True beauty is so appealing that our souls recognize something very good communicated through it – something True.

Theotokos and Truth – Cristóbal Almanza

Just look at a starry night sky, a beautiful sunset, or a baby’s face. They all communicate a profound Truth – God is here.

Sadly, it is possible to ignore it if we choose.

I went many years working hard to ignore Mary. Somehow, I had been convinced that paying attention to her, I would be ignoring Jesus.

It wasn’t until after a deep conversion in my spirituality that the veil was lifted, and I suddenly saw Our Lady as my mother and involved in my faith. Then I was able to build a real relationship with her along with Jesus. Now, her role is so intimately tied to Our Lord, that it seems wrong to ever exclude her.

She did what she knows best, evangelized and preached the Gospel to me in a new and profound way.

Mary has only one desire – to lead us to Jesus.

Like any good mother, it breaks our Blessed Mother’s heart to see her children bickering, fighting, and living divided. She will be a powerful force in reuniting our Church and bringing back many of the lost sheep.

In leading us to Jesus, she lights the way to our ultimate destination in heaven, much like the stars that led sailors through the darkness. She is the true Morning Star.

In all the apparition accounts, there is a consistent acknowledgement of an incomparable beauty that is mesmerizing. Visions so beautiful, they can’t be anything but true.

Mary has it down. Draw them in, share the Truth, and point them to Jesus. A perfect model for the New Evangelization.

We can never speak enough of Mary because it brings joy to her Son. In her perfection, she never lets it be about her, and constantly give all the glory to Jesus.

Mary is the daughter of the Father, mother to the Son, and spouse of the Holy Spirit, and there is no one better to know, love, and call upon as advocate in our personal spirituality. In order to best lead people to Jesus, we cannot do it without the prayers and model of our Lady.

Prayer to Mary, Star of the New Evangelization

Holy Mary, star of the new evangelization,

make us the light of the world.

We receive Christ in the Eucharist;

help us build the Kingdom in the world.

Teach us to do whatever He tells us.

May our study of His life lead us to love Him,

and our love for Him lead us to imitate Him.

If we are what we should be,

we will set the world ablaze and affect the culture.

We ask your intercession to make this so,

through Christ, our Lord.

Amen.

Our Lady of Guadalupe, Star of the New Evangelization, pray for us!

With the Church’s birthday, Pentecost, coming up this Sunday, it occurred to me that perhaps this would be an opportune time to sit back and reflect on what it really means to be Catholic.   Ah… but where to start?

As I pondered this question, it didn’t take long for me to recall that one of my favorite books, the time-tested classic,  The Spirit of Catholicism, by Karl Adam, was due a re-reading.  Coincidentally, this book, which makes the top ten “must read” list of many a Catholic educator,  happens to be one of the best places to begin that reflection.

In the spirit of G.K. Chesterton’s famous quip that “anything worth doing is worth doing badly,”  I propose to take the opportunity in a series of blogs to do a “drive-by” of this book in the hope that anyone who has not yet read it will be able to get at least get a taste.   Perhaps this “appetizer” will encourage some who have never read it to check it out.  (It will additionally provide plenty of fodder for blog topics as the year progresses).

Note that the Spirit of Catholicism, by Karl Adam:

1)   although first published in 1929 — continues to be published and is still as relevant today as ever.

2)  is legally available for free download here, or is easy to obtain both new and used.   – AND –

3)  has had an enormous impact on many new and influential converts to the Faith

Much like the new DVD series, “Catholicism” by Fr. Robert Barron, Karl Adam’s The Spirit of Catholicism, tries to answer the basic question: What is Catholicism and what makes it what it is?    What is the underlying essence and nature of this faith that has managed to survive this long despite pressures from within and without?

What is the driving force behind the Church?  How is this institution so large and full of apparent contradictions in any way related to Jesus Christ or the original primitive Church?

Such thoughts will be explored in the posts that follow. As we proceed, my intention is that each post will be able to stand on its own without nesssarily having to read the preceding posts.  For now I will leave you with a quote (from a quote) from the book that may explain why there is justifiably so much interest in the Church and I hope will inspire your curiosity.

“English historian, Macaulay, once described in the eloquent words: “There is not, and there never was on this earth, a work of human policy so well deserving of examination as the Roman Catholic Church. The history of that Church joins together the two great ages of human civilization.

No other institution is left standing which carries the mind back to the times when the smoke of sacrifice rose from the Pantheon, and when camelopards and tigers bounded in the Flavian amphitheater.

The proudest royal houses are but of yesterday, when compared with the line of the Supreme Pontiffs. That line we trace back in an unbroken series, from the Pope who crowned Napoleon in the nineteenth century to the Pope who crowned Pepin in the eighth; and far beyond the time of Pepin the august dynasty extends, till it is lost in the twilight of fable.

The republic of Venice came next in antiquity. But the republic of Venice was modern when compared with the Papacy; and the republic of Venice is gone, and the Papacy remains. The Papacy remains, not in decay, not a mere antique, but full of life and youthful vigor.

The Catholic Church is still sending forth to the farthest ends of the world missionaries as zealous as those who landed in Kent with Augustine, and still confronting hostile kings with the same spirit with which she confronted Attila…. Nor do we see any sign which indicates that the term of her  long dominion is approaching.

She saw the commencement of all the governments and of all the ecclesiastical establishments that now exist in the world; and we feel no assurance that she is not destined to see the end of them all. She was great and respected before the Saxon had set foot on Britain, before the Frank had passed the Rhine, when Grecian eloquence still flourished at Antioch, when idols were still worshipped in the temple of Mecca.

. . . We discern the immortality, the vigorous life, the eternal youth of the old, original Church. And the question rises to many lips, and to the lips of the best among us: What is the source of this strong life? And can the Church impart it, and will she impart it, to the dying western world?”

More to come . . .

I’d like to offer this book review in honor of our Blessed Mother, as it is currently her month – May!

I came across “Our Lady of the Lost and Found” lying around my parents’ house – which is the way I stumble upon many of good books. My mom was just finishing it. She said it was a good read, but perhaps the author, Diane Schoemperlen, could have benefited from a more thorough editing since it tended to drag in the middle. I was still pretty intrigued, so I picked it up.

The premise is basically this: what would happen if the Virgin Mary decided to take a break from all her interceding and grace-giving to vacation at the house of a middle-aged writer for a week? Or perhaps this: what would happen to a middle-aged not particularly religious woman in modern times if the Virgin Mary showed up at her doorstep asking to for a place to stay for a while?

Now that I’ve finished it, months later, I can say my mother’s review was spot on—and seeing as how she has much more experience with literature than myself (in terms of higher education and in terms of being decades ahead of myself in how much she has read!), there’s no surprise there! So here is my review:

Even huge Mary fans will learn a lot: Schoemperlen says of herself, “I am not a philosopher, a historian, a scientist or a Catholic” (p 340), but she certainly is a phenomenal researcher. Interwoven throughout the story of the narrator’s encounter with Mary, she recounts countless historical Marian apparitions. Even those who know Mary well will surely learn some new stories about her in

this book – and again, her research is sound (check the author’s notes at the end). Here’s just a few of the apparitions she mentions that I had never heard of: Our Lady of Montserrat, Our Lady of Prompt Succor, Our Lady of Hope, Our Lady of the Cape.

On the half-way point of the story of a life: I think I’ll get even more out of this book in a few more decades—the narrator is middle-aged. Mary’s providential visit becomes a spring of reflection for her in understanding her own life thus far. She has a wonderfully nuanced way of leading the reader through the development of this process of self-reflection that fleshes out such dichotomies as irony/grace, fact/fiction, body/soul, history/present.

A more thorough editing: It did take me several months to finish the book—and not because I don’t read often—I did not always want to pick up this book. There were some points in the middle that dragged slow, where too many details or too much introspection made me want to stop listening to the narrator altogether. But I stayed faithful to it (I very much dislike not finishing books). And towards the end the story swings back into place and I found myself wanting to finish it. And the ending is a good one.

My favorite image: As the narrator and Mary share their week together, they do a lot of sitting at the kitchen table drinking coffee. I love that image. And if Mary knows me at all (which she surely does), she’d know that’s just the way to get to into my own heart.

All in all, though you may find yourself having to push through the slow parts, Our Lady of the Lost and Found is absolutely worth the read—and very well suited to these hot, lazy months of summer (which by the look of things are already upon us in Austin!)

This week, it was about my vocation.

My family knows that I have been praying for God’s guidance in discerning and preparing for my vocation, and I’m lucky that they have been joining me in that prayer. But, sometimes an answered prayer goes unrecognized when it’s subtle. For me in particular, it was the ability to love as Jesus commanded.

This I command you: love one another.
John 15:17

Agape. Total, selfless, consuming love. Archbishop Fulton Sheen taught me about agape in one of his talks that’s hosted on YouTube. (See, I told you the Church can do awesome things with YouTube.) And although that was a nice sentiment, and I was grateful for Jesus’ love for me and for others, loving my neighbor as myself wasn’t something I quite knew how to do. I settled for being pleasant. I can be pleasant to the people around me, that seems close enough to love. I’m sure you know what I mean. Sometimes, it seems like that’s what the majority of people have settled on, too. (“Let’s be nice, but not really make any kind of deep commitment.”)

Now retrospectively amusing, at the same time  I was settling for pleasantness (and maybe a hearty dose of philios on a good day), I was praying that God would prepare me for my vocation. I figured that if God is calling me to married life, I would learn agape by loving (and being loved by) my husband.

Fortunately, God had greater things planned for me. Over the past few years, God has blessed me with many very special friends. And agape for them germinated slowly. It started with love for one person, and kept on going. It wasn’t until, observing them from afar, that I had realized what had grown within me. And once I recognized what I had accomplished, I was able to consciously apply that love to everyone I came in contact with.

When that first friend left to continue the pursuit of their vocation, I moped and called my cousin. Then she whacked me on the head with a healthy dose of perspective. (Like I said, she’s good at that.) “Look at what you’ve accomplished. You didn’t need a husband to learn to love as Christ loves. God provided you with people who mean so much to you that you grew in your ability to love on your own. You don’t miss your friend, you miss the training wheels that person was. Now you’re on your own and have to carry on loving, without a safety net. But because of it, you’re so much better prepared for your vocation than you were before. Which is what you had been praying for all along.”

Oh. I hadn’t realized that being better prepared for my vocation equaled being able to love as Christ loves. Seems kind of obvious now. But isn’t that always the way it goes with connect-the-dots?

So, lesson learned. Friends have the wonderful benefit of being the training wheels we need to love all mankind as Christ commands: totally, selflessly, consumingly. But eventually they, too, have to come off. And if we trust in God, we can continue on the path of loving as He loves. It is a joyful calling and full of responsibility, but He asks no more of us than what He has already done Himself. If we love Him, how can we refuse what He has made us capable of?

And better yet, how many countless other ways does he provide the support (the training wheels) we need to be more perfect?

Photo via Flickr.

Photo courtesy of Christine Mesich, taken during a special Mass in 2010.

Sometimes Mass just hits home.  Completely out of the blue, you’re showered with the Holy Spirit.  That happened this weekend and it was awesome.

During this weekend’s Mass, newly ordained Deacon Barry Cuba gave the homily.  He always approaches the pulpit with humility, humor and insight so I was excited to hear what he had to say.  Even more so this weekend, as I was down two kids and heard more than usual!  He thanked many people who got him to this point in his priestly journey, as he enters his final year before ordination.  However, it was something he said that got my attention.

“Our goal is to get to heaven,” he said.  “And we can’t do it alone.  It requires community.”

It’s not that I believed I could get to heaven by myself, but that comment induced an immediate flood of moments in my life to mind:

- Our wedding ceremony, where the church was filled with friends and family all ready to support us in our new life together.

- The first day of school, surrounded by other Catholic families, as we took the education leap and enrolled our children in Catholic school.

- The day of my miscarriage, when dozens of friends and priests stopped by the house to cry with us, hug us and help carry the cross of loss.

- The day our son was born premature and our home and lives were flooded with offers of help, prayers and generous gifts.

You see, as I think back to the hundreds of life moments when I truly felt the presence of the Holy Spirit, I felt him in community.  Whether it was leading songs at Vacation Bible School, praying a rosary with teens atop the hill in Assisi, Italy or sharing the joy at a baby’s baptism, they all share the same two things:  community and love.  We can’t expect our fallible nature to lead us to heaven, but by surrounding ourselves with other Christians, those who help up carry the cross when it’s too heavy to bear, it becomes doable.  Heaven becomes attainable.  God’s perfect love calls us everyday to Him.  Choosing to say ‘yes’ becomes easier when you have an army of support.

When I’m feeling beat down by the secular media for choosing NFP, I turn to my #cathsorority girls on Twitter for support.

When it appears we’re the only family who cut the cable, I turn to my friends to affirm that life choice.  After all, that’s why God allowed the invention of Hulu, right?!

When my friends scoff at our private school tuition payments and then jet off to Hawaii, I attend school Mass and know our ultimate goal is to get our kids to heaven, not enroll them in frequent flier miles.

Every life choice we make has a consequence.  I’m hoping, and praying, ours lead the people I love most in this life to heaven.

Join us for our second quarter meet up as we gather to network and share.

The main presentation and discussion will center around Pope Benedict XVI’s call for America to lead the New Evangelization.

Open to all interested in the New Media and the New Evangelization. There will be food and drinks provided.

We get a lot of good Graduation advice. Steve Jobs told us in his graduation speech at Stanford that we shouldn’t waste our lives living someone else’s dream. Winston Churchill explained that we should never, never, never give in except to the convictions of honor and good sense in 1941. Ellen DeGeneres, at Tulane University in 2009, shared that whatever you do – just dance.

It’s that time of year. It’s nearly the end of May and it’s full swing graduation season. Now would be a fitting time to pass along some words of wisdom (for as much wisdom as a twenty-something can have) for those entering their freshman year of college.

The first year you will have a place to eat and sleep. Check your bill, there’s a reason that freshman have to live in the dorm and purchase some sort of meal plan during the first year. Whether you get meals in the all-you-can eat cafeteria or dining dollars you can use at the student union, the university wants two things to be certain in your life.

You will begin to do things because you want to, not because you have to. You’re in charge of your own life, you don’t have teachers reminding you every class period about the upcoming due date on your syllabus. You don’t have your mom making sure you eat your vegetables at dinner (or even making sure you eat dinner at all). You also don’t have someone holding your hand in regards to your faith. Everything is of your own responsibility now. It’s tempting to skip class, not attend Sunday Mass but just remember, that all your decisions will ultimately affect you, and you alone.

The morning will come when you will have to walk (or drive) yourself to Mass all by yourself. I can remember waking up early on the Sunday before classes and walking the seven blocks to the student center for Mass by myself. It’s funny though, as I soon met more and more Catholic girls who lived in my dorm, the walk got less lonely as the semester progressed.

You will be challenged in what you believe in. You will meet a lot of different people. There will be people who have been a hardcore democrat or republican all their life, people who grew up in different cultures, or people who have had completely different life experience than you. You have an opportunity at college – to sit and learn more about other people and the world around you. This does not mean that you have to give up what you believe in, you have an opportunity to reaffirm exactly what and why you believe what you do.

You will never be alone. Your parents, friends, family, youth ministers and parish will always be praying for you. That’s the beauty of being a member of the Catholic church. You could try to run to the far ends of the earth and never escape the community that binds us together in Christ’s love.

We are so blessed that we have wonderful college campus ministry in the Diocese of Austin. We have St. Peter’s Catholic Student Center at Baylor University, St. Mary’s Catholic Student Center at Texas A&M, the UCC at the University of Texas and the H.L. Grant Catholic Student Center at Texas State. In addition, there are campus ministries at Mary Hardin Baylor, St. Edward’s University and many other schools.

Wherever you’re going, find the Catholic ministry of student center, as much as college is about higher education it’s also about shaping the person that you’re going to be after college – that includes your faith.

And, if you can indulge me in this last piece of advice, always wear sunscreen.

photo courtesy of flicker.com/cassetteject

I take a lot of comfort in the above line from Jeremiah because not only do I have two wonderful girls that the Lord has blessed me with and charged me to care for. I also have my own personal cheering section in heaven who are watching over me and praying for me. Let me explain, over the past six years or so we’ve experienced a number of miscarriages as we’ve tried to be open to God’s plan for our family. While each one of these has been a painful experience they’ve also been a lesson in surrendering to God’s will.

I will often include in my night prayers, a prayer to God for his will to be done. I do this during the good times, because I know without God there would be no good times. I also do it as a reminder, so that when the bad times come I know that His will will guide us.

People have asked me, “Does it make you angry”? My typical response is, “at first yes”, but I also know that God know better then I do and if He saw fit to only give us these children for a short time. Then I have to trust that he knows best. It does give me a bit more incentive to get to heaven though. Not that spending eternity in the beatific vision isn’t enough, cause it is. With that being said, the only things I want to hear after the Father tells me, “Well done, my good and faithful servant…” is

“Hi, Dad…”

I have bad allergies. Really bad. So bad that when I finally started seeing an allergist a year ago he told me there are about 4 weeks in the year, two in the summer and two in the fall, when I’m not allergic to things in there air.

But I didn’t realize my allergies were quite that bad until recently. Before then, I’d go to a “regular” doctor and get allergy meds. And about once every 2-3 years, I’d be given a steroid shot if my cedar allergies were to the point that I couldn’t walk from my front door to my car without sneezing 10-15 times.

About 4 years ago, at the age of 26 and pre-marriage, it was one of “those years” where I absolutely needed a shot. I called for a doctor’s appointment at the local regional clinic only to be informed that my usual doctor was not available. Feeling beyond miserable, I consented to see any doctor that was available. My appointment was set, and in I went that day to see the doctor.

As a female, there’s a pretty standard routine of being asked by the nurse when your last menstrual period was, what, if any medications, including birth control, you’re on, etc. After going through all that I sat and waited for the doctor. He comes in, checks my symptoms, and I tell him I want a shot. He lectures me on not waiting until the last minute to get taken care of for my allergies. Frustrated about the lecture, I told him I wasn’t waiting until the last minute. And that I had been taking high strength allergies meds for over two months. He then consented to giving me a shot, but not before one of the most memorable, most awkward, and most frustrating conversations of my life.

Doctor: “Are you pregnant?”

Me: “No.”

Doctor: “Is there any chance you could be pregnant?”

Me, wondering why he’s asking me the question again, since if he looked at my chart he’d know he didn’t need to ask me that question again: “No.”

Doctor, looking and speaking condescendingly: “There’s always a chance you could be pregnant.”

Me, pretty angry and offended at this point (first a lecture on allergies when I’m feeling miserable and now this!?): “Not if I don’t have sex there isn’t.”

Doctor, looking very taken aback and confused kinda gawks at me and spurts: “Well, uh… okay…”

Me: “And no, I’ve never had sex.”

Doctor, awkwardly, as he hurried out the door: “Well, I guess you can have the shot then…”

Um, yeah, I still don’t know what to say about that conversation. I know doctors have a protocol they need to follow concerning medicine, but the air of superiority and condescension present in this doctors tone just got to me. And the bewilderment that someone could still be a virgin past the age of 19 or 20 is not just present in the medical world. It’s prevalent in movies, TV shows, music, news, schools, advertising, social media and well, pretty much everywhere you look in society. The world has a problem with the call for and desire for living this pure holiness, virginity. Two fairly recent examples can be found in a November 2011 episode of Glee and within the HHS mandate “fight.”

In the fall of 2011 the TV show “Glee,” had aired an episode called, “The First Time.” In the episode, teen characters Rachel Berry and Kurt Hummel* were told, by a peer, that there was no way they could show enough passion to play the leads of Tony and Maria in Westside Story because they were both virgins. It is suggested that the characters fix this by having sex with their significant others (which were not each other). Towards the end of the episode, visual allusions were made to both characters having had sex for the first time with their significant others, and both characters were shown performing as the leads of Westside Story, acting with passion and energy. Apparently, virginity was their problem. And, of course, having sex solved it.

When the whole HHS mandate was big in the media, there was a large debate about numbers. Numbers of Catholic women having sex with birth control, numbers of Catholic women having sex without birth control, numbers of Catholic married women having sex with birth control, etc. But the one number frequently skipped over? The number of Catholic women not having sex, and not needing birth control because they followed the Catholic Church’s call to live holiness by keeping sex within the Sacrament of Marriage. Though a small number, it’s a number that really matters when it comes to requiring the Catholic Church to act contrary to our faith teachings.

In talking with some of my other Catholic female friends, they’ve had similar encounters with their doctors. And co-workers, friends, people they date and even family members. To myself and to other Catholics, female and male alike, that are virgins until marriage, the lack of acceptance and understanding of the desire to live the pure holiness of virginity can be frustrating, exhausting, hurtful and disheartening.

But who said living the call to holiness would be easy?

*correction: the male character was Blaine Anderson, not Kurt Hummel

Forgiveness, not anger, is what will give us peace

So the kittens have taught me another lesson. (I can only reasonably promise that this blog won’t turn into a Cat-holic blog )

This past weekend they had a fight. I’m not sure what started it, but I noticed that Boomer did not want to share her cool new toy with her sister. After trying to get them both to play together, I had to be firm and just take the toy away. I’m sure this happens with animals, just as with children, but it hurt me as their mommy that they wouldn’t play together. And of course, as I reflected on this new experience for me as their caretaker, I looked for the insight that it could also provide on our divine Caretaker.

God places us with the people around us for a reason. He, along with our Blessed Mother, probably does worry when we fight with those we are supposed to love.

As our kittens coolly ignored each other, I begged St. Francis to convey a message to them – I wanted to let them know how hurtful their fight was, I wanted to tell them, “Make up with each other! You two are all you have as far as cat-folk in your new world.”

I mused with my husband how we would behave differently if we knew that we were the only humans that we’d ever spend our lives with. Would it be easier to forgive? To compromise?

Jesus taught us specifically that when we have a problem with our brother or sister, we should first address the problem with him or her directly (Matthew 18:15). This is good advice! Talking with too many people about a private problem may lead to gossip or further problems down the line. Respectfully discussing a problem together can help clarify any misconceptions and ensure that bad feelings aren’t nursed over a longer period of time.

The past is the past for these kittens – they're back to being best friends.

Looking to our Saint leaders, we see that they forgave in heroic circumstances. They forgave those who were executing them in horrendous ways, as well as those who sought to assault or demean them. True forgiveness is probably something that takes us a lifetime to learn. But it’s something we’re all called to do (Matthew 18:22).

For some reason, God puts us in close quarters with those around us, and He handpicks the group.  Who do you need to forgive? Pray about how you can give forgiveness or receive the humility to ask for forgiveness. I would caution against talking to a close friend who may know the person you need to forgive, as you want to err away from gossip. Remember that what’s important is that  YOU forgive, even if it is not extended back to you. Focus on the fact that forgiveness is good for you as well as the other party, and more importantly, our Father pleads with us to do it.

I have the tiniest insight into God’s feelings as He watches us in heaven, and the pain caused when He sees His children fight.

Oh, and in case you’re wondering, my little beauties did make up

This week’s song is one that I recommend you know and pray often. The Divine Mercy chaplet is a beautiful prayer, and even more fun to sing! I think this particular melody really invokes a sense of our sorrow for sin and our desire for God’s mercy.

Note: Reflections in this blog are my own and do not represent the positions of my employer.