://onthewayhome2.com

Chris at http://campfiresandcleats.blogspot.ca/

Birgit at http://designsbybirgit.blogspot.ca/

Please consider following your hosts in appreciation for the work that they do…and be sure to visit as many of the listed links as possible.

Check out this complete list of blogs participating in the Keep Christ in CHRISTmas Link-Up:

Equipping Catholic Families: Keep Christ in Christmas

Simply Homeschool Living Advent Series 12/1 - 12/25

Fifth of Five Keeping Christ in Christmas - Blog Link-up 2013

Coffee Moments with Sam The Light of Hope

Hand-Maid With Love: CHRISTmas Presence: Keep Christ in Christmas 2013 Edition

Open Window Making hay while the Advent wreath shines

Faith Filled Freebies: Keep Christ in Christmas

Written by the Finger of God: Not Christmas as Usual

On the Way Home: Keep Christ in Christmas

Sue Elvis Writes: Bring Christ to Others

Mommy Bares All Why Celebrate Christmas Even After #YolandaPH

Canadian Catholic Mom Keeping The Little Ones Focused: An Advent Link-Up

Mountain of Grace Homeschooling Keep Christ in Christmas

Em’s Estuary: Keeping Christ in Christmas

Happy Little Homemaker: December Devotion: Immaculate Conception

Adoro Ergo Sum: How We Keep Christ in Christmas

JoyAlive.net: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

Home to 4 Kiddos Keep Christ in Christmas

Embedded Faith Boldly Be the Christ in Christmas

City Girl, Country Home Emmanuel Is With Us. Are we WITH HIM?

Journey to Wisdom: Trusting in your Awkward Fiats

Joy of Nine9 Waiting in Joyful Expectation Like a Child

Splendor in the Home Ideas For Keeping Advent and Christmas Holy

Training Happy Hearts 10 Ways to Celebrate the New Liturgical Year

A Catholic Life Advent: The Beginning of the Liturgical Year & Source of Rich Meditations

Designs by Birgit: Elf on a Shelf and Santa Claus

Catholic Inspired: Faith-Centered Family Christmas

A Slice of Smith Life: How we keep Christ in Christmas

Catholic All Year: Three Reasons I love Advent

Mary the Defender: Christmas The Battle Begins

Truly Rich Mom: Keep Christ in Christmas

Day By Day in Our World: 40 Days Seeking Him and Keeping Christ in Christmas

Diapers and Drivel: Keeping Christ in Christmas

Raising Soldiers 4 Christ: Keeping Christ in Christmas

Rosary Mom Keep Christ In Christmas With A Teenager

Tercets: Keeping Christ in Christmas: Join Church Ministries

Campfires and Cleats How We Keep Christ in Christmas

Life Unabridged: Celebrating the Fullness of the Advent and Christmas Season

Homeschooling With Joy Keeping Christ in Christmas

Mrs Domestic Bliss Gingerbread Nativity

The Chic Traveller Keeping Christ in Christmas

California to Korea Keeping Christ in Christmas

Dominique's Desk Keeping Christ in Christmas

Our ABC Life: An Advent Update

Journey Living: Anno Domini

Are Aborted Babies Saints in Heaven?

“Unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Spirit, he shall not enter the  kingdom of heaven” (Jn 3:5).

 As Catholic Christians we are gravely aware of the necessity of the sacraments for Eternal Salvation. The first, and therefore, most important early sacrament is Baptism - the washing away of the Original Sin handed down by our First Parents. As Catholic parents, we are admonished by Holy Mother Church, to avail our children of this cleansing Sacrament as early in a child's life as possible. Yet, we've all heard of the tragedies of early infant loss or abortion and can't help but wonder what happens to these unsanctified souls. What becomes of the child who is aborted or miscarried before Baptism? Surely there is some consoling answer for these innocents, whose parents had no opportunity to have them Baptized?

Three Types of Baptism

We are taught that there are three types of Baptism. 1). Baptism by water – using the formulaic prayer, ‘I baptize you, in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit'. 2). Baptism by blood - as in the case of someone martyred for the Faith, and 3). Baptism of desire - the cleansing received by a soul who, although planning to be baptized, dies before that act can be completed. We also find a caveat to Baptism of desire: if an individual is innocently unaware of God and is provided the grace to make an act of Faith in a provident God, that person’s soul will be cleansed of Original Sin.

With God All Things are Possible

As the grandmother of five babies who were lost by miscarriage, I have faith that our righteous God provides a just outcome for these babies. By extension, I have faith of the same for babies who die from abortion. He, Himself has said that He 'knows us each by name' before we are born. If we subscribe to the belief that each human soul is given an opportunity to accept or reject God, then I firmly believe our answer lies in such a conviction. After all, these innocents have committed no Actual Sin. For a God who is Eternal, timeless, why would it be a stretch to conceive Him meeting these children at the hour of their death and giving them a choice? According to our poor human terms, they are ill equipped to make such an eternal decision, at so tender an age – but in meeting with their Maker, who are we to say that a mature choice can’t be made?

While no firm, detailed Dogma has been pronounced for our consolation, a certain amount of comfort can be found in this simple faith. God wants what is good for all of His Children. My heart rests easy, in a childlike faith and hope, that He has made just accommodations for these little ones. After all, they found themselves at the mercy of a loving God.

NOTE: A more in-depth treatment of this topic can be found in "The Fate of Unbaptized Infants: Christian Hope and Christian Realism" - which was the inspiration for my post.

Random Acts of Blessing

A blog post I recently read about parenting really resonated with me. The suggestion I took to heart was to look at your children and say 'I love you' with your eyes. Here was definitely a concept worth trying - and it was like magic! Those little eyes staring back at me said, "I love you" right back. The loving interactions between us increased exponentially - it became my secret super power. Not willing to leave well enough alone, I made an effort to try my new found skill on others. After all, haven't we been inundated with pleadings to love in scripture verses, parables, and gems of wisdom from our parents?

Forgive Us Our Trespasses, as we Forgive

You see, I have accumulated a lifetime of little regrets - things that I could have, should have done differently. That grouchy waitress, the rude clerk, the driver who cut me off - I have felt smugly irate. But then, like a clap of thunder, it hit me. When I'm the one at fault, I make excuses. I'm having a bad day, the kids are distracting, I didn't mean to - it's so easy to explain when it's me. Mea Culpa! If I'm so willing to rationalize my faults, why should I not do the same for others? Why not assume the best, instead of the worst?

Whatever You Do to the Least of These

When we begin to look at others with the eyes of God's love, when we see them from the inside out - that's when we are living the Gospel. Over and over, we are told to love others as we love ourselves. The Beatitudes, alone, speak volumes of this type of compassion and love. God loves us all - bumps included. He doesn't care if we're educated, successful, beautiful, or accomplished. What He cares about is something we, humans, can't see - the immortal soul of each of His creatures.

Performing Random Acts of Blessing

So what are we to take away from these thoughts? What's the point of these ponderings? It all began with that silent look of "I love you" and bringing it to the world around me. Looking at others from the inside out, helps me to focus on the love God feels for us all. What he sees is one of His creatures - not the unkempt hair, questionable clothing, or frantic mind - He sees someone He loves. If I am to live like Him, then I must look inside too - seeing the humanity, yes, but more importantly - seeing the eternal soul.

When I see someone who appears unattractive (looks, attitude, behavior), I give them an "I love you smile". It's become a habit - slowly - to whisper a little internal prayer for them. "Jesus, please bless this person, whom I almost judged just now". I know that He loves us all, maybe the more difficult ones are loved even more. Memories of a quip from my mother come to mind, "when a teenager is the least lovable, that's when they need the most love". We have to wonder how many times our Father in Heaven has felt that way about us.

Transforming Your Love a Little at a Time

A little bit of kindness can go a long way. Now, whenever I encounter a stranger - especially one who looks particularly harsh - I silently bless them. When I encounter a home brandishing the rainbow flag of the United States, I offer a silent prayer for the occupants. When I'm feeling particularly impatient with little voices, who insistently call my name, I stop, look into their eyes and silently say, 'I love you'. I'm not always successful, but success is my goal. The bonus is, sometimes we really do receive in return, that which we give. And if we don't? St. Josemaria Escriva said it beautifully:

Don't say: "that person gets on my nerves". Think: "that person sanctifies me".

There are so many examples in the lives of the saints. These little random acts of blessing can become like St. Theresa's 'little way' - one person at a time. Just think of the possibilities of spreading the wealth of God's love with everyone we encounter. What a beautiful community of God's love we could build! So let's all join together in performing random acts of blessing. In return, we will be ones who are blessed.

A Fool's Paradise or Sin Makes Us Stupid

"We've been living in a fool's paradise", declares Lee of the sweetly nuanced Swiffer commercial. She and husband, Morty, have endeared themselves to television viewers - waltzing in their kitchen and discovering the dirt of which they were formerly unaware. My husband sometimes calls me 'Babe' (Morty's term of endearment), to hint at our goal to be that couple as we age.

In the same way Lee speaks of the hidden dirt her new cleaning gadget has helped her find, we can speak of the hidden sins that we gloss over. During an online retreat I recently heard the good Fr. Ripperger, FSSP say, "sin makes you stupid" - and so it does. Whether it's difficult to discern (like the dust on Lee's kitchen floor), or glossed over by carelessness or habit - we all have sins that, if laid bare, would alarm us.

Sin Makes Us Stupid

To elaborate on this point, lets think about the types of sin: Original Sin, Venial Sin, and Mortal Sin. Original Sin is an effect of the fall of our First Parents. Although not an actual sin that we have committed, it has an actual effect on us - a lack of Grace. If not washed away by Baptism, it causes a lack of subordination to God and therefore makes it difficult to do good. With Original Sin has come sickness and death of the soul.

Venial sin involves matters that are not seriously sinful but can certainly act as the gateway to serious sin. When we mortally sin, we disengage from God - we turn our backs on Him and willfully do evil. This serious sinfulness makes us more prone to evil and it becomes difficult to do good. Our passions are disordered and the control that we have over the flesh is diminished. Therefore we are more and more likely to give in to disordered appetites. This, in turn, darkens our intellect - blinds it to the sin committed. This blindness is our punishment - the resulting cycle of sin makes us more and more stupid...too stupid to be fully aware of the dire straits we are in. The further we fall into sin, the more fixated we become on the created things to which we are attached. Our lower faculties win out with our desire for sinful pleasures. We find that we have an inability to concentrate on spiritual things: even meaningful prayer becomes extremely difficult.

Thankfully our natural light of reason, however diminished, remains with us - giving us a way toward what is right and holy. Although sin darkens our intellect and dulls our senses that judge our sinfulness, with repentance, we can come back to the full light of reason. For this reason, it's prudent to take full advantage of the sacrament of Penance frequently. Holy Mother Church, in the wisdom endowed by Jesus, has given us a perfect way to balance our lives and therefore our souls. Each time we come to Him with the burden of our sins, he presents the perfect means to enhance our holiness, our awareness and our ability to live as we should. We, like Morty, we make dirt (sin) and so must utilize that with which we have been equipped - to make clean what was once dirty. Confession can be the Swiffer* for our souls - cleaning every nook and cranny we are willing to find.

*The Swiffer and Confession comparison is solely mine and not to be confused with the substance of Fr. Ripperger's eloquent message. I have only lightly touched on the wisdom shared in these talks. To hear more from Fr. Ripperger, FSSP click here.

http://www.sensustraditionis.org/webaudio/Sin/Sin.mp3

Naggable Offenses

My DH (web-speak for dear husband) is a constant source of entertainment for me. I honestly think he is one of the major reasons I was able to live through a breast cancer diagnosis, chemotherapy, and subsequent surgeries without losing even more of my mind. We have a real compatibility - and yet can attack and parry with the best of them with our razor-edged tongues. Once a source of slight discomfiture for our kids, they now see it for what it is - pure playful entertainment.

This morning I was nagging reminding DH for the upteenth time, about a small thing he needs to take care of - it involves carrying two containers from point A to point B. These boxes are too heavy for me and they have to do with his job, so this is undeniably his thing. In an attempt to cajole him into doing his duty - just one more time (sigh) - I mentioned it to him as he was walking out the door. That's when he coined the phrase - naggable offenses. You know, those simple tasks that would involve a miniscule amount of time - yet they seldom get done with just one request. You see, nagging, in its true sense is repetitive requests that have more to do with optional behavior. Sit up straight, get a haircut, go visit your grandmother, find a nice girl, etc. A 'naggable' offense, then, is the 'naggee's' fault. It's apparent to any right-thinking individual that, if these small tasks were done at the time of the request, there would be no need for repetition - and thus cause the aforementioned nagging.

This got me thinking about how many naggable offenses we have accumulated over the course of our lives in our relationship with God. I found myself thinking of those times that we hear the Holy Spirit whisper to our hearts. Go to confession, get up and go to weekday Mass, visit the sick, write a thoughtful note to someone who seems sad - the list could (and does) go on and on. What if we jumped into action as soon as we became aware of these opportunities? Or perhaps we could even become more sensitive to the call to do good. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we started inventing great things to do in service to others - and therefore to God? But our God is a loving and patient God. He continues to give us opportunity after opportunity, even if we are slow to respond. If we are truly working toward bettering our relationship with Him, however, it's necessary to stimulate our awareness of what it is that He desires of us. These naggable offenses weaken our souls and desensitise our consciences as we tuck them away into our minds like unruly children. In our quest for Eternal life, let us resolve to heighten our listening skills, not to put off for tomorrow what we are called to do today and to willingly serve our loving Creator.

All Babies are Royalty in the Eyes of God

With baited breath, the world (well except me) awaited the birth of the Royal child of William and Kate. I have never really understood the American fascination with Royalty watching - especially given that we, in the 'new country', escaped the tyranny of a Monarchical nation. Princess Diana didn't leave me all aflutter either. It's not that I don't admire some others from afar. It's just that I tend to base my admiration on something that someone has done - not who they are. Give me an uncrowned wife and mother of 10 who still manages to help out the neighbors and volunteer at the church bazaar. Or perhaps the elderly priest who rises early every morning - despite the fact that he has long since retired - to say Mass for a handful of parishioners in a little country church.

How fortunate we are, that God doesn't count our silver spoons and accidents of birth. He cares for all of us with an unconditional love. It would do us good to seek out those who do not garner recognition from the world - those who society has thrown away. When I think of these, the least of all, my mind invariably wanders straight to the unborn. Babies are conceived every day without the slightest say in the matter. They have no choice and simply are, because of the actions of others. As such they are often maligned in today's society - as if they are something extra, unnecessary and inconvenient. Thank God, that they are loved unconditionally by a merciful God Who makes the final call!

Of Speed Traps and Cookie Jars: Laws of God and Man

My husband recently told me about a controversial new smart phone app. Locally available somewhere in California, it’s causing quite the stir as other areas consider developing something similar. Users of the app are forewarned about drinking and driving checkpoints. Much like the ‘speed traps’ my husband often encounters when he travels, these checkpoints can be a great annoyance for motorists. Therefore, some feel that they are entrapment and somehow unfair. I beg to differ since, whether it’s speed or intoxication, we are always obligated to follow the law. If we do what is expected of us at all times, there is no danger of being caught doing wrong.

There appear to be two main schools of thought concerning the app in question: 1) the app will actually lower drunk driving by alerting potentially inebriated motorists, thus causing them to make other arrangements or 2) it's a 'legalized' way of skirting the law.

Lowering the Risks

Whether we are talking about drinking and driving or other acts of disobedience, our fallen human nature often illustrates that we act more responsibly when we perceive the risk being caught. The presence of deterrents such as checkpoints, surveillance cameras, or security personnel will result in better behavior on the part of some who would otherwise give in to temptation. In my estimation, this is the less desirable scenario because it is based on the vigilance of others rather than self discipline. Sure, drivers might choose to refrain from unsavory behavior but they are also being provided with methods of skirting the law simply because of appearances.

Modifying Behavior

When I look at the rationale above I am struck by something that goes all the way back childhood upbringing. In teaching children we notice two main types of behavior: 1) doing what is right because of monitoring and 2) obedience, even when out of sight, because it’s the right thing to do. Without question, the second option is most desirable and therein lies the rub. From the time that we are infants, good parenting demands the principles of honesty and obedience from us. Whether it’s a child contemplating a cookie jar of forbidden treats, a student whose teacher has momentarily left the classroom, or teens tempted by premarital sex – one thing is sure – we want the behavior to reflect a moral choice, whether or not the person is being watched. Why should it be otherwise? Does God expect any less?

In today’s society, we find so many ways to escape accountability. The tools to help us bypass consequences are seemly endless. Want to have sex without pregnancy? Don’t worry about abstinence – just use ‘protection’. Find yourself pregnant? Have an abortion – no one will know. Don’t want to study? Steal the answers to the test or cheat. Even simple things, like typing out this post, have built in escapes. Make a grammatical error or misspell a word? That’s OK, just delete, undo, or cut and paste a correction. We are so conditioned to have easy outs, no matter what activity in which we participate - I sometimes find myself wishing that there was an undo button for life. Since there isn't, however, shouldn't we take special care that our actions reflect our values each and every time we act? Shouldn't we weigh our options and make choices that obey the laws of God and respect moral civil laws of the land?

Wouldn't it be wonderful to see society get back to the basics of doing right for its own sake, rather than doing right because there is a chance of being caught if we do wrong? After all, isn't that what being a child of God is all about? The Ten Commandments weren't handed to Moses with the caveat that they only be obeyed when someone is looking. What about that old fashioned concept of the ‘honor system’? Didn't people of the past say things like, ‘on my honor’?

As with every aspect of the world where we find the need for correction, we can become the catalyst – the first step in helping society live up to God’s expectations. Starting with ourselves and passing honor (honesty) to our children and neighbors can be important first steps. If only each of us makes a resolution to live in accord with the laws of God – seen and unseen – we will begin to see a better world. If we hold ourselves accountable, others will begin to do the same. One soul at a time, we can populate the world with upright children of God.