Walking Away From Pride

Pride sometimes keeps us tied to things from which we need to walk away. I've encountered that reality several times in my life but have really been assaulted by it lately. Often we just go on, in auto-pilot, long after an activity has played out its usefulness in our lives. We simply like how it makes us feel - important, liked and listened to - able to share our own thoughts.

But what kind of motivation is that? Shouldn't our motives be more pure? Shouldn't we be seeking to serve without strings, instead of serving because of what we receive in return? Without measuring in numbers or accolades? That type of thought has been echoing in my consciousness lately. Yet pride kept me firmly attached. Today I finally gave in to the niggling doubts, the persistent murmurs and allowed my mind's eye to be open to unadulterated truth. I let go of an obligation I loved. Walked away from something to which I have been willingly tied for many months.

Yet my fear of feeling empty was purged and instead I walked away with a weight lifted from my shoulders. You see, I had taken this prideful attitude toward the task and allowed it to take precedence over those things which should have held more importance. Relief has washed over me and the negative entanglements that accompanied my persistence to hold on can, at long last, be cast aside.

Now I am free and find that I have multiple directions to pursue. The oft neglected support that needs to be given to those who truly depend on me - those to whom I am tied by love and family - will take precedence  There will also be more readily available time to devote to creative pursuits. Most important of all, I will make much more time for some badly needed communing with nature and its awesome Creator. That, after all, is the purpose for which we, ourselves, were made!

End Abortion: It's Simple, Yet Complicated

One of my pro-life efforts is creating memes that initiate thought, tug on the heart strings, or generally bring abortion into the light. As a rule, I go for the softer type of message - no bloody babies in trash bags or parts spelling out Planned Parenthood. The photos and messages are gleaned from where I am - my family, friends, favorite saints, popes, and such. Inspiration strikes me at the oddest times and sometimes the Holy Spirit will show me a wonderful photo and then - BAM! - a quote will appear in my Facebook wall feed that fits it perfectly. Other times, I will hang onto a quote or a series of photos and it will be months before something gels within this stubborn, creative mind of mine.

Yesterday, I finally had a thought pop into my head that fit 'perfectly' with a photo to which I have been
holding on for quite some time. I'm emotionally invested in this series of photos because the friend who shared them with me is a real life hero...she is living out the selflessness of putting her own life in danger for the good of this, her eleventh living child. With that in mind, I wanted to do my best for her. The thought that popped into my head was S I M P L I C I T Y. Often times, my memes require some thought, accompanying links, or a back story. This time the message was very basic - END abortion! The way I figured it, this would tug at heart strings, serve as one of those motivational posters, and get a simple message out there - you fill in the blanks of how to accomplish it. Plus, it had an element of humor - because the word 'end' is on the back end of the baby's diapered tushy.

So with the meme created, published, and shared with a pro-life group (one of many to which I belong) my mission was accomplished. Right?

W R O N G !

A member of the aforementioned group left a comment below my meme:

Who do you want to end it Birgit? It is a very complicated cycle we are in, very few understand what to do about it even if they agree with you. Most seem to see abortion as ok, so how to reach then is my question?

Good question and not too bad of a jumping off point either! My answer is this: it's a quandary. But the ultimate answer lies with each and every one of us. All of us need to be a part of ending it. If we cultivate a Culture of Life - each one to the best of our ability - there will eventually be a groundswell of love for all Life. It's not ours, it's not the government's, it's not the clergy's - it's everyone doing their part. The rest of it - and the timeline - belongs to God.

At the forefront of what we can do is education. Talk, live, breathe a Culture of Life - always bring it up and help it catch fire. Be the spark in your community and church. For our part, we must inform. We must pray. We must commit to give assistance to women, men, and babies who are affected by an untimely pregnancy - even after the child's life has been spared. In essence, we must live lives that respect all LIFE. It's up to each one of us - individually - to live a Culture of Life. God willing, our efforts, combined with those of others will eventually take us there. In the mean time, I get up every morning and do all that *I* can do for Life - that's my part! What's yours?


NOTE: My friend is scheduled for a planned C-Section on Wednesday. Please pray for good health for both mother and baby. You can find an update on the story at Catholic Sistas.

To see more of my Pro-LIFE memes go to the Designs by Birgit fan page.

Martha, Mary, Popes and Such: For Everything a Season

This year, the Gospel reading about Martha and Mary struck a different chord for me. I took away something more this time. It's not that one of the sisters was right and the other was wrong, but that – for that moment in time – Mary’s reaction to being in the presence of Jesus may have been the more appropriate. Yet, someone always has to be tasked with the grunt work, if you will, even as there’s also a need to stop and smell the roses – to take in the finer details and absorb them into our very souls. Perhaps, just this once, the meticulous care taken to have the house in order and meal prepared, cost Martha a very precious gift – communing with Jesus and the opportunity to drink in what He had to share. Nonetheless, each woman’s task was a necessity – otherwise, there would have been no household to gather within.

Martha or Mary: Both Roles Have Value

In pondering the way our Church leaders govern, a similar thought came to me. As much as we, as a Catholic people, find comfort in the familiar, sometimes a new way to approach our ancient faith can have its merit as well. Much has been made about the difference between Pope Francis and his most recent predecessor, but when we look to Martha and Mary in this broader way we are spurred to look at the overall picture instead of solely the minor details.

Pope Benedict XVI was a supreme teacher as well as being very shy and modest. His care of the liturgy and its reformation was a very necessary step after the ‘spirit’ of Vatican II led to numerous deviations from what the Mass is and always has been. What started out as a way for the laity to more actively participate in the liturgy, sometimes became the travesty of making the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass a do-it-yourself project for many. That the fault didn't lie with the documents or the council of Vatican II mattered not a whit to those who willfully used the opportunity for their own purposes – or, for that matter, to the people in the pews who were unaware that terrible liberties were being taken. The scholarly writings of Pope Benedict will feed souls for many years to come and his care of the structure of the Mass will help assure its survival.

Pope Francis, as best as can be surmised within the brief time he has been with us, is more outgoing in character. He seems to thrive on being in the company of the people – celebrating Mass in small venues, eating with the workers, and going out into the throngs to press the flesh. His homilies are short and sweet but very much to the point. The Devil is among us, Hell is a reality, and we must love one another as commanded by Jesus. He doesn't couch his words but matter-of-factly shares them as recurring themes. It doesn't appear that he is as concerned about maintaining protocol in the way a Pontiff dresses, where he lives, or how he travels. In my humble opinion, he appears to be a bit more spontaneous.

Martha and Mary: No Wrong, No Right

Like the story of Martha and Mary, however, we find that there is no wrong or right here – there is simply a difference of approach. That both men value the necessity of the rules governing the Church, celebrating Mass, and maintaining an order that ties us back to the very beginning of the Church instituted by Jesus Christ Himself, is evident. The Great Commandment that we love one another, is also very apparent in the lives of both Pope Benedict and Pope Francis. We are commanded to serve one another and that is given priority status by both. Rules cannot be followed at the exclusion of living the Gospel but neither can living the Gospel cause us to throw rules out the window.

What we are seeing here is a difference of approach – because their earthly God-given gifts vary – much like what is spoken of in 1 Corinthians 12. Whether it is an eye, foot, or ear – all are important. We are one body – the Body of Christ – and just like the physical human body has many parts, so does the Church. And all purposes are significant in their own service.

“That there might be no schism in the body; but the members might be mutually careful one for another.

And if one member suffer any thing, all the members suffer with it; or if one member glory, all the members rejoice with it.”

Martha and Mary: Both Are Necessary for the Whole

So we see that there is much more to Luke's Gospel than at first glance. Both Martha and Mary are a necessary part of the equation – they bring their special gifts to procure the accomplishment of the whole. There is a goodness in realizing the right season, the right mission, the right goal at a given time. For, “there is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens”. It is ours to obey the whispering call as scripture and the Holy Spirit give us what we need - just at the right time. There is a necessity of continued learning and perusal of Gospels, the Word of God and the Catechism of the Catholic Church in order that we might arm ourselves with the proper tools for the proper time. As the cycles of our lives change so does what we take away from reading, prayer, and inspiration. As a very wise priest once told me, “sometimes the result of inspiration is not known until years later”. In the spirit of Martha, Mary, Benedict and Francis let us continue to function as worthy members of the Body of Christ - each doing his own part.

Dead bodies, severed limbs, blood - Boston Marathon or Kermit Gosnell?

I noticed that a gruesome photo is making the rounds in my Facebook news feed - it shows one of the mangled competitors in the Boston Marathon after the bombs went off. His leg is gone from the knee down but there is a long portion of bone still attached and jutting out where his leg used to be. The same thing happened when, Kevin Ware, a Louisville basketball player, broke his leg during a tournament game recently. There were photos everywhere showing the bone sticking out about 6" from his flesh. These types of explicit photos were/are shown ad nauseam while we are held as a captive audience. These images simply can't be avoided if we persist in our day to day activity on social media.

When something like this – or 9-11 – happens there is a preoccupation with viewing it over and over again. There are constant counts and recounts of - deaths, injuries, spectators, shrapnel, and every other type of tally. It’s as if hearing the minutia of the event will somehow fix the gravity of the situation in our minds. Since we are consumers of the 24-hour news cycle - like a train wreck - we seem to be unable to look away. And so the media shows the same video clips over and over again, others post and we stare at countless pictures. And we somehow try to take in the horror of the current event du jour. 

While the sports injury in Louisville was an unfortunate accident, in Boston the carnage was the result of an act of willful terror. Of course our hearts go out to all victims but, when we are forced to ponder the inhumanity that allows such a willfully depraved act, we see the frightening proof of evil. We are left to wonder how such an act could have been perpetrated by a fellow human being. What motivates such willful destruction? What can be done about it? Where do we go from here? The questions are as numerous as the injuries and the people affected by them.

 And yet…

When we attempt to expose the grisly horror that is abortion we are called 'over the top'. Facebook censors our fan pages and walls. The pro-abortion crowd vehemently denounces our efforts. We are accused of forcing unwilling spectators to see something so unspeakably evil that it simply can’t be viewed. There, too, are counts and pictures and carnage and blood and severed limbs. In addition, there are ‘trophies’ - babies in freezers, parts in jars. For its part, the media stages a blackout and ignores what's going on in the squalid rooms of abortion mills. And yet the pro-life faithful don’t have to daily peruse the grim reality of a Kermit Gosnell to know that abortion is an act of terror of the highest degree in every.single.instance.

All of the components for news reporting are there: countless victims, cold-blooded perpetrators, and an act so unspeakably violent that we recoil in sheer horror at the enormity of it all. Yet, it goes largely unreported and therefore neatly tucked away in the darkness of the unspeakable. And there it thrives – because no one has to face the ugliness. Pro-life efforts to shine the light of truth on abortion are shoved into a corner where very few will see, ponder, and rise up to ask the same questions they do when any othere act of terror happens. How can such an act be perpetuated by fellow human beings? What motivates such willful destruction? What can be done about it? Where do we go from here? Here, too, the questions are as numerous as the deaths, injuries, and the people affected by them.

With the spotlight finally on an individual who committed such heinous acts, perhaps we will move into a position where the answers will come. The hand of the media has been forced by those of us who rose up and demanded coverage of the Gosnell trial via social media - Pro-Lifers flooded Twitter With 100s of #Gosnell Tweets per second last Friday. More such efforts are currently in the works so perhaps we will finally fill those empty media seats at the Gosnell trial. Now that we have gained momentum, we must forge ahead in exposing abortion as the child murder it is. Maybe we will bring these dark, sinister acts into the light for all to see. And once we are all forced to face what happens at the hands of monsters like Gosnell, maybe we will be able to find a way to end the violence of abortion – for the good of the victims and for the good of our society. 

Find me on Twitter - @tigribj  and retweet: 

Dead bodies everywhere, severed limbs, blood. #Boston? #Gosnell? 1 you'll see the other hidden. #prolife #prochoice http://bit.ly/13chptl

Eucharist as Perjury

This past Sunday, Detroit Archbishop Allen Vigneron put forward that Catholics who receive Communion while advocating gay marriage would "logically bring shame for a double-dealing that is not unlike perjury".  Likewise, Detroit Canon Lawyer, Dr.Edward Peters, says that "Catholics who promote 'same-sex marriage' act contrary to Church law "and should not approach for holy Communion". Adding that, "they also risk having holy Communion withheld from them ... being rebuked and/or being sanctioned". Not unlike the admonishment that politicians who publicly support and work for abortion rights, this goes to the heart of what Catholics believe - have always believed.

Let's take a closer look

The Catholic Church has a special set of beliefs that encompass acts that are intrinsically evil. According to the United State Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB):

"There are some things we must never do, as individuals or as a society, because they are always incompatible with love of God and neighbor. These intrinsically evil acts must always be rejected and never supported. A preeminent example is the intentional taking of human life through abortion."

Other intrinsic evils include euthanasia, human cloning, destructive research on human embryos, and homosexual marriage. These beliefs are a part of the Dogma of the Catholic Church. According to the CCC  the "Church's Magisterium exercises the authority it holds from Christ to the fullest extent when it defines dogmas, that is, when it proposes, in a form obliging the Christian people to an irrevocable adherence of faith, truths contained in divine Revelation or also when it proposes, in a definitive way, truths having a necessary connection with these". Unlike discipline - a practice that can be changed (think abstaining from meat on all Fridays of the year) - dogma is definitive and can never change.

So what are we to take away from all of this? Since these intrinsic evils are not subject to change, individuals who perpetrate or formally cooperate in them are making a statement to themselves, the Church and society as a whole. In essence they are saying, "we, with full knowledge of our willful disobedience, stand squarely against a dogma of the Church to which we proclaim to belong". While going through the motions of being in full unity with the Church, they publicly fly in the face of her most deeply held teachings.

What Eucharist Is

To understand the gravity of the situation one must examine exactly what Holy Eucharist (Communion) is, when referring to its fullest definition according to the Catholic faith. When Jesus said, "truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you have no life in you", He wasn't speaking symbolically. This hard truth, the Eucharist as Christ's true Body, even caused some of His disciples to turn away from Him. Had he been speaking only symbolically, there would have been no reason for protest. His clear intent was the institution of the Eucharist, "the source and summit of the Christian life". Thus we know that "the other sacraments, and indeed all ecclesiastical ministries and works of the apostolate, are bound up with the Eucharist and are oriented toward it. For in the blessed Eucharist is contained the whole spiritual good of the Church, namely Christ Himself".1324  When we allow ourselves to acknowledge the full impact of everything this means, it is no longer possible to treat the Eucharist lightly. Holy Eucharist (Communion) is our unity with Jesus Christ Himself and through Him, with each and every one of our Catholic brethren - for we become what we consume, the Body of Christ.

What Eucharist Says

Once we recognize the miraculous reality that is Eucharist, we must acknowledge what partaking of Him through this sacrament says about us. If we strive to know (accept) Him and His gift to us, we must also cooperate in the intent of this giving of Christ of Himself. The Catholic Church has always been very clear about the disposition of those who present themselves to receive Him in Holy Eucharist. They are to be free from serious moral impediments and must be in full communion with the teachings of Holy Mother Church - that is, that we are to present ourselves for reception only if we are loyal to and aware of that which the Church (through Jesus) holds as Truth. So when we go forward to receive Him - Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity - we are making a public statement that we know Who the Eucharist is and that we fully support His laws.

Eucharist as Perjury

The common name for the Eucharistic sacrament is Holy Communion - as in communion defined as 'solidarity or concord'.  This is a telling indication of what is expected of those who seek to participate in such an intimate way with Jesus and His Church. The act of receiving is a pledge to have a common faith, an intimate fellowship, with everything presented to the Body of Christ which is His Church. Along with the Communion of Saints, we are bound to each other through Him Who binds us. So the act of receiving is a public pronouncement of unity. If one stands up, publicly, to contradict a firmly held belief and yet publicly presents himself as in communion with the Church, that action is a lie - perjury of the highest degree in the court of God. St. Paul explained in 1 Corinthians 11:27-29 that we are to present ourselves worthily or we "eateth and drinketh damnation" to ourselves. It is no stretch, then, to surmise that receiving unworthily - especially in public, causing scandal - is akin to perjury. Because it is an oath not kept - a lie given in action.

As much as it might appear desirable to see the sanction of those who perpetrate this scandalous perjury, it would be far more beneficial to all concerned to have the desecration of the Eucharist come to an end. These actions may likely give aid to a persistent lack of belief in the True Presence and could lead others astray. What is needed is a renewal of faith - both in understanding and action. Unfortunately faith in the reality that is Eucharist is at an all time low. As members of the Body of Christ, this impacts us all, for as 1 Corinthians tells us, "if one member suffer any thing, all the members suffer with it; or if one member glory, all the members rejoice with it". Let us join in communion with one another for the good of the whole. May God have mercy on us all - sinners that we are!

Alzheimer’s: Is it Good for the Soul?

Ma Peak

My husband’s sweet little grandmother has progressively lost her short term – and most long term memory. At 97 years young, her past few years have seen her settle comfortably into a new reality. She is no longer telling us that she wants to go ‘home’ – both in the earthly sense and in the eternal sense. Her life has regressed back into infancy, where she eats, naps, and shared smiles with us. A recent development finds her pulling her blanket over her face when she decides that our interaction is over and it’s time for some rest.

Ma Peak is not Catholic and she, along with her dearly departed husband, investigated several churches throughout their wonderfully blessed (five decade) marriage.  But they were always there for us when we had Catholic events going on. While my convert husband’s parents declined such invitations, Ma and Pa where always there – even signing over their permission for their 18 year old grandson to marry his 17 year old bride (me). As with all families, there were disagreements and hurt feelings and all sorts of bumps in the road. This led to the sinful but all too human telling of tales and holding of grudges.

Now that she no longer remembers these events or her reaction to them, I am left wondering: what happens to the sins of those who are no longer able to confess them? Are we somehow still held culpable or is there some way for loved ones to help someone of altered mind attain Heaven? I know that the obvious answer is that ‘with God all things are possible’ and that He ultimately has a plan for all of us. A feeling of responsibility weighs on my mind, however, and I feel compelled to try to find an answer with which I can live. A finely honed conscience can be a wonderful tool for, not only our own salvation, but for helping others.

Here’s what we’ve done so far. When we visit her these days – usually after Mass on Sunday – we share a brief visit including smiles, kisses, and God bless you crosses on foreheads. Then, after her blanket is pulled up over her face, we pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet in her presence. I’m not sure what effect this will have on behalf of her immortal soul – but I am sure that acts like this matter. As her family, we are taking this fourth child of ours (Ma) and doing our best to help her achieve unity with the Lord. However God sees fit to apply these supplications, my security in believing in the Communion of Saints gives me the comfort of knowing that we are somehow giving her aid.

For the sake of His Sorrowful Passion...

There’s also a lesson to be learned here. In her new found innocence, Ma is made new. All of her past prejudices, perceived hurts and grudges have been washed away. She has completed the circle of, first forgiving and now forgetting any transgression that may have been stumbling blocks in the past. As a new creation, she has become a child once again. Our ministrations give her immediate comfort and, hopefully, future assistance on her journey. May we also use her gift of pointing us toward forgiving and forgetting – a sort of self-induced Alzheimer's for the good of our souls. What an opportunity - while we still have the presence of mind to seek absolution for our own transgressions.

On this, Divine Mercy Sunday, may we grow in our faithful seeking of forgiveness through the sacrament of penance!

News Flash! The Pope is Catholic

Ever since the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI and the subsequent election of Pope Francis, all of the usual suspects have had a field day. Couched in seemly complimentary reporting of the actions of our new Holy Father, have been snide insinuations that finally, someone in the hierarchy of the Church is getting things right. Sadly, it's not been a practice isolated to haters of all things Catholic or poorly informed reporters. Some men and women in the pew have also fallen for the rhetoric - some of which has been perpetrated by professional Catholics and clergy. Everywhere you look, there he is, Pope Francis being - gasp - a Catholic! Well news flash, the pope is Catholic and all of those photo opps that are being so carefully thrust in the forefront of our news reports and Facebook wall feeds simply portray him acting in a manner that has been consistently practiced since Jesus initiated His Church.

Sure, Pope Francis has a certain style all his own - he eschews formality for the more simple. His Jesuit roots show, just as the professorial style of Pope Benedict XVI was evident during his reign. What isn't different is that all Catholics are bound by the Great Commandment - that we love one another. Whether in scripture, homily or practice, that has always been the case. After all, a highly significant number of the schools, hospitals and charities originate and are run by the Church - all over the world. That's something that has been going on for decades - centuries, really.

So what is it about our current state of affairs, that makes compliments to Pope Francis into insults to his predecessors (especially the past two)? One obvious answer is that the secular world (and poorly catechized Catholics) are always looking for a chink in the armor of the Church. These disgruntled folks seek to force the Church to conform to their ideology rather than taking up the teachings instituted by Christ Himself. There seems to be a lot of projection and wishful thinking going on. I find it puzzling that someone would seek to remain in a church with which they have grave disagreements, and attempt to change her, rather than becoming a member of a more like-minded church. And, let's face it, there are tens of thousands of man-instituted options out there!

Of course another persistent threat is from Satan himself, who prowls about creating mischief. What better way to discourage unity within the ranks of Catholics than to sow doubt by casting light on poorly conceived comparisons. Isn't it possible that we are simply given just the right man, as our Vicar of Christ, at just the right time - by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit? And in order for one Pope to be just what the Church needs, do those who came before him have to be discredited? I think that it's much more realistic to look at them as trail blazers - each for the one to come after him.

I've seen so many poorly rationalized comparisons in these scant two weeks - enough to make my head spin. Wouldn't it be better for us all to recognize that each of us is divinely created with our own unique gifts? Isn't that what we are admonished to do for each individual gracing this earth? Why then, not do the same for these men of God? They each have their gifts to share with the world - because even non-Catholics and non-believers are impacted by the man in the Vatican. Pope John Paul II gave us the New Evangelization and taught us about the dignity of all humans -  unto death. Pope Benedict XVI moved us toward reviving the liturgy and a renewal of faith - the Year of Faith. Likewise, Pope Francis will share his unique gifts with the world during his reign. One thing doesn't change, however, the truth as illuminated by God. The Church, through our priests, gives us access to Christ Himself - Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. Wouldn't it be a shame to detract the purpose of our existence? Shouldn't we focus on Divine Truth rather than human misconceptions?

--US Catholic Church statistics can be found here.

Not a Garden Gnome: Understanding St. Francis

The name, St. Francis, is on everyone's lips these days – ever since our new Holy Father took Francis as his official name. With this rise in popularity, a saint whose reputation has already been misrepresented, has swung into full blown mischaracterization. As arguably the favorite among all the saints – among Catholics, Protestants and even non-Christians – St. Francis has quite the reputation. But if we are to quell these misrepresentations it might be wise to take a longer look at this multifaceted saint. At first glance, he holds quite the surface image as a kind of garden gnome who holds bowls of water or seed for our feathered friends or perhaps with his arms outstretched as birds land on them much like they did on those of Snow White. I, myself, am guilty of having various representations of him in our vast gardens as mere decoration.

But St. Francis wasn't some hippy, tree hugging monk who worshiped Mother Earth and all of nature. Rather, he fiercely worshiped God while maintaining a healthy respect and sense of wonder for all of His creation. St. Francis' appreciation of nature and acknowledgment of its grandeur stemmed from his devotion to living a life devoid of the lures of earthly pleasure, instead focusing on service to the poor and outcast.

As a former soldier, St. Francis was also a lover of peace. Contrary to popular belief, however, he neither penned the St. Francis Prayer (it was written much later than his lifetime) nor did he say, “preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words". Although both of these nods to him embody his philosophy, the words are not his own. What Francis did do was amazing enough that there is no need for embellishments. For example, in his fervent pursuit of chastity he is said to have rolled, naked, in the cold snow of winter in order to resist temptation. And although he had many hard sayings and practices, there are also many anecdotes about his life that point to a communion with nature that was unusual to say the least. Yet warm and fuzzy aren't really a part of his story.

Read the rest of this original post and some of his amazing stories on Catholic Sistas.

Holy Thursday and Foot Washing - Misunderstanding What Catholics Do

So here we are again - Holy Week. A most splendid - the most splendid week of the year! Yes, Christmas brings us the infant God made man, but during this week He fulfills that purpose for which he was conceived of the Virgin Mary. Holy Week, however, comes replete with painful awareness of how many Catholics (including clergy) simply don't choose to follow the instructions (rubrics anyone?) that clearly give priests the black - exact words to say - and the red - exact instructions for what they (and we, the faithful) are to do. Now before someone says, "but if it's not expressly forbidden, we can add to the things we can do", here's a word: NO!

Let's take some secular examples.

1) a prima ballerina decides that she will enhance the carefully crafted choreography of Swan Lake and just add some cutsie little steps here and there - at her pleasure.

2) a legal secretary decides that her boss' brief needs a bit of enhancement and throws in a few things she's learned at night school.

3) a sou chef takes the recipe of his master and tweaks it just a bit.

Pow! All heck would surely break out. Not just because the servant hadn't done what the master intended but also because the resulting chaos would affect everyone involved.

And so it is with the optional rite of Foot Washing - Mandatum (command) - on Holy Thursday. The rubrics are clear - men (viri) are to have their feet washed - twelve, if you want to follow Jesus' lead. Why twelve and why men, you might ask? Well, because a secondary function of our remembrance of that day (aside from the - very important - institution of the Eucharist!), is the institution of the priesthood, initiated with the twelve apostles. Can women become priests? Contrary to liberal wishes the answer has irrevocably been given by Pope John Paul II - never!

As has been pointed out by Fr. Z,"let it be remembered that the Church’s legislation allows for the washing of the feet of only men. MEN = VIRI = MEN. Not manish women or any other critter. Even if some claim to have received permission to wash the feet of women, and even if the claims were true, those permissions would in no way change the law for the rest of the world. Period. Furthermore, I have never seen a letter or a copy of a letter from the Congregation in Rome granting such a permission. I doubt anyone else has either".

Canon lawyer, Dr. Edward Peters has written about it thoroughly and shares the wording of the rubric with us - along with emphasis of the Latin, in which it was written. The word man (viri) can only be interpreted one way, and it's not mankind (or humankind).

I'd rather just see this optional rite done away with altogether. Why oh why does the focus always have to be on 'us' (the people)? Holy Thursday is about the institution of the priesthood. It is about the institution of the Eucharist. And yet, here we are again. With our self congratulatory songs, choirs up front so that we may focus away from everything that we should be focusing on - Jesus, present to us as food at the foot of the cross! I'm so very frustrated and it takes away my right to worship in the way Mass was intended* (complete with thorough instructions). I've seen even babies' feet washed, mostly women's feet washed, and commemorative towels given out as 'door prizes' for those women and men who participated. I'm beyond frustrated by this lack of saying the black and doing the red!

Rant over...

May we all celebrate a holy, Holy Thursday! Happy Holy Week!

The Last Supper - the reason for Holy Thursday!

*From Redemptionis Sacramentum (Latin, “The Sacrament of Redemption”).

"It is the right of the Christian people themselves that their diocesan bishop should take care to prevent the occurrence of abuses in ecclesiastical discipline, especially as regards the ministry of the word, the celebration of the sacraments and sacramentals, the worship of God, and devotion to the saints (24)."

Catholics are so Darned Misunderstood!

A frequent thorn in my side is the misconceptions about Catholicism that run unfettered among my friends. No matter how many times I think I've finally gotten through to them and explained my wonderful faith, they persist in listening to the first nay-sayer in reporter's clothing. Recently, I was so bothered by this that I dedicated an entire post to myths about Catholicism over at Catholic Sistas. Here is an excerpt:

Myth – Catholics worship Mary.

Much to my dismay, a Facebook friend recently posted that she had ‘learned’ something distressing. To her consternation, “the news reported that Pope Francis spent all day praying to Mary on his first day as Pope“. Of course her horror at the idea of this when she, “thought all this time that he prayed to God“, was due to lack of credible information. It is evident that the Catholic idea of ‘praying to’ and the misguided definition pushed by Catholic-hostile press is miles apart. While Catholics understand the Communion of Saints and intercession, the rest of the world equates praying to someone with worship. Big difference! As taught in the CCC, “Because of Mary’s singular cooperation with the action of the Holy Spirit, the Church loves to pray in communion with the Virgin Mary, to magnify with her the great things the Lord has done for her, and to entrust supplications and praises to her”.

To read the rest of the post, and some perceptions about Pope Francis, the Rosary, and other topics Catholic, please visit Catholicism - Appearances can be Deceiving!

Good-Bye, Hello - Viva il Papa!

Am I the only one who is feeling a bit unfaithful right now? Perhaps a bit divided? Don’t get me wrong, I am elated at the election of Pope Francis and the blessing he appears to be to our Church. His modesty and low maintenance style is very appealing. The positions he has historically held on the moral issues I hold dear are spot on from what I have learned about him in the past two days. But what about dear, sweet, unassuming Benedict? Unlike other past popes, he has not yet gone to his Eternal Reward. He still lives – albeit solitarily – amongst us. Our gentle German Shepherd did so much for Holy Mother Church during his eight year pontificate – not to mention, the time he spent serving as Cardinal Josef Ratzinger.

OK, I’ll admit that his German heritage always appealed to me. His way of analyzing and explaining felt like my German Opa counseling me in the ways of the Faith. I will also be eternally grateful for what I suspect is a deeper framework for the future of Christ’s Church than we will ever realize. Even the election of Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio may have Benedict's fingerprints on it. But what do we do about Benedict now? He still occupies a warm place in my heart and even as I work feverishly to get to know Pope Francis, I still hear the echoes of what Benedict has taught us ringing in my soul.

Is this how it feelswhen an adopted child finds her birth parent(s)? That feeling of split loyalty - OK, I know where my loyalty lies, but you know what I mean, right? How does one negotiate the roadways of affection, loyalty and love for two of something? It will be interesting to see. Now that the mystery has been revealed, and we know who will be serving as the Vicar of Christ, life can begin to normalize a bit. Sure, we have much to learn about our new Pope, but we still have much to glean from what his predecessor has gifted to the world. Therein lies the beauty of the Church instituted by Christ Himself - a succession of earthy Shepherds to lead us Home. May we find an equitable place in our hearts for them both. Viva la Papa – past and present!

Bluebirds of Happiness - a Photo Essay

As an art major and all around lover of all things creative, I have struggled to find my current niche of creativity. These days I tend to not employ my beloved pencils and paints of the past. My current niche lies somewhere between what I learned while concentrating on the fine arts while earning my BA at Brescia University and my 'artsy craftsy' side(my professors would shudder). Photography and a love of God's creation seems to fill the bill quite well for me and luckily I was blessed to receive a Nikon D5100 camera (with a lovely array of basic accessories) as a Christmas gift from my family. Here is a way for me to showcase and share what I see in our garden - another creative passion.

Recently the Bluebirds arrived and, as they do every year, they checked out the accommodations we have created for them - just on the other side of our water garden/koi pond. I was fortunate (and patient) enough to capture an initial visit from them. Below you will see a progression of photos that I took during my 45 minute quest for that perfect photo. At the end of the photos, I have also shared a meme I created from my favorite - another current creative outlet. Go check out the many memes I have created on the Designs by Birgit fan page on Facebook.

As I was sitting there, the scripture verse about the birds of the air kept popping into my mind. I was also afforded an opportunity to meditate and give a prayer of thanksgiving for God's beautiful creation. We are truly blessed and should remind ourselves to truly see all that this world has to offer!

Mr. Bluebird flies in for a landing.

After an initial look he directs Mama in.

Mama flies in to check it out.

Talking it over.

We're home!

I took an information poll on the Designs by Birgit Facebook album and a favorite rose to the top. As is my pleasure, I then turned the photo into a meme to express what I had witnessed. God is so good to us!

Of Toilet Paper and Fortitude

I have often found that our best virtues can also be our worse vices. What makes us ‘good’ can also present quite the trial for our souls (and for those around us). Take Fortitude, for example – it can show its face as intractability if used wrongly. To illustrate, let’s begin by taking a look at my own family.  Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) runs rampant throughout our members. These poor grandchildren of ours have gotten a double dose – believe me, both sides of the family can lay a legitimate claim. That being said, it’s obvious that change is not something with which we play nicely. No matter if it’s…

Bananas – sliced or not can begin a battle of wills.

Skittles and M & Ms – sorted and eaten by color or all mixed up.

Mail – stacked by size and length (oh, what to do with those darned tall and fat card envelopes).

Toilet paper – spooled to the inside or outside (when the kids were little I developed the habit of spooling against the wall to prevent miles of it from unrolling ‘on accident’).

Now, why mention the role of humble tp, you might ask? What in the world does it have to do with Fortitude? Well, stay tuned and you’ll soon see the connection!

Sarah, our 4 year-old granddaughter, is my Mini Me. Her stubborn spirit (Germans are like that) knows no limits and she often refuses to smile for a snapshot. “I don’t like to smile”, she says with a dramatic grimace. But her – ahem – strength of character makes her a stalwart ally and she is just as prone to an excess of hugs, kisses and ‘high fives’ when it’s her idea.

For the past several months, I have continually found the toilet paper in the ‘wrong’ position when Sarah visits. She never says anything, yet it just keeps happening – over.and.over.and.over.again. For my part, I simply reverse it back to its rightful position and smile a secret little smile – because I ‘get’ her. And aren't we all like that in some sense or the other? Which is what got me to pondering Fortitude. Now Fortitude is a virtue but it can also display itself as a vice - if we are not properly disposed. The difference is in distinguishing between things of eternal importance and things pertaining to our earthly, human condition – morality vs. preference if you will.

So what is Fortitude?

According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, “Fortitude is the moral virtue that ensures firmness in difficulties and constancy in the pursuit of the good. It strengthens the resolve to resist temptations and to overcome obstacles in the moral life. The virtue of fortitude enables one to conquer fear, even fear of death, and to face trials and persecutions. It disposes one even to renounce and sacrifice his life in defense of a just cause”. So here we have a description that calls to mind bravery, valor, tenacity and grit. When these characteristics are applied to say, defending the honor of Holy Mother Church or the unborn, there is nothing we won’t do – even unto death – to take a stand for these moral absolutes.

By contrast, this same type of stick-to-itiveness can quickly become a vice if we do not chose wisely, the object or issue to which we give our allegiance. When we interact with others – or even with our own wills – it’s important to maintain the ability to look at issues with an open mind. Not everything is a black or white issue. It’s wise to look to our priests, bishops, and Church Dogma to find which things are debatable and which are simply not. Therein lies the difference. When our goal of being right surpasses our need for Truth, we are arguing in vain. Fortitude then morphs into stubborn will.

What is Fortitude not?

Fortitude is not prideful and it does not insist on 'winning' an argument for the sake of being right. Like Sarah and my toilet paper swap, we tend to cling to what we perceive as right just because: that's the way it's always been, that's how mom (or Dad) did it, or I simply like it that way. Fortitude rightly used, is a humble submission to Truth as taught by Holy Mother Church, to which we remain loyal because it is right and just and because God said so. When we know that these truths are absolute, we can proceed gently and share them. Fortitude allows us to stick it out instead of being cowed by opposition - because we know what we are sharing Truth, not our truth, but God's Truth. A recent story about Bishop Robert Vasa of Santa Rosa, CA gives us perfect witness of Fortitude. The good bishop is "requiring all 200 of his diocese’s Catholic schoolteachers to sign an affirmation of faith agreeing that “modern errors” such as contraception, abortion, same-sex “marriage,” and euthanasia are “matters that gravely offend human dignity". When met with opposition he begged the question of how a teacher, “can teach what the Catholic Church teaches with zeal and enthusiasm while holding, as they say, ‘in the privacy of their heart,’” views that are anti-Catholic". Since the issues he mentions are non-negotiable Truth (and always have been), his Fortitude illustrates an exemplary characteristic of the virtue a shepherd should display to his flock.

How do we make Fortitude our own?

During the season of Lent we can make it a point to become sensitive to those times when we bullishly strive to win an argument instead of converting with the heart of God and His Truth. We should scrutinize our own motivations and consciences, to distinguish whether or not we are seeking victory or the winning of souls. When we speak, are we speaking sincerely and with respect of those with whom we interact? Once we determine not our will, but His Will be done, we will be well on our way to practicing Fortitude. Otherwise we are simply allowing false pride to rule the day!

Of Toilet Paper and Fortitude was first published by Catholic Sistas.

Emergency Contraception: Science and Morals

This is a guest post by my daughter  Erika, a forensic biologist, who writes for Catholic Sistas. The post,  Emergency Contraception Science and Morals first appeared there. 

Recently the news contained two slightly misleading headlines: “German bishops say morning-after pill is ok in rape cases,” and “Top Vatican official calls German bishop’s approval of morning after pill ‘exemplary’”. On the surface both of these headlines give the appearance of the Church, specifically the German bishops and even the Pontifical Academy for Life, reversing a historic ban on contraception and abortifacients. In all likelihood, the Church will be taken to task over this seeming reversal without a closer inspection. However, as a scientist (molecular biology degree and 9 years as a Forensic Biologist) as well as an apologetics hobbyist, I decided to delve a little deeper into both the science and the morals of emergency contraception (EC).

First, the science… I first looked at the article from Contraception that was referenced in both articles in contention. After reading the entire article, the take-home message appeared to be that a Copper IUD is the most effective EC because it disrupts fertilization as well as implantation, but the two hormonal types of EC were ineffective because their action was to disrupt fertilization not implantation. Another article continues the assertion that one of the most common EC types (Levonorgestrel/Plan B) has no effect on implantation. However, as Catholics (as did most people before IVF and recent political mumbo-jumbo), we believe that life begins at conception not implantation. Further review of journal articles yielded this one that clearly states that only people who believe “implantation or later events to be the beginning of pregnancy” consider this method to be non-abortive. Another article, questions the validity of the data used to verify whether Plan B acts pre- or post-implantation without even referencing (in the abstract) whether these studies even consider post-conception and pre-implantation actions.

Most/many studies discount the five to twelve days between fertilization to implantation. It is not a stretch to consider these studies flawed for neglecting this time period; therefore, it is impossible to separate the contraceptive from the abortive properties of Plan B (and other ECs) without further research. Even one of their own, James Trussell, admits the abortive effect must be mentioned to women when giving Plan B. Further, Dr. Trussell admits that for Plan B (or any EC) to be effective, it must have an effect after fertilization. At this point, there is no accurate widely available test for fertilization, although a fertilization chemical has been known since 1979. Common tests used to detect pregnancy are detecting implantation (hCG) hormones, again discounting the five to twelve days between fertilization and implantation.

Now for the morals… In 1968, 2000, 2008, and well, basically forever the Church’s official stance has been against both contraception and abortion. Every life that begins is God’s gift to the bearer. While in cases of rape and incest, it is common to think of the new life as a “punishment”; in reality, God has created something wonderful out of a horrible crime. It is widely believed that punishing a child for the sins of the father is wrong. Therefore, it is no stretch to think that terminating a pre-born child for the sin of the father is wrong as well.

The German bishops, in their ill-conceived notion of “kindness” for a woman impregnated by an attacker, draw a line that neither science nor morality can draw. Studies have not shown that emergency contraceptives only act prior to fertilization. Nor are there widely available reliable tests to determine fertilization, only implantation. Moral law is the same for all life, whether the result of rape, incest, fornication, marital love, marital infidelity, IVF, or any other mechanism. A new life begins when egg and sperm meet (fertilization). Intentionally terminating that life is against the moral code and natural law. When clarification of this media circus is made, I’m sure it will be buried under new Catholic controversy if it is even presented at all. Until then, I am confident that Christ’s Church on Earth remains the most steadfast protector of life from its very conception.

ADDENDUM: In researching this story I could have added this extra explanation:

A comment on Facebook mentioned that since 1999(?), the bishops’ statement has been that if ovulation and fertilization can be proven to have not occurred, emergency contraception is OK. This information is true-EXCEPT-it is almost impossible for medical science to prove without a doubt that no ovulation or fertilization has occurred or is likely to occur during the emergency contraceptives life span in the body. They can test for ovulation-yes-but since sperm cells can live up to a week in the female reproductive system, proving no ovulation at the time the drug is administered does NOT necessarily mean ovulation will not happen within that week. If ovulation occurs within the week life-span of the sperm cells, fertilization can occur. At this time, there is no test for fertilization that is widely-available or widely-used. The current pregnancy tests actually test for implantation. Implantation happens between 5-12 days AFTER fertilization/conception/creation of new life. One of the only ways, in my opinion and research, to have the best chance of knowing whether ovulation and/or fertilization is possible is if a woman uses NFP to chart her cycles. However, even though NFP has a thoroughly proven track record, occasionally “unplanned” conceptions happen even to experienced practitioners.

Facebook Block - I'm Back, But I'm Not

Last night I was finally able to get back into my Facebook account and interact with others. Of course, as luck would have it, I abstain from Facebook on Fridays during Lent. So I'm back - but not really. I did go in and schedule a couple of memes to go live today - so enjoy those until I'm back in full force.

Hopefully this will be the end of my censorship troubles, but who knows! In the mean time, I'd like to say

Thank You

for sticking around to 'hear' me complain and for helping my Designs by Birgit fan page continue to grow. Together we can help build a world that respects all life!

Birgit J

I hope you'll swing by the Designs by Birgit fan page and take a look at my latest creations! And, please, be sure to 'like' and 'share' to help spread the news...all LIFE is precious - Womb to Tomb!

The Facebook Deception #3 - Blocking Pro-Life Accounts

This week I have posted twice (here and here) about Facebook tactics that appear to target conservative users. First, my pro-life friend had a pro-life meme removed from her wall. Next, they removed another, older pro-life meme and then she was blocked from using her account for a 24 hour period. Being the pro-life advocate I am, I promptly created a meme that called Facebook out for their censorship. I posted it on my personal wall as well as on the Designs by Birgit fan page. I can't say that I was unprepared for what happened next, but that doesn't quell the sense of injustice I feel - my images were removed and I was blocked for 24 hours as well.

Now, here's the thing - I realize that a public, for profit entity can create (and enforce) any rules that they see fit but a sense of fairness begs that it should be done across the board. Instead, pages for pro-life groups, conservatives (like Chicks on the Right), and others are targeted while pages calling Catholics unsavory names and pages with sexually explicit content remain. Even pages engaged in dog fighting are alive and well. Double standard much?

Another thing that comes to mind is that users should be provided a means to see what these rules are. Neither is the case. You can read their rules here (note that none of these points really addresses our particular issue). My friend has been in contact with Facebook in an attempt to garner some solid parameters  for this policy yet any useful information seems to be quite illusive...you see, they also have 'internal policies"  that they use when assessing these situation on a case by case basis (read, we make up the rules on the fly).

Here's How I See it

While I agree that Facebook is a public for profit site, I'd have to disagree with them getting away with this inequitable treatment unchallenged.

• It's news when YouTube takes down my friend's professional Catholic videos. 
• It's news when a child can't wear a pro-life or Christian tee shirt to public school. 
• It's news when a Girl Scout volunteer is censored for her tee shirt. 
• Remember the stories about Google weighting their search results in favor of liberal sites? That was news too. 
• And it should be news when this happens - especially since their public policy (which they referred me to) doesn't state exactly what they object to.

So are you willing to help spread the word? It would help to have people gather support for our freedom to profess that ABORTION is simply WRONG! What's so offensive about that???

Bottom Line?

I will have been locked out of my account for 2 days by the time this is (hopefully) over. What do ya think about that?

Feel free to share this and any of my other memes with your friends and fans! You find them all on the Designs by Birgit Facebook page.

I'm baaaaack!